Destiny's Requiem

All my wonderful reviewers inspired me to post chapter 2. I do hope that it lives up to expectations.

CHAPTER 2

Jack swaggered his way through the maze of streets in Shipwreck City his mind an endless battle. He’d finally managed to bring himself to her and now he had to present her a letter, that even though he hadn’t read it, he knew it would hurt her. He always longed for her, but the thought of Will Turner and his own demons kept him far away. Then she’d gone and made it a little easier by killing him, although that kiss still lingered every time he closed his eyes. He wasn’t entirely sure he could be faithful to her, after all he hadn’t had the best of teachers and he knew how badly his father hurt his mother. Even if he could, would she even want to be with him? He laughed at that thought “of course she would, I’m Captain Jack Sparrow!” But then he reminded himself that ‘that’ hadn’t worked on her yet.

He knocked on a door and entered. Suddenly losing some bit of his usual self-confidence as he entered the room. In its place stood caution masked by an air of hatred.

“Jackie” the voice came out of the darkness as he heard the familiar sounds of a guitar strumming.

He merely nodded his head and kept walking, somewhat determined to ignore his old man though knowing it impossible.

“Took ye long enough to come for ‘er lad.” The eerily similar looking man replied.

It never ceased to amaze him how his father always knew what was going on. This was only the second time he’d been back to the cove since leaving the infamous Captain Teague to build his own legend at the age of fifteen. Last time his father had advice on immortality now he had it on her. “Didn’t have the best teacher in that regard now did I? So I need not be listening to advice from the likes of said teacher.” Jack clearly addressed a deep ridden resentment for the man but was met with a piercing glare reminding him of whom he was speaking. “I came to see Hector.” He cut his rebuttal and progressed through the room stopping briefly when his father addressed him again.

“Jackie,” A matter of importance resonating in his voice.

“What?” Jack muttered clearly having had enough conversation with the elder man.

“She loves ye. Do right by yourself and ‘er.” The old man resumed his strumming clearly unaffected that Jack didn’t want to hear him.

“And what would you know about doing right? Ye left ‘er when she wasn’t convenient to you, sought other company and came back to her to do it all over again. Now you sit here protecting a code that means nothing for all eternity. SHE loved you too.” He pointed to the shrunken head of his mother on his father’s belt before walking out of earshot. He didn’t care what Captain Teague thought of his answer. They were the only two in the room; he didn’t need to respect him for his rank now. They were father and son, and as such he could verbally lash out. He hated him. The man was infuriating and Jack snapped when he started offering love advice; his treatment of his mother festered at him when he was a child and haunted him now. His own fear of turning out like his father left him to whoring, he was safe that way couldn’t hurt anybody couldn’t get hurt. Then he met her. Whoring no longer offered him the satisfaction it once had. The winds had changed. Jack Sparrow had changed but his unspoken fears remained.

“Hector,” Jack yelled as he emerged from the dark hallway into the hall of the Brethren.

“Aye, Jack. Ye bring what ye proposed when ye dropped me off ‘ear?” Barbossa questioned.

“Unlike some people I keep my word. Although you do look quite chummy with little Willy, reminds me of a long ago time. Back before you were a mutinous…” Jack’s musings were interrupted.

“Lets not be bringing that up again Jack. Let the skeletons lie.” Barbossa responded somewhat solemnly before changing the subject. “Did ye find me a ship?”

“Nearly as fast as me pearl.” Jack smirked, “just like I promised.” He tossed him a bottle. “And here’s yer water so we can spend eternity bickering over who has the nicer hat.”

“Aye. And she’s safe and sound in yer home just like I told ye she would be.”

“And she doesn’t know?”

“Aye. Told her all the lords had safe quarters here, as a precaution and what not.”

“Yer, new ship is in the dock, Marty’s watching it fer ye. Even donated the bald one and one eye to yer new adventure, figured you’d be needing a crew.” He turned on his heels to leave.

“Ye know Jack, ye always have been a bit too nice to be a pirate.” Barbossa called out stopping Jack in his tracks.

“And a bit too wicked to be a good man.” Jack finished smirking.

“Aye, but the gods shine on ye all the time. The only reason I can think of as to why ye always get me ship.”

“Its me ship and to say the gods shine on me isn’t exactly true. I recall a rather ungodly tentacle-clad beastie…”

“That’s not me point Jack.”

“Then what exactly is yer point Hector?” He was getting annoyed with the conversation, his run in with his father still leaving him irritated. He had been civil to him the last time he’d seen him out of need, this time they had been alone long enough for Jack to show his true feelings.

“She loves ye.”

“So I’ve been told.” He muttered to himself as he walked back to his ship secretly hoping it to be true and using that knowledge to calm his anger.

Elizabeth strolled down the dock, various members of Jack’s crew in toe carrying items she’d need aboard for young Willy. She looked up in time to watch the Captain stroll down the gangplank to greet her.

“Captain Sparrow.” She greeted a huge smile stretching across her lips.

He nodded and ordered the crew to settle her things in the first mates cabin. He was about to say something to him when she handed a sleeping Willy to him. “I’ll be setting up my cabin Jack. Can ye watch him for me?” She asked, her eyes pleading.

Jack looked perplexed and concerned as he held the baby in his arms. “I…”

“Please Jack?” the look on her face silenced any complaints.

“Aye,” and he watched her walk off after her things. His eyes then turned to the child in his arms, who was looking up at him with amazement in his eyes. “Welcome to the Black Pearl lad,” he spoke as he introduced the boy to his most prized possession.

“LIZZIE!!!” She heard him yelling and immediately ran up to the deck fearing the worst. When she got there she saw Jack running at her holding Willy out to her, a look of complete terror on his face.

“Jack what’s wrong??” She asked concerned.

“He stinks!!! And now he’s crying!! TAKE HIM!” Jack danced around practically throwing the child to her, doing whatever he could to get rid of him quickly.

She couldn’t help but laugh at him and take her crying son. “Jack you frequently smell! I would think you would be used to that sort of thing. He merely needs to be changed.” She continued her laughing fit as she soothed her son.

Feigning hurt he replied, “I don’t smell like that!” He pointed at the young child as if he was contaminated.

“Its ok Willy, Uncle Jack will learn.” She looked at Jack once more and laughed before returning to her cabin to care for the smelly child.


The sun had set and the ship had made its way out of the cove and was sailing toward a distant horizon. Elizabeth was standing at the rail looking out to the sea. She was so deep in thought she hadn’t heard him approach.

“She missed ye.” He spoke quietly.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I missed her too.” She smiled up at Jack before sighing and returning her eyes to the sea. They both new he didn’t really mean the ship.

“Lizzie. I have something for ye.” Jack spoke removing all arrogance from his voice.

“Oh?” She turned back to him.

“Aye. Will asked me to give it to ye.” He reached into his pocket and removed the letter handing it to her. He placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. “He loves ye.” He turned to walk towards the helm and she could have sworn she heard him mutter, “he’s not the only one.”

As she started breaking the seal on the letter Elizabeth couldn’t help the tears that welled up in her eyes. She paused a moment and resumed her gaze on the horizon, trying to calm her nerves. She was starting to feel guilty. Here she was married to this wonderful man who was destined to be elsewhere, and while she loved him entirely, she was standing there thinking about how things could have been different. What if she hadn’t fed Jack to the Kraken? What if she hadn’t said yes to Will during the battle? She could really use someone to comfort her about now. She turned back to the letter, hoping the words within would provide her that and the strength to wait for him.


Dearest Elizabeth,

Words cannot express how much I miss you; the smile on your face, the way the wind carries your hair, the look that you get in your eyes when you set your mind to something, I could go on forever. It is with that that I tell you I cannot expect you to wait around for me for 10 years. It is not your burden. I want you to seek happiness. The wind carries your voice to me and I know you to be lonely, in need of a companion. I know you have all the strength in the world to wait for me, but I don’t want you to live your life alone without a partner. The sad reality of it is we’d only get a half a dozen days together over your lifetime. I don’t need to be there to know the smile on your face has been missing since I left, I’ve never wanted that smile to fade. It’s what keeps my heart beating; though I can’t feel it I know it is safe.

The only other person whom I’ve ever known you to be happy with is Jack. I know he cares a great deal more for you than he lets on - funny how I can sense these things a lot more accurately now. I know you have feelings for him. Go with him. Let him show you the world that my curse has forbade me from showing you. Please just be there when my 10 years have passed so I can see the smile and the happiness he will be able to bring you. You were my best friend, my true love, and your happiness means more to me than anything else. I will eternally love you – my heart is forever yours. I want you to give yours to another where I know it will be cared for as much as mine is. Find your happiness, for that’s what keeps my heart beating.

Will


She’d broken down in an uncontrolled sob by the time she’d finished the letter. Oddly enough she wasn’t heartbroken. She couldn’t believe Will loved her enough to let her go – he must have believed in the age old adage. But Jack? That was a long shot…. or was it? He’d refused her goodbye that day when she left to be with Will, clearly still untrusting of her since her kiss of death. Yet here he was 2 years later rescuing her from land lock and willing to share his adventures. She continued to cry: for a love she’d lost and the one she could find if she were brave enough to discover it.

Jack stood at the helm watching the waterworks out of the corner of his eye. He’d usually been the cause of woman’s tears and was generally gone long before they arrived. Hence he wasn’t quite sure how to react to them; how to make them go away. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore. He stormed below deck and ordered Cotton to the wheel. He then returned to Elizabeth’s side wrapping his arms around her. It took her a little while to acknowledge his presence but once she did she turned her head into his shoulder. Eventually he picked her up and carried her to her cabin. Laying her on her bed and holding her hand until she fell asleep tears staining her beautiful face. He figured a night without Willy would probably be helpful, so he left her a note and took the sleeping baby, cradle and all, back to his cabin.


When morning came Jack had taken the wheel, Willy on his hip. He had never been one for babies, but somehow he was picking it up pretty quickly. He was explaining the finer parts of navigation to the youngest Turner, who seemed more fascinated by the seagulls flying overhead, when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Elizabeth behind him.

“Morning luv.” Jack said unsure what to expect from the girl.

“See Willy, I told you Uncle Jack would come around.” She put her arms out for her son and he quickly reached for his mother, cuddling into her chest. Jack watched the boy before returning his eyes to Elizabeth’s.

“I suppose if I were to try that I’d get smacked?” Jack questioned, half expecting the smack to come anyway, but hoping to test her mood.

Instead he was met with a chuckle and wide-eyed grin. “Thank you Jack.” She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before walking back below deck to feed her son.

Jack was left with the largest smirk he’d ever known spread across his face, “maybe the whelp was right?”