Chapter 4 One Expensive Woman

"No. No, that won't do at all." Jack gave her a disgusted look as he entered. It was his idea to get her new clothes, after all, and it was his money. "We want the good people of Tortuga to think I'm 'getting some', not that I'm settling down!"

Elizabeth looked down at herself, noting the checkered print and the high neckline.

"Looks like you're going out to tend the fields, for God's sake!" Jack shook his head and then looked frantically around the shop for the girl who was helping him. "Lizzie, where the devil did that girl go?" Jack addressed her after his hopeless search.

"I think she went to the back of the shop." Feeling the fabric in her hand with a frown, Elizabeth looked at herself in a mirror nearby.

Setting off in that direction, Jack doubled back. Elizabeth's back was to him as she slowly pulled down one of the hideous sleeves, revealing a bare shoulder. Suddenly, Elizabeth froze. "Jack? Are you still there?" Before he could be caught, Jack slipped through the doorway, determined to find their clerk.

Over behind a crate full of fabric he spotted her. "Oi! You there! What's the idea giving me girl that hideous excuse of a dress." The girl rolled her eyes.

Truth be told, Jack cared very little about the dress. Seeing Elizabeth clad in a frock complete with a tighter-than-necessary bodice and a lower-than-necessary neckline, was of far more importance to him. But disguising his motives under the guise of fashion critic would keep Elizabeth's temper in check and, no doubt, save him from a hard slap that he may or may not have deserved.

"It is one of the few dresses already prepared in her size and in your current price range." The woman looked at Jack up and down, noticing his frayed and dirty apparel.

Jack's mouth curved downward. "My current price range, hmm?"

"Yes, sir." The woman said curtly, making it clear she had bigger and better things to do.

Jack cleared his throat and then dug into his pocket. "I want you to find the best four dresses you've got here, corsets, shoes, the whole thing, and bring them to me. Make me the envy of the town. Why Lass, do you even know who I am?"

"I fail to see why that is of importance in this matter." Jack rolled his eyes.

Suddenly, the bell on the door jingled as someone else entered the shop. "Well, if it isn't Jack Sparrow…."

Jack cursed under his breath and then turned to face the new arrival with a fake smile.

"Hello, Giselle."

"Miss Lewis. Are you here to pick up your new bonnet?" The clerk said with a much more polite smile.

"Why yes! Would you be a dear and fetch it for me. I've got a little bit of a 'catching up to do' with Mr. Sparrow here." A flirtatious smile lit up her face as she removed her yellowed gloves and dirty white shawl covered with fur.

"You're doing well, Giselle." Jack acknowledged politely, glancing over to his left towards the changing room.

"Oh, well, I would be lots better if you would come and visit me once and a while. Free of change, for you." She walked towards him slowly, wiggling her hips.

Jack grimaced, looking back towards the door, knowing that Elizabeth was sure to be done changing any minute now. Jack faked a smile and attempted to change the subject. "How's Scarlet?"

Giselle's smile faltered when Jack mentioned the other woman. "She's fine. Though I don't see why that's of any interest of yours. I always did please you more than she did. What do you say Jack?" Her voice became a husky whisper as she drew closer to him. "Why don't you meet me tonight? Down in the square. You won't be disappointed." Her painted lips drew closer and closer towards him.

The floor creaked. Jack turned his head to see who it was, keeping a strong grip on Giselle so she couldn't fall on top of him.

"Lizzie…" Jack shoved Giselle off of him, turning to face Elizabeth, whose face was a mixture between betrayal and fury.

"Who is she?" Giselle spat, angrily smoothing out her skirt.

"I could ask the same question." Elizabeth muttered, nudging Jack's hand away from her shoulder when he tried to touch her.

"Miss Lewis, your package." The Clerk handed over the hat, receiving a handful of gold.

"See you later tonight, Jackie…" Giselle purred, glaring Elizabeth down.

And with that, Giselle was gone in a big yellow huff.

Elizabeth lowered her eyes, making the connection. The Lewis girl Jack would always 'visit'.

"Now, Lizzie, don't be angry." Jack warned, tugging on one of her hands.

"Why should I be angry?" Elizabeth swatted away his hand. "Why should I care what whores you fool around with at night?"

Jack's brow wrinkled. Hadn't they been getting along so well only this morning?

"Admit it. You were jealous." Jack stated cockily.

"Of a prostitute?" Elizabeth exclaimed incredulously, "Hardly…"

"It's alright if you were. It happens to the best of us." Elizabeth shook her head at his arrogance. Suddenly, the teasing look disappeared off of Jack's face and he became very serious. "It meant nothing." Jack stroked the back of her hand tenderly, making Elizabeth lose her breath.

Someone cleared their throat. "Those dresses you wanted, Mr. Sparrow."

Jack nodded his head, his dark eyes suddenly breaking away from her own. He dumped the contents of his leather bag into the clerk's out stretched hand without hesitation. Pulling the boxes into his arms he made to leave the shop, however, Elizabeth did not trust the shop's assistant and could not stand to see Jack cheated.

"I'd best try them on, shouldn't I?" A light touch on his shoulder made Jack turn around. His eyes connected with lovely honey colored ones.

The devilish glint came back into his eyes, "As long as I get to help…"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him as they reentered the dressing room, their laughter ringing out as they locked the door.

The door slammed behind them as they left dress shop.

"Clearly they won't get my business again..." Jack joked, noticing the sour pout on Elizabeth's face. "Oh, come now love, it's no so bad. You've got your beauty, you've got your brains, a diligent young eunuch of a husband spending his tenticle-less days pining after to you," Elizabeth glared at his comment," and now you've got a devilishly handsome, fake husband as well, who has enpecable taste in dresses, if I do say so myself..." Jack winked at her. "What else could you want?"

Elizabeth's face lightened a bit, but her gaze would not met Jack's eyes.

"Listen, Lizzie, I'll tell you what. Once I get back the Pearl, I'll let you steer the ship for part of the way, what do you say to that, Ms. Pirate King?" Jack's golden grin glistened in the sunlight.

"I'd say, I don't even know if this Pirate King you speak of exists anymore, Captain. I am no longer the person I once was..." Her boots scuffed at the brick underneath her feet still drenched from the storm days before.

"Nonsense. Listen Lizzie." Jack turned her to face him, stoping her in the middle of the near empty street. "You are the bravest, strongest woman I know. You're Elizabeth Swann for bloody sakes!" He's face held a seriousness she rarely ever got to see. "If you can't survive in this god forsaken world, then who the hell can!"

He paused, rubbing his forehead nervously. "A lot has changed over the years, but you," He pointe his finger at her, his eyes narrowing as they flitted over her face. His other hand tightened on her shoulder, "You're still Elizabeth Swann, the bravest piratess on the seven seas." His eyes shone with the memories of the past, hurt ghosting over his features. Elizabeth's eyebrows knitted at his curious expression.

Noticing he had started to let his guard down, Jack pulled away from her and tried to laugh it off. "So stop denying it!" He said coyly to her with a wink, however, he noticed that she saw right through his defenses.

They were about halfway to their pub when Elizabeth noticed a poor old man by the side of the street, standing behind a rickety cart. He was the only one left.

"Sir!"Elizabeth cried in alarm, noticing his ragged appearance, and ghostlike complextion. "Are you well? You shouldn't be out here..."Elizabeth sympathized, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to help him up.

"And why shouldn't I? Why should I be kept indoors all of the time like some invalid. I'm perfectly fine!" The old man grumbling insisted, causing Elizabeth to draw back. "I meant no harm, Miss, it's just that I've had enough of people fussing about me, that's all." The man apoligized with a weak smile.

"Having a good day?" Jack commented, gesturing to the flowers on the man's cart before him.

"I've seen better. Not to many people around, ye know, not after that devil of a storm..." The man said sadly, his hands shaking as he clipped the stem of a red rose before him.

"Here. A rose for the happy couple." The man said slyly, holding it towards them with a friendly smile.

"Oh, we're not..."

"That is..."

Elizabeth and Jack exchanged looks and laughed nervously at the man's confused looks.

"Well are you going to take my gift or not?" He complained goodnaturedly.

Jack reached for it and nodded to the man. "Thank you."

"Now you take care of the girl now, you here? There are many roses like her left in this world."

And with that, Jack and Elizabeth made there way back to the pub in silence, Jack twiddling the rose between his fingertips.

"There… That's not so bad, is it?"

Back at the pub, Elizabeth looked down at the last dress she had yet to try on. She wore a green and white striped dress with white lace outlining the bodice while red piping embroidered roses all along the skirt, matching the Tuscan red of her corset.

"Jack, I look like a trollop."

Jack looked her over, as if considering her question, as he placed the small red rose behind her ear. Their eyes locked. Time passed, but eventually, Jack looked away.

"Or a doxy." Jack teased. "Either one." Having earned a very stern look from Elizabeth, Jack attempted to redeem himself. "But a very pretty trollop none the less. And a trollop you shall be, my pet." Jack teased, fluffing her skirts up. Elizabeth hit him with a much-deserved slap.

"Can we just get on with this?" Jack grumbled bitterly, rubbing his sore cheek. His large brown boots thudded against the floor as he made his way towards the door.

"Where is that friend of yours going to be?" Elizabeth fidgeted with her sleeves.

Jack furrowed his forehead. "Who? Greenwald? At the pub, getting drunk as usual no doubt…"

"I meant your 'female acquaintance'."

A devilish smile took over his countenance as he turned away from the door to face her. "You speak of Miss Lewis, no doubt?" A look of interest lit up his eyes.

Elizabeth faltered. She hadn't expected him to just come out and say it. "I take it you're meeting her then?" Elizabeth hinted, trying to sound as though she couldn't care less.

Jack turned his back to her and opened the door, exiting into stairwell above the pub.

"Well?" She insisted, her voice rising in volume as she followed him into the hall.

Jack faked a confused expression and cupped his ear. "What was that?"

"I said…." Elizabeth started, before she realized her was he was doing that on purpose. "Ugh!" Elizabeth stomped after him down the stairs, shouting all the way. "Jack Sparrow!" She cried, ripping the rose from behind her ear. " I swear, if you don't stop being such a buggering idiot, I will stop wearing this offensive clothes at all, and you can-"

With a muffled 'umph', Elizabeth bumped into Jack who had stopped at the foot of the stairs. Elizabeth opened her mouth in confusion, when she noticed the man standing in front of them.

"Take your clothes off, huh? I'm not sure Jackie, here, deserves that type of punishment." A weathered face framed by long black hair came into view.

"Captain Teague!" Elizabeth blushed up to her roots.

"But if you think he deserves it… go right ahead. You two go off. Don't have to let an old man buy you a drink." Teague teased, gesturing to the bar.

Elizabeth noticed Jack still hadn't said anything to his father but was currently toying with her red rose in his hands. Elizabeth's eyes wandered back to Teague's questioning face and took a hold of Jack's arm. "We'd love to."

"Wonderful." Teague smiled, clapping his hands together. His smile faltered when his eyes connected with his sons. Elizabeth cleared her throat to break the tension.

"After you my king." Teague opened his arm out, signaling her to lead the way.

Once all three of them were seated at the bar, first Elizabeth, then Teague and Jack on both sides of her, the old man ordered Tortuga's finest for the whole table. They sat in silence as the owner placed a bottle and three glasses on the table. Jack glanced around looking for a familiar bald head.

"So…" Teague began, breaking the silence. "How long have you two been…" His sentence faded off as he gestured to them, Jack's arm resting on the back of Elizabeth's chair.

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Oh," Elizabeth chuckled nervously, "We're not-"

"A month." Elizabeth turned her head to Jack in surprise, slightly panicking.

"Well, I'm happy for you. It's good to see you with just one woman for a change, not a whole harem…" Teague joked, taking a drink from his mug.

Jack chose to ignore Elizabeth's annoyed expression, noticing the stout balding man enter the building.

Jack wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "Yes, well, look at her? How could I resist?" His hot breath blew on her neck and her hair.

Teague's eyebrows raised as he observed them. " There is a reason I came to Tortuga, you know?"

"What? To leave all your possessions to your only son before you melt away? About time, isn't it?" Jack spat, finally talking to his father face to face.

"Jack…" Elizabeth warned under her breath.

Teague's face hardened. "No. I didn't come for you. I came for her." Jack's face turned from surprise to anger. His eyes met Elizabeth's confused ones. "There was a summoning of the Brethern Court. They wish to elect a new king."

"But you called me your king just moments ago? How can this be?" Elizabeth protested.

"To me, you always will be, Elizabeth Swann, Pirate King, but there are many others that do not believe you are qualified. And there is the matter of the code." Teague said uncomfortably, noticing both of his companion's heated looks.

Realization hit Jack. "Robert's code?"

"Aye…"

"What? Robert's code? What does that mean?" Elizabeth turned her head between them until the older man answered.

"In order for a woman to be apart of the brethren of pirates, she must must be joined and accounted for."

"Meaning…"

"Unless you belong to one of the pirate court, you have no business in it's brethren." Jack muttered a simpler explanation.

"Meaning I would have to…marry? One of them?" Elizabeth spat in disgust.

Teague smiled at her expression and nodded his head towards. "We're not all bad. Might as well make it legal, eh Jackie? Wouldn't mind some grandchildren before I, what was it, 'Melt away'…"

Both Elizabeth and Jack's eye's widened. "Well, I'll leave you two to it then. I look forward to seeing you both at Shipwreck Cove."

Jack opened his mouth to protest as his father stood up from his seat, when he noticed a small scrap of paper lying in front of him.

Meet me in the Town square next to the city hall if you want yourr ship back. Now's your last chance before I pull out of port.

G

"Jack? What is that? Why did you say we were together? Now look what you have gotten us in to!" Elizabeth exclaimed, shaking his arm to gain his attention.

"I've got to go."

"What? Now?" Elizabeth shouted. "What are we going to do? I can't go back without a husband."

"Then you won't." Jack stated simply.

"Jack…"

"Not really! Don't get your hopes up woman! If it's a happily married couple my father and the court want to see, then that is what we will give them. Now, if you will excuse me." Jack rushed his sentences, stepping backwards towards the door. He was almost out when a voice called his name.

"Jack!"

"You welcome!" He called running into the street.

The square was eerily silent that night, the sound of Jack's heavy boots hitting the brick rang out around him. "Hello?" His voice echoed into the darkness.

"About time you made it." A voice rasped from the shadows. A bald head ducked underneath a tree limb. Large hands brushed away the dirt that clung to his pants. "Here for your boat, I'd imagine…"

"Aye, that would be why you beckoned me." Jack muttered bitterly.

"The bet's been made, the die cast, and here we both are, waiting for the result.." Greenwald whispered as in a trance, slowly pulling a familiar bottle from his coat pocket. After taking a long swig, he offered it to Jack.

Jack exchanged looks between the rum and the greasy man before him. "Eh… no thanks."

"Suit yerself. Now were was I…. ah yes." Greenwald chuckled dauntingly. "The result." He replaced the rum in his pocket and then instead pulled The Pearl from a large sag he had about him. "So did you do as I asked of you? Did you sleep with that wench?"

Jack's jaw visibly tightened. A rotten smile grew on Greenwald's face. "And she's even meeting the family now too? Ye must have something special…" In his hand he held on to a small red rose.

Jack didn't reply but instead looked out towards the harbor.

"Alright. Ye won. But cain't say it doesn't give me pleasure to see The 'Captain Jack Sparrow' broken down, following a woman like a dog on her heels…. If the people of Tortuga could see you now… How the mighty have fallen."

Jack's eyes lifted up in disgust. Jack reached for his pistol. "Just give me my damn ship, and be gone with ya…" Jack threatened, pointed in at the side of Greenwald's greasy face.

The large glass bottle was thrust into his hands, almost slipping from his grasp. Looking up, Jack noticed a portly figure drunkenly wobbling back to town.

"Good riddens!" Jack shouted after him before turning his attention back to the precious bottle in his hands. "I've got ya darling… I'm not going to let another sorry excuse of a man steal you ever again."

"So you do want me after all…" A breathy whisper came from behind him while chipped fingernails clutched his shoulder blades.

Jack gulped. "You wanted me to meet you here tonight, didn't you Giselle?" Jack stated calmly, hoping things wouldn't go out of hand.

"Why of course I did, Jackie. Now how about we go someplace a little more…" Giselle stood up on her toes and placed her mouth near to his ear. "Private." Her painted lips were mere centimeters from his earlobe.

Jack rolled his eyes and looked down the road, trying to ignore the woman next to him. He looked down the empty street, and then noticed it: A piece of green fabric with red embroidery caught on one of the barrels about half way down the street. He looked up and noticed a slight figure in distance moving towards the harbor.

"Elizabeth!" He called after the disappearing figure.

Suddenly, his vision went black when a manicured hand came at his face. His body hit the brick underneath him, the rose in his hand floating to the ground. Clunking heels hit the brick, growing fainter and fainter in the distance.

"Great, now I've got two women angry at me!" Jack grumbled, his face still crumpled next to the pavement.