All Good Things Must End

Charity groaned and her eyes fluttered open groggily as she felt the bed shift beneath her. She propped herself up on her left elbow and stared around the room. Andrew stood in the corner tying his cravat. Charity's brow furrowed in confusion and she cocked her head to the side.

"What are you doing?" she mumbled.

Andrew turned to face her, a somber expression on his face. "Don't you remember?" he replied quietly.

Charity's brow furrowed again before, she sat bolt up, tugging the blankets up around her body. "You're leaving?"

"We're going after Sparrow." Andrew had turned his back to her, even avoiding catching her eye in the mirror.

Charity jumped up from the bed and lurched toward Andrew. She held the blanket around her with one hand and with the other she grabbed a fistful of the back of Andrew's jacket, trying, unsuccessfully, to turn him around to face her.

"You're leaving?" she repeated again hysterically. "You're leaving? Our child is going to be born any day now and you're not going to be here?"

Andrew whirled around, knocking Charity's hand lose from his jacket, and placed his hands on her bare shoulders. "Hey now," he said sternly, "I will be here. I wouldn't miss our child being born. I promise I'll be here."

Charity twisted uncomfortably. "But how-"

Andrew cut her off. He lifted her hand and fingered her wedding ring. "I promise I'll be here. I made you a promise and I'll stick to it."

Charity didn't crack a smile. Her face remained in its crushed, deeply heartbroken state. "You really believe you can catch Jack Sparrow in a few days? You won't. You're not going to be here, I know it. Just, please, beg James to let you remain here."

Andrew smiled sadly and leant in closer to Charity, running his fingers lightly through strands of her hair. "I can't. We're taking out two ships. I'm in charge of one. I'm James' second in command, I have to go: I promised I'd be back, I can't say anything else."

Charity, driven by unhappiness and distress, snorted scathingly. "James is letting you be in charge of a ship after you couldn't even look after The Dauntless or The Interceptor?"

Andrew's face registered shock at her dreadful outburst before anger took over. Charity pulled away and stalked away. She snatched up a dress and stormed behind the screening curtain.

"Go, just go!" she snapped.

She tugged on the dress roughly, almost tearing it in the process. She heard Andrew's approach the screening curtain before he turned away and walked out the room, slamming the door behind him with an almighty crash. Charity paused for a moment, listening with her head slightly cocked, before she gave herself a shake and resumed pulling on her clothing.

She slipped her feet into a pair of scuffed, worn, battered shoes. She laid her head against the smooth material on the curtain, her fingers pinching the fabric softly. I can't let Andrew leave in this manner! Charity thought desperately.

She ran from behind the curtain, pulling open the door violently and dashing down the stairs. She wrenched open the front door and ran out the house. Her exhausted body ached with every step and she frequently had to stop, sobbing for breath. She had to force herself to make it down to the docks where officers were loading two ships, preparing for their voyage to recapture Jack Sparrow.

She staggered down the final steps to the dock, her breath rough and ragged. "Andrew!" she cried. "Andrew, where are you?"

Officers aboard the ships turned to stare at her, and Charity felt a hot blush creep across her face. She snuck a peek up at the ships from under a wisp of hair that had fallen artfully across her eyes. No sign of Andrew. Tears pricked at her eyes and she angrily brushed them away with a sigh of grief. She turned on her heels and strode away.

I'm such a fool! She thought unhappily. I chased him away, now he'll never come back to me, or our child.

"Charity?"

Charity paused at the sound of Andrew's voice. She turned around slowly to face him, allowing the tears to run free. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Andrew took a few steps closer to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Charity wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"I'm sorry for storming out like that and upsetting you," he replied in a hushed voice.

Charity laughed softly. "Seems I get upset at the drop of a hat."

Andrew chuckled in reply and then fell silent. Charity pulled her face back and stared at her husband. She opened her mouth to start pleading with Andrew to stay but thought more about it and closed her mouth again. There was only heartache in that conversation.

Andrew seemed to know what his wife was going to say. He raised a hand and brushed it down the side of her face, brushing away tears with his thumb. "There isn't any way I can stay," he told her gently. "I promised I'd come back and I guarantee I'll keep that promise."

Charity forced herself to smile. She nuzzled into his hand and kissed the palm of it. Andrew smiled and placed a hand of her pregnant belly and rubbed it soothingly. Charity closed her eyes, making a noise of pleasure in her throat. The soothing rubbing made her feel calmer.

"Andrew?"

The voice made both Andrew and Charity jump. Theo stood behind them, looking slightly uncomfortable. Charity tightened her arms around Andrew, the tears started to spring into her eyes again and she trembled. Andrew's hands pressed against her with slightly more pressure.

"Yes?" his voice quivered somewhat.

"We're setting sail now," Theo's voice was ripe with a guilty tone.

Charity burst into tears, unable to stop herself. Andrew bent his head down near her face. He made a soothing sound, again stroking her face. He hugged her, his arms tight and snug about her.

"I made my promise, I'll see it through." He raised her head so that Charity was staring out at the horizon. "Keep your eyes on the horizon. Remember that I'll be thinking of you and our child. I'll be back to see the baby come into the world. Remember that."

Charity brushed away the tears and nodded. She moved her arms up around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss. The couple tightened their arms into an almost crushing clinch. Andrew pulled away and smiled lovingly at her. He planted a kiss on her forehead, his hand slipping down to her belly.

"Keep your eyes on the horizon," he repeated tenderly. He almost had to tear himself away from her, staggering back from her and bumping into Theo. He nodded at him in apology and strode away, glancing back at Charity from over his shoulder with every second step he took.

Theo looked at Charity kindly. "He'll keep his promise," he told her confidently. "We'll catch Sparrow and be back within days."

Charity offered him a tiny smile and an equally tiny nod. "Just bring my husband back in one piece, promise."

Theo nodded. "I promise."

Charity took several steps back, watching Theo stride onto The Dauntless. Andrew was watching her from his own ship, H.M.S Scarborough. He raised and hand and waved in farewell, as the ships set sail. Charity waved back with one hand, the other shielding her streaming face.

She watched as the ships receded into the distance. She continued to watch long after the ships had vanished over the horizon. She remained there even when dusk was falling, the tears continuing to slowly trickle down her face. Finally, when night had fallen and Port Royal was pitched into darkness, Charity turned her back on the ocean and headed back for her house. She was going to spend her first night alone in there. She had often been alone when Andrew was working late, but he had always returned home to her. Now, as she pulled on her nightgown and stared out at the dark ocean, she wished with all her heart that Jack Sparrow had never arrived at Port Royal at all.

X

By the crack of dawn Charity was already lying awake. Her night had been lonely and uncomfortable. She was not used to having the bed to herself. She rolled onto her side and watched as the sky gradually lightened and the sun shone upon Port Royal.

With her baby due any day now, Charity was due at the midwife's. She felt miserable and had to drag herself out of the bed, taking time to run her fingers along Andrew's clothes that lay scattered about the room. She picked up one of his shirts and pressed her face against the soft fabric. She held it against her belly and smiled.

"Feel that baby?" she cooed softly. "That's your daddy's shirt. He promised me that he'd be back to see you, yeah. You'll love him, I know it." She patted her belly several times and carefully folded the shirt up, gently laying it on Andrew's pillow.

She took her time picking out a dress, examining each one individually. Her nose wrinkled in distaste as she scrutinized the bulky dresses, designed for women heavy with child. The heavily padded top intended to support her buxom chest made Charity scowl grumpily. Not only did her heavy body feel ludicrous she was sure she looked it too. Normally, the clothes wouldn't have bothered her, but her mood swings were unpredictable and she had started to hate the immense dresses.

Finally, with a sigh of resign she yanked a pale yellow dress from the cupboard and pulled it on, not even taking advantage of the screening curtain. She slipped her feet into matching shoes and trudged from the room, her hands cupping her stomach. As she stepped out of the house a tang of sea air filled her nose. She smiled sadly and inhaled deeply, wondering where her husband was in that moment.

She shook her head; the sadness was weighing her down and making her feel even more depressed. She made the short walk to the midwife's with difficulty; her body was aching with every little step. Puffing and panting, she raised a trembling hand and knocked on the thick wooden door.

"Come in!" a soft female called out.

Charity pulled open the door and stepped inside. Midwife Newman smiled when Charity stepped into the room.

"Mrs. Gillette, I've been expecting to see you." Esther Newman was a middle-aged woman, old enough to be Charity's mother, and yet Charity wouldn't have trusted her unborn child's life to anyone else.

"Esther," Charity greeted her warmly. "It's only a matter of days before I'll stop seeing you here."

Esther smiled and shook her head in disbelief. "I still remember the day when you first came in here. Seems such a short time ago."

"And yet I'll be overjoyed when the baby has arrived," Charity replied with a smile, yet in all seriousness.

Esther smiled and approached Charity, examining her pregnant belly closely. "You're due any day now," she said softly.

Charity smiled wearily. "Is there anything I should be doing?"

"Relaxing. Make sure you're free of stress."

Charity chewed nervously on her lip. She didn't want to endanger her child but she couldn't help stressing about Andrew. Esther must have noticed her stressful visage because she patted her reassuringly on the shoulder.

"You'll be alright," she told Charity gently. "I'll be stopping by your house every day now until you're ready to have your baby."

Charity beamed and hugged Ester. "Thank you Esther. I'll make sure to look out for you." She turned and left the midwifery, and again returned to the port. She watched sailors go about their duties on the docks and, deciding that she'd most likely be in their way, she walked off down the bay, sitting down heavily in the sand and fixing her gaze upon the horizon. There she'd remain until night, never taking her gaze off the horizon. Her heart was set on white sails appearing on the horizon and her husband striding off the H.M.S Scarborough toward her, a smile on his face. But it was all fantasy. No white sails appeared on the horizon, her husband didn't return and Charity returned home alone again, feeling lonelier then the night before.

X

Again Charity awoke with the same lonely feeling in her gut. Although this time she got out of bed quicker and pulled on her dress faster. A knock at the door made her hurry downstairs where she greeted Esther. The midwife sat with her making idle chitchat until, deciding that Charity would be fine, she got up and left. Charity was then free to make her way down to the bay where she sat down in the same place as the previous day. Going through the same motions her gaze remained fixed on the horizon, never once did she tear her gaze away. But, as the day drew to an end, Charity found that she was again returning home alone. The loneliness was overwhelming and Charity was unsure how much more disappointment she could take.

X

When Charity woke up on her third day alone she felt an incredible pain throughout her body. It was so intense she screamed, her spine arching and her body unable to move. Tears streamed from her eyes and she screamed. Her belly ached and she kicked and struggled, her breath rough and ragged. Harsh, jerky breaths made her throat ache and the tears stung. She struggled to prop herself up onto her elbows, and knew she wouldn't have the strength to get up from the bed. She rolled over onto Andrew's side of the bed but that made the pain increase. She couldn't take any more. She screamed again and again until her throat ached.

To her relief a bang sounded downstairs and quick footsteps sounded on the staircase. Thank goodness I left the door unlocked for Esther, Charity thought. The door burst open and Esther rushed in. she leant down near Charity, running her hands over her belly.

"It's happening," she said breathlessly. "You're going into labor. Now, this is important, I need you to breathe like this." She demonstrated a series of quick, short breaths. Charity did so, trying in vain to calm down.

"Now, I need you to push as hard as you can," Esther said, her face creased in concentration.

Again, Charity did so; sweat pouring from her brow and her throat aching from continuously screaming. Tremors ran through her quaking body and more tears flowed free from her eyes.

"Good, keep it up, Charity. Keep breathing and keep pushing."

Charity took a deep, much needed gulp of air: Everything hurt and she could barely stand the excruciating agony any longer. Her thoughts turned to Andrew and how he wasn't here for the birth of his child. Oddly, the physical pain seemed to deaden, although the emotional pain rose considerably. Thinking of Andrew made Charity feel much more miserable then she had ever felt before. Thinking of her husband seemed to make the birth less painful, though Charity was sure she was just deluded.

"One more push, Charity!" Esther said loudly, jarring Charity from her depressing thoughts.

Charity pushed again and felt a weight fall from her body. A newborn baby's cry pierced the air and Charity almost began to sob in relief. However, more tremors of pain racked her body and she began to wail again. She automatically forced her body to push again and she heard Esther gasp.

"You're having another baby, Charity!" Esther exclaimed. Breathing quickly and pushing, Charity felt the second baby slide from her body and she collapsed back on the bed, sobbing loudly. Her eyes were closed and she could hear her baby wailing and Esther rummaging around the room, although she thought she heard a dry sob. Charity opened her eyes, instantly averting her eyes from the vile mess on the bed. She stared at Esther and held out shaking arms.

"I want my babies," she pleaded softly.

Esther turned to her, her lightly wrinkled eyes filled with sadness and regret. She passed over the wailing baby that had been wrapped in a blue blanket, and yet she still held Charity's second baby.

Charity held her new son to her chest and cried happily but her arms were still outstretched and she shook them impatiently. Esther shook her head sadly and lifted the baby to show Charity. It didn't move, cry or breathe. The second baby was dead. It had been still born.

Charity let out a scream of despair and buried her face in the blue blanket. Her son began to bawl again and Esther sighed and crouched down beside her.

"I'm so sorry, Charity. Sometimes these things happen. It's not your fault."

Charity calmed herself down and listened intently to Esther as she told Charity everything essential to raising her son. Charity listened and nodded, even though she felt as though she were crumbling inside.

"Now, I'm sorry to raise this topic, Charity, but your still born baby-"

"-Bury it," Charity said immediately. She paused a moment before saying, "What is the sex of the baby?"

"Female."

"I could have had a daughter," Charity mumbled. She looked up at Esther and said, fighting through tears, "Can you bury her and inscribe the head stone as Grace Daisy Gillette?"

Esther nodded. "Of course." She got to her feet and walked away several steps before stopping and indicating to the afterbirth on the bed.

"I'll clean it, thank you, Esther," Charity said weakly.

Esther nodded gravelly. "In that case, I'll be back in soon. I'll be staying to ensure everything runs smoothly, is that alright?"

Charity nodded and Esther walked out of the room, cradling Grace's tiny body. Charity got up, laid her son in a hand made crib and cleaned up all the disgusting mess. Then she turned back to her son, rocking the crib softly.

"I think I'm going to call you Conner," she told the baby. "Conner Liam Gillette."

The baby just stretched and curled a fat little fist up against his face. Charity smiled before lifting her face and looking out at the horizon. Andrew hadn't of kept his promise. He had lied to her. Tears of anger leapt into her eyes and she turned away, for the first time ever, she felt a deep anger and hatred toward her husband. He didn't keep his promise so she wouldn't keep hers. She wouldn't be watching the horizon any more.