Disclaimer: I don't own POTC!


Found

Her warm hand trailed along his paled cheek and she murmured lazily into his ear. James stirred and in return muttered, she shushed him with her finger on his lips. She loosened his necktie and pried his coat away from his chest. Exposing his neck she placed her fingers to his skin.

A chill washed over his body.

On the shores of an abandoned beach James had washed up, half-dead and limp. She had rushed out from her tavern to check on her horse in a nearby stable when she had seen the dark shadow on the white sand of the beach. Rain was pelting down and the sea was pitching back and forth. She clamoured down onto the beach and knelt beside the unconscious man. She spoke in an attempt to wake him, she brushed seaweed and sand from his face and when he stirred she silenced him gently with her finger. She checked his faint pulse and whispered under her breath.

Help comes from the strangest places.

He awoke with a frightening start, sitting up violently he was gently stopped by a warm hand softly pressed on his bare chest. Wide-eyed he snapped his glare up to the pale, raven haired woman who looked down at him. She told him to lie back down and rest, he had been injured during the shipwreck. He felt his torso and sure enough it was tightly bandaged with clean cloth. The woman quickly set about spoon feeding him some hot soup. Soon slumber claimed him.

Nightmares come with sleep.

The waves were crashing down on James' chest, water filled his lungs and his eyes began to close slowly. Gasping he woke from his restless sleep and the woman started in the chair by his bed. In the half-light she leant over and James mumbled 'Elizabeth' as she checked his bandages.

Wounds heal over a long time.

Day by day his strength returned and he was soon walking around her small, rugged cottage. He used a crutch to steady himself and she would always watch him out of the corner of her eye. At night they would talk over dinner before she would make her way to the tavern to work. When she came home he would be dozing in front of the fire. It was his feeble attempt to stay awake to greet her. She would smile and wrap a worn blanket around his shoulders, stoke the fire and kiss him lightly on the forehead.

Scars fade but never disappear.

She would care for him as a wife would her husband, or a mother her child. She had for him a love which she couldn't express through words. James was mysterious. He was a new adventure in her monotonous life. He would tell her tales of his travels. There would be a glint of adventure in his eye when he spoke. It would fade soon after.

Memories never die.

He was happy living with her. She made sure he was comfortable. He was recognised by the tavern goers and could often strike up amiable conversation with them. His side had almost completely healed apart from the dull ache now and then. He was happy with her. She was lovely and kind. She deserved love and so did he. But one thing stopped him each time their eyes met or their hands grazed each other's.

She wasn't Elizabeth.


Well that was happy wasn't it? Not! Sorry I wasn't expecting it to end that way either, but it did. I do have an alternate ending/continuing story in my mind if anyone would like me to expand?

Thanks for reading! :)