Reflection Chapter Nine – A Promise Kept
Sure enough, by sunset, Elizabeth and Will showed up at the harbor, each with a bag small enough to sling over one's shoulder. They met Jack before the walkway up to the Pearl. He had his same smile as they walked up.
"Glad to know you made it," Jack said.
"We have a promise, right?"
"Yes, William, I believe you're right," replied Jack.
Jack stepped aside and Will picked up his bag and Elizabeth's. Will started up the walkway, the strangely silent Elizabeth following closely behind. Jack watched Elizabeth walk up in silence. She hadn't even looked Jack in the eyes since earlier. Jack frowned and followed them up the walkway. Once on the deck of the Pearl, he started shouting orders.
A crew member walked up to Elizabeth and Will, his orders to direct Elizabeth and Will to their room. Jack took his place at the helm and placed his hand protectively on the wheel of the Pearl. He lost himself in the view of the open ocean, trying to forget about Elizabeth.
Somehow, he couldn't.
Jack hadn't left the helm since they departed, and by now it was probably around midnight. Jack was alone on the deck of the Pearl, and he was deep within his thoughts. At least until Elizabeth emerged from below deck. She was clad in a snow white shift that in the moonlight made her look surreal.
She stepped onto the deck softy and walked up to the helm and stood there in silence.
"It's rather uncommon of an upstanding lady such as yourself to be up at this hour, Miss Swann," Jack said, still staring out to sea.
"I couldn't sleep," Elizabeth said, taking a step closer to Jack.
"Well, it's like Gibbs always says, 'Its bad luck to go to bed on an empty stomach and a full mind,'" Jack said, playfully imitating Gibbs as he spoke.
With a sigh, Elizabeth sat down on the deck and looked up at Jack saying, "Everything is bad luck with Gibbs, isn't it?"
"In more ways than one, Elizabeth," Jack said as he stepped away from the wheel and sat down by Elizabeth.
There was an awkward silence between the two the seemed to last for longer than necessary. Finally, Jack placed his hand on Elizabeth's and she looked up at him.
"Out of curiosity, Elizabeth, have you given any thought to what I—"
Elizabeth silenced Jack with the raising of her hand. Elizabeth played with the hem on her shift as she spoke.
"You mean the world to me, Jack. Its just that…"
"You have the blacksmith," said Jack with a frown. He rose to his feet and walked back to the wheel.
"Jack, please, I'm just really confused right now; and I need someone to lay this situation straight for me."
"I would love to help you Elizabeth," said Jack, "I really would. But, you see, I could tell you how I stand on this situation; yet at the same time, I see it fit for you to make your own decisions. My feelings for you will never change Elizabeth, but you…."
Jack shook his head and squatted down to Elizabeth's eye level and tilted his head to one side as she gazed into Elizabeth's brown eyes.
"…You I'm just not too sure of. You're more indecisive than Ragetti when he's eye shopping."
Elizabeth laughed and wrapped her arms around Jack. He pulled her up to her feet and caressed her cheek. Elizabeth stared at Jack's chest for a moment before breaking their embrace.
"I should be getting back to bed," said Elizabeth as she walked to the stairs, "Thanks, Jack."
"I enjoyed our little chat, Elizabeth. I'd like to have one again, but next time, bring rum."
"I'll make note. Good night, Jack," said Elizabeth while stepping down below and shutting the hatch behind her.
"Sweet dreams, Elizabeth," Jack said, staring out to sea again.