Elizabeth woke up the next morning with a cold pang of dread in her heart. She shut her eyes against the rising sun, refusing to accept the truth behind what this morning meant. By now Jack was long gone…back to his precious Black Pearl…back to the sea…back to being a pirate. And she was here, all alone, with her son…again. The realization made her heart ache and brought back those horrible feelings of loss and anguish the day she lost Will to the Flying Dutchman. She felt the tears coming and hugged her pillow as she cried away the pain.
…
For the first time in his life, Jack Sparrow did not know what he wanted. He paced around the dock where the Pearl was sitting, fiddling with his compass and trying to figure out where to go and what to plunder next. His crew was growing impatient with him as the minutes ticked away. It had been nearly a week already and now Jack was wasting even more time. He could sense their frustration and frowned in annoyance at his compass. It kept spinning in circles, pointing to nothing at all.
"Perhaps, Captain," suggested Gibbs as he sidled over to him, "We should go ahead and make sail…then maybe once you're back on the sea you will feel more inspired and your compass will point us in the right direction."
Jack nodded curtly, "Aye, good thinking Gibbs. These men are going to mutiny against me if I don't get us out of port soon anyhow. Alright men! Make sail! Hurry you scurvy bilge rats!"
The crew scrambled under their captain's orders and began to prepare the Pearl for departure. Gibbs and Jack climbed aboard and stood at the helm, watching the crew as the Black Pearl began to slowly pull away from the docks. The crew cheered and hollered in excitement as they readied the ship to head out into open waters. They were earning for the freedom of the sea, the wind in their faces and the promise of gold and other such loot.
But Jack Sparrow was not thinking about treasure, gold or loot or even the freedom the ocean could bring. No, Jack Sparrow's mind was on a certain young woman back on land and her young son. He found himself daydreaming about them as the Pearl slowly began to drift out of the harbor.
"How's your compass workin' now, Jack?" queried Gibbs.
Jack jumped a little and forced himself to stop dwelling on Elizabeth. Now wasn't the time for such emotions. He cleared his throat and pulled out the compass, holding it steadily out in front of him. It spun around a few times and then stopped suddenly…pointing directly back toward the land.
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at that, "Me thinks, Captain…that the treasure you seek is not gold coins or expensive vessels."
Jack gave Gibbs a startled look, his eyes wide and glistening with a myriad of emotions as he contemplated what Gibbs had said. Could he, Captain Jack Sparrow, want to be with a woman more than he wanted to live the life of a pirate? After several long moments, Jack looked back at Gibbs with determination and resolve in his eyes.
"Aye, Gibbs…you're right," he said suddenly, "I must go back," he said as he began to take off some of his outer garments.
"Oh, sir we can turn her about," began Gibbs, understanding what Jack was about to do.
"No need," said Jack as he threw his jacket at Gibbs, "I want to keep me hat and me sword but the rest is yours, Captain Gibbs."
Gibbs' eyes grew round with shock at that, "I am to be the new captain of the Pearl?" he breathed in astonishment.
"Aye, man who else?" said Jack as he hurriedly took off a few more layers of clothing and gear, "I trust no one else with the Pearl but you, Gibbs. You take good care of her…and if I ever want or need to come back you'll know where and when to come get me."
"But…how sir?" asked Gibbs in confusion, "How will I know?"
Jack tossed Gibbs the compass as he climbed up onto the back of the Pearl, "The compass will let you know. It will find me if I want to be found, otherwise it will lead you toward all the richest harbors and the largest merchant ships to be plundered."
"But won't you need it?" stammered Gibbs, "I mean…it is your compass."
Jack shook his head, "No mate…I know what I want."
Gibbs smiled a little at that as he watched Jack jump off the back of the Black Pearl and began to swim fiercely back to shore.
"Aye Captain Sparrow…that you do."
…
"Mommy…where's Jack?" asked William later that morning as he rubbed his sleep-filled eyes, "He promised he'd tell another story."
Elizabeth felt her eyes well up with tears again as her throat clenched with emotion. She hated breaking little William's heart like this. He was sure to be upset to hear that Jack was no longer in port.
"Dear…Jack….Jack's gone," stammered Elizabeth in between suppressed sobs.
William's face fell in disappointment and horror, "He's…he's gone back to his ship?"
"Yes, sweetheart," said Elizabeth quietly, "Jack's a pirate…he must go back to his men and take them on more adventures. It's what pirates do."
William contemplated this for a long moment, "Then…then maybe when he gets back from his adventures he can tell me more stories?"
Elizabeth smiled sadly, "I…I don't know when he'll be back, William. He…might never come back."
Just then, William's little face lit up with excitement and joy. Elizabeth gazed at her son in confusion. She had just told him Jack was never coming back and here he was smiling and giggling with happiness.
"Hello, love," crooned an all-too-familiar voice right behind her.
Elizabeth whirled around and saw Jack standing in the entrance of their cabin, grinning from one ear to the other, his eyes twinkling with happiness and mischief.
"Jack?" she breathed, "But…what are you doing…the Pearl," said Elizabeth as she pointed over his shoulder at the boat disappearing over the horizon.
"Aye, I know, love…she's under the command of Captain Gibbs now," said Jack with a sigh, "She's in good hands."
Elizabeth gave Jack a confused look, not sure what he was getting at.
"I'm here to stay, Lizzie," said Jack as he took a step toward her, "I won't leave you again…I can't do that to you again. That is…if you'll have me."
Elizabeth felt her knees give out on her as Jack's strong arms wrapped around her body. She cried tears of joy and relief into his chest as she clung on to him.
"I'm taking that as a yes then?" asked Jack after a long moment.
Elizabeth smiled as she looked up into Jack's dark, glittering eyes and kissed him. Little William giggled behind them as he watched the scene.
"Yes…yes, please stay," said Elizabeth, "I would…I would love that, Jack."
Jack smiled broadly as he put his hand on the small of Elizabeth's back and pulled her body into his, "Aye love…as would I."
…
Desperate for changing, starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started, I'm chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
Forgetting all I'm lacking, completely incomplete
I'll take yourinvitation, you take all of me now
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you
There's nothing else to lose, there's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world that can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
Desperate for changing, starving for truth
I'm closer to where Istarted, I'm chasing after you…
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Also, don't worry it's not over yet! A couple more chapters : ) We gotta deal with the whole Will Turner coming back thing lol : ) Hope you all are liking it so far!