AWAKENINGS

DISCLAIMERS: Mr. Mouse and his whole crew own all the characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

This is my take on the resurrection of Jack Sparrow in the third Pirates of the Caribbean film. Also, I am a Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann shipper fan; ye be warned.

I wish to take a quick moment to thank everyone who left reviews. I cannot express how happy they make me and the joy they bring to my heart! Hugs to everyone!

Chapter 4 : A Confrontation

Feeling a bit dizzy, Elizabeth released Jack's hand and pulled one of the several chairs, from the table that sat in the middle of the cabin, next to his bed. Before she sat down, she grabbed the half empty bottle of rum from the table. She immediately took a deep swig from the bottle, feeling it burn her throat and warm her belly.

"Now, luv," Jack looked at her, holding out a hand for the bottle, "don't be greedy with me rum."

She passed the bottle over to Jack, who took a swallow and then another, before he propped it next to his hip, with a look of bliss upon his face.

The man does love his rum.

The silence in the cabin stretched between the three people in it. Each taking turns to stare at the other. None knowing what to say or do, given the situation they now found themselves in.

Finally, dreading the silence, Elizabeth said, "Do you hate me Will?"

"No," was his response, as he looked at her, "it would be so much easier if I could hate you."

He leaned back against the doorframe. "I still love you Elizabeth, damn me, but I do."

"I'm sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen." She sighed. "I'm not sure when it changed. I wish I could give you all the answers that you deserve, but I can't."

He looked at Jack, straight in the eyes, but said to her, "What can he give you? A life constantly on the run; trying to stay ahead of the Royal Navy and the East India Company. Not to mention all the unknown enemies he has surely made."

Will took a few steps towards her, before he stopped. "Is this the life your father would want for you? I don't believe it is. Are you so selfish? Can you be so cruel to those you love, or claim to love?"

She looked down at the floor, thinking, while Jack remained silent, watching her.

He knows this is my battle and I must face it alone, if I am to be stronger for it.

"Will, I know I will disappoint my father. That my decision will crush his dreams that he held for me." She looked up at him. "But never, for a moment, was I false in my feelings for you. I loved you, still love you."

The last comment got her a quick, hard look from Will and a curious one from Jack.

"I did love you, in the beginning, but it was the newness of first love. The dreams of love that a young girl has for her first swain. Sweet and fanciful."

She rose and took a few steps towards Will, so that only a few feet were between them.

"But don't you see Will? That kind of love doesn't last. It is beautiful, but like a flower, the petals fade and changes into something different. Becoming the love between two friends that understand each other's heart."

"No!" He shouted and began to pace, to and fro, in front of her. "How do you know it would have faded? It hasn't for me." He abruptly stopped pacing. "You haven't even said the words yet. You haven't had the courage to tell me!"

"Fine," Elizabeth said loudly, "the words you shall have. I love Jack. I didn't want to, and I certainly never intended to, but I do."

She turned to look at the still silent pirate, but spoke to Will. "He is a rascal and a scalawag. He is arrogant and conceited. He can be obnoxious and rude and drinks too much rum.

Sorry Jack."

Jack waved a hand in dismissal. "None taken Lizzie. But ye be forgetten devilishly clever in yer description o' me. "

"You're right." She said to Jack, but turned back to Will. "He is clever, sometimes too clever."

"And that is the type of man you wish to spend the rest of your life with?" Will said that with so much contempt in his voice, that Elizabeth cringed at the hearing of it.

"Let me finish Will. He is also honorable and brave. True to those he cares for and has a noble streak he tries to hide. He just doesn't realize it. "

Her remark earned an indecipherable noise from the man on the bed.

"Honorable!" Will stormed back to the door. "Please let me refresh your memory Elizabeth. This is the same man who would have used me for leverage, if he could, against Barbossa. The same man who tricked me onto The Flying Dutchman."

"I know what he has done." Elizabeth said quietly. "But he never truly would have handed you over to Barossa. I know this for a fact; he admitted as much while we were stranded on the island together."

"That I did." Jack agreed form his bed, before picking up his precious bottle of rum and taking a healthy swig.

"Shut up." Will answered, contempt and anger in his voice. "The Flying Dutchman, how can he justify it."

Elizabeth couldn't give an answer and swung around to look at Jack.

Looking sheepish, Jack said, "Once I had the 'eart, I intended to bargain yer freedom off Jones' boat." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him, which prompted, "Well, I would 'ave, right after I bargain me own freedom. Can't save Will, without savin' me own self, now could I."

Will looked at Elizabeth and could tell that she believed Jack.

"I can't believe it. You believe his lies." Will said in a stunned voice.

"I do." She said. "Part of me tells me that I shouldn't trust him, love him, but I do. My soul and heart tell me so."

Elizabeth walked over to Will and touched his cheek. "I wish I could take the hurt away. I wish I was still in love with you." Tears gathered in her eyes. "I will always love you, but only as a friend; someone dear to me."

Will pulled away, going over to open the door; to leave the cabin, his back to her.

Oh Will, I don't want to lose you. It hurts.

"I don't know if I can be a friend Elizabeth, when what I feel is far more." He said quietly. "If I had known this would be the result of finding Jack, I would have made a different decision."

"Will…"

"I could never hate you Elizabeth." Will gave a sad laugh. "But I don't like you very much. Perhaps with time, this wound will heal."

"Lad," Jack said from his bed, sitting up straight, "I ne'er intended this to 'appen me self. I'd no hold it against ye, if ye hate me."

"Captain Sparrow," Will responded, his voice cold, "I would prefer to never hear your voice again, to see you again, however, that will have to wait until we reach port."

He turned the handle and began to open the door. "Good-bye Elizabeth. "

So final, so hopeless.

As the door opened, Pintel and Ragetti fell into the room, in a large, messy heap. On impact, Ragetti's wooden eye popped out and rolled across the cabin floor.

He scrambled after it; and upon catching his eye, spit cleaned it and pushed it back into the empty socket.

"Ummmhhhh…," Pintel began as Ragetti returned to his side, "ya see, we wus cleaning yer door. Ye know, just sparkling up the Black Pearl. When unexpectedly like, the door opened and we's fell into ye cabin, Captain."

Pintel looked to Ragetti for support.

"Yus, that's what 'appened." Ragetti agreed. "We didn't hear nothing' about how's ye, Ms. Swann and Mr. Turner are all frettin' like over how's Ms. Swann don't love Mr. Turner no more, but be wanten to be wit Captain Sparrow."

Pintel smacked Ragetti in the back of the head; hard enough to pop is eye out again. It took a few minutes, once again, to chase his eye, catch it, clean it and pop it back in.

Will just shook his head in disgust and walked out the door, without another word.

Elizabeth laughed. She knew she should be angry, but the tension was so high, that the ridiculousness of Pintel and Ragetti actions helped relieve it some. Within seconds, Jack's laughter joined hers.

After all of this heartaches, being able to laugh feels wonderful. Even if it is only for a moment.

"Get out you two." Elizabeth said to them. "Just get out."

Pintel and Ragetti scrambled, nearly tripping over each other, in their haste to leave. One of them slammed the door as they ran out.

Elizabeth walked over to the bed, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes, still chuckling. As she went to the chair, next to the bed, Jack moved the bottle of rum to the floor, after taking one last deep swig, and patted the spot next to him.

"Jack, you know the entire crew will know what has happened, before the day is out." She said, as she lay down next to him.

Cupping her chin, Jack pulled her face towards his, but instead of kissing her lips, as he had before, he gently kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks and nose.

"I wish luv, that I could take away ye pain." He gently kissed her lips. "As much as I'm "appy ye love me, I wish ye never 'ad to be put inta this position."

"Oh Jack," Elizabeth played with the beads in his beard. "As much as this hurts, it will heal. Given time. I hope Will and I can be friends. Once enough time has passed."

"I wish I could answer that, luv, but I dunno what the future holds fer Will." He lifted her hand, kissing the palm that bore a scar similar to his own.

"Remember, I still intend to 'ave me revenge on ye, for yer trickery and the Kraken." He said, leaning in and kissing her.

It was a deep, wild kiss. Teeth scrapped against each other, tongues dueled for control, breaths stopped, while hearts began to beat faster. Fingers ran through hair and hands roamed. Touching what could be touch, some quick and others slow, while the barriers of clothes and bedding stood between them.

Who knew that rum flavored kisses could be so sweet.

To Be Continued…