a/n: hello....this is the last chapter, i think. i'm not really sure of it until i finish it. im getting back into my harry potter groove, so if you like that stuff, check out my fics, and say boo
chapter 12: in which we go home (and there is nothing more to say)
The sun was setting quickly in the southeast Caribbean, sending rays of deep blue and purple through the opaque sky. The Nightmare slipped into the harbour of a small settlement, as silently as it's namesake.
"Well, that's it," Jack said, mooring his ship in the dark and foggy port. Mr. Cotton smiled warmly, and stepped off onto the dock.
"We'll miss you," called Elizabeth, "Thank you for everything. I don't know what we could have done without you."
The elderly man saluted the two renegades, and walked toward the still-lit town. Jack sighed, and began to unlash the ropes. "Port Royal, Miss Swann?" he asked, hiding his drawn face from her gaze.
Elizabeth didn't know what to do. "Do...do you have any other assignments to do?" she inquired.
He turned to face her. "Nothing that would interest you. Because of the obvious current events, I have a need to pick up a new crew in Tortuga, and after that I might pillage and plunder innocent ships of the Royal Navy."
"Sounds fun," Elizabeth whispered, and twirled her hair, "May I come along?"
"Shouldn't you be going home?" he retorted, a bit too quickly. She shrank back, and returned to twirling her hair. Jack shuddered, ashamed at what he had just said. "No, no, I take that back!" he screamed, flailing his arms a bit. Elizabeth quirked her eyebrow at him. "Just, just pretend I didn't say that! What I meant to say is...." He paused, and began to chew his lip.
"What you meant to say is...?" she urged, walking towards him.
"I, uhm, meant to say...Good God, is that a whale?" He waved his arms towards the water, hoping to dispel some of the tension that was building between them. It failed.
She rolled her eyes. "Jack, I'm not a fool."
His stupid grin faded from his face. "I'm sorry, love." He slid his hand up to her face. "What I was meaning to say, is that you may stay on my ship as long as you wish. But, at least visit your poor father. If I were he, I would be worried sick about you."
Elizabeth smiled. "All right. I do suppose he deserves to know what has happened to me." She smiled whimsically. She did miss her father. Of course he was a bit of a dandy, but she loved him nonetheless.
Yes, she thought, It will be good to get home.
;-------
Jack Sparrow was in a bit of a moral crisis, which was highly unusual for him. A week ago, there would have not even been a pause before he chose the most sneaky and devious choice he could. But this was different. This was for Elizabeth.
He snuck another peek at her from behind his shoulder. Did she really know anything about boats? Would she notice if he just happened to slack the sails a bit, letting the wind spill out? Would she question the fact that a normal day's trip was mounting onto a week's? Would she even care?
You bloody fool. Of course she would care. She's had her fling with you, and now she wants to go back home to her royal life. Jack twirled his beard. Without another word, he turned and tightened the sails. It's for the best, he told himself with each tug. After you drop her off, you can run down to Tortuga and buy yourself more dirty wenches than you can shake a bloody stick at. He gagged quietly. Yum.
The planks on the ship were so clean. He could remedy that in a week, with a new crew, of course. Looking down, he saw his reflection. Hmmmm, I ain't half bad lookin, he thought. Could probably pass for one of those cupcake naval admirals if I wished. Come to think of it, I already have.
He grinned. The salt air was surprisingly warm. He licked his lips, and began to sing, "We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs." There was a faint outline of a coast in front of him. He sighed, and continued. "Drink up me 'earties, yo-ho."
Jack looked over at Elizabeth, and winked. She smiled, and joined him for the chorus.
"Yo-ho, Yo-ho, a pirates life for me."
;------
It was a fortnight later. Elizabeth Swann sat at her window seat, and gazed out onto the night time sea. There had been storms erupting from all around, the waves sometimes even licking the top of the fort's walls. She had never seen a tide ride so swiftly or so dramatically. Hopefully there was no one at sea.
SLAM! She jumped in her seat. Who on Earth was opening the door with such force, and this time of day? Didn't people have the common courtesy to knock?
"ELIZABETH!" It was her father. Pulling a dressing coat over her night gown, she flew down the stairs to see what all the ruckus was. It looked like all of the servants had been aroused, as the were milling about. Her father was saying something about replacing ships and gallant bravery. It was all a jumble to her.
"Father?" she yelled, hoping he would hear her.
"We're fine, Elizabeth, sorry to wake you." He replied. "There's just a man here who was lost in the storm, and we're finding him a place to stay. I am sorry I alerted you!"
I suppose the servants will be able to take care of it all. They don't even need me here any more. She walked back up the stairs, and peeked down. The servants seemed to be carrying a handsome rear-admiral into one of the guest rooms. She felt a twitter in her stomach. It was always enjoyable to have a guest in the house. She hoped she could meet him soon.
Her wish came true sooner than she could have hoped.
;------
There was light. Elizabeth squinted, looking for the tell-tale maid in her room. There was none. All she could see was a white wigged, blue shirted back currently sifting through her undergarments, and throwing them in a bag.
"What are you doing in here?" she hissed, then kicked herself for being so stupid. He was obviously a kidnapper, and a perverted one at that. If he knew she was awake, he might attack her.
On the contrary, he nearly jumped five feet in the air. Turning slowly, she saw his brown eyes, already huge, were wide with shock. He seemed on edge, trying to be sly, but only succeeding in looking very silly. She nearly cracked up at this uncouth admiral, who's wig was constantly shifting, revealing an odd bead or flash of messy hair.
Waitaminute….
"Elizabeth," he started. She got a glimpse of gold, and nearly fainted.
"Ja-,"
He tackled her, pinning her to his bed. Fishing around in his pocket, he pulled out a familiar red bandanna, and gagged her with it.
"That's Rear-Admiral John Gilbert Teach to you, missy," he said fiercely, but with a twinkle in his eye. She mumbled something into her gag, and he laughed.
"No comments about the derriere while I'm in charge," he enunciated in perfectly respectable King's English. She rolled her eyes. "Now, for your information, I am kidnapping you. Please do not make any loud noises."
He slung her over his shoulder with perfect ease. She tried not to kick him, but might have hit his…….bottom several times. Taking her bag in under his other arm, he snuck out the servant's exit, and took an alleyway to the dock.
There was waiting the Nightmare. Jack set her on her feet, and removed her gag. "We had a bit of trouble sneaking 'er in. That's why it's so early." Elizabeth just noticed that no boats were out. The sun was barely up.
The new crew backed off. She though they were still probably scared of the "Great Captain Jack Sparrow." She, for one, was not.
He dropped her off on the deck, right in front of the wheel. She gazed at him, and finally pulled off the dreadful wig, releasing his dreads and beads. Not saying a word, he bent over and kissed her, more passionately and hungrily than ever before, and oh, did she ever respond.
The crew was probably wondering what their captain was doing, letting go of the wheel in potentially dangerous water. But they needn't worry. The waves would guide them to their new destination.
The End
A/n: and so ends it! Thank you ALL for sticking around!
Thank Yous I LOVE YOU ALLL throws everyone A REEL JENYOUYNE CLOwNe OV JONNI DEP!!!!
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