Summary: "He tried to tell himself that he protected her for her husband, but that would be a greater lie than any he'd ever told." Jack vows to protect Elizabeth after Will is sworn into captaincy of the Flying Dutchman. She'll never understand why, but he can live with knowing that. One-shot. Post AWE AU.

Prompt: She/he might not want to be saved or protected, but she/he would still follow them to the ends of the Earth.

Through Thick & Thin

The Flying Dutchman sailed away, disappearing in a flash of brilliant green at the edge of the horizon. The captain's wife was left alone, on the shore.

The Black Pearl's captain sent his first mate out to offer her a place on board his own ship.

She accepted.

After a couple of days spent at the island of Tortuga, they set off for new adventures, new horizons.

She kept grieving.

He offered her the choice of choosing where they went.

They set off for Singapore, to see what was left of it following the East India Trading Company's attack on the pirate base located there.

Through battles and storms, he watched over her despite her claims that she didn't need his protection.

He would smirk at her, ask her if she had a death wish, because she was always in a tough spot when he stumbled upon her in the chaos.

She would try to avoid him for a few days.

He knew she appreciated the fact that he cared, even if she hated feeling pitied.

He tried to tell himself that he protected her for her husband, but that would be a greater lie than any he'd ever told.

He loved her, but she would never know.

But he was okay with it- he'd still follow her to the ends of the world anyway.