Jack returned to the sitting room, where Teague was also beginning to yawn. "Oh, there you are, Jacky. I was just saying goodnight to Miss Elizabeth. You staying the night?"

"Hadn't planned to. I'll stay for a bit longer, if Elizabeth doesn't mind, but then I'm headed back to the Pearl. Got some things to see to."

"'Night, then, son. Miss 'Liz."

"'Night, Dad." "Good night, Captain."

Jack sat back down opposite Elizabeth and looked at her critically in the lamplight. Her face had filled in quite a bit, but she was still much too thin—and her thinness was exaggerated by the tightly-laced corset she wore—and she had dark circles under her eyes.

"You should get some sleep as well, love," he told her. "We can always talk tomorrow."

She shook her head. "I woke up from a two-hour nap shortly before you arrived. I won't be sleeping before midnight tonight."

Jack felt a little restless. "Want to come out for a walk with me?"

She smiled. "Love to."

They left the house together, heading in unspoken accord down to the docks.

"You do look quite handsome this evening," she told him as they walked. "I meant to tell you earlier. I don't think I've ever seen you this pulled-together."

"Yeah, I thought I'd spruce up a bit," he answered with studied nonchalance. "Had to do justice to me new hat, you see."

Elizabeth said nothing, but took his arm as they walked. He gave it a little squeeze against his ribs. They reached the docks and looked out over the water at the Black Pearl, floating in the cove.

"She is lovely, isn't she?" Elizabeth said.

Jack agreed. "That she is." He stood there in silence for a moment, and then he turned to Elizabeth.

"Figure I owe you an apology for this morning, in my own right," he said. "I knew ye were grieving and not really aware of what ye said. I should've kept me temper and not shouted back at you. I'm sorry about that, love."

"No, no—it was my fault entirely. I seem to always misjudge you and say the wrong things." She smiled up at him. "I am glad you're such a forgiving man. With me around, you really have to be!"

He chuckled. "Don't worry about it, love. Although I do like the idea of you spending the rest of your life repaying me! Have to see what I can come up with, eh?"

"Jack!" She cuffed him on the shoulder.

He laughed and put his arm around her, pulling her close for a one-armed hug. "Relax, 'Lizabeth. Don't you trust me by now?"

She exhaled sharply, shook her head, and put her arm around his waist to return the hug. "You know I do. I just don't always like to!"

"Finally, the truth!" His gold teeth shone in the moonlight.

"Oh, shut it." She turned him around the way they came. "We ought to be getting back."

They started walking, arms around each other for a few steps before separating and walking arm-in-arm again.

"I meant to ask you," Elizabeth began, "Will your crew object to staying around here for however long it takes for Angelica to show up? It could be weeks."

He shook his head. "We've been at sea almost constantly since I got 'em all out of the bottle, and we've had a pretty good run of luck. Even took a Spanish payroller a while back. Means we've got plenty of plunder for a change, but haven't stayed anywhere long enough for 'em to spend it. No, I imagine they'll be just fine with staying here for a while. I'm thinking about careening the Pearl anyway. Poor girl needs some attention paid her, after the hardships she endured with Barbossa."

"Oh, the poor thing," Elizabeth commiserated, just as if the Pearl were a real lady. "So what's the bottle story?"

"Some other time, darling. Anyway, I really ought to let Gibbs tell it. He's the one what brought the goats."

"Goats?"

"Definitely some other time." He changed the subject. "So how'd they find out about your marriage, anyway?"

"Our first night here, my aunt wanted to hear about my wedding. Then recently she's been spending time closeted up with your father, and she says they investigated every detail and found it invalid."

Jack shook his head. "Didn't I warn you about not telling things to Teague?"

"Yes, but—I just didn't think telling them about my wedding would be harmful!"

"Lesson learned, I hope?"

"Definitely."

They arrived back at Teague's house and returned to the sitting room. Jack had been rather quiet on the walk back, and Elizabeth asked him about it. She sat down and followed him with her eyes as he paced the room.

"Something on your mind?"

"Aye."

"Care to share?"

He stopped pacing and looked down at her. "You know it won't be as easy as Angelica just sailing into an ambush," he warned. "She's a smart woman with a well-armed ship, a huge crew, and she's a very good swordsman herself. In fact," he continued thoughtfully, "If you haven't been fighting much in the last two years, you should maybe get in some sparring, love. If you're out of practice, she'll wipe the ground with you if it comes to that."

Elizabeth agreed. "You're probably right." She laughed a little. "Poor Aunt Agatha! She was so pleased that she'd managed to get me into dresses again!"

Jack grinned. "It's all one to me," he told her. "I think you look just as nice out of your dress as ye do in it."

"Jack!" She threw an antimacassar at him.

He laughed. "I just meant shirt and trousers instead of a dress, love!" He shook his head in mock sorrow. "Dearie, dearie me, when will you stop thinking all these lewd and salacious thoughts?"

"Ohhhh!" Elizabeth stood up and stomped across the room. She folded her arms and turned around to face him. "Porbably not as long as I associate with you," she growled.

"Oh, so I'm your inspiration for salacious thoughts? I'd long suspected that was the case, but I'm somewhat surprised at you being so forthright about it. Not that I mind, of course."

Elizabeth turned her back on him, staring fixedly at a portrait on the wall. She ground her teeth, but said nothing.

[See footnote]

Jack laughed. "On that note, I'd better take me leave," he told her. On an impulse, he reached out one daring hand and brushed his fingers gently against her cheek. "Good night, 'Lizabeth." And he put his hat on and was gone.

***[Note: There is a bit more dialogue that originally went here, that deals with Jack's family background. I decided to cut it out, as it didn't contribute much to the plot movement; however if anyone is interested I may add it in after the epilogue. Rather like a "deleted scene" on a DVD.]