Disclaimer: Not mine but they should be.
Authors Note: Set after AWE, tells what really should have happened. Sorry about the way it is written, my new computer doesn't have Word so it is on Notepad.
Elizabeth went on to bed and left Jack to his rum on the helm. It was after midnight before he made his way down the stairs and instead of walking around the side of the ship clear of the accident he felt compelled to walk toward it. Once there he saw Marty starting to scrub the deck, cleaning up the blood.
"Marty, let me do that."
"Captain, it is not your place.'
"Today it is."
As Marty walked away Jack got on his knees and began to scrub and every time he dunked the rag into the bucket the full moon showed the water turning red with the blood of a child who loved his mother, missed his father and looked up to the man whose name he bared his name. And there was no amount of rum in the world that could ease the pain he felt and Elizabeth was hurting more than him.
When Elizabeth awoke in the morning, it was before the crew so she decided to walk around the ship to look for Jack. She found the captain asleep on the deck near the scene of her son's fall, next to him was a bottle of rum and a bucket of water so red it made her stomach turn. The deck was stained even though Jack had scrubbed till his knuckles had begun to bleed, sitting down next to Jack's head she placed it in her lap slightly waking the pirate.
"Lizzie?"
"Just go back to sleep.'
As the crew started to stir Elizabeth woke Jack up and directed him to the cabin to dress his hand. Once inside she couldn't find a clean rag, so she tore a strip off the bottom of her shirt. Grabbing the bottle of rum out of Jack's hand she poured it over his knuckles causing him to cringe and jerk away.
"Let me wrap it and it will be over with."
As he watched her work he couldn't help but think how beautiful she was and how easy it had been eight years ago, slipping water from the fountain of youth in her water, which made him realize she still didn't know. He had to tell her the truth. After she was done she made her first attempt at personal contact since she had arrived, lifting his hand to her mouth she gently kissed his hand.
"Lizabeth I need to tell you something. Several years back right after the final battle I spent two years on a little boat in search of the greatest treasure a man can find. And I found it Lizzie, do you know what it was that I found? It was the Fountain of Youth, and after gaining the Pearl back, I did what I thought was right. Lizabeth for the past eight years you have been twenty-three and will stay that age much like I remain my same age."
"I'm ok with that, but how old are you?"
"Not sure and probably better you not know."
Placing her head against the palm of his hand she spoke, "Thank-you for everything, for being you and taking care of me and Will, you saved him you know." Leaning his forehead against hers he began to stroke her cheek, "You know there is something that I have wanted to do for the past eight years."
"What is that?" Elizabeth asked knowing the answer in the back of her head but not letting herself realize it. Placing his hands on both sides of her face he slowly leaned in, but before anything could happen the door opened and Gibbs popped in.
"Captain the men are getting a bit frustrated if we don't get a heading soon I fear there may be consequences."
"Alright I'm coming. Lizzie I will be back and finish this little discussion."
As he approached the helm he flipped out his compass but that wasn't going to help it only pointed to his cabin where Elizabeth sat waiting.
"Gibbs, head for land I think we need a break. Leave it up to the crew. Now if you don't mind I have some business to attend to in my cabin."