ORCHIDS

Tonight I send an orchid
And though I'll always care
This orchid means good-bye to you
     and to our love affair

Jack stretched his arms over his head, nudging the door of his room
at the tavern open with his foot, falling face first onto the bed
before rolling over, blinking, rubbing his eyes to clear them of the
sleep induced blindness, sighing softly.

The room slowly came back into focus, his brain unwilling to make
sense of the scene, too busy trying to shut itself down.  He yawned
again, curling around his pillow, absently wishing for his lover, his
friend, instead of this smelly, hard, and quite uncomfortable bundle
of fabric in his arms. 

His tired gaze soon found it's way to the small desk in the corner
and the vase resting on it. He frowned, wondering where the flowers
had come from, knowing they hadn't been there when he had left to
check on Gibbs and the Pearl. 

Groaning, he stood, making his way to the vase, running a finger
lightly over the petals of the flower before plucking a small
envelope from the buds, turning it over and over in his hand before
falling down into a chair, his finger breaking the wax seal on the
back of the envelope.


It's just my way to tell you
And I hope that you won't cry
But I belong to someone else
     this orchid means goodbye

Will sat at his writing table, the candle light flickering over him,
making the tears on his cheeks dance and shimmer in it's brilliance. 
He took a deep breath, watching out the window as the sea raced into
the beach, crashing over the sand, taking a bit of the land with it
as it swept away again.

His quill lay forgotten at the tips of his fingers, dripping ink
slowly, steadily across the paper beneath it.  His thoughts
were..closer then one would think.  In fact they were down the street
in a dirty tavern house, resting on a man that drove him absolutely
insane.

He ran a hand wearily across his cheeks, smearing the tear tracks
across them as he looked back down at the paper before crumpling it
and tossing it aside, starting fresh, ink flowing freely across the
page as his thoughts tumbled through the nip, unchecked and
unrehearsed.  His tears flowed faster, smearing words here or there
with emotion, mute testimony to the heartache the writer felt at the
time of penning. 

He sat back and studied his letter, licking his lips as he pursued
the words, feeling his heart break anew as he read over the letter. 
Gently he poured sand over the document, watching as the ink was
soaked into the grains, before lifting it up and carrying it to the
window, stairing out at the sea for a moment before blowing the ink
stained grains out into the night, wishing he could blow away his
feelings and the words on the paper just as easily.  He folded the
just barley dry letter and sealed it in an envelope, stealing himself
for what he was doing as he placed it carefully into the vase,
sending it away with his valet.

When you said that you loved me
     I knew it wouldn't do
Cause I'm in love with someone else
      I guess I love you too

***Past***

Will sighed contently, snuggling more into Jack's arms, his eyes
slowly fluttering closed.  He inhaled deeply, breathing in the sent
of the sea and rum and everything that was purely his lover.

Jack smiled softly as he watched Will slowly drift off to sleep
before leaning close and kissing him softly, watching the small smile
of satisfaction curl over his lover's lips before leaning in and
kissing Will's ear, his breath ghosting out over the sweet flesh.  "I
love you William," He said softly, tenderly.

Will's body stiffened and he forced himself to relax, his mind
jerking awake at the words and running around.  –Love?  Surely
not..Jack couldn't..wouldn't love.  Right?-  His thoughts chased
themselves around his brain, thoughts of Elizabeth and Jack.  Love
and Friendship.  Lust and Desire.  A tear slid down his cheek and he
buried his head in Jack's chest before the other man could see, his
wedding band glinting merrily in the soft light from the lantern.

Jack ran his hands lightly up and down Will's back, sleep slowly
stealing over him, drawing him into dreams of love and forever, where
Will didn't leave just before dawn and they didn't meet in dingy
pubs, hiding in the shadows.   Where the gold band that rested on
Will's finger was his own.

But I'm married to another
What chance of you and I
So I just send an orchid, dear
     This orchid, means good-bye
***Present***

The letter slowly fluttered to the ground, unwanted and unheeded as
Jack's eyes slowly went out of focus, his thoughts drifting away from
him, memories playing against the backdrop of pain that had suddenly
filled him.

Sleep forgotten he stood, gathering his belongings, picking up his
hat and putting it on his head.  He stooped and tucked his dagger
back into his boot, his eyes resting on the letter. He picked it up
carefully, tucking it into his belt, his eyes resting on the flowers
as he did.  Leaning over he took a deep breath, taking in the sent of
the orchids, touching one of them gently before breaking it off,
tucking it up into his bandana, letting it rest over his ear so that
he could smell it continuously. 

He paused in the door, taking one last look at the room Will had
reserved for him for the better part of two years before shaking his
head and closing the door behind him, slipping into the dark night.

Climbing aboard the Pearl Jack tossed his stuff down, taking the
wheel, shouting orders to the sleeping and drunk pirates.  They
scrambled around and soon the ship was moving, the darkness closing
around them as they slipped away from the lights of Port Royal. 
Jack's eyes wondered over the dark and barley lit houses, before
resting on the Governor's mansion, watching two figures embrace in a
window.  He raised his Rum bottle in silent salute before taking a
swig.

Our love might have been different
But I made sacred vows
And I can't ever break the heart
     that I hold with mine, now
So please forget the past dear
     as time goes passing by
Cause we can't ever love again
     This orchid means good-bye