Author's Note: Hi, sorry I haven't written in so long, I have had major writer's block. I hate it! Anyway, I've finally managed to write this chapter, so I hope you enjoy it. It's a bit shorter than the others but that's the way creativity flows. Don't forget to review!

Chapter 5: Too Close

It was early evening, the sun's glow still just visible over the horizon. Elizabeth stood at the prow of the Pearl, singing quietly to herself like she had done on another ship almost 10 years before.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me,

She thought about the pirates she had dreamed of when she was a girl. How different they seemed, now. She heard a slight noise behind her, but ignored it. It was probably just a timber, creaking. She sang on.

We're devils, we're black sheep, we're really bad eggs…

She trailed off. She associated that line so strongly with Jack. He definitely was a black sheep. She paused, thinking about him. A gentle breath of wind curled through her hair, tossing it forward, lightly, into her face. Even as she pictured him she thought she caught his heady scent on the breeze, wonderfully spicy and completely unique. She thought of the few times she had been close enough to properly experience that smell: that first day on the docks at Port Royal where he'd rescued her and then used her to escape, the evening on the Dauntless after she had accepted the Commodore's proposal when she had said she didn't trust him and he had walked right up to her and uttered the simple phrase, "Peas in a pod, darling," the time on the Pearl when she had teased him and told him he was really a good man, when they were alone on the island and he had put his arm around her… And the time when she had killed him. He had changed her life and a part of her felt like strangling him for it, but the rest of her wanted to thank him. And probably not verbally, either… The compass couldn't lie, it just wasn't possible. She was sure of that, now. Should she tell him? Although, sometimes, it seemed like he already knew. What about Will? She decided she would find Jack and just see what happened. She took one last look at the ocean.

…Drink up, me hearties, yo ho…

Turning, she almost walked right into – him. It was Jack. She gasped and found herself looking right into his eyes. She felt light-headed as she breathed that wonderful scent. She hadn't imagined it, then. Her stomach felt like it was ripping itself to pieces. His mouth was tantalizingly close to hers, his eyes fixed on her lips. She looked at his, watching them open, feeling his breath on her face. She could sense the electricity of his body and her cheek tingled as he raised his hand to touch it. Her eyes began to close and they both leant forwards. Jack's mouth was an inch from hers when suddenly, glancing past him she saw Will standing watching them. Elizabeth turned her head away and looked at the floor so that Jack's lips almost brushed her cheek. He paused and she felt his breath on her face, then he looked at her. She glanced at him and then back at Will. He turned, following her gaze, then stepped back. He watched her for a moment, then turning, walked away. She stood and watched him go, then looked back at Will. He gave her one last look of hurt and contempt, then turned from her. She stood alone once more.

XJackAlmostTooMuchX, formerly RoseTheLuckyOne.