A/N: I'm so sorry it's so late. My computer crashed and I'm using one of my dads work computers to get this to you. Anyway, my apologies, I hope you enjoy it despite the delay and Chapter 2 is on the way.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. Unfortunate but true.

Ten Years to Immortality

Chapter ONE

"I'm sorry Elizabeth!" Will climbed easily up the rigging to catch a last glimpse of his wife. "I love you!"

"I love you too!" Her words were almost lost to the wind and Will cracked a smile as they reached him, although she already sounded so distant, so far away…He fixed his forlorn gaze on the dark figure still standing where he had left her and still wrapped in his old, battered leather jacket, stained with salt and worse after a decade at sea.

"Look after my heart," he called back, a slight catch in his throat, "I'm leaving it with you!" It was terribly clichéd but the echoes of the sea carried her laughter over the waves and to him nonetheless. His crew pretend not to have heard; he was seldom cheerful these days and never showed any emotions.

"I will keep my promise," he vowed, too low for any but him to hear. No more words would reach the ears of his dear Elizabeth, for now she was but a smudge in the horizon that emitted a faint glow in the suns fading light.

"You'd better keep your promise William Turner," Elizabeth muttered, eyes on the dark outline that was her husband's silhouette against the hemp of the rigging. "I shan't wait forever." She laughed sadly at this blatant lie and tied Will's bootlace around her neck, the gold signet ring lying against her heart beside the hard iron key she so treasured.

-x-x-x-

A month later, the happiness of that one day had faded entirely and left the hole in Will's chest feeling emptier that ever. He busied himself with his duties but it wasn't enough. He spent increasing amounts of time wishing he could just forget everything and although he knew he could never forgive himself if he, the ever present memories of happier times were driving him mad and so, as the months wore on, Captain Turner of the Flying Dutchman sand further and further into fits of depression, letting the gloom and the mist roll off the sea and wrap him in their shadowy tendrils, the task he vowed to compete seeming nigh on impossible. These moods were only worsened with the bad weather setting in.

"Find me Jack Sparrow!" He barked just after dawn, from his perch in the Crows' Nest, a bottle of rum his only protection against the storm raging around them.

"Pardon, Captain?" His crew knew not what to think of this order.

"You heard me," he snapped, swinging lithely down the rope hanging from the yard arm and landing impressively on the soaked deck. "Sparrow; I want him found."

"Pardon me, Captain, but why?"

"Does it matter WHY? I have told you, I want him found. That should be good enough for you."

"Aye, sir." Will dismissed the sailor with a curt nod, his grey eyes flashing with an unprecedented anger. If anyone could help him it was Jack. There was, unfortunately, no way around this and although Will was loath to engage in any business with the notorious Captain of the Black Pearl it had to be done. No one knew the seas like him and Will was running out of options. He would not fail Elizabeth.

"William…" There was a cautious not in Bootstrap Bill's voice as he approached his son, "Please, tell me, what are you doing?" Will shrugged off the proffered hand of comfort.

"Can't you just trust me?"

"I don't like the look in your eyes, boy. You're up to something."

"You don't understand."

"You don't think I don't know what you're going through?" Bill was incredulous, "You think I wanted to serve Davy Jones over being with you and your mother?"

"You don't understand." Will very nearly stamped his foot like a petulant child. "You just don't -"

"I get it; you don't want to tell me, so all I will say is this, son: don't turn into Davy Jones. His love for a woman drove him mad. You would do well to remember that." Bill nodded; content that he had delivered his message, and clapped Will on the shoulder before turning away and stumping back to the helm. Will watched him go with a cold and almost calculating look on his face. The gentleman inside of him was ashamed of his behaviour but the dominant pirate he had become found he was not at all sorry for his actions as Will too turned away and disappeared for the night, into the organ room that reminded him of a tomb, mulling over the words his father had left with him. Was he becoming like the heartless Davy Jones after all? Would his love for Elizabeth eventually drive him to insanity? He sighed, stabbing at the crusty keys despondently and creating so dissonant a melody that it seemed to scream at his ears and only managing to emphasize the horror behind his revelations. Was he truly beyond salvation?

-x-x-x-

Once again, sorry for a late update but the second chapter should be quicker, I've just got to finish it.

Thanks to all those who reviewed the prequel to this (Upon the Horizon) and reviews really do make my day so please do click the little blue button to tell me what you thought…

Have a great week,

Yours,

Louise x