What Is & What Will Never Be

Chapter 16

Disclaimer: I do not & cannot obtain ownership of POTC 1, 2, or 3...

What shall we do with all this angst?

Elizabeth Swann stood at the sink, washing the silverware. The maid had insisted that she could wash them, but Elizabeth wholeheartedly declined the idea.

Washing the dishes gave Elizabeth a feeling of great satisfaction—the way the water would run over her hands as she scrubbed with a soapy sponge...rinsing the dish clean, and then drying it with the hand towel, and admiring its shiny sparkle as she placed it in the cabinet.

Washing the dishes not only gave her a feeling of satisfaction, but it is also gave her something to do to keep her hands and her mind busy. She attempted to distract herself from things...

She scrubbed the platter viciously. 'Where are they?' she could not help herself from thinking.

She had seen nor heard form her husband and friend since early afternoon. What was it now? Nearly dusk.

She set the platter in the other side of the sink, and grabbed a cup, and began washing it just as ferociously. She sighed, annoyed at herself for not pinning her hair up, and flipped it around so that it would not get wet.

She dried another dish off, and rubbed her fingertips together.

'Hmm...another advantage of washing dishes—soft hands' she thought to herself.

Slightly more pleased, she picked up one more plate, turning the water back on, before she heard the door.

She paused what she was doing. She heard voices. She gasped; in her anxiety, the plate slipped out of her grip, and fell to the floor with a clash, breaking into a million pieces.

She didn't care.

"Will! Jade?" she cried, rushing to the formal living room, and flung herself into her husband's arms, then turning to embrace Jade.

"Oh my God, what happened to you?" she addressed both of them. "Oh God, Will" she murmured, noting the bruise under his eye.

"It's all right darling, there's nothing to worry about", he said wearily.

Elizabeth noticed that Will was holding Jade's arm, supporting her.

"Jade...you look a fright. Come sit down now. I'll fix you some tea", she ordered, as she guided her to the couch.

"Merci", Jade replied vaguely.

Elizabeth walked back to the kitchen, Will following her. When they reached the room, Elizabeth let out a sob.

"Oh, Will, whatever happened?"

"It's a long story dear—Jade's worse off than I", he said, as his wife brought her hand up to his face, as she looked over the bruise.

Elizabeth looked into his eyes, knowing that he would tell her the whole story later tonight.

"I'll make sure Jade is alright", Elizabeth consented, trying to remain calm.

Jade sighed as she leaned back into the cushion of the couch.

'My mother; my own mother!' she thought in bewilderment. 'How could she do this to me? She knew I was...with someone.'

"But she didn't listen. Of course not."

She sighed again. Then she noticed a glass goblet upon the table.

'Do I really look a fright?'

She picked it up, and looked at her reflection. She touched the glass, her finger leaving an imprint.

'I do look so horrid...'

Elizabeth came in with Will, carrying the cup of tea. She set it before Jade. Steam radiated from the surface.

"Thank you so much", Jade said as she took a sip, not purely because she wanted any, but because of manners. She was surprised though, as she felt a bit better as the hot liquid flowed down her throat and she felt the warmth through her chest.

Elizabeth was sitting next to her, and Jade touched her hand. "I thank the both of you."

"Oh, Jade", Elizabeth murmured, gently embracing her.

"It's a good thing you're safe, Miss Rochet. I wouldn't look forward to the prospect of Captain Sparrow shooting my head off." He chuckled lightly.

Jade had to fight back tears. She drew a breath.

"Would you care to lie down?" Elizabeth asked benevolently.

Jade nodded. "I'm dreadfully tired—I'll do to my room and sleep for the night."

"I'll walk you", Elizabeth offered. She glanced back at Will who nodded.

"Are you going to be alright?" Elizabeth asked after she had walked Jade to her candle-lit room.

"Yes", she answered.

Elizabeth took a step towards the door, but paused, and asked gently, "Would you like to talk about it? About...what happened?"

"Where do I begin?" Jade responded, almost giving a laugh, as she brushed a fallen tear away.

Elizabeth came to sit next to her, placing a hand reassuringly on her shoulder.

"Mon mere...My mother—she arranged a marriage for me without my knowledge."

"But didn't she know about...?"

"I tried to tell her...but this is who she is; this is what she does. It's no surprise." She paused. "Of course, it's horrible that Will had to become involved." She brushed away another tear. "I don't even know where she is now. But I don't care. How could she do this...?"

"Jade, dear, it's alright. You're safe now."

"Am I?" Jade asked boldly.

"Of course, dear!" Elizabeth assured her. "Will and I would never let anything happen..."

"I know, I know", Jade murmured. "I'm sorry. It's just...everything horrid that happens to me, seems to happen when Jack is gone."

"Oh, I know how hard this must be for you. I feel the same way when Will is gone."

Jade took a breath, and leaned back from Elizabeth's étreinte. "Thank you for understanding."

"It's alright." Elizabeth rose, and glanced back at her.

"I'm fine", Jade said.

"Well, you can come to me to talk any time, okay?"

"Okay", she replied.

Elizabeth bid her good night, and closed the door.

As soon as the sound of Elizabeth's footsteps down the hall faded, Jade sat on the bed, bringing her knees up to her chest.

She burst into tears.

"Oh God, Jack, I need you so."

She moaned, and dried her tears, feeling that it was no use to weep.

She rose and slipped out of her bodice, and changed into her negligee. She lay down under the covers, but did not blow out the light, or close her eyes.

"Jack, do you need me as much as I need you?" she whispered.

Jack cleared his throat, clearly, impatience getting the better of him.

"Just be patient, Cap'n", Gibbs muttered.

"Well, the bloke better not be a no-show, or—"

"Ahem."

Jack turned the sound of someone clearing their throat behind him. "Aye?"

"You Captain Jack Sparrow?" a tidy-looking sailor asked.

"Who wants to know?" Jack growled irritably.

"That he is, mate!" Gibbs interrupted.

Jack rolled his eyes. Must he have etiquette now?

"The Captain Jack Sparrow?" the man asked incredulously.

"Aye", Jack answered, fiddling absently with one of his rings.

"R-really? You're really...?"

"Yes! I am the one an' only, infamous, famous Captain Jack Sparrow", Jack exclaimed. "That answer yer question, laddie?"

"Well, then", the sailor grinned a bit nervously. "I'm first mate Fletcher Christian."

Jack sighed exasperatedly. "What is yer bloody point?"

"Oh, well, I'm here on account of Lieutenant William Bligh. Of The Bounty."

"Ah! Well, finally we've gotten somewhere", Jack exclaimed, and the two went to a table in the back as Gibbs departed them.

"So, yer here in the place o' her Lieutenant, or Captain, then?"

"Yes, sir I am."

Jack noticed the apprehension and awe in the man's eyes, and smirked inwardly to himself.

"Well, afore we get this negotiatin' goin', let me ask you something."

Jack met his eyes, and asked seriously, "Are ye honored ter be in my presence?"

"Well, Captain, I must admit, I have heard great tales of you..."

"An' they're all true", Jack egged him on. A pretty bargirl giggled to the right of him, and for a fleeting moment, Jack thought it was Jade, but shook his head, and was disappointed. During the brief distraction, Christian had kept talking, and Jack interrupted him.

"Well, let's jus' make this quick then. Since yer a nice lad, how bout we split this half an' half? We have an accord?"

"Agreed!" he answered enthusiastically. With a handshake on it, and a few words to depart, the first mate left.

"Well, that must 'ave been the easiest thing I've ever done." He sighed, feeling relieved, though tired. He was ready to head home.

Jack ordered a flask of rum, and began to drink it in solitude.

"Lay down, darling", Elizabeth ordered. Will had just finished telling her everything that had happened that day—all the way to Serge knocking him senseless, to Jade being admitted to the hospital, and finally having Serge locked up in prison.

"Elizabeth, you needn't fuss over me."

She put her hands on her hips. "And why shouldn't I? It seems that's all you do to me."

She walked to the vanity, dipping a cloth into some ice-water, then came back over to the bed. She gave a pout, putting her hands on his arms.

"Lay down." Before she knew what hit her, Will grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her down to him, enveloping her in a kiss.

"Mr. Turner!" she scoffed, rolling away from him. She stood back up, and began to dab at the bruise with the cloth.

Will could tell she was trying to hide the smile forming on her lips.

"Is Jenevieve tucked in bed?" he asked. He had just bid their daughter good night a little while before. She slept in the nursery, just next door.

"Yes, she's asleep now", Elizabeth answered. She caught the look in Will's eyes.

"I hope you're not getting any ideas, Mr. Turner."

"Mmm", was all his answer, as he pulled Elizabeth down again, to which she gave an indignant squeal, so that she lay next to him on the bed.

He stroked a strand of her hair aside before kissing her again. His fingers entwined into the laces of her nightdress as he deepened the kiss.

"I give in", she breathed, her heart beating fast, when he finally broke the kiss.

étreinte: embrace

Hope that holds you over till this weekend!