I know it's been months but I finally decided I needed an epilogue.
Nick looked out at the harbor of Port Royal: the town that had been him home for all of his life. It looked even prettier in the dark with the moon shining down on the waters. Nick felt a slight pain go through him. Very soon his parents would be leaving the Black Pearl. And he would not be leaving with them...
"Somethin' wrong?"
Nick turned around to see Tori and immediately smiled. Tori walked over to him and laid her elbows on the railing next to him, looking where he was looking. "It is a pretty town," she said, softly, "It's a pity that... "she broke off, "Never mind."
"What?"
"I've never really known a home unless ya count the Pearl and the sea. But what is that? The ship is a piece of wood and the sea is jest endless water. It's not really home."
Nick smiled. "I thought that a ship was your soul- and freedom. Isn't that important?"
"Yes," Tori nodded, "It's jest that..." she paused and then quickly rushed through her next words, "I don't want ya ta feel like ya don't belong here. I don't want ta take ya away from yer home..." she turned away, "I jest want ya ta be happy, Nick."
She felt his arms wrap around her waist. His dark eyes met hers. "Ah, but you don't understand," he whispered, "I am happy. As long as I'm with you."
He closed the space between them and put his lips lightly on hers. Tori replied passionately, her hands gripping onto his shoulder, tightly. The kissed turned from light to almost violent with seconds. Against her will, Tori's body pressed against his, silently asking for more. At that point, Nick pulled away. His eyes were dancing, slightly. "We should be careful out in the open like this," he said, quietly, and leaned against the railing, again.
"If yer so happy, then how come yer staring off at yer home, longingly?" Tori retorted.
Nick sighed. It was complicated. He loved his home but he loved Tori more. Besides that, he was feeling up to seeing new places and seeing more of a pirates life. Perhaps all his years of training on sword fighting would go to use more than once. He looked back at Tori, with her long black hair and sighed again. He could never leave her, anyway. "I'll just put it this way," Nick said, finally, "I love my home but I would kill myself if I had to leave you. There's no way I'm going anywhere but with you."
Tori let out a long sigh and then slid her hand under his chin, forcing him to look at her. "Are ya sure about that?"
"Dead sure."
Tori closed her eyes in relief. "Good because I couldn't live without ya, either, Nick."
Nick pulled her into his arms again and they silently watched as on the lower deck Elizabeth and Will were lowered into a row boat to bring themselves back to shore. It was a silent affair as the crew wished to not drawl any attention to themselves from the town. Nick had already said his good-byes early in the day. He felt that overdoing it would just bring more pain than was needed. After all, they weren't leaving his life completely. Port Royal was always easy to access in the Black Pearl by night. "Are ya entirely sure?" Tori asked him, jolting him out of this thoughts, "This is probably yer last chance if ya want ta go home."
Nick looked at her. "I am home."
The matter was obviously closed. Tori took the opportunity to hold his lips captive again, not caring if anyone saw them or not.
Short and cute. Hoped you liked it. Not as though anyone is reading after all this time but oh well. Just needed a better ending.