I'm sorry it's taken so long! It honestly wasn't my intention to make you all wait! :(
But it was my birthday four days ago, so please do me a big favor and review as a gift to me! :) -heart-

Chapter 8: Her Beauty

Jack stretched groggily, turning onto his side so that the bright sunlight would not interrupt his precious rest.

...A sweet scent wafted through his nostrils and he smiled lazily. Was that... Lavender? Lilies? He grinned slowly and curled himself closer to the intoxicating aroma. Breathing it in, he wished to find the source of this lovely fragrance.

Sluggishly opening his eyes, it took him a moment to see clearly before him. Blinking several times, his sight faintly returned and there he found Katherine, asleep beside him on his bed.

His lips parted in disbelief. Jack figured that they had both fallen asleep after their conversation that extended late, the night before. He had come to know so many magnificent things about her. Her favourite colours, whether she loved land or sea more, her favourite dish; which was cinnamon rolls.

With a tug at the corner of his lips, his dark brown eyes scanned over her delicate frame. She was snuggled into his sheets. Her long hair, soft and shimmering, was displayed on the pillow. Her visage held an innocent air, as her lips were parted just slightly and her ebony lashes created soft shadows over the white skin of her cheeks.

She was beautiful- pure and delicate. Any thought of the brunette becoming acquainted with another man seemed to jolt fire throughout his veins. It was an odd spectacle for Jack Sparrow to feel things such as jealousy, which he insisted to himself that he wasn't. He was merely... possessive.

The captain smirked, reassuring himself that he was, in fact, a possessive man.

She shifted slightly in her sleep and Jack quickly averted his gaze, inconspicuously. When Katherine was settled again, he returned his sight to her and slowly, and he grinned.

He decided that he wouldn't particularly mind having her close like this. In his cabin, nestled soundly beside him with the high possibility of his arm securely around her.

Jack smiled wistfully. No, no... He wouldn't mind at all.

Deciding against plunging Katherine into a whirlpool of embarrassment when she awoke and found him near, he stood from the bed and realized that he was still in his clothing from the night before. After a thought, he shrugged carelessly and simply walked out of his cabin quietly only to come face to face with Gibbs.

"Ah, mister Gibbs." Jack addressed him, crossing his arms to assume a figure of leadership.

Nodding, "Aye sir." He tried to get a brief glance into the interior of Jack's cabin, but the door was hastily shut closed by the heel of Sparrow's boot.

"Make way to Port Royal. I'm sure miss Elizabeth will be awaiting her friend's return, aye?" The captain of the Black Pearl said with a wave of his hand as they both made their way to the helm.

Gibbs shrugged somewhat, "Aye, I believe its been over four days, Jack."

"Wha..." He rose an eyebrow, "really?"

"Five days to be exact. By the time we arrive, it will be six or six and a half days or so," The older man glanced at the sky, as if predicting future forecasts, "depending on the weather's cooperation.."

"Dammit, man! Why didn't you tell me!" Jack yelled as he shooed him off to help the crew while he steered his beloved vessel. In all honesty, Jack wasn't angered, infuriated or anything of the like. He would have delayed Katherine's stay longer if not for the nagging Elizabeth Swann, whom was awaiting the young woman's arrival in Port Royal.

But, he set his thoughts aside and concentrated on captaining his ship.

.

Stirring, Katherine awoke slowly and wiped the remnants of sleep away from her eyes. She was... in Jack's cabin? What had she done? They didn't... partake in any nasty events, did they?

She stood gingerly then hastily went to return inside her own quarters, where she changed into a much lighter dress and left to find Jack.

And she found him quite easily, standing with pride as he steered his vessel. Spotting her coming towards him, he beckoned Katherine over.

"Ah, love! I see the beauty has finally awaken, aye?" He grinned handsomely. Her dress fit her form perfectly, he noted mischievously.

Katherine stopped in her footsteps, and spoke no words. Eventually, she came closer to him and whispered into his ear, "You know that I slept in your bed last night...?"

The two pulled away as the Captain laughed flamboyantly, "Yes, darlin'. I do know," He said to her with a wink, "quite well, in fact."

A cold feeling buried itself into her core, "Jack, we didn't... do anything... like that, right?"

Hearing this, he laughed even louder. When able to contain himself, he glanced at the woman beside him and smiled, "No love, nothing like that.." Unfortunately, he thought.

The young woman breathed a sigh of relief, which made Jack frown somewhat before concealing it and stare straight ahead of him at the sparkling blue ocean.

"Just how many more days until our arrival in Port Royal, Jack?" Katherine enquired, weaving her long chestnut hair through her fingers as it tousled in the warm Caribbean breeze.

Good God, she was gorgeous... His mouth fell agape at the glorious sight of her.

"Jack, what is it?"

Hastily, his mouth closed and he straightened, mustering all of his pride that he could, "What is what?"

She smiled and looked away, elated, "Never mind."