Restoration
Disclaimer: Do not own POTC (AWE), though wish this was the real ending!
Elizabeth brushed her fingers across her lips briefly, a gesture which vividly recalled the sensation of different fingers upon those same lips, inducing a passion which burned through her skin, setting her on the edge of tantalizing desire; lips had replaced the fingers in a torrent of love and desperation as hot tears counteracted amorous kisses…
Elizabeth shuddered, gasping in agony at the remembrance. Her lashes grew heavy and damp. Ten years. Ten excruciating years during which the lack of love could have destroyed her; the lack of love would have ravaged her by the end of the first year alone, if not for a gift bestowed upon her. A beautiful, incomparable gift which restored and swelled all the love in her heart—a child, their child. How indeed she loved him more than she thought possible, love which grew stronger with every moment in the realization that he was a product of a love so profound and eternal. It was the birth of this child which led her to realize that such a love could not fade in ten years, not in one hundred years.
She had possessed his heart those ten years, literally and figuratively, harboring it until he returned. How then, can I doubt love, she would calmly admonish herself, when everything that was important was before her—her son and her husband's love.
Elizabeth suddenly shivered, her breath quickening, as she flew from her bed, as, like a ton of bricks, she was aware that it was sunset. With a fervent cry, she called her son, who ran towards her in alarm; she only answered—"It is time", with a look of pure ecstasy and radiance, her speech uttered in gasps, and wet teardrops still adorned her cheeks.
"Oh, God, he is coming home, he is coming home forever!" she cried, taking young William's hand. With a cry of exaltation, young Will understood and ran ahead of her, even more eager to meet his father for the first time. Stories his mother had told him whirled through his head, and with a rapture which equaled Elizabeth's, mother and son, waited upon the hill in anticipation.
Keep a weather eye on the horizon. Will's words echoed through Elizabeth's mind, and she obeyed, pulling her son close to her as they both looked out across the sea.
It was all but an ephemeral, surreal moment as Elizabeth abruptly found herself knee-deep in the ocean, and she was in pure euphoria once more—she felt the world disappear about her as hot tears once again counteracted with amorous kisses.
"Elizabeth!" Will Turner sobbed, seizing her in an unfaltering embrace, reveling in her presence, as he felt a swift-rushing wave of emotion consume his body.
He gasped, suddenly tumbling backwards, his dark eyes widening in astonishment and delight. "Oh my…" he uttered, tears filling his eyes.
Elizabeth clasped her hands together, dizzy with rapture.
"Father!" young Will cried, racing out from behind Elizabeth.
"Oh, God!" Will exclaimed, capturing his son in his arms and holding him as if to never let go. With tears still streaming down his cheeks, he took several steps towards Elizabeth once more, who ran to his side. Grasping her hand, Will pressed it firmly to his chest. A breath caught in her throat as she felt a subtle throb beneath her hand.
"Your heart…" she sobbed. Will pulled her against him, and both mother and son nestled into the loving embrace of the man who had finally returned to them.
Will lifted his eyes and smiled at the calm, empty horizon—the ship had disappeared with the fulfillment of his fate. He gently kissed the top of his son's head; he smiled up at him, his arms wrapped firmly about his father's neck, and whispered, "Welcome home, Father."
Will smiled back. Home. He then lifted Elizabeth's chin, and kissed her fervently, whispering, "I am with you forever." She beamed, listening to the beating of his heart which had been restored permanently to him, and in that, the permanent restoration of their love.