Not So Happy Ending, At World's End

The shout brought Jack out of his daydream. Elizabeth still stood there, pondering the last thing he'd said. The kiss was gone, had never occurred other than in his heart; the brief contact of flesh had been entirely in his mind. He felt terrified suddenly at feeling the way he did. But his fears were whisked away as the sky really did erupt in an explosion of green light; as though the sun itself were envious of the moon for taking its stage in the night sky.

"Jack, I really don't think that there are souls coming back when that green flash happens. I think I actually watched the sunset the day you came back, on Tortuga, and I don't recall seeing anything like that."

"Well, nobody but who's on the ocean will see it, darling. You were on land."

He smiled ruefully. Suddenly, he cocked his head and appeared confused. Narrowing his eyes, he asked her

"Why were you watching the sunset anyways?"

"I keep hoping I'll see Will coming back for me. But he never will, will he?"

Jack felt his body go hot and cold at the same time all over. How could he hope to win her? She still loved the Whelp…or did she?

The second came up and stood at Jack's shoulder, obviously impatient to be addressed by the captain. He could not articulate, unless of an emergency, until Jack spoke to him first. Jack already knew what he would say, and didn't want to be interrupted but he turned and smiled to the man anyways. He took this as encouragement enough,

"We have sighted the Banchie's Port, Captain, off the starboard bow. There is small craft approaching, I believe the Brethren wish to hail us before allowing us onto their land."

"Very good, Lewis. Raise the colors of the ship and when they sign back their approval, I will go down with Ms. Swan in a life raft."

"Are we not going to dock?"

"Of course not. We must be ready for anything, everything"

The man appeared confused; they were low on provisions, especially salted meats, wouldn't restocking be an excellent way to prepare?

Jack sauntered off, appearing for all to see as though the matter was closed. But Elizabeth knew better,

"He means in case of ambush, we don't want to be caught with our sails down"

"Why didn't he just say that?"

"Because; he's Captain Jack Sparrow"

Was all she said, but in her head, she knew there was more to it. Jack's brand of 'courage' was more or less a mixture of self-interest, dumb luck and blind determination.

She watched lazily as the crew prepared the dinghy for their use. Looking at the craft made her none too confident in its sea-worthiness, but it did float. Elizabeth felt her skin tingle as the scent of rum and salt water wafted into her nostrils. Jack stood but a foot behind her. She smirked slightly,

"Are you going to say something, or just enjoy the view?"

"I know what you're thinking, Lizzie, and you oughtn't flatter yourself so immensely"

She turned and faced him, placing her arms behind her back, and locking her hands together,

"And why is that, Captain Sparrow?"

Her earlier comment on still desiring the sight of dear William had thoroughly cleansed his mind of any hunger for her. However, her current stance, with the fabric pulled taut across her breasts was enticing. But no-there would be plenty of time for that later. Hopefully.

"Because, Ms. Swan. What makes you think that the Brethren would not keep a few spare wenches at the ready on their very own secret island? Are they not men of the sea, in constant need for lust slaking?"

Her expression of seduction quickly disappeared. She had only been joking, as lovers were oft to do. But his statement reminded her of the reality. She and Jack Sparrow were no lovers. His desire for her stopped when she was no longer necessary for the appeasement of his flesh. The shock nearly broke her spirit, but she quickly hid it with a jilt of her eyebrows.

"Well then, it would be quite rude to keep them waiting, wouldn't it, Captain?"

"That it would"

She turned and stalked off to the where the dinghy had been lowered. He glared after her, allowing his frustration to manifest into a slight curling of his lip. But she didn't see.

Jack heard the voices again resounding in his own head,

"Why'd you go and do that, mate? Never gonna get the girl like that"

"Eh, why would we want that girl? She's saucy and not at all wench-y. Not good for the spirit, that type of woman is"

"Oh and whores are good for the spirit?"

"Indeed. They're calming and silly little things, tell you what you want to hear. That one, she tells you what you need to hear. And honestly, who wants to hear that?"

The real Jack raised his hand innocently at this point,

"Oi, do you really?"

Sparrow nodded.

"Well, then you are quite lost to me, mate. I bid you adieu"

Jack stood dumbfounded for a few moments. He had no idea what it was about Elizabeth that tempted him. Beautiful, yes, but far too much trouble. It went against all forms of logic he possessed. Not that there was very much of that.

He was startled to find the second again at his side, waiting to be addressed.

"Yes, Lewis?"

"The men and I were just wondering, Captain, why it is that you're taking the woman ashore with you. She won't be much help if the Brethren prove less than adversary"

"Meaning…?"

Lewis stumbled for words for a moment, the Captain did not appear to appreciate having his decisions second-guessed,

"Meaning they might take her as a hostage or somewhat if things get dicey"

"I have absolutely no worries about the Brethren betraying me. They have deep wealths of honor that make it impossible for them to do so. You and your fellow swarthy men, however, are not to be trusted alone with so fine a woman as Ms. Swan, savvy?"

The man nodded, ashamedly. Such indecencies had not been on his mind, but he had known quite well that some of his fellow ship mates had indeed been looking forward to Jack leaving the lass alone. They would just have to be disappointed. Lewis was just not looking forward to being the one that did the disappointing.