Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean or any of its characters. Though sometimes, I wish I did 'cause I absolutely love how they dress. I'd borrow their clothes all the time. cough Anyway, I DO, however, own Zora Leighland, her parents, and Charles Malrice.

Author's Note: Thank you to immortalwizardpirateelf-fan and williz for their reviews. It made my day seeing those in my inbox. Yes, Jack is odd in this story, but I mentioned that he'd be OOC a lot more than I liked. Hopefully, it doesn't hurt the story too much. To everyone else who may still be reading this story, please, please, PLEASE review! I'd like to know people's thoughts on how I'm doing and whether or not I should continue posting it.

I hope you all like this chapter, as it delves more into the plot of the story, finally. I know, it took long enough, right? Sorry about that. I like to write stupid fluffy-type things to get a story rolling. Anywho... onto chapter four.

Chapter 4
Interruption from the Past

Elizabeth and Zora stopped and sat in the shade of a tree close to the main avenue after an hour and a half of shopping. "I can't believe it's been three years since we last saw one another," Elizabeth stated, removing her bonnet to relieve herself of the heat.

"Time does fly these days," Zora agreed, then smiled. "After all, three years ago, you and Will were only friends, if I remember correctly, and your father would not hear of his daughter marrying anyone not wealthy enough to support you after he left this world."

Elizabeth grinned. "Yes, well, things change," she remarked, shooting her a sly glance. "Although it doesn't seem you have, much. Still the daydreamer, but you finally accomplished your dream. Becoming a pirate on the sea. Even better, you've become a member of the crew of the Black Pearl, a notorious pirate ship captained by the famous Jack Sparrow."

"Indeed," Zora replied, her eyes halfway closing in thought and memory of the months she spent out at sea.

The dreamy look on her friend's face didn't pass by Elizabeth. "Zora… I must know," she said. "How did you and Jack become…"

"Lovers?" Zora supplied, and Elizabeth nodded sheepishly; the two women shared the same sort of curiosity when it came to men that it was rather easy for them to complete each other's thoughts. She smiled, settling her chin on her propped-up hand. "I have no idea whatsoever. I just remember seeing Jack in the pub on Tortuga, sitting at his table, talking to him, then suddenly, I was becoming a member of the Black Pearl's crew and Jack Sparrow's latest conquest. Sadly, I admit to fearing 'twas a one-night deal, and the thought broke my heart. I should have realized then I loved the pirate, but it took me two more months for that fact to become obvious." She sighed, and smirked. "I digress, off subject. 'Twas a surprise when I found Jack did not want to let me be a one-night bed warmer, but actually let me remain on his ship as part of the crew. Ever since…" She shrugged. "I had to earn my place aboard the Pearl, like any other of the crew, but," Here, Zora smiled wistfully, "being able to earn the respect and roving eye of Jack Sparrow was quite the reward."

Elizabeth nodded in understanding. "I can see Jack as the type to charm a lady away from her senses," she stated, fanning herself slightly with her hand, though it did little good. "I spent a day on a deserted beach with him once, and when he wasn't passed out from the old rum he'd been consuming, he was trying his damnedest to seduce me from my undergarments." She laughed. "If I weren't so concerned with Will's life being threatened by truly hideous pirates, I believe it may have worked, too."

"He waited until I appeared asleep, though I was not," Zora related with a giggle at the memory. "Shocked him onto his arse when I caught him."

Elizabeth laughed again, easily being able to imagine Jack trying to fondle the sleeping woman and falling backward with shock when she saw him. Once her giggles subsided, the daughter of the governor then leaned forward a bit. "Tell me, Zora. Is Jack…"

Zora feigned innocence as she replied, "A lady never tells." At the pout on Elizabeth's face, a coy smile took her lips. "I will say this, though. Jack has quite an imagination." This bit of information pleased Elizabeth, needing her piece of gossip that she would be bound to never tell another soul. Zora sighed, and glanced off, seeming to fall into a daze of sorts. In a light voice, she added, "Just thinking of him, the way he looks in the sunlight, in the moonlight, or when he is sleeping peacefully, the way he moves and speaks, the way he commands his crew, even thinking of his name, it gives me chills, tingles really, and I cannot wait to be at his side again. There are times were I cannot breathe or speak when thinking of him."

Elizabeth reached out to pat her hand gently. "You've fallen so far in love with him, Zora," she said. "Maybe more than even you realize. I can see it plain as day, but… it troubles you."

At this, Zora looked out toward the sea between a couple buildings. "It does indeed," she responded in a near whisper. "'Tis like I cannot begin to live life until I see Jack's face in the morning. He is the first thing I want to wake to and the last I want to see before I sleep. I feel like I cannot tell where he ends and I begin, we have grown so close, and I fear more and more every day that he may not feel as deeply as I do. He is a pirate when all is said and done, and pirates do not love, much less marry."

"You want to become the wife of Jack Sparrow?" Elizabeth asked in mild shock. She supposed she shouldn't have been surprised, but to hear anyone wishing to marry that uncouth man would stun even the most well-prepared being.

Zora smiled softly, her fingers sweeping through the soft grass they sat upon. "Aye," she simply answered. Elizabeth couldn't find words to try to talk Zora out of that train of thought; she looked too happy. All she could do was smile at her and nod in understanding. After all, Elizabeth had been in a similar position not too long ago.

The sound of a familiar voice behind her caused Zora to freeze, her eyes to narrow, and Elizabeth to grow concerned at the paling of her friend's face. "Zora, is that you?"

Before the governor's daughter could say anything, Zora slowly turned to look over her shoulder. Standing mere steps from them were her parents, her mother having done the speaking. More shocking was that beside them stood the man she detested the most, Charles Malrice, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and the man her father handpicked to… She dropped that train of thought, knowing it would only cause an unwanted scene. Instead, she put on a fake smile, and nodded in answer to her mother's question at last.

Mrs. Carrie Leighland rushed forward, and embraced her long-lost daughter as the two young women stood from the ground. "By God, it does my heart good to see you!" she stated quickly, pulling back to glance her over. She clucked her tongue slightly at the sight. "Still in the dress you ran away in, daughter? And look at how thin you have become… what have you been doing with yourself these past few years, dear?" The older woman gasped as her hand came up to her cheek. "Is that a scar on your face!"

Zora managed a real smile this time, more at her memories than of the pretentious act of concern her mother was putting on. "I have acquired a steady working job aboard a magnificent sea vessel," she answered, drawing her mother's hand from her cheek. She saw the look of disgust that quickly crossed over all three faces.

Her father, Richard, came to stand beside his wife and daughter. "Which one would that be, Zora?" he asked with an uneasy look. Both he and Carrie were unsettled by any mention of the sea and its ships.

"Oh, you would not know it, father," Zora immediately returned. "After all, I know how little you care about such things."

"Perhaps I may know of it?" Malrice interjected.

Zora regarded him slightly; if it were possible, she believed he had grown more pompous than before, which was quite a challenge since she had already believed he was the most arrogant creature in the world. "Perhaps, but I wish to not speak of work," she replied. "I am here on a port stop, and I was enjoying my visit with Elizabeth." At her name, Elizabeth smiled politely, and nodded once in silent greeting, fidgeting in discomfort.

One didn't need to know the history of the four individuals to feel the thick tension surrounding them.

Malrice sneered ever-so-lightly. He had heard the tale of the governor's daughter and her abduction by pirates, becoming friends with some, even marrying one. The woman had demoted herself greatly. "In any case, Miss Leighland, it's a pleasure to see you again," he said, sweeping down at the waist in a bow, removing his hat to reveal his powdered wig. He took her hand in his, and kissed the back like a gentleman would. "I have missed your company terribly."

There was something in his voice that caused a shiver of revulsion to travel through Zora's spine, and to keep it hidden, she forced herself to say without thinking, "Ah, but it shall not be 'miss' much longer. I am happily affianced to a fine gentleman whom also sails on the ship I help crew."

Neither parent looked pleased about this news, and certainly, neither did Malrice. "Well then, Zora," Carrie finally spoke. "Come by tonight with your fiancé, as we are throwing a party for your father's birthday. I am sure we would be delighted to meet this man you deem worthy for your hand in marriage."

"Yes, especially after we had chosen someone suitable for you," Richard added, a colder tone to his voice.

"The Turner's are more than welcome to come as well," Carrie stated.

"We shall, thank you," Zora responded, then slightly inclined her head. "Until tonight." Her parents and Malrice headed off, and Zora turned around to face Elizabeth again, giving her friend an apologetic smile

Elizabeth blinked slowly, again surprised. "You lied straight-faced to your parents, Zora," she finally managed to say. "Worse yet, how are you going to get Jack to agree to this charade you want him to put on?"

"Dear Elizabeth, please, leave that to me to think of," Zora implored softly, then smirked sardonically. "Especially since I will need your advice on clothing. We will need to go into a few more stores before heading to your home. After all, I cannot wear this to tonight's festivities, and I am sure you and I both know Jack has no 'Sunday best' attire of his own."

A/N: Next chapter, telling Jack the truth... and what's this about a bath? Please review, my friends!