-110. Cannot Change a Pirate

Elizabeth visited Will no more in the brig, though she thought about he and Jack in her hammock. What happened, she asked herself? The best answer she could think of was simple: she grew up. The girl she once was perhaps belonged to Will, but the woman she'd become could be tamed by no man. And in this what man would want such a woman? Life momentarily seemed a lonely prospect, until she remembered Jack Sparrow.

As if I could ever forget him. Groaning, she turned over in her hammock, trying to forget the exquisite sensation of his fingers on her skin. Of all the men to be so intrigued by, why him? Why the most untamable man to ever have sailed the seas? Because you don't want a man who can be tamed, she told herself. You want a man who will be a challenge forever.

Admitting this was perhaps her most honest thought of the day. Momentarily satisfied, but mostly exhausted, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The sound of orders being shouted above deck woke Elizabeth. Curious what all the fuss was about so very early in the morning, she groggily rolled out of her hammock, and headed up top. At the back of the boat, several of the crew were standing by the rail, watching something behind them, including Jack. Worried they were being pursued once again, Elizabeth rushed up to look. "What's going on?" she asked, pushing in to stand beside Jack. He seemed startled by her presence, jumping a little.

"Ah…nothin' much, love. Just a bit of necessary protocol…"

Straining her eyes against the glare of the bright morning sun, she looked out to sea, and finally made out a boat. A small boat, a dingy, but not the Pearl's. One they had salvaged from the sunken Avenger. And there appeared to be someone inside the boat.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed. "Is that Will in that boat?"

Eyes wide, she turned to Jack, appalled. Sensing the danger of the impending situation, the crew quickly vacated the back deck, not wanting to be around when the fight broke out. By the tone of her voice, they all were dead sure Elizabeth was going to let Jack have it good this time.

"Maybe…" said Jack, looking aside with a grimace.

Elizabeth looked back out to sea at the little boat continuously growing smaller and smaller in size as they sailed away, leaving Will behind. "I asked you not to kill Will, so you maroon him on a tiny boat in the middle of the ocean?"

"Well, not exactly…"

Jack gave one of his characteristic shrugs, which this time infuriated Elizabeth more than charmed her. "Why would you do that?" Elizabeth shouted, shoving Captain Sparrow in a daring fit. Eyes suddenly darkening, the Captain fought back, grasping her upper arms and forcing her against the railing. She stood trapped between his two arms clutching the rail on either side of her, suddenly very aware of the long fall from the ship into the ocean, and also very aware of the closeness of his body, the thrumming tension in his muscles. The simultaneous fear and arousal confused Elizabeth, which further fueled her anger. "You keep expecting this high morale behavior from me love, but you keep forgetting that you're dealing with a pirate."

Elizabeth glared at the Captain. "What happened to the good man in you, Jack? You were doing so well."

Jack pursed his lips, unconvinced. "I think its all in your head, love. And you can't blame me for that."

"You promised me he would be spared," she said, voice low, but oh so venomous. "That I can blame you for."

Exasperated, he exclaimed, "I 'aven't condemned him to the nasty end you think, Elizabeth. He has food, water, a paddle, and way over there is an island with a port." Jack pointed in the direction of the island, but she could barely discern the form of land so far in the distance, only a vague darkness against the horizon. "It's more than fair, love, especially for a man who tried with such zeal to kill me. It's pirate custom to make them walk the plank."

His sudden anger seemingly gone as quickly as it had come, and pushed away from the railing. Aware of how poorly she'd misjudged him, she sighed. "Jack…" Elizabeth reached for his hand, grasping for something to hold on to him. He was so illusive, the legendary pirate, skipping in and out of her head and heart from villain to hero. Never a saint, but always fierce, and always a better man than he had to be. A perfect pirate.

At feeling her soft fingers press his palm, Jack turned back to Elizabeth. "You cannot change what I am, love," he said softly. Jack turned over her hand, pressing lips to the back of it with a kiss so gentle, so opposite of what he'd been just moments before. Elizabeth watched him walk away, longingly, and only more so convinced than she had been before. How could these moments so tender come from a man who proclaimed to be mostly bad?

Good? Bad? Let me know what you think!