A/N: Another new chappy! This one's short...I know the last several have been, but it's been keeping me posting regularly so I figure no one really minds. Right? Anyway, this story has been on my mind a lot lately and the ideas are really starting to come back so watch for things to start picking up.

Cal, you know I love you and your wonderful reviews. Try to stay calm for me and trust that things are going to work out in the end ;-)

Chapter Twenty-Six

The storm hadn't shown signs of letting up that night, but by morning the sky, though still cloudy, had closed its floodgates. While the lack of rain was welcome, The Black Pearl's captain and important crewmembers knew that it would only bring Norrington chasing after them more quickly. Therefore, it was a mixed blessing until they safely reached Tortuga.

Jack offered to let Anamaria rest first, but she said she wasn't actually tired yet and told Jack he should go instead. This way, he would also be the one responsible for bringing them into port.

Jack, remembering having given Elizabeth his key only at the last minute, first went to Anamaria's room. Upon knocking and finding no one, he made his way to his cabin, again knocking several times. This time, however, Elizabeth came to the door. From the dark circles under her eyes, he guessed that she had yet to fall asleep. She did not speak to him, but crossed the room to sit on his bed. Jack noticed she was still holding the teddy bear and William's sword was resting safely in a corner. He removed one bottle of rum from his cabinet and brought it to her.

"This should help," he offered.

Elizabeth looked up and took the bottle. "I've already had two," she said, gesturing to the floor beside the bed as she popped the cork and started her third.

Jack was shocked to see that there were indeed two empty rum bottles on the floor. He pulled his boots off and then unwound his sash. He was still drenched from the rain.

"I hope you don't mind, but I've got to put on something dry and get some rest."

"Would you like me to leave?" she asked.

"I'm not shy luv," Jack said, beginning to peel off his clothes.

Elizabeth quickly covered her eyes with her hands, only to be reminded in a visual image of Jack's well-sculpted, yet interesting chest. It had been nothing like Will's and before she could stop herself, her mind had already wandered to what else might be different than Will's. Elizabeth shook her head to dislodge the thoughts.

"You can uncover your eyes now, luv. I wouldn't guess a naked man would be such a surprise to a woman who's been married before, but then I also have to remember you're a member of high society."

Elizabeth took a small peek at Jack to make sure he was fully clothed before adding, "Was."

Jack, who had changed into a pair of pants and loose fitting shirt almost identical to the ones he had been wearing minutes ago except for the fact that they were dry, plopped himself down on the bed behind Elizabeth. He reached around her to take the rum from her and after a long swallow, passed it back. He rolled over onto his back and stared at the back of her head

"You've got to snap out of this at some point, you know?" he asked her.

When she failed to respond, he continued, "Everyone understands, Elizabeth. You lost two very important people in your life. The only two that really mattered actually."

At this point, Elizabeth raised the rum bottle to her lips for a long drink.

"But at some point, you've got to put your life back together. Maybe that means getting back in touch with your father."

Elizabeth took another long drink. Now, the rum bottle was almost empty.

"But you have to move on. Now you're always welcome here on board The Pearl, but let's face it, whether you grew up sailing or not, you're never going to be happy on a pirate ship."

Elizabeth finished the bottle of rum and sat it on the floor beside the others before standing to retrieve another one. But Jack grabbed her wrist before she took her first step and she stumbled, falling on the bed across him.

"That's enough for tonight Elizabeth. No one likes a sloppy drunk."

Elizabeth's eyes were glazed as she stared back at him before sitting up and straightening her clothes.

Jack continued his speech. "You're very pretty and very young. You can still find someone and raise a happy family and live a good life with them. There are better things than a life of piracy for you."

Jack had said it as a joke, but it was the first thing Elizabeth really responded to. "It's what you wanted for William."

"Piracy would have made a good life for him Elizabeth, but let's be honest. You're not really in the same category at all, are you?"

Tears welled in Elizabeth's eyes again and Jack felt bad. "Come here," he said, pulling her to him.

"Just because we were born into different social classes, no one understands why we wanted to be together," she cried.

"Because love doesn't see social class. But not everyone understands that or agrees," Jack comforted, hugging her to his chest. "I was in a situation much like William's at one point meself."

Elizabeth didn't speak, her tears slowing as she rested in Jack's arms.

"Our situation did not turn out so well," Jack whispered.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked, wiping her eyes and then resting her head on Jack's chest.

"Her father changed her mind," Jack sighed. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"I loved him," Elizabeth said, a tear rolling over her cheek.

"I know," Jack whispered, rubbing her arm gently. "When you are ready, I want to hear about the fire."

"I'm not sure what happened that day Jack. It was just like every other day. Thomas and I got up and dressed and went to see Will at the shop. We were having lunch in the little back room when we smelled smoke. Will went out to see what was going on. I don't know how we missed it, how we hadn't smelled it before, because it was huge, just blazing. There wasn't a good way for us to escape really. It had already begun to consume most of the main floor. Will told me to go first and he would carry Thomas. I thought they were right behind me, but they didn't come…and then…there was this huge crash."

Elizabeth, whose voice had been cracking periodically throughout, now began to sob. Jack, who had been surprised to hear her suddenly begin recounting the incident, wasn't quite prepared to react.

"I called for help, but no one came and I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. I stood there and just screamed and screamed until finally this old man showed up. He got others to help, but everyone said that there was no way they could still have been alive in there. The fire was finally put out by some of the townspeople, but the building was destroyed. Their," Elizabeth choked on the words, "bodies were found, and a funeral was held. It was so awful Jack. When I sleep, I dream about it. I can't get away from it. It never goes away. The smell, the memory, it won't go away."

Elizabeth cried and Jack pulled her into him. He knew what that feeling was like and he wished he could tell her it would go away, but he knew it wouldn't. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain and held Elizabeth tighter. She cried for what seemed like hours, but Jack knew could only have been minutes. And then finally, the tears began to subside.

Elizabeth pulled away enough to wipe her eyes before resting her head on Jack's shoulder again.

"Jack?" she asked.

"Yes," he responded.

"I have to used the bathroom," Elizabeth said.

Jack smiled, sitting up. It had seemed a silly remark for such a serious conversation. "Come on," he said, helping her.

The alcohol was beginning to take full effect and she stumbled as she tried to stand. Jack caught her, taking her arm, "Easy there."
"I've got it," Elizabeth insisted.

Jack walked with her and waited outside the door for her. When she came out chucking to herself, he didn't ask about what. He helped her back to his cabin and she seemed almost giddy for a few minutes, but Jack wasn't easily fooled. He knew it was the alcohol talking. When they got back inside the cabin, Elizabeth danced across the room to the bed before flinging herself onto it. As she did so, her shirt slipped down off one shoulder and Jack was exposed to one small glance of smooth flesh. He moved to pull up the sleeve at once and found himself inches away from her engaging eyes. Jack felt extremely awkward and he wasn't even sure why. Surely he wasn't thinking "those" thoughts about Elizabeth. Not that he hadn't thought them before, of course, but it seemed different now that his best friends was, dead.

He backed away instantly before the thought could continue to plague him. He laid down beside her, gauging from her reaction that she must have felt awkward for that second too before stating simply, "I'm going to get some rest now."

Jack closed his eyes and before he could even think anymore about it, he was asleep, leaving Elizabeth to entertain her dark thoughts alone.

A pounding at his cabin door awakened Jack hours later. He knew unmistakably it had to be Anamaria. Moving sleepily towards the door, he unlatched it for the captain to storm past him and into his room.

"I can't find Elizabeth anywhere," she shouted before catching a glimpse of the blond sitting on her captain's bed.

Shaking her head, she managed, in a very low, even tone, "I should have expected as much."

"Anamaria," Jack attempted to catch her arm as she was storming out of the room, but she was too quick for him.

As she got to the door she turned to meet Elizabeth's shocked eyes with a white-hot glare from her own. "The next time you decide to disappear from your cabin to share another sailor's bed, you might want to let someone know. That way we don't think you've fallen overboard."

Elizabeth was too surprised to respond, but Jack went after Anamaria despite his state of undress. Catching up with her in the hallway, "Ana," he spun her around to face him. "What was that?"

"What was that? I don't know, maybe you should tell me Captain Sparrow," she tossed the title spitefully. "She's been on your ship for less than a day and you've already managed to seduce her into your bed?"

Jack stared open mouthed at his fellow captain.

"For heaven's sake Jack, her husband is dead. He was your best friend."

"He wasn't my best friend," Jack refuted. "His father was."

Anamaria rolled her eyes incredulously at his response before Jack realized it should not have been his first answer.

"And that's not what happened. I did not seduce her," he argued.

"Well, you could have fooled me," Anamaria said, starting to walk off again.

"Ana!" Jack said, grabbing her arm again.

She shook him off, giving him a look that let him know it would be wise not to touch her again.

"Come on Anamaria. She was upset. She didn't want to be alone. It's nothing more than that."

Anamaria kept walking, her back turned to Jack's pleas.

"She's not even my type," he tried.

"Every girl is your type Jack," she tossed over her shoulder.

Jack knew better than to go after her at this point. She needed to cool down, needed to be given time to think over the situation, then she would be able to be reasoned with. He knew her well enough to know that. Begrudgingly he went back to his cabin.

Elizabeth was wide-awake and sitting on the edge of his bed uncomfortably when he entered the room.

"I'm sorry," she offered. "If I'd known she was your girlfriend…"

Jack cut her off, "I don't have a girlfriend."

"If I'd known it was going to cause a problem. I'm just going to go back to the little room now," Elizabeth finished quietly, slowly rising from the bed and not meeting Jack's eyes.

"Don't be ridiculous luv. Anamaria will get over it. She's just a bit jealous that's all. Give her some time to cool down and it'll all blow over," he offered.

"I think I'd feel more comfortable there," Elizabeth said, moving away from the pirate.

As she left the room, Jack sighed heavily. Two women on one ship was one too many.