Something More Than Before
Chapter 19 – No One Had Ever
Jack lay on the bed, Elizabeth in his arms and his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. But he was still thinking about what he'd just done. He's spilled the truth about his feelings for Elizabeth, and he was sure that she now knew. He hadn't done it on purpose, certainly not, but there was still something deep inside of him telling him that this was what he wanted. He wanted her to know, and he wanted her to say that she loved him too.
Oh, God, what was he thinking? He slowly opened an eye, saw that Elizabeth was asleep already, and he wiped a tear from his eye.
No-one had ever made him feel like this. No-one had ever made him feel loved before. No-one had ever cared whether he was dead or alive. No-one.
And then the beautiful young woman who now lay warm beside him had seemingly come out of nowhere. She'd rescued him from his loveless life and teleported him directly into a whirlwind romance that was supposed to be meaningless.
It suddenly dawned on him at that very moment that he'd been in love with her since the day he first laid eyes upon her. It had just taken something extraordinary to make him realise. The instant he'd felt her lips upon his for the first time, he knew he'd stumbled across something. He just didn't know what at the time.
He'd never cried over anyone before, but Elizabeth Swann had made him do all the things he'd never done before, except sleep with a man, but nobody could make him do that.
And as much as it was awful to think of, but he knew that if he died at that precise moment, he'd have died happy and in love.
He wiped another flood of tears from his eyes, but not before a sob escaped his mouth, and he wrapped his arms even tighter around Elizabeth's petite body, and he never wanted to let go.
-----
Elizabeth heard Jack's sob, and felt his arms tighten around her. She moved and placed her hand on his, giving it a gentle little squeeze to let him know that she was awake, and was thinking about him.
She felt his hand move back to her stomach, and then heard him whisper something.
"Elizabeth, I lied," he said slowly. But before Elizabeth slapped him, she waited for an expansion on this. "You weren't hearing things. I did say that."
A gentle smile tugged at Elizabeth's lips as she heard him say, "I love you."
She held his hand and pulled it towards her mouth, kissing it lightly.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, it hit Elizabeth that she loved him too. All those times they'd had sex, she'd thought all she felt was lust. But now she realised that what they'd shared was more than just desire-driven sex...it was love.
She was so suddenly happy that she, too, started crying. "I love you, too," she choked out.
And she would probably never know how eternally happy those words had made Jack feel.
-----
Tia Dalma still stood outside, peering nosily in on their scene. She smiled happily when she made out the words passing between them. She wiped a small tear from her eye as she realised that Jack could now never be hers.
She sniffed sadly and began to walk away, but she just stopped short of walking into Barbossa.
"Oh, Hector," she laughed, "you scared me."
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.
"What's your business out here at this hour?" he asked her suspiciously.
"Jack and Elizabeth just confessed their love for each other," Tia Dalma smiled.
"I wish we could all do that," Barbossa muttered miserably.
"Hector?" Tia Dalma asked. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing anyone can cure," Barbossa said softly.
"A broken heart," Tia Dalma said mournfully. "I can see it in your cold eyes."
"They wouldn't be this cold if you fixed me," Barbossa said quietly.
"I already told you..." Tia Dalma said sadly, "...my heart belongs to another." She turned and looked at Jack's door.
"Aye," Barbossa mumbled, "but he can ne'er love you. He loves Miss Swann. If I'm right, he always has."
"He can have my heart, still," Tia Dalma said, sorrow filling her eyes.
"Maybe it'll not be how you imagine it," Barbossa said desperately, "but we could most certainly try it."
Tia Dalma considered. "We're two broken people. A half of our former selves. It would never work."
"Two halves make one whole," Barbossa said wisely, clinging to every fibre of hope left.
"I'm sorry, Hector," Tia Dalma said, caressing his cheek gently. He sighed and closed his eyes under her touch. "I can't."
"Fair enough," Barbossa said bitterly, giving up. He brushed her hand of his cheek and retreated to his cabin.
Tia Dalma felt another tear leaking from her eye. Why was piracy so dooming? Anyone seeking love was bound to be hurt.
-----
The next day, Jack and Elizabeth woke within moments of each other. Both awoke with a happy smile on their face.
Jack put his hand behind Elizabeth's neck and kissed her. This time it wasn't lustful and demanding, it was filled with love and care.
They broke apart, and they both smiled.
Their happy, love-filled scene couldn't have been disturbed by anyone that day. For what Jack and Elizabeth had found in each other the previous night was more than either had anticipated when Elizabeth had planted that first kiss on Jack's rum and sea flavoured lips.
"I love you," Jack said happily, finally letting the words leave his lips confidently.
"I love you, too, Captain Jack Sparrow," Elizabeth smiled, brushing a dreadlock from his face and kissing him deeply once again.
So, Jack and Elizabeth have finally admitted they love each other, so I guess this is...
THE END!
Only joking, lol. Did I fool you?
If I did, you clearly forgot all about the all-important island scene! Lemme tell ya, this story ain't nowhere near finished yet!
Review please!
QueenSerenity818 out.