Chapter Five: A dream.

"Mr. Gibbs?" I whisper, tapping his shoulder. "Mr. Gibbs? I need you on deck."

"I'll cut you for stealing you slack-jawed idiot!" Gibbs shouts waving his pistol in the air. "Oh. Miss Swann, my apologies. Now what is it you need, miss?"
"I have sent Jack to his cabin 'cause he fell asleep at the helm. And I would appreciate someone on deck to steer the Pearl to our, unknown to me, destination." I whisper so not to wake the crew. "Could you wake Pintel, Ragetti, Marty and Cotton, then could you join me at the helm?"

I return to the helm, waiting for Gibbs. I look up at the night sky then to the horizon. "The sea is so calm. It is like mirror." I sigh. I finally spot the selected crew come on deck. I beckon to Gibbs.

"Mr. Gibbs, would you mind the helm for a while. As far as I know, you are the only other one that knows where we're headed. I'm going to rest in Jack's cabin. Come get me when we are close to said place. Aye?"

"Aye, Miss Elizabeth." Gibbs replies in a soft voice.

"Try not to wake Jack. Keep order on deck, but keep quiet. Savvy?" I make my way, slowly but quietly, to Jack's cabin. I unlatch the door and peak in. 'Good, Jack is still asleep…' I tiptoe to Jack's bed and pick up a spare blanket under it. I softly tread over to Jack's desk and curl up in the large chair. You know being in a dress has its advantages. It can keep you warm 'because there's so much material. Just as I begin to drift off to sleep I hear a shuffling, mumbling noise. I look over to Jack. 'Looks like someone is waking up…' I continue to watch him, curious as to what his reactions will be. The last thing he knew, he caressing me while I was at the helm. Jack starts mumbling something, but I am to far away to make out what he's saying. 'Damn my unstoppable curiosity!' I slink across the floor to sit at the edge of the bed. I finally hear Jack's exact words.

"Elizabeth… I want you to be mine… mmmm…Please. From the moment I met you, I've always loved you…" Jack whispered in his sleep. I am touched by those words. Why hasn't he told me these directly to me?

"You know it's rude to watch the captain sleep by his bed." I could tell Jack wasn't sleeping anymore. His voice is now strong and directed to me.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I'll leave you to sleep."

"Oh, no you won't!" Jack grabs my wrist and pulls me onto his bed. With my back to his chest, I could feel his heart beating as calm as the ocean waves. "How did I get down here? Why were you in my face?" Jack whispers in my ear his lips brushing against it. I sit up with my back to Jack. Jack sits up and puts his hand on my shoulder… I turn to face him.

"Firstly, I brought you down here 'because you fell asleep in my arms at the helm. Secondly, I heard you talking in your sleep and I was curious what you were talking about."

"Talking in me sleep, eh? What did I say?"

"Oh, god! What should I say!?" I bite my lower lip trying to find the right words. I tuck my head down. I am so embarrassed. My face grew hot as I found what words to say.

"Don't be embarrassed, Love. You can tell good ole Jack anything." I feel two gentle fingers pull my chin up to face Jack. His chocolate brown, kohl-lined eyes look intently into mine.

"I think you said my name a few times. You said you want me. That you have always loved me from the moment you first met me." I wait for a response. "Jack?"

"Yes, love?" I seem to have knocked him out of a trance.

"Is it true? Is what I just told you true?"

"I can't tell you."
"Oh." I turn my back towards Jack. 'I guess I gave my heart to the wrong man'

"No, no. That's not what I mean." Jack pauses. "Many years ago, I swore to meself that I would never fall in love with a woman…that my one and only love is the sea. Well, as you can most likely see, true love is inevitable. Look where it has brought us."

"Jack, I just don't want to be alone anymore. And if you're just going to treat me like another Tortuga Wench, then let me off at the nearest port so I may go home." Tears begin to swell in my eyes.

"Elizabeth? Look at me, please?" I turn around with tears streaming down my face. The look on Jack's face is unforgettable. He is concerned about my happiness here. Jack raises his hand to my face and wipes the tears away. The roughness of his calloused hands brought comfort and certainty to me. "I'm never going to leave you. From the moment I met you, I have been the happiest that I've been in all my years. And I'm sure you feel the same, with me."

"Yes, I do." I sniffle and wipe my face with my sleeve. "So, what you said is true." Jack tilts his head down and sighs with a smile, gently caressing my hands.

"Yes, Elizabeth. What I said is true…true to the last syllable. I love ye, Lizzie. I just had a hard time finding a way to tell you. People see me as a heartless scallywag. It would feel very much like a eunuch for me to feel all emotional. I wouldn't want everyone to see me like that. If that did happen, I'd lose you, then I would never forgive meself for it."

"Oh, Jack. Hold me…hold me like there is no tomorrow." Jack took me in his arms. Jack leans against the headboard of his bed and lifts me to sit sideways on his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his shoulder. We stayed like this for hours until we both fell asleep in each other's comforting embrace.

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