Youth Restored

Elizabeth stood there, her jaw dropped open in pure shock and awe. She raised both her hands and began feeling his face, trying to understand what was in front of her.

Those are his eyes, that is defiantly his ‘devil may care’ smirk, but…no, it can’t be..can it? Stranger things have happened. Dear God, I thought he was handsome before…

“Jack, I can’t believe…how did…why…?” She was having an understandably hard time finding the words for the feelings swirling in her head.

“Why did I come fer ye?”

She could only nod her confirmation.

“After I found th’ fountain and got me ship back, I found myself in a dire need to find meself a new crew. I was hopin’ ye’d be willin’ to rejoin me crew, Izzy. ‘S not quite the same without you and the whelp. Speakin’ of which, why is it yer goin’ around as Ms. Swann again?”

Elizabeth looked down at her feet, feeling a little ashamed of herself.

“I..I, uh, well.” She took in a hard breath, “I miscarried 4 years ago. Would have bled to death if that Portuguese ship hadn’t seen my smoke signal. I decided then that what Will expected of me was too much to ask from anyone. I bartered passage here, had our marriage annulled and, well, got a job here.”

This time it was Jack’s turn to stare open mouthed for a moment to digest that information.

Oh God, this mean’s she’s available, oh I want her, want her so bad

Jack shook his head slightly to clear away the things he’d do to her and focus on the situation at hand.

“So what do ye say, love, leave this place of hum drudgery and join me on the Pearl again, you know you want to.”

Elizabeth didn’t even have to think about it. Since her first month on that island she always prayed to see those black sails on the horizon and Jack coming to rescue her, again. And now here he was.

“Yes Jack! Yes!” She embraced him tightly, taking him by surprise, and then put his arms around her back lightly, afraid he’d be unable to control himself.

“I have to tie off the loose ends here and get my things. I’ll meet you on the docks tonight?” Her eyes held a happiness that hadn’t been there in almost 5 years.

“We have an accord, love, tonight it is,” Jack made a mock bow before letting himself out.

Elizabeth stood there for a moment trying to remember the last time she was this happy, before scampering down the hall looking for the Lady of the house to inform her of her leave.

As she made her way to the docks, one of the stable boys carrying her trunk for her, she couldn’t help but smile at the excited squeals of the other girls, excited that she was returning to piracy and made her promise to write of her adventures. When they made it to the Pearl, Jack was there to meet her. He took the trunk from the boy and tossed him a couple shillings.

“Fer yer time, lad.” The boy strolled back towards the manor and Jack tossed the trunk up onto his shoulder. He liked being young again, it let him do more without any aches in the morning. Extending his arm to Elizabeth he winked at her.

“Ready to come aboard Ms. Swann?”

“As always, Captain Sparrow,” She too his arm and let him lead her below decks where he had reconverted the storage closet into a cabin for her.

“Oh Jack,” Elizabeth gasped at seeing her room, “it’s just the same as I left it.”

“Well, Barbossa had put it back as a closet, but once I got ‘er back I had to make sure there was room for Izzy...you know, if she wanted it.”

“You know, Captain Sparrow,” Elizabeth smiled coyly as she watched him set her trunk at the end of the bed, “if I didn’t know any better I’d think you were quite taken with me.”

Jack closed the distance between them.

“So what if I said I was?” His lips brushing against hers.

“I’d say it wouldn’t be unreciprocated.” At that he crushed his lips against hers in a bruising, demanding kiss.