Disclaimer: Jack…I mean Captain Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth, and the rest of the characters of POTC are not mine.

Chapter 3 The Wrath of Elizabeth

"Jack…I'm …going to…kill…you," Elizabeth sputtered, as she tried to stay afloat while being pulled down by her heavy wedding gown.

"On the contrary, luv," Jack said. "You wouldn't kill me because you need me. It's a natural fact that you don't kill those who you have intimate relations with."

Elizabeth had no strength to respond. She continued to struggle in the water. The two were a little away from cliff that they had just jumped from, two specks in the water that an onlooker might have presumed as floating debris. Elizabeth was in a foul mood, mad at Jack for thinking of such an idiotic plan and annoyed at herself for ever thinking that it wouldn't be like the pirate's other foolish ideas. She was nearly sinking due to the excess weight of the wedding dress she had refused to take off for dignity and personal reasons.

Jack brought out his sword and said to her, "Now stay still, pet, or I can't say that you'll still have that pretty little face of yours."

"You…aren't going…to use that…are you…?" she gasped while also taking in a large amount of warm, salty water. "I…won't let…you ru…in my wedding…dress." She tried to move away from Jack, yet to no avail. The gap between them was diminishing.

"Now don't fuss, luv," the pirate responded. "It won't hurt a bit. In fact, I believe it would benefit both of us."

"It's…not my…fault…that this is…happening. You're the…one who got…us in…to this…bloody…pre…dica…ment in the…first place," Elizabeth exclaimed furiously. "I sho…uld have… never…listened to…your stu…pid…ide..."

Suddenly her foot got caught in the folds of her voluminous dress. "Oh," she gasped and found herself going down and struggling to breathe in air, yet instead was gulping in water.

"'Lizbeth," Jack cried and immediately dove down after her.

†††††

Elizabeth felt weightless under the water, free from the hassles of the world…from everything that had occurred since she had met Jack. She opened her eyes, not minding the stinging of the salty water on her eyes. The sun's rays pierced through the radiant waters, glancing off the dark sand at the bottom of the bay. As she drifted down, she began to lose conscience of her surroundings. Excruciating pain filled her senses. A dark blur passed her blurring vision and she felt pressure around her waist. She was now being pushed up, up toward the surface…

†††††

She sputtered and gasped in the warm Caribbean air when she and Jack Sparrow broke the water's surface. Grasping the pirate tightly, she rested her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath. She dared not look at his face once she was breathing normally again, yet still held onto him for dear life.

"I did not need any saving Mr. Sparrow…" she mumbled awkwardly.

"No need to lie, pet," Jack said in her ear. "I was very much delighted to save you again…although you are awfully heavy with said wedding dress"

"You know my answer Jack," Elizabeth said darkly, raising here head and looking into his dark kohl-lined eyes.

"Suit yourself, luv" he responded as he shifted her slightly so that he was in more comfortable position to swim in. "Now be a dear, darling, by kicking those nice long legs of yours."

Elizabeth gave Jack a glaring look.

"For your information, I am perfectly capable of swimming by myself," she snapped at him. "I am grateful for your help, but do not require any assistance from this point on."

"If that be your wish…I'll just be right here when you do need my help," he responded.

She removed herself from Jack's hold and suddenly felt the weight of her dress pulling her down once again. However, stubborn and annoyed with Jack's antics, she refused to give in to her weariness and pain. After several futile moments of floundering in the water (in such a way that she knew her father would have fainted at), she finally stopped and waded, staring out of the bay's opening, into the vast sea. They had drifted off near the place where there was the sign warning pirates to stay away from Port Royal. Elizabeth shuddered at the sight of the pirates hanging next to it; their bodies now reduced to skeletons looming over Jack and her in ominously. There was a still long way yet to go and were at risk, just like those pirates who were now swaying with the wind.

"Oh bugger," she mumbled as she saw how far they were from the bay's opening. Jack was completely right. She just couldn't do it alone. Turning around slowly, she faced her "rescuer", who was not far behind her. She found him lying on his back, eyes closed, hat resting on top of his stomach.

"Yes, luv," he asked her, seemingly aware that she was staring at him. He got off his back and placed his hat on his head before turning to grin at her mischievously.

"Jack…" she started.

"Captain Jack," he admonished.

Ignoring his comment she began again. "Jack…I need your…"

Jack was gracious enough to let her leave it with that. "My pleasure, luv," he said, offering his hand to her.

She grabbed it reluctantly and soon found herself being pulled into Jack's strong arms. Although soaking wet, she could smell the rum on his breath and clothes. His warmth was comforting and desirable. She pulled herself a little closer to him.

"Shall we, luv?" Jack asked seductively, obviously aware that she had moved in closer to him.

"Please don't make this harder than it really is," she said with clenched teeth.

"I'm not doing anything 'Lizbeth, I'm heartbroken that you would think that I am that kind of man."

Elizabeth decided that she would ignore him and started kicking, which caused Jack to follow suit. There was a moment of silence between them as they swam slowly towards the bay's opening. Their haggard breathing was the only sound that could be heard amongst the moving waves. The sun beat heavily on them unmercifully. Elizabeth was deathly tired and she was sure Jack was also for he was supporting most of her weight upon himself.

Finally they reached the end of the bay. It seemed that everything was going well until Elizabeth spotted a ship on the horizon, an English navy ship to be more exact.

"Jack," she said with a note of fear in her voice.

Yet Jack did not answer. She turned around to face the pirate and noticed that they had stopped right in the middle of the bay's opening. The pirate was staring at her, no, not at her, but behind her, where the ship that she had just seen was. However, a smile graced his dark features, something that she had not expected.

"Why are you smiling Jack?" she asked accusingly. "Don't you see the ship…what will happen to us, to you? You'll be hanged."

"The Pearl," he whispered softly, yet with a hint of pride.

"Are you mad?" she said incredulously. Turning around once again, she continued, "That's and English shi…"

And there on the horizon was a black ship with black sails, moving swiftly with the wind, faster than the navy vessel that was coming toward Port Royal. Elizabeth now very much had enough of all that had happened to her in the last several hours. She stopped trying to attempt to swim and closed her eyes, not caring what would happen to her at that point.

This time Jack caught here effortlessly. Elizabeth's eyes fluttered; her brow furrowed, yet she did not awaken. Jack watched her lovely face until she appeared calm and relaxed, gently brushing his had against it. He then whispered into her ear, "Told you I had it all planned out Lizzie."

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