Authors Note: I feel absolutely terrible for almost ditching this fic, but after unexpectedly receiving a review months after I forgot about "Things Change With Time" I realized I loved this story much more than I could imagine. I plan to finish what I started.
Except if I suddenly feel as if I lost all my original readers, and didn't gain any new ones, I would probably think about deleting this fic. So please tell me what you think!
I apologize for any spelling or grammatical errors I may have missed (I've reread this story a few times, just to be sure) but this site has a tendency to bunch words likethis, so, if you see anything like that, please don't blame me, it was not my intention.
So, I hope you enjoy my latest chapter!
Things Change With Time.
Chapter Two.
The Unexpected Visitor.
Will shifted uncomfortably on the soft couch below him, as if trying to comprehend the strain of thoughts going in and out of his head like bullets. The sound of cawing birds in the distance wasn't of any help either. With a groan, he rose and found himself gazing at the sparkling blue ocean that was framed by the window. "We can't just sit here and wonder."
"I know, Will," Elizabeth said softly, placing her left hand on Wills shoulder, squeezing it gently. "If only we knew for sure that Gabrielle wasn't dead."
Will turned to his right and gazed into Elizabeth's large, expressive eyes. He still didn't say a word, but rather let the sound of the ocean fill the unmistakable silence in the room.
"But why would Jack tell us that she's dead when she isn't?" Elizabeth questioned, running her hands through her hair in discontent, and looking for answers in Will's sympathetic eyes.
"I have no idea…" he muttered, his voice shaking, trying to find a solution to a virtually unsolvable problem. "Maybe he didn't want us to know about her?"
Elizabeth, not wanting to look to worried, shuffled and smoothed out her dress. She didn't quite believe that Jack would hide the truth about a woman he loved. Thinking hard, she tried to come to a reasonable conclusion, but her mind came up short. Struggling to break the silence, she finally uttered, "how come Jack, of all people, fell in love?"
Gazing at the white tiled floor beneath him, he hastily tapped his boots in contemplation. "Jack knew he was the son of a pirate, but I don't think he acted like a drunk, swaggering lad when he was 15."
"So," Elizabeth began with a gulp, wrapping her hands around Will's strong neck. "You're telling me that the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow was once a --"
Will interrupted her with a laugh. "Gentlemen? Perhaps."
"Maybe that's why he kept her a secret all these years," Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes at the mere possibility that Jack Sparrow was once a young and proper boy.
The two lovebirds gazed at the beautiful scenery that appeared in front of their very eyes. The windowpane was a merely a canvas that displayed the beauty of Port Royal. With flowers in perfect bloom, creating a sea of red, yellow, and blue, and lush green trees appeared as dots in the distance, and a glowing ball of fire that was trapped inside a blanket of blue blazed above.
Elizabeth sighed deeply as her thoughts troubled her in ways she never thought imaginable. "I guess you can never trust a pirate."
"Aye. But, you trust me," Will said with a grin as he placed his warm lips on Elizabeth's. As they finally parted, he saw a flicker of shock and confusion in her eyes. Scared, Will placed his hands on her shoulders, silently asking her what was wrong with his deep eyes.
"He didn't lie." Elizabeth said quickly.
"Pardon?" Will said, blinking twice.
Looking up at him, she realized that she was at a loss for words. Often opening her mouth to speak, then closing it a few moments later, trying to figure out if what she was thinking was really plausible. Finally, she whispered, "what if he was tricked into believing she was dead?"
Will, after a moment of thought, nodded in silent agreement.
"But," Elizabeth said, biting her pink lips. "From all the times that Jack has docked here, how has he never seen her?"
Will gave a stifled exhale as he stroked his chin. "Her eyes told the tale of a deeply depressed and unhappy woman. They gleamed, but they gleamed despair. They cried, but they never appeared to stop."
Elizabeth placed her tiny fingers on the grey marble mantle, sweeping it lightly from left to right. "That's awful."
"I have to go," Will interjected with a twinkle in his eyes and a thrill in his voice. Kissing Elizabeth once more on the cheek, he ran towards the heavy wooden doors.
"Will!" Elizabeth exclaimed, completely confused and running after him. Grabbing the back of his shirt, she spun him around, quietly asking, "what are you doing?"
"I received a letter from Jack about a week ago," Will began, biting his lower lip. "He's docking this afternoon."
"What?" Elizabeth screamed, looking as if she was about to jump into Will's arms. Although, as she turned the golden handle, she couldn't help but think about Jack. "Do you have the letter with you?"
Reaching into his breast pocket, Will removed a shabby brown piece of parchment and dangled it in front of the Caribbean beauty. "I guess Jack wanted to save on proper postage."
As she unfolded the letter with her tanned hands, Will noticed a sucked-lip smile emerging from her usually puckered pout.
Finishing the short letter, she reached for Will's hand and softly kissed it. "Come on, we have a pirate to greet."
Seeing Will's face contort with confusion, Elizabeth rubbed his hand with her thumb. "Sorry, I forgot that Jack was literate."
The Port Royal harbor bustled with life, from the poorest fisherman casting their nets, to the richest of Navy Admirals inspecting their beloved ships that meant more to them than their wives. The hot sun blazed above, while the cool Caribbean breeze swept Elizabeth's hair on to Will's face, pleasing him in ways unimaginable. The scent of honey lingered in the air, and he felt like he was being whipped by strands of gold.
"Do you see anything?" Elizabeth asked, snapping Will out of his reverie.
Squinting, he gazed towards the gigantic cliff that appeared to be a curtain hiding the wondrous Black Pearl. Emerging from the rock like the opening scene of a play, Will pointed in the direction of a massive ship that was unmistakable. The powerful presence was uncanny to any other boat tied to the docks, and even the noblest of men would be filled with embarrassment if their ship was seen next to the Pearl.
Instinctively, they sprinted towards the pier that wobbled with every step Will and Elizabeth took. Breathless, tired, and now tiptoeing along the edge of the dock, they had no choice but to wait.
"It's the fastest ship in the Caribbean! How come it's taking forever to port?" Elizabeth questioned impatiently, crossing her arms.
"Maybe Jack saw Norrington peeking out from the bridge over there," Will said laughing, pointing his chin towards the red brick bridge.
"I'm still surprised that Norrington allows Jack to dock here," Elizabeth replied, with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
'Wonder? Norrington will do anything to make you happy,' Will thought bitterly, trying not to look hostile.
"Will?" she asked, her eyes scanning him while she was waiting for an answer.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Jack made a deal with him that he couldn't refuse." He replied, thankful for his sharp mind.
"What a surprise," she said sarcastically with a giggle.
"Let's just hope he's not drunk…" Will murmured under his breath, holding his hips as he felt the wind beat him with it's force.
"Hope? We should pray," Elizabeth retorted, rolling her eyes at the thought. Nevertheless, they both knew that at the odd, and very infrequent moment of his sobriety, Jack almost turned into a complete gentleman, that is, if he applied himself. With the occasional sexual innuendo or unintelligent comment at the most inadequate moment, he actually was quite refined, at least in Elizabeth's eyes he was. She tended to hope for the impossible.
The Black Pearl, after what felt like hours, finally docked, causing the rough waves to cease and become calm again. Familiar silhouettes came into view.
"Ahoy Turner and Miss Elizabeth!" Jack yelled, flailing his arms about.
"Ahoy!" the two replied in unison, voices blending into one.
"Haven't seen you lovers in a while, eh mates?" Jack chuckled as he jumped off the side of the boat with a giant leap, making Elizabeth's heart skip a beat.
"Aye," Will said with a giant grin plastered to his face. "Has it been four months already?"
Eyeing Will with a raised eyebrow, Jack noticed an obvious excited smile that was badly hidden. "Miss Swann, I see Will has pleasured you well."
"Mr. Sparrow!" she exclaimed, shooting him a teasing stare. "That's highly uncalled for!" she said as she gave Will a wink. "The point is, we have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Jack replied with a toothy grin. "It better involve women and bottles of rum."
Jack could feel himself sweat under the Caribbean sun as he staggered along the narrow cobbled street that was bordered by tall, green privacy hedges. With each passing minute, he began to slowly despise surprises. In the distance, he could see a massive Italian marble fountain that sprayed glittering water in all directions. "That better be a fountain of rum."
Elizabeth turned and gave him an annoyed stare, to which Jack replied with haughty grunt. "Women."
Rapidly, she elbowed Will in the ribs harshly. "Will," she whispered.
He glanced at her from the corner of his left eye, realizing that what she had to say was probably best to keep away from Jack.
"How do you know where she lives?" She questioned with a hint of jealousy in her soft voice.
Will lifted his left eyebrow in query, buying himself some time for an answer. "What?"
She gave him a questioning stare, waiting for an explanation.
"Her home overlooks yours," He said quickly, in a somewhat embarrassed tone.
"Right," she said through clenched teeth.
"What are you two bickering about?" Jack muttered, picking his teeth with a tiny dagger.
Elizabeth exhaled loudly through her nose in a huff. "How on Earth did a woman who lives here fall in love with...him?"
A long minute passed, and the iron, water damaged gate that failed the test of time stood only a foot away.
Will marveled at the beauty and craftsmanship before his eyes while his fingers grazed the rough iron that was overgrown with green and yellow vines. Stroking the gate, his hand reached a keyhole that was orange with rust. "Jack, give me your dagger."
"What?" He responded quickly and wide-eyed.
"Your dagger, Jack. The gate's locked." Will replied, trying to shake the gate open.
"And lend me effects to a mere...novice?" Jack retorted mockingly. Sauntering over to the rusty lock, he tried to pick it, but all that could be heard was the scraping and peeling of the dagger.
Stomping over to the gate, Elizabeth grabbed the dagger out of Jack's hands, and with two swift stabbing motions, the heavy lock tumbled to the cobblestone. "Certain things you can only learn from a blacksmith."
As Elizabeth entered the property, Jack eyed her from behind. "Turner, she's a rare catch," He said, with an impressed grin. "Don't mess it up."
The large, airy courtyard was unbelievably pristine, with perfectly trimmed and planted flowers, trees, and hedges. A calm feeling overpowered the three of them as they walked towards the massive home. The only sound that could be heard was the whistling of the wind, the gentle rush of the fountain, and Elizabeth's shoes tapping against the cobblestone.
Jack, on the other hand, didn't take notice of the peculiar quiet that existed around him, but rather the two plaques bolted on the columns in front of the home. On the left, he saw an engraved "G" beaming in the sunlight, and on the right, was an "L". Blinking a few times, he realized that he was probably out of his mind.
Elizabeth smiled a sly smile as her knuckles tapped loudly against the grain of the wooden door. A few moments later, a prim servant appeared in the doorway, holding a silver teapot in one hand.
"Good…morning," he said slurring his words at the sight of Jacks dirty hair, darkly tanned skin, and torn clothing, topped with a scuffed hat.
"We would like to speak with Miss Grant please," Will said politely.
"For what purpose?" The servant retorted coldly, narrowing his eyes.
"To request a meeting. I'm Elizabeth Swann, daughter of the Governor," She said briskly, feeling horrible about having to use her last name and status to her advantage.
"One moment," he said, deliberately annoyed as he shut the door.
"Temper, temper," Jack muttered, still wondering why he agreed to come along on Will and Elizabeth's little adventure.
"Jack, you're not one to have a proper disposition yourself," Elizabeth said mockingly, with a laugh.
Will scoffed. "The least he could have done was invite us in."
Suddenly, shuffling was heard from the other side of the door, and Will quietly grabbed Elizabeth's wrist, pulling her backwards in a quick attempt to exit unheard.
"One moment!"
Jack, in a different state of mind, burst through the door, wondering if he heard that sweet voice he missed for so long, wondering if the woman he loved for years was only steps away, and wondering, wondering with a burning desire, if Gabrielle London's eyes would meet his.
They did.
I knew immediately who the scrubby looking man standing in front of me was. His dark eyes paired with his chapped thin lips were unmistakable, and no matter how weather-beaten he looked, the Jack Sparrow I knew and remembered shined through like an old shilling.
"Gabrielle…" He said as he ran his rough and blistered hand down my cheek. I let out a whimper of fear as he caressed my lips. But this fear wasn't one of worry, but rather one of love.
I felt his fingertips sweep my neck and graze my chest, only to stop short on the wondrous diamond. Undoing the clasp, I held the necklace in my open palm, gazing into Jack's eyes, asking for his attention after our quiet reverie. "This is yours. It's about time I give it back."
"'Twas a gift," he replied, sending a chill up my spine. His tone still reminded me of the young Jack Sparrow, but years of heat and wind seemed to ruin his powerful voice. Now, all I heard was a hoarse, raspy, wind-torn tone that was nearly unrecognizable.
"I don't accept gifts that have lies and disloyalty hidden beneath the surface," I said giving him a harsh stare that could make even the strongest man cringe. As I placed the jewel into his hand, I felt a burning resentment flowing in my veins. "I waited all my life for a man who I thought I could love, but instead, God gave me you instead of my Prince. God gave me a man who wears a veil of disloyalty, betrayal, and dishonesty."
"In all fairness, I am loyal and honest," he replied proudly with a grin.
"You're a pirate! You're a man who disobeys the law, kills innocent people, steals for profit" I screamed in agony, letting my emotions flow from my heart and out of my lips.
"I prefer the term 'Modern Day Robin Hood'."
"How dare you even make a comparison to a man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor? You only steal from the rich. End of story!" I buried my hands in my face, trying to control the outpour of emotions. I felt two of the most powerful feelings that a human could ever feel, hate and love, both at the same time, and my heart felt like it was going to collapse. Finally, after biting my lip to make the tears that welled up in my eyes stop, I composed myself. "Jack, I look at your face and I see the lips of women plastered all over. I see years and years of pillage and death. I look at your scar stricken face and I see a man with no respect for anyone's feelings but his own. And worst of all, I see a man who didn't love me enough to even...to even give me closure. Instead, you leave me, stranded with only myself and my broken heart. You promised to love me forever. But I guess we were only foolish children at the time."
"Yet, when I look at you, I see a diamond on your left finger. I see a woman who, like I, didn't keep her promise."
"Don't you dare throw that in my face!" I yelled, slapping Jack across the face as hard as I could. As he clutched his cheek, I took my ring off and held it, inches in front of his eyes. "I wouldn't have this ring if you weren't such a lying, malevolent, vile man!"
"Gabrielle, are you alright?" I heard the powerful and commanding voice of Elliot as he walked into the hallway, with a concerned look on his face.
I quickly put the ring back on and straightened my back with poise. I smiled a calm, sweet smile as I leaned in to kiss Elliot's soft lips. After our lips parted, I suddenly quivered with fear. Trying to keep my thoughts from pounding me with reality, I took a deep breath, and began to speak. "Jack Sparrow, this is Elliot Grant, my fiancé. Elliot, this is Jack...an old friend."
Elliot shot Jack an unfriendly and cold stare as he wrapped his arms around me. The second his body touched mine, I felt every emotion he was feeling, jealousy, anger, and resentment, and he felt mine.
"Congratulations," Jack said, forcing the word through his teeth.
"Now, Jack --"
"Captain, Jack Sparrow," he interjected with a snarl.
"It was nice meeting you again, but if you don't mind, I have a wedding to plan, to which you were not invited. Ta," Elliot sneered with a pompous arrogance. He harshly turned the iron handle and held the giant door open, urging Jack to leave the property.
Jack tried to catch my attention with his eyes, but I couldn't bare to look at him any longer. I just wanted him to leave, both my home and my life. He wasn't the man I thought he was. The sweet, kind Jack I once knew was replaced by this...this...smooth talking fool. Nothing hurt me more than knowing my mind, body, and soul was tricked by the magical feeling of love.
Glancing below, I saw Elliot's hidden hand tightly grip his sword, and I could tell he was waiting for a reason to attack. I let out a quick, fearful gasp, and without a second thought, Jack spun and faced my fiancé and I.
"Mate, ye better get yer hand of yer sword, I won't bite."
"Oh, I'm not scared," Elliot retorted maliciously as he placed his warm lips on mine, knowing it would make Jack furious. I felt his rough hands run through my hair and caress my cheek. Like a young, naive girl, I just stood there, letting him kiss me not out of love, but for the feeling of power. In Elliot's mind, nothing felt as good as possessing something his enemy wanted.
That something was me.