She stirred. Taking that as a good sign, he scooped her into his arms and smelled her hair. God, she was so perfect.
Halfway home, Elizabeth opened her eyes. She twitched at the sight of Jack's face looming up at her, but she relaxed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Miss Elizabeth? Captain Sparrow?" Lily cried when she opened the door. She made a face. "Yer not married yet!"
"Yes, Lily," Elizabeth said. Then she realized how bad the situation looked. "All we did was sleep and talk," she added hastily.
Lily snickered in an unpleasant way.
"What? We did!" Jack said. He pushed past her and Weatherby was there, brandishing a suit.
"For you, Captain Sparrow," Weatherby said pompously. "My finest suit for such an upstanding gentleman as yourself. Elizabeth, your mother and the maids have prepared all of your procedures and so on- the guests will be here shortly. Allistair is positively up to his ears in endive, could you help him out, Marcella?" he asked of the stony-faced woman near him. She exited wordlessly.
But then Swann noticed that Jack did not reek of rum and general man-odor like he usually did. "Your clothes are clean, captain," he said in shock.
"I know!" Jack grinned. Then he cried, "The weddin's TODAY?!"
"Of course, I simply cannot wait a day longer. I want my daughter married," Governor Swann explained. Elizabeth blushed but then gasped.
"The wedding's today!" and with a quick peck on the cheek for the groom and father of the bride, she was off like a shot.
She scrambled up the stairs and fell into her room dramatically. In the precious few minutes they had to spend on her appearance, Elizabeth thought her maids did a superb job. With a delicate puff of powder here, a soft tendril of hair there, and a small swipe of kohl on each of her eyes, Elizabeth was the picture of perfection.
"Dress!" Elizabeth ordered. As she was being fitted, she brushed some curls into a new position. "Earrings!" Her dress fit like a glove, and just as the last earring was being attached to her earlobe, Elizabeth stuffed her feet into her satin flats and dashed out. "MOTHER!" she shrieked.
Jack and Will were in Will's temporary room putting on their outfits. "Will, ya look handsome," Jack said, getting confused over his cufflinks. "What the bloody hell are THESE?"
"Here," Will said, clipping them securely. "As do you, Jack. Elizabeth is lucky to have you."
They looked at each other and embraced in a man-hug. They broke apart after a few seconds, muttering to themselves. Jack spat on his boots and rubbed it around until it shone. Will grimaced. He spied a brush on his bedstand and ran it through his hair, and slicked it into a ponytail. "Ready, Captain?" Will asked with a grin.
"Nearly," Jack said, tying his newly cleaned bandanna around his head and plunking on his fancy hat. He fluffed the feather and flashed his pirate's smile. "Willie, I'm almost a man."
Victoria was waiting in the foyer, dressed in one of her old dresses that still fit, nineteen years later. "I cannot believe you saved these, Weatherby," she said, brushing some dust off of the fabric and looked up at Governor Swann. "I love you so much, husband."
"And I you, Vicky," the governor said, allowing himself a happy mood. His daughter was getting married, his wife still loved him. What more could he want?
Then Victoria heard a scream from upstairs. "Elizabeth," she said exasperatedly. She climbed the stairs and found Elizabeth looking divine in her gown. "Darling, where's your veil?"
"I don't know," Elizabeth wailed, her eye makeup threatening to smear.
"Wait." Victoria went into Elizabeth's room and looked in the armoire, finding the slightly crumpled veil on the bottom. She smoothed it out and placed it on Elizabeth's crown of curls. "Ready?"
Victoria, Weatherby, Elizabeth, and the maids took a special boat to get the Black Pearl. Annamaria, Marcella, Will, and Jack departed fifteen minutes later.
The Pearl's crew gaped at Victoria, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine, and Lily. They had never seen more beautiful women, except for all those prostitutes. Gibbs, Mick, and Layla nearly cried at the sight of Elizabeth looking somehow both innocent and regal in her dress and lace veil. But the entire group of pirates all beamed soppily as they took their seats at the end of the deck. The esteemed guests of the governor all looked horrified at the pirates and sat as forward to the altar as they could without making eye (or, heaven forbid, any other body part) contact with the buccaneers.
Jack, his co-captain, and his first mates arrived, late as usual. Jack dashed up to the altar and smiled briefly at the clergyman who returned the favor faintly.
There was no music- that was one thing everyone had forgotton. But a quiet whistle from the back would have to do. The bridesmaids, the best man, and finally the maid of honor proceeded down the aisle. Then the whistle swelled slightly and Weatherby and Elizabeth made their way down. Weatherby had tears in his eyes. Elizabeth was surprisingly stoic, considering her many freak-outs during the course of the year.
Weatherby hugged Elizabeth, softly pecking her head. They parted and Elizabeth took Jack's hands in hers. She stared into Jack's golden eyes. He stared into her mahogany ones. Neither had seen the other one looking so ravishing.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann in holy matrimony. . ." The pastor gently poked Jack after he was done with his spiel. "Do you, Captain Jack Sparrow, take Elizabeth Swann, to be your lawfully wedded wife?" "I do, savvy?" Jack said, grinning.
"And do you, Elizabeth Swann, take Jack Sparrow to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Everyone leaned forward. Elizabeth tightened her grip on Jack's hands. He looked at her with cat's eyes: unexpectant, but ready for anything. "Oh my God, yes," she finally let out in a big whoosh of breath.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The clergyman shut his book.
Jack and Elizabeth paused before smothering each other in a monstrous embrace. Weatherby shut his eyes. It's all downhill from here.
Victoria gently slipped her hand in his. Maybe not.
Author's Note: Well, that's the end. . .? Fitting end or do my faithful readers want a three-quel? I'm up for anything. But stay tuned for a delirious interpretation of fanfiction, Nikki-style. This will be a supplementary chapter that I sincerely urge readers to read at their own risk!