Jack was drinking again, which ought to feel normal because that was what he always did, but instead a heavy knot formed in Rose's belly whenever she looked at him. He did it so very demonstratively too, like he really wanted to stress to her the fact that he was no good.

Well, too late for that. If he wanted her to not care about him he should never have brought her on his visit with his daughter. Having once experienced it, it was impossible to unsee caring, sober Jack.

"Cheers, Rose." He unsteadily raised his bottle.

"Cheers, Johnny," she hissed, but not before making sure nobody else was around to hear.

He scowled darkly at her. With his eyes again highlighted in black, he could produce the most formidable scowl.

"You..." he began, but then lost his balance and sat down clumsily. "I'll get you later. Evil woman."

Rose turned her back, burying her face in her arms. She wanted to scream, or cry, or maybe first scream, then cry. Why was he like this? Why did she care?

One night had not been enough. Not nearly enough. Besides, she wanted more than a skilled lover, she wanted him body and soul. But that she would never get, damn the man. If he could not even give it to his flesh and blood daughter, Rose would not deceive herself into believing he would give it to her. He was a pirate and a scoundrel, just like he had said.

She felt an arm around her shoulder and looked up into Elizabeth's sympathetic face.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Oh, this is new!" Elizabeth touched the white seashell pendant Otohime had given Rose. "It looks a bit like my husband's, that he inherited from the former captain of the Dutchman. Beautiful!"

"Thank you." Rose did not feel like describing her strange undersea adventure. She did not feel like talking at all.

"Shall I tell you about the island we found?"

"Please do." Rose appreciated her friend's perseverance. She was really trying hard to cheer her up.

"It's a perfect place, with the most beautiful lagoon surrounded by sharp cliffs, and since we had time over we even built a fireplace for the sacrifice. It will work for sure. We also restocked the rum, for which I'm thankful." She glanced at Jack.

"Sounds perfect." Rose tried to smile.

"And also, something is beginning to show... look." Elizabeth pushed out her stomach, exposing a tiny bump.

"Aww. I'm happy for you." Rose placed her hand on the slight swelling. "How long are you gone?"

"Soon three months. I know exactly when it happened." She grinned.

Rose's smile waned as she was reminded of Elizabeth's and her husband's predicament. One day ashore, ten years at sea... If their plan to strike a deal with Calypso did not work, Will's child would not meet their father until he or she was over nine years old. Harsh.

"A baby!" came Jack's slurred voice. "I like babies."

Elizabeth looked at him with surprise. "You do? I'd never have guessed."

"Land ho!" cried Gibbs, and they all turned their attention to the approaching island. It really did look perfect, small and uninhabited, reminding Rose of the one where they had gone to forge the silver sword.

As they went ashore, Hector capered away with a happy grunt, finding lots of tasty plants to chew. The island was small enough for them to let him run loose.

They unpacked the rest of the necessary items and began to build a fire.

"How is the summoning performed?" asked Rose.

"First we drench the pig in rum, then we slit its throat with the silver sword, and lastly we burn the sacrifice," explained Jack. "As long as we keep pouring rum over the fire, Calypso won't be able to leave."

"Wait, what? We're killing Hector?" Rose stared at him.

"We have to."

"No! No way!"

"Oh come on Rose, are you going to be like that again? You've eaten salted pork all of this journey. What's the difference?"

"Those pigs I didn't know. This is Hector we're talking of!"

As if he recognized his name, the pig came trotting up to them, buffing Jack's leg with his snout. The pirate looked down at the animal with dismay.

"Here's an idea," said Gibbs, who had overheard their discussion. "Why don't we create a wooden pig, cover it with salted bacon and use that for a sacrifice? I mean, it's worth a try, and if that won't work we can resort to Hector."

"Alright, you softhearted wussies," Jack conceded, still looking annoyed. "You make the pig. I'm going to sleep." He demonstratively lay down, pulling his hat over his face.

The other three set to work, and soon had – in Rose's opinion – a very good likeness of a pig. Its head was a coconut still in its green husk, its body a piece of driftwood and the four legs sturdy sticks. For the tail they had used a piece of string and its ears were palm leaves. Since it was supposed to be a black pig, they painted it with a partly burned stick.

When they had finished wrapping the entire thing in salted pork, Gibbs went to rouse Jack. "Time to get started."

Jack eyed their work critically but said nothing. Instead he took the sword, jabbed it into the pig's coconut head and poured a bottle of rum over it all.

"What a waste," he said sadly.

"Time to get the jewel," said Elizabeth. "Rose?"

Rose took off her boot and felt the familiar hardness in its toe. But when her hand came out, she found herself holding a smooth, grey stone instead of the expected diamond. With a pang of disappointment she looked at Jack.

"How could you?"

He pulled something gleaming out of his inner pocket. The Heart of the Ocean.

"I told you. I'm a bloody pirate and a scumbag. Untrustworthy." His gaze was hard, but Rose got a feeling his annoyance was mostly directed towards himself.

"You bastard!" Elizabeth had drawn her sword and jumped on him furiously, but he obviously had expected it, drawing his own sword and meeting her assault with his usual grace and ease.

"Jack, be reasonable now! There are hundreds of ways to retrieve your ship, but no other way to free Liz' husband," Rose called, backing away to avoid being caught in the middle of the skirmish. "You don't wanna do this!"

"No, I do wanna do this." Jack feigned a strike on Elizabeth's right side and then hit to the left. She fended it off just barely, and put out her foot, trying to trip her opponent. He easily stepped over her leg and struck at her left side again, putting more force behind the action. Again she fenced it off, but had to take a step backwards to keep her balance.

"Do something!" Rose nudged Gibbs, who had been staring at the combatants, his hand on his own sword but seemingly unsure what to do.

"Right." Drawing his sword he joined Elizabeth, who gave him a grateful smile. The two of them were a more equal match for Jack, who had broken a sweat, but still seemed undaunted.

The fight moved in Rose's direction, and she tried to fall back, but before she could lift her foot Jack had taken a quick leap behind her, catching her in his arms. She felt a chill as the cold steel of his sword touched her throat.

"Back off and drop your swords," he called sharply to Elizabeth and Gibbs. They gaped at him, hesitating with their weapons still in hand.

Rose said nothing, shocked at the extent of Jack's betrayal. Only yesterday morning she had been in his bed, with his arms around her like now – but instead of making love to her, he was threatening to take her life.

All became still. Rose's heartbeat was a loud drumming in her ears, blocking out the sounds of the rolling waves.

"Have you lost your mind?" Elizabeth's voice was teeming with rage and disappointment.

"It's never been more clear." His voice was right by Rose's ear, calm and controlled, but with an undertone of bitterness.

Rose remained silent; her dismay a foul taste in her mouth. Why had Jack even bothered to show her his softer, sober self, and taken her to meet his daughter, when he knew he would soon steal her ticket to the afterlife and ruin her best friend's only chance at happiness with her husband? All that just to get his hands on a stupid boat.

He must have known she would hate him afterwards. That they all would. And he had done it anyway.

His words from yesterday returned: I would soon break her heart. Break her heart – or stab it with his sword?

No. No! This was wrong. He was not going to kill her, it was an empty threat. He would never hurt her. She suddenly knew he would not hurt her.

Slowly raising her hand, Rose placed her fingers over Jack's, moving the sword an inch to the side so she could turn to face him.

"I won't permit this," she said, looking him straight in the eye. "I'm not letting you sink this low."

His sword came back to touch her neck. "You can't save me," he hissed, his gaze stubbornly turned away. Then, louder, directed at the others: "I said drop the swords."

Rose could not see if they obeyed but didn't care. She was leaving for the afterlife soon anyway, and besides, Jack would not hurt her. He would not hurt her! She cupped his cheek, and now he finally met her gaze, his eyes widening in surprise as she stood on her toes and kissed him straight on the mouth.

A/N:

Anyone surprised at Jack's betrayal...? That's pirates for you, I guess. :( Find out how he reacts to Rose's kiss in the next chapter!

PS. Votes and comments are greatly appreciated!

Image Credits:

Screenshot from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.