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Jack glanced at Angelica. The Spaniard took the Chalices from her and crushed them underfoot. Jack winced as the Spaniard tossed the Chalices into one of the surrounding pools. His gaze met Elizabeth's. She was battle worn, but her eyes gleamed with determination. Jack wanted to go to her, but the awkwardness of the moment stopped him. He merely gazed at her. He wanted to tell her how much he cared for her. He wanted to take her away from her stupid noble husband. He wanted to be her friend again, like they had been before the kraken. He wanted to love her like he had then. Even after she had rescued him from the Locker, he had loved her. And he had let her go.

"The devil is this?" demanded Blackbeard. Jack glanced to see Barbossa stabbing Blackbeard in the gut.

"For the Pearl." Barbossa said.

"What've you done?" screamed Angelica.

"Angelica, don't! It's poisoned!" Jack warned. Angelica didn't listen. She pulled Barbossa's poisoned blade out of Blackbeard. A thin red slice gleamed on her palm. She stared at it and then turned to Jack, tears in her eyes.

"Jack," she called. Jack glanced at Elizabeth.

Barbossa raised Blackbeard's sword. "I hereby claim Blackbeard's sword, ship and crew!"

Elizabeth strode over to Jack. "That includes me," Elizabeth said. Jack stared at her.

"Lizzie…" he said.

"Goodbye, Jack." Elizabeth replied. She kissed his cheek, and then she was gone.

Elizabeth approached Barbossa at the helm. "Captain Barbossa," she hailed. "Take me home."

Barbossa raised his eyebrows at her. "Ye sure that's what ye want, lassie?"

"Of course it is," Elizabeth snapped.

"Normally, I'd be disinclined to acquiesce to your request, but today, I be in a merciful mood. I will bring ye to yer home." said Barbossa.

"Thank you." Elizabeth murmured. She turned away.

"Miss Swann," barked Barbossa.

Elizabeth turned. "Yes, Captain?"

"Why'd ye leave Sparrow behind back there?" Barbossa queried. "Bit cruel of ye, like when ye left him for the kraken."

Elizabeth lifted her chin haughtily. "You killed Blackbeard. Jack was safe."

"Thought ye feared Angelica, too?" Barbossa challenged.

Elizabeth worked her jaw. "Jack loves her. That much is obvious. I can't get in the way of that, regardless of my opinion of her."

"Know what I think?" Barbossa questioned.

"No." Elizabeth answered.

"I think ye were scared," sneered Barbossa. "Scared that after that battle, ye'd have to face the truth."

"And what would that be?" Elizabeth asked, eyebrows raised.

"That ye still love him, and he loves ye. But ye're married, so ye can't be with Sparrow." Barbossa smirked.

Elizabeth scoffed, though her chest stung. "That's absurd."

"Is it, now?" Barbossa teased. Elizabeth looked away, pursing her lips. Barbossa chuckled. "Where's home, missy?"

"Southampton." Elizabeth replied shortly. She marched down the steps, her head held high. Barbossa was not going to see her pain.

Jack looked at his ship in the bottle. Bloody damn it all to hell. For fuck's sake! His ship was in a bottle. Angelica hated –no, loathed –him and Elizabeth had run off with Barbossa. What good had come of this little venture? Bloody nothing!

"Jack," said Gibbs.

"What?" Jack grumbled.

"Ye're mopin' somethin' fierce." said Gibbs.

"Thank you for pointing out the bloody obvious, Mr. Gibbs."

"Open yer compass."

"What?"

"Ye heard me."

Jack sighed and opened up his compass. The needle pointed away from the Pearl. Jack frowned at it. "Bloody hell." Elizabeth. Fuck!

"Go after her. She ain't happy, Jack. And neither are you. The two of ye need to get yer heads outta yer asses." said Gibbs.

Jack looked at his First Mate. "And how do you expect I do that, Mr. Gibbs?"

"I dunno. Yer Captain Jack Sparrow." said Gibbs.

Jack couldn't help but smirk. "Bloody right I am."

Elizabeth stood in the parlor of her mansion, clad in blue gown, corset and all. She faced her husband. His blue eyes narrowed. "Leave us." he barked to a maid. The doe-eyed girl dipped her head and exited the room.

Elizabeth let out a shuddering breath. "Ralph," she began.

"Don't say a damn word," Ralph seethed. "I have been searching for you. I've had merchants searching for you. Do you have any idea how much money I paid to find you? And you just show up here, as if nothing happened. I found your nightdress, Elizabeth. I know you tried to rid yourself of it. But I found it."

Elizabeth swallowed. "I wasn't trying to rid myself of it for suspicious reasons. If you saw it, then you saw the shape it was in. It was pointless to keep."

"Why was it in that shape, Elizabeth?" Ralph asked softly.

Elizabeth's brows twitched. "Pardon?"

"You heard me." Ralph growled.

"The ship I was on was attacked by pirates! I…" Elizabeth wracked her brains quickly. "I was marooned! A man rescued me. I'm all right now."

Ralph chuckled. "You're all right?" he muttered. "I can see that. You are undoubtedly fine."

Elizabeth frowned. "I don't follow."

"Tell me, darling, did this man ask any favors of you?" Ralph queried.

"I… I don't understand." Elizabeth muttered.

"Your gown was in tatters, and I know why." Ralph sneered.

"You do?" Elizabeth said, shrinking away from her husband. If he knew she'd been tromping through the jungle battling pirates…

"You had an affair with this man who rescued you." said Ralph.

Elizabeth blinked. "What?"

"Don't play coy with me, Elizabeth! You slept with this man, a man who is not your husband! That labels you as an adulteress!" Ralph yelled.

Elizabeth's eyes flashed. She straightened. She was Pirate King! She feared no man. "That's rich, coming from you! You've slept with every woman in England!"

Ralph wheeled around, his hand flying. It struck Elizabeth across the face so hard she stumbled into a decorative table. She gripped the edge for support, gasping. "Go to your chambers." Ralph heaved.

Elizabeth's eyes stung. She bustled past Ralph and hurriedly exited the room. Her heeled shoes clacked along the hard floor. Elizabeth held back her tears until she reached her chambers. She opened the double doors and then slammed them shut. She kept her back pressed against the doors, breathing heavily. The tears fell from her eyes. She sank to the floor, letting the tears slide down her cheeks in solitude. How could Will have left her to this misery? How could Jack? How could she have done this to herself? She didn't know who she was anymore. She had nothing left, nothing to keep her going. She used to be a hurricane of a woman. And now… She was nothing more than broken.

Really sorry for the late update, guys. I haven't been motivated for this story at ALL. I kind of have an idea of where I want this to go, but if you guys want to see something happen, let me know! I'll try to be better about updates. I just bit off a bit more than I could chew for a bit. Please review!