Part 10

Notes:

For the record, the term 'cabin boy' is figurative, and I promise that the lad is at least 17 and thoroughly enjoys himself. Johnny Depp likes the idea of Jack being. . .ambiguous is the term he used. And if it works for Johnny, works for me.

Elizabeth had volunteered, after all. She said she didn't mind sitting in the dark, damp store room sorting though potatoes, tossing out the slimy ones before the whole bin went bad. Of course she had lied. It was a terrible job, and boring too. But Will kept giving her hurt looks, like she had killed his dog or something, while he wouldn't look Jack in the eye at all. She should have known that Will would have been able to tell.

And Jack. . .actually Jack was being quite the gentleman about the whole thing. She'd had a feeling he would be, and if it weren't for Will, everything would have been very good with the world. But things weren't good with Will.

So she was hiding.

She thought she was hiding. After several hours Will came down, pulled up another stool, and wordlessly began sorting as well, dumping the good potatoes into the large bin that was almost full. "You're awfully quiet," she asked him after several minutes of uncomfortable silence.

"I hadn't noticed." It was the first words he had said to her since she'd been with Jack.

"Will, I didn't do it to hurt you, I just--"

"Wanted a pirate over a blacksmith?" He tossed a potato with too much force and it bounced back out of the bin. "That's what you always wanted, even when we were children." (The only time he had ever kissed her when they were young was one of the times she made him play 'Pirate Rescuing the Damsel in Distress' which was her favorite game up until they were thirteen.)

"You're a pirate too you know."

"Not like he is." He couldn't even bear to say Jack's name.

"You know what? I'm sick of this rivalry. You've been jealous ever since the first time I kissed Jack. Why don't you just get over it and find someone else if you don't like it. I'm tired of being badgered all the time, of you moping around, and by the way, I hate it when you try to treat me like a delicate flower. Jack's never done that, and that is what I love about him. I love you, Will, don't get me wrong. But you--"

He silenced her by pulling her off the stool, both of them falling into the bin of potatoes. He kissed her while pressed against her slight body, holding her down by the arms, though there was no need. She kissed him back just as desperately, and didn't try to struggle.

"Do want me to show you," he asked, "Why I can't get you out of my head?"

"Yes," she hissed. "Show me."

It was different with Will. With Jack he hadn't objected to the way she had gone about it, but let her do as she wished. She'd enjoyed the freedom. Will was forceful, but kind. He took her exactly as she had fantasized it, like the pirate he was.

Eventually they went back to their sorting in a more comfortable silence. Will looked up at her and shook his head. "What?" she asked.

"I never thought my wedding night would be in the hold of a pirate ship, on a pile of potatoes."

"I never thought I'd have the wedding night without the wedding."

"Things are going to change now."

"I don't think as much as you'd think. As long as you and Jack promise not to kill each other."

"Oh, you know Jack and I," he said without smiling. "Neither of us would agree to making that promise."