Only Jack & Liz in this chapter:)

Disclaimer: I do not own what I do not own.

Chapter 3

Elizabeth woke up shortly before the dawn. She opened her eyes, trying to remember where she was. The room was dark, except for a faint light coming from under the door from the other room.

It was very quiet, and she sat on the bed, straightening herself up noiselessly, when she noticed Jack sleeping in the armchair near the bed. He must have been here all night. Elizabeth smiled at the thought that he did not want to leave her alone, even if it meant for him to be sleeping in such an uncomfortable position.

Since yesterday, she tried to figure out what his feelings towards her might be like. Whether it was possible for a pirate to be in love with somebody? To love somebody eternally, at least as far as intentions were concerned... Maybe he just liked her? The very possibility frightened her. She looked at him, trying to recall the moment when she had realized that he had become an irreplaceable part of her life. Strangely enough, it seemed that it was in Tortuga, when she was looking for him in order to find Will. Or at least it was the reason that she had chosen to believe to be true at that time. He had said that the compass did not point North. It had indeed pointed to something else. He had said many things back then, many of which turned out not to be true. Not that they ever sounded very plausible in the first place. She should be wise enough not to believe him. She knew he was an incorrigible daydreamer.

But still, she believed in every word he said. If he would say that the sun is green, and the water dry, she would believe him. Perhaps for her, he was more important than the truth. And the truth would be of no importance without him, so she did not care about the truth anymore.

Quietly, she slipped off the bed, and squatted down beside him, taking his hands into hers. His hands were rough, and dry, affected by water, the sun, winds, storms, and all the adventures that she did not know about.

He smiled in his sleep, and tossed slightly. She looked at him for a moment, hesitating, and then, in one quick movement, she leaned towards him, and kissed him on the mouth.

She almost fell over, when Jack, without opening his eyes, said calmly:

"I almost thought ye're never going to do this, darling."

"Well, that was very... not fair of you!", exclaimed Elizabeth in an angry whisper.

It was actually the very first time, since her arrival on Tortuga, when she seemed to be her impulsive and touchy self once again.

Jack opened his eyes and looked at her with pretended astonishment.

"I'd say it was rather unfair of ye, to be taking advantage of me, while I was, supposedly, sleeping."

"Taking advantage of you?!"

It amused Jack, how seriously she treated all these silly jokes that he performed only to see her being indignant over something. She looked charmingly when she was indignant.

He rose from the armchair, and sat next to her on the bed. She tried to avoid his gaze, but he took her face in his hands, and, looking deeply into her eyes, said with a smile:

"Do not think, Lizzie, that I would fail to take advantage of ye", his smile slowly fainted, "if it wouldn't be for that unfortunate affair that has crossed our path."

"The Black Pearl", she whispered grimly.

"Aye."

Jack stood up and walked to the window. He was thinking about it throughout the night. He had slept maybe less than an hour altogether. He knew he will go after the Black Pearl, after the crew, even though he could probably leave them behind, as it was advised to do so in the code. But he could not do this. He did not want to do this. Yet, it would be incomprehensibly selfish to take Elizabeth along. She must not go with him. She must stay. She must go back home.

But it was so painful a decision to be made. How could he leave her, after she had come to him? Even if it was for her own good, it did not make the matter any easier.

And, moreover, he did not want to send her away.

"Jack?" She was standing beside him, looking worried.

He looked at her, and recounted to her briefly what Philip Fairwood had told him last night.

"Does he know where the Black Pearl might be right now?", asked Elizabeth doubtfully.

"He says he does", answered Jack blankly.

"It seems that we have a need to find a ship, which could take us there, wherever this there is", she said simply.

Jack looked at her for a moment, without saying a word. The day was starting off cloudy, but a faint light coming from the window from the rising sun, made Elizabeth's face look enchantingly dreamy and mysterious. It crossed Jack's mind that she would go with him, if he only asked her, if he only let her. But it would be a vile act to let her do this. And if he... And because he had these feelings towards her...

"Ye're not going anywhere, Elizabeth", he said quietly, but resolutely.

She looked as if she did not get his meaning too well at first. Then, she looked with disbelief. It hurt him that she looked so frightened, and he did not understand, why she should be frightened rather than surprised, or sad, or indifferent.

Well, he would not want her to look indifferent, but still...

"And why is that, Jack?", she whispered after a while.

It was unbearable to be watching her with that agonized expression on her face.

All of a sudden, he pulled her towards him, and kissed her passionately, madly, ceaselessly, until the kiss had to be broken in order for them to catch a breath.

She looked at him with amazement, not sure what was actually happening. Trying to think...

But he kissed her again, so she ceased to think.

"Can you...tell me now...where are we going?", she managed to asked, breaking the kiss for a moment.

"Isla de Dolor", answered Jack meekly.

From the outside the room, there came a sudden noise of a shot being fired.

Elizabeth and Jack froze to the spot.