Hey, everybody! I know, I'm such a loser – I promised to update quickly and then I didn't. But here it is – don't hate me too much!

I hadn't checked my emails completely before I uploaded the other chapter, so here are my thank yous!

Spikez-babe91- Thank you so much for reviewing – I love reviews! (I love good reviews like yours, basically. The bad reviews make me depressed. Lol.)

Aurora- You think it's good? Thank you, thank you, and thank you!  Yay! Okay . . . . I'm sorry I didn't update as soon as I could . . . I've been so sidetracked lately, it's not even funny . . . Thank you again!

Cornishxxxpixie- Don't worry, I'm gonna keep reading your story! I've been so scatterbrained lately, it's a bit unnerving. Thank you for the review!

Queen.Bowie.Jack.Sparrow.Lover- I'm so glad you love the story! It takes me forever to update now, doesn't it? I'm trying to get better at juggling school and fanfictions now, so I hope this time I can keep my promise on updating quickly.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you to everyone who reviewed! I'm glad you stuck with me!


Chapter five: Too Many Surprises

Alex held the pillow tight in her arms, trembling gently. Jack had left hours ago with a select few members of the crew to get 'drinks.' Basically, they were seeing what information they could get about Hurston's movements without making a great deal of fuss. But without Jack, fear had once again gripped Alex and taken her on a wild ride. Sure, she could easily leave the room and find Carolyn, who had also stayed behind, but she was afraid to move. The light from her candle made shadows flicker on the walls and across the floor – she watched them with fearful eyes.

The door creaked, and Alex jerked to see who it was. Jack walked in with a heavy sigh, locking the door, as usual, behind himself. He sat down on the chair at his desk and pulled off his boots, then stood and stripped away his hat, belt, sash, and shirt, until he was left in only his breeches. His skin was misted slightly with sweat, and Alex felt her fear waver, slowly melting away.

''Ello, missy,' he grinned, golden teeth flashing in the candlelight when he smiled. She smiled and sat up, scooting over to make room for him on the bed. He grabbed as many bottles of rum as he could carry and then threw himself into the comfort of the bed, resting his head on Alex's collarbone. She smiled at his submissive behavior, so unlike the usual dominant Jack she knew, and snuggled close to him, stroking his hair gently. He rested his arm on her thigh, which was by his side, and looked up at her. 'Miss me?'

'Of course I did, Jack,' she smiled, and kissed his lips. He tensed, and she began to pull away, realizing with a huge shock she had, for a brief moment, forgotten they had only just gotten together again, but he pressed his palm to the back of her neck and kept her there. His lips were gentle on hers, but she began to feel giddy and dizzy, suddenly glad she was sitting. A soft grumble emerged from his throat as they slowly ended the kiss, and his eyes sparkled when she met his gaze.

'Thanks,' he breathed, looking at a loss for words. She settled for a smile when she realized she couldn't find words to match how she felt at that moment, and slid down so that she was lying by him. It was late by now, and his warmth and comfort, and the protection she knew he gave her, had calmed her to the point she felt as if she could use a good sleep. She felt his lips press to her forehead.

'I'd love t' lay 'ere with yeh, darlin' . . . but I'm cravin' me rum,' he muttered, sounding like a hurt child who had to choose between to of his favorite things. She placed a hand on his muscled stomach and slowly drew it away, creating lines in the light sweat on his skin where her fingers had dragged across him. He blew out a breath, and she met his gaze. 'I thought I should stay sober while I was in the tavern 'n all –'

'Go ahead and drink, Jack . . . Just don't leave again,' she stated, and he sat up.

'I'm not plannin' on it, love. Yeh think I like leavin' yeh alone at the one place someone managed t' take yeh away from me? All I could think 'bout was yeh when I was out.'

She smiled and rested her head in his lap, lying so that she could still watch him without craning her neck. 'I'm flattered,' she grinned.

'Don't make such a fuss 'bout it, missy,' he muttered before tipping a large amount of rum into his mouth. She took the bottle from his hands for a moment, and carefully took a sip before handing it back.

'Did you hear anything . . . about him?'

'All I really 'eard was what we already knew – word's got 'round that 'e took yeh captive. Someone even went as far as sayin' Jack Sparrow's gonna kill 'em fer it. Who's this Sparrow, 'n how'd yeh meet 'im?'

'No games, Jack. 'Least, not right now,' she stated firmly, sitting up. His lips formed the word 'sorry,' but she shook her head. 'I don't need your apologies. I know I can't explain how I feel about being here . . . when you left –' she shook her head and looked away.

A strong arm wrapped around her middle – she found herself pressed close to him, her hand resting on his bare chest. Practically on top of him, she wondered briefly what he was up to, but saw the anger flare in his eyes and knew he had not meant, nor was concerned with the contact they had at that moment. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he blew out an angry sigh. 'This shouldn't've 'appened t' yeh . . .'

'We can't go back, Jack,' she whispered.

''We' can't?'

'Is that what you're worried about?' she asked, slightly angry. 'That I don't love you anymore? Dammit, Jack!' She angrily pulled away and pulled on her boots, wanting to leave him, but afraid of what lay beyond the door.

'Where're yeh goin'?' he asked, eyes worried, and then he became angry once again. 'What am I supposed t' think? Alex, look at yeh.' He stood and held her shoulders. 'Yeh're t' good fer me, 'n yeh always 'ave been. I let yeh come with me 'n Will 'coz I thought . . . I thought yeh were beautiful. Alex, when I first saw yeh, all I wanted t' do was take advantage o' yeh. 'N then I fell in love with yeh, 'n I wooed yeh, 'n yeh came with me. 'N I got yeh into this.'

Alex laughed, and kissed his cheek. 'Jack, while you were . . . what'd you call it? 'Wooing' me, I fell in love with you. If you remember correctly, I met Hurston before I developed feelings for you. Even if we had hated each other, and you had left me in Port Royal, he would have come for me there. I slept with him, Jack. I created my own problem. And, if we had hated each other and gone down that already mentioned road . . . who would have saved me? Carolyn would have dragged my unconscious form out of the inn, and I would have been caught again. You kept me alive while I was in there.' She paused, stroking his cheek. 'I'm sorry for being so moody.'

'Don't apologize,' he whispered, and kissed her cheek. She kissed his lips gently, and he wrapped his arms around her.

'So we're all peachy now?' she asked.

'Mmmm, yes,' he breathed, his nose buried in her hair. Thank you for providing me with that bath, Liz, Alex thought comically. I'd hate to know I stank right now. 'We're peachy. Just peachy.'

'Good, 'coz now I'm tired, and that bed gets kinda cold on one person,' she grinned. He waited for her while she removed her boots once more, and then scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her down before climbing in beside her. In the safe, warm circle of his arms, Alex slowly drifted to sleep.


'I'm not sure I want him dead,' Alex muttered, sitting down on the railing of the ship, swinging her legs out so they were suspended above the water. Carolyn sat beside her, her hair gathered at the nape of her neck, sleeves of her shirt rolled up to her elbows. Alex's gaze fell over the many scars apparent on her friend and looked back down at the water. 'I don't think I can bear to see him again.'

'I know. I feel the same,' Carolyn stated. 'But I do want him dead, and I want to see him dead.'

'Well . . . yeah.'

'Has Jack seen your scars?' Carolyn asked when Alex rubbed her wrists.

'Well, I haven't showed them to him, no, but he's seen some, I'd guess. Do you think I should show him?'

'It's up to you. It won't hurt him not to see.'

'I want to show him. I don't want to feel like I'm hiding what happened to him, y'know? I just . . . what good would it do? It would make him angry again, make him want to kill Hurston – but he already wants that.'

'It would help him understand.' Alex met Carolyn's gaze. 'I was kinda rude to him for awhile, but he started asking me questions lately. He knows you were hurt . . . but I don't think he understands what happened entirely. Show him, Alex. The reason why to do so is abstract, I know . . . but show him.'

Alex nodded and left the rail, headed to the Captain's room. He was mulling over a map of the island he had found somewhere – she wasn't sure where. It wasn't a very detailed map, but it seemed to sooth him slightly. She closed the door, and he turned to her.

'Jack . . . Carolyn and I were talking. I have something to show you,' she stated, and bit her lip. He stood and watched as she unbuttoned her shirt.

'What're yeh –?'

'I bound my breasts,' she said. 'The shirt's see-through enough as it is; I had to conceal myself somehow.' She pulled the thin shirt from her frame and watched as Jack's eyes fell over her body. Feeling rather self-conscious, she began to stammer. 'C-Carolyn though th-that if you saw th-the scars, y-you'd understand better.'

He didn't reply.

I'm such a foolish, foolish girl, Alex thought grimly, and reached for her shirt. His fingers wrapped around her wrist, and she froze and met his gaze.

'Not all o' these are gonna go away with time,' he muttered, glancing at the scar beneath his fingers.

'I know.'

'What he did t' yeh has scared yer heart, t',' he continued, looking as if he could hardly stand to hold her gaze. He looked away. 'Yeh don't look at me the same, anymore.'

'I'm sorry.'

'No – no, don't apologize,' he requested, meeting her gaze. He stepped closer to her, and she fearfully met his gaze. She was not afraid of him – what was it that was missing? What was it he could not see? She felt so in love with him . . . she waited on edge for his return. So what was missing? 'When yeh look at me, what d'yeh see?'

'I see you . . . the man I'm in love with, a very sexy man,' she began, and a grin played at the corners of his lips. 'I see a pirate – a crafty, cunning, quick-witted pirate. I see the man that has saved my life too many times to count. You are safety – I know you'll protect me.'

'But yeh see a man, don't yeh? He made you afraid of that, afraid of what a man could do t' yeh.'

'He's not you,' she whispered. He rested his forehead against hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. 'I love you.'

'Aren't yeh ever afraid o' me?'

'Should I be?'

'No,' he whispered, meeting her gaze and caressing her cheek. 'No, yeh don't need t' be 'fraid o' me. I love yeh, t'.'

'I know what you're capable of, Jack,' Alex stated with a sigh. 'I know what you could do to me . . . but I don't believe you'd hurt me.'

'I won't. Yeh're precious material, love.'

She laughed gently and kissed his cheek, hearing his stomach growl. 'C'mon – it's lunchtime.'

'Aye, lunch,' he grinned. She laughed once more and embraced him. He was caught off guard, but warmed up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. 'Darlin', I love yeh this close, but me stomach's talkin' language I can't well ignore.'

'Oh, Jack,' Alex laughed, then took his hand and walked with him from the room.


Okay, I'm not quite sure why I put the scars and stuff in there, but I did, and here it is! I hope it's okay! Read and review, as always, please!

Thanks again!

Alyssa