Author's Note: Oh, it's all falling apart! I do love a good bit of angst. Thanks for the reviews, and feel free to keep them coming.

Chapter Seventeen: Dinner of Heartbreak

Jack sighed as he trawled through what seemed like endless piles of maps stacked up on his desk. It was near evening, and he had come up with three rough estimates for bearings, all very different. Morta, it seemed, was not going to be easy to find. He flicked through the stack of papers, reaching for a bottle of rum on his desk and taking a long drink. He decided on the most likely one, then jumped as he heard Gibbs enter.

"Sorry, Cap'n," Gibbs said. "But Commodore Norrington sent me ter ask if yer had the bearings yet."

"Aye," Jack said, and he handed Gibbs a scrap of paper he had written a lot of notes on. "He should be able to make sense of that, being a navy bigwig."

"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs said, and he left, closing the door.

Jack went over to his bed and sat down. The Pearl and the Veran were sailing side-by-side, and he knew Carmen was somewhere on the next ship, probably being entertained by Norrington himself. Every moment that went by, Jack was losing Carmen more and more. What pained him the most was that he knew he was doing the right thing in letting her go.

He pulled out his compass with a shaking hand and opened it, watching as it moved, probably with Carmen walking around. He snapped it shut bitterly.

The door opened again. Gibbs popped his head around it. "Cap'n, Commodore Norrington requests yer presence at a meal on the Veran."

"A meal?" Jack asked, a million thoughts rushing around his head. Norrington must want them to dine together as they were all sailing for a common cause. Still, Jack wasn't sure he could stand Norrington rubbing Carmen in his face; that said, though, Jack would be glad to see Carmen. He sighed. "I'm comin'."

He rose, without stopping to wash or tidy himself up, then climbed easily off the Pearl and onto the Veran. Double doors were open, leading into the dining room, and a golden glow was coming out. Jack hadn't even noticed it was evening before now. The table inside was set, and some of the more important marines were inside already, talking politely. Jack almost grinned before heading inside.

"Alrigh', me hearties?" he asked, swaggering in, grinning.

They all looked up, shocked and scandalised, but nobody replied. They just stared as Jack plonked himself casually in a chair at the table and reached for a bottle of wine.

"Mr Sparrow-" began one of them.

"Captain Sparrow, if you would, lad," Jack replied, looking at him. He had curly black hair sticking out from beneath his wig, and an earnest look in his brown eyes.

"Yes, well," he said, looking a little nervous, perhaps at Jack's appearance. "It's customary to wait for Commodore Norrington before starting."

Jack poured himself some wine and raised it. "Then a toast to Commodore Norrington, for being fashionably late and therefore delaying the satisfaction of his sailors. As to me, though, I do not sail under him, therefore I shall start when I see fit. Cheers!" And he took a long, deep drink.

The Marines looked horrified, but didn't say anything. Jack just grinned and looked around at the food. There were platters of potatoes, a roast pig, dishes of vegetables, small bread rolls, and bottles upon bottles of wine. Jack raised his eyebrows. What a meal!

Suddenly, a hush washed over the Marines. Jack didn't look around, because he knew James Norrington had walked into the room.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Norrington said in his formal tone. "And to you, too, Captain Sparrow. I see you decided to start without me."

Jack looked around, making his eyes large and innocent. He noticed that Carmen was not with the Commodore. This both relieved and hurt him. He swallowed before smiling at Norrington. "Would I do such a thing, dear Jamesie?" Jack distinctly caught the snigger of a couple of the Marines, and saw Norrington's cheeks darken.

"I have no doubt, Sparrow." Then he went to a chair at the head of the table and sat down stiffly. "Shall we begin, men?" he asked, and suddenly the Marines all sat down. Jack found himself seated right beside James, and the man with the curly black hair sat down on his other side.

"Captain Jack Sparrow, mate," Jack said, leaning very close to him, and sticking his hand in his face.

"Lieutenant Simon Greaves," he replied, squirming a little, but shaking his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, mate," Jack said, pouring some more wine. He turned to Norrington, smiling. "Nice ter see you have good taste in men, Commodore." He laughed as Norrington raised his eyebrows. "Just teasing, mate. You Navy men are so easy to bait."

Norrington glared at him for a moment, before saying calmly, "Gentlemen, do you mind if we are joined this evening by Princess Carmen?"

Jack felt his stomach shift as he heard all the Marines murmuring their approval. He didn't answer, merely reached forward and placed some potatoes on his plate.

"Excellent, excellent," Norrington smiled, accepting a bowl of vegetables from Greaves and spooning them delicately onto his plate. "She shall be along in a few moments, she is getting ready in my cabin." Jack gagged on the potato he was eating in shock. Surely, surely...? "Of course, I've agreed that she can have it. I shall sleep with Greaves here. There will be no funny business!" And the Marines laughed, but for a moment Norrington's grey eyes held Jack's over a glass of wine, and Jack felt a surge of anger and bitterness. Saying nothing, he reached for his own glass, and took a long drink.

There was a light knock at the door, and Jack looked up to see Carmen standing in the door. He sighed as he saw her. She looked beautiful, her hair pulled into a tight bun, her eyes outlined in black, rouge on her lips. She was wearing a long, full, decent red dress, complimented by the Heartstone. Jack wondered for a moment why Norrington kept this sort of thing on board, then realised he had probably brought it for Carmen.

Carmen didn't look at Jack. Norrington stood up, and kissed her hand politely. "Do I look alright?" she asked softly, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. Jack had seen that look before, and it pained him to see her use it on the Commodore.

"You look beautiful," he purred, pulling out a chair between his own and Jack's. Jack closed his eyes. Why, why, did Norrington have to rub his nose in it?

Carmen sat down elegantly, and Jack could smell the powerful, floral perfume she was wearing. Still, she didn't look at him, positioning her legs so that they weren't touching his. James poured her a glass of wine, and sat down beside her, starting to eat again. Jack tried not to stare at her, taking a few slices of pork and placing them on his plate, toying with them nervously. He caught her eyes on him, saw the pain in them. Then she looked back to her plate, and allowed Norrington to give her some vegetables.

Jack had a huge, overwhelming urge to apologise and kiss her, hard and deep, right in front of Norrington. He knew she would forgive him easily. But the problem was, he was Captain Jack Sparrow, and Captain Jack Sparrow did not, and would not, grovel in front of the Navy. Period.

"Is dinner to your taste, your Highness?" Norrington asked, his voice thick and sticky.

"Yes, it's quite delicious," she replied, in a formal voice Jack wasn't sure he'd heard her use before. "Mr Sparrow, would you pass the gravy, please?"

Jack was so surprised that she had addressed him he didn't even bother to correct her about her use of 'Mr' instead of 'Captain'. He reached for the gravy and handed it to her without looking at her, feeling miserable and empty. He felt her soft fingers brush against his hand as she took the jug from him.

"Your Highness, may I have a moment?" Norrington asked suddenly, looking flushed and nervous. Jack swallowed. He had a feeling he knew what was coming.

Carmen looked at him, her lips slightly parted in surprise, but she nodded. "Yes, of course." Everything in Jack was telling him that now was the moment to act, to make her his, but he didn't move as they rose and walked slowly out of the doors. Carmen didn't look at him.

Jack gripped his glass tightly, swallowing his wine in one mouthful. He knew his face must be white. He could hear Greaves talking to him, saying something about the Black Pearl, but for once he did not feel like singing the praises of his beloved ship.

There had been hope in him, a bright, burning hope in his heart, but it was fading now. His eyes glanced nervously to the door.

Then they came back in, their hands actually entwined, smiling, glowing. Jack felt his heart sink as the beaming, beautiful Carmen avoided his eye. Norrington pulled out a chair for her and they sat down. He reached for his glass and raised it. The men instantly fell quiet.

"I'd like to propose a toast," the Commodore announced, "to the success of this campaign!" All around Jack, cheers went up. Norrington wasn't finished. "And also, to the lovely Princess Carmen of Evaneta, who has just agreed to be my wife!"

Horror. Jack felt it flood his veins like ice, and as the Marines stood up to clap and cheer, he remained seated, chalk-white, one hand curled tightly around his glass. He stared, agape, at Carmen, who turned her amber eyes on him as her future husband had his hand wrung. For a moment, her expression was one of deep sorrow, but then she looked away again.

"Beg your pardon, gentlemen," Jack said without thinking. "Maps to read, things to pillage and the like... my lady..." he nodded, standing up and heading for the door. Cool air filled his lungs as he stepped outside, and the sky promised rain. Good. He felt like a good storm.

Now Jack Sparrow knew what it was like to be the owner of a broken heart. The little, burning hope that had so illuminated him had gone. His eyes promised wetness of their own.

He was almost ready to board the Pearl when he heard the dining room doors slam shut behind him. He froze, knowing who it was simply by the scent of flowers caught on the breeze. He closed his eyes.

"Stop!" Carmen cried.

Jack swallowed. He did not look around. "I suppose congratulations are in order, luv. Fine man, Norrington, isn't he?"

"Jack!" she said, her voice choked. She paused. He heard her step forward. "Why are you being like this? You- it's pretty clear you don't love me, Jack."

Love? Jack had barely considered the idea of loving anyone. But it made sense. Was he in love with Carmen? There was only one way to know. He turned around, slowly, staring at her, feeling his heart go faster as his eyes fell on her. He had to love her. He must love her. A tear was snaking down her cheek. Jack opened his mouth to tell her how he felt, but then the door of the dining room opened.

It was Norrington. "Is everything alright?" he asked suspiciously, walking over to Carmen and snaking an arm around her waist.

Jack didn't answer. He had lost the woman he was in love with. Shaking his head, he tore his eyes away from Carmen's melancholy expression, and boarded his own ship. Tears were springing up in his eyes as he pushed open his cabin door.

He had lost Carmen.