Disclaimer: I tried to steal Jack Sparrow from Disney, but they caught me, so I don't own him.

AN: Okay, now the really good conflict stuff begins to happen. I hope that people don't mind if I'm finishing this story rather quickly, as it isn't one of my personal favorites. However, I am very much looking forward to a different Pirates fic that I have planned, and it will be out as soon as this one is over, so keep a sharp eye out! Thanks for reading, and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 8: Two Broken Hearts:

Evening of the same day Ellie left: Jack's POV:

Groaning, Jack reluctantly opened his eyes and tried to forget what had happened the night before. He'd never felt like such a scumbag in his life! He loved Ellie, he knew he did, and by doing that horrible act the previous night, he'd betrayed her behind her back. If she ever found out about it, Jack would stick his pistol in Moira's face and shoot her between the eyes for what she'd done. After that, Jack would spend the rest of his life making it up to Ellie in every way possible.

Rolling over, Jack focused on going back to sleep, planning to avoid Ellie for the remainder of their stay in Tortuga.

Three days Later: Jack's POV:

For three days Jack had been avoiding Ellie, and had thought himself to be doing a fairly good job, as he hadn't seen her in all of that time. He'd gotten a room in town to sleep in during that time, telling Gibbs to give Ellie any sort of excuse (that she'd believe) while he wasn't onboard. Gibbs had given Jack the oddest look at his captain orders, but Jack had shrugged it off.

Now that their stay in Tortuga was over, Jack was nervous about having to face a wrathful Eleanor. When Ellie didn't shown up, demanding to know where he'd been for three days, he'd simply thought that she was ignoring him as revenge for his disappearance. Sighing, Jack headed for his cabin, happily throwing himself on his bed. He enjoyed a good ten minutes of peace before it was broken.

A tap came from the door of the cabin. "Cap'n?" Gibbs called. "Are ye awake?"

"Aye!" Jack replied, feeling a bit tired. The door opened to reveal a very upset first mate. "What is it, Gibbs, and how important is it?"

Gibbs held up a piece of paper. "This is for you, sir, I was to give it to ye just before we left port."

Jack snatched the piece of paper from his first mate, curious as to whom the letter would be from. The moment he saw the handwriting, his heart sank.

Dear Jack,

I know that you are only just now getting this letter, and by now you should know that it is far too late for you to apologize or come after me. I've left you, Jack, as surely as all morality left your when you fell into bed with that black-haired wench you said you were trying to help. I know that this might come to you as a shock, but I've realized that, in the weeks I've spent onboard the Pearl, that I've managed to…oh, how you'll laugh at me when you read this…that I've…fallen in love with you. I had thought that my unspoken feelings were somehow returned through your kindness towards me, but now I know the truth. I know who you are inside, and I know that you'll never care for me the same way I care for you. I wish you luck and joy in all your plundering and drinking, for they are probably the only things that you truly care about. Goodbye, Jack Sparrow, and know that I will never in my life forget my months there on the Black Pearl with you and your crew.

Yours truly,

Eleanor

Letting the paper fall from his fingers, Jack stood up, brown eyes blazing as he looked at his first mate. "Gibbs, get the crew ready to go ashore tonight," he said in a coldly even voice. "I want to be out there as soon as possible to find Ellie."

Gibbs picked up the paper and scanned it. "But Cap'n, wouldn't it be too late to go looking for her?" Gibbs asked, confused as to why his captain was acting this way.

"I want to know where she's gone, Gibbs, and Hell itself will freeze over before I give up looking for her!" Jack roared, startling his first mate. "Now get going!"

Gibbs didn't waste any time getting out to follow his captain's orders.

"I'll find you, Eleanor, if it's the last thing I do," Jack growled to the air. "I will find you and make you mine!"

That Same Day: Ellie's POV:

For three days I had been on the Free Spirit with Annamaria and her crew, and each day had been a new experience. Most of the crewmembers were women, and the men that were part of the crew were unusually respectful to every single one of the females. I later found out that was due to some of them being the husbands, brothers, or cousins of the women onboard, and I rather like the system. Anna was a brilliant captain; she could have given Jack some good competition at sea!

As we grew closer to Port Royal, Anna told me that she would hide the ship in a small hidden bay on the other side of the island, away from the town itself. She didn't want Commodore Norrington or his Navy officers to catch her crew. I had to agree with her as I didn't want anyone getting killed just so I could go home!

Before our arrival, Anna (in one last gesture of kindness) gave me a gown that her crew had plundered from a merchant ship two weeks ago. She also ordered two crewmen to escort me to the edge of town. I was extremely grateful for the gown, as I didn't want to attract attention in my pants and shirt.

Finally, the day arrived that I would be going home to my family. As I smoothed the ruffles of the blue gown I'd been given, I thought about how tall Edward might have gotten, or whether or not Father had fully recovered from his incident with Jack. My stomach suddenly turned with excitement as I realized how much I had missed them. Picking up the lovely picnic-type basket that had replaced the grubby pack I had used to store my effects, I went on deck to watch as the shore grew ever closer.

The Spirit soon settled into calm waters, and Anna came along for the ride to shore to keep me company. On the beach where she'd leave me in the hands of the two crewmen, Clarence and Russell, Anna gave me a good luck hug and smile before gently nudging me towards the inland. I smiled and followed the two men into the trees, stopping to give one last wave to Annamaria.

An hour later: Ellie's POV:

Clarence and Russell had to leave me a few feet from the edge of town so as not to be spotted, but at least they had left me in the more respectable part of the city. I saw well-dressed people and lovely carriages pass me by, and was thankful that my own gown was of equal quality as the others. If I ever saw Annamaria again, I'd have to thank her for her foresight!

Clutching my basket of belongings closer to me, I walked towards a nearby carriage that was apparently waiting for its owner to come out. Spotting the driver, I got his attention and asked for directions towards the home of the Governor, as that would likely be the first place my parents would go to get help in their search for me. Also, I had no idea what our new home would look like, and since the Governor would know every noble family in town, he would be the man to ask about where my family was and how they were fairing. The driver I was speaking to looked at me suspiciously, as though asking why a well-dressed woman wouldn't already know the way to the Governor's mansion.

I held my head up high and put on my best noble air. "I am new to Port Royal, and have not been to the Governor's house as of yet," I explained. "And since there is no one else here to answer my question, you are my only chance at finding it."

Apparently the man believed me to be the noble I claimed to be, since he told me that the Governor's mansion was only five houses down on my left and up the hill; he said it was the only place that had a hillside view of the sea, the town, and the fort. Happy that I was so close, I did my best to walk there in a dignified manner and not run with all my strength.

When I reached the door, I checked to see if I appeared proper enough to speak with another noble; after all, I didn't want to be turned away after getting so close to finding my family! Taking a deep breath, I knocked sharply on the door, which was promptly answered by a butler. Having been in this sort of situation many times in my life, I knew exactly how to act and what to say. Holding my head high (as my mother had taught me), I looked the butler straight in the eye and announced myself.

"I am Eleanor of Kent, and I must speak with Governor Swann as soon as possible."

I was quickly escorted to a sitting area, a maid serving me tea and sandwiches (the likes of which I hadn't seen in months), while another took my basket so that I would not have to deal with it while waiting for the Governor to arrive from inspecting the fort. Nervously, I sat sipping tea while trying to remember all of the proper training I'd received in my youth. My mother, grandmothers, and aunts had knocked them into me with their fans, the wooden devices connecting with my head whenever I made a mistake. If I said something wrong, crack went a fan, right on the back of my head. It never hurt, just reminded me what I would receive should I not learn what was required of me.

Finally, an hour later, the Governor arrived. He looked rather sad, which (from what I'd heard though my mother's gossip) I thought that was from his daughter, Elizabeth, marrying a blacksmith and leaving him alone in his house. Yet he greeted me with a small, welcoming smile before I surprised him with who I was. Apparently, my parents had indeed appealed to Governor Swann for aid in their search for me, and now he was relieved to be able to tell my parents that I had come home at last.

Ten minutes after a message had been sent, my family came racing into the mansion, their faces pale with excitement. The first thing they all did was completely ignore propriety and gather me in a group hug. Mother was crying, Father looked like he couldn't stop smiling, and Edward appeared to want to hold on to me and never let go. I took all of their hugs, kisses, soft words, and tears in stride, happy to be home with them. Finally, everyone let go of me, and we all took a seat in the parlor, the Governor leaving us in privacy to talk of the happenings of the past two months.

That Evening: Ellie's POV:

Dinner that evening was a very interesting experience. I'd spent the past two months eating all of my meals alone with a pirate captain, so having dinner with more than one person was something that I once again had to get used to. I also had to remember all of my manners that my female relatives had taught me, as I hadn't had any use for them on a pirate ship. Mother was watching me like a hawk, and I supposed I surprised her by not acting like the slobbering idiot she thought I'd be after all these weeks away from home and high society.

After passing Mother's "test of manners," I was taken to our new home in Port Royal, a lovely two level mansion that was made of white marble, the inside covered with thick white plaster to keep out the heat of the day. I (gracefully) sank into a couch in the parlor, where cold water and drinks were served while my family and I caught up personal matters that we could not talk about in front of the Governor during dinner.

Imagine my surprise at Edward being enrolled in the Navy! Father was quick to reassure me that he would not be sent away from the island for any reason, for he would be kept here as an officer of Fort Charles, and would likely see little battle, as no pirates had attacked Port Royal since the Black Pearl had over five years ago. The small sugar and tobacco plantations my father had won were paying off extremely well, and our wealth was vastly increasing because of it.

"If we were minor nobles before in England, we are the equals of Lords here in the Caribbean!" Father boasted, his chest puffing out in pride at our newfound wealth.

I smiled. My father had a small faded scar on his right temple from where he'd been hit, but I'd been assured that he was quite alright. There had been no damage to his mind or body because of his injury, and for that I was thankful. Father's humor hadn't diminished, either, and I felt as though I had never left home whenever he made a joke or simply made me laugh for no apparent reason.

Finally, though, the day caught up with me, and we retired to bed for the evening. I bid my parents a goodnight, and went up to a bedroom completely decorated in blue, from the sheets to the walls. Edward must have reminded Mother to decorate according to my favorite color, but I could see her personal touches in the gold and silver embroidery or decorations on certain things like the sheets, drapes, and furniture. Oh, well, at least it was decently (meaning tastefully) done.

I swiftly changed into a white nightgown and fell into bed, glad for the soft mattress and pillows. I felt completely at home.

A Month Later: Ellie's POV:

Being home felt good, but I missed the freedom that being at sea brought. I was no longer allowed to do what I wanted or go where I pleased without an escort, which consisted mostly of my father or Edward, as I was not married. However, I was allowed to meet the Governor's daughter, Elizabeth Turner, as well as her husband.

It had been a rather unexpected invitation, since I really didn't know her in the first place. Apparently she'd heard that I'd been taken aboard the Black Pearl, and had insisted that I come over for a cup of tea one afternoon. I willingly did so to get away from Mother and her new flock of gossiping friends, and the Turners and I exchanged stories about pirates and (reluctantly for me) Jack Sparrow.

Talking about Jack brought a huge amount of pain for me, but I pushed it down and ignored it. The man had obviously not cared a bit for me, so why should I worry about any sort of thought that included him? I simply sat in the Turners' large parlor in their cozy house and told them what had happened. Well, I didn't tell them everything that had happened; I only told the general things, like sparing my family by going aboard, and working on the Pearl as an insignificant member of the crew.

Elizabeth had gasped when I told her why I'd gone on the Pearl, and she and Will had pressed for details about my time on the infamous ship. Apparently the Jack that I knew was somewhat different from the one that they once knew. Their friend was kind, respectful, and understanding, when it came to people; I knew him to be colder and more commanding, and Will and Elizabeth were upset at the change in their friend. However, we all knew Jack as a lover of rum, and the Turners were shocked that I'd tried to cure him of his rum addiction. Finally, my escape became the topic of conversation.

"So how did you escape?" William asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

I was hesitant to answer, but did so anyway. "I waited until the day after a big party in celebration of a successful raid," I said, taking a quick sip of tea to calm my nerves. "All of the men to so drunk, they wouldn't notice if a lion had appeared on deck and danced for them!"

"But I though you'd cured Jack of his need for drink," Elizabeth quipped, just as curious as William.

"Well, this one had a great deal of rum, and you can't really expect a pirate to ignore all that rum," I said with false cheer. "So I waited until the next morning, after we'd reached shore, and left. They never noticed I was missing."

Elizabeth was impressed, and we moved on to other topics, such as the latest fashions, (which, despite myself, I found interesting). During the visit, I felt that I'd found a real friend in both of the Turners, and was glad for it. They were my first friends in Port Royal, and would be one of the few friends I'd ever made in my life.

Little did I know that they would also be one of my only true links to the Caribbean over the next several years.

A Month and a half Later: Ellie's POV:

Mother had been busier than I thought. She kept having parties that involved me meeting vast amounts of single, boring, wealthy (and sometimes ugly) men. I couldn't understand why until I confronted Father about it. It seemed that both of my parents were worried about my reputation, as I had spent two months aboard a pirate ship and they couldn't be trusted to have left my 'virtue' intact. So, in order to make sure that I had the proper marriage, they invited men who knew about my kidnapping and hopefully did not care about the fact that I was probably no longer an 'untouched' woman.

For once, I didn't argue with Mother on the matter of marriage. I knew that I had to marry, and since my heart had already been broken, I no longer felt the need to fight the fate my mother and father were setting for me. I would have a ruined reputation if I did not marry someone, and I could not risk putting my family to shame by refusing any sort of marriage offer, no matter how lowly the man may seem. Instead, I lifted my chin and told them that I would do my duty to my family and marry as soon as a decent offer was made for my hand. Mother looked thrilled, but I could tell that my sudden submission bothered my father. Still, he did not try to stop me, and instead stood by and kept silent.

One suitor in particular came around very often, and his name was Captain Godfrey Cornwallis of the Royal Navy from England. He was a tall, middle-aged man, with deep-brown hair and piercing blue-green eyes that went well with the bright red of his uniform. I learned that he was a cousin of Commodore James Norrington, and that he had recently purchased a second home in the Caribbean. He was handsome, but he seemed a bit distant for a man who had to get along with scores of other people for a living. However, I didn't argue when he asked to court me, even as he continued to do so even when there were much lovelier women to be had in Port Royal. In my mind, he wasn't too bad, and I decided to keep seeing him, as he wasn't like the ugly, boring men my mother invited over.

Suddenly, to both my amazement and that of my parents, after merely three weeks of courtship, Godfrey asked for my hand in marriage. We had been in the gardens, admiring the flowers (or so I thought) when he formally asked me to be his wife. I was in so much shock that I wasn't able to answer him, and had to wait for him to take me back inside and ask my family for their permission to wed me. Mother had been delighted, but Father looked at me as though he were asking if this was what I truly wanted in my life. I had merely given a slight nod and he gave his permission for our wedding to take place.

The few weeks following passed by in a blur for me. I was tossed around by my mother and her friends, going from one shop to another in search for a dress, flowers, candles, and a church (of which there were only two, so I had no idea why we spent two days picking one for the ceremony). I chose a dress of white silk, with crystals sewn on the bodice in flowery shapes and leaves, the sleeves hanging in waves of lace and gauzy material. It was a lovely gown, and I felt like a princess when I tried it on.

In the days leading up to the wedding, Father tried to talk to me about whether I was sure I wanted to wed the Captain, and I simply nodded. After all, I'd loved and lost, and had no intention of loving another. Well, at least, not intentionally. Jack had never loved me; after all, he had never given me any sort of hint that he had those sort of feelings for me. Those promises of giving up rum and the safe jobs he had given me on the Pearl had likely been gestures to make up for the night he had taken my virginity, nothing more.

And yet, in my heart, I knew that I might grow to love Godfrey Cornwallis, since I had no love for him now. He was a good man, and he was good to me whenever we spent time together, and that was certainly more than most couples could say about their marriages; some couples didn't even meet until the day of the ceremony! I would never have the loving relationship my parents had, but at least I could give a smile at the mention of Godfrey's name without it being forced.

The day of my wedding was cloudy, but without rain. I was taken to the church in a carriage, my lovely wedding dress floating around me like a cloud. I had my mother sitting beside me in order to help straighten everything from my hair to my dress, trying to make me as perfect as possible. A bouquet of white roses and lilies were in my hand, and a crown of tiny white rosebuds was in my hair, helping to keep the veil in place.

I walked up the aisle of red carpet on my father's arm and took Godfrey's hand when I arrived at the altar. Although I knew that it was too soon for the two of us to be in love, I saw in his eyes that Godfrey would do everything in his power to respect and honor my choices in our married life, even if he couldn't bring himself to love me. I spoke my vows, trying not to wish that it was a certain pirate captain I was swearing my love and life to. In my mind, one captain was much like another, but my heart secretly wept at the thought that Jack wasn't here to protest the marriage and demand that I run away with him on the Pearl forever. Stories like that don't come true…at least, not this one…

In reality, I was sacrificing nothing, and was doing this of my own free will. I had no intention of living off of the generosity of my parents or, later, my brother, for the rest of my life. I would bring honor and more wealth to our family. It was the right thing to do.

Even though I did it with a heavy heart.

AN: If you want to know what Captain Cornwallis looks like (in real life terms, as I think of him), heis the guy from the movie The Patriot, who fights Mel Gibson, or Lucius Malfoy (Draco's dad)from Harry Potter, with brown hair instead of blonde. Look him up if you're curious. Review!