Chapter 21: One Day
As Elizabeth rowed out to sea, Guinevere and Jack watched her disappear into the distance. Guinevere closed her eyes and smiled as her heart skipped a beat and proceeded faster than before. She had never been so happy in her life; happy actually wasn't the word. It was more blissful than happy. She finally married the man she loved and got a whole family, and her best friends now shared the same joy.
Jack regarded her smile. "A smile," he acknowledged, "I thought I'd never see one of those again."
"Well, now I'll have all the smiles in the world to share with you forever," Guinevere countered.
"I've never seen this kind of smile from you before, Guin, my love," Jack said pointedly, "A smile of peace and utter joy which I have not seen from you in ages."
Guinevere's eyes lit up like the sun as she smiled brighter. "You're quite right, my beloved Captain," she said happily, "Oh, my darling, my Jack! I'm perfectly and wonderfully happy! I feel like I'm in Heaven!"
Jack wrapped his arms around her. "Well, what a koinky dink, because that's exactly how I feel!" he laughed, planting a kiss on Guinevere's cheek.
Guinevere's heart warmed. "Can I ask you something, my love?" she questioned.
"Do tell, dearie," Jack acknowledged.
"Is it possible to die from such happiness? We could really be in Heaven and not know it!"
"I can assure you that for us and Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Heaven is a place on Earth now," Jack told her.
"Indeed," Guinevere agreed, "You know, I told Elizabeth that ever since we've been married, it feels like our minds are one with our hearts."
"I feel the same way, darling," Jack told her, "I think we are one in another way."
"How so?" Guinevere asked.
Jack pressed his lips against Guinevere's. Guinevere felt her heart smiling as she filled her husband into her arms. Indeed, they were one in another way.
"Ah, that way," Guinevere laughed.
"I like that way the best," Jack commented.
"Well, what a koinky dink, Jack! I like that way, too!" Guinevere agreed.
"Well, then. We have plenty of time to practice," Jack told her, "How shall we celebrate our victory and union?"
"Well, being the wife of one of the most famous Pirate Lords, I have only one solution," Guinevere suggested.
"Tortuga," Jack finished.
"Did you even know what I was going to say?" Guinevere asked.
"When you are a Pirate Lord, you'll know," Jack explained.
"I see. Shall we set our course, Captain Sparrow?" Guinevere asked.
"Tortuga," Jack whispered.
"All hands, luff sail! Make way to Tortuga!" Guinevere shouted.
Immediately, everyone scurried about, turning the Black Pearl to Tortuga.
Jack grinned as his wife gave orders. "I love it when you take charge," he said adoringly, "You'd make a fine Captain Guin Sparrow."
"Why thank you, Captain Jack Sparrow," Guinevere laughed, "For now, I'm comfortable with being Guin Sparrow, wife of a Pirate Lord. Tell me, Captain Sparrow, what else do you love about me?"
Jack sighed. "Well, that's a tough question," he commented, "I love the way you light up when you are happy, as you are now. I love your affection for our darling baby. I love the sound of your voice as you sing a French lullaby. You're the first woman I've heard sing in French besides a bunch of eunuchs. Captain Turner has a lovely singing voice, too, but that's beside the point. I love the way you love me as I do you."
"Is that all?" Guinevere asked with a smile.
"I've only put it in a nutshell," Jack chortled, "I can't name what else I love about you because I love everything about you. It's hard to list everything, but for you, I would, if you wished."
Guinevere's eyes lit up like stars as she kissed Jack's hand. "Well, then. I don't suppose there's anything I could say that I love about you because you have already said it so perfectly," she said poignantly, "If you wish to tell me what else you love about me, wait until we are alone in Tortuga. The girl who is being told how she is loved will then tell the man who's done the speaking how she loves him. Savvy?"
"Savvy," Jack said with a toothy grin, "Mrs. Captain Sparrow."
Meanwhile, on the private island, Will and Elizabeth were enjoying Will's one day ashore. The couple lay together, staring into each others' eyes and holding on to each other as if their lives depended on it. Both wore smiles of happiness that could not be described in any known language.
"How are you, Mrs. Turner?" Will asked, stroking Elizabeth's hair.
"Wonderful, Mr. Turner," Elizabeth replied as she laughed.
"What's so funny?" Will asked, "Does this bandanna make me look funny?"
"No," Elizabeth gasped as she released her laughter, "Remember when Barbossa was after your blood to lift the curse and I told you I gave him your name as mine?"
"How could I forget, Mrs. Turner?" Will said.
"I just find it funny that now your name is mine. We're one forever," Elizabeth laughed.
"Forever, is correct, Mrs. Turner," Will agreed.
"You know, when you used to call me Miss Swann I ached for you to call me Elizabeth," Elizabeth told him, "Now, when you address me as Mrs. Turner, I am the most content I've ever been."
"I'm glad that you are pleased, Mrs. Turner," Will said with a bright smile.
Will took his wife in his arms and kissed her forehead. He caught sight of her golden brown hair and could not help but take in the sweet fragrance. Elizabeth's eyes closed in delight. Will then turned to see the sun dimming. Quickly, he tossed on his shirt and his boot. A smile crossed his face again as he notice his other boot missing.
"I'm gonna need the other one," he told Elizabeth.
Elizabeth presented her leg, adorned in her husband's high boot and brushed away her golden brown hair from her face as it blew in the light breeze.
With a smile, Will absorbed his wife's scent as he slowly removed his boot. Her skin felt heavenly to him as he caressed her leg. Will's touch made Elizabeth tremble with delight as she closed her eyes. She smiled in utter ecstasy and love. She was the happiest woman alive forever. Time seemed to slow for them and the moment seemed an eternity.
Will looked out to the horizon. "It's nearly sunset," he whispered.
Elizabeth looked out and saw the fading sun sinking to the sea. Once that sun set, she would be with her husband for ten years as he ferried souls in World's End.
Will picked up his coat and revealed the chest to Elizabeth. "It's always belonged to you," he told his wife, "Will you keep it safe?"
"Yes," Elizabeth whispered lovingly as she took the chest with Will's racing heart, "Yes."
Elizabeth and Will gazed into each others' eyes. Ten years until they could truly be together. Ten years they would be together nonetheless. No ties to a spectral ship would part them for ten years or any measure of time. They were together then and so they would be forever. They were bound to each other. Knowing this would be their only time in this world for ten years, Elizabeth and Will closed their eyes to relish their last moments in the living world. Will opened his eyes and turned away.
Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes and shook her head. She would not let her husband leave the living world for ten years yet.
"Will!" she cried as she raced into the waves and kissed him.
Will filled her into his arms and the couple held each other so tightly that none could let go. The kiss made up for everything they'd ever held back and everything they would share for the rest of their lives. Their destinies were entwined and finally joined until the end of time. Destiny ruled that they should be together and so they would no matter what.
The kiss that would last forever broke and Elizabeth gazed into Will's eyes.
Will smiled a smile infused with hope and love. "Keep a weather eye on the horizon," he whispered.
Elizabeth watched with a smile as Will disappeared into the sunset. She could feel her heart racing as the Flying Dutchman shrunk into the distance and materialized in a green flash. Elizabeth was not saddened; she was joyful. She had everything she'd ever dreamed of. It didn't matter where Will was or where she was. It wouldn't make her love him any less. She loved him then and she would love him until the end of time itself. Nighttime fell over the beach, but for Elizabeth, the sun still shone.
In Tortuga, the sun still shone for Guinevere and Jack as they found room at the Faithful Bride. Little Juliet was already asleep when they arrived, and Guinevere placed her daughter in an upstairs lodging of the tavern under the guardianship of Gibbs. In a private corner, Jack and Guinevere sat at a candle-lit table with their tankards of rum.
"Think of this as a second, better wedding night," Jack told Guinevere.
"I already do," Guinevere replied, "The one thing we didn't have at our wedding was a proper toast. What shall we drink to, Captain Sparrow?"
"To us," Jack whispered, "To fate for bringing us together as well as our lovely girl. To love for keeping us together and giving us a second chance. Savvy?"
"I'll drink to that," Guinevere said with a smile.
"Cheers, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack whispered with a devilish grin.
Guinevere and Jack clanked their tankards and joined their arms together as they drank. Now their lives were whole and joined. Jack put down his tankard and took his wife's hand.
"Now that we're together, I wanted to teach you something Mrs. Turner taught me," Jack said, "It's the pirate's song. I have the Pearl back, and I have decided to teach you so we'll sing it all the time."
"And we will be the most fearsome pirates on the Spanish Main!" Guinevere laughed.
"Not just the Spanish Main, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack corrected, "The entire ocean, the entire world."
"Wherever we want to go we'll go," Guinevere added.
"Yes," Jack agreed.
"Go on. Teach me this song. I don't quite remember it, but you're the perfect one to jog me memory," Guinevere told him.
With a swig of rum, Jack began to sing:
Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate's life for me!
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot,
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate's life for me!
Guinevere drank and sang along softly. After many more drinks, she and Jack began to sing and dance uproariously in their room.
We're Devils and black sheep, really bad eggs
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate's life for me!
"I LOVE THIS SONG! Really bad eggs!" Guinevere exclaimed.
Jack twirled her around. "I thought you would, Mrs. Sparrow," he said with a grin.
"I must pass my compliments on to Elizabeth," Guinevere said.
"Oh, and we will," Jack reassured her.
Guinevere smiled and leaned in to kiss Jack.
"WAHH!" Juliet cried.
Guinevere laughed and went upstairs to fetch Juliet. There, Guinevere found Gibbs holding Juliet.
Guinevere's eyes went wide and she couldn't help but laugh. "All this time, I thought Jack would look out of place with a baby," she commented, "I suppose I was mistaken."
Gibbs eyes were panicked. "Mrs. Guin, I don't know what's wrong with Miss Juliet!" he gasped, "She's not sick, is she?"
Guinevere took Juliet from Gibbs. "There, there," she soothed, "I'm here. That's my girl. C'est ma petite fille."
Instantly, Juliet dozed and Gibbs sighed in relief.
"Why don't you go rest, Mr. Gibbs?" Guinevere suggested, "Jack and I will take it from here."
"You're most kind, Mrs. Guin," Gibbs said appreciatively.
Guinevere crept downstairs to the tavern and found Jack. She put her finger to her lips, letting Jack know their baby girl was sleeping.
"I think we should retreat back to the Pearl," Guinevere suggested.
"Well spoke, my darling," Jack agreed.
On the docks, Guinevere and Jack made way past the shanty town and on to the quiet of Jack's quarters of the Black Pearl. Jack and Guinevere lay down together on a large hammock with Juliet in between them.
Guinevere gently stroked her little girl's cheeks. "She's such a beautiful girl," she said in a voice lower than a whisper.
"She's as beautiful as her mum," Jack commented.
Jack leaned down and kissed Juliet's head. Certain his daughter wouldn't wake, Jack turned his interest back to Guinevere.
"She's so like you," he said, "The same smile, same beauty, same charm."
Guinevere blushed. "Are you really complimenting our baby or are you just trying to make me blush?" she laughed.
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack said with a devilish grin as if it explained everything, "I can do things you can never imagine. Even without rum."
"I haven't a doubt, Captain Jack," Guinevere agreed, "You are Captain Jack Sparrow, the most famous and cleverest pirate ever to grace the seas."
"Are you trying to make me blush?" Jack repeated.
Guinevere laughed. "I'm First Mate Guin Parris. I can do lots of things you've never dreamed of," she said, "You know, out of all your legends, myths, victories, etc, there is one I find the most exciting."
Jack smiled as he was interested. "What's that, my love?" he asked quizzically.
"The legend of Captain Jack and Guin Parris and the love they found after so long," Guinevere replied with a smile, "That is a truly fascinating legend."
"Indeed," Jack agreed, "This will be quickly told through stories through everyone everywhere of how a young lady helped Captain Jack Sparrow find his heart and his conscience, even when it was there all the time."
"And how the lady finally got the happy ending she deserved with the most infamous pirate of the world," Guinevere added, growing more blissful that she thought her heart would burst.
"That sounds like a wonderful story," Jack said thoughtfully, "I rather like Captain Jack. You know who my favorite character would be, don't you?"
"I can hardly guess," Guinevere laughed, "You would know mine, too. Jack always made Guin so complete."
"Jack never thought he would find someone to love," Jack said.
Guinevere could feel her heart beating with every word uttered from her darling husband's lips. Her face was glowing with so much delight and love that she did not dare try to contain as she filled her husband into her arms and felt his soft lips meet her forehead. Guinevere's eyes were dancing with the tenderness in her heart and as she met her husband's, she could see his eyes danced the same waltz.
"I love you, Mrs. Guin Sparrow," Jack whispered.
Guinevere put her finger to her husband's lips. "I don't need to hear," she told him, "You have already told me numerous times and you know my heart feels the same."
"If I may, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack began, "I should've told you I loved you every day when we met. Now is my chance and so I will because I do love you and you deserve to know that every day. I'll say it until I have no breath to utter words. I love you, Mrs. Sparrow."
Guinevere smiled in pleasure. "And I love you, Captain Jack Sparrow," she said, "You know this is when we live happily ever after, right?"
"Of course, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack replied, "And do you know how happily ever after ends?"
Guinevere shook her head. Jack kissed her hands, followed by her nose, eyelid, and brows.
"With a kiss of true love," he whispered.
In an explosion of love and merriment, the lips of Captain Jack and First Mate Guin joined and so they had their happy ending with a kiss, as it would say in the stories told about them for years to come.