Hey there. I am sorry! It has been a couple of weeks since I last updated, but as I have told a few of you, I have currently been in Hell (Band Camp) in the smoking, hot pit of despair called the state of Georgia in the summertime. Trust me, I would rather be writing for all of my wonderful readers (you guys rock, by the way) than marching around in one-hundred degree plus weather playing the trumpet.

But anyways. This is slightly smaller than the previous chapters. I kind of skipped backwards through time. I have been writing Jack and Lizzy's meeting with the Governor as of late, but I want it to be perfect before I decide to post it. Don't worry, the Governor will be coming very soon! So, sitting here thinking you guys needed an update, I looked through some of my finished works and decided to type this up. It is fluffy and romantic. Not quite as funny as the past chapters, though. But it works.

On a side note, please think of me in pity. I am starting school (SENIOR YEAR! KEEP IT REVVIN IN 007!) in just a few days. I have yet to read Macbeth, A Tale of Two Cities, and Twelfth Night. Why, of why, did I decide to take Advanced Placement Literature!

I have determined that some thanks are in order (and terribly overdue)!

BIG shout outs go to Niblet3, Mandylor Mirage, Shay Bo Bay, Sira Black, Eve13, Celebwen Telcontar, Sparkle 85, BellaMuerte13, EvilKath, Arienishi, Forget-Me-Nots and Marigolds, Jaby, Amber's Arrow, SoccerChic101, xVxAdriannaxVx, nadine-firefeather, Quirky Del, Unbeautifully-Broken, GGlova213, dancingintherain-tommys21, SSidle, MelissaFF, Too Lazy, Fists, anna, Mystic Spirit Angel, Riddle-Me-That, Amy Stars, Emmsi91, bananasrokk, sammy62, XxDarkFirexX, iorje, Amanda Michelle, malsie, Flowerlady, Cursive Obsession, hieilover014, mumblebee612, x3 TeenageDirtbag x3, Sparrabeth4ever, and mayonegg for reviewing!

And thank you to everyone else (there were too many names for my poor tired head to type up), for adding this story to their favorites and/or alerts. I don't think people realize just how much I love seeing my story accepted. It is one of life's indescribable feelings.

Now, read on and have fun.

A Pleasant Bath, by LadyKaceemort

In the middle of the night, Elizabeth Swann-Sparrow perched pensively on the side railing of the Black Pearl. Insomnia has taken hold of her mind, and sleep was elusive to her body. Earlier, she quietly withdrew herself from the warmth of the bed she and Jack shared in their cabin without waking him. Nodding to Mr. Cotton, who was at the helm during this late night, Elizabeth exercised her thoughts, as if to drive the restlessness out of her brain.

Idly she picked at a string on her old satin nightgown, one of the few remaining reminders of her old life of fortune. Elizabeth thought back wistfully to the days of her former life in an almost dreamlike reverie. Beautiful dresses (sans the corsets), luxurious food, servants, long, hot, perfectly pleasant baths...

How she longed for a bath. Being at sea for unknown amounts of time could not afford nor provide such a luxury. She would freshen up periodically by some means, but she always felt completely caked in filth and salt, with a stench that was positively atrocious. Granted, she was not even a third as bad as the rest of the crew, but it was still a little too ripe for her liking. One thing that amazed Elizabeth, though, was Jack's scent. He never smelled as foul or rank as the other men aboard the ship. Instead, he emitted an odor of sweet rum, exotic spices, and the sea. If freedom has a scent, that would be it...

Still, she craved a bath. A nice warm bath with the musky jasmine and patchouli salts she had acquired in India. Elizabeth could imagine the warm water rushing around her body, enveloping her in its pleasurable heat. She could feel all the dirt and filth washing away like dust in the wind. Wet arms would encircle her from behind as she leaned back into Jack's embrace. He would kiss her temple, then her cheek, the crevice of her neck, and would whisper sweet, nonsensical words in her ear. He would–

"Bloody Hell, I'm never going to get to sleep now!" Elizabeth whispered to herself, shaking her head to clear her rather racy thoughts.

"Sorry, love, if I'm that irresistible."

Elizabeth almost fell off the side of the ship at Jack's words. Turning her head around, she asked astonished, "How did you now I was thinking about you?"

Jack smirked and wrapped her arms around her frame from behind, eerily similar to her daydream moments before. "What else could keep you awake at night, all flushed and bothered?" he whispered huskily in her ear.

Elizabeth shivered. Damn, he was always right. As he kissed her neck, she recalled her previous thoughts and tensed.

Noticing her tight posture, Jack asked, "What's wrong, Lizzy?"

"I reek, Jack. I can't see how you can stand to be so near to me."

Jack threw his head back and laughed heartily, gold teeth glinting in the moonlight.

Jumping back onto the deck, Elizabeth put her hands on her hips angrily. "What is so bloody funny, Jack Sparrow?"

"Love, you don't smell at all! If anything, you smell quite nice, actually. Like the sea..."

Elizabeth sighed. "Jack, be honest. I am in dire need of a long, hot bath. Quite overdue, really."

Pulling Elizabeth into a comforting embrace, Jack soothed, "Lizzy, love, you smell fine. I know you miss the wonderful amenities the land has to offer, but we make do with what we can."

"I'm acting like a petulant child." A small tear escaped her eye.

"A very vulnerable one, indeed, in need of a sound debauching."

Elizabeth laughed merrily. Jack and his suggestions were always good at cheering her up.

Elizabeth was laying on the deck several days later under the warm Caribbean sun, intermittently perusing a book and watching Jack at the helm. Really, he was devilishly handsome and irresistible. And cocky and vain, and horribly cunning, and terribly, fully, and completely handsome. So, so, so handsome.

The book was then discarded in disinterest. Elizabeth's focus enjoyed watching Jack more than reading, clearly.

After some minutes had passed, Jack eventually noticed Elizabeth's judging stare. Grinning slightly, Jack said, "Love, I think I know something that might capture your attention a little better."

Standing up, Elizabeth replied, "Unless it involves a bed and far less clothing, I highly doubt that."

Pulling her to him with one arm, Jack smirked and looked off into the distance. "Lizzy, love, we'll get to that in a bit. I was actually referring to a small island there on the horizon."

Elizabeth turned her head in the direction of Jack's gaze. "What is so special about that little island?"

Smiling secretly, Jack whispered, "You'll see."

Leading Elizabeth by the hand behind him, Jack was striding determinedly through some thick trees on the island. He carried with him a small bag, and refused to show Elizabeth its contents. Jack gave the crew strict orders to clean the ship spotlessly, and said he had a small errand to run (on a seemingly deserted island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea) and would be back in a few hours. The crew did not question their Captain at all. Obviously, they were used to his odd behavior. But for Elizabeth, this Jack was entirely unsettling and terribly mysterious. He wouldn't even tell her where they were going.

"You'll see," was his answer for any question she had.

And Elizabeth did see. After a twenty minute walk into the growth of the island, they came upon a wonderfully clear and beautiful spring. Gaping, Elizabeth laughed in awe and hugged Jack tightly.

"You wanted a bath, love," he told her, tossing her some sweet smelling soap out of his bag.

Elizabeth divested herself of her clothing quickly and rushed into the tepid water. She sighed deeply as the water circled about her in what she could describe as nothing short of comforting.

Jack, too, was peeling his clothes off, but in less haste than his Lizzy. "I know it is a rather unorthodox bath, love, but it was the best I could come up with."

Submerging her hair in the water, Elizabeth looked at Jack with lust-lidded eyes. "Jack, this is bliss. You are so very, very wonderful to me. Now get in this water right now before I force you to come in myself."

Jack laughed, quite happy to comply.

Taking a bath together was an absolutely marvelous idea in Elizabeth's eyes. In Jack's, probably, as well. Her vision from several nights before was reenacted with great zeal, much to Elizabeth's pleasure. Jack's arms were holding Elizabeth close to his body in great satiation, a satisfied grin touching his lips.

"Jack, I'm sorry you had to go to all this trouble just so I could indulge myself in a frivolous want."

"No, trouble, Lizzy. No trouble at all, I assure you. Bathing has never been quite this... gratifying."

Elizabeth kissed Jack lazily. "I guess I just miss some of the pleasantries from my old life."

Jack grew uncharacteristically serious. "Aye, love," Jack acknowledged solemnly. "You left behind quite a life. I'd understand if you want to return to it someday." At Elizabeth protest, Jack put a clean finger to her lips. "Look, darling, look at your life now compared to your place as the governor's daughter. Wealth, luxury, relaxation. If it would make you happy to return to that, then I would turn 'round right now and take you back, if you wanted it." With a trademark smirk, he added, "But the Pearl would be seen at Port Royal quite often and graced with the illustrious Captain Jack Sparrow's presence, even on the threat of pain of death."

Tears fell from Elizabeth's eyes. "Jack, why would I want to return to the confines of my cage, gilded though it may be?"

"Love," Jack wiped the tears off her cheeks, "You were a princess."

A small smile grew on Elizabeth's face. "Aye, but why be a princess when all I ever dreamed of being was a pirate?"

Why, indeed? Feel free to review, if you want. I like hearing feedback, whether good or bad. Also, if any of you have a story idea you would want me to write about, please throw it at me. I only want to write what you guys, the readers, want to read.