RETURN TO THE BLACK PEARL
Wow. It's been so long since I updated this fic that I don't know if anybody's going to bother to check up on it.
CAST OF THOUSANDS: Don't worry, nobody is. Actually, they're all quite relieved that you stopped writing.
ME: It's so close to Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year! How can you be so mean? Have you no holiday spirit, or even some kind of alcoholic spirit that will produce more or less the same effect?
CAST OF THOUSANDS: It's easy. Half of us are Grinches and the other half are Scrooges. We spread mayhem and mischief throughout the year, and discord and absurdly high prices during December.
ME: Hmm. That explains a lot.
Anyways, this chapter has not been betaed by Crazy Cousin Adam, so any mistakes are the fault of…someone else.
Chapter Five: A Change In Plans
Elizabeth had never felt so alone.
She clung to the railing on the side of the Black Pearl, her gaze drifting over the ocean and coming to rest on the island of Tortuga. Will was there, somewhere. She didn't know where. She didn't know where he was anymore.
Elizabeth spotted Jack coming up the gangway, stumbling with what seemed to be beyond his usual norm and looking like something the cat dragged in—or possibly just threw up. He walked up to the wheel and ran a loving hand over the smoothly polished wood, his brow furrowing with some other emotion as he surveyed the rest of his ship. His kohl-rimmed eyes met Elizabeth's, and rather to her surprise, she ambled over to her side.
"Where have you been?" she asked him.
Jack waved his hand vaguely. "Places. Not important. Not fit for ladies' ears, anyway." His face settled and took on a look of grim worry that Elizabeth had noticed previously.
"Is something wrong?" Elizabeth asked him with some concern.
"Aye," said Jack. "Many things. I need a drink." He pulled a musty-smelling bottled out from the inside of his frock coat, which Elizabeth immediately snatched out of his hands.
"Drink isn't the answer, Jack," she reprimanded him.
"I never knew the question, luv," he responded, and retrieved the bottle from her grasp.
He opened it and took a long swig. When he finished, he wiped his moustache with his sleeve and asked Elizabeth in a friendly manner, "So, why haven't you and the whelp tied the knot and settled down in a cottage by the sea with a whole passel of little ones?"
Elizabeth had to look away as a stab of ice pierced her heart. "I don't know," she said slowly. "He hasn't even asked me yet," she admitted.
Even though she wasn't looking at Jack, Elizabeth could tell he was taken aback. She could feel his hastily muted surprise; it was there in the sharp breath he took.
"That's very interesting," murmured Jack, seemingly to no one in particular.
Suddenly Elizabeth felt defensive. "Not, it's not," she snapped. "Will's just waiting…for the opportune moment, you might say." But even as she said the words, she wondered if the opportune moment would ever come for them.
Jack raised his hands to placate her. "Sorry, luv. Didn't mean to rub salt in your wounds."
"It's not a wound," Elizabeth protested—feebly, she knew. "It's not a wound."
"Suit yourself." Jack shrugged and took another drink. "Tell me this, luv. Why don't you want the Will to find his father?"
A surge of guilt mingled with surprise washed over Elizabeth. "What makes you say that?" she asked, feeling uncomfortable.
Jack opened his arms in a wide gesture. "I'm drunk, not blind."
Elizabeth rested her arms against the rail. "It's just that…" she trailed off. Jack motioned for her to continue. "It's just that—what if it's not him?" she demanded.
"Bootstrap?" Jack asked cannily, and Elizabeth nodded.
"He'll be so disappointed. No, it's more than that—he'll be crushed," she said.
"And that's your reason?" he asked ironically. "That's it?"
She glared at him. No, it wasn't it, and they both knew it. But did he have to rub it in her face?
"He's counting on this, Jack. It means everything in the world to him." She sighed. "It means more to him than me," she finished softly; feeling tired, as if admitting that truth had taken everything out of her. "He doesn't see me anymore, Jack. He can't see anything else. He's—he's—"
"Obsessed?" Jack finished for her, and she nodded.
Elizabeth glanced at him. He was staring off into the distance. "What about you?" she asked. "Why don't you want Will to find his father?"
Jack sputtered on his drink, spraying rum everywhere. "What makes you think I don't?" he asked in discomfit.
She gave him a slightly mocking smile. "I'm depressed, not blind," she said.
"Touché," remarked Jack, but he didn't answer her question. After a moment, he offered her the bottle of rum, and this time, Elizabeth accepted.
Yes, it was short. However, I WILL update soon.
CAST OF THOUSANDS: Yeah, right.
ME: Sooner.
CAST OF THOUSANDS: We'll believe it when we see it.
ME: Were you not hugged enough as children?
CAST OF THOUSANDS: What? No! Get away from us!!! NO HUGGING!!!!!!! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Ugh, hug cooties. Ew.
Happy holidays, everybody!
