This small story is meant to give a glimpse into Will and Elizabeth's pre-CotBP thoughts and feelings. This is a kind of a song-fic, but not in the sense that actual lyrics will appear within the writing (in fact, you can choose to ignore its musical connection entirely, if you so desire). However, each chapter has a companion song (revealed in AN at the end of the chapter) which is evocative of the general mood of that section and is meant to add to the emotional impact.

Longing

It was a beautiful night. The full moon overhead provided just enough illumination to give the small, secluded strip of beach an ethereal quality. Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Swann looked about her and smiled. This was their special place, the hideaway that she and William Turner had discovered as children, shortly after their arrival in Port Royal. It was a magical place, meant for only the two of them, where she was merely Elizabeth – not the Governor's daughter - and he was simply Will – not a blacksmith's apprentice. However, tonight Elizabeth found herself on their beach alone for, despite her secret wishes, adolescence and the world kept them apart.

So vivid was the memory of their time spent there, Elizabeth could almost hear their laughter on the wind. Her face clouded for just a moment before her mouth turned up in a rueful smile. Despite the melancholy that threatened to overtake her, she would let nothing spoil this – for tonight, she had been cunning enough to, once again, steal away from the confines of her home, under the cover of darkness, to give over to blissful abandon in this, her preferred environment.

Allowing a naughty little giggle to escape her throat, she began ridding herself of more of society's ties, these in the form of her constricting clothing. When she had divested herself of everything but her thin chemise, she rushed into the cool waters, laughing and splashing at no one in particular, but she cared not. Tonight, she was free, and that was all that mattered.

Emerging from the water, looking vastly akin to a sea-nymph from one of her pirate stories, Elizabeth watched her toes sink into the white sand, only to be startled by a pair of boots that suddenly materialized before her. Glancing up to determine their owner, she discovered the subject of her earlier reverie standing before her.

"Will," she managed to say, a blush coloring her checks as she realized she stood before him in nothing but her wet, clinging chemise.

His reply was a low, promising whisper, "Elizabeth."

A thrill went through her at the sound of her proper name issuing from his lips. Her eyes widened with surprise as he reached for her - her surprise quickly turning to ecstasy when his hands grasped her waist, pulling her body against his.

A wanton sigh escaped her mouth. How often have you imagined this moment? How long have you wished to feel his hands upon your body?

"I love you, Elizabeth," Will sighed, at long last placing his lips against hers.

His kiss was tender, yet passionate, everything she ever imagined it would be. He slowly lowered her down onto the sand, never breaking their kiss, as she slipped her hands behind his neck, using one to pull him closer and allowing the other to tangle within his dark curls – another moment she had long imagined. His tongue roamed her mouth whilst his hands roamed her body, from her rib cage, to her slender waist, to the curve of her hip, to –

With a startled gasp, Elizabeth woke from her dream. Breathing rapidly, her eyes darted about in an effort to take in her surroundings. Slowly, the mists of her dream wafted away, and she recognized the familiar environs of her bedroom. Lying back against her pillows, she closed her eyes in a fruitless effort to recapture the dream. When her mind refused to evoke the vivid image of herself and Will lying entwined in the sand, she rose from her bed with a sigh.

Walking over to her window, she unlatched the shutters, stepping out onto her balcony in her nightdress – a sight which would have given her father an apoplexy. She wistfully glanced in the direction of the smithy, wondering what Will was doing at that very moment. Not doubt peacefully sleeping, she admonished herself, instead of indulging in silly romantic fantasies…. What was wrong with her?

She knew it was entirely improper for her to be having these kinds of imaginings about Will - or anyone else, for that matter. She cared very little about what was and was not proper, but this was something all together different. These longings for Will had crept up so slowly, so long ago, that she could never quite pinpoint the day that she stopped wishing for him as her playmate, and began wishing for him as…..well, as her lover. This is what troubled her. Such immodest desires were completely at odds with the world she knew. Even in her treasured pirate stories, the damsels were always full of innocence and purity. She was sure that even when the handsome, scantily clad pirate-hero whisked them away to safety, they never once entertained such thoughts as Elizabeth entertained about Will on a nightly – as well as daily – basis.

You should be embarrassed and ashamed for yourself, her mind continued to scold, especially since the object of your licentious imaginings merely looks upon you as a childhood friend. And hasn't he made that abundantly clear? How many times have you made your way to the smithy - under a thousand different pretexts - to all but throw yourself at him, only to be greeted with politeness and propriety, and nothing more? If only... But no. He would never dream of acting out such fantasies with you.

Across town, in the back of J. Brown's blacksmith shop, Will Turner was sleeping but, contrary to Elizabeth's presumption, not so peacefully. His dream was not at all of a serene nature. In fact, it was so tantalizing that beads of sweat began to line his brow……

It was the dead of night as Will made his way toward the deserted strip of sand he knew so well. To the best of his knowledge, there was not another soul in all of Port Royal who knew of its existence, save Miss Elizabeth Swann, who was safely tucked away in the Governor's Mansion. Regardless, he was sure that she had long ago forgotten their escapades there.

As he traveled across the white sand to the shore, he suddenly saw something moving in the water. He edged closer to ascertain if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Water lapped up at his ankles as the head of a woman, cloaked in honey-blond hair, emerged from the water's depths.

Was this a mermaid? A sea-siren?

The "mermaid" reached up, pulling the wet strands of hair away from the face that Will immediately recognized as Elizabeth's. His unruly heart instantly began to race.

"Will," she murmured, delight evident in her voice and smile.

"Miss Swann," he answered, unsurely.

She smiled alluringly at him. "I was hoping it was you. Come," she beckoned to him. "Join me."

As she spoke, her décolletage temptingly appeared above the water. At that, Will felt another unruly part of his anatomy respond. Glancing over at the rock beside him, he discovered Elizabeth's shoes, stockings, dress, and chemise discarded upon it. Looking from her pile of clothing to her shimmering form in the water below, Will realized its significance, and froze in the sand.

You mustn't, he told himself. She wishes only for an innocent swim with her young playmate…. She knows not what you wish for….

"Will," Elizabeth purred, sounding very much like she was fully aware of what he wished for. "Come join me, for I have thought of nothing but you the whole day through."

Will fought a battle with himself that was quickly decided as still more of Elizabeth's glistening bare flesh bobbed above the water. She watched him with cat-like eyes as he divested himself of his shoes, stockings, vest, shirt, and pants, placing them upon the rock beside Elizabeth's clothing. Slowly, he walked into the surf, waves crashing gently against his naked form. He swam to her, not stopping until they were mere inches apart.

"Will," she said, her voice and eyes filled with desire. "I have long imagined this moment."

"As have I," he replied, breathlessly.

She slowly placed her hands upon his chest.

"Elizabeth," he whispered, her name like a love song upon his lips. "My Elizabeth."

He reached under the water, his hands finding her slender waist, pulling her body against his, a low moan issuing from him as skin contacted skin. How long have you desired this? Bending to kiss her neck, he stopped, his lips hovering above her flesh.

"Elizabeth, I love you," Will huskily told her.

His heart thus declared, his lips and hands moved to claim her body. Sighing at the feel of his lips upon the sensitive skin of her neck, Elizabeth twined her hands within his hair and pulled him still closer to her.

"And I love you, Will Turner," she breathed.

Will awoke with a start, finding himself in the back of the smithy, his dream crashing in about him. His body covered in a film of sweat, he threw back his sheet and tore open the window, hoping the fresh air would cool his room, calm his body, and clear his mind. He closed his eyes, and his thoughts filled with images of her – some real, some only imagined.

"Not again," Will said testily, his eyes springing open.

His profound longing quickly turned to anger - anger directed at himself for continuing to entertain such impossible notions, anger directed at her for bewitching him so.

Oh, why must she flit about the streets of Port Royal assaulting your senses, even invading the smithy, always looking so damned irresistible?

Then his mind conjured up the memory of her smiling face, the softness in her eyes when they had accidentally met upon the street only the afternoon before. His angry frustration instantly dissipated as a surge of love washed over him.

How can you blame her? She is guiltless, completely ignorant of the torment she causes you….. It isn't her fault that a mere mortal is foolish enough to wish to reach for the stars…..Elizabeth. She is an angel. A goddess. Your savoir.

He immediately hated himself for having such lewd thoughts about his pure, innocent Miss Swann.

Will glanced over at the Governor's Mansion, set upon a hill in the distance. The physical walk to Elizabeth was not far, but Will knew all too well the figurative distance between them stretched for miles. Their differences in class and station would always keep them worlds apart. Will thought of her, surrounded by the finery of her home, finery that she well deserved.

She would never think upon him, and he couldn't blame her. What could he offer her? What could ever make him worthy of her love? She would always be far above him. He could never be what she deserves.

Will sighed.

"But, oh, how I love her."

AN: Fans of Will and Elizabeth have often pointed out that the pairing represents a rarity in current Hollywood blockbusters: a return to a classic coupling. With Will and Elizabeth, you see a relationship with a strong emotional base. They are a couple who have loved one another since childhood, who have an incredibly poignant connection that renders words superfluous, who have waited for each other for years and overcame all manner of obstacles to be together, who according to all indications have remained abstinent until their marriage, and must faithfully wait for each other another ten years after that. A relationship with such a focus on companionship, fidelity, and undying love – with passion thrown into the mix – is the very definition of a classic, timeless love story, truly reminiscent of the films of an era gone by. So, when choosing which genre of music I wanted to use to represent the emotions within each chapter, my logical conclusion was to return to that same classic, timeless music. Some of these songs may be familiar to you; many of them probably will not be. However, I think they all do an excellent job of capturing the mood of each chapter (and the beauty of these classic songs is that you can take your pick of artists who have covered them).

I also welcome you to share in your reviews your own musical suggestions – within any genre – that fit each section. I can safely say there can never be too many Willabeth songs.

So, with that explanation out of the way, here is this chapter's song.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

I Can Dream, Can't I?

I can see, no matter how near you'll be
You'll never belong to me
But I can dream, can't I?
Can't I pretend that I'm locked in the bend of your embrace?
For dreams are just like wine
And I am drunk with mine

I'm aware my heart is a sad affair
There's much disillusion there
But I can dream, can't I?

Can't I adore you, although we are oceans apart?
I can't make you open your heart
But I can dream, can't I?