A/N: So here's the next chapter! I hope you enjoy the OOC mush. Everyone needs it on occasion.

So forgive the cheese and review. I love your reviews I really do. Keep them coming.

And here we have a little game of play and play. They both want to use each other? Who shall win? We must wait and see.

She wiped her mouth as she finished her mug of rum. "And then his father the Earl proposed to me! He said I was the shiest thing he'd ever seen...the look we gave each other was priceless."

The whole table laughed.

Jack grinned and turned to Gibbs. "I told you! You get the right amount of rum in these aristocrats and they become the most delightful creatures."

Elizabeth tried to steady her own breathing as she turned down the flame on the oil lamp. She was no longer scared of being on the ship but she knew she had to get out eventually.

The evening had been oddly pleasant. These notorious pirates had been uncommonly cheerful and quite delightful if a bit vulgar. She'd seen the entire ship, she'd eaten their food which was surprisingly edible, she'd laughed, she'd talked and she'd drank.

Now that she could think again she had to make a decision. She fingered the knife she'd stashed in the hem of her dress and looked over to Jack's desk where he sat with his back to her. Was he sleeping? She couldn't know. He said he'd be working but he was too quiet.

Elizabeth's instinct had told her to demand a private cabin but there were none and she preferred a working captain to a sleeping crew. Jack Sparrow was polite in a strange way...Not really trustworthy but he was more talk than action.

If she really wanted to she could take the knife out right now, creep over to him and stab him in the chest. But she didn't.

It wasn't only that it was a completely foolish act which would end in a fight over the new captain position and potential danger to her life, even though it was. It was also the fact that in a strange way...she didn't want to.

Somewhere amidst being scared, angry and all grown up she'd forgotten that the little child in her had always wanted to meet Captain Jack Sparrow. And she was secretly delighted to see that he was everything she'd hoped for. The realization finally dawned on her...she was right! He was real. He was there in flesh and bones.

She took out the knife now,looked at it in the lamp light and almost laughed at the idea if killing Jack Sparrow.

"Go on than. The sooner you try to stab me the sooner I can get on with my work in peace."

She bolted straight and stared at his back in shock. "How did you--"

"Come come! You really think I didn't see you snatch that knife earlier? Or didn't see the reflection of you playing with it in my rum bottle?" he raised his bottle high in the air for her to see.

She refused to let him win. "Is it all true?"

"Of course it is. My rum bottles reflects every single image--"

"I meant the stories. Did you really sack Nassau without firing a shot?" she said as she strode closer to his chair

"True as kidnapping the Governer's daughter without a single shot my dear," he said sleepily. She crept closer and held the knife in front of her defensively and turned his chair around with one swift move. He was holding his pistol ready.

"The problem with people is that they always manage to underestimate me."

She pulled out her own pistol and held it to his head.

"And I always manage to underestimate them," Jack concluded with a smile. "I didn't spot you snatching that one."

He stored his gun and hopped to his feet as if he didn't have two weapons pointed at him. " 'Lizabeth, if you're to continue using this cabin I need to know that I can sleep without being killed. Could you do that for me?"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "You would believe me if I gave you my word?"

"A lady can be trusted to follow her morals. That's what I love about people like you," Jack said as he roamed through a trunk.

"People like me?" she asked with frown.

"You know, people who are bound by their upper class morality to have morals."

"Everyone has morals Captain."

"Never said I didn't! I just tend to go against them."

Elizabeth put away the gun and the knife and went beside the trunk. "What about being a good man? A good person?"

"I am a good man! Good at being quite devious," his voice rang from inside the trunk. She dipped her head in the trunk to hear him better.

"And plus...You know you want it," he said seductively. The oil lamp was almost out.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You know you want a taste of what it's like to be me. To be free of rules, to do what you want and when you want," he said as he straightened and Elizabeth followed him, he dusted a hat. "And with whomever you want," he flashed her a smile before they both dived back in.

"Only as much as you want to know what it's like. You want a taste of what it's like too! To be admired and gain the rewards that follow," she explained confidently.

"Aha!" he exclaimed as he pulled out some articles of clothing. The cabin was moonlit now.

"For you," he handed her the clothes. "Don't get me wrong love. Not that I don't enjoy seeing a lady in a lovely dress but your appearance is extremely painful."

She smirked and crossed her arms. "Painful?"

Jack nodded and flailed his hands towards her hair. "It looks like it's being pulled out of it's roots," he observed.

He'd never noticed the girl in that way before. He'd seen her as beautiful from the very first sight but she was a vision in the moonlight.

She looked ghostlike in the pale blue gown and the white rays of moon. He reached for the array of pins and brushes in her hair and pulled them out, letting her hair run down her shoulder. His hand pulled back from her shoulder immediately as she cast a look at it.

"Much better," he scoffed. "Well I'm about to go adjust our course. Change into the clothes and take the other chair if you feel like sleeping. I don't believe in beds on ships. They take up too much room, move around too much and make you do things that are decidedly stupid," he explained.

She nodded with a knowing smirk. "Captain Sparrow?"

"Hmmmm?"

"You will not be killed by my hands in this cabin. You have my word," she assured him.

"I'll take what I can get. I'll extend you the same courtesy," he promised as he rushed out of the cabin and made his way to the helm.

What worried him was that he couldn't read the girl. She had this determined attitude that he couldn't see through. Why were women so complicated? Why couldn't a woman be more like a man? He could read men so well and get his way. Then again he'd always been superb with women too until this one came along.

What did she have up her sleeve?

"Just you wait Captain Sparrow, just you wait!" she muttered to herself as she put on the pants, the boots, the chemise and the coat he'd gave her.

She couldn't go against him, she knew that much and she wasn't particularly unhappy with the current situation. But what would happen when they didn't need her anymore? Would they kill her? Probably not but neither would they take her back to Port Royal on demand.

If she wanted to beat Jack Sparrow she couldn't use pistols or knives -even though she still had the knife in her boot- but what she needed to do was play his own game. Her father had once told her that when traitors wanted to betray the king they usually worked their way up in the court until they were so close to the king that they could do what they wanted with him. Elizabeth considered piracy to require the same strategy.

She would be one of them and she would use words to get her way with them...with him. And she would forever be the woman who beat Captain Jack Sparrow at his own game. But then she'd discovered, as she remembered his hand tangled in her hair, he wasn't so bad. She could certainly stand him for a little while, she thought with a smile.

The coat covered her body as she sank deeper in the chair.

Andrew Moretti looked around the tavern in Tortuga. He would wait patiently.

Jack Sparrow would come soon enough and he would not only hold Elizabeth Swann in the palm of his hand but he would also catch the most wanted man in the entire Caribbean single handedly.

Just you wait Jack Sparrow, just you wait.

Andrew Moretti was a very patient man.

"Good morning sunshine!"

Elizabeth stretched in her bed until she realized that her bed didn't exist, her neck was stiff and the events of the previous day came into focus. After rubbing her eyes for a few seconds she finally opened her eyes to find Jack standing in the doorway, surrounded by sunlight.

"I want movement."

"What's happening?"

"We're there."

"Where are we exactly?"

"Tia Dalma."

"Who?"

"I'm sure the two of you will get along just fine."

Elizabeth followed him into the longboat.

"Good morning Miss Swann."

"Will! How are you?"

"Just fine and you?"

"Glad to be alive."

They both chuckled. Jack rolled his eyes.

"Honestly! Would I ever kill anyone unless they gave me a reason to?" he asked with a meaningful look directed towards Elizabeth.

Will laughed. "Oh no! Captain Jack Sparrow wouldn't hurt a fly," he said sarcastically.

"Why stick to flies when you got humans William?! Ah here we are."

They whole crew looked nervous as Jack got out of the longboat.

"Who is this Tia Dalma person?" Elizabeth whispered to Will.

"A voodoo woman with a bad temper," Will explained.

"Ah gents and erm...ladies! No need to fret. You only need to panic if she's really angry," he assured them as they all climbed up to find the exotic woman speaking in tongues in front of a huge fire.

"Start panicking," Jack yelped.

She stopped her chanting and the fire dropped to a small candle flame on the table.

"Jack Sparra'," she exclaimed.

"That's me name," Jack laughed nervously. "Tia Dalma! As charming as ever."

She sat down calmly and looked at the entire room."Hmmm. William Turner, you creature of destiny."

"Tia!" Will nodded.

Tia's eyes landed on Elizabeth next. "Elizabeth Swann. I expect great things from this one."

"How did you know--"

"Jack!" Tia demanded. "I see ya got what I sent you to Port Royal fo'."

"I got the ship all right!" he smiled uneasily.

"Wasn't talkin' 'bout the ship," she smiled mysteriously.

Jack scoffed uneasily. "So what is it I'm supposed to be doing next?"

"Well you've got the ship, the crew and the compass. I would say it's time to find the book isn't it? Unless you've got some odder tings on your mind witty Jack," she said meaningfully.

"Nope I just want that book and that curse lifted, thanks very much."

Tia smiled knowingly. "Of course ye do. Follo' me. We need to talk."

Jack chuckled uncomfortably. "We could, you know...talk here perhaps?"

Tia made a noise that resembled a hiss.

"In private it is!"

They disappeared in the back room and Elizabeth tried to follow close enough to hear but both Will and Mr.Gibbs stopped her.

"She knows all," Gibbs explained.

"Which book was she talking about? Why does Jack need another ship to find it?"

"Well, if you believe in such things Miss Elizabeth...Jack ran into the god of the sea Poseidon on his journey to Andolasia. He was on the longboat, on his way to meet the lord of Yohana and the rest of us were waiting for him on the Pearl. If you believe in such things."

Will jumped in. "Now Jack told us the rest so there's no knowing which parts are true but as the story goes he threatened Jack with a storm but Jack talked him out of it and made such a good impression that he told him the whereabouts of his ruby."

"Now this ruby's no ordinary ruby, it has magical powers."

Will nodded. "Legend has it anyone who has the ruby can control the whole sea."

"Even Davy Jones himself!" Gibbs added. Elizabeth listened eagerly.

"Which was just what Jack needed because he also has a debt to pay to Jones. Whole different story. If he got that ruby all his problems would be solved."

Elizabeth nodded eagerly.

"So he was celebrating ahead of time. He was sure he had it! He went there drunk and with a wench on his arm."

She frowned disapprovingly but nodded.

"So he's there. He's got the ruby in his hand and he's about to claim every power he's ever dreamed of."

She edged forward anticipating the big finale.

"And BAM! The girl laughs and Jack...drops the ruby and it breaks--"

"Shatters!"

"Million tiny pieces."

Elizabeth gasped like a good audience.

"So Poseidon cursed him."

"The only way to break it is to find the book."

She frowned. "He doesn't seem all that cursed. What is this curse?"

"The invisible kind," Jack-who had suddenly appeared-said. "We got what we came here for. Time to go. Fast. Quick. Pranto!"

They all started leaving.

"Jack," Tia called out. "Don't forget my warning."

Jack ignored her comment and continued walking.

"And what abou' your jar?"

Jack turned around and ran to her table, grabbed the jar of dirt and ran out of the hut.

Elizabeth smiled to herself with a satisfied glint in her eyes and tugged her shirt. Captain Sparrow had just gotten a lot more interesting. She would find out what this curse was, what the book was and then he would be all hers.

Andrew was growing impatient bit by bit. Where was Jack Sparrow and why was he being so difficult? Couldn't he come here already so he could catch him and get this over with? And save the girl along the way.

Why did he always have to do everything himself?

He made an attempt to stand up but he found that he was too drunk. So he sat down and decided that he had to sober up before he was ready to best Jack Sparrow.

By the time they got back to the Pearl it was almost sunset and Jack had refused to let go of his jar of dirt all the way.

Tia's words rang in his head. All that nonsense about being careful with his heart. He was Captain Jack Sparrow!

He used his free hand to put the Pearl on course before going back to his favorite activity. Taking a walk around his ship.

Gibbs was telling a story and drinking rum, Ana and Will were chatting peacefully, the winds were blowing in the sails and the Interceptor was following them steadily.

Spotting Elizabeth standing alone at the railing, he made his way to her.

There was a book in her hand.

"Stop with all the reading. Next thing you know you'll be thinking and getting ideas. Very dangerous."

She didn't even turn to look at him. "Says the big bad pirate with a jar of dirt."

He scoffed grumpily. "You know what I think of you my dear?"

"I couldn't care less," she said coolly as she turned a page.

"Well I'll tell you anyway," he said cheerfully. "I think you're happy to be here."

Her expression remained blank as she flipped another page. "Was it my ecstatic facial expression or all the laughing that gave me away?"

"I dare say it was the lack of escape attempts on your part," he observed.

"You're right! With miles and miles of water all around what am I waiting for?" she said absently as she continued with her book. Annoyed that he was being neglected he grabbed her book with one hand, snapped it shut and threw it in the water casually. She bent over the railing but he ignored it.

"As I was saying--"

"I was reading that! You know Jack, if you learned some manners we could actually have a conversation."

He rolled his eyes tiredly and bowed exaggeratedly. "Miss Swann would you like to take a stroll around this fine establishment?" he said with feigned politeness and hand gestures.

"Can't. Betrothed," she said with a sloppy shrug.

"And?"

"I don't take walks with people who aren't."

"Who aren't what?"

"My betrothed."

Jack nodded in recognition. "Hmmm. I see. In that case you should've said you were in love."

He took her by the arm and they walked elbow in elbow.

"What's the difference these days Captain Sparrow?" she said in her high society voice.

"Grave difference Miss Swann. I myself have been betrothed many times but never in love," he said in the same tone. "One can be betrothed without selling one's soul and getting to your means end-or is it ends mean?- at the same time."

Elizabeth shot him a feigned disapproving look. "Tsk. Tsk. Why Captain! You speak of such trickery. I don't think I could stand it any longer."

Jack broke the air of playing high society with a grunt. "And here you are! Still standing...And you deny it when I say you secretly like it on my ship."

"I'm not particularly unhappy. That's true."

"Aha! You admit it."

"Just because I'm not unhappy that doesn't make me happy by the process of elimination."

Jack studied her with an intense gaze. Her eyes were hard to read now that the sun was down.

"Hmmmm. Perhaps you want to be happy but you know you're not supposed to be happy. Why should the Governer's daughter be happy on a pirate ship? God forbid," he observed.

"You're so presumptuous! You think you know how everyone feels and thinks but you never even stop to think of anyone but yourself."

"You're changing the subject," he observed casually.

"Oh! Excuse me for interrupting your train of thoughts. How daring of me," she said with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"Can I ask you something Lizzie?" he asked without waiting for an answer. "Has anyone treated you badly on this vessel? Insulted you? Did anything to upset you?"

"No but--"

"And could you tell me pray tell what you miss about Port Royal? Is it the stupid soldiers or the ball gowns that make you choke?"

"I miss my father. He must be worried sick."

"That's very little to miss about one's life. So you're happy here."

Elizabeth stopped their little walk and turned to look at him. "If that is the definition of happiness to you Jack, than yes I'm just as happy here as I was in Port Royal. I'm happy but not satisfied. This 'happy' isn't enough for me. This is a temporary world I better not get used to and even though there's nothing here to make me unhappy neither is there anything to make me wake up every day, nothing to make my heart flutter and nothing to make me as happy as I thrive to be. So you see Captain Sparrow your ship is just a floating piece of wood with a lot of fools looking for their dreams."

Jack's eyes were wide. "We're going to have to change your attitude. Come with me."

She snorted as he guided her up the stairs."Change my attitude? How do you know you like this life if you've never tried anything else."

Jack looked away and nodded. "Uh huh because pirates are born pirates."

She grabbed his arm. "I didn't mean it--"

"Shhh!" he shushed her as he led her towards the helm. "Now you better hope she's not too angry at you for calling her a floating piece of wood but if you're really nice..."

He placed her hand on the spokes and stood behind her. "The problem with people is that they're always waiting for someone or something to come along and make them smile everyday but me? I do that for myself. And that is what makes Captain Jack Sparrow different from all those other blokes."
He helped her turn the wheel to the starboard side. "Look at that horizon," it was hard to see it the moonlight. She had to squint. "You can chase it forever but few men can catch it. As long as I have that horizon I have a reason to get up in the morning," he whispered in her ear.

When he pulled away she suddenly felt cold. "I always figure it's better when your happiness depends on something no one can take away," he said as he moved back beside her to help her turn the wheel again. "Close your eyes," he advised and she did. "And feel the ship moving on the waves underneath you. Now turn the wheel, just like that and feel the direction change ever so slowly. The breeze driving you forward, the breeze driving us forward and the spray from the sea on your skin."

She gasped as she started feeling everything that was going on around her.

"You're floating. The waves are carrying you," he said in her ear in a husky whisper before pulling away. She turned to face him and he bowed.

"And that my friend is why I get up every morning!" he said knowingly.

" Jack," she sighed understandingly as she inhaled the salty air and grasped the wheel tighter. "She's a quite a thing of her own."

"Told you so! My ship is not a piece of drifting wood it's freedom. I don't care about the keel and the haul and even the beautiful black sails, that what she needs. But what she is, what the Black Pearl really is...is freedom. When I wake up in the morning I don't know if I'm going to be running from the Navy, battling a sea monster or impersonating a duke. And I bloody love it and I know you love it too! To go where you want whenever you want."

She smiled sweetly and wished she could buy it all and in some ways she did. But she also knew Jack Sparrow would always have his own agenda.

"I would love it if I could go where I wanted to but I can't can I?"

Jack gave her a once over and held his hand out. "Love, when we are done with all this hostage business, I swear on the pain of death to drop you off at any port you wish. Anywhere in the world."

"Anywhere?" she asked doubtfully. "Well I have always wanted to go to Port-au-prince. I've read it's a less crowded Tortuga."

He nodded. "You name the place. I'd take you to the new world if you want me to." After you help me lift the bloody curse and get whatever I want.

"Accord?" she shook his hand.

"We have an accord," he said as he pulled her hand until she was pressed against him. He'd known from the second he'd pulled her out of the water, more so when he'd gone out of his way to use her in his plan and even more as time went on that he had to have a taste of her. He was strangely entranced by her and the fact that she wasn't falling to his feet. He kissed her...because he wanted to.

Too bad she was going to find out all his secrets, take advantage of it and defeat him at the piracy game because he was a good kisser. He was strong and passionate yet tender and had a very sharp tongue. Elizabeth noted with a shy grin.

She kissed him back with the same force all the while trying to focus on their deal and how it made her plans even prettier. Any port in the world! All she ever wanted.

But somehow he couldn't let her focus. Why was he so distracting?

After what seemed to be ages but was only a few minutes she was out of breath and her back was pressed against the wheel. She broke away to catch her breath.

"You know what I think," he said huskily as he rested his forehead on hers.

"I couldn't care less." I've got you where I want you.

"I'll tell you anyway. I think you really needed to be kissed."

She turned her face away and crossed her arms. "I don't need to be kissed by you or anyone else."

"All symptoms that you need to be kissed," Jack observed as he cupped her face. "And by someone who knows how to which hasn't seemed to happen often."

Before she could reply he'd kissed her again. Hungrier this time.

It was okay, she decided. She could have her cake and eat it too. She could take advantage of Jack and kiss him on the side.

She didn't know if she was walking herself, if Jack's hands-which had now sunk to her hips- were carrying her or a mixture of both but next thing she knew they were back in that cabin and she was on the table and he was reaching for her shirt. Wait! Why was he reaching for her shirt?

She turned away with a hiss and held out her hand to keep a distance.

"I'm not one of your...I'm not going to...I can't," she struggled to come up with the appropriate comeback.

He stepped back with a grin. "So sorry dearie," he said with a puppy dog expression that almost seemed sincere. "You can have the cabin for tonight, I'll just go out, take a walk and--"

She hopped off the table and ran for the door. "Your cabin. I'll just catch the air and--" she shut the door behind her and leaned against the door.

God! Why did she even care? Why was she so embarrassed? And why was she acting so...so...immature?

All she wanted from him was her freedom, her destination, that book(if it proved to be useful) and a couple of kisses along the way. Why did it matter to her that he treated her that way? Why did it matter that she was just another girl? After they found that book she'd never have to see him again.

The worst part was that if he'd insisted on continuing she actually might have let him. It was the craziest thing she'd ever thought but she let herself think it-just think it- did she secretly want him?

She secretly wanted him, he decided with a grin as he sat on his chair and put his feet on the desk. She kissed him, she trembled and let herself be carried to the cabin. After all who could resist Captain Jack Sparrow? It turned out she could. And it only made her more desirable. He'd told himself that day by the water that he would get her to fall for him just like every other girl and so he would while using her to get to that book. Classic Captain Jack.

Yet he actually felt bad for insulting her 'honor' and if he was to get her to help him he needed to be on her good side even if he didn't care about her, even if she was just another girl.

He opened the door ever so slightly, determined to strike up a striking conversation and make it seem all funny.

That is until he saw her talking to Will beside the railing and giggling madly. She seemed all happy and not annoyed or cold or formal.

He grinned, shut the door and took a sip of the rum. Let her giggle for tonight. She wanted him.

She was leaning against the railing when Will came up to her.

"Did he kick you out?"

She giggled. "Tsk. Tsk. I walked out."

"He's a bit too much to take."

"You could certainly say that," she said meaningfully and they both chuckled. What she realized in that second was that she didn't secretly want Jack Sparrow. Not him in particular. She just wanted someone. She wanted the fairytale love and that certainly wasn't Jack. But maybe he was right. Maybe she didn't need someone else to make her happy, all she needed was the thought of doing Jack Sparrow in and getting that book single handedly to make her heart flutter.

"So Will...you were telling me before we got interrupted. What about that book?" she asked in a persuasive pur. She was a woman with a purpose and a fluttering heart.

So what do you think? Let me know...nicely please. I love your suggestions and I promise that they will somehow find their way in my stories.

Et voila! What do you think about a little run in with Andrew Moretti? Stay tuned.