Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own POTC or any of the characters. It all belongs to some freakishly, miniature, cartoon mouse who does not deserve crap.
My apologies for the long update. I was having technical difficulties for a day or two. Anyways, this chapter is a bit boring but don't worry, in the end everything will have a purpose. Enjoy.

Through the Winds of Doubt: Chapter 3- Captain Jack's Business

This seems much too easy, Elizabeth thought as Jack led her across the beach to a small bluff. But, at the moment I don't care. I'm just glad that I can talk to Jack in peace.

Jack was ridiculously absorbed in the whereabouts of his compass and twice he almost tripped, his thoughts becoming impediments for his body. Once he even glanced back at her, eyeing her curiously. She shook off his peculiar glance and jogged beside him. He closed his compass hastily.

"I'd forgotten how strange you are Jack, if you don't mind my saying." The ends of her lips turned up into a smile.

Jack grinned. "Aye, sometimes I forget as well."

Elizabeth looked back at the Black Pearl, then back to Jack. Finally they reached the small bluff, which rose only ten feet off the beach at the foot of some tall cliffs. Jack sat down and patted the space beside him. Elizabeth sat beside him, waiting. Although her and Jack had talked alone before, she felt much more uneasy this time. Something was definitely different about him. She vividly remembered their conversations on the deserted island a few months before. His usual laid back stature seemed more constricted at this time. He nervously fidgeted, his compass bouncing back and forth between his fingers. She cleared her throat loudly to catch his attention.

Jack looked at her and smiled. "Sorry love. So, how have you and dear William been these past months? I would assume fairly well, seeing 'as how you're not in jail for befriending pirates."

She laughed. "Yes we've been fine. Will has been away a lot lately, but it will change once we marry."

Jack gazed at her. "Will isn't here?"

"Not at the moment, no. But as I said…it will change." She said these last words hopefully, almost desperately it seemed.

Jack nodded. "It will."

Elizabeth stared at him in surprise. Why did he seem so serious? She disliked this new Jack, hated it even. She wanted normal Jack, if it was even possible for Jack to "be normal."

"But, enough of that. I'm assuming you haven't changed your ways…at all."

"Of course not! I'm a bloody pirate and don't you forget it," he scoffed. "I wouldn't change my ways for all the gold in the seven seas."

"Not even for the Black Pearl?"

He shook his head. "No, not even the Black Pearl."

"What about all the rum in the world?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Now you've put me on the spot with that one you wretched girl…I suppose maybe for the rum."

They both laughed, Elizabeth relieved that she'd gotten him to loosen up. For a while their talk was nothing more than jokes and anecdotes. For once since her and Will's engagement, Elizabeth felt at peace. Jack makes me feel like I've not a care in the world, she thought fleetingly. But she knew that her feelings would not last, as she once again must go back to her business in Port Royal. She quickly pushed thoughts of Port Royal to the innermost part of her mind and turned to Jack, who was staring into the water, a lopsided grin on his face.

"Peas in a pod," he whispered quietly.

"What was that, Jack?"

He looked to her and shook his head. "Ah, nothin'."

Elizabeth looked up to the sky. "So Jack, what exactly are your plans for here. You may fool your crew, but as you know, nothing escapes me."

Jack raised his eyebrow. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it quickly. He sighed resolutely, rubbing his beard. "Right you are Elizabeth. Ya see, I've heard tell of a great treasure here in Port Royal but I know nothing about it at all. All I know is that it's here…and I want it. Desperately." He said this last word with finality.

Elizabeth sighed. She enjoyed Jack's company but there was no way on God's green Earth that she would get caught up in another one of Jack's covert schemes. "Well, I wish you the best of luck in finding this treasure of yours," she said remotely. "I wish I could help but I've no clue about any treasure."

Jack chuckled, "No point in tellin' me that, you wouldn't help me if I paid you. Not that you need it anyways."

Elizabeth frowned. "Well, if there are any supplies you might need…" she trailed off, unsure of herself. Why am I trying to help him? It will lead me nowhere but to trouble! But she knew why. Somewhere, in the deepest part of her mind, she had hoped that Jack had come back to Port Royal to see her and Will again. She did not want to merely cast him off and never see him. If only her father was gone, then she could invite Jack to stay at the mansion. That way she could truly discover Jack's motivations. He was definitely hiding something and her confident composure certainly wasn't fooling him. Jack Sparrow did not just sail blindly around the Caribbean without a plan. She emerged from her thoughts and looked up toward the sky. The sun was already setting to east.

"You'd better be getting back," Jack said distantly, for he was walking in his own thoughts. "That father of yours will be so worried, he'll send the whole British Navy after you. Nothin' new there."

She smiled. "I'll be back tomorrow," she said cheerily.

Jack raised his eyebrows at her. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes…is there something wrong with that," she asked indignantly.

"No, come back tomorrow. When you're here the crew doesn't harass me as much," he replied distastefully.

Elizabeth turned and began to walk back across the beach, but looked back when she was a few feet away from the bluff. Jack's nose was buried in the compass, his face contorted in confusion.

Next chapter is when the good stuff starts. Jack becomes his old swashbuckling self again and we can all swoon over him, as usual! Hooray! Anyways review please. -