Chapter 13

The first peeks of sunlight stroke Cutler's face from in between the beige-colored curtains while he opened his eyes after hearing the rooster of the village cluck the town awake in the early minutes of the morning. Cutler was happy to have such a comfortable bed inside his bedroom at the tavern, after spending quite a while aboard the ship, where comfort was hard to find. He felt the same spark of hope that had been on his mind for the last couple of days, when at night his dreams seemed to tell him that his destination came closer and closer.

All dressed only half an hour later Cutler met a hungover Jack, who was sitting slumped hanging onto his barstool, at the bar. For a moment he wondered if he had been drinking already, not entirely holding up to his promise to Elizabeth to show up this morning sober. But Cutler soon noticed Jack seemed to be quite sharp-eyed once he had wished him a good morning with a smirk on his face.

'A little something for the road, like always?' the same bartender from last night smiled at Jack while swaying a bottle of rum right in front of him.

'No not today Mr. Buck'. Jack had turned around bowing down like he was quite proud of himself for resisting the temptation. Cutler rolled his eyes at him and moving his tricorn hat on his neatly wigged head he started to stroll in the direction of the exit. Before Cutler could set one foot outside he heard Jack run back to the bar.

'On second thought, I might need the courage' Jack snatched the bottle from the bartender, who was now smirking from cheek to cheek, and Jack made his way to the exit as well. Passing Cutler that once again had the urge to roll his eyes but decided to ignore it.

'Are you sure we'll manage this morning to even make it inside Mrs. Turner's hallway this time, Jack?' Cutler couldn't have spoken with more smug to his voice while they made their way down the same town road as last night.

'Oh, it was nothing last night Cutler. You know how women are, always playing hard to get and such' Jack was winking at Cutler like they were mates ready to meet some ladies at the bar. Cutler had to hold back his laugh as Jack managed to almost collide with the same bushes he'd been rolling around in all soaked yesterday.

'Sure Jack, you have me quite convinced that must have been the problem the other day' Cutler faked a smile while Jack looked like a child being complimented on something by his father. Jack moved his hand to the iron door knocker that was placed just underneath the small window of the cottage's brown front door. It took a moment before Jack did knock, and Cutler had to urge to remove his hand and knock himself, already feeling like they were behind on the schedule of their mission.

Jack finally knocked. It was silent and it almost seemed as if Jack was holding his breath the entirety of them waiting. But soon the door unlocked and the door opened slowly. It was Elizabeth appearing behind the door, holding onto her morning robes. Without saying a word she now fully opened the door to make a way for them to enter. Jack almost hopped inside, probably happy to be welcomed in. Elizabeth's face seemed tense once Cutler, who politely moved down his tricorn hat before removing it, passed her.

'I'm very much surprised you're alive, Lord Beckett, if you're even still a Lord that is' Elizabeth spoke without any emotion in her voice, showing Cutler and Jack the way into her kitchen. She probably was under the impression, just like everyone else, that Cutler should have died after the attack on the Endeavour by the Pearl and the Dutchman. And she knew even if he would have survived by some miracle, it would have made his position at the Company a hard one, being defeated by pirates without any attack in return. And she wasn't wrong.

'I hope there's a good reason for you to bring him here, Jack' Elizabeth spoke all while not leaving her sight from Cutler, but when she finished her eyes moved to Jack. She was still holding her robes, which were slightly too big for her slender figure, tightly in front of her.

'I know, I know my love.. he's hard to get rid of' Jack sarcastically whispered in Elizabeth's direction.

'But there's something we need to discuss, and we desperately need your help on something' Jack moved down into her kitchen, where a little table was set up by a small window that showed a pretty view of the island.

After a little while it was possible for them to have a calm conversation when Jack had tried, as best as he could while being sober, to explain why they needed Elizabeth for their rescue mission. Cutler was moving the teacup in between his hands, he almost looked nervous, but his calm face as always managed to hide his doubt on whether Elizabeth was going to accept their proposal.

'Lizzy, I know it's hard to come by on your own. Without family, without Will..' Jack whispered, seemingly sincerely worried while softly moving down his hand on top of Elizabeth's while she too was holding her teacup just a little too tight. It was clear Jack's words, and the truth hit her hard. Cutler figured it must have been a lonely life for Elizabeth, a married woman, who seemed to be unmarried to everyone in town as she could never tell them the real truth about what happened to her husband Will Turner.

'Everyone in town believes me to be a widow. I figured it was the easiest way for not anyone to find out who I am' Elizabeth swallowed in between her sentence. It was obvious Elizabeth was heartbroken by her husband's curse. It would take now nearly ten years before they'd see each other again. Suddenly for the first time, Cutler realized that he and Elizabeth were in the same situation, away from their true loves, while something worse than death itself was keeping them apart. He expected himself to feel nothing while recruiting Elizabeth for their journey. That this would have been another business meeting like always. But the stone inside Cutler's stomach didn't seem to go away.

'You know the Locker better than anyone, Lizzy. You know it by heart because you've been there before, rescuing me' Jack swallowed while he seemed to realize how much of a touchy subject this was for her.

'Why, Cutler Beckett, do you think that I would for one moment consider helping you?' Elizabeth's eyes suddenly seemed to abandon the sadness within them, and they turned strict and almost emotionless towards Cutler. It was obvious Elizabeth was holding back her tears by now.

'You cared for her too, and you know she would have done exactly the same for you' without a doubt Cutler spoke about Elizabeth and Kate's bond back then. He saw Elizabeth look down for a moment, her eyes even more watery.

'I don't know' Elizabeth seemed out of words. Tears were slowly making their way down her rosy cheeks while she slowly lifted herself from her place at the kitchen table. She moved over to the small window looking out over the island, where the sun just started to rise above the small mountain of grass. The orange rays of sunlight hit the palm trees which made the scenery even more breath-taking to behold. Elizabeth's arms were crossed, by now more tears moving down, landing on her morning robe. Cutler removed himself from his seat as well and watched Elizabeth's back, standing by the window in silence. It was obvious she was in a deep struggle within. Cutler was sure she wanted to save Kate as well, but the chance of seeing Will inside the Locker, while not being able to stay there forever was a great risk.

Elizabeth wanted nothing more, to see Will, even if it was only for just a moment. But she knew she could not stay, and having to say goodbye to Will once more would be even harder this time.

Cutler watched her struggle, while he held the back of his chair standing next it he felt the stone inside his stomach not disappearing. He opened his mouth to speak to break the silence.

'I gave up on hope too, for a long time, Elizabeth. Of ever seeing the one I love again. I know it is hard to give yourself hope, hope that maybe won't even be rewarded or fulfilled. These last days, I had to stop myself from dying at the thought of seeing Kate again. I kept on thinking back how perfect, true, and beautiful a person she was. It was when I saw her for the first time all those years ago, that first few moments of looking into her eyes, that I knew. I made her my mission. To always make sure she was safe, taken care of, and loved' Cutler almost whispered, but he spoke hard enough for both Jack and Elizabeth to hear. Even Jack was silenced this time, his face showed emotion too.

'I know you felt that too with your husband. It's for people like us that life is brought to a certain stage, no matter how distracted you are from everything around you, you can only have one purpose in life. Making this person happy and keeping them save and close. And if we suceed, seeing them again after all this time, is something that reminds you of what it would feel like to enter heaven upon death, it feels like a wave that releases you of your biggest thirst and it makes you feel somehow complete and repaired, as pieces to a mirror that finally reveals to you your true self. It makes it unbearable to be without this one person that does all that. It's a blessing and a curse at the same time to love someone so deeply' Cutler now whispered so softly his words could have been carried by the wind that came from the window from which Elizabeth was watching the sunrise. It was for a moment Cutler realized all that he had said, hadn't been just for his own gain. He realized it was how he came to learn that Kate had made him complete, after being torn down as a human being for all of his life. It sparked this fire inside of him and it now only ignited more.

Elizabeth's brown eyes watched as she turned around, holding her hand still in front of her closed robe. And it was visible in her eyes she knew this kind of love, she had felt it, truly, and still did. She had felt the same devastating loss of being ripped apart from your loved one, and for many times Elizabeth had wondered if it was capable of making you a monster, a monster like Davy Jones had turned into, a monster like Cutler had turned into in the past. She knew she'd do anything to get Will back into her life.

'I will do it..' Elizabeth whispered, almost uncertain and certain at the same time, when she slowly turned around and watched Cutler still holding his chair. Jack seemed lost for words and probably had never seen Cutler pour his heart out like he had just now. It surprised Cutler that Jack didn't have a pesky comment ready for him, but the moment was too emotional for even Jack to come in between. Cutler felt a spark of hope again, rising from his stomach instead of the rock he felt before. But it soon faded as Elizabeth spoke again.

'There is one problem..' Elizabeth removed the wide, far too big, robes she had been holding onto the entire time, it showing the dark red dress she was wearing underneath and a small pregnant belly came from behind the robe now hanging loose from her figure.

'You.. are pregnant?!' Jack almost choked within the last sips of his almost empty teacup.