Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Pirates of the Caribbean or Titanic, characters, storylines, anything…
Author's Note: As someone noted in the review about a Jack/Liz pairing, you may be a little surprised at my storyline. I'm not guaranteeing that is the way I'll go, but it is a possibility. Keep in mind…the newest movie asked a lot of good questions in the end about A LOT of things we really don't know for sure...
Chapter 3: Meeting
As Elizabeth and the others marveled at the beauty of the port, Jack Sparrow passed them, heading to the bow of the ship with the intention of looking out to the sea. He was always somehow drawn to the sea as his father happened to be a sailor, but he himself had never ventured the waters for himself.
Jack was born in America and raised there until he was nine, when his mother brought him to England after the passing of his father. At age nighteen, his mother died and he no longer could afford to pay for tiny cottage. He became homeless, started gambling, stealing, and everything else he could do to survive.
He looked out over the horizon, watching the pale orange sky kiss the navy blue ocean endlessly. Breathing in a deep breath of the salty air he sighed, feeling like he was home. He pulled a compass out of his pocket, the only thing he had that his father had left with him. It was broken, but it was the only possession he could rightfully call his own. Looking back at the ocean he thought to himself about how happy he was to be returning to his birthplace in hopes of freedom and better opportunities. His biggest hope was that he could work as a sailor and follow in his father's footsteps once he made it to New York as he knew quite a few things about nautical knowledge.
As Elizabeth turned around away from the rail she leaned against it with the small of her back, her eyes drifted to the shady character at the front of the ship, just as a cargo crane was making its way over his head, it swung in his direction, without his knowledge.
"Lookout!" she screamed, picking up the dragging half of her dress and hurrying over as Jack ducked out of the way.
"Are you alright?" she asked him as her father, Will, and Norrington joined her.
As Jack's eyes met Elizabeth's he blinked a few times to see if his eyes were deceiving him. He had to admit to himself that he was quite popular with the ladies; although he felt like there was something different about Elizabeth.
"That was quite a close one and I nearly got my head snapped off. How can I repay you?" Jack eagerly asked, grinning.
Norrington quickly stepped in front of Elizabeth, before she could respond, and looked at Jack with disgust, "There is nothing you could offer her that she would possibly want." He said, obviously meaning it to offend Jack's status in society.
In anger, Elizabeth intervened, "Can I answer for myself please? As the question was not directed to you." She replied looking sternly at Norrington.
"My apologies, Elizabeth." He retorted instantly backing away from Jack.
"It's Ms. Swann." She stated back, still quite upset to have someone answer for her.
Jack, still standing in front of the lot looked confused and unaware of the situation but admired Elizabeth's initiative, "I bet you're a tough one."
She looked back to Jack, watching his dreadlocks engulf his face like a picture frame, "I'm so sorry, maybe a walk would be nice. I need a little fresh air." She said, clearly wanting some space between her, her father, and Norrington although she hadn't been paying attention to William.
Will's expressions clearly showed that of jealousy, but he accepted Elizabeth's choices and decisions no matter the consequences as he was only her father's personal assistant.
"Elizabeth, we still have much to do and get ready for. This evening is the opening dinner aboard and you have yet to get settled in and ready." Mr. Swann quickly explained to his daughter, seemingly quite nervous.
"Would it be alright if he accompanied us to dinner father?" she eagerly asked, hoping her father would allow the stranger to join them.
After the pleading looks Elizabeth gave him, her father agreed, "What is your name than sir?" he asked, sighing.
"Jack Sparrow." Jack said nodding in Mr. Swann's direction.
"If you don't mind me asking, Mr. Sparrow, what is it you plan to wear this evening than?" Norrington asked in a disgusted tone.
Mocking Norrington, Jack stood in an overly done posture of that of a gentlemen, "This jacket and white shirt with pants that make me look fat." He said, clearly having described Norrington's current outfit entirely.
Trying to keep the setting quite calm Norrington walked away, his face slightly red and Elizabeth swore she saw steam coming out his ears, having slightly giggled but caught herself at her father's glance.
"That was highly inappropriate." Mr. Swann said, directed at both Elizabeth and Jack.
"Sorry father." Elizabeth replied, looking down, avoiding her father's eyes.
"You will apologize to Norrington at dinner and remember that you are not a child anymore." He said toward his daughter, turning his attention to Jack, "and my personal assistant will have you dressed accordingly at five o'clock in first class stateroom number two-hundred forty-five."
Just as Elizabeth's father turned away with his daughter, Jack pulled a chain out of Mr. Swann's pocket lightly, forcing the little watch on the end out entirely. Jack quickly slipped it in his own pocket and turned away. William, who had been watching, lightly gasped, unclear whether or not he should say anything for he did not want Elizabeth to see him as a prick just as she had seen Norrington.
In the Swann's stateroom a few moments later, Elizabeth quickly took to her room, inviting William to join her. At this point, William had forgotten all about the confrontation with the one, Jack Sparrow, and diverted his attention to Elizabeth, half blushing.
Elizabeth's father had to tend to some royals and had clearly left William alone with his daughter, which was not as shocking as one would think. Mr. Swann clearly had trust in the boy and thought him to be very dedicated to his work.
"Elizabeth, everything in order?" he asked politely, calling her informally because of the absence of her father.
She blushed, as no other man ever called her by her first name in front of her, "Yes, everything is indeed in order."
"Would you like me to leave you as you get ready?" he asked, smiling his usual sweet smile that Elizabeth adored.
"I'm not planning on getting ready quite yet, dinner is not for a while as it's only…" she glanced at a clock on the mantel of the fireplace in her room, "4 o'clock."
"Perhaps later you and I can take a stroll around the ship. I'm fascinated by how this beautiful ship is designed and such." She added, to take away from the silence in between their statements.
William nodded, he was happy she had asked him, although the thought of Jack Sparrow crept back into his mind from earlier, "I don't mean to invade in your personal affairs Elizabeth, however, I was wondering what your intentions were with Mr. Sparrow earlier. If you wish not to answer you don't have to of course"
She stopped putting some of her clothes away in the dresser of her room and turned to him, "I know what you're thinking, and I had no intentions of that sort with him. It merely seemed he was traveling alone, I helped him out of a fatal incident, and that giving him some company would have been the nicest thing to do. William, you know I don't get to meet very many people other than the royals and businessmen alike that my father brings home."
He looked up at her nodding to show he understood, as he did now that she explained it a little better, although he really didn't think that the situation was all said and done.
Suddenly a knock came at the door, William answered it, and Norrington appeared behind the door, "May I speak with Elizabeth alone for a moment?"
"Mr. Swann gave me instructions to not let Ms. Swann out of my sight at all until he returns." William stated.
"I'm sure he will not object to my visit, besides it will only be for a moment." He replied pushing past William lightly and entering the stateroom.
Elizabeth had just finished clearing her clothes into the dresser when she heard footsteps coming behind her. "William? Who was it?" she turned abruptly to be face-to-face with Norrington.
"You know you really should let the maids take care of your unpacking, that is what they are there for." He stated, laughing a bit.
"I prefer to take care of my own things as I'm sure you very well know." She replied, implying the earlier confrontation with Jack Sparrow and the quarrelsome actions that occurred.
Norrington sighed, "I would truly like to apologize of my actions earlier. I regrettably showed a side of me that I myself have never seen."
"Would you call it 'jealousy'?" she asked, continuing to unpack the remaining items into the room.
"I would actually prefer to call it an animal instinct. I was merely protecting you from harsh creatures, if you would see me as an animal." He responded, making her flinch, although he didn't notice.
"All men are animals…" she said under her breath, almost certain he didn't hear.
William, than, unexpectedly walked in the room, "I'm sorry Mr. Norrington I cannot allow you to barge in here without any consent from Mr. Swann."
"I will not be made a fool, Elizabeth…" Norrington said, filling the space closer behind Elizabeth, "Please, open your heart to me."
She felt his cool breath across her bare shoulder as he leaned in to her ear at his last words. She found him charming, kind, and caring as anyone who knew him could see, however, she wasn't sure her heart was ready to leap for someone so sinister and stingy from what she saw. She watched him leave quickly, without looking back to her.
"Everything alright, Elizabeth?" William asked once Norrington was gone.
She sat down on her bed and began to go through the jewelry bow her mother had given her before she pasted away, it had belonged to her. It was beautifully encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and jade stones with hints of silver inside.
I often wonder if my mother enjoyed an arranged marriage with my father…I know this is not what my father intends for me, but seeing as how my family has always been in the line of either royalty or fortune what choice might I have in the future, if not Norrington, than who?
After seeing that Elizabeth was not responding he tried again, edging closer, leaning against one of the four bed posts, "Are you alright Elizabeth?" he looked a little closer at her, "You are quite pale."
This time she looked up, "No no, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something." She smiled, to make it seem as though she was alright, but the thought that now occupied her mind made her unfocused and worried.
Glancing at the clock, William turned to her, "It's nearly five o'clock and Mr. Sparrow should be arriving shortly so that I may supply him with the proper attire for the evening. I suggest you get dressed early so that you may not be imposed upon."
Elizabeth nodded, believing he was correct and had already started to worry less upon the thoughts in her mind.