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Chapter 25: Saying Goodbye?
"No more demons." I was well aware we all looked as though we had survived a massive war, not to mention I noticed an almost scathing look coming from Elizabeth and started to wonder what was bugging her. Jack considered the situation around us on the island while the others got the boat ready to head back to the Pearl. I felt a hand firmly wrap around my wrist and was tugged rather quickly away from the others still concentrating on getting off the island and back to safety.
"You didn't fall for his manipulations right?" I met that family honey gaze and could see Elizabeth was right back to her old warning self, she was also right back to ordering me around and this time no demon was involved. "Don't let him fool you Blair and don't give me that look. You may be staying around that man, but do not get close…we're going back home so I can get things ready for the wedding…" she saw my eyes narrow at her usual bossy nature and sighed, she could already see it was too late to get through to me, which meant she had to be downright mean now. "…you're going to have to say goodbye, he isn't welcome in Port Royal and will be hung. You have to let Jack Sparrow go…face facts you two can't be together, he's…well…Jack and you have a place in both mine and your world, he unfortunately doesn't." she released my wrist and returned to help the others leaving me there staring after her.
I hated to admit it but Elizabeth was right, how was I going to keep him safe around Port Royal and how was I supposed to go back and forth with him. I realized then and there I had to face it, no matter how much I wanted to be part of Jacks life it wouldn't work. Jack was a free spirit much like myself but there were consequences with choosing that freedom, ones I couldn't take into consideration due to my friends and family. "LIFE IS TOO CRUEL!" I wanted to yell into the winds, but all I managed was a depressed sigh. I had a funny feeling Elizabeth could point out who she felt was right for me and allowed a disgusted look on my face; I would stay home indefinitely before becoming a porcelain military wife. Jack without my knowledge had approached me from the side; I felt a hand gently clasp my wrist drawing my attention from my darker thoughts and jumped.
I glanced up at that familiar dark gaze and tried to smile, but failed miserably. "Lizzie said something to put your mood back down, what's going on love?" Jacks eyes were so intent I almost, I mean almost broke down but shrugged offering a forced smile.
"No worries…she's annoyed that we've gotten close." I saw a familiar gold laced smirk and couldn't help the chuckle I offered, he was so cocky it was almost cute. "Ship…I need a bath even if I have to jump overboard to accomplish it." I heard Elizabeth murmuring something similar and found myself shaking my head.
It wasn't long before we found ourselves back on the ship with a cheering crew, I was rather surprised when I was shoved carefully inside Jacks cabin and the door was shut behind me. I heard the stories start outside the doors and couldn't help but smirk at the tub of water which had been placed inside the room. "Apparently jumping overboard in the nude to wash wasn't as appealing to him as I thought." I slipped out of my grungy cloths and slid into the warm water washing up quickly before a certain pirate got other ideas in mind; I then slid out drying off and finding my red tunic and black pants. I sat down on the edge of Jacks bed brushing through my wet hair and pondered over what I hated to think about, I would have to say goodbye to the pirate I had grown very fond of. I hadn't shaken the connection I had with him but everything Elizabeth had said made perfect sense to me, I knew he valued his freedom and wouldn't do anything to change that. I sighed miserably glancing around the cabin and made a mental note to enjoy what time I still had with him. I would deal with Port Royal, home and an annoying naval officer when I had to, not before.
Jack marched into the cabin without knocking and offered an amused grin. "Scowling doesn't fit yer pretty face love." I tossed my brush back into my bag and crossed my arms in response.
"You didn't knock…again." He just grinned walking over eyeing me with an almost disappointed expression on his face. "Yes I'm done, deal with it." An arm wrapped around my waist tugging me over closer to him.
That mischievous spark said everything in those dark eyes. "I can easily deal with that." He pulled me into a deep kiss, slowly drawing me into a deeper one which made me close my eyes. "Something is bothering ye…I can tell." He pulled back noting my expression turn almost sad. "We already sorted out the trust issue love…tell me what's bothering ye."
I groaned miserably, I hated the fact he had learned to read me so quickly. "Elizabeth pointed out several things I didn't like, or need reminding over." His dark gaze seemed to almost mock me, even if I knew it wasn't doing so. "I have to go back, I have to deal with the wedding, unfortunately the pompous white wigged Norrington, and I have to…" I took a breath at this. "…say goodbye to you." To my surprise Jacks arm left from around my waist and he stood. "Mood killer." I scowled at this but kept my attention on his pacing.
Jack knew I was right; he started to pace sorting this out in his mind. He had been messed up so much before I come with the two most annoying people in his life, I had brought back the old Jack and now, I would be leaving. This had never bothered him in all his life, he had never been able to trust anyone before me either which struck him as odd. "This girl drops in, makes me the old me and then disappears. It's like some bloody nightmarish fairytale." He was aware of the blue eyes following his pacing and stopped wondering if he had warn a hole in the floor yet. He wondered why he cared all over again and turned to meet my concerned look. "That's why I care…it's because she does, bloody hell. I didn't know I would learn to trust someone from another century." He again started pacing waving his hands in an annoyed fashion.
Finally after more time pacing and my gaze studying him anxiously he stopped. "We have to drop Tia Dalma off first…she may have an idea about this situation, until then…" I finally giggled at the amused expression on his face, he had a familiar devilish look in his face and I knew the problems had been forgotten for the time being.
I attempted to say something but didn't get in a word once his lips found mine, I again fell into that familiar embrace and ignored all the troubles that would eventually be coming. I knew somehow that Tia Dalma wouldn't be able to fix everything and just let his optimism be, I was happy at the moment and intended on keeping it that way. I was vaguely aware of pacing in the room and slowly rolled over staring up at Jack, I couldn't help but smile at his odd thoughtful expression. "At least he's wearing pants this time…I don't want to return yet." I frowned as those familiar thoughts once again invaded my mind. Jack got the feeling someone was watching him and peered down at his bed; there I was again observing him with a whisper of a frown on my face. "Bloody hell…she's thinking again." He stopped in his pacing walking over sitting down on the bed. I felt a hand lace lightly through my hair and registered Jack; I offered him an encouraging smile even though I knew a goodbye was eminent.
Jack knew that look and realized I wasn't dancing around the matter. "Ye know something…why do I get the feeling as optimistic as I'm attempting to be; ye already know what's going to happen?" I sighed meeting that dark gaze and offered another almost sad smile.
"Because I know what will happen if you're caught, Tia Dalma may be a voodoo queen…but even she can't perform miracles. I also know that even if you are Captain Jack Sparrow that would be stupid to attempt to go directly into Port Royal." I leaned against him, feeling him settle back down in the bed. "Besides…you have a memory of an irritating blonde giving you a hard time and adventures on the sea. Why worry…enjoy being yourself again." I leaned up kissing him before another word could leave his mouth. "I don't want to say goodbye, but I don't see anyway around it. He has plenty of girls that would swoon at his feet out there; he doesn't need me in his life." I felt him return the kiss, but I could already sense something had changed and it made me very nervous.
Jack was out on deck while I gathered my things around; after we dropped of Tia Dalma it would be a mad dash across Port Royal and a bunch more chaos which I really didn't need. I felt more or less depressed and had sensed a mood change in Jack; I was also trying to avoid Elizabeth. All things considered if Elizabeth attempted to approach me that day she might have found herself overboard. I dressed into a white peasant top and tan pants cautiously emerging from the cabin, I ran smack into Will who had apparently been awaiting for my emergence into the world. Will could see the sad look in my eyes and knew Elizabeth had been right about her little lecture, she had basically killed the happy spirit I had on the trip and could see it clearly.
I started to walk around Will with a mumbled apology, but he wasn't quite as willing to leave me alone as I wanted. "Blair…" I sighed meeting that familiar dark gaze, I wanted to bolt right then. "…I know what happened, don't let her crush you so easily. You were so happy and now you're going to let Elizabeth get to you after all the hell you went through to get that pirate?" he smiled seeing an amused look take over my sad expression. "I know saying goodbye is horrible to you right now, but no one said it was permanent. Jack isn't that easily put off and you of all people should know that." He glanced around making sure Elizabeth wasn't around, she would throttle him if she knew he was encouraging me.
Will made a good point, I knew from my obsession with the movies Jack never quit. "Point taken…she just seems so sure I should be with Norrington…yuck." I shuddered at the thought of becoming one of those typical porcelain dolls. "She seems to have forgotten that thing of mine; she always said I was too much of a free spirit…once when we were little she accused me of being a pirate." I frowned at the memory, not long after that both of us had fallen from the tree and she had broken one of her fingers in the process. "I also remember her father lecturing me in much of the same manner…after she broke her finger." I glanced up hearing orders being given across the ship.
"I guess you will just have to put that overactive mind to good use." Will walked off to do his work and left me there staring after him lost in thought.
Overactive mind indeed, for once I considered what I had witnessed since meeting Jack and Tia Dalma and realized that Will made a valid point. Who was to say Tia Dalma couldn't perform miracles, just because she was odd, bossy and even stranger in person didn't mean she wasn't capable. I finally allowed a genuine smile to cross my face, maybe I had hope of keeping in touch with Jack after all. I noticed Tia Dalma's bayou was coming up in the distance and we would be making our stop shortly, I also took notice that Jack was now walking around the ship ordering her things to be loaded into one of the boats in preparation for her return. "Duck!" I saw Pintel dodge one of Tia's bags, which she again tossed about lazily and watched Marty again find himself underneath the large tote.
I ran over and lifted the thing off of him. "Marty…alright?" he nodded giving Tia Dalma a look that could kill, I then helped Pintel pull him to his feet and watched the bag find the boat. "I can't help but wonder if she brought her whole house with her." I was aware of hands resting on my shoulders and turned meeting a familiar gold smirk and dark eyes.
"She might have done that…she kept us all in one piece though." Jack smirked at my rather annoyed look and saw Tia Dalma toss another of her many deadly bags, both of us dodged to the side from this one. "Watch it woman!" I giggled at his remark watching her pause long enough to ignore him and toss another barely missing us both.
I reached up covering his mouth. "Don't say anything you may regret when asking for her help again." I smiled at his muffled reply and removed my hand.
Jack rose a brow at the sudden optimism in my voice. "What changed yer mind so easily love?" I met those dark eyes and offered a secretive smile; I then glanced around making sure Elizabeth wasn't within ear shot.
"My overprotective brother wannabe." I pointed to Will in the distance who was grumbling about the load on the boat that was nearly ready to get Tia Dalma home. "He reminded me of two very important things. One you are too stubborn for your own good, and two…I'm not much better." He chuckled at this and nodded in agreement. "You didn't have to agree with me Jack." I swatted his arm and started toward the long boat.
He smirked following slowly behind; she was getting to him in more ways then one. Elizabeth took notice to how well they were getting along and cursed, this was not going in her favor. She studied me and Jack as he come up behind me and lifted me without warning. "She isn't listening to me…as usual." Elizabeth all but grit her teeth watching how easily I was ignoring her advice and put more effort into her work then always.
"Put me down Jack." I attempted to squirm from his grasp and failed miserably in the attempt. He slowly maneuvered me to the side of the ship and I stopped struggling instantly. "Not over the side either…otherwise you will be a very sore captain." I threatened hearing him chuckle at my pathetic attempts of getting away. "Fine carry me then, you drop me I will violently throttle you." I quite squirming and stared straight ahead with a frustrated look on my face, Will took notice along with Gibbs and both shook their heads in amusement.
"Ye be too nice Blair." I shrugged to the best to my ability and felt myself slowly released. "Let's see if the voodoo queen can be helpful again." I glanced over watching Elizabeth waving her hands around irritably, she was apparently ranting to Tia Dalma no less.