Sorry, I couldn't let the good ship Beckabeth sail without me. For all those who love Will and Elizabeth slash,I warn ye know, it ain't gonna be pretty........

N/B I don't own POTC, however much I'd like to. Any incidental OC just own themselves, I have no control over my playthings........

Maria breathed out slowly and rolled onto her side. Dawn light filtered through the grimy window of her small house. Her bed was warmer than a few days ago, partly due to the fact it was now the furnace of summer, but mostly due to the man who still lay sleeping beside her.

Maria cautiously reached under her pillow and, to great relief, found her fingertips touch the cold edge of the silver shilling. He was a rich man, her latest customer, and a rich man could afford more of her...services.

The man grunted softly, interrupting her train of thoughts. What was his name again?

Ah, that's it, Beckett, Cutler Beckett.

Maria had found his Lordship milling down the dirty street in dark contemplation. Maria knew a frustrated man when she saw one, and this man was certainly frustrated.

'Elizabeth...' came his husky whisper, it was an odd voice, arrogant and hurt, even angry. But gentle, ever so gentle.

Maria was used to this. Every now and again one of her clients, in that haunted place between dreaming and consciousness, would utter a name, sometimes with a message. They were nearly always the same; 'I love you Sarah' or 'Rebbecca, don't tell your father' or 'Honey that dress does make your arse look fat' or, as she had perplexedly encountered 'That was great Kevin'

The whisper rose up again, 'Elizabeth....'

Maria knew how to play this game. She was a good actress, and good acting was essential in her profession, however sordid it may seem in the eyes of the law.

'Yes my darling?' she answered tenderly, boredom threatening to suffocate her, this was tedious, all too tedious.

'Forgive me' he said seriously 'I never meant to hurt you, please, I don't ever want to see you cry....'

Maria blinked casually, not listening to the grumbling man next to her. She had learned, early on, to ignore them once she had answered. What would she do tonight? Meet Emily probably, find some lout at the tavern and........

Far,far away from Maria, and her lighthearted thoughts, Cutler Beckett fought back his troubled soul and succumbed to sleep once more.

Fear not, my lovely children, I will be writing chapter two up soon (hopefully). Oh, and Norribeth fans can rejoice! I am planning a story for those two as well. It's going to have a happier ending than this one , but can't win 'em all eh?