I wanted to get this finished for you guys before this hurricane comes... Ernesto is heading right towards me I hope this chapter is long enough for you. I hope you enjoyed my story, and thank you for reading
A few days later they were approaching Port Royal. Jack was pleased to see that Elizabeth's anger towards him had subsided for good, and they had gotten to the point where they were years before, as friends. Something inside him wanted more, but he didn't think she was quite ready for that yet, and he wasn't going to push her anymore. He was just trying to enjoy their last few days together before he sent her back home. It was something he'd have a very hard time doing. Currently, they were sitting on the bow of the little ship, and Jack was describing to Elizabeth the story of one of his many adventures.
"It felt as if the storm wouldn't ever stop... and it didn't help that I had the whole population of China breathing down my neck," Jack stated. "But, of course, I managed to take them all down before the rain ceased," He said, smiling.
"How?" She asked, astonished.
"That, my dear, shall remain a mystery," Jack said, planning to tell her at a later date, when they met again. They looked off into the distance, and saw the lights of Port Royal in the night sky. Elizabeth sighed, and looked down at her hands. Jack studied her profile, illuminated by the moonlight.
"What are you thinking of, Lizzie?" He said softly.
"Just... everything that's happened. I would have never thought getting captured by pirates would turn out to be a good thing," She said, looking up and smiling at him slightly, then looking back down.
"Right place right time, as they say," Jack said. "To think I was going to spend my money on rum..." He finished, smiling.
"It's a good thing you didn't," She said.
"Right. Very good," He said, trying not to act foolish. He didn't want to take her back. He knew that she was dying inside ever since Will passed, and being with him and no longer being alone in an empty house was good for her. It gave her her spark back. He didn't want to take that away again, leave her in that empty house. It wasn't his decision. It was hers. "We're almost there, Lizzie," Jack said, looking over at her.
"I see," She said, looking up as the docks got closer. Then there was silence between them.
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They had reached the docks at Port Royal, and Elizabeth wasn't sure what she should be doing. She was looking over at Jack, who was staring off into the distance. Neither of them moved to get off the ship. Elizabeth thought of the emptiness that the house had felt like for a year now, and how she had felt alive these past few days she spent with Jack. Someone who was finally paying attention to her again, someone who noticed her. She hadn't had that since she lost Will. She didn't know what to do. Jack cleared his throat, and looked up at her.
"Well... we're uh... we've arrived," Jack said. She nodded her head.
"Yes, yes, right. I guess I'll... be going, then," She said, getting up. He pulled himself up as well, and sighed. She didn't know how to say goodbye to him. They both approached each other, not looking one and other in the eye. She looked up quickly, and was surprised to see he was staring down at her. She stood up on her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek lightly, and then ran over and got off the ship, running down the docks as quickly as she could, and not looking back.
She got to her house a few moments later. It looked like the authorities had been there. She stepped onto the carpet and looked around. Empty. It felt empty, hollow, abandoned. Lifeless. Everything was dark, only illuminated by the light from the moon shining in through the window. She knelt down and picked up a chair that was lying on its back and sat it upright. She walked around and sat down, putting her head in her hands.
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Jack was standing on the deck watching Elizabeth run away from him as quickly as she possibly could. He sighed, and looked down at his feet as he rocked back and forth. Mr. Gibbs approached him slowly.
"Uh... Captain?" He said, and Jack turned around quickly to face him. "Where are we headin'?" He asked. Jack reached inside his coat and pulled out his compass. The arrow spun around and pointed right at him. He turned around and held it out in front of him, and saw that it was pointing in the direction that he had last seen Elizabeth. He smiled to himself.
"I should have known," He whispered. "Let's just go... the opposite of... here," Jack said, heading towards the wheel.
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Elizabeth looked at the door. She had left it open, and it was swinging from side to side with the wind. It was like something was calling her from the outside world, telling her not to waste away here. There was nothing left for her here. She didn't deserve to be left alone. Will wouldn't want her to be alone for the rest of her life. She made up her mind and rushed into her bedroom and pulled a bag out of the closet. She threw a few articles of clothing into it and pulled it closed quickly. She then pulled on a new pair of shoes, grabbed onto the handles and made a run for the door, hoping she could catch Jack in time.
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Jack had stood at the wheel for a few moments, and his small crew watching him, waiting for him to give them orders to go. Finally, he shook his head, trying to push away the thoughts that were torturing him, and he yelled for the crew to pull up the anchors so they could get away from the docks. They followed his orders and he turned around, looking at the lonely Port Royal. He hoped he'd see her again one day. The impact she'd had on his life since they first met was a big one, and he always felt somewhat empty when she was no longer with him. He kept up his demeanor everyone knew and understood, but deep inside he was wishing she was there by his side. He turned back around and looked at the ocean before him.
About a minute later, when they were almost a mile away from the docks, he heard yelling from behind him. Pintel, Ragetti and Mr. Gibbs went running to the stern of the ship.
"What is it?" Jack asked them. "Is the English Fleet going to come after me again?"
"Elizabeth," Gibbs said. Jack turned around quickly, and saw her. She was standing at the end of the dock, bag in hand, screaming her lungs out.
"JACK!" She screamed, waving. "I want to come with you!" He turned back towards the ocean, his eyes wide. The crew turned to face him, wondering what his next move was going to be. Jack began to turn the ship around, when a giant splash was heard. Jack spun around, and saw that Elizabeth had jumped into the water. Jack hissed and ran over to where the crew was standing at the stern.
"Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger..." He chanted as he looked for a rope to throw overboard. He looked down and saw her swimming quickly.
"Throw an anchor down, men! But whatever you do, don't hit her with it," He said warningly. They ran to the starboard side and turned the lever quickly to get the anchor down, and the ship came to a sudden halt, almost tipping itself over in the process. Mr. Gibbs ran up to the wheel and tried to steady it. Jack found a rope and threw it overboard as he saw Elizabeth reach the side of the ship.
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She reached the dock and saw Jack's ship a little ways away from the dock. She couldn't let him go. She couldn't stay here alone anymore.
"JACK!" She screamed, waving the bag in the air, "I want to come with you!" She screamed again. She saw him turn around and look at her, and then turn his back on her again. Her heart stopped. He was going to leave without her. She couldn't let that happen. She couldn't be without someone who cared about her... and who she cared about. Not anymore. She sucked in a breath, and then jumped into the ocean, keeping a tight hand on her belongings. She swam quickly, and noticed the ship begin to make a sharp turn, and then stop. She reached the side of the ship and Jack threw down a rope for her. She grabbed onto it, and he pulled her up until she was close enough where he could reach her. He grabbed onto her hand and pulled her up, placing a steady hand on her waist once she was standing on the deck. She felt Pintel and Ragetti come over and place a blanket around her shoulders, but she paid no attention to them. She was staring up into Jack's eyes. He was shaking his head.
"What were you doing, Liz?" He asked, rubbing her arms up and down. "I was turning around..."
"I didn't know... I saw you turn your back... I thought you were just going to keep going..." She said, breathing heavily.
"You misinterpreted, love. I was just having a moment of confusion the crew didn't need to see," He said, smiling. "You're... you're coming with me?" He asked, his tone softening. She nodded her head.
"Yes... this is where I should be. As long as you'll... have me," She said, looking down at her clasped hands.
"Well I don't have much choice, do I now?" He said, laughing slightly. She glared at him, and he returned it with a smile. "Of course I'll have you. You'll be an integral part of my crew on the Elizabeth, Elizabeth," He said. She smiled sheepishly. He then wrapped an arm around her and guided her in a different direction. "Let me give you the guided tour..." He said, walking her up to the wheel of the ship. The crew pulled up the anchor and they turned back around, heading out to sea.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. Jack and Elizabeth grew closer each day, and once she made peace with Will's death she was able to move on. Jack and Elizabeth were married right there, right on that deck, a year after she dove into the ocean to be with him. He devoted his life to sailing the seas and to her, the only woman he had ever loved.
FIN.