Open Waters

The shuffle of her uncomfortable shoes startled Jack - causing him to look over his shoulder and blink in surprise. Surely it was to be Will or even Elizabeth to come and give him a good, stern lashing about speaking to young women in such a way but instead.. instead Olivia was standing at the docs with her eyes glued to his. He sat motionless on the edge with his legs swinging over the water - pale moonlight illuminating his strong features. He had sat there so long his legs were numb and he didn't think it was possible to stand.

"Thought you'd be well on your way by now, Captain."

Jack narrowed his eyes.

"Come to see me off, then? Thought you'd wish you'd never let eyes on me."

They were the two most stubborn people in all the Caribbean.

"Seems my life would have been a lot less miserable if I'd never let eyes on you, Jack Sparrow, but I supposed it'd had been a bit more drab as well." Jack felt a heavy grief lift from his heart as Olivia sat down beside him on the doc's edge - the beautiful dress Elizabeth had let her borrow nearly swallowing her whole and she looked magnificent but very uncomfortable.

"Crewmen are sleeping sound. Would hate to cause a mutiny over exhaustion so we set sail by day break."

"Oh."

"Then, my dear, you'll have your hearts desire and I'll be out of your hair and your life for another ten years. Possibly the sea will swallow me up and you'll never have to worry of me again. Sound good?"

He was trying hard to be nice to her but her words at dinner had stung his pride and his feelings. He wasn't an easily forgiving man but he knew she had every right to say what she had.

"Jack.. don't speak like that.. you know I was only angry.. I would never want anything bad to happen to you.."

At least she was telling the truth - Jack had been so many things to her and she couldn't bare the thought of anything happening to him. He was still the kid she grew up with and she would always care for him no matter what their relationship was. Even when she hated him she loved him.

"I don't hate you, Jack.." Olivia continued, whispering mostly to herself as Jack leaned towards her as if he couldn't hear what she was saying. "You've got a strange way of showing that, you know." He muttered, touching her chin softly with his fingertips - causing her to raise her eyes and meet his. "After you left I was so.. empty inside.. I would have given anything to make you want me... but.. your heart belonged to the Sea."

"I did want you, love.. in more ways then you'd probably care to know.. I want you now, in those ways.. in every way."

"Jack.."

"...the women that I've had.. everyone's had your face.. every girl I've seen in all the islands The Black Pearl has sailed to has had your... beautiful face... and that kiss we shared the night I left Tortuga still burns inside of me.." Jack's voice grew deeper as he looked over at her slightly puckered lips - watching her idle tongue dart across the bottom and then the top - both taking a soft, nervous breath. A million thoughts flooded Olivia's find as Jack continued his invasion of her personal space - he placed one hand by her side, moving in closer to breathe in her scent. This girl, everything about her was magnificent and he wanted her - more than anything in the seven seas.

"...more than Davy Jone's Chest.." He croaked just as their lips touched in a small attempt at a kiss - so quick neither knew if it had happened as Jack jerked his head back as he realized what he had just said. The truth in those words scared the hell out of him. "..what?" Olivia asked, breathlessly - slightly dazed from whatever had just happened between them. "Jack? What did you say?"

"I.. uh, nothing! I shouldn't be invading your honor this way, Olivia. I'm a.. terrible person for taking advantage of you like this.. it's been a long trip from Tortuga and..." Jack stood up on shaky legs, holding onto the edge of the docs for leverage as he tried to pull his self together. He had been rambling for a near minute before he helped Olivia to her feet; "Come now we should be getting you back to the Governors house - you'll catch a death of a cold out here.." He continued nervously - his once calm persona quickly changing into that of a mad mans. "Elizabeth has probably fixed a guest room up nicely for you.. lovely girl she is - I knew she'd take care of you.."

"Jack? Is everything alright?"

"Everything’s fine love.."

She took his offered hand as he guided her back to the Governors house in silence.

~

"This is all to much, Elizabeth. I'm not used to.. this.." Olivia stated - marveling at the large, beautiful guest room. The bed was bigger then the house she and Jack once shared. "Don't be silly, dear. Now, did you get things settled with Jack? Are you both back on speaking terms, I hope?"

Olivia rolled her eyes at the thought as a look of confusion consumed her. "I think so.. I met him at the docs and we talked.. he said some sweet things to me and I swear it felt like we kissed.. but, I don't remember kissing him.. Then before I realized he was ranting about something or another and I was back here. It's as if something spooked him."

Elizabeth shrugged having realized the first time she met Captain Jack Sparrow that he was somewhat odd. "Try not to look so closely into his actions. Jack's a good man.." She assured quietly. "Now, get some rest because tomorrow I plan on taking you down to town and showing you around Port Royal, okay?"

Olivia nodded.

"Elizabeth, before you go I want to say that I'm sorry for this evening at dinner. It was a lovely meal and should have been in good cheer towards you're marriage to Will. I feel as though I ruined it with the argument Jack and I had.."

"It's quite alright. I understand just how hard headed and arrogant Jack Sparrow can be. I'm just glad the two of you are on speaking terms. He seems to care for you dearly, Olivia." She assured with a smile, causing her friend to roll her eyes once more before laying back on the bed. Jack Sparrow only cared for himself. "Goodnight, Elizabeth."

The younger girl giggled and took her leave towards her own bedroom. She might have been born at night but it hadn't been last night. Jack Sparrow was in love.

~

"I am most certainly NOT in love with her! She's a... bloody hell she's not even a friend.. she's nothing to me.."

Jack hadn't been this confused in a while. How dare William Turner accuse him of being in love - with a woman - when he and everyone else knew that; "My first and only love is the sea!" Jack added with a growl of anger - watching Will return from the back room of the blacksmiths shop holding a candle.

"Do you have any rum?"

"No?"

Will sighed at his friend before lighting two of the four lanterns in the small room. His plan was to make a beautiful sword - the best he had ever wielded - for the Governor as a wedding gift - a thank you for allowing his daughter to marry such a man.

"No rum!? You and that girl are meant for each other." Jack growled, idly wondering if there was any rum left on his ship. Surely the crewmen hadn't got into it? He was almost to exhausted to go check. Almost. "Fine, I'll be back and when I return with the rum you can't have any."

"Shouldn't you get some rest?" It was nearly morning anyway and truth be told Will had tired of listening to Jack rant - something he never seemed to quit doing unless he was asleep; and even then it was only a blessing. Will gathered his tools to begin work on the sword - watching Jack find his way to the door and excuse himself to go in search for rum. He nodded his head in goodbye and went back to the task at hand - wondering if it was possible to marry Elizabeth tomorrow instead of the next day - just to get Jack Sparrow out of his hair.

~
TBC..