I own nothing except the story. I don't even own the idea. Thanks to QueenOfSparrabeth, who writes under my old name, for the idea. I hope I did it justice. If you hate it, I'll remove it, and you can write it the way you like it.
Elizabeth stood at the rail, watching Port Royal grow closer and closer. She was considering all she had lost in the last few months. Her first pirate adventure had gone wonderfully, but now she had spent months trying to rescue the man she had killed, the man she loved. She had succeeded, but only at the cost of losing the other man she loved, her fiancé. Now, she was going to try to pick up the shattered pieces of her old life, though she doubted her ability to put them back together. She was leaving the life she loved and the man she loved. She had refused his love, and she had only a small idea why. She felt it her duty to go back to her father, who had been aged by the harrowing events he had survived. She felt somehow that she must atone for the wrongs she had committed in killing Jack, which in turn led to a voyage that killed Will. She somehow felt that it would be wrong for her to be happy after causing the unhappiness of so many others. Jack had forgiven her, loved her, yet she could not accept that it was so easy to have happiness. She must atone for wrongs done before she could allow herself joy. So she was leaving, going back to the place that was once home, leaving the ship that now was home.
Jack watched Elizabeth, fingering the ring he held in his hand and wishing with all his heart that she would accept his love and forgiveness. He did not understand why she felt she must atone for things that had seemed like the right thing to do, even if they had bad consequences. He had forgiven her for her wrongs against him, and Will had chosen to sacrifice himself to save her. She had done nothing wrong in that instance. Yet he would let her go quietly, because he loved her. He would come back to Port Royal every year, checking to see if she was ready to accept his love. As the steered the ship to the hidden cove where the navy would not see them, he approached her slowly.
"Elizabeth."
She faced him with tear-filled eyes.
"Jack, don't make this any harder than it is already. I've made my decision. I won't stay."
He touched her chin, turning her face up so she had to meet his eyes.
"I know I can't make you stay, Love, and I wouldn't if I could. You can make your own decisions. I just wanted to tell you I will always love you, and I'll be back. When you're ready, you can rejoin me. In the meantime, I want you to have this."
He held out his hand. The emerald ring was on the most beautiful golden chain Elizabeth had ever seen. He had polished the gold and the gem on the ring so that it sparkled wonderfully in the bright sun. She felt a tear slip down her cheek as he lifted the chain around her neck and fastened it in the back. He let his hands rest on her shoulders as she lifted the ring from her chest and held it to her tearing eye.
"Jack, I…" "Shush. Don't say anything, don't regret your choice. Just keep it as a promise that I will come back for you, when you're ready. And remember, I will always love you."
"I love you too. I'm sorry for everything. Thank you."
He kissed her. This kiss was like none other. A perfect combination of passion, respect, friendship, and a love that would not be broken by separation.