Forever Lost
Disclaimer: I never have, do not currently, and never will own "Pirates of the Caribbean" or "Gone with the Wind." I'm writing this for my own amusement.
Summary: Set at the or after the end of "At Worlds End." Not based on spoilers for that movie. Inspired by both by the end of the movie "Gone with the Wind" and some comparisons made between it and "Pirates of the Caribbean" (including fanfiction written by other authors). There are a few direct and indirect references to "Gone with the Wind" if you look for them.
It was over. Norrington and Barbossa were out of the way. The power-hungry Lord Cutler Beckett and the half-cephalopod Davy Jones had been defeated. Jack was captain of the Black Pearl again. Everything had been resolved…save one thing.
She would want to stay with Jack. Well, good for her. He didn't need to stick around, making her miserable. He'd finished his task. His father was free from Jones. He saw no reason to stay on the Pearl, waiting around while she wavered between promises of faithfulness to him and flirtation with Jack Sparrow. If she wanted Jack, then she could have him. She just couldn't have both him and Jack.
The Pearl was docked in Tortuga. It'd be easy to go ashore and find passage elsewhere. Not Port Royal, perhaps, but there were other places. Places where no one knew him.
He quickly gathered his possessions. Boldly, he made his way up from below decks and walked to the gangplank. She saw what he was doing and ran to face him.
"Will! Where are you going?"
"I'm not sure, Elizabeth. I'm leaving."
Elizabeth looked surprised. "Leaving? What do you mean?"
Will sighed. "I mean I'm leaving. I won't be coming back."
Elizabeth paled. "But why? Jack said we could stay onboard."
"I know, Elizabeth. It must be nice to have him taking care of you."
"Will, you're the one who takes care of me, not Jack! I love you!"
"But you can't make up your mind about whether to stay with me or to encourage him. I won't settle for you splitting your attentions between us. Since I love you, I also won't make you miserable by forbidding you to flirt with him. I'm going, and nothing you say will change my mind, no matter how mournful you look when you say it. Good bye, Elizabeth Swann." He turned and walked down the gangplank. Elizabeth followed him.
Elizabeth stopped him. "We can fix that, Will! I love, not Jack! I never loved him. I was just confused. Will, it doesn't have to end!"
Will looked back at her. His expression showed a sort of relaxed rashness, plainly exhibiting his attitude. His voice did the same.
"There was a time when we could have fixed it. A time when our goals were the same. But that time is far away, lost with the passing of the tides."
Elizabeth's voice was desperate and pleading. "Will, whatever happened to us? Why is that lost? Why can't it be like it used to?"
Will turned back briefly before walking down the dock.
"One word, my dear. Curiosity."