Once is Never Enough

Chapter 10 - Pretend

Elizabeth rested her head on Jack's chest and breathed in softly. She was so happy but a pressure was building in her chest and it felt almost like guilt. Will, what about Will? She let out a shaky sigh and sat up.

"What's wrong darling?" Jack asked laying there like he owned the world.

"I don't know, I just. I don't know." She said and started to cry.

Surprized by her sudden change of mood Jack sat up and placed an arm around her. "Hey, what's the mater love?"

"Jack, I don't know."

"Shh, now, it's alright."

"Jack! Elizabeth!" Alex's voice sounded from the other side of the door.

"What is it?" Jack asked, sounding annoyed. Elizabeth kept crying softly.

"Mr. Gibbs said the Commodore's ship is coming this way. He said Miss Swann might be leaving sooner than he thinks."

Jack held Elizabeth closer. "She ain't going anywhere."

"Just come check it out Jack." His brother said and walked back up toward the deck.

"I suppose I should go up." Jack said and looked at Elizabeth with worry on his face. "You wanna come too?"

"Will."

That name made Jack jump and grow jealous simply by her speaking it.

"What?"

"It's Will. I know it is, he's come to look for me. Jack what will we do?"

The pirate stood up and put the rest of his clothes on. "We're not going to do anything." There was something he couldn't place right away, he had told Elizabeth that he loved her but he hadn't really believed it then. Turning to face her he couldn't look her in the eye. "You have to go back. You don't belong here with me love."

Elizabeth couldn't understand what was happening. Maybe she was just dreaming, maybe she was dying and this was her purgatory, but whatever it was, was breaking her heart.

"What?"

"You need to go. It can't work between us darling."

Elizabeth's eyes started to fill with tears and she looked away, anger and pain filling her heart and soul.

"Fine. Why don't you go up then and check it out?" She said, bitterness and hate filling the room and Jack flinched at it.

"Elizabeth I'm just,"

"Don't Jack." She said, cutting him off. "Just pretend nothing happened between us. I can."

Jack looked at her but she didn't even glance his way. Not saying another word the pirate left the room and a crying Elizabeth inside.

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Will went aboard the Pearl while the Commodore stayed behind. He needed to find Elizabeth.

"Will. Good to see you again mate." Jack said, his trademark smile on his face. "Now tell me, what is it that made you come all the way out here to see me?"

"Elizabeth." The younger man said and thought he saw a flicker of something in his eyes, but just as soon it was gone.

"Well your in luck mate, I have her here. Found her in Tortuga a while ago. I was going to take her home but I had other things to do first. You understand don't you?"

"Of course, where is she?"

"I'm right here Will."

Jack didn't look at her but headed up to the helm and looked out over the sea to the horizen. Elizabeth looked up at him then at Will. The air was thick and she felt miserable. "I want to go home Will."

"Okay darling. I was so worried about you. Are you okay, is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is just fine now that you're here. What about our wedding. I want to get married as soon as possible. I love you so much Will." She said and knew Jack could hear her.

"I love you too darling, and don't worry we can get married as soon as we get back if you like."

"I would like that."

Jack's insides were growing hot and he used all of his determination not to pull out his gun and shoot Will in the head.

"Jack. Thank you for everything, and taking care of Elizabeth."

The pirate didn't say anything and Elizabeth felt her eyes fill with tears.

"Mr. Turner, we need to make good time." The Commodore's voice rang from the other ship.

"Yes I know. Come on Elizabeth." Will said but stoped when he saw her starring at Jack.

Elizabeth's chest tightened and she wanted to run up to Jack and fall into him arms and tell him she was sorry. That couldn't happen, and she knew it, she understood. Jack couldn't give her the life she needed. 'But what about what you want?' That presistent voice said in the back of her mind.

"Jack."

He looked down at her, a haunting look in his eyes.

"Good luck in finding the map." She said and walked ahead of a confused looking Will.

Her life seemed to end as she took her first step on to the Commodore's ship. Jack didn't look at her but gave the order to head out.

Alex stood watching the whole time and shook his head, he hated it when he was right. His brother had indeed lost Elizabeth.

TBC

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