CHAPTER ONE

New Beginnings.

Captain Jack Sparrow swaggered across the wharf of Port Royale. Men with neat hairstyles strutted business-like across the streets. It had been exactly one year since he had first docked onto these same shores. The whole town was in a state of excitement, following the news of the engagement between Miss Swann and the blacksmith Will Turner. It was a rather hasty engagement Jack thought. Although, he couldn't speak from experience, he had never been with the same woman more than twice. It was rather depressing, not having anyone to call his own.

The only woman Jack had had any contact with over the past months was Anamaria, the strong-willed and smart assistant to Jack on the Black Pearl. To tell the truth Jack had never thought of Anamaria in such a way. He shook the thought from his head and continued on his way towards the Governors stately mansion. Its wrought iron gates were rather intimidating to a stranger.

Elizabeth had especially invited Jack for the wedding. It was to be held in a week's time. She and Jack had formed quite a friendship on the day they were marooned on that blasted island, a little less than a year ago. They had been in constant contact through letters to Tortuga. Jack would pick them up from the postal office whenever he stopped there and would soon send a reply. Her letters were mostly of the new developments in Port Royale and most recently her new engagement. Jacks', on the other hand, were of his rum, his women and his ship. His adventures were rather uneventful since his run-in with his former first-mate Captain Barbossa. Jack and his crew mostly sailed around the Caribbean, stopping off at seaside towns or occasionally bargaining with Merchant ships for supplies.

Jack got quite a few stares as he walked through the streets. He was not easy to miss. His long, black dreadlocks swayed as he walked, and the beads, coins and trinkets in his hair jingled as he turned his head. He had a certain mad air about him, they way he walked, as if he had had a bit too much rum. And the way he spoke, using colourful language and slang, teamed with a highly animated face and gestures made him a rather intriguing character.

Finally he closed in on the manor. Two guards stood either side of the gates, uninterested and plain looks plastered across their faces. They wore neat red uniforms and held long-nines in their right hands. They instantly stiffened up as Jack walked towards them. He nodded to them and they opened the gates. The guards had obviously been instructed not to ask any questions. Jack sauntered in through the gates and past the topiary hedges, rather unimpressed at how much time someone could spend in a garden. There were only so many trees one could prune each day.

Suddenly a well-dressed woman came running down the pathway towards Jack. He smiled at Elizabeth as she made he way towards him. She ran up and jumped into his arms. He embraced her warmly and smiled into her shoulder. He hair smelt of cinnamon and clove. They both pulled away from each other. Jack stood back and surveyed her. She hadn't changed a lot. He hair was styled in a neat bun on top of her head. His eyes went further down her body; she still was the same, in every area. She cast Jack a reproachful look and he redirected his gaze back to her face. Her smile was the same; she somehow looked older, more mature. Jack opened his mouth to speak.

"Well, m'dear...you look well" Jack stated smiling wryly at her as he took off his hat and tucked it into his belt.

Elizabeth once again gave his an inquiring look. "Mr. Sparrow, I trust you know, I am now engaged" she said, smiling at him.

Jack laughed and once again hugged her. "And how is the groom-to-be?" he inquired, wondering how Will was. He hadn't seen him in about half a year.

"He's fine, just fine" Elizabeth smiled as she said this. Jack could tell that they were very much in love. He couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

Jack offered Elizabeth his arm and she kindly took it. As they walked Jack told her of his most recent expeditions and she told him of her father and family. Jack couldn't help but smile as they walked. He was finally somewhere other than his beloved Pearl. He was surrounded now, not by sweaty scurvy-ridden pirates, but by well-respected members of society. This was a welcome change in Jacks eyes, but he still missed his ship.

They approached the large oak doorway. A well-dressed man opened it and nodded curtly at Jack as he entered. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Will came walking down the staircase. He, unlike Elizabeth, had changed immensely. His once messy and greasy hair, was now clean and tied back neatly, his sweaty and dirty black smiths' clothes had been replaced by clean cut and fashionable pants, and a jacket that would have done Commodore Norrington proud. Jack laughed to himself slightly as he walked towards Will. He pulled him into a warm embrace and stood back to inspect him.

"My, you have changed!" Jack exclaimed to him as he stood back a few paces.

"Wish I could say the same to you." Will said back, smiling slightly. Jack, clearly hadn't changed. He still smelt of rum and seawater. But, no matter how he smelt, he did indeed have a heart of gold.

"Well, my boy, I must congratulate you on your vows." Jack said, smiling at Will, then to Elizabeth.

Will nodded kindly at Jack. There seemed to be something wrong with him, whatever it was, Jack couldn't place it.

"Thanks Jack," Will replied, turning around to him, but just as he did, he noticed Jack had disappeared from sight. Elizabeth shrugged, not having any idea where the Captain had gone to.

"Its going to be a long week" Will said to Elizabeth under his breath. She nodded absently, but was worried about what had spurred Jacks sudden disappearance.

Elizabeth walked out into the courtyard and noticed Jacks thin figure by a water fountain. As soon as he saw her he faked a smile as to not worry her. But, it was too late, she was already worried enough. Jack ran his hands through the clear blue water in the fountain. It reminded him of the ocean, the place he loved. Before he knew it Elizabeth was sitting beside him, a hand on his shoulder.

"Why did you disappear like that?" she asked kindly. She sat on the edge of the fountain the same as Jack, but with some difficulty, due to the heaviness of her skirts.

"Just to get away, that's all." He said quietly.

Elizabeth decided this was a totally new side of Jack. Of course Jack Sparrow had many sides, but this one she had never seen before. He was quiet ad reserved, rather humble actually. She took her hand off his shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

"Get away from what? Will? Me?" she asked concernedly. She hoped she hadn't crossed Jack in any way. The last person one needed as an enemy was one of the most powerful pirates in the Caribbean.

"No. Not you or Will" he paused to think "It's just the whole wedding thing. It's rather depressing you see" Jack realised how stupid her sounded at the moment. How could a wedding possibly be depressing? He decided t answer Elizabeth's' question before she even answered it. "And no, its not you or Will again. But I just realised, I'm almost forty and still am single. And once again, before you say anything, it may seem like I enjoy it, but believe me I don't" He finished quietly and then looked at Elizabeth.

"But, Jack. I always see you with women. They love you" she said with a smile. She knew, he knew it was true. But she did agree with him. He was almost forty. Maybe it was time to settle down. She took Jacks' arm and led him up the pathway. "come on, you still have to see my father"

Governor Swann was one of the people who quite despised Jack. But, he had shown that he did indeed trust Jack with his daughters life. And he did at least seem sorry when Jack was supposed to be hanged a few months previous.

The meeting with Governor Swann went well. They smiled and spoke rather politely and curtly to each other, but were tolerant all the same. Jack noticed the sun was setting. He soon went into the library to bid his goodnight's to Will and Elizabeth. They would undoubtedly be sharing a warm embrace there by the fire.

Jack was too right. He walked in and saw them both. Elizabeth entwined in Will's arms, being hopelessly and ever so romantically kissed by Will. Jack rolled his eyes at the two and cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Excuse me you two, but, I am off to bed. I hope not to be disturbed in the middle of the night by your various...forms of affection" he said this sarcastically. Although, he would not appreciate being woken up by Will and Elizabeth romping between the sheets.

Elizabeth blushed and Will just waved Jack off with his hand. They said their good nights and Jack retired up to the guestroom in the east-wing of the manor.

Seeing Will and Elizabeth made Jack even more depressed and sorrowful. He only wished he had someone like that. He didn't think they actually realised how lucky they really were. He smiled to himself as he took off his calico shirt and leather boots. He climbed into the warm bed and drifted into a peaceful slumber. It's going to be a long week. Jack thought to himself.

During the early hours of the morning Jack awoke with a start. His bare chest was soaked with salty sweat. He was breathing heavily. Jack raised himself out of the bed and over to the wash basin by the window. He splashed some cool water onto his wet face and massaged his temples. What had made him wake? His long braids flapped in front of his face as he opened the window to let in some cool air. The sun was rising over the horizon. Jack hummed the song Elizabeth had taught him and sang it under his breath.

"We're devils,

We're Black sheep,

We're really bad eggs.

Drink up me hearties

Yo-ho, Yo- ho."

That song brought back fond memories of his beloved Pearl again. He clambered back into bed and lay there. The cotton sheets twisted around him, the pillows on the floor. Jack tended to sleep without them. He didn't know why, just another quirk of Captain Jack Sparrow.