Evangeline McKenna has won Jack Sparrow's heart. Now, as she joins him again on his beloved Pearl, outside forces threaten to tear them-and everyone else-apart. The crew teams up with new and old forces to defeat a wealthy man in London who wants no...
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Jack had stashed a longboat in the caves, as he had done before. Silence accompanied them while a member of the crew rowed them out into open water. She thought it odd that Jack wasn't captaining the boat himself, but did not dwell on it. Evangeline clutched her valise to her chest as if it were her last piece of Folkestone. Five months ago, when Elizabeth had kindly gone out of her way to sail to the town, Geline had felt such relief at returning home. Now, she had no home- again.
"I'm truly sorry," Jack said, seated beside her, staring off into the distance. The only light came from the last of the sun. It splintered outwards, with only a few short minutes of life left.
"I made my choice."
He turned to her, his eyes soft, and his lips slightly parted.
"No one has ever forfeited so much to be with me," he whispered. "To make me happy, even at the detriment to their own happiness."
"That's not true." Evangeline leaned closer to him so that the man rowing them towards the Pearl could not hear their conversation. "Jeanne did the same."
He nodded slowly as the boat began to rock slightly with the waves. He snaked his arm around her waist instinctively, to keep her from possibly falling over.
"Aye. She gave up a chance to live again to ensure your survival, which in turn makes me thoroughly happy."
"I..." Geline started, wondering how to explain what she wanted. This newfound confidence was still so untapped, still so raw and unexplored. "I am unsure if you understand just how much I would give up for you, Jack."
The sun had perished for the day, and the lamps from the Pearl shone brilliantly in the distance against the sky. Evangeline felt such a calm in her, perhaps the first feeling of true calm she had felt in months, at the sight of the beloved ship.
"You died while fighting alongside me. To protect me. I'm unable to fathom what more ya would possibly do for me."
She turned to face him, his arm still around her waist and gave him a small smile.
"Then you're not being creative enough."
At this whispered confession, she heard Jack's breath catch, and he inched closer, kissing her simply. The crew member gave a chuckle but said nothing more.
"If we were alone..." Jack said under his breath into her ear, choosing his words carefully. "If we were alone, I would kiss you properly. The way you deserve to be kissed. The way I want to kiss you."
"Nearly there, now," the man said, interrupting them.
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"Gentlemen!" Jack called out once they were on deck. "We must leave, and we must leave now!"
"What's happened, Jack?" Gibbs called out, meeting them at the railing.
"We've got to pull anchor and leave before it's completely dark. We've got the Navy after us if we fall behind," Jack told his first mate, handing over his hat and Evangeline's valise.
