The setting sun glittered beautiful colors of orange and reds across the still mass of sea. Elizabeth looked out at it and couldn't help but feel empty. It brought her joy at times, but she just couldn't find the happiness she longed for. William was gone out to serve his duty as Captain of The Flying Dutchman. He had already been gone two years and already it was bearing down on her, to know he was so close and yet so far. He would stay out at sea never aging, only to come back to her 10 years older every time. She wiped a tear that had fallen and glanced at the crib placed by the window.

The baby inside slept soundly and smiled in it's sleep. As she stared at the baby she knew was William's, she wished desperately that it wasn't. Her mind kept wandering back to all that she left behind, all that could have been, all that almost was.

Jack.

The look in his eyes when she said goodbye, when she chained him to the mast to save herself haunted her very soul. He acted as if a weight was lifted off of his shoulders when she said goodbye, and she couldn't help feeling wounded. Her soul was buried in deep regret, as she realized what she thought she wanted really wasn't.

She wondered where he was, what he was doing, if he thought of her. She hoped he was alive and well, but she knew Captain Jack Sparrow knew how to take care of himself.

She wished she could stop thinking of him, but something inside of her wouldn't let him go. Shivers ran up her spine at the thought of seeing him again, and it made her feel guilty. The baby began to cry and Elizabeth stood up and wiped her eyes of tears and picked the baby up gently.

"Shh, it's alright. Mum's here, don't cry." She whispered into the baby's ear as he began to calm down. She felt pathetic for wanting something other than what she had, it felt like spitting on everything she devoted her life to. And she still couldn't bring herself to think her life was fulfilled, for she knew it wasn't.

She inhaled the baby's delicate scent as she rocked him and her eyes welled with tears.

How could you devote your life to something that wasn't there? She felt alone, empty and depressed, and she knew this was no way to live. She had to be there for her child.

Laying the baby gently down in the crib she walked back out on the porch and glanced back out to the sea. Her tears had dried upon her face and told her story plainly. She hated feeling broken, and kept telling herself she needed Will, when in fact Jack was the one who stole her every thought. But he had no reason to love her. She had betrayed him time and again.

As she looked away and turned to go inside, something in the remaining light on the sea caught her attention. It was the makings of a ship, and as it came closer she realized that this was no ordinary ship. Her heart pounded as her breath caught in her throat. She ran into the house and out to the beach before stopping where the waves covered her feet and squinted to see a little better. Just before the remaining sunlight faded she caught a glimpse of the color of the sails and stood there shocked, but her face told another story.

Could this be real?

A/N: It's good to be back. I really missed writing for the POtC, and I hope you guys like this one. More to come soon!