Chapter 15

A month. That's how long it had been since Anamaria had packed up her stuff and left with Bootstrap. A month since she had walked out of Jack's life taking with her his heart, not that she knew that for as far as he could remember he had never said the words.

Even now it still hurt to think of her. After a couple of weeks of drowning himself in rum he realized that no matter what he did she wasn't coming back. Every night he would see that night play out again in his dreams and every time he would convince her to stay or he would go with her. Every morning though the dreams disappeared as soon as he woke up alone in his bed.

He stood there in the ballroom watching as his servants worked to get the place in order for the annual spring ball. Jack was in no mood to be around a big crowd but this was something that he couldn't cancel. He had tried.

His adviser had told him that the invitations had already been sent and most of them were already in town. He also told him that there was no way they could get everything that had gone to pay for the food and decorations back and that if he really was going to live up to his father's name that he couldn't call it off.

He had also hinted that tonight would as be a good time to start looking for a new Queen since Anamaria had abandoned him.

When Bootstrap came on deck the first thing he saw was Anamaria standing over by the railing staring out at the horizon with a hand on the ever growing bulge that housed her and Jack's child.

"'ow 're you doing?" he asked her again just like he had been doing for the past month since they had left.

"'ll be fine." she told him smiling slightly though he could tell it was forced.

"'e'll come around Ana. Sooner or later we'll 'ave him back." Bill said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Wha' if he doesn'?" she asked not looking away from the sea.

"Then we'll jus' have to get used to 'im no' bein' 'ere." he said. Anamaria sighed and headed towards the captain's cabin. Bill seen the crew standing there watching him.

"Ge' back ta work!" he yelled and walked up to the helm.

Jack stood at the entrance to the ballroom. He sighed and plastered on a smile before walking into the room. He was getting a drink when Gwen came up to him.

"How are you doing?" she asked her brother.

Jack sighed and gulped down the champagne. "Me wife left me an' I couldn' do anything 'bout it bu' let 'er walk away." he said after looking around to make sure no one was listening.

"She'll come back. She cares about you too much not to." she said rubbing his back a bit.

"No' after wha' I did." he said quietly and walked off into the crowd.

"What are they doing here?" his adviser asked speaking of Will and Gwen. "You can't be socializing with a blacksmith and his wife."

"Watch your mouth boy." Jack hissed. "He ain't a mere blacksmith. He's my sister's husband and would have been your king. Now 've had a horrible month so please let me try to enjoy tonight." With that Jack left his adviser standing there with his mouth open.

"Good evening Will." Will turned from the man he was talking with to see who had just spoke to him.

"Good evening Elizabeth." Will replied kindly. "How are things between you and James?"

"James and I separated not long after we left here." Elizabeth said some what sadly. "How are things with you and your wife?"

"Things are going well. We're actually thinking of having another child." he told her smiling.

"That's great news." she said. "I'll talk to you later then." Will watched her walk off and then turned back to his conversation.

After a few drinks Jack finally began to loosen up a bit. He was standing outside on the porch when someone came to stand beside him. "What is the king doing out here instead of in there socializing with his subjects?" Elizabeth asked teasingly.

"No' much for big crowds righ' now." Jack replied taking a sip out of his glass.

"I heard about Anamaria. You deserve much better than her." At that comment Jack glared at her.

"There ain' no one better than her." Jack growled. "Shouldn' ye be inside wit' yer husband?"

"James left me a few weeks after we returned to Port Royal." she told him.

"James you haven't seen Jack around have you?" Gwen asked the commodore.

"Last I seen of him he went out to sit on the porch." James responded. "You haven't seen my wife have you?"

Gwen looked out the two glass doors that led to the porch and found her wayward brother talking to a very familiar blond. "Sorry James I haven't seen her." With that she headed out to the porch.

TBC...