This is my Sparrabeth fanfic. I have tried to write so many fanfics on this pairing but have never managed to finish one. Hopefully this time I will find the motivation to complete it! It is set six months after the end of POTC At Worlds End. I should also add that Elizabeth doesn't have a child in my story, because I couldn't find a good way of writing him in and as I am a Sparrabeth shipper, I did NOT care for the ending of At Worlds End and I am sure there are many more people who feel the same.
By the way if you spot any grammatical or spelling mistakes I apologise now. Please also note that I am English so I spell things differently to people in America.
Jack jumped as loud banging of metal came from up the cell steps. He got up from the bench and casually approached the cell bars. Two guards came tumbling down the stone steps; each had had a sword blade thrust into the chests. Jack watched with huge intrigue into the event, wondering what was going on.
"Bugger." A whisper came from further up the steps as and to Jack's annoyance no matter how hard her tried he couldn't see the murderer. A few seconds later, a familiar face came, quite clumsily down the steps, almost tripping on the corpses. Elizabeth certainly did not feel ladylike in the doing so, but it was the least of her worries.
"'Lizabeth?' Jack raised an eyebrow as he watched her step over the dead guards.
"Jack there isn't much time!" Elizabeth ran over to the cell, fumbled the keys around in her hands nervously, trying to get them in the lock.
"Enough time for what?" Jack was beyond confused of the situation. He hadn't seen Elizabeth in over six months and all of a sudden she had appeared to free him from his cell.
"To get you out of here!" She had started to sound desperate as she finally managed to unlock the cell. Jack, whilst she had been trying to unlock had returned to his spot on the bench.
"No." Jack smiled. He had forgotten how much he liked to wind her up.
"What!?" she hissed at him in disbelief.
"I rather like it here." Jack lay down on the bench in such a casual manner Elizabeth wanted to drag him out. Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Have you gone mad?!" She said, in the same tone as before. "You face the noose Jack, and you are telling me you would rather sit in this dingy cell than escape?!"
"Yep, sounds about right."
"Don't be bloody absurd!" Elizabeth marched into the cell and grabbed his arm in attempt to pull him of the bench. She didn't not succeed, however, Jack did sit up right.
"I could go with you……" He looked at her and smiled, he gold teeth gleaming in the little light that leaked in. "But what would be the point………I'll end up dying either way." Elizabeth suddenly looked hurt.
"I thought we were past all that…It's been nearly a year." Her voice had become shaky.
"And it's going to take another year for me to trust you again love." They stared at one another. In all honesty, Jack didn't know how she would react to his comment. He knew her temper was unpredictable. Elizabeth sucked her teeth. She had gone from hurt to bitter.
"Believe it or not Jack you are a good man, and I can't let you die like this, please come with me." There was a pause in Jack's reply, he sniffed and let out a sigh.
"I'm good thanks."
"Fine!" Elizabeth shouted. Tears brimming in her eyes, she spun around to leave him. She felt a tight grip around her right wrist, stopping her. She gasped and snatched her arm back in pain. Jack, in much surprise to her reaction, took hold of her again, further up her arm and pulled her back. Their eyes met. Jack, with his other hand, carefully untied a piece of tatty material around her wrist. Elizabeth watched him with scared eyes; her heart was beating wildly in her chest. Jack removed the cloth to reveal a prominent 'P' branded on her wrist.
"It-Its still a l-little sore." Elizabeth struggled to get the words out as Jack stared at the branding. Jack felt something sink inside him. He wasn't sure what it was, but the violent 'P' on Elizabeth's tiny, delicate wrist made him feel heavyhearted, and slightly maddened. "I will ask you once more, will you come with me Jack?"
He looked at her.
"Of course I bloody will! Lets stop dilly-dallying and go." He got up and, grabbing Elizabeth's other arm, made their way out of the cell.
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"Where's the ship then?" Jack looked out across the port, in search of a vessel that he hoped Elizabeth had provided as an escape plan.
"I came in a dingy…." Elizabeth said in the most disappointed way, followed by a facial expression that reflected this. Both Jack and Elizabeth were hiding behind wall, which looked out across the port of Port Royal.
"A dingy?" Jack looked at her, not terribly impressed.
"Well I'm sorry, I just find it extremely hard to sail a ship on my own." Elizabeth scoffed with sarcasm. Jack rolled his eyes and huffed.
"And where is said dingy?"
"Over there." Elizabeth pointed out a little wooden boat in the water.
"And I'm guessing you have a plan love?"
"Not exactly." Elizabeth bit her lip.
Jack rowed the boat while Elizabeth sat looking pretty in her gentleman's attire.
"Why Tortuga?"
"Tortuga is where we shall acquire a ship, and a half decent crew." Jack felt as if he had already explained this to her a thousand times. He felt a little peeved how he had to come up with a plan. Elizabeth rested her head in her hands. The sun was beating down on them, hot and bright. Elizabeth squinted to see.
"Tortuga is a godforsaken place." She added as she sat and sulked.
"Tortuga is wonderful. Tortuga is going to save us deary."
It was to be a long and tiring journey to Tortuga. A total of four days was spent rowing across the ocean. Not much was said however, although a thousand questions were in need of being asked by both of them.
"Six months is a long time eh?" Jack watched as Elizabeth rowed. "I suppose for a woman such as yourself it has been quite eventful?"
"Hardly." Elizabeth gritted her teeth. Her arms ached.
"What has become of Romeo?" Jack's smugness annoyed Elizabeth somewhat. She stopped rowing.
"How should I know, I can't see him for another nine and a half years?! Do you know how bloody hard it is to go through with something like that?" It was obvious that she was still rather touchy on the matter. Jack shrugged.
"How do you think I spent the last six months?!" Jack shrugged again, "You have no idea what its like Jack, you've never loved anyone and then lost them!"
"You don't know that." He said in a surprising upbeat tone.
"You're right, I don't know, but I can make a bloody good educated guess." Jack decided it was best to change the subject. He did not want to be mutinied upon.
"How did you get it?"
Elizabeth had picked up the oars again and started to row.
"Get what?"
"The markings of a pirate love, what's the story behind that?" Elizabeth stopped again. She sighed and gazed into the water.
"After Will left, I stayed on the island for a few days before I realised that I couldn't stay there forever. So I boarded a ship that stopped off. Of course, honest sailors couldn't miss the chance to hand over the pirate king, 3000 guineas, wanted dead. An offer no man could refuse. So they didn't." Jack listened with intrigue. "You can probably guess the rest, I suppose I was lucky as I managed to escape before the noose was about my neck." Jack suddenly felt immense sympathy for girl before him. It had become clear to him that the past six months Elizabeth had spent alone before being arrested and escaping death. A pang of guilt struck him as he realised Elizabeth had had nobody to turn to. "But while I was in the cell, I heard rumours that you had been caught and put in the gaol at Port Royal. And so when I escaped, the first thing I did was come for you. You have saved my life numerous times, and so I brought it upon myself to save yours." Jack looked at her with affectionate eyes and smiled slightly.
"You are a truly magnificent woman Lizzie. Never before have I met a girl such as yourself." Elizabeth smiled weakly at Jack's compliment. "But for the love of God, keep rowing."
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They reached Tortuga just before nightfall but already the streets were teaming with the drunk and rowdy. Jack hopped out the dingy and helped Elizabeth out.
"Okay, now what?" Elizabeth watched as a drunken man chased a woman into an alleyway.
"Sleep."
"What?"
"I'm bloody exhausted. Do what you like love, but I'm going to bed." Jack started to walk towards an inn. "You must be tired love, get some sleep." Jack called back at her.
"I think there are slightly more pressing matters, like finding a ship and a crew, running from the navy?" Jack carried on walking, leaving Elizabeth standing alone. "For heaven's sake!" She shouted at him. Elizabeth jumped at she felt a hand hit her behind and a dirty looking man leering at her. "Jack! Wait!" She quickly caught up him. Elizabeth felt paranoid with her surroundings. Although she was dressed as a man, it was still far too obvious that she was a woman.
The room was dark and dingy. Massive shadows were cast from the single candle burning on the desk where Elizabeth sat. Jack was lying in a bed at the back of the room. Elizabeth couldn't sleep. She was beyond tired but something was keeping her awake. She studied the brand on her wrist. "What happened Jack?" She whispered, hoping her would hear her and reply.
"About what?" He replied in a gruff voice.
"Me. I should be married to James, be living at home and already have started a family. Instead I am running away with an imprisoned pirate."
"You married Whelpiam that's what bloody happened." Jack was too tired to realise his comment was less than insensitive. He was expecting a snappy, defensive response but it never came. He pulled his eyes away from the ceiling to look at Elizabeth's back, still waiting for her response.
"I think you are probably right." Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at the pirate who was lying bare chested in his bed with his arms behind his head. This was not the reply Jack had anticipated. He frowned.
"You sure? You do know what you're say aren't you love?" Jack asked with great concern and Elizabeth gave a sad smile.
"I have come to terms with a few things." She sighed. "Realised things."
"Like what?"
"If Will has no heart in his chest, then how can he love me?"
Jack opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came. The statement stumped him. He didn't know the answer. He knew she was right. "Will was such a sweet man. Ever since the day we saved him I've had this special relationship with him, but I am starting to think that that relationship should have only gone as far as friendship. And now I have no one."
"Well you know 'Lizabeth.." Jack started rather smugly. "If you are ever in need of….somebody.." Jack smiled and patted a spot on his bed next to him. Elizabeth stood up and seductively approached the bed. Jack's heart rate quickened, as this was not at all what he was expecting. Elizabeth lent down smiling to his level. Jack smirked, he liked the way she would tease him.
"You wish Captain Sparrow!" She scoffed. Instead she sat at the foot of his bed and rested her head in her hands. Nothing more was said for a little while. Elizabeth simply watched the candle flame flicker away and Jack lay in his bed. "Oh, what should I do Jack?" She sighed sadly. There was no response from the pirate. Elizabeth looked at him. "You can't even stay awake to talk." She was tempted to shake him out of his sleep. But realising how peaceful he looked, Elizabeth decided to leave him. She smiled again, this time a much happier one. "How can the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean look so innocent in his sleep?" She asked her self quietly. She got up and knelt at the head of the bed. She stroked his bandana and moved his dreads slightly. Jack groaned a little, making Elizabeth snatch her hand back. "Good night Jack." She whispered as she stood and prepared herself for bed.
