Elizabeth darted through the crowd of anxious citizens. The rain had stopped. The scare from the fire had died down. She needed to find Jack. The fact that she was pregnant changed everything. Her main problem was that she was in love with a man who was not her baby's father. 'I'm no better than all those wenches in Tortuga." she scorned herself. Shoving past a group of drunken men, she heard whistling and cat calls thrown her way. "Ugh!" she scoffed. Seeing the Black Pearl awaiting, she found herself running faster. She shivered from the icy cold on her unclothed arm.

What would Jack say when he heard the news? Should she tell him? Elizabeth stopped for a breath. She should tell him. He needed to know. Now that she was carrying a child, she had to be safe...but the entire East India Trading Company was after her. "Perfect!" she sarcastically screamed aloud. The people of Douglass Island eyed her curiously. She started heading for the docks again when she noticed the Black Pearl was taking off without her. "Uh-oh." She ran up the dock and dove into the warm water.

Coming up for air, Elizabeth swan to the Pearl. When she was swimming along the side of the ship, she reached out and grabbed onto one of the cracks in the wood. She yelled up to the crew, "Gibbs! Cotton! Marty! Ragetti! Pintel! Anyone? Hello!" No one looked over the edge to spot her. She spit out some sea water. 'They can't hear me...' It was then she saw a long rope dangling over the stern of the ship. Grabbing onto it, she carefully tried to pull herself up with her only healthy arm. The arm she couldn't use dangled at her hip. All she could really do was push herself up with her legs.

Elizabeth sprawled onto the deck, gasping for air. The climb had worn her out. Before she knew it, the crew all had their pistols pointed down at her head. Laying on the deck, she grunted, "Put those away!" Barbossa came from behind the men, looking confusedly at Elizabeth. "Miss Elizabeth? Begging your pardon." He shoved one of the pirates, "Stupid bilge rats! Hold yer fire! Guns down!" He held out a hand to her, "Madam." She sighed, taking it, lifting herself onto her feet. She stood erect, "Thank you, Barbossa." She nodded to his monkey, who screeched. "You too, Jack."

Just then, Gibbs appeared in front of her. He gave her a big hug, then back away, embarrassed. He apologized, "Sorry, Miss Elizabeth. I just thought you were-" "Dead." Barbossa finished his sentence. She laughed, "No, I'm fine."
"So we can see." Jack's first mate pulled her aside.
"Where's Jack?" she asked, looking around.
Gibbs spoke below a whisper, "In his cabin. He thinks yer dead, miss. He's..."
"Upset?"
He nodded shyly.
"Well, then, I think the best thing to do is tell him I'm alive." She started to walk away.
He grabbed her by the elbow, "Miss... it's not my business to ask such a question... heaven help me if Jack finds out...but, are you and the Cap'n... together?"
Elizabeth yanked her arm away, snarling, "You're right! It's none of your business! If you must know, we most certainly are not. Have you forgotten I'm married, Mr. Gibbs?"
"Er, no. But-"
"Well then, are you insinuating that I would be unfaithful to my husband? With JACK of all people?"
"Elizabeth, I-"
"Excuse me, but I think I best go see Jack. Don't worry, I'll be a good girl." she growled, pouting.

She stomped off, mumbling explicit things about Gibbs. Halfway to the cabin, she realized that she wasn't mad at him at all. Only at herself for wishing that his insinuation was correct. She thought about going back to apologize, but decided to spare Jack of having to live another minute thinking she was dead. Twisting the knob, she pulled the giant door open.

Jack sulked at his desk, compass in one hand, a rum flask in the other. Dead. Elizabeth was dead. And it was all his fault. He should have left her on that little island. She could have fended for herself. She was strong. And brave. He sipped some rum. And beautiful. And smart. And he felt like he...

He heard the doorknob to his cabin turn. He shut the compass and threw it aside. The rum flask was at his mouth, the alcohol diving down his throat. His guest's footsteps were heard from across the room, but he did not look up to see who it was. He lectured the stranger, "It is proper to knock." "I'm sorry," the person replied, "would you like me to go back out and try again." It was her. Elizabeth.

Jack's eyes shot up to meet hers. There they were. Big. Brown. Beautiful. And alive, that was also good. "Elizabeth?" he asked as if he was unsure of the woman standing in front of him. She smiled at him, "Are you okay?" He stood up, stumbling over to her. He declared, "I thought you were dead."
"Hardly. I left the tavern out the back door. I needed some air."
He said nothing. He wanted to kiss her so badly.
"Jack, there's something I need to tell you-"
"What were you thinking?" he interrupted, "Were you TRYING to scare me to death? Do you want to kill me...again?"
Their happy reunion sailed away. She was mad now, "Stop bringing that up! Forget it! You said you forgave me!"
"I lied! I tend to do that!" What was he saying? He wasn't being like this purposely.
She frowned, "Wretch!"
"Spoiled rotten girl!"
"You...insufferable pirate!"
"Scorn woman!"
She barred her teeth, "Egotistical bastard!"
"Back-stabbing murderess!"
"I'm pregnant! Ha!" She gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.

'No! I didn't mean it!' she wanted to say it out loud. Had she just used her pregnancy as a... comeback? Elizabeth silently screamed. Jack was quiet. His face showed no emotion. She tried to read his eyes, but they were just as unclear. He only stared at her blankly. He never blinked. She looked at the ground, dropping her arms, "Jack, I-"
"Did you just say 'I'm pregnant' to get back at me? To upset me?"
"I just-" she leaned on a nearby chair.
"Because it sounded like you did. And I just wanted to ask you, Mrs. Turner, why that would affect me in any way."
Her mouth stayed shut.
"Why would that affect me in any way?" He waited for a response.
"I don't know," was all she could offer.
"Obviously you had some motive for saying that."
"I guess I subconsciously thought it would anger you..."
"Well, it doesn't. I don't even know if I... believe you."
She raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"How am I to know that you really are... pregnant... or you just decided to make something up to TRY to upset me?"
"I really am, Jack. I realized it this morning."
"Sure." Sarcasm lurked in his voice.
"Think about it, Jack. Ever since you fetched me from Curdy, haven't I been weepy? Don't I get dizzy easily? Aren't I constantly throwing up? If you want more proof, I'm sure I'll be getting round within a few weeks."

Anger? Was that anger in his eyes? Frustration? Is that what clouded his face? His furrowed brow was at a sharp angle, piercing her heart. The frown on his lips taunted her. She looked down to see one of his hands balled into a fist. She examined it, only to find it relax after a few moments. She moved her eyes to his face once again. Whatever had masked it before was gone, leaving the Jack she knew and loved. Elizabeth smiled slightly.

To her surprise, he returned it with a real smile. He held out a ring-clad hand, saying, "Congratulations, Lizzie." She stared at the hand, speechless. In awe. After a second or two, she put her own in his. He shook it, mumbling, "William will be... very happy when he gets home." Her smile faded, she sighed, "Right. Will."
"You alright?"
"Sure. I'll be fine. This is just..." She was at a loss for words.
"I can imagine."
"It changes everything."
He was silent again.
"I'm going to have to keep myself safe."
"I'll make sure you are. You know, love... Captain Swann, there is a downside to this matter."
She cocked he head like he did when he was confused.
"I hear a woman shouldn't drink while she's expecting."
"I know." Fake disappointment was displayed on her face.
"Of course, the good news is, that means more for me." A sly grin appeared. Her knees began shaking.
"Elizabeth, is you want to go home, you can."
"What?"
"The only way you can assure your child's safety is to leave the piratical life."
"Jack, no matter what kind of life I lead from now on, the Company will always be looking for me."
"Well-"
"To tell you the truth, I feel much safer with you..." Her voice trailed.
He smirked.
"And other pirates, rather than by myself."
"Hmm." He seemed to be in deep though.
"What do I have to do for you to forgive me for killing you, Jack?"
He shrugged. "I don't know, Lizzie. It's hard to forgive someone who murdered you without warning. Without reason. Without considering the consequences of their actions. I sat in the Locker for days, trying to comprehend why you would do such a thing. I could think of nothing. No matter what I'd done to you in the past, I knew I always made it up to you and it was always for your own good. I'd saved you and your whelp's lives countless times. I could come up with nothing. All I could assume was that you were a charming murderess. What gets me is that you killed me by means of trickery and deception. Very unlike you."

Elizabeth had never heard Jack be so honest and serious. His words hurt her. She never imagined that his murder would have effected him this much. And this is what he thought of her? A "charming murderess"? It sounded nicer than the "back- stabbing murderess" he'd called her by a few minutes before. Her eyes lingered on his. They seemed to be thinking still. Solving a puzzle. She could think of nothing to say. She tried, "Jack, I-"
"Just leave, Elizabeth. Please."
She nodded. Holding back tears, she started walking to the door. Something held her back. She turned around and saw that it was her hand still in his. They both gazed at their intertwined fingers. He slowly untangled then, then relaxed his arm. Elizabeth almost whimpered at the loss of contact. She headed for the door again, not looking back.