Shooting up from his sleep, Will awakened to find that t was all just a nightmare. An awful one. Did it mean anything? He glanced up at his ceiling as he remembered something. It had been a year since he'd seen Elizabeth. Nine more years until he could go ashore.
Tortuga. Of course! Of course he would be at Tortuga! Elizabeth smiled. It had been a long journey... far too long. The compass had lead her to Tortuga, where Jack was supposed to be. She felt excitement bubbling inside of her. Liam yawned in her arms.
"Missy," she heard Barbossa say behind her, "we're going to dock now." "Thank you! Thank you!" she replied, shaking his hand.
"I didn't want to do this."
"I know. Sorry about the threatening you with the whole 'Will is captain of the Flying Dutchman' thing."
"And fer blackmailing me."
"That too." She nodded nervously.
"I apologized her associating with Hoag and helping in attempting to kill ye. Ye didn't have to bring it up."
"But I couldn't think of any other way to get you to agree to help me."
"The brand doesn't lie. Ye are a pirate."
"Thank you."
Captain Teague shook his head at Pintel, saying, "You're a liar." "No I ain't!" the pirate countered, "I really did slay the Kraken!"
"Yes, and I'M the governor of Port Royal." Sarcasm.
"No you ain't... "
Teague rolled his eyes. Just then, Gibbs came over, looking distressed. "Everything alright, mate?" Teague asked. His son's first mate replied, "No. I can't find Jack."
"I'm sure he's fine. He's a big boy."
"You don't understand, Cap'n! He left his hat! Not to mention, last time I saw him, he kept saying he couldn't 'do this anymore'."
"Do what?"
Gibbs shrugged.
Another voice entered the conversation, "Hello mates!"
Teague turned to see Elizabeth standing before him. She had Little Liam on some sort of carrier on her back, with the Dead Man's Chest tucked under her arm. She was in a plain, short-sleeved blue dress, with a tricorn hat atop her head, staring at him with eyes lined with kohl. "Lass," he greeted, "aren't you a sight for sore eyes." She smiled and replied, "Thank you, sir." Pintel and Ragetti exclaimed in unison, "It's Little Liam!" They jumped up and rushed behind Elizabeth to look at the baby. She suggested, "Why don't you both watch him while I talk to Jack?"
"Sure!"
Elizabeth took the carrier off, unstrapped Liam and handed him over to the pirates. Liam giggled as they made funny faces at him. His mother asked Teague, "Where is Jack anyways?" Teague shrugged. Gibbs answered her, "We don't know, Miss Elizabeth. To be honest, I'm really worried."
"Wh-why?"
"He hasn't been himself... "
"Don't worry, Mister Gibbs, I'll find him."
He let out a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you're here!"
With a questioning look, Elizabeth set the chest on the table, asking, "Could you watch this for me while I look for him?" "Aye," they all replied. A familiar voice told them, "I know where 'e is." They all saw Calypso appear in the room. Pintel and Ragetti ducked under the table. Gibbs's eyes widened in fear. Teague stood up. Elizabeth asked, "Where?"
"'e's on da Pearl, Elizabet'. Please 'urry."
"Why?"
"I cannot tell you. Just please!" She seemed urgent.
"I'll be back soon!" Elizabeth called as she pulled off her boots and ran out the door.
Teague watched as she left, then looked back at Calypso. The goddess's mouth was drawn into a fine line. The captain bowed. "Love begins wit' a smile," Calypso said with sadness in her voice, "deepens with a kiss and ends with a teardrop." Then, as quick as she had come, she disappeared, leaving a puddle of sea water on the floor.
Jack played with the pistol in his fingers as he sat at his desk. He'd loaded it. It was ready. He could end his misery right now, but something was holding him back. He couldn't put his finger on it... Once he'd done this, he'd never sail again. He'd never gaze at the sea again. It didn't matter. All the joy of those things was taken when Elizabeth had left. Death was what he feared the most, but it seemed like such a small thing now.
Standing up, staring ahead, he exhaled and lifted the pistol. He pointed it to his temple and closed his eyes. It would all be over soon. He'd never have to think about her again. It was almost over. His fingers shook as he started to pull back the trigger.
"Jack!" He opened his eyes. "Jack, where are you?" That sound. That sweet, sweet sound. It was her voice. It couldn't be real. No, he wasn't that fortunate. She wasn't there. He laid the pistol on his desk and walked slowly towards the door. There was a knock. "Jack?" As the door opened, the pirate backed up to the other end of the room.
There she was. She was standing in front of him. Elizabeth. She smiled awkwardly with a hand still in the door and said, "Hello, stranger." Jack could only stifle, "Elizabeth."
"Why is it, Jack," she asked, coming into the cabin, shutting the door behind her, "that, whenever I return after a period of time, you always have the same look on your face, as if I was TRULY never going to come back?"
It wasn't real. She wasn't there. His mind was playing tricks on him again, he just knew it! It couldn't be so simple. She couldn't just be there. She'd never come back. She'd seemed so eager to get home, why would she leave? There was no logic.
"Are you alright, Jack?" the supposed Elizabeth asked. Jack sighed, shaking his head, "I can't do this anymore!"
"Do what?" She stepped towards him.
"Ugh! You figures of delirium. You-"
"You think I'm a hallucination? This is real, Jack. I'm here."
"No, you're not!"
"Jack-"
The frustrated, confused captain grabbed the pistol off of his desk with a trembling hand. He couldn't take this! Why was his mind torturing him like this? The imaginary girl before him began to look frightened and asked, "What are you doing?" "I can't do this anymore," he replied, lifting th weapon to his head.
"Jack, what are you DOING?!" She ran over to him.
"I'm done." He started to pull back on the trigger.
"Jack, no!"
Elizabeth held onto his arms and tried to wrestle the pistol from his grip. He struggled, but loosened his grasp at the realization that she was real. She was touching him. He could feel her. Letting the pistol drop in surrender, he held onto his desk for support to stand.
The fallen weapon was retrieved by Elizabeth, who threw it across the room. She put a hand to Jack's cheek with tears welling up in her eyes. Her touch made him relax. His body stopped shaking. Peace. She choked, "Don't ever scare me like that again! You hear me?!"
He smiled and granted himself some of his usual cockiness, "You were WORRIED about me?"
The hand on his cheek pulled away, then came back, slapping him in the face. Elizabeth put a hand on either side of his face and looked him in the eyes. "This is not funny," she said, "nothing to joke about. Could you imagine what would have happened if I hadn't stopped you?"
"I'd be dead. That was the idea."
She shuddered. "Don't say that!"
Jack gazed at the woman he loved. The tears that had escaped her eyes had made her kohl smear and run down her cheeks. When she'd tried to pry the pistol from his fingers, her hat had been knocked to the floor, exposing her frizzy, unwashed blond hair on top of her head. She was in a dress. He hadn't seen her in a real dress in a long time.
Why was she here? He felt like a rookie pirate with his first treasure in front of him. But it wasn't his to keep. It was already claimed. Someone, some higher being, hated him. They had to, dangling her in front of him like this. What had he done? Why was she here? He asked.
At first, she did not reply. Her arms dropped down to her sides and she averted her beautiful brown eyes from his. She went into the pocket of the skirt of her dress and pulled out the compass. The one he'd given to her before she'd left him. What kind of answer was this? She replied to his silent wondering, "You never showed me what you wanted most."
Jack froze. She was right. He hadn't. She held it out to him. He sucked in air. Should he give in and let her know? Would it matter? She'd probably leave, knowing it was best if they never spoke again. Then, he'd finish what he'd started minutes ago. Why not? Sure, he'd show her.
"Very well," he said. Elizabeth blinked, asking to make sure, "Really?" "Aye," he replied.
"You mean, I don't have to argue with you about it or make an arrangement?"
"No. I'll show you."
She beamed. "Thank you, Jack! I promise, I'll never bother you again after this. I'll leave immediately after."
"I'm sure you will," he mumbled.
"Beg pardon?"
"Just give me the bloody compass, love."
Elizabeth handed Jack the compass and watched with eager eyes as the needle spun around a few times, then stopping, pointing her direction. To Jack's surprise, she took a hold of his arm and started yanking him to the door. She cleared his confusion by exclaiming, "Let's go see what it's pointing at!" He couldn't help but chuckle. "Elizabeth," he said, "stop."
She did. "What?"
"Walk to your left and watch the compass as you move."
Jack followed her with his eyes as she let go of his arm and strode to her left, watching the compass's needle. As she moved, it turned in her direction, following her. Her mouth dropped slightly open. Then, she moved to her right, seeing the compass point to her, nonetheless.
He heard her gasp and saw her lips curve into a small smile. It faded but seconds later. He closed the compass and tossed it to her. She caught it. Silence. That's all there was. It was so quiet, he could hear her slowly breathing.
Elizabeth held the compass in her hands, then opened it. Jack followed the needle with his eyes as it spun around. When it stopped, it was pointing at him. Could it be? No. No, there was no way in the world... He moved to his left. The needle followed. To his right, it followed him.
Jack was what Elizabeth wanted most in the world.
"But... " was all he could say? It didn't matter to her. The man Elizabeth loved, loved her back. Right? He did, right? That's what the compass meant. She had to be sure. Before she let every word she was thinking pour out of her mouth, she had to be sure he loved her. She asked with her whole heart, "Do you love me, Jack?"
He said nothing for a few minutes, only staring blankly at her. But, not long after, he replied in a way that only Captain Jack Sparrow would answer such a question, "What do you think?"
"What do I think?"
"Yes."
"What do I THINK?"
"Yes! Is there an echo in here?"
Elizabeth wet her lips and stepped back with a hand on her chin, as if examining him. Jack eyed her curiously and smirked. She picked up her fallen hat and placed it back on her head. The pirate watched her every move as if, if he looked away, he would miss something important. "What do I think?" she repeated, "What do I think?"
With a smile on her face, Elizabeth walked back over to Jack and got real close to his face. His eyes widened and he opened his mouth. Before he could do what she knew he was going to, she answered his question, finally, "I think that you think you have me all figured out."
He closed his mouth and pursed his lips. Then, he replied, asking, "Do you now?"
"Yes. I know exactly what you think of me."
"Really? And what do I think of you, Lizzie Turner?"
She glared and put a finger on his chest. "You think that I am ease to figure out. You think that, while I was on Curdy in the past months, I was spending my time trying to keep busy, while waiting for Will like a good little wife. You think that the ONLY reason I came back to find you is to simple learn what you want most. You think that I regret every time you touch me, hold me, kiss me... the worst thing is, Jack, that you think that I'm this brave, strong pirate king. Correct?"
He smiled. "Perhaps. Am I wrong?"
"Yes, Captain Sparrow. You are very, very wrong." She held back tears.
"Well then, who are you, whoever you are?" He joked.
She suppressed a weak smile. "I am a very complicated person. While on Curdy, I was miserable, spending each night crying myself to sleep. I came back not only to discover what you want most, but also because I missed you so, so much, Every time you touch me, hold me, kiss me, I... I feel like nothing and no one can hurt me. And I never regret it. Lastly, I'm not the brave, strong pirate king you believe me to be... I'm still very much the scared little governor's daughter, waiting for a handsome pirate to come rescue me from myself."
He stood silent for a moment, then declared, "Wait a minute, I'M a handsome pirate!" He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
She laughed. "Yes, you are."
"I should point out, love, that I know what you think of ME, as well."
"No, you don't."
"Hold on, you got a chance to prove yourself. Now, it's my turn."
"Very well."
"You think that I am an irresistibly handsome pirate. You think that I've been trying to do the right thing this past year by not letting you kiss me. You think that somewhere deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down inside me is a good man. You think that I told you the truth when I said the compass never lies, which leads to my last statement."
"Which is what?" She patiently awaited to kiss him.
"You think that I love you."
"Am I right?" She held her breath.
He touched foreheads with her. "Yes."
Elizabeth had never felt herself smile so big, before she kissed him. She flung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. He kissed her back and, this time, he did not push her away. His mouth moved with hers and she felt content. She'd been on Curdy those past months, trying to convince herself that she belonged there, but no. It wasn't home. Here, in Jack's arms, she was home. Finally, she was home!
He broke the kiss for an instant, gasping for air. "What is it?!" Elizabeth asked in desperation, upset that he'd paused their moment. He smiled deviously and replied, "I just wanted to point out that you were wrong about ONE of those details."
"Which one?" she sighed.
"I'm not a good man deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down inside."
She punched him in the arm. "Yes, you are!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are!"
"N-"
Before he could argue again, she crashed her lips onto his. She felt herself pushing him back until he was against his desk. She put a hand on the opening of his shirt, on his bare chest. His heart was beating as quickly as she heard hers. She opened her eyes and watched him kiss her, simply staring at the black kohl that lined his beautiful eyes. For a second, she stopped kissing him, which cause him to open his eyes and stop as well.
Jack smiled and placed a rough hand on her neck. Elizabeth touched his cheek. He kissed the palm of her hand. At last, Elizabeth told him with no regret, "I love you, Captain Jack Sparrow." His cocky grin was displayed as he said, "I was wondering when you were going to admit that."
When their lips met again, Jack never wanted them to be apart for as long as he lived. For the briefest second, the question flashed through his mind, 'What about Will?'. It passed, as did every thought that wasn't focusing on kissing Elizabeth. He held her close to him, breaking every boundary he had set for himself.
As Elizabeth kissed him, Jack felt her push him back. He tried not to fall, holding the edge of his desk. She took that hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. Accidentally or not, he did not know, but Elizabeth pushed him so hard that he fell back onto his desk. She laughed, blowing air into his mouth.
They were both on top of the desk, just kissing each other, enjoying their moment that they had been waiting for for years. Elizabeth broke the kiss and barely said, out of breath, "I don't want to go back, Jack." "Where, Lizzie?" he asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"To Curdy. I don't belong there. It isn't home."
"Well, then," he asked, taking her hand, "Where DO you belong?"
"I was hoping you could tell me... " He saw her blush.
"Welcome home, love."
"I love you, Jack," she said, kissing the tip of his nose.
"I love you, Elizabeth."
There. He'd said it. Words he thought he'd never speak. And he meant them. Even to himself, he was unpredictable. Elizabeth lowered her head and kissed him on the mouth. He kissed her back, holding her onto him. Every touch, every move she made assured him that he'd never regret those words.