Author's Note: This chapter's a little bit mushy, bit short for my liking, but it had to be done like this. The next one will be better, I promise! Review :).

Chapter Twenty Two: Flight To The Pearl

Jack opened his eyes, then winced. The sunlight was blinding. He wondered how late they must have slept.

He glanced at Carmen. Lying beside him in the boat, she was still asleep, her face turned to his, her chest rising and falling like the ocean. The sun made her golden hair shimmer.

They had gone to sleep pretty much straight away last night. Jack hadn't wanted to say much, in case it stopped her remembering, and finally she had fell asleep. He had only been able to sleep once she had nodded off. He looked at the blue sky.

He remembered their almost-kiss. He had wanted to... but he hadn't want to kiss someone who didn't trust him. But now she did, what would happen? He wasn't sure what he wanted at all.

"Jack!" In the distance, he could hear his name being called. It sounded like Will's voice.

Jack sat up, stiff, to see the clearing was empty. The boat was floating near the edge. But he could hear someone crashing through the trees towards the lake. He tensed, but it was only Will, who burst in looking stressed, his hair ruffled, his eyes distressed.

"Oh- there you are!" Will gasped.

"Wha's going on?" Jack asked, lowering his eyebrows, worrying a little. Beside him, Carmen moaned, but did not wake up.

Will ran a hand through his hair. "Jack- come quickly! He's- he's coming-" Will gasped, struggling to catch his breath. He had obviously ran up here.

"Who is?" Jack asked, though he figured he could make a good guess. He reached for the paddle and began bringing the boat to the shore.

"Tobias!" Will ran forward to help, tying up the boat. "There's a ship- the Heaven! It's approaching the Pearl... we need to return, come on, Jack!"

Jack leapt nimbly out of the boat. Carmen was still sleeping, so he grabbed her and held her close. They began to sprint back down to the ship.

"Are yer sure it's Tobias?" Jack asked.

"Who else... would it be?"

Jack nodded in agreement. Carmen was still sleeping, amazingly. He looked at her thoughtfully as the Pearl came into sight. "We'll be safe if we can reach Evaneta, because they'll protect her there."

Will nodded as they sped onto the ship. "Set sail!" he shouted, and as the pirates busied themselves, Jack hurried into his cabin. He dumped Carmen on his bed, but as he did so she woke up.

Sleepy amber eyes looked at him. "What's going on?" she asked, looking around, startled.

Jack felt the ship lurch forward and smiled grimly. "We've got company, luv." He spread his arms wide.

"Company?" she gasped, shaking her head.

"Tobias Hawke, Princess," Jack informed her.

He watched her lower her head and and wring her hands. "It was all going so well-"

"It still can, Princess." Jack reached out to touch her cheek affectionately, and she turned her face into it. He couldn't get over her skin- soft as butter, smooth and cool. He could have gladly stayed like this forever, but there was no way he could. "We're capable pirates, in case yer hadn' noticed."

"I had," she said with the smallest of smiles.

Jack nodded. He didn't like the uncertainty in her face. She was afraid. "Princess, we'll be fine, but it would help if we had everyone." He paused, then looked at her with soft eyes that he knew could melt anyone. "I need Edward Poelle, Carmen."

She blinked, surprised, but nodded. "I see. You want me to talk to him?"

"Aye, luv. I need him to fight for me, savvy?"

"Savvy," she grinned. Then she rose, moving away from him, to the door. "See you soon, Jack..."

And then she was gone. Jack watched the empty door, feeling quite funny. The fact that she had left so suddenly had shaken him. But he knew it would be alright. He shrugged to himself, then headed out onto deck himself.

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He sniffed loudly, and she could feel her shoulder growing damp. His own were shaking. "I know, Carmen, I know. But... we loved you so..." He trailed off, but she knew there was something else. And then she realised what it was.

She should have guessed. She scolded herself for not knowing. Unrequited love. Poor Edward. Tears filled her eyes as she understood his pain.