The Fine Line

A/N: Probably not my best piece but it was something and i figured i'd share it. Sorry if its kinda confusing...maybe its just me. Anyhow thanks to my beta DP...shes the best folks!

The Fine Line

She had been so concerned with saving him she hadn’t stopped to think
about how he would treat her once he had been rescued. However since
they had pulled him onto the deck and pulled him from the jaws of death
it was all she could think about. She spent her sleepless nights
wondering and thinking.

I have to face him. Need to tell him how sorry I am. How much he
means to me….not that he’ll believe it after I sentenced him to death!!
Real smart Elizabeth. But that doesn’t change it, I am sorry. I’m not
sorry. That was classic, just tell him that to convince yourself. But
damn that man for kissing me back like that! Doesn’t he understand I
love Will. Oh Will, he can’t kiss me like that but he loves me. Jack
will never, he could never, he’s a pirate…. So am I.

He had been laid up in his cabin for about a week with every crewmember
except herself taking turns watching over him, she was still in conflict
with herself, trying to decide what to say to him and figure out how he
would take it.

When he was well enough to emerge, his focus was on Beckett, so it was
fairly easy for her to avoid him altogether. They really were alike,
great at avoiding issues they didn’t want to deal with head on. She just
couldn’t bring herself to see him, as much as she told herself she was
trying. Part of her wanted to go in there and resume what she had
started at that mast. The other part feared he would shoot her. Then
there was Will; she harbored too much guilt when it came to him, so she
avoided him as best she could too.

Her conversations with Will had been lax enough as it was before they
found Jack, but afterward she hardly ever spoke to him. Will may have
been a little naive at times, but he wasn’t stupid. She had clearly been
the most distraught as a result of Jack’s "decision" to stay behind and
face the kraken alone, shouldn’t she be the first to want to see him?
After all she had kissed him, more passionately than she had ever kissed
himself, and she hadn’t even admitted to doing that yet. Will needed an
answer and finally approached her for one.

"Jack asked about you," She jumped as she heard the voice from behind
completely unaware that she wasn’t alone until he leaned up next to her.
"Wants to know why you haven’t come to see him," he paused "come to
think of it, I do to."

"Will." She smiled coyly at him, "you startled me," completely ignoring
the question since Jack was the last person she wanted to think about,
and the only one she could.

"Elizabeth," he turned to face her, "what happened to us?" Will clearly
sensed the end. He had for weeks, but he needed to be certain, before he
could bring himself to talk to her about it.

Completely surprised by the direction this conversation so suddenly
headed in, tears formed in her eyes. "Nothing."

"Who are you trying to kid Elizabeth? You have barely spoken to me since
the Pearl went down. I saw you kiss Jack. I had been hoping you would
have explained that to me by now." He looked away from her silent for a
moment before speaking again, "I half expected you to jump into his arms
upon saving him. Instead you haven’t even been in to see him and you
have yet to talk to me about any of it. Do you care to give me some
explanation?"

"Will, I. I don’t know what to say." She fell mute again. "I never meant
to hurt you. I kissed him to trick him into staying aboard the Pearl; to
give us a chance, to save you, but..."

Before she could continue her statement Barbossa had appeared and was
shouting orders at Will about the East India Company’s vessel that had
finally come into view. If any of them were going to survive the heart
of Davy Jones had to be reclaimed from Beckett and stabbed. Amazingly
Jack and Barbossa were working together on the matter, bickering like
old ladies, but they were united in their fight.

"We will finish this later." He kissed her cheek and turned to join the
rest of the crew as they prepared for the impending battle. She hadn’t
known that that would be his last conversation with her. Battles raged
on for the next few days, breaking long enough to patch up some wounds
and catch a little shuteye. In the end Will stabbed the heart of Davy
Jones, sentencing himself to life on the Dutchman. She regretted not
telling him she loved him or apologizing for the anguish she had clearly
put him through, but she was confused.

She was still playing out the events in her head when she finally went
to talk to Jack. Regret over never having the conversation with Will
sent her to Jack’s door. Life at sea had proven one thing to her, death
could come at anytime, and she wasn’t going to lose another man she
loved to the sea without at the very least apologizing to him for
feeding him to a beastie. She needed to know where she stood with him.

Even if it meant he hated her, she needed a definite answer, to know if
he felt what she did in his last few moments on the Pearl. Will was
gone, her father dead, she was alone, but Jack could fix all that, if
only he could forgive.

She knocked on the door before entering. He was sitting at his desk, rum
bottle in hand, quill in the other, charting a course to somewhere. His
eyes rose to watch her as she entered the cabin. Neither spoke as she
moved to sit on the edge of the bed staring into the distance thinking
about everything.

He was the first to speak as he returned his eyes to his maps, "Was
wonderin’ how long it take before you’d show yer face without a war
raging."

"Jack, I." She silenced herself as her eyes circled the room looking for
something, anything, to focus on other than him. His eyes always made
her weak in the knees; she needed to focus.

"Loss for words Miss Swan or looking for something else to shackle me
to?" He quipped, more jokingly than angrily.

"I’m sorry Jack."

"Fer feeding me to the beastie, tricking me the way ye did, or fer
longing to kiss me again?" He replied rather nonchalantly. Jack was
never one to ignore his desires, and he desired her, always had. Will
just stood in the way before, but now Will was a squid face. Not much
competition there. The guilt she harbored for killing him could only
help his cause, so he figured he’d use it.

"For every…." She paused as she processed the last part of his statement
and looked up at him.

"I told ye once love, peas in a pod." He chuckled and sipped his rum.

Somewhat confused, she asked him "Arent you mad at me?" and as she
realized what he had assumed "Are you presuming that I enjoyed that
kiss?" She came off sounding all the part of the angry Governors daughter.

"Ye liked it more than you thought ye would Lizzie. Ye did what needed
to be done. I admire that, can’t be mad at it. But that kiss..." He
smirked knowing full well that his arrogance was starting to anger her.
"That cannot be so easily forgotten or forgiven, as it were."

"Jack, that kiss was a…" She tried to defend.

"What a ruse? Designed to trick me? Love, I knew when you pushed me to
the mast that there was more than just death awaiting me. It burned
within you, within me….I still feel it. Difference is, I’ll admit it,
while you hide from it..." he paused briefly, "and me." He smirked at her,
letting her know that he already knew the rules to this game.

He was giving her the opportunity to claim what she desired; yet somehow
she felt it was some sort of a trick designed for him to get even.

"It would never work between us Jack." She responded, using his own line
on him. Feeling she needed to stick to the matter at hand before she
found herself in a worse situation. Although she thought she would
probably enjoy the "worse" situation he was insinuating.

"Keep telling yourself that darlin." He replied, before looking at his
maps again, "It won’t help," he stated rather knowingly, like he was
some kind of expert on the topic. Of course he was, for he had told
himself that for years for the sake of Will. Dear stupid, bloody Will.

Elizabeth was confused. She didn’t want to admit that she desired him.
She didn’t want to turn him down, and she didn’t want the whole thing
making her look stupid.

Moments passed in silence as she sat and contemplated her next move,
trying to read Jack for any sign that he could be sincere with his
banter. As always she couldn’t get anything off him. Damn that man, he
had one hell of a poker face, but she had to try something.

Growing braver she spoke, "So what if it was true?"

"Hmm?" he questioned as if he didn’t remember the conversation they were
having, but was completely aware of what was going on.

"What if…what if?" she stumbled.

"What if, what love? You admit you liked it? Long for more?" He rose
from his feet and walked to stand in front of her, his dark eyes peering
down at her, seeing clean through her, knowing full well that she
couldn’t resist him much longer. "You need not say anything Lizzie. I
know it." He grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet, and before
she knew it he had her in his arms, his face a mere inches from her own,
but he wouldn’t kiss her.

"You don’t hate me?" She asked. Needing reassurance and something else
she clearly couldn’t put a name to.

"Tried." He laughed, "Thought it could be more fun to explore the other
option."

Her desires began to take hold of her and she couldn’t resist him
anymore. She opted to play along, pressing her body closer to his. "And
what option would that be Captain Sparrow?"

"I’m confident you are already aware of the option Miss Swann. Somehow
I’m not so certain you have the grit to explore it." He teased, knowing
that challenging her was a sure fire way to get what he wanted, he
pressed his hips into her.

Something within her snapped, she immediately pressed her lips to his,
pushing her tongue into his mouth to claim that which she so desperately
wanted. She felt him smile before he turned the tides on her, wrestling
her for control. Their lips broke only when neither could breathe
anymore and their eyes met waiting for response.

"Well, now that that’s settled." He smirked and sat on the bed. "I
believe you came to apologize Lizzie."

"What? I thought you weren’t mad at me?" She questioned breathlessly.

"Mad….no. But am in NEED of an apology. Perhaps in the form of some
assistance." His eyes moved to the ever-expanding bulge in his britches,
and a gold laced grin spread across his face.

She laughed lightly before she answered. "I think I can manage that
Jack. After all, I do what needs to be done."

He growled seductively at her.

She sashayed her way to him, led by something deep within her that she
didn’t even know existed; all thoughts of propriety long gone, clouds of
confusion suddenly lifted. All that mattered right now was Jack. Game or
not she was going to have him. She would worry about the later, well, later.

When she was within reach Jack slid his hands up her thighs before
settling them on her arse. She jumped when he squeezed igniting a
chuckle from the lustful pirate. Smiling at him, she claimed his lips
and almost instinctively moved to undress him, running into more
obstacles of belts and trinkets than she ever even realized he had. It
seemed like a lifetime had passed before she could get his shirt off
him. Jack, however was in no rush. He had thought about this moment
during his seemingly endless stay in the locker and it had consumed him
the instant he’d glanced at her upon returning to the land of the
living. He wanted to be mad at her, but he couldn’t. He admired her too
much, longed to be near her, damned if he’d admit it, but he loved her.
He was going to enjoy this.

"Lizzie. Yours next." He practically ordered her. To his surprise she
didn’t even hesitate before unbuttoning her shirt and letting it slip
from her slender shoulders. His hand then rose to the wrapping covering
her breasts, which he skillfully removed almost instantly.

His hands quickly found them, fondling and caressing them before his
lips found her nipple and he began to suck ever so seductively,
splitting his time between them evenly. Lizzie’s hands trailed over his
scarred back as his lips ignited a fire between her legs she had never
known before. Her body seemed to be melting away as his hands explored
her every curve.

"Jack," she spoke almost breathless.

He released her breast with a loud pop and smiled up at her, "I know
exactly what you mean luv," and he pulled her into his lap before lying
her down on his bunk. Climbing across her, he kissed her lips once more
before speaking "There’s no going back Lizzie."

"I don’t want to go back." She admitted tears building in her eyes, "I
never want to let you go."

Somewhat taken back by her answer he was thoughtful before responding,
but wasn’t going to let a few tears deter him. "Why?" he asked, feeling
the need to torture her and make her verbally admit what her body had
already betrayed.

"Jack, you know why." She smiled at him as the tears began to roll off
her cheeks.

"No Lizzie, do tell." He was tormenting her, he passed his thumb over a
nipple again, "Its because you want me, want….THIS." He ground his
hardened member against her to prove his point, eliciting a groan from
deep within her. He ran his tongue over her cheek, tasting the salt of
her tears.

"Yes Jack. I want you." She ceded. At this point there was no sense in
denying it.

He seized her lips almost possessively before moving to kiss a pathway
down her torso. When he reached the band on her breeches she felt his
lips turn to a smile as he skillfully removed them in what felt like an
instant. "Beautiful, Lizzie, absolutely beautiful." He spoke as if he’d
finally found the treasure he’d spent years in search of. He moved to
her belly button and began licking lazy circles around it, dipping his
tongue inside every so often. When he felt her squirming he moved lower.

"Jack what are you doing?" She asked, clearly the novice at such activities.

"Lizzie luv. Just trust me." He stated all knowing before he moved to
kiss her southern lips. He spread her legs a little wider and settled
himself between them, before his hand moved to separate her folds.
Lizzie felt a wave of heat course through her with the slightest touch
of his hand. She hardly expected the wildfire that began spreading when
his tongue entered her most private of areas.

He lazily rolled it across her, lapping up her juices as if it were his
favorite rum. She felt his tongue slip deeper and shortly thereafter it
was replaced by what she could only assume were his fingers. She hardly
knew her name at this point and then she felt Jack sucking down hard in
the place his tongue had been before. She wasn’t sure what it was,
didn’t really care either, as rockets began firing in her ears and her
hips bucked uncontrollably as she came, screaming and moaning in a voice
she hardly even recognized as her own.

When she had regained coherence she noticed somewhere along the line
Jack must have taken his pants off because she could feel his bare
member pressing against her opening. He seized her lips in a bruising
kiss and positioned himself at her saturated entrance.

"Sadly luv, the fun parts just about over for you now. But I assure you,
I’ll make it up to you later." He smiled almost sad that he had to hurt
her and then claimed her lips.

Before she could respond she felt herself being ripped open. This was
the pain she had heard about. The hurt she had known would eventually
become her when the time came for her to lose her virginity. Tears
rolled down her cheek as Jack ceased moving in hopes of easing her pain.
He kissed her tears away before speaking, "Shush luv. Just relax, it will
be easier if you relax."

She locked eyes with him and something deep within her believed him.
Sure enough the pain started to ebb and she began to move ever so slowly
against him. Aware that she required a little coaching, he began
thrusting slowly, showing her how to meet his movements. Lizzie was in a
whirlwind, she’d felt such pleasure, such pain, and now that pain was
starting to feel eerily good.

As they moved she felt herself wrap her legs around him, as if her body
new the rules of this coupling long before her mind. He chuckled at her
briefly before returning to her mark her neck while he listened to her
moan and grunt so enticingly. "Quick study luv," he muttered, or maybe
he didn’t and it was really just her mind’s fog that heard it that way.
Almost urgently she pulled his face to hers and kissed him as hard as
she could. He tried to pull away to say something but she wouldn’t let
him, tugging on his bottom lip with her teeth. The twinkle in his eye
nearly killed her as she felt more for him in that moment than she’d
ever admitted to herself before.

He increased his pace, feeling himself reaching a point of no return. As
he did Lizzie began chanting his name. He moved his hand to where they
were one and seemed to be pushing her closer to the edge she had fallen
from earlier. All rational thought was lost as she came screaming his
name, milking him of his desires in the process. They lay entwined for a
few moments before Jack realized his weight had to be crushing her. He
rapidly moved to his side, withdrawing his now spent partner, and
rolling Lizzie to face him.

"Better than the bloody dream." He spoke through his haze before
reclaiming her eyes.

"Dream?" She stated questionably.

"What dream?" he quipped defensively, unaware that he had actually
spoken those words.

"Dream? Who said anything about a dream?" He quickly moved his eyes from
hers, unwilling to admit anything else accidentally. Why couldn’t he
just be silent sometimes? Then he remembered and smiled to himself while
he thought, because "I’m Captain Jack Sparrow and silence isn’t one
of me virtues."

She merely smiled at his nervousness, for the first time she saw a side
of him that she instantly understood to be the same confusion and fear
she harbored for him. Something told her everything would be ok. "I know
Jack." She kissed his lips and pulled herself closer to him, feeling his
arms instantly tighten around her. "Love and hate are eerily similar
sometimes." She pressed a light kiss to his lips and stated, "Scares me
too." before closing her eyes. It may have taken her killing him, but
they finally understood each other.