Elizabeth clung to the side of the Black Pearl, as the ship rocked back and forth in the waves. Now that they rescued Jack and his beloved Pearl, Elizabeth's trouble with Will thickened. He won't even look at me. Elizabeth thought miserable. She turned her attention to Jack who was holding his head in his hands.

It had been two months since he was on the Flying Dutchman. A time he'll never forget. Sighing, he took a large swig of rum. It was then that he noticed Elizabeth Swan looking at him. She looked gorgeous as ever, her skin a dark color from days in the sun. It was still smooth, however, like a porcelain doll's, and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to run his fingers over her soft skin.

He was standing quite unstable like, and he had the rum to thank for that. The rum could also be thanked for his sudden jerk of the hand.

"Mr. Sparrow." Elizabeth said, yet she sounded some-what amused.

"Why is your hand on my cheek?"

Jack opened his eyes, not knowing they had been closed, to realize that his palm was in fact on her cheek and his thumb was caressing her gently.

"Oh!" He said, "It was wasn't it? Sorry love couldn't help myself."

Elizabeth saw Jack smirking to himself as he walked back to where he was sitting. She smiled to herself as she shook her head and turned around. Just as she was about to turn back around, she saw Will staring at Jack with disgust. He turned his head and his eyes met Elizabeth's. They stood there staring at each other for almost a minute before Will turned his attention to Jack who had just collided with Gibbs in his drunken state.

"Don't touch my run!" Jack slurred as he wobbled and fell onto the crates he was sitting on before.

Will looked at the floor before he turned his attention back to her.

"What does he have that I don't?" he asked her seriously.

She opened her mouth but before she could say anything he shook his head.

"You know what? Forget it. I'm going to go below deck, and now you two can be together without having to go behind my back." With that he pushed past her. Elizabeth closed her eyes. He saw them, then it was certain.

"Will!" She cried after him, "WILL PLEASE LISTEN!"

Jack hobbled over to her, a small crate stuck on his foot.

"You're upset." He noted, before following her eyesight to see Will retreating below deck.

"Ah." He said in realization, "Dear William."

"Mr. Sparrow-" But before she could start Jack put a finger up to her lips to shush her.

"Miss Swan." Jack began emphasizing the miss, "I think you ought to have a chat with dear William."

"About what?" She folded her arms over her chest.

"I think you know he slurred, "And while your at it have a conversation with yourself." She pushed him away, for he had gotten closer with every word.

"I think I'll pass, for I'm not insane!"

Jack shrugged, taking another gulp from his rusty bottle, "If you aren't insane now you'll be there in no time. Everything about Will is tormenting you. Talk to yourself, find out what you really want."

Find out what you really want. Jack's words were echoing over and over in Elizabeth's head. She made her way down the stairs to talk to Will, but stopped halfway.

"I can't do this." She muttered to herself and sprinted back up the stairs.

A cool sea breeze met her face when she got above deck. Elizabeth took a deep breath, and sighed. When she turned her head she saw Jack even drunker then before.

"Ah Elizabeth!" Jack slurred.

He took uneven and wobbly steps towards her, but failed to reach her, tripping over the crates that had fallen over. He fell right into Elizabeth. Having no choice she held him up.

"Elizabeth." Jack murmured quietly, leaning into her, as if for support he held up his half empty rum bottle.

"Care for a drink love?"

She rolled her eyes, stepping away from him and watched as he crumbled to the floor.

"How many times must I tell you that I think rum is a vile drink that turns even the most…"

"Respectable man into a complete scoundrel." Jack said mocking her surprisingly well and clambering to his feet.

"And I don't believe in drowning your sorrows." She said, pursing her lips and striding over to the edge of the ship. She liked it there, the salty mist and gusts of wind.

Then Jack came along, leaning over the edge next to her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She turned to face him.

"I think you're drinking away all the pain and suffering, which is cowardly. You're trying to forget what happened while you were with Davey Jones, instead of just facing your fears."

"That may be true love." He admitted, "But if we were ones to face our fears, you'd be downstairs talking to a certain William Turner." Elizabeth gave him an incredulous look, but he continued.

"So come on, have a drink." He dangled it in front of her face, almost tauntingly. She bit her lip before snatching it from him and taking a large swig. Jack looked at her closely.

"Don't think of it as drowning pain, think of it as attempting to forget them temporarily." He leaned in slightly.

"Forget all your troubles, Elizabeth." He murmured.

She closed her eyes and leaned in before reality struck her and she looked away.

"I can't." She said quietly, shoving the bottle back in Jack's arms. He stitched his brow before chugging and taking a large gulp.

"You'll come around." He said, looking out at the sea.

"No." She said seriously, "I love Will."

He shrugged, "If you say so love." With that he wobbled away, loudly singing a pirate's life for me.