Disclaimer: Disney still owns POTC.

Chapter 8

The cook was very surprised to see Governor Swann, and of course did not missed the opportunity to mention to him what he was told about the Governor's apparently prolonged stay on Tortuga, and his entrusting of the ship to his daughter (if she was his daughter), and her fiance (if he was her fiance).

At the word fiance, both the Governor, and Will, who just appeared on the deck, shuddered.

"It's good that your ship hasn't been damaged by the storm!", exclaimed the cook cheerfully.

"What storm?", asked Will, looking at him questioningly.

As it turned out, nobody on this ship experienced or noticed any storm, or even rain, and although it seemed incredible, the topic was quickly dropped, as it was not of the main interest in these particular circumstances.

Elizabeth wondered how did her father and Will give the pursuit that quickly, catching them almost immediately. But there was yet the mysterious storm, the thought of which gave her shivers. How could it be that the ship which was just behind their ship, took no notice of it? Did it happen only to them? Why would it?

She felt Jack taking her by the hand. Did he intended to run away again? Unlikely. They were aboard a ship. Unambiguously trapped, this time. But it seemed that he just wanted to hold her hand, and she let him, even though the gesture was making her father even more angry.

"That'd be enough", he said with a sigh. "Arrest him", he ordered, and two soldiers approached quickly.

"What for?", exclaimed Elizabeth, shooting her father a desperate look.

"I don't believe we have time for enumerating all of the reasons. I may, however, assure you that there are even more reasons than necessary."

Elizabeth looked at Will, who tried to avoid her gaze. He kept miserably silent.

"Please, don't", she pleaded, looking at her father with tears in her eyes.

"Don't cry, luv, it's superfluous", whispered Jack. "I got used to it", he added aloud, as the two man attempted to handcuff him.

Her father looked at her without a word. As there seemed to be no better way to do it, Elizabeth, in one quick movement, grabbed Jack's pistol from his belt, and pointed it at two soldiers. One of them dropped the handcuffs in astonishment, but they both looked quite perplexed.

"Elizabeth!", exclaimed the Governor impatiently.

A smile flickered across Jack's face.

There was something in the way Jack was looking at Elizabeth that irritated Will. Some kind of possessive attentiveness in his eyes, which meant that she was his, that he knew everything about her, that he knew every piece of her soul.

Will was watching the scene almost absent-mindedly. He knew he should at least dislike Elizabeth. It was (was it?) so obvious that she did not love him anymore. She ran away to find Jack, and it was him, with whom she wanted to be. Yet, he could not stop loving her. He did not want to let her go. The more elusive she was becoming, the more he wanted her to stay with him. Besides, it was not her fault. It was all Jack's fault. He could not blame her for being naive, for being easily taken in by his tricks.

"Elizabeth, do not deteriorate the situation", said the Governor almost angrily. "Put it away."

"Careful, Lizzie. It's loaded", whispered Jack into her ear.

"I hope it is", she said quietly, finding the closeness of his face, which was only inches from hers, strangely distracting.

She considered it dangerously odd, that in a moment like this, in a difficult situation, while she is pointing a pistol at some people, she can think about anything else but Jack; anything but Jack and his kisses.

"Alright", Governor Swann finally gave in with a sigh, fearing that Elizabeth might be, in fact, capable of doing something absurd and irresponsible at the moment. "But he will go ashore in the nearest port. What's the nearest port?", he asked one of the sailors, who were watching the awkward scene with surprise.

"Isla de Dolor", somebody answered.

Jack and Elizabeth started at the name.

"Sounds awful. But the refusal is not an option, aye?", said Jack, grinning, and gently taking the pistol from Elizabeth's hands.

"I want to speak with my daughter", said the Governor sharply. "Alone."

It annoyed Will that she looked at Jack, as if seeking his permission. But he kept telling himself to calm down, to calm down, and wait, until it will be over. It must be over. It will be over soon.

Suddenly, a certain idea flashed through his mind. It seemed rather ridiculous at first, but soon it materialized into a specific thought. It would not hurt to try. He will try, then. Who knows what may happen?...

The deck emptied quickly. Sailors got back to their work, and the Governor walked away, and went below deck with Elizabeth. Jack stood by the railing, looking at the ocean. It was quite a fortunate coincidence that they were going to drop them... to drop him... them on Isla de Dolor. It was all as it should be in Captain Sparrow's perfect world: every disadvantage should be quickly turned into an advantage. Jack felt the coldness of his coat, which was still wet. He recalled the storm, and was thinking about it for a moment, but then his mind turned to what happened after the storm... He closed his eyes, remembering the sweetness of...

"What do you want from her?", suddenly a voice sounded, as if out of nowhere.

Jack turned around, displeased with the interruption. Will took a few steps forward, and stood next to Jack, by the railing, avoiding looking him in the eye. There was a curious anxiety on his face, as if he was about to do something difficult, unpleasant, yet necessary.

"Aye. Mr. Turner", acknowledged his presence Jack, turning his face to the sun, waiting for Will to point a sword at him in his usual manner.

"I asked you a question", Will said decidedly, without, however, bringing forward any weapon.

"Did I answered it?", Jack gave him an inquiring look.

"No."

"So I thought", said Jack turning away.

"Perhaps you do not even care", began Will after taking a deep breath, "that we already got married", he said petrified with fear, as if waiting for some kind of punishment after having lied for the very first time in his life.

He was surprised on how easy it in fact was. It felt strange, and bitter, but nevertheless it was not at all complicated. He just did not tell the truth. He just told a lie. But nobody knew that, so it did not matter. There was nobody in sight except for Jack.

Jack turned his gaze on Will, thinking at first that he misunderstood him. Will looked at him seriously, yet blankly, steadily returning his gaze. It was the most difficult part. And what if she told him about running away a week before...? Well, then it still would be her word against his.

Jack looked at him searchingly. Did he just said that he married Elizabeth? His Elizabeth?

"When?", asked Jack after a while, in a slightly strange voice.

Will could hardly believe his ears. And his luck. It seemed that Jack actually believed him, or at least was very close to believing in his words. He did not know how it was possible, but somehow it was really happening. Perhaps Elizabeth did not talk with Jack about the wedding at all. Perhaps she did not tell him when she ran away. It seemed to be too good to be true, but still...

"A month ago", said Will simply, feeling more confident with every subsequent lie.

He did not want to look at Jack. He was afraid that the deception may show up in his eyes. Besides, he had nothing more to tell. He did not know what else he could say, so he walked away, repeating to himself in his mind to calm down, to calm down, to calm down...

Jack absent-mindedly followed Will with his gaze. What did he say? What did he just told him? Jack wrinkled his forehead, thinking intensely. It was not possible. She would have told him, wouldn't she? She could not just not tell him about that. She could not... Yet... Why not? He did not ask her. It would not even be a lie, if she did not tell him. She just failed to mention it. No, no. It was not possible. Not possible. No, no, no. No.