Elizabeth was at a loss for words. She couldn't believe he was there…standing there…right at that moment. Three long years of being alone with William…three long years of pain, loneliness and despair slowly began to evaporate as she gazed into Jack's eyes in disbelief. She hadn't even realized that tears were falling down her face until Jack reached up and brushed one off of her cheek.
"There now love," he said quietly, his voice tight with emotion as he gave her a little smile, "I ain't worth crying over."
Elizabeth laughed a little at that as she threw her arms around Jack's neck and pressed her face into his chest, letting the tears fall. Jack wrapped his arms around her and held her until she was able to regain her composure.
"Oh, Jack," she murmured into his chest, "You came back…you came back."
"Aye, love," said Jack as he rubbed her back in small circles, "I couldn't stay away…I had to see you…had to make sure you were okay."
Elizabeth smiled at that as she pulled away and reached for his hand, "Please…come inside."
Jack's smile widened at that and he let Elizabeth pull him into the cabin. He glanced around and nodded appreciatively as he noted how clean and well-kept the place was. Elizabeth had scrubbed the abandoned cabin and repainted several rooms so the place looked new again. She hadn't had much else to do besides raise her son and think about the past, so the work helped give her a sort of structure…something else to do during the day.
"Mommy?"
"Oh, William," breathed Elizabeth as she hurried over to a room down the hall.
Jack's brow furrowed in confusion, "William?" he asked.
"Yes, Jack…this is my son, William. Come on hunny its okay, he's not dangerous," assured Elizabeth as she led a small boy out of the room.
Jack felt his breath catch in his throat as he gazed down at the young lad. There was no mistaking the dark brown eyes or the messy brown mop of hair…or the square jaw line…or the shape of his nose…this was Will Turner's son.
William's eyes grew wide with wonder as he gazed up at Jack, "Oh…you're a pirate!" he exclaimed in a high-pitched two-year old voice, "Mommy! Mommy it's a pirate!"
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at her son's reaction, "Yes, darling it is…this is Captain Jack Sparrow. Remember all the stories I've told you about him and your father?"
William's little mouth gaped in astonishment as he looked back up at Jack, "Wow…Mommy…I wanna be a pirate!"
Jack knelt down to the ground so he was at eye-level with the boy. His eyes were alight with wonder and amusement as he gazed at little William.
"Do you have the strength and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
William stood up as tall and straight as he could and gave Jack his most serious face, "Aye, aye Cap'n!" he said as loud as he could.
"In less than five minutes you have my two year old son signed up as a pirate," said Elizabeth in mock exasperation.
Jack laughed as he patted the boy on the shoulder, "That's a strong lad you have here, Lizzie. He'll make a good man one day…if he's anything like his father."
Elizabeth felt her throat tighten a little at the mention of Will. But the compliment from Jack meant the world to her, "Yes…yes he will."
"Mommy can he stay forever?" slurred William in his two-year-old way, "Please?"
Elizabeth shook her head, "No sweetie, Jack's a pirate…pirates don't like staying on land for too long."
"I can stick around for awhile," said Jack, "That is…if you would like me to, Lizzie."
Elizabeth smiled broadly at that, "I…I would love that actually. It's…it's been a long three years, Jack."
Jack frowned as he saw the pain in Elizabeth's eyes. Once again he wished desperately that could have done more to keep her from being hurt so deeply.
"I'm so sorry, Lizzie," murmured Jack as his throat tightened with emotion.
Elizabeth felt the tears fall down her face again as she shook her head in protest, "No, Jack…don't…there was nothing more you could do. You…you gave all you had. If it weren't for you he'd be dead."
Jack gritted his teeth and looked away, "I should have killed Davy Jones earlier…when I had the chance. I waited too long…this wouldn't have happened if it weren't for me. Will would be here with you and little William and you would all…"
"Jack stop," ordered Elizabeth firmly, "None of that nonsense…none. Just stop…you did your best and you gave up your dream to save Will's life. None of that was your fault. Will and I made the decision to rescue you. We asked for this…we knew the risks and we took them anyway. It's not your fault so please, Jack…please don't blame yourself for the past."
Jack gazed sadly at Elizabeth and offered her a slight smile, "Okay love…I'll do my best."
"Thank you," murmured Elizabeth as she leaned into Jack and smiled slightly when she felt his strong arms wrap around her again.
Jack felt a rush of guilt smack into him like a rogue wave hitting the Pearl broadside. How could he have left her alone like this? He knew she needed space to deal with things, but why did he wait three years to come back to her? Deep down he knew why…it was because deep down Jack Sparrow was in love with Elizabeth Swann…and he wasn't ready to admit that to her yet. After all, she was still in love with Will Turner. How could she ever love a man like himself…a rogue, sea-hardened pirate? It was an absurd thought…but part of him still wanted her to know how he felt. The battle raged in his mind for a moment before he replied to her.
"Anytime love," murmured Jack quietly, "I'd do anything for you…you should know that by now."
Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat at that as an emotion long hidden away began to slowly resurface. She felt her heart stir a little as she replied, "I know Jack…I know."
All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughing with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you
Last time we talked, the night that I walked
Burns like anironin the back of my mind
I must've been high to say you and I
Weren't meant to be and just wasting my time
Oh, why did I ever doubt you?
You know I would die here without you
You and I, right or wrong, there's no other one
After this time I spent alone
It's hard to believe that a man with sight could be so blind
Thinkin' 'bout the better times, must've been outta my mind
So I'm runnin' back to tell you that
All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
as long as I'm laughing with you…
…
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