"Hey, watch it, buddy!" the butcher of Cutterby yelled at Jack as he bumped into him. The pirate bowed, stifling, "Apologies," he looked up, "nice...er, meat." He began searching the crowd for Elizabeth. She was on her way to persuade Robert Stanson to repair the Black Pearl without charging. Jack was now following her to ensure her safety, even though she had specifically asked him not to. "I don't need help," she had said, "I am not afraid of some ex-soldier who thinks he can charge pirates extra because they're...well, pirates!" Jack had shaken his head at her, assuring, "You need some backup, just in case."
"I have had plenty of experience in dealing with dangerous men."
"Plenty, but not enough."
She's glared at him. "If I find someone following me, I'll turn around and come back. You'll have to find someone else to persuade Stanson. I'm sure Gibbs would look lovely in this dress."
He'd risen his hands in surrender, "Alright! You win! You funeral."
"I shouldn't even be dressed like this. I'm going to be a mother in a few months."
"Don't remind me..." he'd mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing. Go." he's waved her off.

As if he would listen to Elizabeth! Now, Jack was following her through the marketplace of Cutterby Island. She was unaware, of course. If she looked back, he ducked or hid behind something so that she wouldn't spot him. Gibbs had volunteered to be her "bodyguard", but Jack knew that he would be distracted by the many saloons that Cutterby offered. Not that Jack wasn't yearning for a good time as well, but, whether he believed it himself or not, Elizabeth was more important than rum at this time. If something happened to her, the Pearl would probably never get repaired.

Jack passed a few dress shops and eateries as he lingered behind Elizabeth. He was about three yards away, but sometimes he walked faster and got too close, in which case he had to stop for a bit and wait for her to get farther ahead. Finally, Elizabeth was in front of the inn that Stanson was staying at. She ruffled her golden locks and adjusted her dress. Jack chuckled. She pushed the door open and walked in.

Hurrying to the window, Jack peeked inside. Elizabeth got a hostess's attention and asked for Stanson. The woman pointed to the shipbuilder and handed Elizabeth a drink of some sort. Elizabeth smelled it, most likely checking for rum, thanked the woman, then took a sip of it. Jack watched her walk over to the man's table. Luckily, it was by and open window. He turned the corner and stood outside the correct one. Now, he could hear their conversation. Robert greeted her, "Hello...beautiful." Jack pursed his lips. "Actually," replied the woman, "it's Elizabeth. But beautiful works too.
"Please, sit."
Jack heard her chair scratch the floor.
"Robert, I have something I would like to ask you."
"Anything you like, gorgeous."
"First, can we go somewhere more...private?"
Jack almost laughed out loud at Elizabeth's trying to be seductive. A little jealousy pinched his heart.
"Of course."

Jack heard them stand up, so he looked through the window. Robert was leading her up the stairs! "He's taking her to his room, the bloody land lubber!" Jack searched desperately for a ladder. He found one leaning on a nearby building. Which room were they in? The only way he could find out was to check every window.

In room number one, there was an old man sitting in a chair. Jack couldn't tell if he was breathing or not. He banged on the window with his fist. The old man jumped, startling Jack, causing him almost to lose his balance. Room number two was occupied by a mother of four children, trying to get them to settle down. She saw Jack outside the window. She opened it and shouted at him, "No Peeping Toms!" He whispered, "Sorry." She ran for her broom, but he climbed down the ladder before she could cause him harm. In room number three, a woman was putting makeup on her face in front of a mirror. She turned her head and saw him. Jack couldn't hear her, but he read her lips, "Jack Sparrow..." they said. Seeing that she was angry, he could only imagine who she was. Probably an old lover. To save time, he just jumped off the ladder, onto the ground, instead of climbing. At last, he found them in room four!

Elizabeth was sweating uncontrollably. She was so nervous. Stanson opened the door for her and urged her inside. She held on tightly to the purse that contained her dagger. He strode over to her and got close to her face. His breath smelled like eggs and old fish. She held in her air and backed away. He just stepped towards her. "What did you want to ask me, darling?" he asked her. She kept backing away, but he kept coming closer. She was getting near the bed. In an act of desperation, she turned and headed in another direction, replying, "I, um...right. I wanted to ask you-"
"What?"
"Uh...let me finish-"
"Can we have fun BEFORE you ask?"
"Fun? What?" she scoffed.
"Love, let's get to it!" He was stalking her now.
"Don't call me 'love'!" Only Jack could call her that, even if she wasn't allowing him to.

Stanson grabbed Elizabeth by the arm and started yanking on her sleeve. She yelled, "Alright, that's IT!" She reached into her purse and pulled out the dagger. She wrapped her arm around his neck, pushing the blade to his throat, much like when, she remembered, she had Sao Feng's guard held down in Singapore. Stanson, now, was struggling to free himself, but, if he moved the wrong way, his throat would be lacerated. He growled, "What in God's name is wrong with you?" "What's WRONG with me? What's WRONG with ME? I'm four months pregnant by a man who I will not be seeing for ten years. Since my child was conceived, I have been frantically searching for the Fountain of Youth with a pirate who is making me question every aspect of my life. Not to mention, my ship is broken. THAT'S what's WRONG with me!"
"Bloody hell! You're pregnant?"
"You couldn't tell?"
"I just thought you were..."
"Fat? You wish."

Elizabeth pulled Stanson by the neck and shoved him against the wall, dagger pointed to his heart. His nervous breaths made her laugh. He huffed, "What do you want from me?" "Fix my ship, the Black Pearl."
"The Black Pearl? Jack Sparrow...is he the father?"
"Bloody hell no!"
"Oh."
"You fix my ship, or rather, Jack's ship, or I'll slit your throat."
"Fine! Okay!"
"Let's go." She pointed the dagger to the door.
"But, uh-"
"No 'buts'. Go."
"I was just going to say, you might want to help Jack off that windowsill."

Elizabeth turned around and, sure enough, the pirate was dangling outside the window. She held onto Stanson by the back of his neck and pushed him onto the bed. "Stay there," she commanded. Opening the window, she asked the victim, "Jack, why are you hanging from this window?" "Because the ladder fell, that's why!" She leaned over and saw the fallen ladder on the ground. "Oh," she exclaimed, "that's too bad. Goodbye!" She slammed the window shut. Stanson stared at her, asking, "Aren't you going to help him?"
"No. I asked him not to follow me and he did anyways."
Jack started it tap the window.
"Come on, lass. Have a heart."
She sighed and walked over to the pirate's glass cliff. Opening it, she grabbed Jack's arms and tried to pull him inside the room. He slid through and accidentally pinned her to the ground. She pushed him, "Jack, get off me!" "Another happy landing," he smiled. As Jack got off Elizabeth, she stole his pistol from his belt. She aimed it at the shipbuilder, ordering him, "Out of the room." Standing up, she kept herself steady. Jack whined, "My pistol!" He reached for it, but she glared at him. He put his arms down. Robert walked towards the door. Elizabeth followed behind him, the barrel of the pistol poking his back. Jack stumbled behind them.

Elizabeth felt extremely faint. As a matter of fact, she felt very ill all of a sudden. When they all got outside, the pistol started shaking in her hand. Her walk started swaying, like Jack, who seemed to take notice, "Lizzie, are you okay?" She turned around and frowned at him, "Of course!" She then added, lying, "I'm perfectly alright."
"You look drunk."
"Shut up! I'm just tired, is all."
"I don't think so..."
"See, that's your problem, Jack. You don't think."
"What?" he asked her like she was crazy.
She knew she wasn't making any sense. Any moment now, she was going to collapse. She murmured, "Promise you'll catch me..." before her world went black.

Jack caught Elizabeth as she fell. Her eyelids shut, leaving only the kohl for him to admire. He lifted her into his arms and carried her through the marketplace. He pried the pistol from her fingers and aimed it at Stanson. "Keep moving," he commanded. They headed towards the docks as the smell of the sea filled his nostrils, bringing him home.