Broken Faith

Disclaimer: I own Henri, a pub, a ship, and a cottage. Notice how none of them appeared in the actual movie. That's because they're mine and I don't own the movie.

OC/E, J/E, W/E, N/E

Chapter 20: Afterward

A/N: This is it. I want to thank everyone who kept with this thing, even though I didn't update for three months. If you liked this, you might like my other story, An Officer and a Maid. It isn't J/E, but it's something of the same style as this story. It's a Groves/Estrella story. (I know, you're thinking 'what?' That's why there's an author's note at the beginning of that one.) Anyway, here's the last little bit of Broken Faith. Enjoy, and please, please, please review if you liked it, or even if you didn't. Constructive criticism is loverly.

Elizabeth bustled around the kitchen, searching for things to serve with tea. Jack was supposed to come today, and she couldn't just serve him tea and stale bread, though, if she thought about it, he would eat anything she served.

Henri seemed to be a distant memory, as though a decade had passed instead of 6 months. Jack had stayed on in Port Royal for those 6 months, most likely trying to insure that Elizabeth didn't have any unfortunate remembrances. To date, she had not, and she was certain that this was thanks to his presence. In the back of her mind, she knew that there would come a day when he would have to set sail again: for Jack Sparrow to be away from the sea for long was like taking his life from him in inches.

"'Lizbeth." He called from the side door. He breezed into her kitchen the way he always did, like the breeze that carried his ship across the sea.

"Hello, Jack." She said cheerily from her place at the sink. She finished drying a plate and filled it with sandwiches. Turning, she found that Jack was rather pensive today. It radiated out of him. Suddenly, she felt the pit of her stomach drop.

"You're leaving today."

"Yes."

"I'm coming with you."

"No. You can't."

"I can make it, Jack. I can live on a ship. I can cook for your crew, I can sew up sails, I can- please, just let me come. What about us?"

"Us." Jack snorted. "Us? There can't be an us."

"Why not?" Elizabeth felt the tears rolling down her cheeks, but didn't bother brushing them aside.

"Do you remember when I left you with Will at the top of the fort and told you it wouldn't have worked out?"

"Yes." She sniffled, sensing his next words. Jack took her hands in his.

"I was joking then. I'm not now." The tears kept coming, and Elizabeth tilted her head down so that he wouldn't see.

"Elizabeth." She looked back up. There were matching tears slowly stealing down his cheek. "It wouldn't work out. No matter how hard we tried. The sea's too great. You think you can live out there with me, but you can't. There are very few things you can't do, darling, but this is one." He kissed her cheek lightly. She opened her mouth to protest, but he held his finger to her lips.

"I'm trying to be noble, that's hard enough. Don't make this harder for me." He lifted her chin so that their eyes met, and she saw in his eyes a reflection of her own sorrow. He kissed her once more on the forehead, and left.

Jack Sparrow did a very rare thing. He walked down the path to the beach. Finding it deserted, he stood at the sea's edge, the water lapping against his ankles. He looked out to sea, reliving those moments with Elizabeth. As he did, he felt something bump against his foot. Looking down, he saw a perfect half shell. As he reached down to grab it, the water moved it slightly further out. He followed it. Before he realized it, he stood up to his knees.

"Come to me, my love." She seemed to beckon. And as in the past, he ran to her. She knew what he needed, how to comfort him, how to love him. And he realized he could never have this with anyone but her.