Pride

Jack rested his head against Elizabeth's with a feeling of joy he had forgotten he could have. For hours they had talked about their lives and dreams while they sat on the beach, Lizzy in his arms; Jack never would've guessed that a woman could have made him talk so much, not even about himself. The sun was finally shining fully and Jack knew that soon Gibbs would wake to find his two companions gone.

"Lizzy, we best be heading back to camp. Gibbs will be wondering where we ran off to." he whispered with a chuckle.

Lizzy sighed. "I'd prefer to stay here, Jack. I'm happy here."

"Well love, it'd be best to join him." he said, rolling his eyes.

"Jack, I'm staying here. Are you too prideful to admit to your feelings?" she asked him, her eyes forcing him to look away for once. Their intensity scared Jack.

Jack tensed up at the accusation. Only once had someone talked to him about his pride and that time it had been Lilliana; Jack instinctively glanced down at the bit of lace on his wrist at the thought of her. That time, he had known it was for the better. But this time, he wasn't so sure. Gibbs was a man of outlandish beliefs. No matter what you told him, he had a tale of bad luck to lead you out of a decision. No doubt he has something to discourage my feelings and a hearty bout of laughter will follow as soon as I explain that nothing shall change my mind. Jack thought.

Who cares, Jack. Let him laugh.

Jack shook his head slightly since Lizzy wasn't looking at him, his eyes widening in surprise and annoyance. I thought you were gone! Leave me alone. I already admitted what you were telling me to!

Not really, Jack. You're not ready to tell Mr. Gibbs. Until then, I stick around.

Jack groaned. Fine then, you frustrating…

As a stream of curses ran across Jack's mind, he stood and paced, his feet sinking in the sand.

"Jack, please, let's just stay here. Its so beautiful right now." Elizabeth said, here hair tangling more as the wind cascaded through the golden strands. She gazed out at the lagoon, smiling at the calm water.

He hated refusing her requests, but maybe it was true. Maybe he was too full of pride to let Gibbs in on what his heart truly wanted. "I don't think so, love."

"Why not?"

"Because," Jack began, stopping as soon as he lost his reason. "I said so."

Elizabeth chuckled. "You have no reason do you?"

"I do."

"And what might that be?"

"I am rather hungry." he admitted as his stomach gurgled with discomfort.

"I am too, I suppose." she sighed. "But, I'll wait."

Jack stopped his pacing and clenched his fists. Long before he had ever had feelings for her, he had been stranded with Lizzy. He had learned then that she was not to be trusted and that her stubbornness was worse than Davy Jones' iron grip on people's fates. Why couldn't I have remembered this sooner? he asked himself.

"Fine then, stay here, but I'm going back to camp to find food." he said, his mustache twitching with impatience.

"Alright. See you soon." she said with a smile, and Jack's blood began to fill his cheeks. He couldn't help but gaze at her with confusion. He walked over to her quickly and knelt to the ground beside her, all anger and frustration gone for the moment. "I thought you were leaving…" she said, her left eyebrow raising.

"I was. But I couldn't leave without one thing." he grinned. He leaned his head down and his lips met hers. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, forgetting himself and his hunger until, once again, his stomach growled furiously.

Lizzy giggled.

Stupid stomach. Jack complained to himself as he opened his eyes and pulled his lips away from hers with a groan. "See you when you get hungry."

XXX

Jack walked into the camp after catching a few slow fish from the further hidden reaches of the lagoon. He knew that soon they would have to get off the island, but he hoped not too soon. Jones would soon realize the trick Jack had played on him and would hunt every inch of the seas and every spit of land until he was found and his debt repaid. Jack sighed as he knelt before the dying fire. Then he noticed a figure staring at him out of the corner of his eye.

"Hello, Sparrow." said the thundering voice of James Norrington.

Jack looked up and frowned. "Oh bugger!"

"Surprised to see me? Did you think me dead? Of course you did. And you hoped I was, didn't you?" James asked rudely.

"No. No. I merely hope to escape before I could've possibly died."

"Of course. Jack Sparrow only looks after himself."

He shook his head, and then stepped over to the sleeping Mr. Gibbs. "Not quite. As you see, I saved someone else. I'm not entirely selfish."

James laughed, his hair dripping drops of water. "Jack, you killed your crew, and the one person I would've thought you'd protect."

"And who might that be? Because, as far as you've said, you believe I would only save myself." he grinned, but on the inside he was panicking.

"Elizabeth Swann."

Jack cleared his throat. "Why, she's on this island as well, Mr. Norrington." he said smugly.

Norrington's eyes widened. "So I was right all along." he said, seemingly to himself.

"What?"

"You care for her, don't you?"

Oh no!

This is good, Jack! This is exactly the thing you need. You have to tell someone, and who better than this pathetic weasel.

Norrington will be as bad as Gibbs!

"Jack, you love her, don't you?"

"No." Jack replied.

"You're lying, Jack. I can see it in your eyes. That's why you saved her life."

"No."

"Why did you save her then?" James asked, his eyes intense with eagerness.

Jack searched his mind for something worth saying; something that would be believable to this man. Nothing came to mind.

"Jack, admit it."

Jack began to wish he had stayed with Elizabeth on that peaceful beach, but he was to prideful to stay. And now the reason he hadn't stayed had caught up to him in another form. He sighed, and then opened his mouth to speak.

"I-"

"James!" cried Elizabeth suddenly, interrupting Jack's confession.

That was close.