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Chapter 24: Hiding Her Heart

"Angelica. I choose Angelica."

She could've sworn that her heart shattered then and there. Katherine's pale pink lips parted as she was at a loss for words. The corner of Edward's lip drew up into an accomplished smile.

"Are you quite sure of your decision, Jack?" He questioned, glancing at the visible hurt from his future bride before returning his gaze to the pirate, "once your choice is final, you will not have the pleasure of seeing Katherine again, for she and I will be returning to England promptly."

Sparrow refused to meet the brunette's eyes. He couldn't do it… Jack knew there was a relentless ache in the depths of her hazel hues, and he had more than enough conflicting emotions already, "I'm sure, mate…"

"Jack!" Will called angrily from his tied position against the mast, "Think about what you're doing!"

Elizabeth would surely take both of their heads for this. His fiancée told him that Katherine's rightful place was with her and governor Swann in Port Royal for there was nothing left for her in England except pain from the loss of her parents, and in all honesty William agreed.

"I know what I'm doing, Whelp.." Jack knelt before Angelica as he removed a small dagger from his boot, cutting away the ropes that had her bound. The Spanish woman simply watched him without uttering a syllable. Once Jack was done, their eyes met briefly and he felt all of their precious memories come flooding back to him..

Smiling in accomplishment, Crowley commented, "Excellent choice, Jack. You've just saved the Spanish woman from an untimely and gruesome death."

"Ye we gonna kill her if I said 'no'..?"

"Indeed I was, but I am not obligated to now. Wonderful, yes?" Edward's blue eyes flickered to the woman on his right, who was staring hard at the floorboards of the ship, "You look troubled, my love.. A broken heart, perhaps? Have you realized Sparrow was not all you hoped him to be? I would guess that he never bothered to tell you about her, hm?"

The captain of the Black Pearl alternated his gaze to the alabaster-skinned woman who wore vulnerability and despair on her visage. Her once shimmering hazel eyes fell dull when the General reached for her hand, weaving his fingers through hers as he spoke sweet words into her ear.

Sparrow wanted to sink his fist into the gut of the woman-snatching bloke before him- to turn him into a bloody, aching mess. However, judging by the figure of Edward Crowley, he had done his fair share of hardwork to get where he was. A faint out line of his biceps could be seen through the stiff fabric of his military coat.

Albeit, Jack was somewhat envious…

Of course, he had impressive muscle of his own. Just… Not as defined. Perhaps if Jack weren't able to make any hasty escapes, the two would be equally matched in a fistfight.

Katherine broke the silence by releasing a tense build of oxygen, "Edward.." She took one last fleeting glance at Jack before she chose, "…I will return to England with you, without any hardships along the way."

Gibbs struggled against his bindings as his fatherly nature revealed itself, "No, miss Katherine! Ye don' have to go with im'! The Cap'n is just-"

Edward interrupted him, waving a loose hand to one of his soldiers, "Silence the old man, will you?"

Standing from his crouch with the weakened Angelica securely in his arms, Jack responded, "Nay mate; ye already have Katherine so just take yer blasted men and get off me ship."

If Katherine were any other woman, she would have found the smile that painted Crowley's face to be charmingly handsome, though she could not find such emotions for him- they were already reserved for Jack…

"Very well, Sparrow. If that is what you so desire, I will leave your ship and take miss White with me." He said, wrapping an arm around Katherine's waist before he led her onto his refined military vessel.

Once aboard, she removed herself from his side and went to rest her hands against the finely painted oak railing of the ship, gazing at Jack in anguish. Why did he give her up so easily? What was she worth all this time? Was she merely someone to fill the space left by Angelica, but now that she has returned, Katherine was no longer needed?

She only wished that she had been able to tell him how she felt, for this moment would probably be their last together..

"Make headway for England," Edward's commanding tone boomed before turned and murmured into her ear, "we have a wedding to prepare for..."

With that, he left the woman to her thoughts as she continued to stare after the pirate lord. He had removed the Spanish woman from his arms, though his eyes never left Katherine's…

Crowley's heavily armored and intricately crafted vessel, the Champion, was gone within moments; and gone with it was the woman Jack loved.

"How unfortunate…" Was heard from Augustine as she leaned against the mast. Sparrow glanced around and noticed that all of his crew had been released and were now rubbing at their sore reddened wrists and ankles.

Returning his gaze to her, he scowled, "How did you get 'ere?"

"I saw a military galleon was headed your way, and so I dove into the water to sneak aboard your ship and secretly attend the party. Surprised?" The redheaded woman crossed her arms smugly.

Jack turned away to climb the steps to the helm, "No, I've always known that you're ratty enough to invite yourself where you're not wanted."

She was about to fire back an insult, but he was too quick, "Aren't the vicious, conniving women of yer crew meant t' be with the both o' us at all times?"

"Oh, don't worry about the girl, Jack. I've sent one of my best to watch over her." Augustine couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment at his failed attempt to mask the conern that was currently upon his face.

She rolled her jade eyes before speaking in a belittling tone, "Don't be a fool. Your prim and proper lady is with men of the military, Jack." The woman picked at her nails idly, "Besides, the one I've sent knows fully well not to injure her… unless provoked."

From then, Jack gathered himself at the helm and ignored her blatant hopes to anger him.

Suddenly, her eyes landed upon the huddled form of Angelica- who was wrapped in a blanket and seated on the wood planks of the ship, "Angelica.."

"…Augustine," The Spaniard's eyes rose as she finally spoke. The accent in her tone was heavy, "you've found me."

Seating herself down as well, the captain of the Gallant Matron grinned widely, "I wouldn't dare leave a comrade behind."

With that, the corner of Angelica's lips curled into a smile..

.

Nightfall claimed the sky swiftly after the excitement of the day had died into a dimly flickering candle. With a tall bottle of rum in hand, Jack took several lengthy gulps as he stood at the helm.

Coming behind him was Gibbs, who was genuinely concerned for the health of his captain and close friend, "Jack, perhaps ye should be retiring fer the nigh'?"

Sparrow was silent for a moment or so before he moved way from the wheel, dragging a hand along the wood frame "..Aye Gibbs, I'll leave 'er to you." He said as he descended the wood steps to the lower decks.

The first mate shook his head in pity for the captain. He hadn't been aware at the time, but according to the crew- Jack found the closest bottle of rum and began drinking heavily the moment Edward Crowley's ship coasted into the horizon.

At times, Gibbs wished he could beat some sense into the younger man, but he knew that wouldn't do much good. Jack was as hard headed as they come, and to be able to even have the opportunity to alter his set mind even slightly was a miracle in itself.

If Angelica hadn't been chosen, then she would have faced immediate death. The older male knew Jack had a soft spot somewhere unknown, deep inside that even he wasn't aware of; which was why he chose to save the Spanish woman's life.

But Katherine… Would they ever see her again.. ?

It seemed that not only Jack was the one suffering; the crew was certainly feeling the loss of Katherine's company. There was no longer a recognizable lighthearted laugh in their group conversations, or whenever one of the men had made a clever move during their card games.

The atmosphere simply seemed… dimmer.

Instead of sulking off to his own cabin, Jack found himself standing inside Katherine's, glancing over at all of her things that had been left behind; the only source of light in her room came from the flickering lamp outside the doorway. Her combs, jewelry, elegant dresses, and the odd trinket or two were all left behind.

A small bottle of her perfume rested calmly on the vanity. Stepping further into her cabin, he picked the glass bottle up before uncorking it and allowing the floral scent to pour into the air around him. The scent was akin to the one he would catch a whiff of while standing by her side or when embracing her..

Gingerly setting the bottle down, a dull ache ebbed in his heart. He desperately needed to see the elegant brunette again. It hadn't even been a full day and Jack was already beginning to feel the effects of her departure..

Shaking his head at his own idiocy, he flopped down on her neatly made bed. Jack Sparrow yearned after no woman. The women were the once who yearned for him; not vice versa! He would manage perfectly well without Katherine, in fact he may even manage better without her around.

He could visit all the brothels he wanted to. Drink all the rum he wanted to. Sleep with all the voluptuous wenches he wanted to. Return to the ship from port whenever he wanted to and sleep however late he wished. Hell, he was his own man again!

It was possible that a new relationship would develop between Angelica and himself now that they were reunited; or maybe a relationship with Augustine.

…The pirate lord of the Caribbean frowned at the thought. Perhaps not Augustine; the woman was just unbearable- which made him wonder why he even slept with her at all.

Oh yes, now he remembered. He had a fairly good amount of rum that night, and she had a good share of the alcoholic drink as well.

In the solitude of Katherine's cabin, he took a gander around at the living-space she had made for herself. It was rather… cozy. He could spend an awful lot of time in here and still remain comfortable. And so, he stood to close the door to the room before sauntering back to her bed and kicking off his boots, fully stretching out on her bed with his half empty bottle of rum in hand.

Jack brushed his rough cheek against her pillow, which smelt exactly like her chocolate brown locks.

Bloody hell, He mused as he pressed the lip of the bottle to his mouth as he drunk, the entire bed smells like 'er…

He laid there for a moment longer until he sat up to put the bottle on the table beside her bed, then rolling over on the mattress, carelessly throwing the warm blanket over himself and snuggling into the comfort of her scent.

He could image her lain beside him, smiling that beautiful smile that solely belonged to her as he held her closely…

Dread began to ensnare him. Would he ever see Katherine again, after practically trading her for another woman…? Would she ever want to see him for what he did?

"…I miss ye, love." His troubled dark eyes shut languidly, ".. And I'm the biggest bloke in all the world fer lettin' you go.."

Sparrow came to a decision then and there. He would see her again, no matter what it took or who he had to go through.

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