Disclaimer: i do not own POTC

It was late at night and Elizabeth was sitting on a window seat overlooking the Thames. 'It is so beautiful.' Elizabeth thought to herself. Elizabeth then looked back to her bed, Jack was snoring something awful, therefore she was unable to sleep. Getting up she put her robe on and went downstairs to the study. As she glanced along the tables she saw a small portrait of her mother. Elizabeth took it and sat down in a chair. Elizabeth still missed her mother terribly, even though it had been ten years since she had died, there was still a part of Elizabeth that felt robbed of a mother daughter relationship. Elizabeth found her eyes to grow weary and got up from the chair and put her mother's picture back. As her arm extended to place it carefully back where she found it a hand grabbed her arm.

"Who the hell are you and why are you in my Aunt's house?" A young man with light brown hair and hazel eyes yelled at her.

"She is my Aunt as well, who the hell are you?" Elizabeth said as she slapped his hand off of her.

"Gabriel Bolton. Who are you?" He gave he a curious look.

"Gabe?" Elizabeth said realizing who it was, "It's me Elizabeth!" She smiled.

"Elizabeth, by God it has been nearly eight years since I last saw you!" Gabe hugged her. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here it visit Aunt Claire. How about you?"

"Visit as well, actually I was called to court."

"By whom?"

"Earl Henry Harrington, earl of Kent." Elizabeth felt her heart drop, but kept the smile on.

"For what?"

"He wants me to invest in his trading business."

Elizabeth decided to shoot in the dark, "What does he trade?"

"Textiles to the Americas and Caribbean. Now dear girl what have you been up to?"

'Dear girl…' Elizabeth forgot the pet name he had for her, they had grown up together in England and he had actually visited her in Port Royal once, but they hadn't seen each other in years. "I am married."

"To whom?"

"Jackson Astor, he deals with business with ships." She had to keep up with the lie.

"I've never heard of him."

"He grew up in the Caribbean, he has only been in England a few times."

"I see. My dear girl married…"

"What about you have you found a wife?"

"No, most girls in London are to posh for my taste, a good strong woman is what I need, and have yet to find. Well, I am staying with Claire as well, I will not keep you up, I shall see you at morning breakfast."

"Good night." Elizabeth then walked upstairs back to her bedroom, and got into bed.

"Where did you go?" Jack asked waking up.

"My cousin Gabriel is staying with my Aunt as well."

"Is there a problem with that?" Jack asked sitting up.

"No, Gabe is a good man…"

"Then why do you have that look on yer face?"

"What look?"

"Something is bothering you…"

"Haley asked him to become his business partner."

"That is a problem."

"Yes, should we tell him?" Elizabeth wondered.

"Yes, we should tell the lad before he sinks the family fortune into this bastard…does he know what his business carries?"

"I don't think he does. We'll find out more at breakfast, I need to catch up on my rest, I haven't been sleeping." Elizabeth sighed.

"Come here." Jack then took her in his arms and rubbed her back, soon Elizabeth fell asleep, as did Jack.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Captain wake up…" Jacob tried to gently wake Jack, Jasper would have none of it.

"Bloody hell if yer going to wake him up ye gotta shake him." Jasper then grabbed Jack by the shoulders and shook him, Elizabeth woke up as well.

"I am going to beat the brains out of you if you wake me up like that again." Jack said swinging his feet over the bed.

"Well as yer servants it is our duty to wake our Lord and Lady." Jasper smirked as Elizabeth got out of bed wearing only her chemise, she obviously did not notice, because the chemise is quite revealing.

"Elizabeth do you feel a draft?" Jasper asked.

"What?" Elizabeth looked confused. Jacob then gave Jasper a dirty look and quickly threw Elizabeth her robe. "Your disgusting." Elizabeth said with a look of disgust.

"I prefer charming."

"I prefer if you would leave so I may able to get dressed."

"Would the both of you stop the bickering?" Jack said as he got up. "It is getting on the only already frail nerve I have."

"I'm sorry Jack, next time I will just strangle him to silence him." Elizabeth said with a grin to Jasper.

"You let your wife talk to your only brother like that?" Jasper asked Jack.

"I would help…I would appreciate it if you would be more respectful to her…in the morning when she is not fully clothed…otherwise I'll ring your neck myself." Jack said to him.

"Did the two of you wake on the wrong side of the bed?" Jasper said.

"The Countess wanted us to tell you that breakfast will be served in an hour…" Jacob jumped in before things got worse.

"…while the rest of us clean out the barns…" Jasper muttered.

"Thank you Jacob." Elizabeth said. "Now if the two of you would please leave…we would like to get dressed…"

"Since you asked so nicely my lady." Jasper said with a smirk.

"Must you irritate me?" Elizabeth said.

"In my job description." Jasper grinned back at her and walked out of the room with Jacob in tow, Elizabeth laughed out loud.

"Are you sure about him?" Jack asked.

"It's alright I know he means no harm…just like you don't when you like to annoy me…" Elizabeth said as she grabbed one of the dresses from the closet.

"I do not…" Jack said buttoning up his shirt.

"Bloody hell you do…the both of you are one in the same…" Elizabeth said fastening a button on the back of her neck. "Can you help? Button this last one."

"Sure." Jack then walked behind her and grabbed her arm and placed it behind her back. "First you take that back…"

"No…" Elizabeth began to laugh. "I will not lie to my dear husband."

"Wench…" Jack twirled her to release her.

"Wretch…now if you please?" Jack then buttoned the last one for her. "Thank you." Elizabeth then turned around and kissed him.

"Much obliged…if you do more of that…"

"I will…but not now we have to really get going…" Elizabeth then walked away to the vanity to brush her hair.

"Bloody hell woman you are a tease!" Jack said as he placed his arms around her waist.

"I'm finished…let's have a look at you…" Elizabeth gave Jack a glance over. "Let me just fix your…" Elizabeth then refreshed his hair and put it neatly back into a ponytail.

"There your all done now. I am starving, aren't you?" Elizabeth then took his hand and started to lead him out the door.

"Not hungry for the same thing as you I wager." Jack said and Elizabeth giggled, but the two stopped in their tracks as they came face to face with Gabe.

"Excuse me." Jack said.

"No please, you are a married couple. I am Gabriel Bolton, Elizabeth's cousin."

"I heard last night, my wife told me of you."

"All good I hope." Gabe said.

"Of course all good." Elizabeth laughed out loud. "Come let's not keep Claire waiting."

The trio then made their way down to the dining room.

"Oh my favorite niece and nephew back in my home again!" Claire rejoiced. "Reginald please bring the platters." They all sat and began to eat.

"So Elizabeth, how long do you plan on staying?" Claire asked.

"I am not sure, maybe a week I am not sure, it would depend on when you tired of us."

"Nonsense! The masquerade ball is in one week, please say you'll stay for that, it shall be fun."

"Alright." Elizabeth said, a plan formulating in her mind.

"Now Jackson…" Claire began.

"Jack, call me Jack."

"Alright Jack, what is it you actually do?"

"I am interested in this as well…" Gabe said with a suspicious brow. 'I know him from somewhere.' Gabe said to himself.

"I am in business with many shipbuilders, I use them for trading, and sometimes I sell my own vessels."

"Is it lucrative?" Claire asked.

"Very." Jack answered.

"Delightful. Oh yes, Elizabeth I am to visit the Queen this afternoon, I would love it if you went with me. Gabe you could take Jack to meet with the King."

"That should be interesting." Gabe said, still not able to figure out where he had seen Jack.

"Yes, I have been to London only a few scarce times, and to meet the King, would be delightful." Jack said in an overly jovial tone. Elizabeth picked up it and looked over at him and he looked at her.

"Actually I think maybe after I meet with the Queen I should show Jack around. I thought it would be nice that I show him something for once." Elizabeth smiled.

"Delicious idea Elizabeth! Now if you don't mind I should be getting ready and so should you Elizabeth, the Queen does not forgive lateness." Elizabeth and Claire then left the table, but not before she whispered to Jack.

"Behave…" Elizabeth then gave him a quick peck on the cheek.