29. Journey's End

The following morning there is a knock at the cabin door.

"Cap'n!" Gibbs shouts from the other side of the door. Jack drowsily opens his eyes and groans under his breath.

"Bloody 'ell, not again," he grumbles as he flops out of bed and walks to the door. He opens the door a crack. "What is it, Gibbs?" he asks, rubbing his face from sleep.

"Sir, we're in need of a direction from yer compass," Gibbs explains slowly.

"Ah, yes o' course," Jack replies groggily as he fumbles about the room looking for his compass.

"GIBBS! I FOUND IT!" Ragetti exclaims suddenly from the main deck. Jack's eyebrows raise as his eyes widen in curiosity.

"How can that be? It should be right 'ere…" Jack trails off as he remembers that his compass had been on him last night.

"It was lying on the bow deck!" Ragetti continues, to Gibbs. Gibbs raises an eyebrow at Jack, who just smiles sheepishly.

"All hands below deck, cap'n?" Gibbs asks with a smirk.

"When a woman needs ye, what else can ye do?" Jack asks with a flash of his smile. Gibbs just shrugs and closes the door to Jack's cabin.

0 0 0

The rest of the trip to Port Royal is longer than I had remembered it being from the past, but its length is a good thing to me. Jack and I spend our nights together and moments during the day discussing the events of our long journey together.

Twilight is always my favorite time of day on the Pearl as we sail through clear blue waters beneath a darkening sky. Feeling the trade winds blow through my hair as Jack stands beside me at the helm is something, I realise that I truly want to be, always.

"Luv, c'mere," Jack calls to me from the helm. I am leaning over the railing. It is twilight. I turn and smile up at him and walk up to the wheel where he's standing.

"I want ye t' take the wheel," he replies as he takes a step back from the wheel. I look at him and then back at the wheel.

"Are you sure?" I ask, nervous at his gesture.

"Aye! Ye sailed me ship before!" he exclaims through a thick voice. I nod my head and place my hands around the wheel's spokes. Jack stands behind me for a brief bit of time, and then moves to my left and observes me. He remains there and then moves to my right.

"Jack, what the hell are you doing?!" I ask through laughter.

"One moment!" He replies as he runs down to the main deck and watches me from the deck. After a few moments, he runs back up to the helm and stands beside me.

"So?" I ask, turning to him and smiling.

"I like it. I like the way ye look sailin' me ship," he says finally with a nod of his head.

"Why thank you, Jack. I like sailing it," I reply with a smile.

"Well that's a good thing, then, luv, cus I'd like it a whole lot if ye'd sail it with me a lot more," he responds thoughtfully. I turn to him still smiling.

"I'd love to," I say.

0 0 0

We make port early that following morning in Port Royal. This is where our journey with Elizabeth and Will ends. They emerge from below deck, hands clasped together and smiling. I smile at them, glad that they can now begin a life together.

"Are you and Jack coming ashore with us?" Elizabeth asks me. I shake my head.

"Yes, I think for a little bit," I reply, glancing over at Jack. He nods his head. We all fumble into the long boat and row to shore.

We tie up the dingy to the dock and walk through the familiar streets of Port Royal, down little side streets and finally stop in front of Elizabeth's tiny home.

"We've finally made it back, she says to Will with a smile.

"Jack, Lindsey—thank you so much for everything," Will says smiling.

"Dear William—it's the least we could've done. Not t' mention yer dahling murderess wouldn't rest til' ye be brought back t' 'er!" Jack exclaims with a flashy smile. We all laugh at the truth to what he says.

"It's been so wonderful meeting and getting to know you, Lindsey. You've truly become a cherished friend to us both," Elizabeth says as he hugs me.

"And I feel the same for you both. When I first came here, you two were the ones who helped me out. I owe so much to you both!" I reply, my eyes beginning to well.

"We owe you so much," Will responds.

"Please promise us you'll both be at our wedding—our formal wedding," Elizabeth pleads.

"Of course!" I exclaim, "I wouldn't miss it for anything,"

"I'll see where I'm at," Jack replies stingily.

"Jack," Elizabeth stares him down.

"Alright. I'll be there—we'll both be there, right luv?"

"Yes Jack. I already told them I'm going!" I reply and then smacking him on the arm playfully.

"Right!" he exclaims.

"Well take care—and we'll see you both soon," Will says as he opens the door to their home.

"Of course—you too," I smile back and Jack and I both leave as they enter their home and close the door. Once they're gone, I stop in the middle of the street.

"What is it, luv?" Jack asks.

"Nothing—I'm just reminiscing of all the memories we have from this place," I laugh through teary eyes.

"Well, luv, it's not like we're never comin' back 'ere again! Ye already got us roped into comin' fer their weddin'!" Jack exclaims with a throw of his hands.

"Jack, I thought you loved weddings?!" I exclaim back, laughing at him as we continue walking through the streets.

"I do! I love weddings! I just don't wanna go t' bloody Will and Elizabeth's wedding because tha' means we 'ave t' give 'em gifts an' what not. AND they probably won't allow me t' drink as much rum as I'd like!" He complains.

"Jack-it's gonna be okay!" I laugh. I then notice a familiar side street and pause in the road once again. Not acknowledging Jack, I grab his wrist and begin walking down he street.

"Where ye takin' me, luv?" Jack asks, as he looks around him.

"Look familiar?" I ask when I stop outside of an old building.

"Not one bit," he replies hastily.

"JACK! It's my music store!" I shriek at him.

"Ah! Of course it is! I knew that. I know where I am," he replies haughtily.

"Right," I say sarcastically as I leave him and go towards the door. Slowly lift the latch and open the door. I step inside the store and see that it's a complete wreck—just I had I found it the very first morning I had woken up there.

"Luv, yer store's a mess," Jack points out as he coughs from the dust.

"No shit, Sherlock," I reply as I meander around the store picking up old music and brushing the dust off of it.

"Wannabuyacoconut?" Another familiar voice asks from street. I quickly turn around and smile.

"Yes, I do," I reply as I run out of the store and give him some money for the coconut.

"Oh no!" Jack exclaims as he ducks down when he sees me with the coconut.

"I'm gonna throw it at you, Jack!" I exclaims as I set the coconut down on the table.

"Well, that's what ye said before—an' that didn't stop ye before!" he responds as he picks up the coconut and observes it. "LUV!"

"What?" I ask, putting some music down as I walk over to him.

"This coconut 'as markings on it!" he points to a rigid portion of the coconuts. I take the coconut from Jack and look at the markings. There is a sun on it.

"The Sun King," I say finally.

"Oh no—what does 'e want now?" Jack asks.

"I was gonna guess this would happen," I say finally, putting the coconut down on the table.

"Guess what would 'appen?" he asks.

"That's he'd contact me through that coconut guy," I say with a chuckle.

"Well what does 'e need?" Jack asks, concerned.

"I think he's telling me I have to go home, Jack," I say finally. Jack looks up at me with wide eyes.

"Home?" he asks.

"Yes, home. To Massachusetts," I reply.

"Why d' ye 'ave t' go home to Massachusetts? I thought ye wanted t' stay in the Caribbean," he says.

"I do, Jack. But this is a sign to me—I have some unfinished things back home that I need to attend to before I can begin my life here, Jack," I explain.

"Like what?"

"Like my father. I need to make amends with him. That, and I need to finish my education,"

"Education is overrated, dahling," Jack replies, looking down and getting up from his seat.

"And why is that?" I ask.

"Ye learn everythin' ye need t' know in life through experience—at least that's what I've learned over these past fifteen years," he replies.

"I feel like an education could better me, Jack," I explain.

"I was well educated, believe it 'r not," he begins, "me father was well educated in England many years ago at Oxford and 'e taught me everythin' I needed t' know—that's not includin' a life o' piracy,"

"I feel my father has much to teach me still, Jack. I promise I won't leave you—not for long,"

"Luv—we've been playin' this game fer too long now. If ye go home, I'm goin' with ye," he replies, taking a strong gaze into my eyes. My heart jumps at this bit and a smile breaks through my lips.

"Really? You wanna come back with me?" I ask.

"Aye. I really do," he replies

"Aside from the two times you were home with me, have you ever sailed to the New England coast, Captain Sparrow?" I ask, a sly grin forming across my lips.

"No luv, but I'm thinkin' it's a place I should be lookin' into," he replies with the same sly smile spreading across his face.

"To Massachusetts?" I ask.

"To Massachusetts," he replies.