Chapter Text
Olivia was leaning against the frozen railing of the Hai Peng, gazing up at the starry sky when she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned around to face Will who walked up beside her and leaned against the railing.
Looking up at the dark blue sky, he asked, "What were you thinking about?"
She turned back to look at the sky with a sigh, "Our talk with Sao Feng and about Jack. I miss him."
Will let the silence linger, feeling that she has more to say.
After a moment she continued, "I saw how sad Elizabeth looks and it hurts me to see her like that."
Will gave her arm a squeeze, "Me too."
She smiled at him and gazed at the sky again.
He saw the twinkling stars reflected in her hazel eyes as the moonlight shone on her raven black hair. As he stared at the ethereal woman in front of him, she turned to look at him, feeling his gaze on her.
She lost herself in his warm brown eyes as he placed a finger under her chin and tilted up her face.
They leaned in and finally brought their lips together as their hearts raced and sparks exploded in their cold bodies.
Ecstatic that he returns her feelings, she kissed him passionately as her hands snaked around his neck and his slid down to her hips. They kissed with vigor under the silver moon, throwing all caution to the wind without a care in the world.
They pulled away and looked at each other with gleaming eyes.
Olivia asked breathlessly, "You have feelings for me?"
He nodded as he cupped her cheek, "Yes. I did like Elizabeth for a while but it was only temporary. I have loved you from the moment I set eyes on you. But I only realized it after seeing you in action."
She grinned as she placed her hand atop his own.
Suddenly remembering Elizabeth, her smile faded, "But what about Elizabeth?"
He smiled, to her surprise, and said, "She loves Jack."
Her eyes widened as a multitude of thoughts raced through her mind. How did he know? Does she know that he is aware of it? And what about Jack? Does he know?
She voiced out her thoughts and he frowned, "You knew?"
She shamefully looked away as his hand dropped to his side, "Yes. I noticed it and asked her about it. She confessed that she loved Jack and not you. But she begged me not to tell you about it because she thought you were in love with her and she didn't want to break your heart."
Will's eyes widened in surprise at the truth as he muttered under his breath, "So, she was putting up an act just like me."
Olivia heard his mumble but kept silent.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and gazed at the starry night for a few moments before kissing him on the cheek and going to bed.
As he looked down at the calm ocean, he remembered the events in Singapore when they paid a visit to Sao Feng to get his navigational charts.
A wooden pole was placed on his neck horizontally and his hands were placed atop it on both sides and tied to it. He was soaked from head to toe as he watched the pirate lord of the south China sea threaten to kill a man not on either Sao Feng's side or theirs.
He voiced what his companions were thinking, "If he's not with you and he's not with us, whose he with?"
Just then British soldiers barged into Sao Feng's bath house, forcing them to start fighting.
Will used the pole as a weapon, hitting his attackers when one of them brought down his sword. Will blocked it using the pole which was cut in half by the sword strike.
He hit an incoming soldier with the pole as Olivia yelled, "Will!", and rushed to aid him.
She fought off some more soldiers and was led away to the exit by Will.
Hearing a voice shout, "Ready!", they turned around to see the soldiers aiming their guns at them. As they braced themselves for the gunshots, the wooden floor in front of the soldiers exploded: a deed done by the Pearl's remaining crew.
They rushed out of the bath house and onto the streets of Singapore where more soldiers were clashing swords with the residents. They ran through the crowd, fighting their way out. They got separated as they brought down their swords on the redcoats and sliced through them. As Will was running towards Olivia, Sao Feng grabbed him by the neck and pushed to a nearby wooden walled room.
His hand stayed on Will's neck as he whispered, "Listen Boy. Coincidence, isn't it? The East India Trading Company finds me the day you showed up in Singapore."
Will glared at him, "It is coincidence only."
He took out his dagger and pushed Sao Feng away, keeping his knife on Feng's neck, "If you want to make a deal with Beckett, you need what I offer."
Feng asked, "You cross Barbossa, you are willing to cross Jack Sparrow. Why should I expect any better?"
Will whispered, "I need the Pearl to free my father."
He withdrew the knife and held it down, "You will help me to get it."
Sao Feng thought for a moment and asked, "What do you need?"
Will answered, "Your charts, a ship and a crew."
Feng called out to his first mate, "Tai Huang!"
Cutting through the soldiers in his way, Huang made his way over to them.
Sao Feng gave some orders in Chinese to Tai Huang who swiftly went to obey them.
Feng looked at Will, "He will lead you to one of my ships, the Hai Peng, with my crew. I take Jack Sparrow to Beckett after you get him from the locker."
Will nodded just as Tai Huang came back with the crew and charts. He handed it over to Will who lead them out towards Barbossa, Elizabeth and Olivia.
Barbossa looked at him, "Got the charts?"
Will threw the charts to him, "And better yet, a ship and a crew."
Elizabeth asked, "Where's Sao Feng?"
He answered, "He'll cover our escape and meet us at shipwreck cove."
Olivia narrowed her eyes at him while Elizabeth remained passive as Huang led them to the ship.
Olivia walked up to Elizabeth who was staring down at the sky reflected in the ocean with desolate eyes, "Elizabeth."
She looked up at Olivia, "I miss him."
Olivia hugged her tightly, "Me too. But we are going to rescue him. So don't worry."
They pulled apart and Elizabeth gave her a watery smile, "Thank you."
Linking their arms, the two friends walked over to the crew as Will walked past them and smiled at them.
They were with the crew in front of Barbossa who was steering the wheel when Will came rushing up to them.
He looked at Barbossa with worry and fear in his brown eyes, "Barbossa! Ahead."
Barbossa said, "Aye. We're good and lost now."
Olivia furrowed her eyebrows, "Lost?"
Barbossa explained, "For certain you have to be lost to find the places that can't be found. Else ways, everyone would know where it is."
Gibbs looked at the water, "We're gaining speed."
Barbossa simply said, "Aye."
Will took charge and instructed, "To stations."
As everyone ran and started pulling on the ropes to slow the ship, Barbossa yelled, "Nay! Belay that! Let her run straight and true!"
Everyone ran to the front of the ship and stared in fear at the enormous waterfall a small distance from the ship.
Elizabeth turned around in anger just as Barbossa came up to them, "You've doomed us all!"
Barbossa smiled and gripped her face, "Don't be so unkind. You may not survive to pass this way again. And these maybe the last friendly words you hear."
She whipped around to see them approaching the waterfall rapidly.
Will, Elizabeth and Olivia ran to pull the ropes and turn the ship around to try and save everyone's lives while yelling orders to the crew.
They turned the ship around at the last moment but the rapids had already caught the ship, causing the ship to topple over the massive waterfall and into an abyss of darkness.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and saw that they had landed on a deserted beach. The sky was a light blue and the sun was a dull yellow. Its rays were blindingly bright which together with the barren landscape, made their eyes hurt.
They stood up on the shore and brushed off the sand on their soaked clothes.
Elizabeth walked over to Gibbs who was muttering something and remarked, looking at the enormous sand dune directly in front of them, "I don't see Jack. I don't see anyone."
Barbossa called out from behind them, "He's here! Davy Jones never once gave up what he took."
Will walked up to him, "Does it matter? We're trapped here by your doing. No different than Jack."
Just then, Tia Dalma, who was stroking the shell of a white crab on her hand, smirked, "Witty Jack is closer than you think."
She looked in the direction of a large sand dune and the rest followed.
They watched with wide eyes and gaping mouths as the Pearl emerged from behind the dune and slid over to the shore, its infamous Captain standing atop the main mast.
After the Pearl floated a little into the sea, Jack got into a long boat and rowed towards the shore.
As he got out of the boat, everyone ran towards him. Elizabeth felt her heart race as she saw the man she loved, walk in their direction. It was soon replaced by anxiety as she feared his anger over her actions since their last interaction.
As everyone lined up next to him, Gibbs yelled in delight, "A sight for sore eyes! Jack!"
Jack stopped in front of Gibbs, "Mr. Gibbs!"
Gibbs said enthusiastically, "Aye captain!"
Jack asked, "I expect you're able to account for your actions then?"
Confused, Gibbs asked, "Sir?"
Jack growled, "There's been a perpetual and virulent lack of discipline upon my vessel. Why? Why is that sir?"
Comprehension dawning on Gibbs, he whispered, "Sir, you're... You're in Davy Jones' locker, cap'n."
Jack grimaced and thought for a moment before adamantly saying, "I know that. I know where I am. Don't think I don't."
Barbossa stepped towards Jack, "Jack Sparrow."
Jack turned to his former first mate with a grin, "Ah! Hector. It's been too long, hasn't it?"
Barbossa glared at him, "Aye. Isla de Muerta, remember? You shot me."
Jack smiled, "No I didn't."
He then moved onto Tia Dalma, the smile still on his face, "Tia Dalma, out and about, eh? You add an agreeable sense of the macabre to any delirium."
Tia Dalma smiled uneasily as Will dryly commented, "He thinks we're a hallucination."
Jack walked over to Will, "William, tell me something. Have you come because you need my help to save a certain distressing damsel, or rather, damsel in distress? Either one."
Will raised his chin, "No."
Jack triumphantly said, "Well, then, you wouldn't be here, would you? So you can't be here. Q.E.D., you're not really here."
Wanting to make herself visible to him, Elizabeth stepped forward, "Jack. This is real, we're here."
She saw fear, admiration and anger flicker in his eyes as he opened his mouth to say something and then closed it.
Jack walked back to Gibbs and asked in a whisper, "The locker, you say?"
Gibbs nodded, "Aye."
Elizabeth tentatively took a few steps forward in her determination to get Jack to come with them, "We came to rescue you!"
Jack raised his eyebrows and walked towards her, still resentful of her betrayal, "Have you, now? That's very kind of you. But it would seem that as I possess a ship and you don't, you're the ones in need of rescuing, and I'm not sure as I'm in the mood to."
Barbossa pointed at the Black pearl and smugly said, "I see my ship. Right there."
Jack walked past them and looked out at the ocean, shielding his eyes from the dull sun, "Can't spot it. Must be a tiny little thing hiding somewhere behind the Pearl."
Desperate to get the Pearl and Jack out of the locker to save his father, Will strode over to Jack, "Jack, Cutler Beckett has the heart of Davy Jones. He controls the Flying Dutchman."
Elizabeth came up between Jack and Will and grasped Jack's arm, sending tingles down his spine despite his anger at her, "He's taking over the seas."
Tia Dalma walked up on the other side of Jack, "The song has been sung. The Brethren Court is called."
Olivia stood back and watched as everyone crowded around Jack.
Overwhelmed by what he was just told, he glanced at them, "Leave you alone for a minute, look what happens. Everything's gone to pot."
As Gibbs agreed with him, Jack walked away from everyone, "Aye Jack. The world needs you back something fierce."
Will added, "And you need a crew."
Jack rolled his eyes and turned around to meet anxious and hostile eyes staring at him, "Why should I sail with any of you?"
He then sarcastically smiled and pointed at Elizabeth, "Four of you have tried to kill me in the past. One of you succeeded."
Everyone's eyes widened as they looked at Elizabeth who had guilt written all over her face and did not try to deny it.
Jack grinned ironically, "Oh, she's not told you. You'll have loads to talk about while you're here."
He walked towards Tia Dalma, "As for you..."
She smirked as she stroked his goatee, making jealousy flare up inside Elizabeth, "Now... don't tell me you didn't enjoy it at the time."
Jack chuckled, "Fair enough. All right, you're in."
He moved onto Pintel, "Don't need you, you scare me."
Next in line was Gibbs, "Gibbs, you can come."
He pointed at his shortest crew member, "Marty."
Passing Ragetti with a grimace, he stopped at his mute crew member with a smile, "Cotton. Cotton's parrot, I'm a little iffy, but at least I'll have someone to talk to."
He walked to Olivia who was standing next to Cotton with a smile on her face, "Ah! Olivia! You can join my crew."
She grinned with a twinkle in her eye and mock saluted, "Yes, captain!"
Jack smirked and turned to meet a Chinese sailor, "Who are you?"
The man explained, "Tai Huang. These are my men."
Jack thoughtfully asked, "Where do your allegiances lie?"
Tai Huang answered with a smile, "With the highest bidder."
Jack gestured at the Pearl, "I've a ship."
"That makes you the highest bidder."
Jack grinned, "Good man."
He then turned around and opened his compass, ordering the men, "Weigh anchor, all hands. Prepare to make sail."
Seeing the compass spinning around without stopping, he snapped it shut with a weary face.
He turned to hear Barbossa tapping his fingers on the charts, "Jack. Which way you going, Jack?"
Elizabeth was sitting at the bottom of the stairs leading below deck staring at the wooden floor when she heard footsteps beside her.
She looked up and saw Will and Olivia approaching her.
Olivia bent down to her level and stated, "You left Jack to the kraken."
Elizabeth glanced at her with tears in her eyes, "He's rescued now. It's done with."
Olivia gripped Elizabeth by the shoulders, “Elizabeth! What on Earth were you thinking?!”
Shaking her head dismally, Elizabeth said, “I had no choice, Olivia.”
Olivia tightened her hold on her shoulders, “Elizabeth, we always have a choice. I understand that the kraken was after Jack and that by giving him to it, you thought you were saving us all. But you could have at least told us! We could have helped you think of a better solution!”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow despite the lone tear sliding down her cheek, "Which is what? I couldn't tell it to you. It was my burden to bear."
Will stepped forward, "I don't know what alternative we might have come up with, but I do know that it would not involve killing Jack. Even though it was your burden to bear, Olivia and I did bear it, didn't we? We just didn't know what it was."
Elizabeth looked down remorsefully, "I'm sorry. I should have told you. You were worried about me and I didn't care."
Olivia smiled at her, her temper fading away as quickly as it came, "All is forgiven as long as you know your mistake and promise not to do it again."
Elizabeth hugged her tightly, "Thank you."
She then pulled away and took a step towards Will, her eyes filled with grief, "I'm really sorry, Will. But I don't love you. I love Jack. I tried to forget my feelings for him, I really did! But I couldn't. Please forgive me, Will."
To her astonishment, Will gave her a hug, "I know, Elizabeth. I know. And don't worry. I'm not angry. I realized that I love Olivia not you. I was dreading telling you about it and breaking your heart but when I saw you kissing Jack, I understood that I didn't have to be worried."
Elizabeth returned the hug gratefully, "Thank you so much, Will."
After they drew apart, he grinned at her, "Go make amends with Jack."
Olivia placed her hands on Elizabeth's shoulders, "Yes! Go get your man!"
Elizabeth laughed and ran up the stairs on to the deck.
Seeing Gibbs ordering some sailors, she went up to him, "Mr. Gibbs, where's Jack?"
He turned to her, "Ah! Miss Swann. He's in his cabin."
She thanked him and walked to the cabin after making sure that Barbossa was busy steering the wheel. Slowly opening the cabin door, she entered inside and looked around. Jack was bent over some maps, measuring the distance using a divider.
Hearing the door creak close, Jack looked up, "Miss Swann, what brings you here?"
Ignoring the pang in her heart at him calling her by her surname, she walked up to his table and stopped directly in front of him, "I'm so very sorry, Jack."
He looked into her eyes and raised an eyebrow, "Thought you weren't sorry?"
Tears pooled in her eyes as she held his gaze, "It was a lie. And you know it."
He gazed at her, making her feel like his dark brown eyes were piercing through her and seeing her very soul, sending a shiver down her spine. He let the silence linger for a moment as he stared at her, taking in everything about her.
He finally asked, "Why'd you come back?"
"It wasn't right. You didn't deserve it."
"What wasn't right exactly?"
She averted her eyes, "Davy Jones taking you to his locker."
His face was unreadable but his eyes were blazing, "And killing me was right?"
She shook her head and whispered, "No."
"Then why'd you do it?"
"I had no choice. I had to do it to save everyone."
He asked in a low voice, "You didn't think that I would go willingly?"
She looked up in surprise at his words and remembered how he appeared resigned when he was looking at his ship for the last time.
She saw the challenge in his eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat, "No."
He asked her again, "Why'd you come back?"
Blinking away the tears that sprang to her tears, she finally confessed, gazing into his beautiful dark eyes, "Because I love you and I felt guilty for leaving you to your fate."
His face showed no surprise at her words. It was as if he already knew it and just wanted to confirm it.
She looked down in embarrassment as Jack walked around the table and stood beside her.
She felt a calloused fingers stroke her cheek and glanced up to see Jack right next to her, his brown eyes softening as they met her light brown ones, "What about the whelp?"
She smiled hesitantly, "He's in love with Olivia. And he's not a whelp!"
He dropped his hand to his side and asked, "What makes you think that I forgave you?"
She stepped away from him, "Nothing. I know that you're still angry with me and I deserve it. I don't expect you to forgive me right away, Jack. But I want you to know what I feel for you."
He took a step towards her, "And what if I never forgive you?"
She showed no reaction but he saw through her façade to the broken woman inside as she answered, "Then I will accept it."
Alone with Will, Olivia looked at him warily, "How did you get Sao Feng to give us a ship and crew?"
Will was surprised that she had realized that he had made a deal with Feng or something similar to get the ship and crew.
He lied, "I promised him that we would agree to whatever he suggests at the court and that we would give him Jack to do whatever he wants to Jack without killing him."
She narrowed her eyes, "I know you're lying,Will. I won't ask anything else, but I hope you know what you're doing."