Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Mary swallowed, and twisted her hands around in her lap. She bit her lip, and looked as though she was fighting a very difficult inner battle. I stared at her for a long moment, and then looked away.

"I wont…I'll try not to be angry if you don't want to come. But I don't want to leave you behind, Mary, you've been my best friend for as long as I care to remember…but it is up to you." I said quietly. Mary said nothing, and she looked as though she was about to cry. I sighed.

"It's just…Port Royal has been my home, Christina. It's all I know…I'm so frightened to leave," she said, visibly trembling. I had forgotten how timid Mary could be. In fact, she hadn't been timid in a long time, and when I saw her those few scant times with the Commodore, she was positively boisterous. I felt a surge of anger towards him, because he really had a good affect on her, when he wasn't a complete arse.

"I quite understand," I said quietly, standing up and watching as the sky began to lighten. I watched the silent town, I watched the ocean beyond, and the ships and small boats docked in the bay. I watched the quiet roll of hills and a mountain beyond, almost eye level with me, given my location. I looked down into the garden, regarding it with a pressing sadness. Directly under my balcony was where Elizabeth and Will had been kissing, where it became clear to me that Port Royal could not serve as a home anymore. Not for a while.

"Will you come back?" Mary asked, walking over to me. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the garden, remembering how it felt when Will kissed me. I bit my lip worriedly, and wondered if it would be such a bad thing if Elizabeth felt such happiness with him. She is, after all, my sister. I shouldn't begrudge her happiness, even if it was a happiness that was supposed to be mine. I felt my hands clench into fists on the marble balcony railing. Yes, I could begrudge her happiness. I couldn't help it.

"I honestly don't know, Mary," I said sadly, relaxing my grip on the railing and folding my hands gently on it instead. "I suppose, one day I must. But not for a long while…I'll have to forget about Will first…and what I almost -" I stopped quickly, walking away from the balcony and leaving the doors open to the slowly rising sun. The first light of the morning was always the strongest. I pulled out parchment and a quill, writing a letter to my father telling him why I had gone, and not to expect me back anytime soon, but not to worry either. I gritted my teeth as I wrote the last few lines:

Please do not worry for me. I can take care of myself and if not, trust that Jack is a good man. Send Mr. Turner and Elizabeth my best wishes.

I signed my name quickly and left Mary in the room, walking to my father's study and placing the letter on his desk - the first place he went everyday was his study, after all. I pulled a rose from a vase on one of the many shelves, and placed it on top of the letter; I was feeling rather sentimental. I walked back to my room and saw Mary still there, holding out my clothes. "You'll be leaving soon, I expect?" she asked with tears in her eyes. I nodded, stepping behind the screen to get changed. I moved without saying a word, holding my boots in my hand along with my sword. I pulled on a bandana and a hat. I was about to leave the room, but turned around to look once more. I picked up the necklace that Jack had given me, made of black pearls, and stuck a quill and a roll of parchment into my pocket, having somewhere that I wanted to go first before leaving.

"Good-bye, Mary," I said sadly, fighting down the urge to cry as I hugged her. She had no qualms about crying, and did so, quietly.

"Take care, Christina," she whispered. I nodded and made my way quietly down the stairs.

Now that I was indeed leaving the sun was rising quickly. It left me precious few shadows to take refuge in, and soon people would be up and about. I was leaving sooner than I'd expected, but the longer I stayed the harder it would be to leave. I had a feeling that Mr. Gibbs would still be in the pub, and if I got there in time I would catch him. If not, well, rowing a boat wasn't incredibly strenuous activity. The Pearl wasn't very far off shore.

I reached the atrium of the mansion, and stared at the spot where there should have been a candleholder - Will had broken it when he came in weeks ago to present my father with Commodore Norrington's blade. We'd never gotten it fixed. I sighed, remembering that then I had believed Will to be in love with Elizabeth. It was so much easier then, because I'd never had Will to myself. I could live with the quiet pain of seeing him love someone else - never knowing what it would be like have him say romantic, if awkward, words and kiss me…I looked away quickly, and had nearly made it to the door before I remembered another event.

"You are far to spirited, I think, my lady. Someone has to tame you, it's not proper," he had said.

"Oh, and I suppose you think you can 'tame me', Mr. Turner?" I asked.

Spirited, he had said, and I couldn't help thinking that it was a lie. He didn't know that he'd already tamed me, made part of me a weak female, a woman who cried frequently when she thought of him and did stupid things for his sake. Even now, he tamed me. I ran away to ensure his happiness. I removed myself from the picture. One might think that it was an act of rebellion, but it wasn't. I was just getting out of the way for him. Leaving Port Royal as if I could leave the love I felt for him behind.

I opened the door and stepped out into the twilight before dawn, and looked around hungrily as if seeing Port Royal for the last time. I wanted to remember it all, to take it with me when I was on the Pearl, when I didn't know where we'd be going next. I would take it with me until the Black Pearl became my home, until the gruff life of pirates wore me down and sanded my memory, making it disappear almost as if it were a wave upon a foot-printed shoreline. I would take the memory of my short time as a prospective Mrs. Turner with me like a sad blanket until I was strong enough to forget it, or to remember it wryly without bitterness or regret.

I walked past the pub, knowing where I was going for one last time.

"Wait!" I heard, and turned around, surprised. I saw Mary hurrying toward me, picking up her skirts awkwardly. I felt a smile break out upon my face, happier than I had been in days.

"I'm coming with you," she said, crossing her arms over her chest as if she thought I'd try to persuade her otherwise. Not a chance in the world.

"Thank you, Mary," I said. She glared at me.

"I'm only doing it so you don't go off and succumb to an obscene desire for Jack Sparrow or what have you," she said tartly.

"Oh, believe me, Mary, you haven't seen Jack. Once you see him, you'll know that the desire is unavoidable," I goaded her. We walked in the direction of the smithy, chuckling quietly to ourselves.

Mary had decided to wait outside while I snuck in quietly - conveniently, Will had forgotten to lock the door. I prayed that he was still sleeping.

He was. I saw him, lying on his back on his bed, and I felt another stab of regret. I did not want to leave him. He lay shirtless, his hair a mess around him and his mouth slightly open. I pursed my lips and made my way over to the small table where all of his orders were scattered. I pulled out the parchment I'd hidden in my pocket, and the quill, grabbing an inkpot and unscrewing the cap as silently as I could. I dipped my quill into the ink and scratched out a single word. I placed my necklace on top of the paper and was about to leave when I heard the bed creak slightly and I stopped dead. I held my breath, waiting for Will's surprised cry, but it never came. I turned around to see that he'd shifted positions and was laying on his side now, facing me. I swallowed hard, and walked over to the bed, unable to stop myself.

I knelt down until I was about eye-level with him. I felt my throat get tight, and tried desperately not to cry. Watching him for a moment, I reached up a trembling hand to brush his unruly dark hair out of his face. "I love you," I whispered, fully aware of how close I was to being caught. I placed faith in the fact that Will was a relatively deep sleeper.

I brushed a finger over his eyebrows and cheek bones, wishing that I could stay but knowing that I couldn't. That it wouldn't be fair. Will deserved to be happy, even if I felt that Elizabeth didn't. I hoped that I'd be able to forget him one day, and forget how I had been so close to being with him forever. I had already forgiven him, for the most part. I scoffed at myself, he hadn't even given me a ring!

I leaned in and brushed a kiss over his lips, so light that even I barely felt it. I pulled away and stood up, and hand over my mouth. A tear slipped from my eye and landing silently on his closed eyelids. I backed up and walked quickly out of the shop, missing the quiet silver glint from the table where I'd left my parchment and necklace.

"Oh, Christina," Mary said sadly as I walked up to her. She was holding my sword and looking rather awkward, but I was glad as ever that she was with me.

"I'll be fine," I said shakily, wiping at my eyes as I led her back to the pub. She said nothing, and for that I was grateful

"We should find Mr. Gibbs here, and if not then we'll just row to the Pearl…its not far from shore," I said. "A lot of nerve, Jack has, to anchor so close," I mused to myself, my heart not particularly caring. It was still in the shop, with Will. I was beginning to rethink this flight. I was sure that if I went back and stood before Will, his conscience would force him to go through with our marriage. I quickly admonished myself. We were best friends before we were engaged, and I should be concerned only for his happiness. But it would be wonderful to just have him kiss me again…

I took Mary by the arm and led her into the pub. She was leered at by a good many of the men at the bar, and I glared at them, remembering that I was indeed dressed like a man and should act as much and one of them as possible. So I let my hand go to the hilt of my sword, and growled incoherently towards the scoundrels.

"Very good, Miss Christina," I heard a familiar voice say from the shadows. I turned around sharply to see Jack Sparrow nod faintly at me. I grabbed Mary and led her forcibly over, trying to imitate the ridiculous way that Will had occasionally dragged me about.

"Jack!" I said happily.

He rolled his eyes, "Keep yer damn voice down - there'll be no use in that wonderful disguise of yer's, if ye go squawkin' about like a woman!" he said sharply. I smiled and sat down next to him.

"Now, what's this I hear? What's wrong with you and dear William?" he asked. I glanced at Mary. "Yeh don't fancy women, now do ye, Christina?" he yelped. Then, a rather wicked grin spread across his face. I scowled.

"No," I said stoutly. "Don't go getting your hopes up, Jack," I continued. "Mary is a very dear friend of mine - not that you've bothered asking about her," I scolded. Jack looked affronted.

"Well, yer right, damn ye!" he said, sweeping off his hat grandly as he stood up. He bowed before Mary, who looked a bit shocked, and took her hand. He brushed a reverent kiss across her knuckles. "M'lady," he said gruffly, looking up at her with twinkling dark eyes. Mary flushed and looked a bit pleased as Jack made to sit down again.

"Now, why is it yer runnin' away from such a fine young stallion like Will?" he asked, taking a swig from his ever-present flask of rum. I sighed, shrugging off how odd it seemed for Jack to call Will a 'stallion' - then again, that's just how Jack is…

"It's a bit of a long story," I said.

He nodded, "Yer right again. Let's head us over to the Pearl while there's still a small number of civilians up and about - and ye can tell me this long story as we prepare to shove off," he said, getting to his feet grandly and swaggering out of the pub.

I followed him, leading Mary who was staring at his back with wide eyes.

We arrived at the Pearl quickly, and Anamaria lead Mary below quickly. Poor Mary looked rather ill, even though the ship was anchored. "This one's gonna have a tough time, Princess," Anamaria said none too discreetly as she took Mary away. Once again, I was having second thoughts.

The few members of the crew who were awake were staring at me with avid fascination. I glared. "Get back to the bunks, ye dogs!" Jack yelled. "Damn scallywags don't give their Captain a moment's privacy," he grumbled to me.

"Good to know they're so fond of you," I quipped tiredly, wanting to go down to see how Mary was doing. I was really very worried about her.

"So now, before ye go check on yer pretty little friend, ye'll tell me why yer here, so anxious to be leaving the beautiful Port Royal," he said, leaning out and looking at the ocean. I sighed. The premature dawn didn't reach here, and it was still a bit dark. I leaned on my elbows and sighed, pulling off my hat and dangling my hands over the edge of the ship.

Jack didn't press.

"Will and I are no longer engaged," I said quietly, surprised that I wasn't crying. Jack glanced at me, and went back to staring at the sea, as if waiting for me to expand. "I found him in the garden, kissing Elizabeth," I continued, my voice flat. Still, Jack remained silent. I was a tad annoyed, wanting to hear what he had to say. I wanted him to tell me what Mary had said, that I should go back and talk to Will - to see that it wasn't his fault, and to forgive him and go on with the engagement and wedding planning, which hadn't even started yet, really.

"And I realized that as much as he denies it, he does love her. He always will…even if he says that its me he wants to marry…I'm not going to trap him.

"I'm leaving to give him another chance with her, because as long as I'm around he wont know what to do…he'll want to uphold his promise to me, and I wont let him…not if it means he'll marry me and be unhappy for the rest of his life!" I said defensively, as if Jack had insulted me with his lack of reassurance.

"I'm leaving because I love him," I added. "And…he deserves to be happy," I finished lamely, tiredly.

"I'll not have ye lying to me," Jack said abruptly. I looked at him, ruffled. "What?"

"Yer not leavin' out of the kindness of yer heart, Christina. Yer heart's broken and although yer sad right now, you'll soon be cursin' the day Will Turner was born. I've seen a woman scorned before - scorned a good few meself. And I won't have a member of this crew lying to me," he growled out. I raised my chin and glared at him.

"I'm not lying!" I snarled. "I just need to leave."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Are ye sure ye want to leave home?" he asked. He didn't say Port Royal, or the mansion, so I wasn't sure he was referring to the island, or to Will himself.

Of course he's referring to the island, you idiot.

I nodded mutely. "I have to," I whispered. "I can't stay not if…not when there's nothing for me here," I said, turning away. Jack said nothing and we stood together in silence for a long while.

"Perhaps ye better get some sleep," Jack said.

It took awhile before we actually got going, and I had told Jack that I wanted to stay with Mary for the first few days. He nodded, but warned me that as soon as we get to Tortuga, I'm to be working like the rest of the crew.

Mary was having an awful time. The seas were actually quite calm, and she was up on deck leaning over and hurling her guts out during the three days that it took us to get to Tortuga…there was very little wind. I was a bit nervous, even though I was preoccupied with taking care of Mary, because I wanted to go away from Port Royal, and as far away as we possibly could go.

"Oh, I hate this bloody ship," Mary said passionately before the upper half of her disappeared over the edge of the ship. Anamaria looked at her quite disdainfully.

"A great landlubber ye've brought us, Princess," she sneered. Anamaria was usually very tart with anyone new. She seemed to have gotten more so in the time that we'd not seen each other. Jack was very sympathetic towards Mary, possibly because he thought she was another tally he could carve into his bed post, and the only thing that he complained about was that the side of the Pearl might never recover, salt water or no.

"Please love, I'm beseechin' you here…could ye please choose a different spot to up- chuck?" he asked her. Mary turned a deeper shade of green as the ship rocked slightly.

"Oh god," she moaned, before disappearing again.

I patted her back gently and led her down to the cabins when I was absolutely sure that she had nothing left in her that could come back up. I pulled up a pale of water and a rag and mopped her forehead. She was pale…paler than usual, it was a pasty, milky kind of pallor, and she was breaking out into a cold sweat.

"I don't know, Mary, you really look terrible…maybe its something worse than the usual seasickness," I said worriedly, offering her a dipper of water. She sipped at it cautiously, as if anything could set her off again. She took a deep breath.

"Christina, I've barely eaten anything since we got here, there is no way I could have scurvy or whatever it is those pirates are rank with."

"Now see here, Miss Mary, there is no scurvy on the Pearl," Jack said, swaggering his way down the stairs. I giggled at the shocked look on Mary's face.

"Yes, Captain," she said nervously, and what little color that had found its way into her face promptly left. Jack smiled.

"Relax," he said, sitting down on her bunk. Mary drew her legs up to her chest and sat with her arms folded around them, peering at him skeptically.

I hid a smile. "Where are we headed, Captain?" I asked. Jack would spend the better half of an hour down here, talking to us.

Later I would find out that I had left the blacksmith shop in just the nick of time…Will woke up only minutes later. He spent most of the morning working on the orders he'd started the night before, having a sword done and one more started before he stopped. Sweating, he pulled off his shirt and opened the windows, the tiny dark smithy was boiling. He was pressing a cool rag to his face when something caught his eye. It was the necklace I'd left. He walked over to where I'd left the parchment, and picked up the black pearl necklace. "Christina," he muttered anxiously, picking up the parchment that lay beneath it. He could read the one word that I'd written there, even though he wasn't a scholar.

Always, it read. Grabbing his shirt, Will took off for my father's mansion.

"She's gone!" he shouted as Richard opened the door. Poor Richard was nearly knocked off his feet, he'd tell me later, as Will shoved himself through the doorway and went searching for my father.

"Mr. Turner, do calm down, we know that she's gone," the Commodore said sharply, giving Will a withering look. Will glared back contemptuously. Elizabeth peered out from behind the Commodore timidly, offering him a shy, sad smile. His gaze, if possible, turned even harder as he looked at her, and she flinched. He did not look abashed.

"Mr. Turner, do you have any idea where my daughter could have gone?" my father asked, worriedly, wringing his hands and holding the short letter I'd given him.

"No, I don't know where she's gone, you don't think she'd actually tell me, do you? She went away because of me…this is my fault," Will would say, glaring angrily at anyone and everyone in the room. Elizabeth took a deep breath.

"She left me this letter, Mr. Turner, do you think she might have left a…message to you in it?" my father asked, pacing around the room. This was different from when Elizabeth was taken, then they'd had a lead. Will had help when Elizabeth was taken, I was there and so was Jack, and Jack knew precisely where to go. But me? I had left willingly. And I had not given them a clue as to where I was going, although they did know why.

"It's not your fault, Will," Elizabeth said quietly. He stared angrily at her.

"You're right," he said softly, not taking a step toward her but she backed away all the same. "Maybe its not…I had help in this, didn't I, Elizabeth? You could be to blame, too." he said menacingly.

"Now, Mr. Turner, that is quite enough, Elizabeth has no fault in this. Christina chose to leave of her own accord. Foolish, yes, but not entirely unpredictable" the Commodore said dryly.

"Don't you talk about her that way!" Will roared. The Commodore regarded him coolly, my father with a mix of disdain and sympathy, and Elizabeth with fear.

"Well, what does her letter say?" Will asked after a moment. Elizabeth took it from my father, whose hands were shaking so much that he couldn't hold it still to read it.

"Dear Father,

I am leaving Port Royal. There isn't much to say, really, but I'm sure I'll find a way to say it. Don't worry about me, I will be fine. I will be safe…Please don't try to find me. Trust that I am with good people, and am quite sure that no harm will come to me. By now you know that I can look after myself, and thanks to Mr. Turner I can defend myself as well. There is no reason for you to worry. Mary may be joining me as well. Port Royal as hurt us both, our pride, our hearts. We must leave. -

Commodore Norrington shifted uncomfortably on his feet as Will clenched his teeth and his fists, staring down at the floor with the look of someone who feels guilty after committing a crime.

"Please don't be upset, Father, even though I know my leaving is very much like my mother's own flight. This is not your fault…in fact, I think it may be mine. I hope you will remember me fondly…there is a lot I learned at Port Royal, but a lot I still must learn. Know always that I love you, a girl could not ask for a better father.

Father, don't be too terribly upset with Will, either. It is not his fault I am leaving, nor is it Elizabeth's, though at first it seemed that way to me. You still must welcome him as son-in-law, I think. I hope they will be very happy. -"

Elizabeth paused and looked at Will. He was staring at a wall behind her, as if intent not to meet her eyes. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and read on.

"Please do not worry for me. I can take care of myself and if not, trust that Jack is a good man. Send Mr. Turner and Elizabeth my best wishes."

Elizabeth was whispering by the time she had finished reading, her voice cracked at the end and her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Will. A muscle in his jaw was working violently, and he looked very upset. He turned away from her, and Elizabeth let out a tiny cry. My father glanced at her, also very upset. Commodore Norrington was standing stonily, almost in a respectful silence for once. It would seem ironic to me, later, that perhaps the only time he would find respect for me was when I had left.

"What does she mean, she hopes you will be happy together? Turner, you did not break of your engagement, did you? I thought you a more honorable man than that!" my father said angrily, a righteous anger for the honor of his eldest daughter. Had I been there, I would have smiled sardonically.

"I did not break off the engagement," Will said, turning around to look Elizabeth straight in the eyes. "It would have been the last thing I would have done," he said. She cast her gaze to the floor as a few more tears slipped from her eyes. "I will go after her, of course," Will said.

My father nodded, still very displeased with him. "Of course you will. Even if it is just to bring her back." he said.

Will looked ashamed. "If I do not find her, then I shall not marry," he said. Elizabeth ran up the stairs with her hands over her face; quiet, stifled sobs coming from her room.

"When do you plan to set out?" the Commodore asked quietly. Will looked up, startled.

"Tonight, of course." he said.

"Could you wait until tomorrow morning?" Norrington seemed to request.

Will looked suspicious. "Why?" he asked. My father watched all this with a resigned expression.

"It is my fault that the maid left," Commodore Norrington said, looking awkward. "I feel I should also bring her back." My father nodded. Will sighed.

"I suppose," he said. "But it is just to get Christina - if she is with Sparrow -"

"If she is with Sparrow, it is my duty to bring him back to Port Royal for his hanging," the Commodore said severely. Will winced.

"And if she refuses to come, unless guaranteed Sparrow's safety?" he pressed.

Commodore Norrington smiled grimly. "She is but a woman, Mr. Turner, not an army. She can be taken back easily," he said. And with that, he turned and left the Governor's house, after bidding him a quiet good-night.

My father walked up to Will and stared him straight in the eyes. "If you do find her, and she consents to come back with you…and you do go through with the wedding…I expect you'll treat her better than this. You are not the only one whose woman ran away - don't be a fool, William," he said, looking as though he wanted to say something else entirely. Will nodded, and left the mansion, heading to the pub for a sorrowful drink before going back to the smithy to sleep.