Elizabeth had finally given up the lyrics to her song.

The three of us danced around the fire, singing and laughing. I had never been so happy.

I was also drunk. I'd never been drunk before; it was a nice feeling, as if I were floating.

We're Devils and black sheep,

We're really bad eggs,

Drink up, me'harties, yoho!

Yoho, yoho, a pirate's life for me!

"I love this song!" Jack informed us happily. We linked arms and spun around, laughing.

"Really, bad eggs!" Jack grinned, the frowned. "Whoa..." He went slightly cross-eyed. He pulled me down to the ground with him as he toppled over. I glimpsed Elizabeth sitting down, by the water, sort of expectantly.

"When I get the Pearl back," Jack stated happily, "I'll teach it to the whole crew! And we'll sing it all the time!"

I laughed and my head spun, I was so lost in his scent, and the rum, and the blunt joy. "And you shall be the most positively fearsome pirate in the Caribbean!"

He grinned and swayed. "Not just the Caribbean, love. They entire ocean. The entire world!"

He motioned with his hands. When he spoke again, his voice was different. "That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just the keel and the rudder and the sails, that's what a ship needs." His deep brown eyes took on a faraway look. "What a ship is, what the Black Pearl really is, is freedom." His voice roped me in; I was enthralled in the way his hands painted his words into the air.

"Jack," I said, and snuggled into his chest. "Jack, I really am sorry for you to be trapped here again. It must be terrible."

Jack paused. "Oh, yes." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I sank into his side. "But the company is infinitely better than last time." He smiled softly, and then nuzzled his nose in my hair. "Scenery has definitely improved."

I gazed at him in the fire light, mesmerized by his eyes, and giggled. "You know what?" I laughed. "I think I need more rum."

Jack grinned at me. "I know exactly what you mean, love."

I held up my bottle. "To freedom!"

He leaned back and gazed at my bottle. "To the Black Pearl," He said, smiling knowingly.

I clinked my bottle to his and took a sip. Jack, however, put his to his lips and downed the whole thing. His arm fell from around me as he passed out on the sand.

I was a little disappointed at his falling asleep, I enjoyed his company, but I laid down beside him and rested my ear on his chest, listening to his heart. I closed my eyes and slid into sleep, completely content with everything.

When I awoke, it was still dark. Jack had an arm around me and I was huddled into his chest, listening to his even breathing.

I sat up slowly and removed his arm, more than a little embarrassed by the turn of events. Stupid, bloody rum. I had a headache.

"Oh, you're awake." Elizabeth said.

I turned somewhat groggily. She was sitting next to me and Jack, her rum in hand, watching us with a sort of amusement.

I flushed and crawled over to her. "Hi." I whispered. "I remember everything and I feel stupid."

She smiled and took a sip. I realized she had only drank half of her drink, while I'm sure I had at least two. Probably more. Stupid rum. "Hello, and you did act rather idiotic."

I sat down and stared off to sea sea like she was. "Tell me everything." I asked.

She started. "About...what?"

I rolled my eyes and elbowed her playfully. "Everything. About the Black Pearl. There's stuff I obviously don't know."

"Mm." She nodded. "Well, you saw the ritual, yes?"

I bobbed my head.

"Well, the pirates are cursed. Believe me or not, it's the truth! They turn to undead in the moonlight and appear human in the day."

I furrowed my brow. "I see. That explains why Jack didn't want me in Isle de Muerta."

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, you two obviously care for one another."

I stared at her. "He's a pirate. He'll never like me in that way." I felt the heat come to my cheeks.

"But you like him that way. And he certainly cares a bit."

I rolled my eyes, but inside my brain was thinking a hundred miles per hour. Does Jack love me? Do I love him? "Fine. Whatever. But why did they need you? Barboussa, I mean."

She shivered. "When they kidnapped me I gave them Turner as my maiden name. They need the blood of a Turner to break the curse, as each pirate who removed Aztec gold from the chest will have to return the gold and repay their blood."

I shuddered. "You must have been terrified."

She smiled, and rubbed her hands arms like she was cold. "Definitely."

I nodded. "Why did you give them a different name? And why Turner?"

She furrowed her brow. "I've wondered why I took Will's name myself; I suppose it was the first that came to mind." She chuckled darkly. "The maid, the one you saw me with, she thought that they were here to kidnap me. I was inclined to agree, so I thought if I gave them a fake name they might think me the wrong person and send me to shore. Of course, I was wrong."

I nodded slowly. "The medallion you wore is the one Will's father took from the chest."

She agreed.

"How did you end up with it?" I asked.

She blushed in the moonlight. "When we found Will on the crossing from England, I took it. Hey, don't look like that. I thought he was a pirate and wanted to hide the truth. Thank goodness he wasn't."

I couldn't disagree with her reasoning. "I'm so glad I know everything now, you have no clue how frustrated I was. Jack wasn't any help." I smiled fondly at him.

"Why do you trust him?" Elizabeth asked.

I rolled my eyes, tired of the question even though I'd only heard it a few times. "It's a...gut feeling. I have good instincts, and I've always been confident in myself, so I see no reason to not be because Jack's a pirate."

She nodded and gazed at the pirate in question, who was looking incredibly peaceful in his resting place. He turned over, away from us, as if he could feel our stares. "I see," She murmured.

We sat for a while. Finally, Elizabeth spoke. "I know how we can get off this island."

I turned fully, so I was facing her. "You do?" I didn't want to die here, no, I certainly did not.

She smiled grimly, and stood. "You'll help, right? Good. Now, come on, we have to do it without waking Jack."

I wondered why we couldn't wake him to help; he was stronger than the two of us and had probably slept most of it off, but I stood up and followed her into the trees.

She hopped into the trap door and I heard her rummaging around, and then she resurfaced with two gunny sacks filled with...rum. I watched silently, wondering what the hell she was up to, as she brought up barrels and crates.

"Will you help?" She grunted, pushing a barrel up the stairs.

I hastily nodded and took the said barrel from her, and put it with the pile she had created. Soon we had everything out of the cache.

"Now," Elizabeth said, "We roll it to the arranged destination."

We did, me still wondering what she was doing.

Once we had it all piled under the center of the palms, she found two sticks and asked me, "Do you remember how Jack started the fire last night?"

I shook my head. "No, I was drunk, remember?"

She smiled, sat on the ground and began to rub the sticks together. I laughed and knelt beside her. "Elizabeth, that will never work. Hold on..."

I jogged over to Jack and claimed his flintlock. Then I ran over to Elizabeth and almost handed her the gun, when I realized what we were doing.

I clutched the pistol to my chest. "We're burning everything."

Elizabeth stood, her hands on her hips. "Yes. That is correct."

"And the rum." I added.

She narrowed her eyes. "So you want the rum?"

I almost laughed. "Oh, no. But Jack will."

She stated at me. "I know, but we need to create a smoke signal."

I sighed. She didn't get it. "Yes, I know, but Jack drinks a lot of rum. And when people who consume large amounts of alcohol do not get the alcohol, they go...funny."

Her eyes widened. "I hadn't thought of that." But then her face set, and she responded, "I don't care. We have to try."

I hesitated. She gazed at me, waiting.

I handed over the pistol. "But if we don't get rescued, I will be telling him that it was your idea."

She agreed, and lit the pile we had created with a spark from Jack's one pistol, one shot.

We ran around the fire, adjusting the crates and barrels, dodging the rum as it exploded. Elizabeth had tossed in the final crate when Jack woke up. By that time, it was sunrise.

"No! No good! Stop! Not good!" Jack yelled. He ran up the beach, looking panicky and waving his arms everywhere.

Elizabeth and I walked away from the fire, doing our best to ignore his screaming.

"What are you doing?" He screeched. "You've burned all the food, the shade, the rum!"

Elizabeth stopped and clenched her fists. "Yes, the rum is gone!" She yelled back.

Jack raised his hands. "Why is the rum gone?" He shouted.

Elizabeth whirled around, catching him off guard. I watched with amusement. "One: It is a vile drink that turns even the most respectable men into complete scoundrels," Jack and I looked offended, "Two," Elizabeth screeched at him, "That signal is over a thousand feet high. The entire Royal Navy is out looking for me, do you think there is even the slightest chance they won't see it?" I took a step back. She was scary.

Jack, looking pained, put his hands together in a sort of begging gesture. "But why is the rum gone?"

Elizabeth plopped down on the sand and crossed her arms. "Just you wait, Captain Sparrow. Give it one hour, maybe two, and you will see white sails on that horizon!" She finished.

Jack whipped out his pistol and pointed it at Elizabeth's head. I gasped and drew my sword, threatening him.

Jack took a deep breath, regaining his control, and shoved the flintlock into his belt. He stalked off, toward the other end of the island, anger radiating off him.

I stared after him for a moment, then turned to Elizabeth. "I'm gonna go calm him down." I told her.

She smiled knowingly but said nothing.

By the time I reached Jack, he was halfway down around the island, stomping through the sand and grass.

"Must be terrible, to be stuck here, Jack," He mocked my voice. "Must've been terrible...well, it bloody is now!" He spun around toward yours truly, seething, and caught sight of me.

"Oh. Hi." He said, then spun back around.

"Jack, come on." I grabbed his arm and he turned to face me.

"Was it your idea? A bloody good one, except you burned the rum!" He hissed.

I shook my head and placed my hands on his shoulders. "It was not my idea, but I don't quite feel like dying on this island!" I shot back.

He was still mad. "Yes, but suppose no one sees the smoke. Then what happens. We die even sooner than expected. Someone uses my one shot. And I..." He paused and shuddered.

I shook him. "Jack, calm down."

He stared at me for a minute and then relaxed visibly. "Sorry. You're right. Who cares about the bloody rum..." He muttered and then pulled me roughly into his chest.

I was startled but didn't complain. He let me turn slightly so that I could look out over the waves. "What's that?" I asked, pointing out at something sailing toward us.

Jack stiffened. "There'll be no living with her after this..." He took my hand and we walked back to Elizabeth, to tell her about the white sails on the horizon.