Chapter 11

"Sayin' Goodbye"

I surveyed the green grass and rolling hillside that made up Port Royal. It really was a quiet and almost peaceful little town. If only there weren't so many stuck up people in Port Royal, I just may end up settling down here one day. I felt the dirt path under my booted feet as I walked steadily toward Elizabeth's home. I knocked on the large door and waited for it to open. The door opened to reveal Jack, he grinned, as he looked me over, leaning against the open door.

"'ello there, luv."

"Hi." I said simply, brushing past him to enter the house. "Are ye a doorman now?"

"Aye, I is. Where be me tip?" he asked holding out his hand.

"Save yer money to buy good rum." I smirked

"That's not much of a tip." He laughed

I returned his laughter with a smile. "Where be me daughter?"

"She and Elizabeth are upstairs playin' tea party, she can talk to anyone into playin' tea party." Jack laughed.

"Aye, even ye. Ye looked good in a pink 'at." I laughed.

I watched him smile. " I look good in anything, do I not?"

"Probably." I agreed with a small nod.

"So yer really set on leavin' tomorrow, eh?" Jack asked, closing the door.

"Aye, the sooner I leave, the sooner I'll return."

"And yer positive ye don't want me along?" He asked.

I looked into his deep dark brown eyes, rimmed with coal. I watched the braids that made up his beard swing back and forth with his words. "Aye, I don't want ye along." I chocked, a part of me did want him to come along, to be there for me. But, he had to take care of our daughter; I couldn't allow Lydia to come with me. The only one I trusted, oddly enough, was Jack.

"I don't believe that."
"It's the truth." I stated, releasing all emotion from my face. "I want ye to listen, and hear me this time. Don't follow me. Ye can't come wit me. Ye need to take care of our daughter, I'll return as soon as I can."

He nodded sadly. "I won't follow ye, luv. I promise."

I plastered my best fake smile on my face. "Good."

We stood in silence for a few moments, staring into each other's eyes. "Well" I said, finally breaking the silence. "I'm goin' to go see Lydia.. to say good-bye. My weapons should be ready by now."
"So that's it then? Yer headin' out tonight?"

"Aye, granted my order is complete, I told ye I want to get out of 'ere as soon as possible."

"Lydia!!" I called up the stairs, resting my right hand on the rail as I looked expectantly up the stairs.

"I'm goin' to miss ye." Jack said, barely inaudible but I heard him. I turned around and looked at him.

"I'll miss ye to, but ye know I'll be back. Ye will 'ave something of mine that I'll want back." I said walking over to him; I wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt his arms wrap protectively around my waist. I chocked back the tears that threaten to fall. "Take care of our daughter, Jack. If the worst should 'appen to me, promise me she'll be taken care of." I said, barely in a whisper.

"I promise ye, luv. Ye go, be safe, and return to us as soon as ye can." Jack whispered back.

"I will." I sniffed.

"Mommy!" I heard Lydia call as she ran down the stairs. I chocked back my tears and turned to look at her with a smile. "'ello sweetheart." I smiled, ripping my grip from Jack's neck.

"Lydia we need to 'ave a little talk." I stated, with a half smile.

"Am I in trouble?" she asked, her brown eyes looking up at me.

"Oh Of course not, unless ye did something that I don't know about." I laughed, "Come on." I said, taking her hand in my own.

We entered the rather large living room, which was furnished with a large white sofa. Along with two end tables on either side of it and two large white chairs.

I sat down next to her on the couch, looking into her big brown eyes. "Honey, mommy 'as to go away for awhile. Its juss a little while, I promise."

"No, ye can't go! I won't let ye! I want to come!" she whined

"No, ye are goin' to stay wit Jack. 'e's goin' to take care of ye. I wish I could take ye wit me, really I do. But, I can't do ye understand?

"No mommy, I want to go wit ye!" she squealed, tears streaming down her face.

"I want to take ye wit me, I do. But, I can't..." I trailed off, feeling tears come to my eyes. I felt Jack's hand rest on my left shoulder as I looked at Lydia. Lydia jumped into my lap; I hugged her tightly.

"I 'ave to go, I'll see ye when I get back. I won't be gone to long, Jack will take good care of ye. Ye like Jack don't ye?"

"If ye leave me, I'll never talk to ye again!!" she screamed, tearing herself from my arms. She ran up the long stairway and slammed a door. I sighed, my head dropping to my hands.

I shook my head. "She'll only be mad a little while longer. She's juss a lil girl, she doesn't understand all of this. I'm goin' to The Mistress, give 'er sum time to calm down, I'll be back later." I stated, standing up.

I heard the front door open; I looked to the entrance.

"Ravenica, your weapons are ready. I had everything in stock." He said with a half smile.

I nodded. "I'm goin' to say goodbye to Lydia and then be on my way."

"Are ye sure, why don't ye give it sum more time?" Jack asked

I shook my head. "No, its now cause if I don't do it now I never will." I gave a sigh to try and calm myself. I walked up the long stairway and entered knocked on the door.

"go away." I heard the faint voice say.

I entered the room. "Lydia, I know yer mad at me. I'm doin' this for us, I know ye can't understand this yer juss a little girl. I 'ave to go, I'll be back in a few months." I said, kneeling down.

"Fine, then go. I don't care." She sniffed, getting up from the bed, she ran into my arms. "I'll miss ye."

"I'll miss ye too, I'll return as soon as I can." I whispered.

She just nodded. "good bye mommy."

"goodbye." I whispered. After a few moments I released her, she followed me downstairs to the front door.

"Jack, take care of 'er." I said.

"be safe." He said, pulling me into a hug.

"ye know I will be." I stated, pulling away from him.

I bit my lower lip and walked out of the house, not looking back. I had to be strong. If I was to look back I wouldn't leave, I knew this. I only hoped Jack wasn't foolish enough to follow me. Oh whom was I kidding, I knew he would follow, he was that way. I wiped the tears away from my face with the back of my hand. This was for the best, I knew that in my heart. I knew this was going to be hard, leaving my daughter wasn't going to be an easy task. I trusted Jack, that wasn't an issue anymore. I could use this time to my advantage. The past 5 years I had done nothing but take care of Lydia, this wasn't an escape only a small vacation. I couldn't live with myself if she were to ever get hurt.