Thank you to the reviewers! You are making me want to write more than my boss would like…
It was midnight.
Will turned over in bed as he felt Elizabeth shift restlessly beside him. She sighed quietly, and he propped himself up on one elbow in the dark to whisper to her.
"Elizabeth?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't, darling. Is there anything I can do?"
She smiled at him in the dark, her hand reaching with unerring aim to caress his cheek before her fingers ran back through his sleep-tangled hair. "I'm just restless." She yawned again as he took her hand, twining his fingers with hers. "If I wasn't so tired, I'd go up on deck." She could feel his chuckle more than hear it.
"You can't tie shrouds in the dark, love. Father wouldn't approve."
She tried to be annoyed, but giggled as he kissed her cheek. Turning to kiss him, she stopped abruptly when she reached to put her arm around him. He pulled back at her wince.
"Elizabeth?"
"I'm fine. It's just my back's aching again." She flopped back with a forlorn sigh that made Will smile in spite of himself. "Can't sleep and can't… not sleep."
He laughed and stroked her arm. "Yet another reason you shouldn't work so hard. Here. Roll over." With a little nudge he rolled her to face away from him, and began to massage her shoulders. She protested weakly about not wanting to keep him awake, but gave a contented little groan as he reached her lower back. He stayed with it until he heard her breathing relax, and grinned as she gave a rather unladylike snore. "Sleep well, darling," he murmured under his breath, kissing her behind the ear. His hand drifted gently down her side and rested on her waist for a few moments.
He moved to lay on his back in the dark, smiling at the ceiling for quite a while. Then he rose in silence, pulled on his breeches and grabbed a shirt as he walked out, closing the hatch quietly behind him.
It was quiet on deck, with barely a watch posted as they floated in the lee of Palomino Island. His father had ordered most of the men down for the night after all the work they'd been doing, hoping they'd have more strength to finish off tomorrow.
Will walked out on deck, stretching into a yawn as he gazed up at the bright ribbon of stars overhead. Looking quite pleased with himself, he spoke softly. "God's in his heaven, all's right with the world." Shrugging into his shirt and leaving it loose in the light breeze, he walked over to the starboard rail and looked out to sea, watching the darker silhouettes of two vessels still moored some distance away. After a moment a frown touched his brow, and he glanced toward the bow of the ship. Following his thoughts, he walked to the fore, looking out over the carved lady that graced the Pearl.
"This time I know you should be in bed, lad."
At first he didn't see anything but a golden Cheshire cat grin – but as his eyes grew accustomed to the dark, he was able to focus on the man sitting fairly high up on the bow, where the figurehead merged with the ship. He chuckled, grabbed a rope and climbed to sit near him.
"Elizabeth was restless."
"Then I'd think she'd be the one walking."
"I managed to get her back to sleep." There was a proud edge to the young man's voice that made the other laugh.
"Aye, I'm sure you did."
They sat in amiable silence for a long while, looking at the stars and listening to the sea kissing the hull. This close to the island, they could hear the wind rustle the trees, and the soft sound of surf dancing over the beach.
"I heard father talking to Norrington." There was no response. "Are you going to be alright with this?"
The captain of the Black Pearl turned his head with a soft jingle, and Will watched as he took the red scarf from his head, shaking out his hair. "It took some thinking, lad," he said as he worried the knot loose with long, delicate fingers. "But I know that I can still be free." He tapped his head, making several beads dance. "As long as I'm free in here. I'll always be king of my own ship."
Will nodded thoughtfully at him. "I'm glad, Jack." He slowly smiled. "In my mind you'll always be a good man." He shifted, leaning back against the rigging. "And still a pirate."
A shift in the wind brought sounds of the other two ships closer in the quiet night. A strangely delicate version of a familiar laugh made them look up with matched frowns, straining to see toward the Dauntless. After a moment Will pointed. "That wouldn't be them up on the stern, would it?" Sound carries well across water, and for a brief time they were as good as standing next to Ellis and Anamaria Groves, who were taking advantage of the same quiet downtime to stand kissing on the highest point of the mighty ship's deck. They heard faint mumbles of conversation and quiet laughter before the two figures vanished below. "She'll be going on with them, won't she."
"Aye." Jack's smile was fond. "Her husband is finally takin' her home."
The wind shifted back with a sigh, once more crossing Palomino Island on its way to them, and Jack chuckled once more at the big warship, before turning his face into the breeze. The whisper of the trees on the island grew, and for a moment they heard a high sound float above the others. Ko-kee, ko-kee, ko-kee. Jack stared, and even in the starlight Will could see the brightness of his eyes. After a long silence, the pirate spoke in a flat tone. "We'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Yes." Will glanced toward the island and back to his friend. "Jack?"
"Aye?"
"…Can I help you lower a boat?"
o-o-o
o-o-o
Under the island trees lips met in darkness, gentle fingers ran in caresses that spilled across skin like silk and starlight.
"You know, I may come back, love."
Teeth glimmered like pearls. "And I may be here, Zulee."
Laughter was reduced to sultry giggles, and then to other sounds entirely.
o-o-o
o-o-o
Five days later the Black Pearl and the Esperance slowed to drop anchor near a piece of ground barely large enough to be called an island. Captain Turner yelled across to the Pearl, which was within hailing distance.
"Honestly, Captain. You really want to have our last supper on that particular God-forsaken spit of land?"
The afternoon sun caught the sparkle of Jack's smile as he called back. "God-forsaken it may be, William, but it's my God-forsaken spit of land."
The wind had been kind, and they found themselves within an easy day's sail of Port Royal. The two crews had worked closely enough that they all felt some recognition had to be made of their accomplishment. By evening, after a regular shuttle of boats, several campfires were blazing on the beach and all manner of food was cooking. Besides the seafood available in abundance, strange items magically appeared from secret caches. Exotic dried fruits and confections sat alongside fresh oysters and island dates. Joshamee Gibbs found once more that rum and coconut milk went very, very well together, easily spending most of the evening convincing anyone who hadn't made the discovery yet.
Elizabeth Turner sat near one of the smaller fires, laughing as she delightedly ate the last of Cotton's chocolates. "I still don't see why we didn't wait to have a party at Port Royal."
Her father-in-law looked at her with a surprised frown. "Come now, Elizabeth. Do you really think the governor would appreciate this?" He gestured expansively, nearly hitting a sailor who sat next to him playing a concertina. "Somehow I think not."
She tipped her head sideways in thought. "Perhaps you're right, father."
Will glanced at his father, knowing that happily sheepish look all too well from his own mirror. "Well," he said with a cheerful grin as he sipped from one of Gibb's coconut shells, "I think it's a good way to celebrate the Black Pearl's recovery. And her captain's."
Jack nodded graciously to the impromptu cheers, spoiling the moment only slightly as he nearly tipped over backwards after doing so. He rose unsteadily to his feet, and took no notice when William hooked a hand through his sash from behind to keep him from tumbling into the fire. "My friends, I thank you all. The Pearl thanks you." He pointed with one finger in a wobbly circle around the gathering, using the rest of his hand to hold his rum. "And everyone that I call friend knows they will not be forgot." More cheering followed a puzzled pause, and the evening eased gently into night.
o-o-o
o-o-o
It was bordering on dawn when Will walked over to where Jack was lounging near the remains of the fire, his arm under his head as he stared up at the sky.
"Jack?" The pirate startled just a bit.
"Yes, lad?"
The younger man stood staring out to sea for a while, then looked back at the captain. "I'm not sure you should come back to Port Royal right away. I mean, not until we're sure…"
Jack's grin sparkled in amusement. "You need to stop worrying about me, my boy. You'll have your own to worry about soon enough."
Will nodded, remaining thoughtful. "Still, I think –"
Jack was on his feet with surprising grace, his arm over Will's shoulder as he leaned in to speak conspiratorially to him. "If you're trying to tell me that you're taking passage to Port Royal with your father, I already thought as much."
"Can you manage without us?" His expression was sadly hopeful, and Jack wasn't sure just what he was hoping for. "I mean, Elizabeth has been acting as a pilot."
"I've got Gibbs and Cotton." He shrugged. "Cotton's parrot, anyway. We'll be fine." He leaned a bit closer, making Will blink. "And I think you're right lad. We'll make sure everyone has gotten the message that the Pearl is welcome before we show up unannounced."
"Jack?" Elizabeth had eased up behind them, silent on the sand.
"Ah, Lizzie –" He didn't get to finish as she threw her arms around him in a hug.
"You must come and see us soon." She pulled back to look into his eyes. "Promise?"
The pirate smiled, glanced at Will and back to her. "Aye, Lizzie. As soon as I've got my crew filled in, and some debts repaid." He hugged her to him and planted a kiss on her head. "I promise I'll be there to meet my nephew." Elizabeth nodded, her eyes watering. She kissed his cheek and gave Will's hand a squeeze before walking quickly to help load the last of the boats back, clearly not wanting to break down in front of them.
The two stared after her for a while before Jack spoke. "She's a fine woman, Will. Take good care of her."
"I plan to."
o-o-o
o-o-o