Right on cue, Liam started to cry. Jack waited to hear Elizabeth walk over to calm him down, but all he heard was Liam. He removed his pillow and the sheets from his face and looked around. Elizabeth wasn't in the cabin. She wasn't sleeping on the couch. She wasn't sitting at his desk.
Jack got out of bed and trudged over to Liam's "crib" that the crew had made for him out of a crate and some broken oars. The baby sobbed onto Jack's chest for a bit, but then calmed down. The pirate bounced up and down, like he'd seen Elizabeth do before. "Sorry, mate," he told the child, "if you're hungry, I can't help you in that department." He laid him on the bed and put a shirt on.
After getting dressed, Jack picked up Liam once again and walked out of the cabin, onto the deck. It was cold and breezy outside. Jack took hold of his hat and attempted to cover the baby's head with it. He saw Curdy in the distance. It didn't appear the same. It was more gloomy than he remembered. Perhaps it was just the clouds hovering in the sky.
Gibbs approached Jack, greeting, "Morning, Cap'n." "That it is, Master Gibbs," Jack replied, "that it is."
"Would you like us to dock immediately?"
"Not really... I mean, yes!"
"You alright, Cap'n?"
"Today is not a good day."
"I must admit, Jack, I am sad to see Miss Elizabeth go."
"Really? What about all that 'It's bad luck to have a woman on board' rubbish?"
"Silly superstition, it was."
"Where is she, anyway?"
"Sitting on the bow, sir."
"Thank you. Come on, Liam, let's go see your mum."
Elizabeth dangled her feet off of the end of the bow. She hadn't slept all night. Her eyelids were droopy and she felt weak. She knew that she would be "home" today. If her predictions were to be correct, it was today that they'd arrive. This was home? This island is what she was to return to? Home... she was already home. The Pearl was her home. Tears dripped onto her pants. She put her face in her hands and wept.
All the things she'd miss. Jack. The sea. Jack. The crew. Jack. The adventure. Jack. Jack. Jack. She didn't want to leave! She knew that Jack was right. She would most likely suffocate on the island. That was fine with her. She didn't want to live without Jack. She understood now. She'd been lying to herself the entire voyage. She loved Jack. She shouldn't, but she did. It was wrong, but so right. What about Will? She'd always love him too, but not the way she loved Jack.
"Lizzie," a voice interrupted her thoughts, startling her. She jumped in fear and fell into the water below. She splashed around and looked up. Jack was there, holding Liam. "Jack!" she shouted! He asked, "Haven't we been in this situation before, love?"
"Just throw me a line!"
The pirate captain obeyed and tossed her a rope. Elizabeth held onto it as he pulled her up, carefully, with Liam still in his arms. When her feet hit the deck, Elizabeth went up to Jack, grabbed the sides of his face and kissed him. He kissed her back, at first, but stopped and pulled away, saying, "S'not like you were drowning, Lizzie." She ignored him and kissed him again. He backed away, uttering, "It was no big deal. No need to thank me." She pushed her lips on his; he gently shoved her away. "Love, stop," he ordered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him once more. He said with sincerity, "Quit it, Elizabeth!"
Jack handed her her son and walked away quickly. She stood, alone, mouth open in shock. What had she just done? What had HE just done? He'd refused her. She'd upset him. This was the worst time possible to do that. Liam began to cry.
A very confused Jack slammed his cabin door. He leaned against it and slid down to the floor. The silence was soothing. He tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. What had just happened? Why had Elizabeth kissed him like that? 'Why did she have to do that?' he asked himself.
Jack lowered his eyes to the ground. He was so confused. He didn't want her to do that. Kiss him like that, that is. Why did she have to kiss him at all? He knew she regretted it every time, which only made him do the same, leaving him to only enjoy the kisses while they lasted, then miss them later. Why had she done that?
"Best to forget about it," he unintentionally said aloud, "pretend it never happened." The echo in the cabin made him realize that he'd just said everything out loud. Jack pushed himself up and purposely hit his head on the door a few times. Surprisingly, it DID make him feel a lot better. Whether that was a good thing or not, what the question.
However, when the door unexpectedly opened to slam into his head, without warning, it was not as pleasant a feeling. The blow knocked him backwards, almost making him fall over. "Bugger," he swore, massaging his throbbing skull. The person who had opened the door and caused this pain, said, "Sorry, Jackie."
Jack turned to face his father. Captain Teague shut the door behind him, walked towards his son and pushed him. Jack took hold of his desk so he wouldn't stumble onto the floor. He shouted, "What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" "What the bloody hell is wrong with YOU?" Teague retorted.
"Me? YOU'RE the one who came in here, smashing doors into my face and trying to knock me on the ground!"
"Why did you do that to Elizabeth?"
Jack paused. "I didn't do anything."
"She tried to kiss you and you wouldn't let her."
"What of it?" He sat at his desk
"Why didn't you let her?"
"I suppose you wouldn't believe me if I said I did it out of respect for Will... "
"Not for a second."
"Well, you're gonna have to believe it, cause that's all I'm saying."
"You don't have to tell me, Jackie. I already know everything."
"You do?"
"You love her, whether you know it or like it or not. And, when she kisses you, you're reminded of the fact that she's not yours and might never be."
Jack was silent.
"I thought you were a pirate."
He stood erect. "I AM a pirate!"
"Whatever happened to 'Take what you can, give nothing back'?"
Again, silence.
"Perhaps you're right, Jack. Perhaps you've been right all along. You are a better pirate than I. You know why? Because you can resist the temptation of taking all you can and want. You have the strength, the will power... or perhaps you're just too much of a coward."
"I'm not a coward!"
"Prove it."
"I don't have to!"
"Coward."
"Fine! What am I supposed to do?"
Teague sighed and turned, walking to the door. With one hand on the knob, he faced his son and said, "I'm not going to give you all the answers this time, boy. All I know is, you care about this girl and you owe it to yourself-and her-to tell her so. Otherwise, you're going to live the rest of your life, wishing you had."
As soon as he'd left and the door had closed, the cabin was a quiet as a tomb. Jack picked up a pile of maps on his desk and threw them across the room. He slumped into his seat and cradled his head in his hands.
Elizabeth wiped her tears on her sleeve one more time before knocking on Jack's door lightly. Liam made a few more gurgling noises and stretched as they waited for the captain to open the door. When he did, he opened it only a crack and peeked outside. After simply staring at her for a few seconds, he opened it a little wider and asked, "What do you need?"
"I, uh... " she tried to reply.
"Spit it out, love." He opened the door all the way now.
"I... you see... I'm s-" She stopped, for he started to chuckle.
He laughed and shook his head.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, it's not you, it's Little Liam." He pointed to the baby.
Elizabeth looked down to see what Jack was talking about. Liam stuck his fingers in his mouth and sucked on them, the pulled his hand out and wiped the drool all over Elizabeth's shirt. He repeated this over and over. His mother giggled at him. Jack admitted, "That is the strangest baby I have ever seen." "Tell me something, Captain Sparrow," Elizabeth asked, "how many babies HAVE you seen throughout the course of your life?"
"Point taken. Now, what were you saying before?"
That caught her off guard. "Oh... I... well... I mean... "
"Love, I'll admit that watching you stumble for words is highly entertaining and strangely attractive, but we have to consider that amount of time we have before... " His voice faded and he hung his head.
"Alright... I'm sorry, Jack."
He looked up and cocked his head now. "For what?"
"I had no business kissing you like that-"
"You're right. You didn't."
"Jack-"
"Lizzie, I have to tell you something."
"What is it?" She held Liam to her shoulder and patted his back.
Jack stood straight up and shook himself a few times. He cleared his throat and cracked his knuckles. Elizabeth found this a little awkward. He tapped his foot on the ground, turned the rings on his fingers and exhaled, finally beginning, "Elizabeth, I think I... I'm pretty sure I... I know I... I... " His voice faded and he was looking at something behind her.
Elizabeth turned to find Gibbs coming over to them. "Cap'n," he spoke to Jack, "we're docked and ready to depart at any time necessary." The first mate gave Elizabeth a fake smile. "Very good, Master Gibbs," Jack praised, then commanded, "drop the gangplank, prepare the crew to bid farewell to Mrs. Turner and throw that traitorous pest, Barbossa, off of my ship."
"Aye, Cap'n."
Elizabeth held back her tears and walked past Jack, into the cabin to get her things... well, thing. The Dean Man's Chest was all she had. Will was all she had. With Liam on one arm, the chest in the other, she left the cabin, heartbroken. Jack shut the door behind her.
The crew was all lined up to say their goodbyes to Elizabeth. Jack was at the end. Most of the pirates only waved or nodded their head, since they didn't know her very well. However, towards the end were her friends.
Marty just smiled at Elizabeth and reached up to shake Liam's tiny foot.
Cotton grinned and his parrot squawked, "Bye-bye!"
Pintel and Ragetti held out a bag to her. "What's this?" she asked. Ragetti replied, "There's a present for Little Liam." He pulled out a rum bottle filled with small rocks. Pintel explained, "It's s'posed to be a rattle." "I see," Elizabeth replied, "thank you so much." She handed Liam his gift and shook it to show him it's purpose. The baby tried it himself and giggled. "Goodbye, poppet," the two pirates murmured.
Gibbs smiled sheepishly and Elizabeth when it was his turn and pulled something out from behind his back. His stuffed bear. "I want Little Liam to have it," he stated. "Oh, Mister Gibbs," Elizabeth countered, "I couldn't possibly... "
"Begging your pardon, miss, but it's not YOUR decision, it's Liam's."He handed the child the bear. The baby wrapped an arm around the bear's neck.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said.
Captain Teague put a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder and simply said, "Goodbye, lass. Fair wind be to you always." "And to you, sir," she replied.
"Gentlemen," Jack announced, "if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to speak to Mrs. Turner alone before she leaves." They all stared blankly at him, clueless. He shooed them, shouting, "Go away!" Now, they got it. They all ran below deck.
Elizabeth stood in front of him, arms filled with a baby, the Dead Man's Chest and gifts. She bit her lip and told him, "I hate these long goodbyes." "Then I'll try to make this as quick as possible," Jack replied.
"I didn't mean-"
"I know your arms are loaded, but I have a couple more things for you."
"Thank you, but-"
"That is, if you want them."
"No, I do."
"You don't have to-"
"I want them."
Jack reached into his coat and pulled out his compass. Holding it by the string, he dangled it in front of her face. Her mouth dropped open in awe. He was giving her his compass. He didn't want it anymore. He knew it would always point to her. It would just be a reminder. She finally spoke, "I can't accept it, Jack." "Sure you can, love," he argued.
"I can't. You've had that for as long as I can remember, I would be like giving me your hat or bandanna."
"Well, I'd never give you either of THOSE."
He'd meant to make her laugh. It worked.
"Elizabeth, go ahead."
"I don't know where to put it."
"Uh... "
Where could he put it? He looked her over, but couldn't find a place. Then, he had an idea. He took hold of her collar, muttering, "Forgive me, love." He pulled on her shirt, dropping the compass down inside. Putting his arms back to his sides, he smiled. She blushed more red than he'd ever seen. "I'm not even going to comment on that," she stifled. "Me neither," Jack agreed.
"So... what's the other thing?"
"Oh, right."
This time, he pulled out the document. The one that freed her from the shackles of piracy. It was what made her a liberated woman. Signed and sealed, it was, as Duran had put it, "the key to her life". A tear fell from her eye; Jack watched it fall from her face, onto Liam's head. "Jack," she choked, "words cannot say... "
"They're all ready. I... persuaded Duran to make them legal."
"Don't tell me that you use FRIENDLY persuasion!" She acted shocked.
"Aw, love, you know I don't go for that sort of thing."
She smiled, but became serious again. "I can't believe you did that for me."
"Neither can I."
"I'd take them, but I don't want them."
He blinked. "What?"
"Those papers will take away my being a pirate. Well, legally."
"Exactly."
"Jack, being a pirate isn't about pieces of paper and brands. It's not even about ships and the sea. It's about freedom and being a pirate at heart. No piece of paper can change me. I'm a pirate. You said it yourself."
He loved her. "If that's how you feel," he said, throwing the documents into the sea.
"I guess this is really it," Elizabeth uttered with realization, "I'm really leaving." "Yep," Jack confirmed.
"I'm going to miss you."
"And I, you."
"Thank you for the compass."
"Don't mention it."
"Goodbye, Jack."
"Bye, darling."
Jack wrapped his arms around Elizabeth for a second and kissed her forehead. When he put his arms down, he tapped Liam on the nose and said, "So long, Little Liam. Be good to your mum." The baby sneezed. His mom repeated, "Goodbye, Jack." He couldn't say it again. He only nodded at her.
Then, she trudged down the gangplank and across the deck. He didn't want to watch her disappear into the crowd. He turned and fast-walked to his cabin, shutting and locking the door. He placed a hand over his eyes and breathed heavily.
He loved her. Jack was in love. He knew it now. He never thought it was possible for him to love, but he was trapped. He was in love. So, it was real. Love. And he could feel it. He knew in that moment that he was in love with Elizabeth Swann... Turner.
Suddenly, he felt something. Something wet. He took the hand from his eyes and touched the damp spot on his face. What was it? A small droplet of water on his cheek. What was this? A tear. Captain Jack Sparrow was crying.