Chapter 1: The Choice

There Elizabeth Swann stood, looking out toward the deep navy ocean, watching the pink and orange sunset melt into the horizon. Will was now captain of the Flying Dutchman, tied to his duties to ferry souls who died at sea to the other side. Jack had successfully defeated the East India Company, and was now likely celebrating his victory in a rum-induced stupor. Yet her she remained, her feelings conflicted toward either man.

"My intuitive sense of the female creature has informed me that you are once again troubled, love." Jack Sparrow approached her to stand at the side of the mighty Black Pearl, carrying a half empty bottle of rum in his hand.

She sighed deeply. "I didn't want Will to do it, you know. Become captain of the Flying Dutchman."

Jack's face looked bewildered at this. "Would you've rather he had died a bloody death, eh? He is your dearly beloved and whatnot."

She laughed once bitterly and without humor. "I'm not so sure anymore."

Jack leaned against the rail to face Elizabeth. "Why the sudden change of mind, er, heart?"

She looked intently at him. "Would you like the truth?"

"Very much so, love, considering truth is so hard to come by nowadays."

She took a breath. "You."

Jack's brow furrowed in confusion. "What does that mean?"

"After all that has happened between us, Jack, it seems that I have somehow... well, developed feelings for you."

He was silent for a moment, processing this. "So, am I to understand that this are feelings of a... romantic nature?"

She rolled her eyes. "Of course."

He exhaled deeply. "Well, um, I think that I should probably rejoin the festivities. You know what tends to happen after the rum is gone."

He took a few steps, but was stopped by Elizabeth's hand on his shoulder. "Jack, I know you have those same feelings for me as well. While you may be a good captain, you are decidedly not a very good masker of feelings."

Jack turned around to find himself incredibly close to Elizabeth's face. He instinctively jerked back slightly. "Um, well, I- yes. Yes, I do. But-"

"-what about Will?" they said in unison.

"You see my dilemma," she said plainly.

He was quiet for a moment. Then, he said, "Well, I suppose it looks as if you have a choice, then, doesn't it?"

"I suppose I do."

"Whenever you do decide, love," he said turning and walking toward his cabin, "I'll be waiting." He opened the doors and went inside, closing them quietly behind him.

Elizabeth turned back look at the now black sea, thinking back on all those years with Will, and how strongly he loved her. Yet she somehow couldn't bring herself to believe that the many years spent with Will were more satisfying or passionate than the few spent around Jack. With Jack, she felt completely sure of herself and happy. With Will, however, it continuously felt as if she were only with him for his sake and his happiness. She was the only woman Will had ever known or been with. But Jack, he had been with dozens of women, and yet he still wanted her and her alone.

It was at this point when she understood that she had to do something for herself, and that she could no longer settle for what was proper or convenient.

With this newfound thought, she left the ship's side and walked into Jack's quarters.

"That was a right bit faster than I had previously thought it would be."

Without stopping, she walked toward his desk, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him up into a long, passionate kiss. Her lips moved in strange ways that they had never moved before, and the spark that had been ignited between them upon there meeting over a year ago, when he had rescued her from drowning in Port Royal, caught fire.

They moved toward his day sofa that sat below the large window. Jack laid down, allowing Elizabeth to lay on top of him. They continued to kiss with intensity and fervor, and just as Jack's shirt hit the floor, Gibbs barged into his quarters.

"Captain, the crew and I would-"

Jack and Elizabeth jumped apart and hastily straightened themselves to the point of decency. "Master Gibbs! Knocking is a rather new concept, one that you should accustom yourself to on a regular basis! Do I make myself quite clear?"

He stammered for an instant, attempting to overcome the shock of seeing the two of them together like that. "Aye, cap'n. I won't keep you and... Miss Swann, but I was going to say that the crew and I are off to our bunks."

"Well, carry on, then. Not a word is to escape your mouth about this incident that you've witnessed."

He nodded curtly and hurried out, slamming the doors behind him.

What did you think? Good? Bad? I'm gonna write more chapters soon, but I need some feedback on the first chapter just to see if the idea is any good. Reviews and constructive criticism are welcome!