…she handed me her pistol. "Can you shoot?" I nodded again. "Good. You've got four shots. Make them count." And with that, she was gone and I was locking the door.

Chapter Four…Or Not

I lay alone in my room till well after dark before Ana Maria returned. "Ginia?" She whispered through. "Are you sleeping?"

I stood up and unlocked. "No."

"Good." I saw her teeth flash in the darkness. "The captain's got your reward all ready." I rose to my feet and reached for my dress. "It's just the captain, Gin. Everyone else is sleeping."

I rolled my eyes and moved towards her, pulling on a long coat. "Lead the way, then." I sighed as her grin widened immeasurably.

When Ana Maria suddenly stopped only a few doors from my own she turned to me. "Here we are. Why don't you go on in?" I swallowed as she pushed the door open and motioned for me to enter.

I stepped into the dim room and my eyesight was suddenly lost as I was blindfolded. I attacked the first thing I felt and I heard a laugh. "That's my bed you're killing." Jack chortled. "Now, calm down so I can give you your surprise."

"I don't want anything." I argued as I felt his hands on my shoulders.

"Well, isn't that just a shame? I'll give you one chance to change your mind, but first, you have to see what I have for you."

I huffed impatiently and nodded. "Let's get this over with, then."

Jack pulled me forward a ways before removing his hands. I heard something being unlocked and then his hands were over the blindfold, removing it gently. "Well?" He laughed as I gasped at the sight before me. I stared at the jewels, silk, and other beauties that lay in the chest before me. "I'm hoping your silence means you enjoy this." He laughed nervously.

I turned swiftly and found my lips mere inches from his. "What is this?" I breathed. "I thought maybe a trinket or something. Nothing like this."

Jacks eyes looked soft and warm in the light provided by the moon and the single candle. "You can have your pick of anything in that chest. As much as you like."

I turned back to the chest and knelt gently, dipping my fingers into the treasure. "Jack, this is too much. Don't you have anything… less elaborate?" I looked at him as he moved to kneel beside me.

"No." He whispered. "I want you to pick something from here. It's from my first year as captain of the Pearl. This treasure is important to me. It signifies something. Though, I'm really not quite sure what that might be."

"Oh, Jack…" I leaned over and hugged him tightly. "I can't choose." I said, looking back over the gems. "There's no way."

"How about if I choose something for you then?" He asked, reaching in. I nodded at him and he suddenly pulled out a handful of jewels. Opening his hand he looked at the plunder. "What about this?" He held up a silver chain with a small silver heart, a sapphire embedded in the center of the heart. I felt my eyes bug and he grinned. "The heart it is then!" He laughed. Moving behind me, Jack clasped the necklace in place about my throat.

Slowly, I lifted a silver mirror and peered into it. "It's beautiful, Captain." I whispered in a low, breathy voice. "It's absolutely beautiful."

"Just like your eyes." He murmured in my ear. "It's the same blue of your eyes. Sparkling amidst a sea of silver."

I turned towards him suddenly, my eyes wide at the emotions filling his voice. Jack stared into my eyes for a moment before his head moved forward a bit. I didn't realize that I'd moved as well but our lips met slowly, so I must have. My eyes fluttered closed even as he pulled back. I opened my eyes and he looked away, suddenly ashamed. "Jack?" I moved my hand towards his forearm but he stood up and stepped back.

"You- you should go." He muttered. "We've got quite a ways to sail tomorrow so I'm waking the crew early."

For some reason, my eyes filled with tears and I turned away. "Very well, Captain Sparrow." I told him coldly. "I shall see you in the morning." And I marched from his room, down the hall, and into my own room where I proceeded to collapse on my bed without even bothering to remove the greatcoat about my shoulders.

I had the oddest feeling that someone was watching me and I sat up. Looking towards the door I saw Jack's sad face illuminated by the light of the moon. "What is it?" I called out to him. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry." He answered.

"For what?" I slid off the bed and padded over to him.

"I reacted badly." He looked away from me. "I promise I'll use better judgment next time."

"What are you talking about?" I placed a hand on his shoulder and his eyes met mine.

"The kiss." He whispered. "I shouldn't have kissed you."

I sighed and settled my fingertips against his cheek. "I didn't mind it." I told him, quietly. "In truth, I wished it had lasted a bit longer."

Jack stared at me in disbelief. "Virginia…" He turned away quickly. "Nothing can happen between us. It isn't right."

"What isn't right?" I grabbed his shoulder and spun him towards me, gasping at the sight of him. Jack's handsome features melted away, revealing the bone and sinew beneath his flesh.

"I'm a pirate." He moaned. "I don't have a penny to my. I don't even have a good reputation. I love women and rum and I'll never be able to put either aside. Dishonesty runs in my blood. It would be torture for any woman to love me in a way beyond the physical one. I can't put you through that."

I touched the zombie-like face sadly. "Then I will put myself through it." I choked. "I don't care about the piracy. I don't care about rum and women and other such things, either. I care about you, Jack."

Jack's face reverted back to his normal state and his lips pressed against my own in a feverish kiss. "Virginia…" He whispered. "Sweet Virginia…"