Disclaimer: This story is for entertainment purposes only. I don't make anything off of it. And the only thing you would gain from me by suing would be my college debts. Enjoy!

Drifting

1.

If Elizabeth was ever forced to leave the Pearl, she wouldn't go quietly. No, she'd hiss and scream, claw and bite like a feral cat. She would need to be hauled bodily off by several men stronger than her, and even then only few would survive her fury, none would come out unscathed.

If one Captain Jack Sparrow, on the other hand, was ever forced to leave the Pearl again, he would never allow himself to be taken off. He'd fight for her, and pray that he would die should he heaven forbid be on the losing side. If he survives, however, he would disappear with a crooked smirk and the heightened determination to get back his ship, come hell or high water.

2.

Will is a slightly different case. He was one who would never have to be forced of the Pearl, he would go willingly, slipping away quietly at some foreign port, silently cursing the ship that had stolen his love. Will learned the hard way that he would always come second to the ship and the sea.

But Will had finally matured enough to not say anything to his beloved, not even when he started to come third just behind Jack. He sat back, watched her grow fierce and free, and watched as Jack became more and more enamored with his wife (who was not really his wife for she was married to the sea). He was no longer bravely stupid nor stupidly brave, but now a competent and knowledgeable sailor, loyal only to Elizabeth and by proxy, Jack. Were the Pearl to ever sink, he would be morbidly grateful, for maybe now he would get his wife and his life back.

Over time, Will distanced himself from everyone, including Elizabeth. Only Jack noticed, however, and tried to pull Will back to them. If Will happened to be on deck during the wee hours of the morning, Jack would join him. Over time, if Will was ever out at that time, he would find himself pushed up against the rough wood of a cabin or mast, Jack's hand and mouth working him over a little too roughly.

At first, Will was intrigued enough to stay. When Jack had first made his move, Will was seriously considering staying in port, watching the Pearl sail away. But Jack had come along, shown him something new, and now Will was caught up in Jack once again. Elizabeth knew, of course, and she would always smile if she ever managed to catch them in the act. After all, Elizabeth knew exactly what it was like to be caught by a Sparrow.

3.

But Will still drifted, his mind turning more towards a steady shore, a smithy to call home. The Pearl was not what he wanted or needed, his freedom was not found out on the distant horizon, or among the waters. His freedom was in his craft, the pounding rhythms of working in a sweltering smithy. His missed his swords, missed doing the repairs of pot and pans, missed the heat, the pained muscles, and the smell. Missed the work. Missed the way it took single-minded concentration, or where he could let his mind loose as he worked on something simple. Not even Jack could hold him down for long.