God Awful Hat

"Goodness, Will, what a rescue," I say, removing his hat which is a god awful shade of orange with a gigantic feather. It looks like an owl defecated on his head. "Very heroic." He reached for his hat, but I hold it out of reach over the fort wall. "Would you really miss it if it fell?"

"Give me the hat back, Elizabeth."

"No, Will, it is hideous," I say, happy when the wind catches it and nearly forces it out of my grip. "If the milliner said it looked dashing, she was quite mistaken. It looks of something out of our childhood games. I thought you had better sense than that."

"Give me the hat," he repeats, holding out his hand.

"Oh, goodness!" I gasp, purposely letting go as another gust batters the offending head garment. "Oh, Will, I am so very sorry. My hand slipped."

"No, it didn't," he accuses. "I watched you let go."

"What a fine tone to take with the woman you profess to love," I say pettishly, turning my face away. "Goodness, Will, why I love you in return is a mystery even to me."

"You. . .You love me in return?" he asks, voice taking on that soft, wondering quality that I know so well.

I sneak a peek his direction before averting my face again. "Of course I do. Did you ever think differently?"

"Well, accepting Norrington's proposal threw me, I'll admit but--"

"I did it for you," I confess, turning to search his dear, sweet, familiar face. "It was the only way to rescue you. I. . .I would have done anything to rescue you."

Will blinks slowly, as if digesting this new bit of information, before a smile spreads across his features. "I would have done anything to rescue you as well, Elizabeth."

"We're even then," I say, sticking out my hand to shake on it.

Instead, Will grasps my hand and pulls me against him, one hand moving to my waist as the other finds my cheek. "Elizabeth."

"Yes, Will?"

"I. . . ."

He doesn't find words. He doesn't need words. We explore and "discuss" in a silent language what has been left unspoken for neigh ten years. There are a lot of missed opportune moments to make up for.

And that does not involve words.