Chapter Eleven: Lie Relief

Jack was wrong. There was nothing they could do now except what they did best: pilfer and plunder, sack and raid, until they got every bit of treasure back. Trinity wasn't worried about how they were going to get the treasure. She knew they would somehow. She was more worried about whether she was actually going to get to see Jaden again.

Trinity couldn't bring herself to enter her own cabin. Jaden things were in there, in plain sight. She couldn't bring herself to look at them. Not without imagining him sitting amongst his toys scattered on the floor, singing songs Jack taught him. She would rather be where she was, on the deck of the Pearl, clinging to the railing and soaked through from the rain.

The storm had come on suddenly. The rain was blinding and the wind was taking away everything that wasn't nailed down. Jack fought his way over to her. He had to scream over the ocean's roar for her to hear him. "Come inside, love. There's not much we can do now."

"No! I want to stay here. I can't go in there, Jack. I just can't." Jack understood. Not wanting her to get sick, or worse, he took his hat from his head and placed it on hers, placing it low to shield her eyes. Then he proceeded to take off his jacket and drape it over her shoulders.

Jack was proud of her. Trinity had managed to keep herself composed. She had only one breakdown, and she still had yet to cry.

The rain had stopped. Jack brought Trinity out a pair of dry clothes, then sent her below deck to change. Elizabeth, although ignoring her better judgement, followed her. Trinity had slipped into a dry pair or trousers and a shirt, adding a sash for a belt and Jack's borrowed effects.

Elizabeth had entered just as she was sliding her arms into Jack's jacket. "So, what kind of plan do we have this time?" she snapped.

"Now is not the time, Ms. Turner."

"But I think it is. What brilliant scheme have you concocted this time?"

"I haven't. There is no plan. There isn't even a guarantee that we will get the children back." Elizabeth clearly wasn't going to let this go.

"I have suffered the same amount as you, Ms. Sparrow. I think I'm entitled to a little leeway in the information department. Tell me why we went to Tortuga. And don't bother blackmailing me anymore. That isn't going to work."

"Don't think that I don't know what this is about, Elizabeth!" Trinity got as close to Elizabeth face as possible. If she wouldn't be told off, maybe she could intimidate Elizabeth away. "I, too, have lost my child! I know the consequences of my actions. Yes, it my fault that we went to Tortuga. Yes, it is my fault that the children were still onboard. And yes, it my fault that they are not here as we speak. And as for blackmailing you further, I wouldn't dream of it. Your information is no longer valuable to me anymore." Her hands were on her head, pulling tightly at the curls hanging from her forehead. "Do not try to blame me for this, Elizabeth, because I already have taken blame. But this conversation isn't about the children, is it? Now that Avery is gone, you have to see how much Will really loved her, how much he grieves over her. It's tearing you apart, and you're looking for a scape goat. You want me to tell Will that he isn't Avery's father. That one night, you looked back at your marriage and wondered what it would have been like to have chosen differently. What if you would have chosen Norrington? You had to see for yourself, didn't you?"

"That is none of your business!" Elizabeth went to slap her, but Trinity caught her wrist.

"No, it may not be. But it is my business that you are looking towards me to relieve yourself of your guilt. Well I refuse to help you. Relieve your own guilt." She let her go, Elizabeth falling backwards from trying to pull free. "You claim I have a black heart. Well you, my dear, are far worse that I. Do us all a favor and rid us of your whining. Tell him that you slept with the Commodore. That Avery isn't his child. You would be doing him a favor as well. Maybe he wouldn't be so emotionally disheveled if he knew that she wasn't his. Break yourself free from lie, Elizabeth. Five years is long enough."

"Wretch." Elizabeth mumbled, heading for the door.

"What if Avery does die? Not to put the mark of doom on her, but could live with yourself then?" Trinity retorted. Elizabeth didn't respond, just turned and head out the door. Trinity folded her arms in a false victory. "I thought so." she whispered to herself. She placed Jack's hat on her head and followed.

A/N: Ahhhhh. who saw that coming? really? now the new question is (or should i say "questions")... will liz tell will? how will he react? and what happens when norrington finds out? so totally juicey. i love it! plus what happens to the kids? read the next installmetn to find out!

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