Jack hung back as he and little William watched Elizabeth follow Will down to the bottom of the inlet at the base of the cliff. Jack sighed as he watched them walk away together. He was struck by the odd feeling that things were never meant to be the way they were now…Elizabeth and Will were meant to grow old together…and yet there Will was, forced to return to the Flying Dutchman while his best friend took over the life he was supposed to live. It must be an awful feeling…knowing you can do nothing but watch the love of your life and your son be handed over into someone else's hands.
"Jack?" asked William in a solemn voice, his eyes wet with tears, "Can…can we go practice some sword fighting? I…I don't want to watch him leave."
Jack felt a stab of pain when he saw the suffering in William's eyes. Although the boy had never truly known his father it still must have been impossibly hard to watch him walk away like this.
"Aye, let's go," said Jack, suddenly feeling a desire to be away from the sight himself. He led William away from the inlet and back to the clearing behind the house where they practiced their sword fighting skills.
Jack tried to cheer himself up with the knowledge that he was only days away from setting foot aboard his precious Pearl once again. Elizabeth would never know the sacrifice that he had made to stay with her. Being apart from his ship was like giving away a piece of his soul. It was out there somewhere, bobbing along on the ocean, miles from where he was. It ate away at him daily and he did his best to hide it from Elizabeth and William. His heart was torn in two. He desperately wanted to stay with Elizabeth but the sea was calling to him. As the years went by the call was growing louder and more desperate and he felt his heart ache at just the very mention of the Pearl. Yes, now was the time to go back…it was time for him to reclaim the Black Pearl.
…
Elizabeth returned to the house several hours later. She had stayed down at the inlet and watched the Flying Dutchman disappear and then decided to stay longer. She had to deal with emotions she had long since buried when Will first left. She also had to get her mind wrapped around the fact that she was about to live the life of a pirate again. It had been a long time since she had lived that life and she was slightly anxious about returning…especially with William. The boy was brave but he was still just that…a boy. And the life of a pirate was dangerous. The things he could find himself facing alarmed Elizabeth but she calmed herself down, telling herself that as long as Jack was the Captain of the Pearl then all would be okay. He would keep them safe.
"Lizzie?" called Jack when he heard the door open.
"Hey, Jack," said Elizabeth quietly as she strode into the kitchen.
Jack gave her a sad smile as he stood and wrapped his arms around her, "It's going to be okay, love…I'm here…I'll always be here."
"I know," murmured Elizabeth as she clung to Jack like her very life depended on it, "And that means the world to me…especially since you let go of so much…just to be with me."
Jack blinked in surprise at that. Perhaps he had underestimated Elizabeth, "Don't worry about that now, love. Everything will be righted shortly. The Pearl is on her way…I can feel her coming."
Elizabeth looked up at Jack, a twinge of worry in her gaze, "How do you know? How does Gibbs know to come back for you?"
Jack smiled coyly at that, "Because, Lizzie…I gave him my compass. The compass works for any who hold her, but since I am the rightful owner of the compass it will work for me even though I am miles away from it. You see, love…the moment you told me what you wanted…that you wanted to live aboard the Pearl…I called out to her with my mind. The compass will have pointed Gibbs in my direction. I told him to follow the compass no matter where it led. Once the Pearl draws near to port, he'll recall what I told him and realize that the compass is taking the Pearl back to me. You see, love, the Pearl and I are one. We don't like to be apart for so long."
Elizabeth gazed up at Jack in wonder and shook her head, "Jack Sparrow you never cease to amaze me."
Jack's eyes twinkled as he ran a hand through Elizabeth's long hair, "That's Captain Jack Sparrow now, love."
Elizabeth smiled at that, "Yes, Captain Jack Sparrow…you never cease to amaze me."
"Aye?" asked Jack as he gave her a mischievous look, "Hows about we go to our room and let me amaze you some more, eh?"
Elizabeth blushed at that as Jack reached for her hand and led her to the room they shared…
…
Three Days Later…
Jack stood at the very edge of the cliff overlooking the sea, his eyes narrowed against the morning sun's glare. William stood next to him, a very serious expression on his face as he raised his scope and looked out over the horizon.
Elizabeth stood behind the both of them, trying to suppress her laughter when she saw that William was wearing Jack's hat and sword once again, pretending to be a pirate. Every so often he would glance up at Jack to see what he was doing or what expression he was making and then mimicked every move. He wanted so badly to be just like Jack and as far as Elizabeth could tell…he was turning out to be just like him.
"What are my two boys doing?" she asked as she walked over to them.
Jack turned, a smile on his face as he made eye-contact with Elizabeth. He kissed her gently and gave her a hug, "Good morning, love. Little William and I were just watching for the Pearl. She's close, Lizzie…I can feel her."
The wild light that danced in Jack's eyes made Elizabeth shiver. This was the old Captain Jack Sparrow she remembered from all those years ago…the Jack Sparrow she found herself becoming fascinated with…the man she had started falling in love with. It was thrilling to see him come alive more and more every day as the Pearl drew closer and closer to them. It wouldn't be much longer now. The Pearl was close…closer than any of them even realized.
…
That evening Jack sat outside on one of the chairs, gazing out onto the sea. His eyes were alight with excitement as he felt the Pearl drawing closer. Elizabeth walked outside to join him. She settled herself down in his lap, much to Jack's delight, and cuddled against his chest. Jack closed his eyes for a moment, relishing in the feeling of Elizabeth being so close. He never took for granted how lucky he was to have found her again. He never wanted to lose her…never again. He wouldn't make that same mistake twice.
Jack opened his eyes a moment later and drew in a sharp breath. Elizabeth sat up quickly and gave Jack a confused look, but Jack's gaze was fully focused on a small dot way out on the edge of the horizon.
"The Pearl."
…
Elizabeth woke little William up and got him dressed. The things they had chosen to take with them were already packed and ready to go. They grabbed their things and followed Jack as he led them to the small docks the Pearl had once stayed when he first came to find Elizabeth. It was less crowded here and the soldiers never patrolled this area…it was the perfect spot for the most notorious pirate ship in the sea to dock.
Jack felt as if his heart would beat right out of his chest as the Pearl pulled up alongside the dock. She was just as beautiful and in just as great of shape as she was the day he had left her ten years ago. Gibbs had kept her up wonderfully.
"Captain!" shouted Gibbs as he climbed quickly off the boat and raced toward Jack, "Jack!"
"Mister Gibbs!" said Jack in his loud, commanding voice, "I see you have kept my ship safe."
"Aye, Captain!" said Gibbs his eyes gleaming with excitement, "And this…your compass," he added as he handed the compass back to Jack, "She led me straight and true."
Jack smiled as he took back his compass, "That she did, Gibbs. Alright! There's no time to waste! I don't want the Pearl to stay another moment this close to land! Alright you scallywags! Get to work!"
The crew scrambled as they began to prepare the ship. Little William's eyes were wide with wonder as he watched Jack order the crew around. Elizabeth smiled with pride and admiration as Jack made his way back over to them.
"Alright then Lizzie, William," he said, his eyes alight with happiness, "Let me help you aboard…we'll be leaving right away."
Elizabeth gave Jack a quick kiss and then allowed him to help her and William board the Pearl. Gibbs watched the scene with a smirk on his face.
"Looks like you got yourself a little family, eh Jack?" he asked.
Jack smiled at that, "Aye Gibbs…that I do. A wonderful little family too. Now, enough of this talk…ready the sails men!"
The crew quickly unfurled the long, black sails of the Pearl and for a moment Jack found it hard to breathe. It had been so long since he had seen the beautiful sails of his precious Pearl. He climbed quickly up to the helm and placed his hands on the wheel. He ran his hands over the smooth wood, remembering each and every crack and crevice and how it fit into his hands just perfectly in certain places.
Elizabeth and William climbed up to the helm and stood behind Jack. Elizabeth put her arm around his waist and gave him a loving, happy look. Her eyes shone with excitement, pride and love as she gazed up at Jack.
"I love you, Lizzie," murmured Jack as he gazed down at her, "Thank you…for this."
Elizabeth smiled, "No…thank you for coming back for me, Jack. This was the very least I could do after all you sacrificed for me and William. I love you, Captain Jack Sparrow…with all of my heart."
Jack blinked in surprise when he saw the conviction with which Elizabeth spoke. He realized then that she had let go of Will Turner…fully and completely let him go. She had been holding on to him in her mind ever so slightly the past few years, but after seeing him and talking to him again, she had realized that she needed to let him go so that she could let Jack in completely. This realization took Jack's breath away. He leaned down and kissed Elizabeth with everything he had.
"And I you, Lizzie," he murmured, "With all of my heart."
Elizabeth smiled just as the Pearl began to move away from the dock. Jack turned his attention back to the deck and began calling out more orders to his crew. William looked on with wonder in his eyes as he watched the crew work.
"Jack?" he asked, "Can I go down there? I wanna help! I wanna be a pirate!"
Jack glanced over at Elizabeth. She sighed but nodded, "Alright…go be a pirate…just be careful!"
William nodded, his smile stretching from one ear to the other as he raced down onto the deck. Gibbs walked over to him and began to explain things about the Pearl and what needed to be done next.
"Gibbs will keep an eye on him, love, no worries," assured Jack as he put one arm around Elizabeth's waist while his other hand steered the Pearl.
Elizabeth smiled in contentment as she leaned into Jack, "With you as Captain…there's nothing to worry about."
Jack smiled broadly at that as he looked out over the sea. The wind whipping through his hair and the taste of salt on his tongue reminded him that he was home once again. He was a pirate, as free as the wind and as wild and untamable as the sea. He was, once again, Captain Jack Sparrow, and no matter what life had in store for them, no matter what vile enemies, ruthless storms they faced, he knew Elizabeth and William would always be at his side. With a newfound confidence and a restored sense of freedom, Jack gazed out over the sea and flipped open his compass, searching for a heading. The compass pointed to starboard without hesitation, leading him in the direction of the next great adventure in Captain Jack Sparrow's life. He smiled as he gazed out in the direction the compass was pointing.
"Now…bring me that horizon."
Hold on we're gonna make it if it takes all night
Hearts racing like a rocket at the speed of light
Don't fight it we've been running for far too long
We're going back to where we belong
So hold on we got our wings and we're chasing the wind
Farewell to all the places that we have been
And if it takes us all night long
We're going back where we belong
See I have to believe that there's more than this seems
More than a soul in a boat in a sea of sinkingdreams
And I have to be sure that there's gonna be acure
'cause somewhere down the line, I lost that part of me that's pure.
But don't you let go yet no it's not too late you know
Hold on we're gonna make it if takes all night
Hearts racing like a rocket at the speed of light
Don't fight it we've been running for far too long
We're going back to where we belong
Hold on we got our wings and we're chasing the wind
Farewell to all the places that we have been
And if it takes us all night long
We're going back where we belong
Hold on we're gonna make it if it takes all night
Hearts racing like a rocket at the speed of light
And if it takes us all night long
We're going back where we belong
We're going back where we belong
THE END
Thanks so much for reading!
I'm going to start working on my next story for me and my best friend about our favorite NHL team! : )
However I'm not done with this story I don't think…I have some ideas for a sequel so I'll most likely write the sequel after I write my NHL story. If anyone has ideas/suggestions for the sequel as well they are more than welcome!
Let me know whatcha think! : ) Thanks for reading!