Wicked Game (AWE AU): Chapter 3
Title: Wicked Game
Rating: PG
Pairing: Elizabeth/James
Word Count: 1,508
Summary: An AU take on At World's End. Basically my version of "what should have happened". Alternates between James' and Elizabeth's points of view.
A/N: I'm sorry these are so short! They always look much longer in the word documents...
James:
I’m not entirely certain as to what has just transpired; therefore, I am not entirely certain as to what I should do.
I’ve just told the only woman I ever want to be with that I love her, leaving my heart in her hands, and she ran away from me. I don’t know exactly what it is that is hurting her, all I know is that I want to help her and make that pain go away. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything. It seems as of late all I can manage to do is upset her. I honestly did not mean any harm; in fact, it was quite the opposite. She asked me a question, I was only replying honestly. I haven’t been given a second chance for nothing. She can’t hate me for being honest…can she?
I want to go to her, to see if she is all right. If I can get her to talk to me, maybe she will at least explain herself so I don’t feel completely powerless…
As I get closer to her cabin, I am getting more cautious about the situation. I approach the door, ready to knock, and my hand lingers in the air for a moment. I’m suddenly unsure of myself. What if she won’t speak to me? My hand apparently has a mind of it’s own, because before I can even decide on anything it goes right ahead and knocks on the wooden frame.
“Go away.” She says in a muffled voice.
“Elizabeth, please. I wish only to speak to you.” I say, hoping for some sort of invitation to come inside.
There is a long silence, and then I hear the familiar sound of faint footsteps making their way across the floorboards. She opens the door, and does not look at me when she says quietly, “Come in”.
My heart feels heavy in my chest, and I have no idea as to what is about to happen here. I do not at all care for any situation where I have no control over anything; it makes me feel uncomfortable and utterly helpless. She sits down on the edge of the bed and pats the spot next to her, beckoning me to join her. I sit and clasp my hands together tightly, mostly due to my nerves, and direct my gaze towards the floor. The room is so quiet that I can hear her breathing softly beside me, and I wonder if she can hear my ragged and shallow breaths as I attempt to maintain a calm exterior. I decide to break the silence.
“I apologize if my…declaration…has upset you, Elizabeth. It was never my intention to…” I begin.
“No, James. I’m sorry,” she says, and takes one of my hands in hers. “It’s not you, I just…I feel so awful about all of this. All I have ever done is treat you terribly, and all you can ever do is love me. I push you away, yet you’re always there to rescue me in the end. I don’t deserve you, James. I really don’t.” she says, tears rolling down her cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumb, and she gives me a small and subtle smile.
“I was engaged to you, and I lied. I lied, and then I left you, and I broke your heart. I thought I was so in love James, but how would I have known what love was? I was captivated by this young boy who knew nothing of love, and I let myself throw away the best thing I ever had. Now I’m here, miserable and alone, and where is Will? I should know, shouldn’t I? I don’t. I’m sure he is off somewhere, making secret deals and trying to help his father, and doing everything else but loving me. And you know what? I don’t think he ever did, really, and I never actually loved him. When you helped us escape from the Dutchman, I knew what love was. I knew it when you kissed me then, when you cut the line, when you took me into your arms on this deck only hours ago.” She says, and squeezes my hand gently. I smile at her, attempting to remain calm. “I couldn’t always see it, and I’m so sorry for that, but somewhere along the line it happened,” she glances down at our hands and pauses for a moment.
My heart is about to thump out of my chest, I’m so anxious. This is ridiculous. I go into battles with a face made of steel and mercilessly cut down any man in my way, but I melt like wax under this woman who sets me on fire.
“I think I may have fallen in love with you, James.” She says, and for a moment my breath catches in my throat and I feel my heart stop beating.
She loves me.
She loves me.
Elizabeth loves me.
“But…” she begins,
Oh no.
“I must ask you to be patient with me. I know I shouldn’t even be asking you to do so when you have been so unbelievably forbearing all of these years, but there is the matter of…of…” she shoots her gaze down at the floorboards and wrings her hands in her lap while my stomach twists in anxiety.
“Of Turner,” I interject, the syllables of his name leaving a bitter and foul taste in my mouth.
“Yes. You see, he has proved to be very committed to the idea of freeing his father from Jones’ grasp, but in his progress he has shown less…devotion, as it were, to me. I myself have been less than honest with him, but between the two of us I am afraid our engagement is doomed. James, you must know that there are things between Will and I that have yet to be resolved…however, this does not in any way lesson my affections for you. I must speak to him and explain myself when...well, whenever he decides to turn up, I suppose. I may no longer see him as my fiancé but he will always remain my friend.” She pats my hand with hers, and I begin to relax.
“I understand, Elizabeth. I respect your wishes to speak with him - he does, after all, deserve to know the truth. I admire you for being such an honest and caring woman, but I must tell you that I am not quite as fond of him as you may be. I am disappointed; to say the least…that he has failed to uphold his promise to care and devote himself to you. An honorable man would not go back on his word, and I fear that I may not be able to avoid having discourse with hi-“ I begin, but she silences me with a tender kiss.
“Thank you.” She says, cupping my face. “Thank you for always being the one to save me. Thank you for always defending me, whether I am deserving of it or not. But please, James. Let me handle this.” I nod. She leans in slowly and places her lips on mine, so light it’s as if it were only a wisp of her breath. Our temples come together and we rest against one another, reveling in the silence as our world comes to a slow stop.
I must have the biggest grin on my face, because her eyes have lit up and she can’t stop looking at me, and I am certainly grateful for it. If the last thing I saw on this earth were her eyes, I would die a happy man. She is smiling too, and it is the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.
“Elizabeth, you must know that I could never deny you anything, including my forgiveness, for you it is given freely. I could never be angry with you for following your heart, and I have always respected your decisions, whatever they may have been. All I ever wanted was your happiness, with whomever and whatever your heart desired, but there is nothing you could ever do that would make me stop loving you.” I say, and move a strand of her hair behind her ear.
She looks at me, with tears in her eyes, and smiles.
“Thank you, James.” She says, and kisses me. Her hands are cupping my face when she says softly, “I love you”, and I am the happiest man in the world.
“I love you, Elizabeth.” I whisper, my face lingering precariously close to hers.
“The crew has been waiting, I should at least give them a heading.” She says.
“By your leave, Captain Swann.” I smirk.
“King!” She replies with mock annoyance, and swats me on the shoulder. I peck her on the cheek and she gets up and leaves. She returns after a moment and greets me with a warm smile, and I am all too eager to give her one in return.
“Where is it exactly we are heading?” I ask.
“Shipwreck Cove.”
Rating: PG
Pairing: Elizabeth/James
Word Count: 1,508
Summary: An AU take on At World's End. Basically my version of "what should have happened". Alternates between James' and Elizabeth's points of view.
A/N: I'm sorry these are so short! They always look much longer in the word documents...
James:
I’m not entirely certain as to what has just transpired; therefore, I am not entirely certain as to what I should do.
I’ve just told the only woman I ever want to be with that I love her, leaving my heart in her hands, and she ran away from me. I don’t know exactly what it is that is hurting her, all I know is that I want to help her and make that pain go away. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything. It seems as of late all I can manage to do is upset her. I honestly did not mean any harm; in fact, it was quite the opposite. She asked me a question, I was only replying honestly. I haven’t been given a second chance for nothing. She can’t hate me for being honest…can she?
I want to go to her, to see if she is all right. If I can get her to talk to me, maybe she will at least explain herself so I don’t feel completely powerless…
As I get closer to her cabin, I am getting more cautious about the situation. I approach the door, ready to knock, and my hand lingers in the air for a moment. I’m suddenly unsure of myself. What if she won’t speak to me? My hand apparently has a mind of it’s own, because before I can even decide on anything it goes right ahead and knocks on the wooden frame.
“Go away.” She says in a muffled voice.
“Elizabeth, please. I wish only to speak to you.” I say, hoping for some sort of invitation to come inside.
There is a long silence, and then I hear the familiar sound of faint footsteps making their way across the floorboards. She opens the door, and does not look at me when she says quietly, “Come in”.
My heart feels heavy in my chest, and I have no idea as to what is about to happen here. I do not at all care for any situation where I have no control over anything; it makes me feel uncomfortable and utterly helpless. She sits down on the edge of the bed and pats the spot next to her, beckoning me to join her. I sit and clasp my hands together tightly, mostly due to my nerves, and direct my gaze towards the floor. The room is so quiet that I can hear her breathing softly beside me, and I wonder if she can hear my ragged and shallow breaths as I attempt to maintain a calm exterior. I decide to break the silence.
“I apologize if my…declaration…has upset you, Elizabeth. It was never my intention to…” I begin.
“No, James. I’m sorry,” she says, and takes one of my hands in hers. “It’s not you, I just…I feel so awful about all of this. All I have ever done is treat you terribly, and all you can ever do is love me. I push you away, yet you’re always there to rescue me in the end. I don’t deserve you, James. I really don’t.” she says, tears rolling down her cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumb, and she gives me a small and subtle smile.
“I was engaged to you, and I lied. I lied, and then I left you, and I broke your heart. I thought I was so in love James, but how would I have known what love was? I was captivated by this young boy who knew nothing of love, and I let myself throw away the best thing I ever had. Now I’m here, miserable and alone, and where is Will? I should know, shouldn’t I? I don’t. I’m sure he is off somewhere, making secret deals and trying to help his father, and doing everything else but loving me. And you know what? I don’t think he ever did, really, and I never actually loved him. When you helped us escape from the Dutchman, I knew what love was. I knew it when you kissed me then, when you cut the line, when you took me into your arms on this deck only hours ago.” She says, and squeezes my hand gently. I smile at her, attempting to remain calm. “I couldn’t always see it, and I’m so sorry for that, but somewhere along the line it happened,” she glances down at our hands and pauses for a moment.
My heart is about to thump out of my chest, I’m so anxious. This is ridiculous. I go into battles with a face made of steel and mercilessly cut down any man in my way, but I melt like wax under this woman who sets me on fire.
“I think I may have fallen in love with you, James.” She says, and for a moment my breath catches in my throat and I feel my heart stop beating.
She loves me.
She loves me.
Elizabeth loves me.
“But…” she begins,
Oh no.
“I must ask you to be patient with me. I know I shouldn’t even be asking you to do so when you have been so unbelievably forbearing all of these years, but there is the matter of…of…” she shoots her gaze down at the floorboards and wrings her hands in her lap while my stomach twists in anxiety.
“Of Turner,” I interject, the syllables of his name leaving a bitter and foul taste in my mouth.
“Yes. You see, he has proved to be very committed to the idea of freeing his father from Jones’ grasp, but in his progress he has shown less…devotion, as it were, to me. I myself have been less than honest with him, but between the two of us I am afraid our engagement is doomed. James, you must know that there are things between Will and I that have yet to be resolved…however, this does not in any way lesson my affections for you. I must speak to him and explain myself when...well, whenever he decides to turn up, I suppose. I may no longer see him as my fiancé but he will always remain my friend.” She pats my hand with hers, and I begin to relax.
“I understand, Elizabeth. I respect your wishes to speak with him - he does, after all, deserve to know the truth. I admire you for being such an honest and caring woman, but I must tell you that I am not quite as fond of him as you may be. I am disappointed; to say the least…that he has failed to uphold his promise to care and devote himself to you. An honorable man would not go back on his word, and I fear that I may not be able to avoid having discourse with hi-“ I begin, but she silences me with a tender kiss.
“Thank you.” She says, cupping my face. “Thank you for always being the one to save me. Thank you for always defending me, whether I am deserving of it or not. But please, James. Let me handle this.” I nod. She leans in slowly and places her lips on mine, so light it’s as if it were only a wisp of her breath. Our temples come together and we rest against one another, reveling in the silence as our world comes to a slow stop.
I must have the biggest grin on my face, because her eyes have lit up and she can’t stop looking at me, and I am certainly grateful for it. If the last thing I saw on this earth were her eyes, I would die a happy man. She is smiling too, and it is the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.
“Elizabeth, you must know that I could never deny you anything, including my forgiveness, for you it is given freely. I could never be angry with you for following your heart, and I have always respected your decisions, whatever they may have been. All I ever wanted was your happiness, with whomever and whatever your heart desired, but there is nothing you could ever do that would make me stop loving you.” I say, and move a strand of her hair behind her ear.
She looks at me, with tears in her eyes, and smiles.
“Thank you, James.” She says, and kisses me. Her hands are cupping my face when she says softly, “I love you”, and I am the happiest man in the world.
“I love you, Elizabeth.” I whisper, my face lingering precariously close to hers.
“The crew has been waiting, I should at least give them a heading.” She says.
“By your leave, Captain Swann.” I smirk.
“King!” She replies with mock annoyance, and swats me on the shoulder. I peck her on the cheek and she gets up and leaves. She returns after a moment and greets me with a warm smile, and I am all too eager to give her one in return.
“Where is it exactly we are heading?” I ask.
“Shipwreck Cove.”