"The Return"

AUTHOR: Melissa (otherwise know as, JohnnyDee)

RATING: PG-13 (I think!)

EMAIL: melismelli_101_@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER: I do not own POTC, blah, blah, blah.

TIMELINE: A year after the end of POTC.

DISTRIBUTION: johnnydeppzone.com, fanfiction.net, and other sites.

CHAPTER: 4.A New Life

Elizabeth stared out the carriage window as she watched the little stone

houses pass by. She was wondering why Jack would risk going to the gallows just to

come here. Like Will said, he probably needed a favor. Yet, it still didn't make sense. She

remembered her Wedding Day when Jack came. Both her and Will were saying their

vows when rounds of gunfire filled the church. Apparently, Jack snuck up the to the

church, only to be discovered by Commodore Norrington and his crew. Then that was the

last they saw of Jack.

Elizabeth continued her trail of thought, until she reached their house.

Knowing Charlotte and his infatuation with Pirates, Elizabeth knew that she should bring

her along with them to meet Jack. As Will helped her from the carriage, she began to get

a weird feeling that something wasn't right. She rushed Will along up the cobblestone

steps of their home as they entered the house.

"Charlotte?" Elizabeth called. Her question's only response was silence.

"Charlotte? Where are you?" she called again, wondering if she had gone to the shore.

Elizabeth climbed the stairs leading to Charlotte's room when she met her maid. "Oh,

Caroline.I'm so glad I found you. Do you know where Charlotte is?"

"Why, yes miss. I believe she went down to the shore," Caroline said.

Elizabeth was relieved and replied, "Thank you, Caroline." Caroline curtsied and

responded, "It was my pleasure, miss." Elizabeth went back down the stairs and found

Will waiting for her. "She's down at the shore. Will you be coming with me?" Will

smiled and offered his arm. "Of course I will."

* * *

"You say your boat's called the Black Pearl," Charlotte asked quizzically

as she followed Jack around. "My Mother used to tell me stories long ago when I would

have trouble sleeping. It was always about a young girl who had been kidnapped by

Pirates and was heroically saved by a Blacksmith. The pirate's ship was called the Black

Pearl." Charlotte watched Jack as his face turned to meet hers as he asked, "It was called

the Black Pearl, you say." He scratched his beard and mumbled to himself,

"Interesting.very interesting."

"Yes," Charlotte continued. "My Mother also told me stories about you.

Of course, when anyone ever mentions the word 'pirate', your name always comes up."

Jack's face showed no emotion at her comment, but his head certainly was thinking about

this.

"Well," he continued. "I have some business to do in Port Royal before we

take off. Meeting some friends of mine." Charlotte glared again at his comment. "You,

Jack Sparrow. Friends in Port Royal. I don't believe it." Jack flashed his gold teeth and

said, "Looks can be deceiving, love."

"Who is it that you know in Port Royal, if you don't mind me asking."

Jack though about his answer and replied, "A man by the name of Will Turner, the

blacksmith." Charlotte could not help but show her surprise. This scallywag knew her

Father! Just when she had a chance of running away at last, her hopes were dashed. This

Jack couldn't go to town and speak to HER Father. Certainly, her Mother and Father

would have realized I left, and would question Jack and then.Charlotte thought about all

of this, but quickly came up with an idea.

It was obvious that Jack sensed her perplex ion. "Oh, I am sorry, but he.

died about-- 5 years ago. I.I mean, my Father. some what knew him." Jack seemed a

little surprised. "Really.," he said slowly. "What became of his wife?" Charlotte

couldn't believe it. The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow knew her Father AND her

Mother. "Oh, well-she left Port Royal. Went back to.England -I guess." Jack stared

out across the sea as he let this all sink in. Charlotte wasn't sure how they all knew each

other, but she could tell it came as a shock to the man.

She let him have his moment of silence. "Good man, Will was," Jack

replied as he broke out of his dream-like state. "Well, that cancels that idea. We'll be off

then." Charlotte was relieved. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. She

couldn't risk her parents finding out that she had gone. "Where might we be going?" she

questioned as he walked toward the helm.

Jack turned around and stared at her as if she asked why the sky is blue.

"Where are we going, miss? What sort of question is that? We wait till we get going

before we think of where we go, savvy?"

This man sounds too much like her Father she thought as she replied

sarcastically, "Yes, sir." Jack continued towards the wheel as he added, "By the way, you

best be sure that you want to be joining us. Once we get going, there's no turning back."

Charlotte nodded as Jack called out orders to the crew. The sails billowed in the breeze

and gave them a light push. Charlotte ran to the stern and looked back on the life she

knew, that was slowing blowing away with the breeze. A new life, she thought. A

completely new life.

************************************************************************

Will and Elizabeth made there way down the grassy knoll to where they

kept their rowboat. An old dry wood log made berth there and was a wonderful spot to sit

and watch the sunset, which was what the couple did often. When they reached the sandy

plain, Will scratched his head in confusion. "Where did the rowboat go?" Elizabeth wasn't

listening. Her eyes were averted to where the Black Pearl was pulling out of the bay.

"Will, look," she said, gently shaking his shoulder. She watched, as if hypnotized, still

waiting for a response from Will. "Will!" she yelled as she turned to him. "Elizabeth,

where's the rowboat?" Will said as he stared down at the faint depression in the sand

where the boat WAS.

Elizabeth turned his attention back to the crystal blue water when she

spotted the boat floating next to the retreating Pearl. Biting her lip, Elizabeth put two and

two together. "Oh, God," she whispered as she grabbed Will's arm. Will, while trying to

keep his wife from falling to the ground saw what she meant as he said, "She's on the

Pearl!"

NOTE: Hope you all still like it. I can tell this is going to be VERY long. So bear with

me, okay? Thanks!! :-)