A week later found Jake in Port Royal. He hadn't sailed there himself; Babette was at the helm for that duration. Jake hadn't left his cabin once since losing Nicolette and Babette just wanted to make it somewhere where an attack wasn't a possibility. As an added bonus, it had become rather easy to sneak around under Commodore Norrington's nose.

Minutes after docking, Jake had decided that his only alternative to mourning, was drinking, which he knew, eventually, would lead to even more mourning, but he needed to get off the ship – the place that had once held so much for him. He walked into the first tavern he found and ordered a stein of rum…and didn't stop. He could barely see straight when a familiar voice filled his ears.

"Captain Delmone?"

Jake turned, almost falling off of his chair. "Aye?" He looked up into the fuzzy face before him, squinting to try and clear his sight.

"My God, are you all right?"

"…Loralei?" he asked. Sure enough, Loralei Sparrow stood next to him, her expression worried. "Ye look…different?"

"Well, perhaps I'm moving around, as I'm sure the rest of the room is. I really think you've had plenty here. Have you eaten or…"

"Nic's dead," he said, his voice flat.

Loralei's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, no…" She put her arms around him, feeling a motherly instinct wash over her. "You're coming with me, all right? No arguing."

"I can' argue righ' now."

"Good." Loralei helped him to his feet and led him outside. They began to walk and after ten minutes or so of his staggering, they stood in front of a very nice home. "Come on, Jake." She led him inside and helped him to a rather plush sofa. He passed out immediately.

"Lor?" Jack walked into the room. "Love, wha's goin' on?"

"I ran into Jake," she said sadly. "He told me that…Nic's dead."

Jack's eyes turned solemn. "Poor lad. Drunk?"

"Yes."

"Will and Elizabeth won' mind if 'e sleeps it off 'ere." He enveloped his wife from behind, his hands resting on her stomach. "Didn' have t' hold 'im up on the way 'ere, did ye?"

"No, he staggered on his own."

"D'ye think tha' this would be the right time t' tell 'im wha' we found out?"

Loralei thought a moment, then said, "I'm not sure that there will be a time when he needs a family more than now."