Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait, but I've been sick and then there was a family crisis.
Thanks for the reviews! And you cant thank tonight's update to carjacking! Yes! Long story….involves much grounding-ish.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
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If I were to die today my life would be more
than okay
For the time I spent with you...
All
the time that I was holding back
Just tryin' to protect
myself
I want you to know I loved you more than you know
"Well….maybe. But maybe I thought that I wanted to see my dearest sister once again. After all, I did miss her so." Regina said, crossing her arms, but her voice was without humor.
Elizabeth sat with her jaw at her knees, obviously surprised. Will, just smirked, "Of course, it's our Regina who has a hand in all of this planning."
"Of course, William." She smiled at him, and walked towards Jack.
"Ye can't obey one simple order, can ye?" Jack said with mock annoyance, but the smile crept onto his face.
"You know, I-" Regina began, but was cut off.
"Wh-Whats this? What's going on?" Finally, Elizabeth shut her jaw a little more and was able to form words.
For a little while, no one said anything, and you could have cut the tension in the room with a knife. Jack cleared his throat.
"Oh, would you like something for that?" Will asked, desperate for conversation.
"Actually, mate, some water would be…why don't we…Listen, you two talk. Boy and I are gunna go…well; honestly, we don't want to be in here with you two anymore. Ta." Jack pushed his chair out, and the started to walk out of the room.
"Try your best not to…kill…each other?" Will asked, before shutting the door behind him.
Regina finally stopped glaring at Elizabeth long enough to talk. "So what did they have to do to get you to come out here? Did someone cry injustice, and you felt the need to save the day? After all, it is what you do. You're a real hero, Lizzie. First, you save Jack from…well, as you say, himself. At the same time, you managed to save yourself, and the rest of the crew. And now, you've saved me from myself! You must feel good about yourself. I imagine you think you've helped rid Port Royal of a dangerous murderer."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, "Listen to you, trying to sound intelligent. I think you're trying too hard, actually."
"Oh, yes, well knowing everything must be tiring, so why not call your friend Admiral Grey to help? Yes, he loves to do that. Tell me, does Will know about his help?"
"And what is that supposed to mean!" Elizabeth stood up angrily, causing the chair to fall back on the ground.
Regina laughed, "You know, I think it's wrong to put one's fiancée in such a state. The boy loves you so much. Apparently, kissing Jack in front of him wasn't enough, you just had to move on to the Admiral."
"Where is this coming from? Who are you; besides some hussy I once called sister? For someone so upset about Jack kissing me, you found your way to his bed pretty fast!"
It was Regina's turn to get angry, as she mimicked Elizabeth by pushing her chair out, though hers didn't fall. "How dare you accuse me of jumping in someone's bed? You cheated on your fiancée!"
"Oh get over it already! First of all, I never cheated, it meant nothing. And second of all – Jack kissed me."
Regina walked over to Elizabeth and poked her in the chest, "Yes, every man is dying to get his hands on you! That's exactly why this wedding keeps getting put off! Didn't you ever wonder why it took Will so long to decide he wanted to marry you?"
"At least a man is interested in marrying me. You're just a pirate's whore! And even then, he doesn't prefer you, he wants me! He still wants me, and he's always going to want me," She shoved Regina, "and you know why?"
"Oh why don't you just tell me!" Regina grabbed her by the arms, and soon enough they were wrestling each other, pulling hair, scratching arms, and kicking, all on the floor of Jack's cabin. They were screaming obscenities the whole way, too.
"You're just the easy one!"
"You're the reason mum is dead!" That one in particular got Regina a good slap in the face.
"You're the reason father is dead!" And this one had earned Elizabeth a good yanking of her hair.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Will and Jack were suddenly in the room, pulling them off of each other.
"You didn't even come to my almost wedding!" Elizabeth screeched, struggling to get out of Will's grip.
"So you report me to the Admiral?" Regina spat. She elbowed Jack in the stomach, causing him to yelp at the unexpected punch and with his ten-second release of her, she went after Elizabeth, but he grabbed her again before she could do anything.
"Come on, lass, let's go." Jack ordered, holding Regina in front of him by the arms, and leading her out of his cabin.
Will released Elizabeth and looked at her. She was a mess, but she still had some pride. Her hair was all over the place, her face was red, and there was a nasty rip in her dress.
"What is it?" She asked him, taking him by the hand. "Why did you give me that funny look?"
"There are a million reasons for that," He mumbled, pulling his hand free.
"Will, darling…" She hadn't called him darling much, except when they were fighting, and she wanted to make things right. This time, it had no effect on him, and he simply shook his head.
"Is it the fight we just had?"
"It's..." He trailed off, deep in thought.
"Um. I'm sorry, okay?" She tried, shrugging.
"For what? Pulling your sisters hair? No problem, with me anyways. You have to talk to her about that one."
"Wait, what are you mad about here? Me and Regina?"
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll make things right." Will looked past her, at the wall behind her. She didn't understand.
"That's not all I care about." She muttered, hoping she was onto something.
"Yes, there's always Jack." He snapped.
Oh, so that's what this was all about. He must have heard some of there fight.
"So that's it, huh? You're going to make me that bad guy here. Put me in my place." She put her hands on her hip.
"If anyone has been put in their place, it's me, I assure you." He brought his hand to her face and looked her in the eyes, looking for something.
"Listen," She whispered, "I'm sorry about all of that."
"Elizabeth…don't." He let go of her face, and put his hands by his side.
"Will, why are you so caught up with this?"
"Because you and Regina weren't fighting over me." He spat at her, and turned to leave.
"Will!" She cried, following him.
"Elizabeth, I've had enough of you." Was all he said, before he walked away from her, leaving her in Jack's cabin to think to herself.
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"Look at you!" Jack said, laughing. He and Regina were in the galley, Regina helping herself to some burgoo.
"I like this look, this rough and ready look. In fact, I might go back and get a new coat." She smiled, but in her eyes the confusion showed.
"You don't believe her, with anything she said?"
"Ah, so it is that you and Will stood out the door and listened to everything." She nodded her head, knowingly. "No, you don't have to be too concerned with me believing her. I just…" shaking her head, she scooped another bite into her mouth. After swallowing, she said, "I just don't understand this fighting. This…this thing between us. Or I didn't. Did you hear her? What she said about the wedding? Is that what this is all about, really? Me not being at the 'almost' wedding?"
Regina sat on the table, while Jack sat on the bench. He rubbed her leg, "I think it's more because…you came with me that day, instead of staying behind with her."
He looked up at her, and smiled, "This is the part where you convince me that you don't regret it all."
"Regret? Oh come on now, you know I'm never one for regrets. It's not all about that. Of course, from time to time, I wonder what my life would have been like, had I stayed home. But everything I imagine is so…well it's all just the reason why I was so happy to leave. It wasn't something completely based on impulse. I saw what I wanted, and I had to have it."
She put the empty bowl on the table, and rested her hand on top of his. They had never gotten around to discussing whether or not she had forgiven him, and the truth was, she didn't know. The past few days gave her more then enough to think about, and the kiss was something that seemed so far behind, that she didn't really care anymore. She guessed that it was forgiveness that she was feeling.
"I like it when my lass knows what she wants." He pulled her hand towards his lips and kissed it.
He had spoken in the moment, not giving it much thought. Yet he wasn't so sure he wanted to take it back, a part of him liked the way that sounded. She blushed, pulled her hand free, and hopped off the table. Will came into the room, and stared at them.
"Everything alright?" Regina asked.
He didn't say anything or make any notion that he heard her, he simply stood there.
"William, ay, wake up!" Jack snapped his fingers.
"Do you love her?" Was all Mister Turner said.
"Ey? What's that?" Jack looked from Regina to Will. She was just as confused as him, obviously.
"Do.you.love.her?" Will asked again.
Jack opened his mouth but no sound came out. Regina was ready to butt in, but something in her held her back. 'Watch where this goes.' The voice in her head said.
"I don't really see why it concerns you…" Regina was preparing to hear him say something that would be like a code. Something like, 'but it's for me to know, and you to never find out' or 'maybe, maybe not, who knows?' not a straight out answer. So she was surprised when he said, "…But yes, aye, I do."
The surprised look on her face was noted by Jack, as he smirked at her. "Shocked?" He asked.
Will didn't let Regina respond. "Then you better stay true to her, and only her, Jack Sparrow. And I say this – she's my friend…if you hurt her, I will make you regret it." With that final statement, he turned and left the room with two very confused people in it.
"What was that all about?" Regina asked. Jack answered her question with a question.
"Tell me why you were so surprised."
She blushed, yet again, "I don't know…I mean, a few days ago, you came to my house giving me these speeches about how you loved me. Not that I didn't believe them, no, it's just…well…after everything that had happened, I wasn't so trusting with your words."
"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"It's nothing really, I mean…well I've seen you before Jack. I know you a little better then you give me credit for. You have a way with words, and some words that you make up too. Jack, you can convince a shepherd he's herding frogs. You're very…good with words."
Shrugging, she sat down next to him, "I basically didn't know what to believe." But now, did she really believe him? After everything was said in done, it wasn't just that she wanted to believe it, it was that she did.
He leaned in, as if to kiss her, but stopped midway, meeting her eyes. She could feel his warm breath on her face. "Does this mean you forgive me?"
"But of course." She smiled, leaning in to meet his lips. They kissed mutually, well, admittedly mutually, for the first time since his return, with passion, as if they hadn't seen each other in years. Maybe that's just what happens when love is separated for a long period of time. It made the moment that much better.
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"If you two talk on the deck, you'll be less inclined to scream at each other." Jack whispered to Regina, giving her a light shove on deck towards Elizabeth. She looked back to him, and he batted his hands at her, gesturing for her to walk on.
Elizabeth was staring out into the fog, as if it were actually interesting.
"I'm aware that it was only about an hour ago that we were pulling each other's hair, and ripping each others clothes, but I don't want you to leave for England without hearing me out."
Elizabeth didn't turn around to look at her sister.
"Elizabeth, is this about me leaving you, to go sailing on the Black Pearl?"
Elizabeth said nothing, allowing Regina to think over her next words.
"Regina," Elizabeth said first, "there's something wrong with me."
Any other time or place, Regina would have gladly announced that it was nothing new. Instead, she stayed silent, waiting for her sister to continue.
"I keep trying to hurt my sister in every way imaginable, and I can't justify it."
"Maybe it is just because I left you. I mean, if you left me behind…I would have been pretty mad at you."
"So why can't I just be mad?" Elizabeth turned around, pleading, "Why can't I just yell at you, or ignore you, or fight with you like we used to? Why do I just want to hurt the only family I have left?"
"It's not like that, Lizzie. You don't wake up in the morning and say 'I hope I hurt my sister today.' You know?"
"So, what? I just involuntarily hurt you? How long until it becomes so simple that I just…flat out kill you?"
Regina shook her head, "Come on, Lizzie, you haven't done that much damage. Everything you've tried has been healed…"
"Everything? You can't set foot in that town, you know."
"Who said I wanted to?" Regina laughed, "You know this is my place, this is what I love, here, not in some house on the hill. Living on land gets harder and harder with every day I spend on the sea."
"How can you smile?"
"Elizabeth, just answer me this…" Regina swallowed, and stood next to her sister, "Did you really believe that I killed him?"
She looked away from her sister, "No, I mean, yes, but…well no. But you were the only one I could think to blame. When Jack told us about Aunt Nell – it all made so much sense. But what do I do now? Go back into town and act like all is well? I have to sail to London and face them like nothing is wrong?"
"You just lost your father – no one expects you to act like all is well. I know how you feel though, my first thoughts were of revenge, and they still are. But Jack is right; we can't go after anyone until we're certain. That's why you need to do this; you need to go to London. I can't…thanks to you…so it's all on you. You want to make up for hurting me, just do this."
"I'm going to try to stop hurting you…because I don't understand why I'm doing it. I do love you, and I…I don't mean to make you miserable. That's why going away will be good, I need to figure out what is wrong with me, and fix it. Completely."
"There's something else, isn't there?" Regina asked.
"…It's Will. We didn't even have a fight, that's how bad it is."
This made zero sense to Regina, but she nodded as if she understood completely.
"He heard us fighting, he saw Jack and I kiss – it's too much. I seem unfaithful."
'So that's why he asked Jack that question.' Regina thought.
"I think the wedding is off, and with that all hope is lost. No wedding means that no matter what Uncle Richard gets the money."
"It's not about money at all, it's about finding out who killed our father. We need to solve that before we can even think about a wedding. No offense, I know you've waited for this for the longest time."
"Yet you've not waited at all. Explain that to me."
"I don't know…talk to Will. I think going to England will be great for you two. Just the two of you, no distractions whatsoever-"
"What if I don't love him anymore? What if I don't think about him the way I used to?"
"You don't?" Regina questioned. Elizabeth shrugged.
"You can't tell right now, Lizzie, things have been confusing in so many ways. Not only have we lost father…but also we have to deal with a murderer. It's so hard to think straight."
"Yes, and that's why you've realized that you and Jack are perfect for each other, correct?" Elizabeth's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"It took all of this for us to be able to finally work that out. You have no idea what's been going on…it's not like you and Will. Things are different for us. This is the first time it might actually work out, where we don't have to worry about a squid eating him or someone coming for revenge. Maybe the timing is flawed, but because it is flawed, it is perfect."
"That's quite a speech." Elizabeth sighed, "You're right, London will be good for us. If he'll still come, that is."
"Talk to him, tell him all of this. You have to be honest about all of this, because it's so important."
"Oh, yes, tell me something I don't know."
"I once killed a shark with a gun."
"What?"
"That's something you don't know." Regina laughed, and was happy to see Elizabeth was actually smiling.
"So even though it was only a few hours ago that we were screaming at each other, might we actually be ok?" Elizabeth asked.
"For some reason, I don't have any idea what it might be, but I keep on forgiving you. So, be thankful for that."
Elizabeth hugged her sister, surprising them both. "London is going to be good for me. I'll see you there, but for now, I must go speak with Will."
"Good luck!" Regina called, laughing. Elizabeth backtracked a few steps, and looked around to make sure no one was listening, before whispering to Regina.
"I have a…question for you. About you and Jack."
"Ok…go!" Regina whispered back.
"While you were with Jack…on this ship…sailing around the world…Did by any chance…that is to say…" Elizabeth cleared her throat.
"Out with it already!"
"Is your…Is it safe to say that…you're still a maiden?"
Regina's eyes went wide, as she stared at her sister, "I don't ask you these questions!"
"I know, I know…it's just…well no, it doesn't matter, I was just…" She shrugged nervously, "Wondering?"
Regina shook her head, and frowned, "You're one strange birdie, little Swann."
"Is that a no?" Elizabeth frowned.
"If you must know…I have not…been with a man. There, are you happy?"
She smiled, and walked off, "Very!" She called.
'Why would she want to ask about that?' Regina thought.
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"I need time to think this all through, it's not that my feelings for you have changed, but my thoughts on you have. You know I'll always love you."
"And I'll always wait for you, just…remember that. I'm stupid Will, I do things that I think are going to be the greatest things ever – and then I want to kick myself for doing them. That's why I need you Will, because you keep my head on my shoulders, you make me better."
She had explained everything to him. Even though she found it so hard to find the right words, she managed. And he understood perfectly, lucky for her.
He smiled, "Well, then I guess you need me. And what kind of person would I be if I left you high and dry in your time of need?"
"Oh..hmm…I'm not so sure." She mumbled, smiling up at him, pulling him into a hug. He leaned in and kissed her warmly.
"So tonight, we pack for London?" He asked.
"We pack for London."
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"So I say we see how good Elizabeth really is at dueling. I mean, you taught me, and he taught her, it could be interesting."
"That would, but you two fight enough as it is. I don't want a bloody ship when it's not absolutely necessary." Jack wrapped his arms around Regina's waist, pulling her in to a kiss. The two had been sitting on the stairs to the quarterdeck, sharing a bottle of rum for the past hour.
Elizabeth nodded something to Will before walking their way.
"Ah, and speak of the devil!" Regina said, laughing.
"That's a lovely greeting, dear sister."
"I do what I can." Regina shrugged, smiling despite herself.
"Well, that's good and all, but I need to speak to you two."
"Lovely." Jack mumbled, looking at Regina instead, and kissing her on the cheek. She giggled, and blushed. "Oh, bloody hell, I just giggled." She said.
"I'm off to London in the morning, and Will and I are going to be heading back in to town now. I can imagine it will be quite some time before we meet again. So I have a favor to ask…"
"Uh oh. Quick, Jack, let's go do something spontaneous that will stop her from asking us stuff."
He laughed, but Elizabeth continued. "It's actually…" She got serious then, "For our father. It's something I had been thinking about."
"Why would you do that?" Jack asked. She rolled her eyes.
"Regina, you know that father had wanted a proper marriage for you. It's all he ever really wanted, and well, since he's not around anymore to see you…I think there is only one thing left for you to do…to honor him."
"I don't like where this is going." Regina said.
"Yes well, for father, Jack are you listening? Yes? Ok, well, I know that he would want for you to…wait… Regina." Regina's face went bright red when she realized what Elizabeth was getting at. She wanted to jump up and yell at her right now, but held back.
"Wha'?" Jack asked, not sure what she was getting at.
"He isn't going to be here to see his wedding, so at least, for him, promise me that you two will refrain from…post marriage acts. That is, until it is post marriage."
"Oh-kay, Elizabeth it's time for you to-"
"Regina, listen, please, for father? I know this is an awkward thing to ask, but trust me, it's with good intentions."
Regina blushed and turned from Jack, hiding her face. He simply laughed, and took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Yer cute when ye blush! I can do that, for your father." He said.
Regina looked at Elizabeth, "Wouldn't he want me to do what would make me happy?"
"Yes, but he's no longer around. And think about what would make him happy – a marriage. Since that's not your situation…at least wait for it."
Regina sighed, looked at Elizabeth, then to Jack, then back to Elizabeth. "Fine, ok? I promise, for father, that I shall…refrain…from those acts."
This obviously made Elizabeth very happy. "Very good – and you Jack? Do I have your word? I mean, I'm not saying you two will get married- who knows? But if you're together, so long as you are, will you promise this Jack?"
"He's not my father."
"Jack, um, how could you – if I already promised? Lizzie, you know you're not making much sense."
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever. We're off to head back into town." With that Will walked over to them.
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They said their goodbyes and headed back into town. In a weird and messed up way, everything was OK for the moment, thought nothing made much sense. After Elizabeth left, Regina was still wondering at the promise she just made.
To be honest, it would be hard to honor this promise – she loved Jack, wasn't that enough? But there was a reason why Elizabeth asked this, and while Regina didn't understand it completely, a part of her understood.
But married? Wait until she's married? She should have been married many times, if you considered her past, but she wasn't. Jack and Regina had finally got things to work, and marriage was the furthest thing from her intentions, but who knew? It was far too soon to tell.
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So why did Elizabeth ask that of them, hmm? Well there IS a good reason, you'll just have to wait and see. And the marriage thing? Nope, that's not foreshadowing. I guess you'll just have to see if Regina keeps or her promise or actually decides to wait. Who knows? Maybe me!
Review! No flames!
