Jack was lying lazily in a damp corner of his cell, his hat pulled down low over his eyes.  He was planning on getting himself some shuteye before he would think of some way to escape his unpleasant situation.  Nothing to worry about just yet though…

Jack grinned and pulled his hat down even further.  He had always managed to get away one way or another, and he would this time too.

Someone pounded down the stairs and Jack groaned.  Not another one of those redcoats, they were getting on his nerves with those patronizing attempts at insults they threw at him. His eyes widened in surprise though as he saw Elizabeth hasting down the stairs, pulling her skirts behind her.  Although he wasn't all too sure if her company would be any better than a redcoat's… Jack shifted uncomfortably as Elizabeth stood at his cell, clenching the bars. 

He tried his best at a trademark grin, but failed miserably.

"How-" he cleared his throat. "How did ye get in here? I can imagine at least five blasted redcoats up there on orders not to let the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow escape." He said, his voice slightly sarcastic.  Elizabeth was panting a little; she had obviously been running.  'For me…?' Jack couldn't help but wonder. He shook his head nearly unnoticeably and the invincible Captain Jack Sparrow took over in him, slowly building up his safe walls to protect him from vulnerability.

"So what is it luv that has made ye hasten 'ere so quickly? Feelin' lonley, eh? Well, I don't blame ye; none can keep their hands of Cap'n Jack Sparrow once they…ye know…felt him!" Jack stated smugly, desperately trying to cover up the swell of emotion at the sight of her. 

Elizabeth stared at him incredulously for a minute and Jack squirmed under her glare. He was glad that bars were separating him from Elizabeth – otherwise a slap would have been inevitable.  Then she turned abruptly on her heels and headed towards the exit.  Just before she reached the stairs she turned around once more.

"So that's how you think about it.  You think it was all a joke.  It was all bloody funny for you, yes?  Well I'm glad you had your fun then, Mr. Sparrow!" she spat at him.  "I just wanted you to know one thing, Captain; I thought more of you, but I've been apparently never been so wrong in my life." Elizabeth added bitterly.  Then she turned at rushed up the stair as quick as she could.  Once outside she breathed the summer-scented air in deeply and let herself fall on a wooden bench.  Angrily she wiped away a couple of tears that slid down the corner of her eye. She buried her head in her hands and wondered about what had just happened.  How could her intuition have led her so falsely? Was she really that naïve? Or was Jack Sparrow just a damn, unpredictable, stupid blighter that wasn't worth a mere glance in his direction?  Yes, that was it, she assured herself, just as she caught sight of the blacksmith's to her left.  Immediately her thoughts turned to Will.  She tried to find the love she had felt for him, it must be somewhere deep down inside her.  But the more she tried reassure herself of their love, the more she realized just how much she was betraying herself.  Only Jack had made that passion burn inside her, had given her something she never felt before.  She longed for adventure, and Will was too much a righteous gentleman to give her that. 

But Jack. 

Jack was roguish, wild, rough, but at the same time so charming that it was too perfect a combination.  Elizabeth sighed deeply and found it impossible to deny what she felt for him.  And her heart was breaking, for he did not love her back, that he had shown clear enough.  Just another one of his conquests, another one he could add to the list of those who had fallen for his charm.  There was no point trying to hide behind the façade that she hadn't known any better at that time.  There was no point denying she had enjoyed it.  But she thanked god that she hadn't given herself completely to him.

~

Jack felt miserable.  Why had he done that? Why did he always have to be so incredibly…stupid at times? There was so much he wanted to tell her, and he had blown it all.  Ruined it.  Mocked her. 'Jest great, Sparrow' he told himself. 'Jest great…'

~

Elizabeth rose slowly.  She had to tell him.  Even if he would probably laugh at her, trampling on her feelings, she couldn't keep it to herself.  She loved Jack Sparrow. 

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily before quietly making her way down the stairs once more.  Jack was standing near the window, gazing out to sea and not noticing her. 

"Jack" , she whispered softly and he spun around facing her with widened eyes.

"Elizabeth? Ye…ye came back? I…I have to…"

"No Jack I have to tell you something.."

"Lizzy, please, let me talk first, let me explain!" he said, his voice sounding desperate.

Elizabeth sighed and bowed her head in defeat. 

"I should have told ye, I know that." He started.   "I've made a mistake, but I was going to tell you, really! Ye probably hate me now, but ye shouldn't think me jest an opportunistic scoundrel for what has happened. I…ye…I don't know what happened t'me that day, but I'm sorry luv, I really am." Jack cringed at this admittance.  He had never, ever apologized to anyone – thank god none of his crew saw him now. Damnit, he sounded like Will, that eunuch!

His eyes widened in shock as Elizabeth lifted her head and he saw tears streaming down her face. 

"What…Elizabeth! Luv, what is it? Did I…did I say something wrong? Was –"

"No Jack." Elizabeth interrupted him.  "I'm just so glad to have been wrong about what I just said. There is more to you than people might think…" Her fists were now clenching the bars to his cell, their faces so close.  One of her hands moved through the bars and into his hair, pulling him as close as possible.

The sensation of the cold metal against her skin and the heat of his mouth on hers at the same time was sending shivers up her spine.  She kissed him as passionately as she could, cursing those bars between them.  Jack was stunned at first but soon returned the kiss.  After a while he reluctantly broke away and she whimpered at the loss. 

"Jack, I -" she murmured at Jack backed up, panicking.  He didn't want her to continue, didn't want her to ruin it all.  He looked up to meet Elizabeth's eyes and his mouth widened in shock and surprise.  There, behind her, stood Will, his face pale and his fists clenched at his sides. 

"Jack?" Elizabeth questioned worriedly.

Jack cleared his throat and coughed, clearly uncomfortable.  Sensing something, Elizabeth slowly turned around and gasped as she saw Will.

"Will! What…what are you doing here?" she asked lamely, her voice shaking.

"I could ask you that the same thing." Will replied, trying to keep his voice under control, but his narrowed eyes gave him away. 

Jack shuffled uncomfortably and Will glared at him.

"This is all your fault.  I sensed this from the beginning. You truly deserve nothing better than the gallows." He spat at Jack bitterly.  Then he turned to Elizabeth. 

"Why?" 

"Will please---oh Will I'm so sorry!  I –"

"Do you love him?" 

Jack's head shot up and focused on Elizabeth at this question. She lowered her head and the hopeful glimmer in Jack's eyes faded. 

"Do you love him?" Will repeated, his voice quavering. 

"I do", Elizabeth uttered in a nearly inaudible whisper.  Jack's eyes widened in shock, but Will looked defeated.

"So be it…" he said unsteadily and turned to leave. 

"Will!" Elizabeth managed to say aloud.  Will turned and his eyes held such melancholy that Elizabeth nearly burst out crying. "Will" she repeated softly. "Please don't hate me for this.  You are such a wonderful man, you deserve so much more!  But I cannot betray myself any longer.  Something has happened to me and I cannot change it.  You have to understand that Will.." she said desperately.  "Do you?" she added quietly. 

Will looked at her for a long moment, as if he tried to memorize everything about her.  Then he shook his head.

"No, I don't.  But I will accept it." With that Will turned and walked away, and his heart ached as it felt like he was walking out of his true love's life forever.

~*~

A/N: Oh my, that was a tad too sappy for my likes.  Seems like I'm having a bit of a writer's block with this story lately, eh? Sorry 'bout that!

I shouldn't have been writing this chapter anyways since I have this big project going on in school and it frustrates me so much that I can't get it done!! ARRR! So please review and cheer me up :D Go constructive criticism!