Drabbles: 'After World's End'

[dwgm]

There's been an extra drabble challenge going on at the Black Pearl Sails Yahoo group, offered by Queensparrow, called Winds of Change. In her words:

Anyway since most of know how AWE (At World's End) turned out, this Drabble can be about your own opinion about how did Elizabeth handled her situation about Will having to be Captain of the Flying Dutchman and about their child. What happened to Captain Jack Sparrow. Did he go looking for the Fountain of Youth or did he meet up with the Pearl and then threaten Barbossa? How did Will even know Elizabeth was going to give birth to their son? Whatever ye muses are?

An anniversary reminder about the Winds of Change drabble challenge came in my email a while ago -- the deadline is April 2nd -- and I was suddenly inspired to drop everything and try to write my version (and yes, there are elements common to other authors, as usual for me). It ended up being three drabbles, a hundred words apiece, and the very last line is linked to a short fic I did a while back.

Unbetaed, and hopefully there aren't a lot of errors.

~ After World's End ~

Jack and Will came to an accord easily enough. "She needs you, Jack," Will said, bluntly. "Calypso says she's with child." The Ferryman's mouth twisted in a smile at once rueful and pride-filled. "I can't be there for them, but you can!"

"What makes you think I—"

"Don't you?"

Jack felt himself flushing beneath that knowing gaze, like some boy. He grabbed the rum and drank, but Will's eyes... Jack scowled. "What about you?"

"One day every ten years, as long as she lives. It's my fate, and hers."

"And mine, apparently."

Will nodded. "Yes. And Fiddler's Green after."

*

Jack got the Pearl back first, and with remarkable ease. He had the map, after all, and more skill at navigating than Hector'd ever dreamed of. They found the Fountain of Youth, all right. Hector drank first and ended up a scrawny cabin boy.

"Should've been you! You!" little Hector ranted, high-pitched. "Ye'd've been gone for good! And good riddance, too, damn yer eyes!"

"You'd best shut it, lad," said Jack, trying not to laugh, "or you'll be kissin' the gunner's daughter before I lock ye in the brig, savvy?"

They parted in Tortuga, and he never saw Hector again.

*

Elizabeth was 'large with child' and lovelier than ever, but distant. Their last parting had apparently caused a slight rift -- as he'd intended, unfortunately.

He didn't tell her about Will. Not at first.

He felt her eyes, all evening, but when he turned at last from his old mates and the wenches that vied for attention, she was gone.

He followed, caught her. Another unfortunate exchange, icy words, lies, and he lost it. "She needs you!" he spat. "I should've told Will to shove `is needs you right up `is arse!"

Except, of course, it turned out she did .

 

~ .~    

Comments

[salr323.livejournal.com]

Loved this, very clever. I especially liked this:

"One day every ten years, as long as she lives. It's my fate, and hers."


"And mine, apparently."

Awwww... :(

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That Fate thing: it'll get you every time. *G*

Thanks so much for reading, and and letting me know you liked it!