Chapter 7: Tempered

Elizabeth and Jack was in bed together naked like they have been for the most of the last few days, enjoying the moment, not hiding their affection anymore. Both of them would know it would be soon over between them and they had to make the best of it. She wandered every morning whether she'll find him next to her and hardly ever left him alone during the day, only if she was out with her son. Elizabeth, lying against his side, stopped drawing circles on his chest for a moment and pushed the plate of hot gingerbread that was set on top of him closer to his mouth. They have bought the bread from a street vendor earlier and Jack had flung it into the stone oven to have it warm again.

"Mmm," he took one more slice, "tryin to fatten me up, darlin? Ya take some as well," he broke a bit off and fed her.

"You've yet so gaunt. You need that grub more than me."

"Indeed, more, true, fer ya make me weak," his voice gave away he was hungry for her again. Well, he always was. He pulled her even closer and drew his mouth to hers.

"But...I want you...to stay with me more."

He rolled his eyes and let go of her, his expression heavyhearted and broken. He didn't answer. She was onto him about this again, which meant next morning it would really be departure time. All good things came to an end, forcing them in one way or another was impossible. Something was wrong with this whole situation though, his compass will keep pointing into her direction for a long while and he'll be unable to put it to use otherwise.

Not having heard an answer, but no arguments either she continued, "I like being sure that you're safe. I can make it right. I can give you the love you deserve. I want us to rule the seas together. And what about those fencing lessons you promised?"

"Yer a strong and smart lass darlin. Free spirited and sound. Ya didn't need a man to defend ya and ya detest it if yer thought of as frail. Ya like doing things on yer own."

"You know me well. Then you know I'm not going to beg!"

"This day ya might want us one me darlin. Merely some years and yer Will comes along," he reached down for his bottle of rum.

"I've loved you for a long time Jack and I don't see that changing. I have always loved both of you, since I met you. A woman can feel passion for two men at a time. And don't deny it, you told me things when you were ill."

"I don't see what yer getting at. Yer not going back to that dog of a pirate William Turner now? Make him wait for ya on that island and ne'er touch him over again?"

"If Will wants me there, I'll be there. But Jack, he told me to live my life. He never expected me to live in celibacy for ten years over and over again! One day in ten years, the rest of my life is yours, Jack Sparrow! You saved it after all," she looked into his eyes and the little fires that lit up in them told Jack she was just as impassioned about him as she was about being a pirate. No, she didn't trust him, and no, she didn't think he will stay with her forever, but she would take as much as he would give.

"Ya can not want to share capt'nship of ya Caboose! No even fer a little while," he thought of the practical matters of the situation.

"Keep telling yaself that darlin, maybe one day ya'll believe it."

Jack squinted at first, as if taken aback, that was his line! But seeing her serious, but mischievous look he jumped to capture her in his even so strong arms to share a deep and wild kiss with her. He'd just been offered to bind himself to woman for a long time and he didn't feel trapped, far from it! On the contrary! That was uncanny, although as it seems not altogether infeasible.

The End.