Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates or the Mouse.
A/N:Thank you for all the wonderful reviews!!! I'm so glad you like it! Enjoy!
Chapter 2:
Elizabeth hurried through the streets, hair whipping around her face, trying to make it to the Black Pearl before she caught a cold. They'd go to war in the morning, she knew that, and then it was only a matter of time until something bad happened. Someone could die, anyone could die. Will, Jack, even herself. She knew there would be a lot of blood shed, and the down fall of either the pirate race or of the East India Trading Company. She hoped, she violently hoped it would be the second one. If they did not succeed tomorrow, she felt as if it would all be her fault, as she was Pirate King now.
Her step quickened as the wind picked up, whipping at her so hard her cheeks stung. Her eyes blurred with tears from the wind, and she suddenly found it hard to see, and wondered where she was. She started to panic, stopping in order to rub her eyes, when suddenly someone wrapped their arms around her waist and pulled her close. She gave a small yelp and turned, but sighed when she saw that it was only Jack.
"I though you had to stay behind!", she yelled over the wind, and he nodded.
"Seemed Captain Teague didn't want t' talk fer as long as I thought.", he told her, grabbing her hand and beginning to move again, gripping his hat so that it wouldn't fly off his head in some unfortunate and entirely unforeseen tragedy.
"You mean your father?", she asked, but it sounded to Jack more like a statement then an inquiry. He glanced at her, surprised.
"How'd ye know?" Elizabeth allowed herself a small smirk.
"It's not as hard to figure out as you think, Captain Sparrow.", she said, moving quicker as the cold started to seep into her marrow. He seemed to notice this, and stopping shrugged off his coat and draped it around her shoulders tightly. She blinked, then quickly shook her head, already starting to take it off. He stopped her with a shake of his head and the tightening of his coat around her body.
"Won' have me wife getting a cold.", he muttered sternly, and her eyes twinkled for a very brief moment.
"You'll get sick.", she told him, and he laughed.
"Love, M' Captain Jack Sparrow! I don't get sick. Ever." She rolled her eyes, but finding his hand made the rest of the way to the Pearl is silence.
Once they got there, Elizabeth sighed in relief, moving away from Jack and running her fingers along the railing before going to the opposite side of the ship and looking out over the gloomy waves, green and dark, the clouds grey and numerous. She shivered, unconsciously pulling the coat more around her. What dangers awaited them tomorrow, what adventure sought to find her just beyond the horizon? Who would die, and who would live? These were questions that could not be answered.
And what if Will died? Then what? Would she still stay with Jack, and put up with him for the freedom of being a pirate? She longed for what he had, she wanted to be a pirate, it was something she kept close to her heart, and sometimes it brought out the worst of her. Marrying Will and living with him would mean moving back to Port Royal. She loved Will, but she knew he was only a pirate because he had to be, not because he wanted it. He became one to save her, and then later on to save his father from a horrible and cursed fate. He was so sweet and gentle, but he'd go back to being a blacksmith and she a proper woman who sewed shirts and washed the dishes and made tea for him when he got home from a long day at work...
She turned, looking away from all her troubles. Realizing that she was tired and that she would need to be awake for the next day, she began to make her way towards her cabin. Her name was suddenly called, and she turned to see Jack striding towards her, a slightly puzzled look dancing in his usually mocking and mischievous eyes.
"Where ye goin', love?", he asked her, breathless. She covered a yawn with her hand, then gave him a sleepy smile.
"To my cabin so I can get some rest." He tilted his head to this side in bewilderment.
"Ye...don' want t' sleep in our cabin?", he asked her hesitantly, and she frowned before realizing what he was saying. She swallowed, her mouth dry.
"Oh.", she stated shakily. "I don't know, Jack." He nodded and forced a smile.
"Course. I understand.", he told her, gazing at her intently, a pang of disappointment shooting through him and piercing his heart. "Ye can go ahead an' sleep in yer old quarters if ye want. M' not pushin' ye." Her eyes dropped to the floor beneath her feet as he wrung her hands together, and then she finally sighed.
"Alright, I'll be with you.", she whispered, and he nodded, a look of shock appearing for a moment before fading into nothing. Grabbing her hand he led her into the Captain's Quarters, shutting the door behind him and locking it. Taking his hat off, he hung it on the hook before holding out his hand. She took off his coat, handed it to him, and he hung that up as well before turning to her. He walked past her into the bedroom that was adjoined to his quarters, sat down on the bed, then tugged off his boots before placing them to the side.
She watched, transfixed, as he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up, over his head, and draped it across the back of a chair. Her eyes widened as she took in his chiseled chest, adorned with many different scars and muscles, and the brand and tattoo on his bare arm. He glanced up, noticed her gawking, and smirked before waving her over. She obeyed, sitting down on the bed, and he knelt down, pulling off her boots before laying them right next to his.
Straightening out, he undid his bandanna, braids and dreadlocks falling in his face as the beads and trinkets clinked softly. He shook his head, ran his fingers through the matted mess atop his skull, then glanced over at her with a small smile of amusement.
Her stomach clenched hard. She had never seen his bandanna off, but if he looked irresistible before, and she knew he did, he looked even more so now. She quickly adverted her eyes, falling back on the bed and draping one arm over her face, knowing that if she had looked at him a moment longer she would have kissed the living daylight out of him.
After a little while, he fell in bed beside her, moving to get under the covers before rolling over on his side and shutting his eyes. She sat up, looked over at him, then copied his actions, moving to the other side of the bed and curling up in a ball, her eyelids falling over her eyes and blocking her vision. Weariness came quickly after, and sleep followed after that.
She had terrible dreams that night. Dreams of blood and death, of war and the harsh clashing sound of metal against metal, and of dark clouds that seemed to eat them up, pulling them down one by one to their doom.
Elizabeth looked around through the rain, trying hard to see, yet she could not see a thing. Her actions were useless. She heard something from behind, whirled around, and yet no one was there. Then, something brushed against her arm, and she turned again, yet there was nothing to be seen as before. A tap on her shoulder made her jump and look over, coming face to face with Will. She cried out his name and smiled, yet his expression was cold and harsh.
"You betrayed me, you betrayed my love. How could you?" She blinked, then fought back tears that threatened to fill her eyes.
"I had no choice! It was either marry Jack or we all died!" Will sneered.
"You used that same excuse with kissing Jack before he died. I don't believe you." Suddenly, her name was called gently, hesitantly. She glanced to her right and saw Jack approaching her, the rain seeming as if it was letting up, and then they were face to face. He pulled her into his arms, whispering her name gently, but before she could register his eyes became lifeless. She screamed as he fell, then looking down at her shirt realized it was sprayed with warm blood. Dropping to her knees she looked at Jack's face, then down at his stomach. His shirt was soaked in blood, rapidly growing and staining the dirt ground underneath him. She screamed again, but the sound was distant; a whisper of a voice and nothing else. She began to sob, falling against him and peppering his face with kisses, murmuring his name over and over again in horror.
Elizabeth's eyes snapped open quickly, and she shivered, remembering her dream. Yet, for some reason, she wasn't afraid and terrified as she thought she might be. She shifted slightly, but found she could hardly move. Two strong arms were wrapped around her waist, her back pressed against his bare chest, his hands splayed out against her stomach almost protectively. Elizabeth felt him move, pulling her even closer, then heard him murmur her name under his breath. She smiled sleepily, then her eyes slid shut once more, too tired to think what she was doing at the moment.
She sighed and snuggled into him more, feeling safe and warm with his arms around her. Even if in his sleep, it was a very comforting notion, and all her fears washed away, the dream becoming only a distant memory and nothing more as sleep reclaimed her.
Jack's eyes opened after a little while, and looking down at her he smiled warmly, kissed the top of her hair very tenderly, then moved his hand to brush some hair out of her face. She really was beautiful when she was sleeping. Almost like an angel. His angel. He grinned, then burying his face against her shoulder inhaled, loosing himself in her smell. Will did not deserve her. Jack wanted her as his own...and only his. After this...he would never want to let her go, even if he had promised.
Dawn came early. Elizabeth woke up, yawned and stretched, then realized that the spot next to her was empty. Jack had already been up and was now out and about somewhere. She sighed, then pushing herself out of bed stood, quickly rummaged through his clothes before picking out some black breeches that seemed a bit on the smaller side, and a white shirt that buttoned up in the front. It was a bit too frilly to be a Jack Sparrow thing, anyways.
Tugging on her boots she headed out the door, stopping when she saw Jack's hat hanging on the peg. Bewildered, she grabbed it, then rushed out, up the stairs and onto deck. Looking around she spotted him talking to Gibbs, then walking over placed his hat on his head before moving away to go find something to eat in the galley.
Jack blinked, feeling his hat upon his head, then smiled and chuckled softly. He finished talking to his first mate, then turning around saw that Elizabeth must have headed to the galley for a quick breakfast. He quickly followed her, wanting to talk to her quick about something.
As he made his way down the stairs, he pondered upon their strange union. Yes, he had offered to marry her. Why? Because he knew she wouldn't want to marry anyone like Gentleman Jocard or Captain Ammand...he knew she had to like him, just a little, in order to kiss him like she had only months before. He wanted to save her from those who did not deserve her. And you do? He sighed. No, he didn't either, but as he had said before, he was the best option.
Did he love her? Now, there was a question. No, he didn't think he did, but he knew he felt something towards her. He had forgiven her for killing him, he knew that. She did what she thought was necessary, and he admired that in her. She had literally come over to his side, became the pirate he knew she was, and that made him proud. Jack had taught her well, made her who she was today, became a bad influence. He smiled a bit at that thought. Jack rather figured he respected her, and that she was just like him. She longed for the sea, for freedom, for the Pearl. She was home to her, just like she was home to him. They both wanted the same thing.
But he did not love her. It was nothing like that. She was his friend, seeing as they had known each other for a little more than three years, and he had wanted her from a distance the whole time. Yet, he figured it was a thing of desire. After all, his first and only love is the sea. He repeated that over and over in his mind as he stepped down to the bottom of the stairs, then turned into the galley. He saw her pick up and apple, and smiled.
"Oi! Lizzie! Toss one ere', would ye?", he called over to her softly. She glanced over, then nodding picked up a yellow apple and tossed it to him. He caught it, hearing the sound of the apple smacking hard against his palm, and then bringing it to his lips took a bite. He savored the taste for a moment, a small smirk hovering over his lips, then stepped towards her. Placing the apple to the side, he also took hers and did them same before drawing her close to him.
She gasped, feeling her hands press against his chest, then tilted her head back to meet his eyes. They were beautiful, like two windows into an entirely new world, like a sea of black which twisted and rose, claiming all those who went to sail in its waters. And he was claiming her too, his bewitching eyes were trapping her, pulling her close to him, making it so that she could no longer think. She held her breath, both lost in silence, and then Jack smiled.
Bringing one arm around her waist and to her back, he moved the other to her neck, tangling his fingers into her hair. Then, drawing her closer, he pressed his lips to her mouth for a moment. She stiffened, and then relaxed, melting against him. Taking this as a good sign, Jack kissed her again, harder, ardently, the tip of his tongue sliding across the seam of her lips, begging entrance. Sub-consciously, she parted them, and his tongue delved in, exploring, making her loose her breath. He ran it across her teeth, then the roof of her mouth, trying to memorize it by heart.
He wanted to know her, all of her. Her silky skin under the rough pads of his fingertips, the way her hair smelled, what her neck tasted like, and everything else that she was. He groaned, feeling her tentatively run her tongue across his, then she chased his back, kissing him desperately, feverishly, moving to slip one arm around his neck and pull him closer. Grabbing his lower lip between her teeth, she nibbled on it gently before tugging on it as she pulled back.
Breaking the kiss, she searched his face for a moment before pulling away and grabbing her apple, blushing intently. "Get your apple, Jack.", she said. "We should be up on deck." He sighed, but didn't argue, then plucked his apple up from the table before following her, his step slow, a grin spreading across his face.
Elizabeth raced up to the helm, eyes wide, tears begging to fall down her cheeks. What had she done? She knew he was her husband, for the moment, and it was daft to think that he wouldn't take advantage of that...but it made her feel guilty and dirty, like she was betraying Will more and more, as if there was a gap stretching between them that would never be fixed.
That didn't stop you from kissing Jack before, when you sent him to his death, a voice reminded her, and she let out a sob of despair, gripping the helm as she looked out at the sunless, gloomy sky. She had kissed him to save them all! The crew, Will, herself. There had been no other way! Jack had been selfish, he had been putting everyone in danger. The Kracken had been after him, not them! She had to kill him.
She had been shocked by Jack's kiss, and more shocked that she had returned it. She wouldn't have, but her body was traitorous, and she had wanted another taste of him, of those lips against hers, a taste of rum and oranges and the faint sharp tang of gold. But, no. She'd be rid of Jack long enough, and then she'd be free. Free to marry William and love him for the rest of her life. To live with him. She loved him, not Jack.
Figuring it was best to steer clear of Jack, since she found she couldn't resist him when she was close to her, she stayed up at the helm, looking out at the waters, knowing that in less than an hours time they would go to war. Suddenly, she felt a presence next to her, but knew it wasn't Jack. Glancing over, she realized it was none other than Barbossa.
"What do you want?", she asked with annoyance, the sharpness of her tone like daggers. He smirked, shaking his head, then leaned against the railing and looked out towards sea, towards the dark heavy storm that loomed over their heads, seeming as if it could break out any moment.
"Now now, lass.", he chided, chuckling. "Is that any way t' treat yer superiors?" She whirled on him, her hair whipping around her face as she glared in anger.
"I am Pirate King, if you have not forgotten.", she said clippantly, her voice cold. "I rule over you."
"So you are!", he said with mock politeness, grabbing his hat from his head and bowing. Then he straightened up, placing it back on his head with a knowing grin. "But not for long.", he added after a moment, and she gave him a strange look.
"What do you mean?", she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"It seems t' me that ye an' Jack aren't...what ye would call a perfect match, aye? So once the battle is o'er an' ye move yer separate ways, ye will no longer be bound t' Jack wiv' marriage, and then ye will no longer be Pirate King." She blinked, then shook her head.
"And who would be?", she questioned cautiously, and his eyes danced, teasing her.
"Why, Jack o' course. It all works out splendidly, don' ye think?" Then he grabbed the brim of his hat between his two forefingers, nodded to her, and swiftly turned on his heel before walking away.
Elizabeth stood there, stunned, then slumped against the railing, moving to twist a strand of hair around her finger, sighing heavily. So, that was Jack's grand scheme of things. He had known no one would vote for him, so he voted for her instead. And then, knowing she would have to marry, he said he would, did just that, and then offered her a way to be with Will, knowing that was what she wanted. Finally, when she moved from him and went with Will, he'd be Pirate King instead of her, getting what he wanted all along. He had used her, and it hurt.
For a little while she had hoped that he had wanted to marry her because he felt something towards her, because he cared for her...even if it was just a little bit. Yet, Barbossa had proved her wrong. Jack did not care for her, he had used her like he had done many times before...and it felt like she had been slapped across the face. She shut her eyes, took in a huge breath, then slowly let it out after a long moment. More reasons to find Will and marry him once this was all over. It wasn't like she wanted Jack anyways, she didn't. She loathed the man, absolutely hated him! He never thought of anyone else but himself.
Will is kind and caring, she told herself quietly, hiding her face in her hands. He's sweet and gentle, would never want to harm me, always puts me before himself...and he loves me. There's nothing better than that. I love him too. And I will marry him in a months time. That is, of course, if they were still alive, the two of them. Then they would go inland, find some lovely little church, get married there...all legal and perfect, and then they would buy a ship and sail around the seas. He could make his weapons there and sell them, she could get her freedom and not have to give up her lust for the seductive, calling waters. It would be perfect.
Turning around, she watched the crew begin to get ready, loading the cannons and letting out the sails. The ships that were docked next to them also were thriving with activity, as the sun began to peek up over the horizon. Yet, it was covered by a thick blanket of grey, and she knew that she wouldn't be seeing the light of the brilliant ball of fire that day. Actually, the weather was fitting. It matched her mood.
"Ye ready?", came a soft voice from beside her. Elizabeth glanced over, then spotting Jack turned to face him. She moved forward, poking him in the chest, anger crossing over her face like hot red fire. Jack shrank back, just a little, rather weary of her at that point.Especially when she was angry. He found he didn't like the look that was written all across her face at the moment. It spelled trouble.
"I hate you.", she hissed at him suddenly, then slapping him across the face stalked off down the stairs, busying herself with the crew and not once glancing up at him. He stood there, shocked, then rubbed his cheek with his free hand before lifting the rum bottle up to his lips with a sigh.
"M' not sure I deserved that.", he said, blinking, then tilting the bottle back took a healthy swig of the cool liquor. His eyes fluttered shut as his body tingled, the rum running through his veins until the pain disappeared and he felt calmer than before. He opened his eyes, took another gulp, then set it down on the railing before moving to grip the helm, his eyes following his wife as she helped unfurl the last sail, then went down to load the cannons below. He sighed, looking back up before shutting his eyes with a small grimace. He didn't know why it bothered him, but he didn't like it when she was angry with him. He knew it had been rough between them ever since she killed him, and he knew they needed to talk about it before it got out of hands.
Moving from the helm, he went below to the cellar, looking around before he spotted her on the far end of the room, dusting her hands off and smiling at her work. Pintel and Ragetti nudged past their captain, heading up the stairs to the deck, and then he realized they were all alone. He quietly shut the door behind him, and twisted the small lever so that the door locked. She heard the click, which seemed to be much louder than it was, and met his eyes, immediately stiffening and backing up a step or two.
Jack walked forward until he was a couple feet away from her, then took a small sip of rum from a flask at his belt before offering it to her. She glanced at it wearily, then shook her head, meeting his gaze with wide eyes.
"Jack?" Her voice was small and quiet, almost a whisper, and he flinched, hearing the trepidation in her voice.
"Elizabeth.", he said curtly, then hoisted himself up on a nearby barrel. "We need t' talk."