Disclaimer:Can I have him? Pretty pretty please! Damn I hate that mouse! He owns everything except Emma!

A/N: I know I know! This chapter's really short. I'm sorry, I truly am. But worry not, my friends! I'm already working on the next part. Please review!

"I think every murderer is probably somebody's old friend."

-Agatha Christie

Chapter 8 - Truths Revealed

"That is it! Emma, we need to talk – now!"

Emma's head shot up when she heard her name, her mind clearing of all thoughts Jack, and instead replaced with a sense of guilt and embarrassment. She had broken the rules, and she had been caught. Not that she and William had created rules, but she sensed he did not want her getting too close to Jack. Now, not only had she gotten close to the pirate, but she had kissed him in a way deemed inappropriate. Not a chaste kiss at all, but almost intimate. Emma remembered how these types of kisses never mattered to her before her sail from England to Port Royal, but this kiss with Jack felt so true, so real, that it felt as if he were making love to her with his mouth. It felt provocative; she felt dirty. The worst part of it was that she liked it.

Furious, William grabbed her, leading her by the elbow away from Jack and towards the ship's waist. Emma, not content at all that he was bringing more attention to the already humiliating situation, dug her heels into the floor, resisting his pull.

"Will, what is it exactly that you need to tell me?" Ignoring her query, the young blacksmith continued to drag her with him. "Will! Stop…" Emma growled, trying to oppose his force until…

"Ouch!"

Jack had been watching the display with mild amusement, understanding that Will was being overprotective with Emma. Will knew him all too well, but what he didn't know – 'And it's a shame really,' Jack thought – was that the whole thing was done on impulse! There was no underlying intention, no womanizing (although the thought had crossed his mind earlier that day) done on his part! It was because of this that Jack reacted suddenly to Emma's small cry of pain.

"Let her go, Will," Jack stormed up to the pair, "you've got an awful grasp on 'er!"

"Mind your own business, Jack!" Will spat vehemently, letting go of Emma's arm forcefully. To this, Jack glared dangerously through narrowed eyes.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do on my ship, Turner! Emma's a passenger, and as far as she's concerned, it is my business!"

"You just-"

"Stop it!" Emma yelled. "The last thing we need tonight is another brawl!" Looking up at the stars for guidance, she heaved a heavy sigh and turned back to the men. "Now Will," she said calmly, "what is it that you so urgently needed to tell me that could not wait until daybreak?"

Will paused for a moment. It was his turn to gain control over his emotions. "It's private."

"Now ye know you can trust me, mate. You can tell me anything! Tha's what friends are for," Jack nodded in assurance. His whole demeanor had changed. It was as if the bout from just minutes before had slipped his mind, but surely he was not that insane.

"That is precisely why I must speak to Emma alone," the blacksmith stressed with emphasis.

To this, Jack was genuinely offended. It was truly a show, Emma thought as she looked on in slight annoyance. They were like two small boys fighting over a toy. Jack's arms went flailing in their usual manner and he began his antics. "What! So now I'm not considered 'friend worthy' material!"

"You expect me to tell you that I'm in love with Emma after you –" Catching himself, Will swallowed as the realization of his own words swept over him. It was the final straw, and he had finally made a mistake. Another silence ensued, not long, but awkward.

"Wh…what?" Was all that Emma could muster. In truth, she was speechless. She stared at will, mouth agape, her face riddled with shock. Jack held a similar expression, his face contorted in a kind of confused frown like that of a child's. Pensively looking aside, he raised a finger and opened his mouth to speak, but then decided against it. Will's lower lip twitched, and he swallowed hardonce more.

After a moment of thick tension, Emma pieced together all the events of that night – no, since Will had found her with Jack in his Smithy. It all made perfect sense. He wasn't being over protective of her, he was jealous of her attention to Jack!

"Will," her voice wavered uncertainly, "You're engaged to Elizabeth; surely you can not mean –"

"That I love you?" he finished quickly.

"Yes, erm…that." Emma shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, crossing her arms and glancing at Jack before continuing. "But – But since when has this been going on?"

"For months now, Emma! Months! I never wanted to say anything before, because I never saw a threat –"

"So that explains it all!" Jack exclaimed, unusually jovial for the occasion.

"What!" Emma cried outraged, discarding the Captain's epiphany. "Were you waiting for some potential person to come whisk me off my feet so you could come along and tell me this!"

"I am sorry, Emma, I know it was wrong. But what is important now is that I love you. I mean it, Emma!"

A sad little smile played her lips. "William, I love you too; you are undoubtedly the closest friend I have. But I love you as I would my brother, if I had one; nothing more. I'm terribly sorry, I truly –"

"It's because of Jack, isn't it! You let him –"

"You leave him out of this, Will!" she retorted at his accusation. "Jack's involvement has nothing to do with my loving you. It is not his fault that I cannot reciprocate your affections."

"That means yes," Jack winced in sympathy, hiding a grin. Immediately he folded his hands and bowed for Emma to proceed, as she glared at him. 'So the minx still wants me,' he thought smugly.

"That means no." Sighing, Emma rubbed her hands to compensate for her lack of words. "Well, now, I have had quite a long day," her voice wavered. "I believe we all have. If you will excuse me, I am going to bed." In a slow flow of crème skirts, Emma disappeared into the dimly lit hall of the forecastle.

Once she had gone, Will turned to leave. It hurt him to know that Emma did not feel the same as he did. He was sure he could make her happy – he wanted to so bad – but what she had said was true. There was the subject of Elizabeth to consider. She was his fiancé, not Emma. She was promised to him, and she loved him. Aside from that, William could not deny that he loved her as well, which only created further dilemma in his heart and mind. How could he love two women at once?

"'T's not that bad, Turner,"

Will pivoted slightly to look upon Jack with rue and mild contempt. Even if he had seduced her (or tried to), Emma allowed him to. Emma was headstrong, and could resist anything she did not or, in fact, did want. Obviously, she had no problem with Jack's actions. She liked it, and it was killing him.

"Could be worse." Jack shrugged in a form of what seemed to Will attempted consolation. Even so, he did not feel assured of anything, including the pirate's sincerity. Staring taciturnly at him, Will left the deck to his room.

"Gibbs was right…such a stick."

Alone again, Jack frowned with a small, contemplative pout. "Now, Emma…" A familiar lopsided grin lit his face. Now that the truth was out, they could all breath easier. At least, Emma and Will could. Jackhad never held his breath to begin with. He wasn't underwater was he? Then what was the point? Exactly. And, now that everyone could breathe a little easier, he was off to his room, hopeful that a certain woman would feel flexible enough to continue the events of their previous meeting.

"Dada-da-dada and really bad eggs…" he murmured joyfully as he strutted down the corridor, entering the last door and closing it behind him. There on his bed, Emma laid fast asleep, a dreamy frown gracing her delicate features. Jack sighed at the sight out of both disappointment and delight. He had hoped for maybe a wild romp, but she looked so pleasant sleeping. She looked…

'Beautiful.' That was the first descriptive word that popped into his mind when he first saw her, and since then was the first that always came to mind.

Smiling, the Captain removed his shirt, exposing his dark skin, marred by sun, ink, and battle wounds. Still he was as strong as ever. Lying down on his side of the bed, he blew out the candle Emma had left lit for him, andinched closer to her, wrapping her in his arms. It was thoughtful of her to have left the candle burningfor him, even though his ship could have caught fire. In the morrow, he would explain to her why not to do it again.

A/N: See, I told you: Short. Again, I'm really sorry, but I thought that at least I could issue you this much. Now you know I'm still working on it. What can I say? School's a bitch. Please review.

me: "Now Jack, would you like to advertise?"

Jack: "O' course! Erm, how'd it go again? Dada-da-dada, an' really bad eggs,"

me: "Drink up, me hearties,review!"