Disclaimer: dont own POTC one or 2...

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Many days passed. Will, Jack and the crew made a slow and steady progress across the ice towards the Scorpion Bowl. Will was constantly hovering around the donkey-drawn cart, worrying about Elizabeth.

As Will abandoned his place in their little convoy to once again to head back to the cart, Jack caught his arm. "Will, there won't be any difference. We can't get there any faster an' Liz sure as hell isn't goin' anywhere. Just give yer fussin' a rest an'walk!"

Will pulled his arm angrily out of Jack's grasp. "Sorry for being concerned about someone I love, Jack. It's not like you would know how that would feel." Will stormed off towards the cart, missing the look of anguish on Jack's face as he turned to continue their march. Ah, Will, me boy, thought Jack regretfully, if only y'knew. I know only too well how that feels...ever since -

He stopped himself from completing the thought. It was still too painful to think about. How he had returned to Tortuga, dropped off by the rum-runners, and had found no sign of Esperanza. He'd gone to the inn where they had been staying, one of the cleaner ones on the nicer end of town where the clientele were of a slightly safer variety. Despite the fact that Esperanza had stood by his side through more than one hair-raising battle, he didn't like to put her at risk. That was why he had left her in Tortuga, with the promise to return to her in a month, a month and a half at most, treasure or no treasure. But unfortunately, Barbossa had had other plans...

When they had marooned him on that island and had left him to die, he had spent the better part of the first day and a half lying around wondering what the hell Esperanza must be thinking. She had told him she didn't want to be yet another link on his chain of stolen hearts. And she'd given him a token to remind him of it.

"Jack."

He had been dozing, propped up against the pillows in the bed with his hat tilted low over his eyes. When she spoke, he pushed the brim up and answered. "Yeah, love?"

"I don't want you to go."

"I wouldn't go if I di'n't hafta, love." He inwardly winced at the way his words sounded. It was so completely different from how he had talked before. It would take some getting used to on his part, but Esperanza assured him that his gruff, slurring baritone was just as attractive as before. And judging by the jealous looks from women in the dockside taverns, it was more than "attractive".

"Jack, I want to give you something," she said, coming over to sit on the edge of their shared bed.

Jack grinned and waggled his eyebrows at her. "Really? I thought tha' y'gave that t'me last ni - "

Esperanza swatted his leg. "Not that, you scoundrel! That was yours long before you actually took it. I want to give you this." She reached underneath her hair and unclasped her necklace.

"So, after all this time, y've finally decided t'give me yer jewellery, eh? I said y'were free t'go when y'gave me yer baubles - do y'want t'be rid o' me?"

"No, Jack, I - " she began, startled at the sudden change of subject.

He held up his hands, cutting her short. "I was just remindin' ye, love. If y'want t'leave, don't hesitate. Just go. If y'want me t'drop off somewhere, just ask. I did hold ye 'gainst yer will, and as yer no longer my prisoner, yer a guest. An' guests can leave when they want to."

"I'd never leave you, Jack," she whispered softly. Then she seemed to shake herself and said in a brisker tone, "Anyway, this is what I wanted to give you."

She dropped the necklace into his outstretched hand. He picked up the piece of jewellery by the chain and examined it.

It was a round piece of brilliantly polished silver, etched with serpentine designs. Three small chains were clasped onto the bottom of the pendant. Each of the chains split into two silver beaded strings. In the center of the pendant was a small, but perfectly cut ruby. As Jack held it up, the afternoon sun streaming through the stone cast tiny red sparkles on Esperanza's face.

"It's beautiful, love, just as you are." He looked up into her eyes and she blushed. "But I shouldn' take yer necklace. It's all y'have." He stuck out his hand, in an attempt to give it back to her.

"No, Jack," she said, gently but firmly, and folded his fingers over the necklace. "I've given it to you. It's yours, so you can remember me while you're off searching for the treasure of Isla de Muerta."

"I'll always remember ye, love," replied Jack, stroking the back of his fingers down her cheek. "And I'll always come back for ye. Promise."

Esperanza smiled through the tears that were beginning to well up in her eyes. "Just come back soon, alright?"

Jack enfolded her in his embrace, hugging her tightly. "I will, love. I will."

Jack sighed and shook the fragments of the memory away. He didn't want to think on it. If he knew Alderman, then he'd be out for revenge. Ben had always been a sore loser, and when it came to women, he was worst than most. He'd want Jack to pay for stealing Esperanza from him.

It didn't really matter. Esperanza had left Tortuga sometime during the Barbossa incident. She was a smart woman; she knew how to disappear without a trace. Courtesy of Jack's teachings. She'd be safe from Alderman.

But if Ben was anything like he was back then, he could be counted on to be consistent. He'd have someone Jack cared about in his clutches. As to who it could be, it was beyond his imagination. He just hoped Esperanza was safe, wherever she was.