Her eyes blinked as the midday sun crept through the small cracks of the curtains. She wasn't sure what time it was. She didn't care. She gazed at her surroundings. Her head rested on his chest. Her hand grazing his chest hair. Her legs languidly sprawled across his body. She lifted her head to look at the sleeping man next to her.

Esmeralda wasn't sure what had come over her last night but she couldn't get that kiss with Jack off her mind. Especially after such an emotional night with Meg's episode and seeing how loving and supportive Hercules had been. Esmeralda wanted nothing more that to see where that kiss with Jack would lead to. And she had to admit to herself that she missed him terribly.

After she left Hercules and parted ways with Flynn, she decided to surprise Jack and made her way back to Walt Street. He was still buzzed from the rum but from the minute he answered the door, they wasted no time. She ran into his arms and had stayed there all night long through dawn. They had so much time to make up for. She wasn't sure at what point they tired themselves out and fell asleep, but she knew that it was the best sleep she'd had since he'd left Fantasia.

With a mischievous grin she watched him sleep and innocently ran her fingers across his chest. Watching his lips quiver and his body twitch with her touch, she grew bolder. She inched her fingers lower down his abdomen.

His eyes flew open as she reached under the covers. He grabbed her wrist just as her fingers were about to wrap themselves around him.

"You don't want to be doing that, luv," Jack grumbled.

She smiled.

"Oh don't I? I want to know what it feels like. I think I've forgotten," she teased as her fingers reached for him again.

"Forgotten? Now, we can't be having that."

Just as she hoped he would, he rolled over and he was hovering over her. He wrapped his arms around her and began kissing every inch of her upper body, starting with her shoulder and working his way to her neck. But her lips were craving his. She pulled him closer to her mouth and tasted his rum-soaked lips once again. This was her bliss.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

"Is that mine or yours?" Esmeralda breathlessly asked between kisses beneath Jack.

"Ignore them both, luv," he responded, his lips grazing her neck.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Esmeralda smiled as she held him tighter She was glad to ignore the buzzing phones this time because she was in no mood to move away from her position beneath him as they continued rekindling their romance. For the first time since she and Jack had began their amorous affair, she was totally guiltless and free. She no longer wanted to fight the urges that haunted her dreams and made her toes curl.

"Oh Jack," she moaned as he found a delicate spot on her collar bone.

"I knew you'd warm up to me eventually, darling"

She giggled.

"Oh did you, now?"

He rose up to look at her. Esmeralda had never seen his eyes so dark and passionate, hungry. His eyes gazed all over here face, mesmerizing every beautiful unique detail. His calloused fingertips gently grazed her cheeks. Chills ran up her spine. Her body temperature rose. It was just like her dream. This time she was hoping she'd never wake up.

"Yes I did, my dear Esme."

He kissed her hard on he mouth. With a primal instinct to be closer to him, Esmeralda raised her hips, clinging to him, eager to be one with him again.

"I don't think I could have waited another night, luv," he whispered.

"Well, you did say you needed me."

"A strong and unyielding need, it was."

She wrapped her arms around his neck as his lips continued their exploration of her skin.

"Didn't I tell you, good things come to those who wait."

"Oh, I've waited, luv. It seemed like torture waiting to be with you," he whispered.

"Jack?"

"Hmm?" he mumbled against her skin.

"A strong and unyielding need, you say? What does that mean?"

His head rose up from a most enjoyable and delightful activity.

"Must you ask that question now?"

She smiled and scooted herself up so she was sitting. She put her hands on his face and brought his lips to hers.

"Jack, we've been together all night and all morning. I want to know."

"And what, dearest Esme, do you want to know?"

She kissed him again.

"Am I another one of Captain Jack Sparrow's many conquests? Or is this the real deal?"

For the first time in his life, Jack was without words. He even blushed.

"I...uh...oh bloody hell, Esme," he said falling on his back and throwing and arm over his eyes.

Seductively, like a lioness, she crawled on top of him, determined to get the answer she'd suspected but wanted to hear directly from him.

"What's a matter, Jack? Afraid to share your feelings?" she asked pulling his arm away from his face.

He opened his eyes and saw the beautiful, exotic green-eyed angel staring back at him, tangled ebony hair and all. His body reacted with the strong and unyielding need to be with her again. Her eyes couldn't hide what her body felt – his arousal for her. He rose up and kissed her hard on the mouth, devouring her lips. She was helpless to stop him.

"That doesn't answer my question, Jack."

"Shhh. You must wait for the opportune moment," he responded as he assaulted her mouth with his lips, his body easing hers on her back.

Just as he was positioning himself to make love to her for the umpteenth time in the last twelve hours, a loud pounding on his bedroom door interrupted his erotic intentions.

"Jack! Jack! Open the door! We have to meet the crew now!" Will's voice bellowed.

"One moment, I have to deal with a rowdy member of my crew," he whispered to Esmeralda, breaking their kiss.

She continued to kiss his shoulder, his arm, anything to keep their passionate flame burning, even with Will on the other side of the door.

"Bugger off, William, I'm in the middle of something and shall not be disturbed!" Jack shouted before returning his attentions to Esmeralda.

But Will was not relenting.

"Jack! This is important! It's about Esmeralda!"

Jack and Esmeralda stopped what they were doing and looked at each other, both intrigued by what Will might have to say.

"Ignore him, it's probably nothing," Jack said to Esmeralda, going back in for a kiss, but she had something different in mind.

The mention of her name burned out her passion for Jack for the time being at least. She wrapped herself in a sheet an got out of bed, leaving Jack groaning in irritation on the bed as he felt around for his pants or something to cover himself.

Esmeralda opened the door.

"What about me?"

Will's face was shocked. He was not expecting to see Esmeralda answering Jack's door...especially such a scantily clad Esmeralda.

"Uh. Where's Jack?"

"Jack is right here and before you ask, yes you did interrupt something," Jack responded, rolling out of bed, zipping up his pants, thoroughly annoyed with Will.

"Well, I'm sorry to interrupt but have either of you checked your phones recently? Flynn has been trying to get a hold of both of you," Will responded, slightly embarrassed.

"No offense, mate, but we haven't really had time to be paying attention to electronic devices today," Jack replied as Esmeralda scurried over to the nightstand to find her phone.

She had ten missed calls from Flynn and about a million text messages.

"What did Flynn want?" she asked aloud, hoping Will would answer.

"Who cares? Why does Flynn always have to call when we're in the middle of something?" Jack asked taking the phone out of Esmeralda's hands.

"This is serious, Jack. Esmeralda could be in danger," Will said. "It seems the two of you have been found out."

"Found out? We weren't trying to hide anything to find out, tot begin with. What does that even mean? Who would even care enough to 'find us out'? Angelica certainly isn't bothered by us," Esmeralda inquired, gathering her things.

"Angelica isn't the problem this time. It seems Anya overheard Frollo visiting with Adam this afternoon."

At the mention of Frollo's name, both Esmeralda and Jack froze. Esmeralda shivered remembering the night not so long ago she had her run in with the ghoulish judge.

"And what is she to him?" Jack asked. His mood had suddenly changed from irritated to curious.

"According to what Anya told Flynn, he saw the two of you last night."

"What?" Esmeralda and Jack said in unison.

Immediately, Jack's eyes looked around the room as if he were looking for hidden cameras.

Will rolled his eyes.

"Not in your room, you fool. On the street last night in front of Pridelands."

Jack breathed a temporary sigh of relief.

"And why does that signal that I am in danger?" Esmeralda asked as she expertly clothed herself without unveiling the sheet wrapped around her naked body.

"It seems he eerily described the look on Jack's face when you left him last night. He is under the belief that you have bewitched Jack and has convinced Adam that if Charming wants to win – he has to get to you – to get to Jack."

"Like any woman could bewitch Captain Jack Sparrow," Esmeralda replied rolling her eyes, half expecting Jack to contradict her and feeling stupid when he didn't.

Jack looked to Will and then to Esmeralda. He had seen the way Frollo was eyeing Esmeralda the night outside the dance studio. He knew just what intentions he had for her should he ever have the opportunity again. Jack knew this man was dangerous and not to be trusted.

"Esme, darling, I think we should take this a bit more seriously."

His response struck her as both odd and annoying.

"Why because he's a bored creepy old man?"

"And a dangerous one, too, darling. Need I remind you what happened after your rehearsal the other night?"

Will furrowed his brow.

"Night after your rehearsal? Has Frollo threatened you before?" Will asked.

Esmeralda rolled her eyes.

"Oh. My. God. Guys, it was nothing. I could've handled him myself."

She was both frustrated with Jack's lack of response regarding his feelings and his paradoxical concern for her. He had no right to do both at the same time. Suddenly what had started out as a blissfully passionate day was suffocating to her.

"Esmeralda. You and I both know if I had not arrived at that exact moment - "

She cut him off.

"No. We don't know that, Jack. If you had not shown up I was planning on hitting him where it hurts. I can take care of myself."

"Wait, so he actually approached you?" Will asked again.

"Once. Yes. Saying something like he was charmed by my dancing or whatever. So what. He's a creepy, sad old man."

"Esmeralda, please," Jack pleaded, wanting her to understand the severity of the Frollo situation. "Men like that are not to be underestimated."

"I am not afraid of a weasel like Frollo."

"Perhaps you should if he's planning to use you to get to me. Esme, you know I - "

Jack stopped himself before he could finish, suddenly remembering that Will was in the room.

"I know you what, Jack?"

He couldn't find the right words to express his feelings. He was never one to express his feelings any other way than physically.

"Esme, luv. Maybe it would be best if we...or maybe you could...no that wouldn't work."

Her green eyes lit up with rage.

"No. No. Don't tell me. Captain Jack is afraid?"

"I think what Jack is trying to say is -" Will began before he was cut off.

"Save it. I've heard enough."

She was fully dressed with her purse slung over her shoulder, ready to leave. Not only could Jack not be honest with her about how he really feels but now he was trying to play her knight and shining armor. He couldn't have it both ways. And she was livid. She had to leave now before she burst into angry tears.

"Call me when you can accurately and articulately express yourself, Captain," she said before storming out of the room heading for the front door.

"Esmeralda, wait!"

Jack's calls fell on deaf ears.

She was gone.

He grunted.

"You know, William, you have terrible timing."

"Sure. Blame this whole ordeal on me. You're the one who can't even be honest with yourself but even – as Esmeralda so delicately put it – a creepy weasel of a man can see that you are madly in love for the first time in your miserable life."

Jack just glared at Will in response.

"Best finish getting dressed, Jack. We have to rendezvous with the crew. Flynn set up a meeting."

"When I get my hands on Flynn, I may just strangle the poor whelp," Jack said pulling a loose white shirt over his head.

"By the way, Will. Why did Anya deliver this discovery to Flynn and not you?"

Will narrowed his eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean, Jack?"

"Oh nothing. I just thought you were her dear shoulder to cry on."

"It seems that I missed her call while I was at the zoo this morning."

Jack nodded his head as he made his way toward the door.

"And with whom were you gallivanting around throughout Fantasia's zoological gardens?"

Will rolled his eyes as they left to go meet the crew.