Author: jedipati aka immortal_jedi
Disclaimer: I own neither the characters nor the situations. I make no profit off of this story.
Pairings and Characters: Will, Elizabeth, Liam (William Turner III), Jack; WE and JE both mentioned
Rating: PG
Warnings: This is a fairly dark fic, and things go badly for some of the characters.
Summary: Will knows that Elizabeth remained true. After all, she promised.
Author's Note: This is not related, in any way, shape, or form, to any of my other stories. The plot bunny for this one has been nagging me for a while, and not too long ago it finally bit down hard. I do hope you enjoy the story. And please let me know what you think about it.
Captain William Turner of the Flying Dutchman paced back and forth on the deck of the Flying Dutchman. Soon, he'd be free. Soon, he'd reunite with his wife Elizabeth, and they could truly start their lives together.
He knew she'd be waiting for him. She'd promised, after all. He'd tried to release her, but she refused.
And then, just last year, when he'd ferried Jones, he'd learned that if his love stayed true, he'd be freed, and they could live their lives together.
Will smiled. Perhaps they could even start the family they'd talked about.
Will sighed. It had been ten years since he'd last seen her, and he knew that, no matter what, she would be there. She would be waiting for him. He climbed into the rigging and braced himself on the ropes.
Will wondered what she had done for the last ten years. He knew there was no way she'd stay on the island they had spent their honeymoon. He never expected her to.
He'd heard stories over the years of the Pirate King. Most of the stories had been simply that, stories, but he knew there had to be a grain of truth in them.
He was looking forward to learning what stories were true, and which were false. He'd have time to learn. And they'd have time together.
He looked down at his crew. He knew they were looking forward to being free, too.
Calypso would return this duty to Charon, and the Dutchman would become a normal ship. Will was planning on joining Elizabeth's fleet, if she still had one.
But first, he'd spend a few weeks on land, getting used to being mortal again. He hadn't told his crew yet, but they'd get the time off, too.
Will smiled. It was almost time. And then green enveloped the ship.
Captain Elizabeth Turner looked down at her son as they waited for the green flash.
It would be nice to see Will again, and she was sure he'd want to meet his son. But it was only for one day, and she had her own life to lead. She had missed him these ten years, and she was sure she'd miss him in the next ten years. But she had her own life now.
She suspected that if Will hadn't been cursed, they would have been happy together, with Liam, and any siblings he might have had.
But with Will gone, she had had to make her own way in the world.
And two years after Will had left to do his duty, she'd met up with Jack Sparrow. She knew that she'd told Will that she didn't want to be released from her promises, that she would wait for him, but that had been before she'd realized how long ten years actually was.
And how short one day actually was. Will never needed to know that she hadn't stayed true. It was only one day, after all.
Liam was looking forward to meeting his father, though.
The flash of green lit up the ski, and suddenly the Dutchman was sailing into the harbor. Liam looked at her and smiled. She smiled down at her son.
It would be nice to see Will again, anyway. She still loved him, in some way. He'd given her Liam, after all.
It was late afternoon the next day, when Will felt the Dutchman begin to call for him to return. It wasn't overwhelming, and wouldn't be until sunset. But it could mean only one thing. Elizabeth had not been faithful. He managed to hide the revelation from Elizabeth, but he was furious. He looked at Liam, really looked at him, with more then mortal abilities, and was relieved to see that the boy was his son.
So she hadn't lied about that, at least. He looked down at William. "Elizabeth, I think that Liam should meet his grandfather," he said.
William looked up. "Really?" he asked.
"I'm not sure it's safe…"
Will nodded. "Liam is safe. Here and now, the Dutchman is little more then an ordinary ship. And he's my son, he wouldn't be endangered regardless."
"Are we going to take a longboat there?" Liam asked once Elizabeth agreed to let him go.
Will shook his head and picked up the nine-year-old. "No, I have a faster way. I'll take you there, and let your grandfather show you around."
He concentrated, and was on the deck of his ship. Liam looked startled for a moment, but recovered as Will put him down. "Father! I have someone you need to meet!" Will called.
Bill Turner looked up, as did most of the crew. Bill's eyes widened as he looked at the boy standing next to Will. "Will, is this…"
"Father, I'd like you to meet my son, Liam. Liam, this is your grandfather."
Bill's reaction was better than Will had hoped, and Will smiled. His smile faded as he remembered what he had to do now. "Father, would you show Liam the ship? I have something that I need to take care of." He glanced down at Liam. "And I think you'd like to get to know him."
Bill eyed his son, but nodded. "Aye, of course."
Will returned to the shore. "Where's Liam?" Elizabeth asked.
"Father is showing him the ship. It gives them some time together… and us some time alone." He glanced off to the side, where the Chest sat on some rocks. Elizabeth had brought it with her, perhaps thinking that that would make him think that she really did care.
She smiled at him. He tried not to show the disgust he felt. "Not for that," he said coldly. "I just thought you'd prefer it if Liam wasn't here for this."
She frowned. "What are you…?"
"Were you going to tell me?" Will interrupted. "Did you plan on just letting me think that you'd been faithful? Who was it, Elizabeth?"
"I don't know…"
"Don't, Elizabeth. Just don't. I know you're lying. Who was it that you decided to cheat with?"
She deflated. "Jack."
He snorted. "I might have known. That bloody pirate has ruined my life yet again."
She didn't say anything, but he rounded on her. "Did you not know? Or did you not care? If you had been faithful, I would have been released."
Elizabeth gasped.
"If you had waited, I would be free! We could have the family we talked about! You promised to wait, Elizabeth. Why didn't you?"
"Ten years is a long time, and I never knew that you could be free," Elizabeth said desperately. "I had to live my own life."
"I see," Will said. He went very still. "So, because of your selfish desires, I am condemned to an eternity at sea. At least I know Liam is my son. You weren't that quick to break your promises."
Will turned to look out at his ship, where his crew was waiting for the end of the day, and they believed, their freedom. And where his son was meeting his grandfather for the first time. Will made a quick, painful, and hard decision. But he knew deep down that it was the right one.
"Elizabeth Swann," Captain Turner said finally said as he turned back to face her.
"Elizabeth Turner," Elizabeth responded angrily.
"No," Captain Turner said. "You've lost any right to that name. Miss Swann, if I ever find you at sea, I will sink any ship you are on. Should I ever find you dead at sea, you will find yourself in my brig. And I will never let you join my crew. You have condemned me to a fate I never wanted, and should never have had. It is only fair that you suffer the same."
"You can't deny me the sea!"
"Why not? You've denied me land." Captain Turner turned and walked away. He stopped by the Chest and picked it up. "Pray that we never meet again, Miss Swann. And you'd best hope my crew never meets you. They were looking forward to freedom as well."
"What about Liam?" she asked desperately.
Captain Turner smiled coldly. "He's my son. He'll be safe on the Dutchman. And this way, I can be sure that you won't raise him to be a lying, double-crossing pirate like you."
"No, you can't take my son from me!"
"He's my son," Captain Turner said. "And I think I have the same rights to him that you do. More, since I'm not the one who broke faith with my spouse."
He turned back to face her. "The same fate awaits Jack Sparrow as your own. If I ever see him at sea, his ship will be destroyed."
Will Turner looked out to his ship, and stepped into the waves. "Remember, Elizabeth Swann. If you ever find yourself at sea, I'll know, and you will regret it."
"You can never know if I'm on the sea!" Elizabeth spat. "I'll find you, and get my son back!"
Will laughed and walked toward her. "Yes, I will know," he growled as he grabbed her hand. He pressed their palms together and then stepped back. "I will know," he repeated.
She looked at her hand as the Black Spot appeared.
Will smiled triumphantly as he backed into the water. "The next time you touch Jack Sparrow, he too will receive the Black Spot. Enjoy the rest of your life, Elizabeth Swann. May it be worse then my eternity."
He reappeared on his ship. "Mr. Turner, take this to my cabin, if you please." He handed his father the Chest. "Mr. Maccus, set a course away from the island. We'll make the transfer at sunset."
He looked down at Liam. "Liam, do you want to come with me? I can teach you how to control the abilities that you gained from me."
Liam looked up at his father. "But Mother said that it was too dangerous to travel with you."
"You're my son, Liam," Will knelt down so they could look each other in the eye. "It'll never be too dangerous for you here on the Dutchman."
Liam smiled. "Can Mother come too?"
Will frowned. "No," he said. "It's not a good idea." He looked up at his father, who was frowning.
Around them, the rest of the crew was beginning to understand what had happened. "She didn't…" Maccus trailed off.
"No," Will said shortly. "She didn't. But Liam here is mine. I'm certain of that, at least."
His first mate winced and opened his mouth to speak. Will shook his head sharply. "I don't want to hear it. Liam and I will be in my cabin for now. I have some things to explain to him. Mr. Turner, you're welcome to join us."
Jack Sparrow waited until the sun was down before he headed for the beach. He knew Elizabeth and Liam would need a few minutes before they were willing to talk to anyone- and in any case, he didn't want to see Will.
However, when he got there, Elizabeth was kneeling at the edge of the waves, staring out to sea. There was no sign of Liam.
"Lizzie, luv? Where's Liam?" Jack asked. Elizabeth jumped just before he placed his hand on his lover's shoulder.
Jack looked puzzled for a moment. And then he realized that the Chest was nowhere to be seen either.
"Don't touch me!" Elizabeth shrieked. "He'll find you, and me, and you can't…"
Jack grabbed her and pulled her close. He felt a tingle on his hand, but ignored it. "Whatever it is, luv, we'll figure it out."
"Will knew!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "And he gave me… and you… the Black Spot. He said that if we ever went to sea again, he'd destroy our ships!"
Jack looked down at his hand in shock. There it was. The Black Spot.
Will knew. Will was Captain of the Flying Dutchman. Will was angry.
"Bugger."
Ten Years Later…
Two men walked down the street of the port town to the beach. There was perhaps five years age difference between them, and they looked similar enough that most people labeled them brothers. Both of them were dressed as sailors, though the older one looked more like a captain then a simple crewman.
The older one looked at the younger. "You're certain, Liam?"
"I am, Father. I want to see what a mortal's life is like, not just life on the Dutchman."
The older man smiled. "I understand. And you know that whatever you choose, I will support you."
"I know, Father," Liam said.
"Are you going to try to find your mother?"
Liam sighed. "I don't know," he admitted. "I'm angry with her, even now. But she did love me."
"I understand," Will responded. "You know what island she'd be on, if she's still alive."
"Yes, I do. Father… if she had told you, would you have been angry?"
Will frowned in thought. "I would have been upset… and disappointed… but I think I would have understood, at least eventually. As she said, ten years is a long time. But she tried to pretend that she'd been faithful. She pretended that she hadn't broken her word."
"I'm glad you didn't become like Captain Jones," Liam said.
Will laughed. "Why should the innocent suffer for someone else's misdeeds? Those who wronged me are being punished. And those who die at sea still need a guide."
Will stopped as they reached the beach. "Liam, remember you're the child of an immortal and a mortal. You will have to choose soon which life you want to lead. Within the next five years if Calypso is correct." Will looked off to the side. "And it's your choice, whatever one you make. Don't let anyone, not me, not your mother if you seek her out, not Calypso, influence you. If you meet a woman who you feel is worth spending a mortal life with, do it. If you think immortality is worth it, choose that."
Liam leaned over and embraced his father. "You'll be the first to know my choice," he said.
"You'll tell me in ten years," Will said with a wry smile.
Liam laughed. "Yes, that. Father, I'll see you soon."
"Soon, Liam," Will said as he stepped into the waves. "I love you, my son."
"I love you, Father. And tell Maccus that I won, alright?"
Will laughed. "What did you win?"
Liam grinned. "I'll let him tell you."
Will was laughing as he reappeared on the Dutchman.
Author's Note part 2: Actions have consequences. Why should the innocent be the only ones to deal with them? In other words, I got sick and tired of the stories where only Will was punished for someone else's infidelity. So I wrote one where he's not the one who deals with the worst punishment.