Saying Goodbye

Author's note: Here's chapter thirteen. Thanks all who reviewed. It really made me write this chapter earlier than I thought I was going to. But here it is, it's a little on the short side. And there may be some mistakes. I try and reread it as much as I can, but believe when I say it gets really boring. My apologies for typos or whatever.

Keep reading and reviewing!

She hummed a gentle tune to herself, one her mother had taught her. Unfortunately, she had forgotten some of it, having to improv at some points. It was a humid morning; fog clouded vision and maybe even heads. She heard footsteps behind her and immediately recognized them as the captain's. The jingling of his beads didn't hide his identity any better.

"Aren't we going rather slow?" she asked, tilting her head to the side to look at him.

"We want your husband to catch up, don't we?" he replied, appearing next to her and drumming his hands on the boat.

"I suppose we do," she answered, looking back out to the fog. "I can't wait to get off this dreaded ship. It makes me sick."

"Sick with joy, I hope," Jack said.

"Sick with- with sickness!" she nearly yelled, throwing her hands up in the air. "I hate the sea! With all its rocking and splashing."

"Don'!" he quickly said, putting his hands up to motion her to stop. "Don' anger her, luv."

"The sea?" she asked, chuckling and looking to him with a amused face. "The sea doesn't have feeling or emotions! It's bloody water."

"Blasphemy!" he shouted. "You'll soon see the sea has no mercy."

"Well neither do you obviously," she snorted. "Kidnapping a lady."

"A lady?" he asked, looking Veronica up and down. Her hair was down and flowing about in the wind and her dress had certainly gathered dirt and muck. "I see no lady."

"Oh really," she replied, swatting her hair away from her face. "What do you see then?"

"A girl," he answered, a smile tugging on his lips.

"A girl," she repeated to herself, laughing. She looked away and leaned on the side of the boat, letting go a deep sigh. "Well I see a pirate."

"That reminds me," he said, giving a pondering face. "How's the commodore?"

"You mean Commodore Norrington?" she asked then continued when he nodded. "I don't know. He thinks about a woman called Elizabeth."

"Does he now?" Jack asked. "Interesting. And how do you know?"

"Well we were having a- a friendly moment," she answered. She stuttered, rendering the truth a tad. "Really only talking, but I felt like we connected. Then he goes and calls me Elizabeth and ruins the entire moment!"

"Seems more than a friendly moment."

"Well it wasn't," she answered, then changed the subject quickly. "Tell me Sparrow, do you plan on ever having children?"

"Children?" he asked, shifting uncomfortable. "Well I don't see why not. I could find a nice woman in Tortuga, leave her with the devils until they're old enough, then take the little rascals to learn the ropes."

"You'd leave the woman all alone to take care of your children?" she asked.

"Well they're hers too," he answered, justifying his answer.

"You're horrible," she sighed.

"Oh really," he responded, moving closer. "And just what do ye think your beloved hubby plans to do, darlin'?"

"He wouldn't!" she insisted, turning to face him. "He's- he's not–"

"Not a what?" he asked, trying to drag it out of her.

"He's not a monster!" she finished, glaring at Sparrow. He gave a small smile and she gasped. "Oh goodness, I'm going to be stuck alone with who knows how many children running around me!"

Jack shrugged and leaned on the side of the boat on one elbow.

"The least he could do is let me stay with him," she sighed, her arms falling in defeat. "Or give me two to five nanny's."

She took a heavy seat on a crate, resting her head in hand. She then looked to Jack.

"How are you able to be happy with your life?" she asked. "You're a pirate and yet your as happy as can be."

"The trick is not to worry," Captain Jack answered, pointing a finger at her. "Think about yourself."

"Be selfish you mean," she replied, looking as if she had given up hope.

"Such an accusing word," he tsked. "I like to call it: looking out for my own person."

"And I like to call it what it really is: selfishness," she responded.

"Funny how two people can see something so different," he laughed. "Either way, who's happy in the end?"

"Yes, but that is a high price to pay," she argued. "Being selfish, bad mannered, a pirate. I'd rather take unhappiness."

"The last time I checked, luv, happiness was what you were trying to find," he reminded.

"Yes, I know!" she said, getting up from her crate. She neared Jack and poked his chest with her finger. "But I will not stand here and listen to morality lessons from a pirate! I can make my own happiness however I want and no one will stop me!"

"Now," he breathed heavily. "Now I see a woman."

"Well, I still see a pirate," she hissed, stomping away. He watched her leave and gave a heavy sigh. Wiping his brow, he went back to work.

Women.

The next day went by slowly and Veronica found herself falling asleep at almost every moment she had the chance. The captain's cabin was hot and humid, and she found it most difficult to get comfortable and to fall asleep.

She lied on the ground, trying to escape any heat. She played with a splinter of wood that was breaking away. The door opened and she lifted her head up to see the captain standing there, a bottle of rum in his hand.

"Evenin' luv," he said, moving to her with heavy steps. She sighed and turned away when he sat down next to her.

"Good evening," she replied. "All done with your work?"

"Work," he scoffed.

She sat up and leaned her back against the wall, leaving her legs out.

"Hungry?" he asked. "I saw you got rid of most of your lunch today."

"Very funny. It's not my fault I get sea sick," she sighed and shook her head.

"Come now," he replied. "We don't want you looking like a prisoner. Imagine how angry your husband would be if he thinks we haven't fed you right."

"Well you aren't," she said, looking over at him. "You call that slop food? I call it pig food."

"Once again," he laughed. "Funny how two people can see something totally different."

"It that some kind of psalm or idea that you want me to think about," she finally accused. "Maybe it's some kind of lesson that you want me to learn."

"Just a thought," he said, taking a swig of rum.

"When's he getting here?" she complained, her head leaning back. "I need to be by my husband. I need to get on with my life!"

"Aye, but do you want to?" he asked, narrowing his eyes in a questioning manner.

She decided not to answer, but merely snorted. Crossing her arms, she felt shifted uncomfortably.

"It feels like an oven in here," she complained, wiping her brow.

"I bet we could make it hotter," he joked, flashing her a smile.

"Enough, Sparrow," she warned. "I'm a married woman! I've had enough of your vulgar comments. Why would I leave betray my husband just to be a one nightstand for Captain Jack Sparrow! I have plans and reservations. I can't just forget about them for my own selfish reasons!"

"Captain," they heard someone say. They both turned their heads quickly to the door. "We've spotted a ship. No doubt Beckett."

"Excellent," Jack said as the crewmember left. He took a long swig of his rum, nearly toppling over. He smacked his lips when he was done and stood. Veronica also got up from her seat.

He looked over at her and pushed the bottle to her chest. She grabbed it as a reflex.

"Your plans and reservations," he whispered. "Drown them."

He then left Veronica staring confusingly ahead. She brought the bottle to eye level and studied it carefully, twirling it in her hands.

She then brought it back down when she heard the door close and the lock click. Biting her bottom lip, she remembered his words.

Drown them.

Captain Jack Sparrow walked on the deck confidently. He smiled at the ship in the distance and as it grew closer and closer, he felt a feeling of uncertainty but quickly chased those thoughts away. Hell, he was Captain Jack Sparrow.

He walked towards the soldiers that boarded his ship. Smiling nicely, he shook their hands, enjoying the confused look on their faces.

"Is there something you need, gentlemen?" he asked, teasing them.

"You know what we're here for, Sparrow," the one in the front answered.

"It's Captain Sparrow actually, Norrington," he corrected, swaying back and forth. "Tha's alright though. Maybe you'll get it right next time, aye?"

"Lord Beckett is expecting your presence,"James said. Then he turned to a soldier to his right. "Find her and bring her back."

The soldier nodded, before heading off.

"Sparrow, please ask your men to lower their swords," Norrington said, looking back at Jack. "Lady Beckett's safety is of most concern."

"Of course," Jack smiled, then looked at his men behind him. "It's alright, mates. No worry. Captain Jack has this under control."

All the men reluctantly put away their weapons, looking wearily at their Captain.

"Please, follow us," the commodore said, leading Jack away. He walked with confidence, although he couldn't help but feel the tiniest uneasiness. Beckett was certainly not a pleasant man to see.

He looked at the Endeavor and readied to board.