Hadn't it been just a week ago when the door to Rose's room burst open and slammed shut once she and her love entered, giddy off of the sheer presence of the other? Hadn't her laughter and his smile made up for years of anguish that they both had felt? Hadn't his kiss made her feel more powerful than anything she could perform with seawater? Hadn't he, in this moment of bliss, brushed a lock of her hair from her eyes and said, "Who would've thought that it was in death that I found a normal life?" Hadn't it seemed normal? Hadn't he gone on to state that he had wished during his living days to have a loving wife, sail the seas, and then, once his best days were behind him, pass along peacefully into the afterlife? Once a century had passed, they could pass on together, fulfilling every aspect of his hopes. Didn't the notion of a final resting place sounded like an absolution that they no longer feared, but accepted? Hadn't it been that way? Hadn't they felt like this was all destined to be?
How did they get here, then? How was it that Will had just revealed the final part of the prophecy Calypso had given him? She had informed him that when she gave Rose her locket, not only did Rose consent to the endowment of her powers, but also immortality when the goddess was freed from her human form so that it would be impossible for any future man to bind her back into a singular, mortal entity ever again. Now with her form split into a figurative source in the Locker and a literal source in the form of Rose, Rose could not die, she would not age, and she would possess Calypso's skills. But without the pieces of eight and with Calypso's influence limited, there was no way for Rose to be freed. She wasn't dead. She never was nor ever would be. Rose wasn't bound to the Dutchman. She could go ashore any time she liked, and not even come back if she so chose. It was Calypso who had informed Will that she would be a valuable asset on his crew, but Rose nevertheless retained the ability to leave whenever she wished. Indeed, the mastery of her powers had helped the crew immensely, and she was proving herself to be said valuable asset with every passing day, but never was she obligated to do any of it.
James had 95 years of service left onboard the vessel. Rose, before learning all of this, assumed she had 99. It was James's original plan to prolong his service for four years until Rose was free to go, and then they would pass into death together. Now came the revelation that this would never happen, at least not until they could find a way to free Rose, which was extremely unlikely. Calypso was powerless in her Tia Dalma form to free herself, just as powerless as she was to bind herself. She could only split apart her form, not undo it.
It was a good thing Will had had Rose sit down before he broke the news, because she felt utterly destroyed. She had looked up at James when the truth had come out, and he looked clearly crestfallen.
Rose's eyes were distant and unfocused as she murmured, "I get to spend a century with the man I love…only to lose him for the rest of time." She looked at Will. "Why would she do this to me? I was her protege. Why would Calypso punish me so?"
"I'm not sure she knew," Will said sadly.
James stood by her side and firmly grasped her shoulder. "And why would you say nothing?" he muttered to Will and Bootstrap furiously.
"He couldn't," Bootstrap explained. "She was already the only woman aboard. Drawing attention to her immortality and power would only put her at greater risk for 'the one who would bring her harm.' Calypso told us to not say a word."
Will shifted to peer into Rose's eyes. "She wanted you here though. The sea and the Dutchman were always meant to work in tandem. That's you and me. You just…can't be bound here."
There was only silence. No one knew what to say, but there was a general air of despair in the room. James and Rose's impending marriage, which should have been a joyous occasion, was now laced with a bitter taste.
Rose's eyes filled with tears as an idea suddenly came to her. She laid a hand atop James's hand, looked up at him, and asked, "My darling, would you please give me some time alone with Will and Bootstrap?"
He looked down at her and saw how upset she was. "No," he said simply. "I want to be at your side."
"I'm begging you, James. Please."
"What must you say to them that cannot be said in front of me?" Rose didn't answer him, so he proceeded with, "I'm staying right here."
Her breathing became staggered and shallow as she turned back to Will, fighting back tears. "Can you free him?"
"What?" James cried.
"Will you free him?" she asked again, grasping Will's hands in hers. "After our wedding, please. Could you do that? I'll take his years and all his tasks. I'll more than cover it with the time I have, but will you just let him have peace?"
"Excuse me?" James asked incredulously, moving around the chair and kneeling down in front of his fiancee. "No," he stated firmly. "I'm sorry, Rose, but I get a say in my own fate this time around, and you are to suggest no such thing."
She couldn't hold the tears back anymore, and her voice broke when as she protested, "You deserve peace! We've had a year of happiness. Please, I can't…I can't lose you after 100 years together. And you deserve peace after all you've endured. We'll wed, then you can have your deliverance."
James shook his head in disbelief. "And you? You live out an eternity alone and miserable? I won't have it."
"Rose, listen to me," Will said somberly. "Take it from a man who knows; This is not the way. 100 years is at least 80 more than Elizabeth and I will ever get. You must love what little time you have to the absolute most of your ability."
But could she stand it? By the time James's service would be up, Elizabeth, Teague, Henry, Jack…all of them would be long gone. To lose her husband as well, then spend forever trying to rebuild some sort of normalcy once more, and to not think of her lost loved ones from the past? Rose had overcome much physical, mental, and emotional anguish over the course of her life. She knew she was easily an incredibly strong woman. But not even she was convinced she was strong enough to face forever entirely on her own.
James's gaze was fixated on Rose as these thoughts swirled through her mind. Seeing her so distraught pained him greatly, and he racked his brain to turn her tears into the smile he treasured so much. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him.
"Bootstrap!" James said, turning to him. "Your son set you free upon becoming the Captain, did he not?"
"Aye," Bootstrap said.
"But you elected to forgo your freedom, correct?"
Rose saw where this was going. She stood and reached out for him. "James, no!"
He looked back at her. Kindly, he protested, "This isn't a negotiation." To Will, he asked, "May I prolong my service, Captain?"
Rose was adamant."James, this isn't the—"
"Yes," Will corroborated. "You can stay on as long as you wish. That is, given as long as you remain in good standing with your superiors," he said pointedly.
"Not a problem," James retorted.
"Please," Rose begged, absolutely beside herself now, "Think before you promise yourself—"
James pulled her into his embrace, holding her tight. "I don't need to, my love," he said softly. "How could I possibly rest in peace knowing your anguish outlives me? If you'll have me, I'll be at your side. Always." He took her chin in his hand, pulling upwards so that she was looking up at him as he brushed away a tear. "At least until we find a way to free you. But we have many years to figure that out."
She buried her head in his chest, feeling utterly overwhelmed. She didn't completely agree with his decision to forgo his freedom, but she could not have felt more loved in that moment.
Will watched in silent wonder at what he had just witnessed. He never knew James to be so moved by someone else as to make such a massive sacrifice for their sake, nor had he ever seen Rose so emotionally connected to anyone as she was with James.
After a moment, Will interjected gently, "Give me two weeks to sort some business out." James and Rose looked up at their captain. He grinned and said, "Then I'll marry you two."
He then dismissed them, giving them the day to sort out their emotions and further discussions about the many thousands of years in their future. After they had gone, hand in hand, Will collapsed into his chair, head in his hands. Bootstrap came around the other side of his desk, leaning across it.
"Well," Will sighed deeply, "That was not how I expected this day to go."
When his father said nothing, he looked up only to see him grinning. "What?" Will asked.
Bootstrap stated, "It isn't obvious?"
Will slouched. "Honestly, I'm exhausted. I don't have the energy to read into anything. What's obvious?"
"I have a solution to a massive problem you haven't yet considered," Bootstrap replied. "It's so perfect, there's no way it wasn't predestined."
Will furrowed his brow. "By who? Calypso?"
Bootstrap grinned. "By Calypso."
