A/N- Hey everyone!! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in forever and a
half...I've had terrible writers block and I've been super busy with
schoolwork. But, I've finished the story finally, and there's only one
chapter to go after this one! I'll be posting that soon, and hopefully
people are still interested in hearing the end! Anyways, thanks so much
for reading and posting replies, your feedback is much appreciated!!
-Littleblackstarz
Chapter 6 – One Last Note
Leigh kept to herself the rest of the day, only stepping out of her room to eat or to get something to drink.
She wanted to avoid Jack; she was so sick and tired of him and the clashing memories that came with his arrival. She couldn't hide from them, but she could hide from their source.
As the sun started to set beyond the crimson horizon, Leigh sighed deeply and stared out of her window at it. It was gorgeous...the sun's rays glistening out over the crystal waters of the bay and the salty breeze sweeping by her face and filling her senses with the sea. This was life at its best.
Although Leigh had wanted to avoid Jack, she still found she couldn't avoid him in her thoughts. He'd been on her mind all day, and it wasn't just bad memories of him. Jack was indefinitely the only man she'd ever love this much.
She'd dreamt of being with him on the sea for as long as she could remember. Even when he'd left, she'd longed to be on the ship with him. She wished she could be...his wife.
But no, Jack wasn't a marrying man. He was a free spirit, and Leigh had always known that. What kind of a man such as Jack had become would want to marry...Leigh would only weigh him down.
She fingered the ring in her hand, looking at it momentarily. It really was a gorgeous ring, but it only brought back painful memories. What Jack had said still bothered her. Maybe he was right...maybe only fools fell in love.
She put the ring hastily into her pocket, not wanting to look at it any longer.
Leigh rested her chin in her palm as she took a deep breath, her eyes closing slowly and her mind wandering to better times.
But shadowed times befell her instead, and the memory of the man who'd stolen her innocence came raging back at her with blood red eyes and equally red fire behind him.
Leigh cried out and fell out of her chair and onto the floor, swearing loudly as she rubbed her hurt wrist. Her eyes flew open as she gasped for air.
He haunted her still...and yet she couldn't picture his face any longer. In place of him there was Jack, and yet Jack wasn't the one who had hurt her this way...
But no matter...Jack had practically done it himself...he'd hurt her so badly emotionally that even being raped didn't place itself with the rightful criminal any longer.
It was only Jack who'd hurt her...and yet it was only Jack whom she loved.
A loud knock came at her door, and Leigh groaned and sighed deeply.
"Yes?" she asked, annoyed. Her mother busted through the door, her hair astray and her eyes wild with worry.
"Leigh?" Madam Wilcox said, rushing to her daughter with a piece of paper in her hand. "Dear child...I'm afraid Mr. Sparrow is gone!"
"What?" Leigh asked, a stab of fear striking through her heart as her mother handed her the paper in her hand.
"He...he left this...it's addressed to you..."
Leigh glanced at the letter, her hands shaky. Looking up at her mother, she bit her lip nervously.
"Can you...could you leave me alone for a moment?" She asked, standing up and heading towards her bed. Her mother nodded and left the room quickly, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Leigh fell onto the bed and immediately delved into the letter, her eyes whipping wildly from word to word.
iLeigh,
I'm sorry for all the hurt I have caused you. I know we are past simple apologies now, but I feel I must explain some things to you. I left way back then because I was scared. I was scared to feel these feelings for you, and I was scared that you wouldn't love me back. I know now the mistake I made.
I'm sorry for trying to return to you, and acting like nothing happened. It is all my fault, after all. Just don't blame yourself for my misdoings. Please, Leigh, you mustn't blame yourself.
You're probably angry while reading this, and you have every right to be. I've been horrible to you, and bitter as well. I was so surprised to come home and find you in this mess...you're better than that, Leigh.
I'm leaving today, and I doubt I'll ever return. But I hope you'll remember that I never once took off that ring until today...hopefully the next man you give it to won't either.
Dearest Leigh, I love you and I always have...even though I act like a fool and have become what I sadly was destined to be...a pirate. But, I'll always be a pirate, and I can never change.
Goodbye Leigh, I do hope time fairs you well.
Jack Sparrow/i
Leigh was trembling all over. She read the letter again and again until the words blurred in front of her tear drenched eyes.
Her breath was raspy and her heart was pounding. Sobs shook her like a wave and she cried out in pain. She couldn't believe it, couldn't believe any of it.
Oh, why did she have to push him away? She knew she didn't want to be hurt again, but any pain would be worth it if she could just see him again.
He said he'd loved her...was he lying? She didn't find that she cared, she just wanted to hold him again!
Folding the letter, she tucked it into her dress pocket and flew from the room, racing down the stairs and out into the dimming sunlight of the docks.
The waves were crashing lightly upon the shore, and hundreds of men and women flocked about the docks, busying themselves with everyday chores and jobs.
Leigh weaved her way in and out of the crowds, trying hard to find the ship Jack sailed in on. She knew it had black sails...oh, where was the ship with black sails?
Her eyes whirled around, scanning every face, every ship, and every cargo...searching and searching for any sign of Jack.
Seagulls squawked and flew overhead, and a few dogs raced past her feet as she ran.
Suddenly, she spotted it. The Black Pearl. It was at the end of the docks, far in the distance.
Leigh ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her ears and her eyes locked on her destination. She kept praying that he wouldn't sail away; that he'd stay just a little longer.
She didn't know what she would do if he left again...she'd be hopeless without him. She had been left behind once before, but it wouldn't happen again.
Approaching the ship, she saw Jack at the wheel, his eyes on the horizon.
"Jack!" she shouted, racing up the stairs that lead to the deck. Jack spotted her and quickly disappeared inside the ship. Leigh's brows furrowed in confusion, but she ran after him despite her shock of him fleeing from her.
She saw the door to his quarters shut hastily behind him and ran towards it, pounding on it with her fists.
"Jack! Open up, please...I want to talk to you!"
"Go away, lass. You'll only do yourself harm." His voice came from inside the room. Leigh felt her tears begin to fall. She was exasperated by him, flustered and confused and dying inside, and all she wanted was to see him again.
"Jack..." she cried, her voice cracking through her tears. She sunk to the floor and clawed at the door, sobbing almost hysterically. "I need to tell you something..."
"Well, then go ahead, I'm listening."
Leigh glanced up, realizing that he was sitting right by the door on the other side, ready to listen to her. Smiling weakly, she cleared her throat and tried to gather her thoughts.
"Remember when I'd told you that you had no idea what I'd been through?"
"Yes..."
Leigh felt a spark of courage rise in her. "I'm ready to tell you so maybe you can understand..."
Taking a deep breath, she fought back the painful tears and tried to focus on that little bit of courage she'd gathered. "I was raped only days after you'd left."
She heard silence on the other side of the door, and bit her lip nervously.
"At first I'd blamed you...but shortly after I'd begun to blame myself. I'd gone out looking for you, hoping that maybe you were only playing a game with me and that maybe you would be hiding in the alleys somewhere...I know it sounds stupid, but I was so young I...I was so afraid, Jack..."
Her voice cracked as she felt her courage falter. "It hurt so badly, he hit me and almost killed me...he stole the bit of myself I'd had left after the pain of you leaving finally sunk in."
Slowly, the door opened, and Jack emerged. Leigh glanced up at him, her cheeks stained from her tears and her eyes sad. He held out his hand and she took it shakily, gasping as he pulled her into his embrace.
His hands ran through her hair, clutching her so tightly to him that she could hardly breathe. She cried and cried...and he held her, just as she'd always wanted.
He carried her into the room and shut the door, laying her down upon the bed and climbing in next to her. Holding her close to him, he whispered soft words to her and tried to calm her.
"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry..." he whispered, kissing her cheek lightly. Leigh turned over and pressed her palms to his chest and kissed his lips deeply.
"Just promise me you won't leave me again..." she pleaded, staring up into his dark, sultry eyes. She saw pain in them, but promise as well.
"I promise, Leigh." He replied, smiling weakly at her.
Leigh smiled in return, and reached down into her dress pocket and pulled out the ring. Glancing up at him, she reached for his hand and pressed the ring into his palm.
"I want you to keep it..." she said softly, kissing his hand as he stared at it.
He slipped the ring onto his finger and kissed her softly, his hands running down her sides. Holding her closer to him, he sighed against his will. He wanted to take her so badly...but he knew he shouldn't.
"Jack?"
"Yes?" His breath was coming in harsh rasps as he tried hard to control himself.
"Just let go."
~
The sun sank behind the horizon and the stars filled the sky as hours passed by slowly. Jack and Leigh sat by the open window, staring out at the ocean.
The waves were dotted with the reflection of the stars, and a heavy moon hung low in the dark sky.
"Have you ever been to the Caribbean?" Jack asked softly, his lips wandering over the side of her neck near her cheek.
"No...I've never left England." Leigh replied, sighing. Her brows furrowed in confusion though as his question sank in. "Why?" she asked, turning to stare at him.
His eyes were veiled and dreamy as he smiled at her. "Would you like to go there?"
"Well, I suppose I would...it seems like an awfully big step though—"
"Come with me, love."
Leigh was taken aback by his statement. "Come? Where?"
"To the Caribbean, or to any place the Pearl takes us...a ship is freedom, you know." Jack replied, grinning. "and haven't you always wanted freedom?"
Leigh smiled, her eyes beaming. "Oh, yes, yes I have!" she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck. She pulled away though, her smile gone and her eyes sad. "But what about the house, and my mother..."
Jack's eyes dimmed as well as his own smile faded. He pushed away from her as he stepped back. "It's your decision, love."
~
-Littleblackstarz
Chapter 6 – One Last Note
Leigh kept to herself the rest of the day, only stepping out of her room to eat or to get something to drink.
She wanted to avoid Jack; she was so sick and tired of him and the clashing memories that came with his arrival. She couldn't hide from them, but she could hide from their source.
As the sun started to set beyond the crimson horizon, Leigh sighed deeply and stared out of her window at it. It was gorgeous...the sun's rays glistening out over the crystal waters of the bay and the salty breeze sweeping by her face and filling her senses with the sea. This was life at its best.
Although Leigh had wanted to avoid Jack, she still found she couldn't avoid him in her thoughts. He'd been on her mind all day, and it wasn't just bad memories of him. Jack was indefinitely the only man she'd ever love this much.
She'd dreamt of being with him on the sea for as long as she could remember. Even when he'd left, she'd longed to be on the ship with him. She wished she could be...his wife.
But no, Jack wasn't a marrying man. He was a free spirit, and Leigh had always known that. What kind of a man such as Jack had become would want to marry...Leigh would only weigh him down.
She fingered the ring in her hand, looking at it momentarily. It really was a gorgeous ring, but it only brought back painful memories. What Jack had said still bothered her. Maybe he was right...maybe only fools fell in love.
She put the ring hastily into her pocket, not wanting to look at it any longer.
Leigh rested her chin in her palm as she took a deep breath, her eyes closing slowly and her mind wandering to better times.
But shadowed times befell her instead, and the memory of the man who'd stolen her innocence came raging back at her with blood red eyes and equally red fire behind him.
Leigh cried out and fell out of her chair and onto the floor, swearing loudly as she rubbed her hurt wrist. Her eyes flew open as she gasped for air.
He haunted her still...and yet she couldn't picture his face any longer. In place of him there was Jack, and yet Jack wasn't the one who had hurt her this way...
But no matter...Jack had practically done it himself...he'd hurt her so badly emotionally that even being raped didn't place itself with the rightful criminal any longer.
It was only Jack who'd hurt her...and yet it was only Jack whom she loved.
A loud knock came at her door, and Leigh groaned and sighed deeply.
"Yes?" she asked, annoyed. Her mother busted through the door, her hair astray and her eyes wild with worry.
"Leigh?" Madam Wilcox said, rushing to her daughter with a piece of paper in her hand. "Dear child...I'm afraid Mr. Sparrow is gone!"
"What?" Leigh asked, a stab of fear striking through her heart as her mother handed her the paper in her hand.
"He...he left this...it's addressed to you..."
Leigh glanced at the letter, her hands shaky. Looking up at her mother, she bit her lip nervously.
"Can you...could you leave me alone for a moment?" She asked, standing up and heading towards her bed. Her mother nodded and left the room quickly, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Leigh fell onto the bed and immediately delved into the letter, her eyes whipping wildly from word to word.
iLeigh,
I'm sorry for all the hurt I have caused you. I know we are past simple apologies now, but I feel I must explain some things to you. I left way back then because I was scared. I was scared to feel these feelings for you, and I was scared that you wouldn't love me back. I know now the mistake I made.
I'm sorry for trying to return to you, and acting like nothing happened. It is all my fault, after all. Just don't blame yourself for my misdoings. Please, Leigh, you mustn't blame yourself.
You're probably angry while reading this, and you have every right to be. I've been horrible to you, and bitter as well. I was so surprised to come home and find you in this mess...you're better than that, Leigh.
I'm leaving today, and I doubt I'll ever return. But I hope you'll remember that I never once took off that ring until today...hopefully the next man you give it to won't either.
Dearest Leigh, I love you and I always have...even though I act like a fool and have become what I sadly was destined to be...a pirate. But, I'll always be a pirate, and I can never change.
Goodbye Leigh, I do hope time fairs you well.
Jack Sparrow/i
Leigh was trembling all over. She read the letter again and again until the words blurred in front of her tear drenched eyes.
Her breath was raspy and her heart was pounding. Sobs shook her like a wave and she cried out in pain. She couldn't believe it, couldn't believe any of it.
Oh, why did she have to push him away? She knew she didn't want to be hurt again, but any pain would be worth it if she could just see him again.
He said he'd loved her...was he lying? She didn't find that she cared, she just wanted to hold him again!
Folding the letter, she tucked it into her dress pocket and flew from the room, racing down the stairs and out into the dimming sunlight of the docks.
The waves were crashing lightly upon the shore, and hundreds of men and women flocked about the docks, busying themselves with everyday chores and jobs.
Leigh weaved her way in and out of the crowds, trying hard to find the ship Jack sailed in on. She knew it had black sails...oh, where was the ship with black sails?
Her eyes whirled around, scanning every face, every ship, and every cargo...searching and searching for any sign of Jack.
Seagulls squawked and flew overhead, and a few dogs raced past her feet as she ran.
Suddenly, she spotted it. The Black Pearl. It was at the end of the docks, far in the distance.
Leigh ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her ears and her eyes locked on her destination. She kept praying that he wouldn't sail away; that he'd stay just a little longer.
She didn't know what she would do if he left again...she'd be hopeless without him. She had been left behind once before, but it wouldn't happen again.
Approaching the ship, she saw Jack at the wheel, his eyes on the horizon.
"Jack!" she shouted, racing up the stairs that lead to the deck. Jack spotted her and quickly disappeared inside the ship. Leigh's brows furrowed in confusion, but she ran after him despite her shock of him fleeing from her.
She saw the door to his quarters shut hastily behind him and ran towards it, pounding on it with her fists.
"Jack! Open up, please...I want to talk to you!"
"Go away, lass. You'll only do yourself harm." His voice came from inside the room. Leigh felt her tears begin to fall. She was exasperated by him, flustered and confused and dying inside, and all she wanted was to see him again.
"Jack..." she cried, her voice cracking through her tears. She sunk to the floor and clawed at the door, sobbing almost hysterically. "I need to tell you something..."
"Well, then go ahead, I'm listening."
Leigh glanced up, realizing that he was sitting right by the door on the other side, ready to listen to her. Smiling weakly, she cleared her throat and tried to gather her thoughts.
"Remember when I'd told you that you had no idea what I'd been through?"
"Yes..."
Leigh felt a spark of courage rise in her. "I'm ready to tell you so maybe you can understand..."
Taking a deep breath, she fought back the painful tears and tried to focus on that little bit of courage she'd gathered. "I was raped only days after you'd left."
She heard silence on the other side of the door, and bit her lip nervously.
"At first I'd blamed you...but shortly after I'd begun to blame myself. I'd gone out looking for you, hoping that maybe you were only playing a game with me and that maybe you would be hiding in the alleys somewhere...I know it sounds stupid, but I was so young I...I was so afraid, Jack..."
Her voice cracked as she felt her courage falter. "It hurt so badly, he hit me and almost killed me...he stole the bit of myself I'd had left after the pain of you leaving finally sunk in."
Slowly, the door opened, and Jack emerged. Leigh glanced up at him, her cheeks stained from her tears and her eyes sad. He held out his hand and she took it shakily, gasping as he pulled her into his embrace.
His hands ran through her hair, clutching her so tightly to him that she could hardly breathe. She cried and cried...and he held her, just as she'd always wanted.
He carried her into the room and shut the door, laying her down upon the bed and climbing in next to her. Holding her close to him, he whispered soft words to her and tried to calm her.
"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry..." he whispered, kissing her cheek lightly. Leigh turned over and pressed her palms to his chest and kissed his lips deeply.
"Just promise me you won't leave me again..." she pleaded, staring up into his dark, sultry eyes. She saw pain in them, but promise as well.
"I promise, Leigh." He replied, smiling weakly at her.
Leigh smiled in return, and reached down into her dress pocket and pulled out the ring. Glancing up at him, she reached for his hand and pressed the ring into his palm.
"I want you to keep it..." she said softly, kissing his hand as he stared at it.
He slipped the ring onto his finger and kissed her softly, his hands running down her sides. Holding her closer to him, he sighed against his will. He wanted to take her so badly...but he knew he shouldn't.
"Jack?"
"Yes?" His breath was coming in harsh rasps as he tried hard to control himself.
"Just let go."
~
The sun sank behind the horizon and the stars filled the sky as hours passed by slowly. Jack and Leigh sat by the open window, staring out at the ocean.
The waves were dotted with the reflection of the stars, and a heavy moon hung low in the dark sky.
"Have you ever been to the Caribbean?" Jack asked softly, his lips wandering over the side of her neck near her cheek.
"No...I've never left England." Leigh replied, sighing. Her brows furrowed in confusion though as his question sank in. "Why?" she asked, turning to stare at him.
His eyes were veiled and dreamy as he smiled at her. "Would you like to go there?"
"Well, I suppose I would...it seems like an awfully big step though—"
"Come with me, love."
Leigh was taken aback by his statement. "Come? Where?"
"To the Caribbean, or to any place the Pearl takes us...a ship is freedom, you know." Jack replied, grinning. "and haven't you always wanted freedom?"
Leigh smiled, her eyes beaming. "Oh, yes, yes I have!" she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck. She pulled away though, her smile gone and her eyes sad. "But what about the house, and my mother..."
Jack's eyes dimmed as well as his own smile faded. He pushed away from her as he stepped back. "It's your decision, love."
~