Chapter One

It had been too long. She trekked through the small town of Richardson, past bustling shoppers. She tried to ignore the dull ache in her chest, the gross feeling of emptiness in the pit of her stomach. She trudged toward her home. People bumped her shoulders as the shuffled past, all paying attention to their own duties. She stopped at the front door of her house, which was crammed in between two other houses. She unlocked the door, keeping her head down. She gripped the brown bag of groceries in one arm and opened the door with the other.

"Elizabeth!" called a voice.

She turned. She smiled tiredly at the older woman leaning over the balcony of the house next door. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson." Elizabeth greeted.

"Oh, how many times must I ask you to call me Melanie?" snapped the woman.

Will, how many times must I ask you to call me Elizabeth?

At least once more, Miss Swann. As always.

Elizabeth ignored the flash of pain in her chest. "Old habits die hard, Melanie," Elizabeth apologized.

"Well, come over for dinner tonight!" replied Melanie in a cheerful voice.

Elizabeth opened her mouth in protest. "Oh, no, I don't want to intrude…"

"Nonsense!" called Melanie. "I'm cooking beef stew!"

Elizabeth smiled. "All right," she allowed. "I'll be over later this evening." Elizabeth shuffled inside her house and closed the door behind her. She sighed, dropping her bag of groceries to the floor. She took off her fur cap and tossed it aside.

It had been too long. She'd thought that moving away from the sea would've helped her forget about it. Forget her adventures. Forget Will. Forget Jack. Forget who she was. Forget who she used to be. Some Pirate King she was. She smiled humorlessly to herself. She carried the bag to her kitchen. She began unpacking it, setting the objects onto the counter. Rubbing her hands together, she left the kitchen to her fireplace. She tossed some wood that she'd put inside the night before into the hearth. With trembling hands, she lit the wood. She crouched in front of the hearth, trying to warm herself. She closed her eyes.

It would've never worked out between us.

Keep telling yourself that, darling.

Elizabeth hissed sharply at herself. She couldn't allow herself to remember. The memories were too painful. She wrapped a blanket around herself. There was a knock at the door. She frowned and stood up. She trekked into the foyer and opened the door. Her frown deepened when she laid eyes on the visitor. "Charlotte," she muttered.

The redheaded woman scowled at Elizabeth. "No need to sound so disappointed!" Charlotte scolded.

Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "What is it?"

"May I come in? It's frightfully cold." Charlotte shuddered for emphasis.

"Of course," Elizabeth said, opening her door wider. "I'm sorry. I'm not in my right mind today."

"I can tell," said Charlotte, eyeing Elizabeth with a scowl. "Are you goin' to Melanie's tonight?"

"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "She invited you?"

"Hell no," said Charlotte. A smile toyed at Elizabeth's lips. "Melanie wouldn't touch me with a ten-foot-pole. But she's loud enough that I'm sure the king of England could hear her!"

Elizabeth laughed quietly. "I'm sure."

Charlotte frowned at Elizabeth. "I just came to check on you. Lucky thing I did. Yer havin' a bad day, aren't ya?"

Elizabeth sighed. "It comes and goes."

Charlotte sighed. "Well, I would offer for ye to have dinner with me but… I gotta keep customers happy!"

Elizabeth nodded. "I understand."

"So, what's bothering ye today?" said Charlotte, sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Would you like some tea?" Elizabeth said, trying to avoid the question.

"Sure," said Charlotte. Elizabeth filled a kettle with water. She brought it over to the now roaring fire in the other room. She placed it over the fire to bring the water to a boil. Elizabeth rejoined Charlotte.

"I miss my husband," Elizabeth admitted. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Ex," corrected Charlotte. "You said he annulled it, right?"

Elizabeth winced. "Yes," she murmured. "He said that his lifestyle was no good for me."

"Prick," muttered Charlotte. Elizabeth opened her mouth to defend Will's honor, but Charlotte continued. "What about that friend of yours?"

"I already told you," Elizabeth said, beginning to feel annoyed, "we had a falling out. He doesn't want to see me."

"Is there no way of contacting him?" said Charlotte.

"No," Elizabeth grumbled. She stood up to check on the water. Charlotte followed Elizabeth to the sitting room. Charlotte plopped down on the sofa. She curled up in a blanket. Elizabeth sat down beside Charlotte, watching the fire crackle. "Even if there were, I wouldn't contact Jack."

"Why not?" queried Charlotte.

Elizabeth sighed. "It's too complicated."

"What'd you say his name was again?" asked Charlotte.

"Jack," Elizabeth murmured.

"Yes, I know that, but what about his surname?" Charlotte barked.

Elizabeth glanced at Charlotte. "I'd rather not say."

Charlotte scowled. "What kinda shit did the two of ye get mixed up in?"

Elizabeth, fortunately, was interrupted by the shrieking of the kettle. She rushed into the kitchen, slipped on her mitts and returned to the sitting room. She lifted the kettle from the hearth and returned to the kitchen. She prepared some tea and returned to the sitting room when it was ready. She handed a teacup to Charlotte. "The kind that I don't want spread around." Elizabeth warned.

Charlotte laughed. "Lizzie, I'm a prostitute," she said. "I doubt you'll say anything to scandalize yerself more than I've to me own reputation!"

Elizabeth shrugged. "It's Jack's business, not mine."

"Well, when I was a whore in Tortuga, I met many a sailor who used the Faithful Bride as their mail post. Just sayin'." said Charlotte.

Elizabeth's head snapped up at the mention of Tortuga. "You've been to Tortuga?"

Charlotte nodded. "That's what I said, innit?"

Elizabeth sighed. "Yes," she muttered. Elizabeth wanted to speak of Jack, or Will, or even Barbossa. Anything to relieve herself of the ache. Then again, talking about any of her old friends –acquaintances –merely freshened the pain. Charlotte seemed to sense Elizabeth's discomfort and began rambling about last night's customer's kinkiness. Elizabeth laughed hollowly until Charlotte insisted it was time to leave. Charlotte left, leaving Elizabeth alone once more. Elizabeth headed toward her bedroom. She opened a drawer, where Will's letter lay gathering dust. She opened it to read it for the umpteenth time.

My dearest Elizabeth,

I hope you are well. Every moment away from you is torture for me. Even surrounded by new friends and my father, I find myself missing you more each day. So I can't imagine your pain, your loneliness. I don't want you to suffer, so I am releasing you from our marriage. Be with whomever you like, as long as they bring you happiness. I am hopeful that you will get this soon. I'm sorry things ended up this way. I love you, Elizabeth. I'll see you in ten years.

All my love,

Will Turner

Elizabeth looked up from the letter, tears in her eyes. Will had been right. She was lonely. But now, she was lonelier than ever. She had thought that moving away from the Caribbean would save her from that pain, but it had only worsened. Being apart from the sea had sharpened her ache for freedom. But what was she to do? Gallivant after pirates? She had heard of the ruthless female pirates, the ones who were brutal to anyone just so that their power could be assured. Elizabeth didn't want to be like that. And Elizabeth didn't know where to look for Jack. She had never properly apologized. Sure, they had reached a mutual understanding and respect, albeit and unspoken one. But Elizabeth wanted to speak the words that she had withheld. She wanted to say that she was, in fact, deeply sorry.

But Elizabeth was also angry with Jack. Hadn't they been friends? Even if it had been a weak friendship, hadn't they shared enough adventure and horrors to have some sort of bond? And yet Jack hadn't visited her. He hadn't traveled to find her. He hadn't given her the chance to explain herself. Perhaps he just didn't want to see her at all.

Elizabeth blinked away tears. She piled her hair atop her head into a loosely elegant bun. She dressed out of her simple blue dress into a black evening gown. She swept a cloak over her shoulders. She left the room and hurried downstairs.

"Hello, Elizabeth," said a voice. Elizabeth gasped and fell back against the wall, clutching her chest. She stared at the visitor in awe and disbelief.

"J-Jack?" she breathed.

Jack's unmistakable, gold-speckled grin greeted her. "You look well."

Elizabeth dipped her head. "As do you," she said. "I… Um… Wha…" Elizabeth stopped to calm herself and gather her wits. "What are you doing here?"

"This," said Jack, holding up a folded piece of parchment.

Elizabeth frowned. "What is it?"

Jack opened the parchment. He handed it to Elizabeth. She looked at it. Tears filled her eyes as she realized it was a letter from Will.

Jack,

I hope you've stayed out of trouble… Well, I doubt you have. I know I shouldn't ask any favors of you, seeing as I don't know where we stand in our friendship, but I don't know who else to turn to.

I fear Elizabeth is lonely. I know you probably don't care, seeing as how the two of you have a complicated history, but I know you do, if deep down, care for Elizabeth. If you could check on her, just to make sure she's happy, I would be forever grateful. I understand if you don't want to, or if you have other obligations. I just need to know that someone is looking out for her.

Best wishes,

Will

Elizabeth couldn't hide her disappointment. So Jack had come out of a sense of duty to babysit her, not because he cared about her. She handed the letter back to Jack. "Ah." she muttered.

"You're a hard woman to find," said Jack, tucking the letter back into his jacket. "Why move here, of all places?"

"I thought it would be better," Elizabeth muttered. Jack was peering at her curiously. Elizabeth crossed her arms and stared at Jack. "Is that all?"

Jack frowned. "Is that anyway to treat an old friend?"

Elizabeth clenched her teeth. "Well, I figured we weren't friends. I haven't seen nor heard from you in months."

Jack's eyebrows shot up. "You haven't been exactly… Easy to find, love."

Elizabeth scowled. "You said that," she snapped. Jack stared at her. Elizabeth sighed. "Look, I appreciate you coming to check on me…"

"I can tell," Jack interrupted, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

Elizabeth bit her lip. "But I… I don't want you to be here out of obligation to Will."

"I'm not here because of Will," Jack retorted.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "You just told me you were here because of the letter."

Jack scowled. "You didn't read the postscript, did you?" Elizabeth shook her head. "It told me where to find you. We didn't end on the best of terms."

Elizabeth sighed. "Well, I'm fine. So you needn't worry."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem fine."

"You don't know me!" Elizabeth protested.

Jack's frown deepened. "Elizabeth…"

Elizabeth turned away. She tried to hide her tears. "I have to go." she mumbled.

"That dinner, I know," said Jack.

Elizabeth turned to look at him. "How did you…? Oh, never mind. I can guess."

"I've been waiting for the opportune moment to talk to you. We need to talk." Jack replied.

Elizabeth nodded. "I'll tell Melanie that I don't feel well." She left without waiting for Jack's response. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself. What was Jack doing here? Did he really want to make sure that she was all right for Will's peace of mind, or did he actually care? Elizabeth informed Melanie that she was ill. Melanie attempted to protest, but Elizabeth wouldn't have Melanie's pompousness. Elizabeth returned to her house to find Jack waiting in the sitting room, stoking the fire back to life.

"You shouldn't leave this unattended, love. You'll catch a cold." said Jack nonchalantly.

Elizabeth bit her lip. "Jack…"

Jack held up a hand to stop her. "I really did come to check on you," he said softly. "Not for William, but for you. I wanted to make sure that you were all right."

Elizabeth sucked in a sharp breath. "Jack, I never got to say I'm sorry. I am, I am so terribly sorry! I know that I can never make up what I did to you, but I want you to know that I am so sorry. I wish that somehow I could take it back, but I can't... I thought it was the right thing to do at the time, and when we left you, I felt so awful! I shouldn't have betrayed you like that-!"

"Elizabeth!" Jack shouted. Elizabeth fell silent, chewing on her lip. Jack held up his hands. "I know you're sorry," he murmured. "You did what any pirate would've done. Actually, I was quite proud of your actions."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Proud? How could you have been proud of me?"

"You had become a pirate," Jack said. He smiled fondly. "Were it not for my precarious predicament, I would've been more proud. You challenged me, Lizzie. And… I forgive you. Let's just put it behind us."

Elizabeth stared at Jack, frowning. "But…" Jack's frown stopped her. "Fine," she said. "So… How long are you staying?"

Jack grinned and shrugged. "Not sure, love. Haven't got much else to do. Except… I do have a proposal for you."

Elizabeth crossed her arms. "Oh?"

Jack smirked. "I need to get the Pearl back. If you wanna help…" He trailed off. "Unless, of course, you have more important things to attend to."

Elizabeth bit her lip. "Barbossa mutinied again?"

Jack glowered. "Aye."

Elizabeth nodded. "Well… I have missed the sea… When would we go?"

Jack frowned, looking thoughtful. "I would have to assemble the necessary equipment… Like a ship to retrieve my ship… And a crew… And weapons…"

Elizabeth smirked. "I think I can help with that," she said.

Jack raised his eyebrows, prompting her to continue. "Oh?"

"I am Pirate King, you know." Elizabeth said, edging toward Jack.

"Courtesy of yours truly," Jack reminded her.

Elizabeth ignored him. "I could send word to Tai Huang."

Jack looked pensive. "Sounds like the beginnings of a plan."

"Better than what you had in mind." countered Elizabeth.

Jack grinned. "Maybe," he allowed. "I'll stay until we hear back from Tai Huang. Then we'll come up with another plan."

Elizabeth bit her lip. "I don't have a guest bed, Jack. You can have mine upstairs…"

"Nonsense, love," Jack said, waving his hands dismissively. "I'll make this couch my best friend."

Elizabeth beamed. "I'll fetch you another quilt… And a pillow." She left momentarily to do just that. She returned with a quilt and pillow. "I suppose… I should cook dinner."

Jack chuckled. "Can you cook?"

Elizabeth scowled, then smiled sheepishly. "Not really."

Jack laughed. "I'll pretend it's incredible, unless it's repulsive."

Elizabeth glowered at him. She softened. "Jack… I am glad you're here. Will was right; it has been quite lonely."

Jack half-smiled. "Missed you too, love."