Open Waters

Three days later...

Elizabeth Swann danced around her large room happily - holding a beautiful white wedding dress in her arms as she spun around the large bed and fell backwards on the plush sheets. Within days she was to wed a sir William Turner - her soul mate and nothing could bring her spirits down. The dress had been a present from the Queen - a lovely silk corset with sparkling sequences and lace trimming. She was so excited.

A knock on the door surprised her, causing her to leap from the bed and hang the dress back in the closet. "Come in," She stated - watching as the bedroom door crept open slowly and Will peeked his head into the room. "Good morning, Elizabeth." He said with a smile, taking a moment to bask in her beauty before handing her a fistful of freshly picked flowers in an array of colors. "Oh Will, there beautiful..." Elizabeth assured, kissing him deeply before placing his gift into a small empty vase beside her bed. "What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"I saw a ship sailing into Port Royal this morning.. it's about thirty minutes away..."

"..and?"

"This ship has black sails.."

"The Black Pearl.."

~

"Guards! Put your weapons down! Jack is an allied of ours!" Elizabeth demanded, running down the docs as Jack stepped off his ship and opened his arms to her. "Why thank you love but I be havin' no allies. You're looking positively magnificent these days. How's the old man?" Will was only steps behind Elizabeth, narrowing his eyes at the thought of being someone’s 'old man'. "I would be one to talk, Sparrow. You're olden then me and Elizabeth put together." He joked, watching a wave of anger wash over the mans handsome face before Jack waved him away and continued towards the shore - turning around only after realizing that his company hadn't stepped foot on land. "Olivia! Don't be rude.. come here and meet these fine people.."

"Olivia?"

He hadn't spoken to her in nearly a day - idly wondering if she had jumped overboard.

"Liv?"

Finally a shy girl wearing tattered clothes peeked her head from behind the helm - making eye contact with Elizabeth then Will. She stepped down the stairs quickly and joined Jack's side - nodding her head in a weak attempt at a hello.

"Who is this, Jack? You brought a date! Lovely."

"Date? What? What on earth gives you that idea and why, may I ask, would I need a date to visit the likes of you?"

"The wedding? Will and I are to be married at the end of the week.." Elizabeth assured, giving Olivia the once over. The poor girl seemed so broken and sad, her hair was a mess and those clothes simply had to go.

"Bloody hell boy you aren't going to be getting married are you? That's a downward spiral.." Jack asked Will, grinning once he received a slap on the arm from Elizabeth. "We'll if I'd have known there was to be a wedding I'd have brought you a gift.." He continued, looking back towards Olivia who was obviously uncomfortable.

"Let me introduce you to my.." What as she? Hardly a friend anymore. "..my.. um, Olivia. Found her in Tortuga a few days ago and seems she needs sanctuary. I told her that I'd drop her off here, you lot would take care of her and I'd be on my way, savvy?" With that, Jack bowed slightly and turned back to his ship - feeling Olivia's eyes bore into his back. She didn't want him to stay - deep inside her very being she hated that man - but she didn't want to be alone in this town just yet.

"Jack! Won't you stay until after the ceremony?" Elizabeth called, having him stop dead in his tracks. He turned around slightly and smiled towards them - opening his arms to the invitation. "You'd have to ask for Olivia's blessings, lass. If she wouldn't mind a pirates company for the next few days.."

Elizabeth looked at Olivia, who needed her head slightly. "Id like for you to stay.." She whispered, biting her tongue at the thought of actually wanting Jack Sparrow in her life. "Wonderful! It's settled then Jack - you can stay with Will and Olivia will stay in the Governors house with me and my father." Elizabeth assured happily - clasping her hands together as she ushered Olivia towards the shore and her lovely home.

It was obvious that this poor girl had little in life and by the look of her bruised face and rags for a dress she needed a friend. "Let's go back to my fathers house and we'll run you a nice hot bath then find you a new dress to wear, okay?"

Olivia smiled at Elizabeth’s charitable acts and nodded her head, leaving Jack and Will in the distance. "Thank you, Ms. Swann. You are a kind woman in deed."

~

"I thought you were a pirate, Will. Pirates don't get married." Jack assured, sitting with Will in his blacksmith shop/humble abode as Will sharpened a newly made sword. Will made him no comment until after he was finished and sat the blade down on a table - turning to look at Jack. "I love Elizabeth more than being a pirate. Something’s are more important in life then the lust of the open ocean." He assured simply, returning to the task at hand. "You wouldn't know anythin' about that though, I'm sure. If you'd ever been in love like this you'd given up everything to had just to make her happy."

Will's words burned into Jack's thoughts. He was mistaken - Jack had known a love like that once before. Maybe. It all confused him now - he was young and Olivia was beautiful but the sea, the sea was his love. A sigh escaped him as he thought of Olivia sitting on that shore line - completely heart broken as he sailed away from Tortuga.

He would surely burn in hell for hurting that girl.

~

"So, tell me all about you, Olivia. You must be something special for Jack to take the time and bring you here. I've seen Tortuga and the horror's you've had to endure break my heart. It's a good thing he was there that day, huh?"

Elizabeth was buried in her closet - searching for something suitable Olivia could wear. The two girls were about the same size - the older just a slightly boney and malnourished. "It's sort of a long story, Ms. Swann."

"Please, call me Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth.."

The younger woman smiled and returned to the hunt - pulling out a beautiful velvet deep purple dress. "This one would look lovely on you.." She assured, idly asking again after her life before Port Royal. Olivia took in a deep breath and began; "Jack and I grew up together in Tortuga... his family took me into their home when I was five years old after my parents and several other towns people were murdered by pirates. We became great friends over the years but Jack was in love with adventure and becoming a pirate - even though pirates had ruined our island. Our father, Mr. Sparrow, who had also taken Jack in when he was left on their doorstep as an infant disapproved of any talk of pirates but Jack perused that dream anyway and left once he was of age."

Elizabeth was surprised, listening intently.

"Jack left the island and returned ten years later - four days ago, finding me in the town being abused by my late husband.. he offered to take me here for sanctuary from Tortuga and I accepted..."

"You poor dear.. you say your husband is of late? Because if he isn't I will sent my fathers men there to take care of him! How dare he lay an angered hand on such a sweet girl?" Elizabeth asked, her anger growing at the thought. "Aye, he was to be sent to the gallows the day we left Tortuga. I don't think I'll have to worry of him anymore."

"Well good... there should be nothing but a fate of death for a man who strikes a woman that way."

~

"Mr. Turner and Mr. Sparrow - welcome to the Governor’s home. Dinner is being served in the dining room... Ms. Winslet and Ms. Swann are upstairs freshening up and will join you there momentarily." The door keep assured, guiding them through the large house and towards the dining room. A feast fit for a king was awaiting them - ham with all the fixings - Jack had never seen so much food. "Looks good.." He assured, sitting down at one of the five seats.

"Aye, very good.. hope those girls get down here.. I'm starved."

~
"Olivia, dear? Jack and Will have arrived - are you decent?"

Elizabeth pecked on the door and allowed herself inside - grinning as Olivia came into view wearing a beautiful dark purple dress with white lace and a white corset. The poor girl looked so uncomfortable - the maids had fixed her up beautifully; her once messy honey blond hair now fell down her slender shoulders in soft, thick curls and they had applied a bit of make-up that Elizabeth got from France to her wounds, nearly causing them to disappear. She was a vision.

"You look simply lovely, Olivia. Is everything okay?"

She made her no comment - just continued to stare into the mirror. What had she let these people do to her? "Olivia? Is everythin' alright? Jack and Will are waiting for us.." Elizabeth knelt down in front of her friend and forced a worried smile, touching her chin to bring their eyes together. "I don't want him to see my this way.." She whispered, mostly to herself than anyone. "Who, dear?"

Olivia shook her head as if to say never mind and forced herself from the vanity. "Nothing, it's nothing.. let us go before they get restless and eat all the food." She assured kindly, taking Elizabeth's offered hand as she guided her through the upstairs and to the dinning area of the house.

~

"So what’s the story with Olivia? Friend of yours or just another girl to slap you in the morning?"

Jack looked up from his empty white plate slowly, looking over at Will who waited patiently for an answer to his question. There was no mistaking the way Jack looked at Olivia but from knowing him so well it had to be lust instead of love. Jack Sparrow didn't know how to love anything but himself.

"Old friend of mine.. seems I did her a bit of hardship in the past and now I'm trying to make it square between us. Thought she could come to Port Royal and find a nice house to live, a few friends - less thievery and misfortune here."

"Interesting.."

"You have no idea."

Jack turned his attention back to the plate, studying his distorted image closely. Elizabeth had insisted that he wash up before dinner - the first hot bath he had in years. His face looked paler, tired eyes showing through without the black coal rimming the lids.

"Olivia, she's an amazing woman - or was.. I'm not really sure anymore.."

"You're not making any sense, Jack." not that he ever had before but this particular time he was sounding extra crazy. "I don't know how to explain it, Will, just that Olivia was something special to me and I ruined it... there really be no point in thinking about it anymore... you and your bonnie lass will be married by weeks end and I'll be back on my ship and far away from this spit of land."

"Gentleman.. and not.. so.. gentlemen.." One of the maids stated loudly, glaring at Jack as he removed his elbows from the table and sat back in his chair. "Let me introduce to you the lovely Elizabeth Swann and Olivia Winslet. Dinner is served."

Olivia stepped down the stairs carefully in her uncomfortable shoes. The dress she wore covered her feet - making it hard to see if she was missing a step or not but she tried none the less - nearly tripping twice before she made it to the table. Will stood to his feet quickly and pulled out Elizabeth’s chair - then Olivia's once he saw that Jack hadn't moved. The girls each bowed slightly and thanked him in a quiet voice - taking their places at the table.

"Olivia, you look... lovely." Jack stated, "..you as well, Elizabeth." Assuring quickly as he closed his gaping mouth and turned his attention towards Ms. Swann. "This meal looks lovely.. I say we eat and be merry.."

"Aye." Will agreed as the cooks began to serve them their meals.

~

"You look nice, Olivia."

She stared down at her plate without making Jack a comment, folding her hands in her lap nervously. It was so hard trying to look past all the hurt he has caused her - even though he was trying so hard to make amends - she was to stubborn to forgive and forget.

"Olivia, I wish you'd speak with me - what man deserves such cold-heartedness? I'm sorry for the misfortunes I've caused you.. I really am.. but I was just a young man when I left Tortuga... you can not blame me for wanting adventure in my life."

His company sighed deeply - wishing that Will and Elizabeth would return from the kitchen soon. Jack didn't speak of such things when they were around and she had to thank him for that. All she wanted was to forget about what he had done but unfortunately Jack only knew how to fuel the fire - if he could learn to be seen and not heard once in a while perhaps so many people wouldn't despise him. "Please, Jack.. this isn't the time nor the place for such talk. If you care about anything then please care not to speak of our past.."

Jack sighed in anger - it was hopeless. He had done much worse things in his life and been pardoned from the consequences but this girl, the only girl that had ever made him feel so weak, wouldn't heard of it.

"As you wish, Liv. I just.." He wasn't one to hold back his feelings. "I just wish you knew how painful all this has been for me as well - do you really think I enjoy the fact that I hurt you all those years ago? You were everything to me, Olivia and never in all my years have I ever regretted the pain that I caused you. If only you knew how many times I prayed to whatever God would listen to a pirates prayer that you'd be alright and I'd find you.. I'd take back everything I've ever done to go back to that day and do something different.."

"Jack, please.."

"Fine! Let this grief be on your head then, Olivia. I can't live with it anymore."

Anger had taken over his once calm emotion as jack threw back his chair and slammed his fists onto the thick table. "I wish I'd never seen you in that god forsaken town nor helped you! Should have let that sod of a man beat some sense into you!" He yelled, causing a few of the maids as well as Will and Elizabeth to return to the dinning room. "You're a bloody whore of a trollop and I'm sick of beating myself up over something you obviously don't give a damn about! I'm leaving."

Olivia pushed herself up from her chair and narrowed her eyes. "Do us both a favor, Jack Sparrow and leave - you've left me once what does it matter if you leave again? This time I won't beg you to stay nor will I care if the sea swallows you whole! I wish I'd never let eyes upon you!" She screamed, holding back her tears and anguish. Who did he think he was, speaking to her that way.

"Jack! Mind your manners - how dare you speak to her like that?"

"Sod off, Elizabeth. I tried hard and plenty to make amends with her but she won't hear of it!" With that said Jack gave Olivia one last hard look - ignoring the pain in her eyes and the tears that fell freely down her cheeks. He growled in anger and turned towards the front door - storming out into the streets while Olivia made way to the guestroom.

"Lovers quarrels, you think?" Will wondered aloud, glancing over at Elizabeth who looked back at him with just as much confusion in her eyes. "I seriously doubt that, Will..."
~
TBC