A Line In The Sand: Deleted Scenes
Scene 2: When James Became An Engaged Man

The smile on his face was what broke Victoria's heart. Only one who knew him as well as she did would have noticed it, it was a swift upward curve of his lips after a moment of blank incomprehension. And then he was Commodore again and Jack was offering him his wrists.

When James and Elizabeth, now officially engaged, walked to the rail Victoria stood watching them for a moment, barely noticing that Jack was being hauled to the brig. She retreated to the opposite side of the deck and sank down onto the boards. She studied the sleeves of her shirt and, feeling slightly disgusted at the dingy colour of Will's once-white shirt, rolled the sleeves up her arms. Her head ached and she envied Elizabeth's ability to hold all that rum and still have a plan. Victoria had been sick twice the night before, choking on the smoke fumes as she and Elizabeth had stoked their bonfire.

Elizabeth had been certain that the Navy would find them – any naval ship that happened to be passing, in search of the missing Governor's daughter. But Victoria's certainty had been deeper, more specific – she knew that James would find them, that James would search tirelessly to bring Elizabeth home safe.

Victoria saw him flash Elizabeth that rare grin and felt something lurch inside her, perhaps hurting more than before because she was the one normally on the receiving end of that grin. She had prided herself on it, comforted herself with the fact that she could tease it out of him better than anyone else.

Victoria had always known her dreams would come to nought, but she had nurtured them nonetheless. James had once leant her his copy of Odysseus and over several long months had explained what she couldn't understand. When she finally came to hand the book back, it was Penelope she longed to be. Always faithful. Waiting for him to come home to her.

James left Elizabeth, still nursing a smile on his lips and made for his cabin as Elizabeth drifted like a ghost towards Victoria.

"Oh, Elizabeth, what have you done?"

Elizabeth blinked slowly, as though to bring Victoria into focus.

"Will wouldn't want you to…" Victoria tailed off. She had intended to say "sacrifice yourself," but she couldn't use those words in relation to marrying James, however true they might be for Elizabeth.

"Will would want to live," Elizabeth said, not meeting Victoria's eyes.

"There are other ways…"

"I will marry him, Victoria," Elizabeth said firmly. "Whether or not he turns this ship around."

"He will, of course he will, if you have asked him to. He would do anything for you."

Elizabeth looked at her suddenly and felt an accusing and sharp kick in her stomach as she realised that Victoria's face was taut not only with worry for her brother, but also with grief.

"Victoria, I'm… sorry."

"For what?" Victoria shrugged. "My brother saved us from Barbossa and his men. You just saved my brother's life. I should be thanking you. You've been a good friend to us, Elizabeth Swann."

She brushed past her, making blindly for the brig, thinking she might visit Jack, for want of anything better to do.

"Where are you going?"

"To the brig," Victoria answered, barely registering the man at her side until he caught her arm gently.

"To see Sparrow?"

She looked up at the man and realised it was James, lips pursed in disapproval.

"Yes," she replied, feeling brutal. "I feel I owe him thanks. He was a perfect gentleman on that island. And my congratulations to you, James. Elizabeth is a… fine woman."

"Indeed," she waited for his smile, but he was frowning at her, confused by all her latent hostility. "Victoria, are you all right?"

"I'm worried about Will, that's all. I ought to be with him. They would have taken us both if they knew we were Turners. But he lied and said I was Elizabeth's sister. The fools didn't seem to notice my resemblance to Will."

"Of course," he let go of her arm, giving his hand an odd look as though he had forgotten he had left it resting on the bare flesh of her forearm. "Your brother has always been concerned for your safety; it does not surprise me at all that he lied about your identity to save you... Victoria, I - I wish you to know something."

"Yes?" she prompted as he paused to frame his statement.

"I am not only going back for Elizabeth's sake. I am going back for you – as my friend. I would have gone back for your sake alone," he paused again, still uncertain and Victoria, reading him like a book as usual, knew he was wondering how far he could go within the limits of propriety. "I once gave you my word that I would never see you separated from your brother. I have not forgotten it."

"I know that. Thank you, James."

She extended her hand to him, as she had done years ago, trying not to be hurt by his honour. He took her hand, feeling the difference in its size and how it fitted into his. He was not to know that Lieutenant Gillette would receive a hearty punch from that hand as he hauled Victoria and Elizabeth into the Commodore's quarters later that night.