Disclaimer: Jack is mine HAHAHA evil laugh Naah… you know, it's just wishful thinking…

All my amazing reviewers… Thank you… it's really important to me that you like what I do… (and those who don't like it... well share your thoughts I want to improve my work...)

Chapter 2

She was watching the sunset, bewitched by its remarkable beauty, unaware that at the same time the eyes of half of the crew were fixed upon her. Finally she turned around and without talking to anyone made her way to her cabin.

There she sat before the large mirror and started brushing her hair with difficulty. She hadn't been doing it for the last few days and although it really didn't mattered, since for most of the time she'd been wearing man's clothes and had her hair tied, she wanted to look nicer tonight. It was Will's birthday and she didn't want to make him miserable anymore. She would smile and pretend that everything was fine, he deserved that.

However, she couldn't not notice the drastic change in her looks.

You look like you were dying…but…then again… maybe you are…maybe all those dreams are just the beginning, maybe they are waiting there for you with shackles and chains, ready to punish you for your sins, for your betrayal…

She felt the tears coming to her eyes and with all her will she tried to stop them. It was supposed to be her fiancé's day and she shouldn't ruin it.

Go and have fun, forget about your Captain, go back to Port Royal and abandon him… you've done this once you can do it again, no one will judge you…

You will judge yourself…No… you promised that you would not let him down again. Your feelings, your mental state don't matter, the only thing that matters now is to free him, because if you don't, you'll never forgive yourself. Jack would probably laugh and say "Everyone's gotta die someday, love" but you would never be able to say that… Even now, even today you're punishing yourself, trying to kill yourself slowly, why not end it once for all? Why not put you out of your misery?

"Because it would be the easier way" Elizabeth didn't even realize that she'd said those word out loud. Her voice sounded strange in the empty room… so loud.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and saw a stranger. Because of Will she wore a dress today, she wanted to make him a nice surprise, prepare something special for them, forget about everything, but when she saw the woman starring at her in the mirror she suddenly realized that she was not that person anymore, that it was all a lie.

The tight corset made it difficult for her to breathe, every ribbon, every lace was laughing at her openly "Miss Elizabeth Swann, ready to be married, ready to become a wife of a blacksmith. Miss Elizabeth Swann, a Lady through and through".

The only thing that didn't fit that perfect image was her eyes. They glowed with a hidden fire, were almost feverish. Those eyes revealed who she really was, or maybe who she wasn't.

Because she certainly wasn't a lady anymore.

Elizabeth approached a small cupboard in the corner of her cabin. Carefully she opened it using a small key she had been keeping with her all the time, and took out a bottle filled with the golden drink. Rum.

At first she couldn't even stand a thought of drinking alcohol. When Tia offered her a cup of rum just after the Kraken's attack she didn't try it. The sight of rum, its smell kept reminding her of Jack. Rum was an inseparable part of him, they both, Pirate and his bottle had this strange connection she could never really understand. At the beginning she thought it was disgusting but then she stopped even noticing it, and during the kiss, when she tasted Jack for the first time it made her feel as if she was drunk herself.

There, in this one moment she actually liked that spicy flavor, in this one moment she found everything she had ever wanted… freedom.

But it was in the beginning. Now the only thing that kept her sane was the "vile drink" as she used to call it. Elizabeth knew that she was becoming an addict but she didn't care…

For a second she considered filling a glass but she didn't want to risk that someone would smell the alcohol from it. So she took a long swig, feeling another stab of guilt…

You are drinking and he can't, you are drinking and if you don't rescue him he will never be able to taste his beloved rum again…

With every gulp the voices in her head grew quieter, finally she was drunk enough to go out and face the world, face the crew, face Will…

…………………………………..

Will was standing near the helm, side by side with Barbossa. No one knew how the man managed to conquer death but maybe they didn't really wanted to find out…

"So… yer beautiful Lady's got 'roubles with sleeping, huh?" Barbossa's deep voice broke the silence, his eyes were upon Will while the man was trying to find the right answer.

"Maybe… but I'm not entirely sure if it's any of your business, Mr Barbossa" Will was curious what this all was going to but still he didn't feel comfortable in presence of the man who killed his father, tried to kill him, Elizabeth and… right, he also wanted to kill Jack so maybe he wasn't that bad after all…

"Well, ya took me for this journey because it appears that I'm the only man who's ever been were yer going, but I must warn ya that I can only lead ya half the way… then ye'll have to find another guide". The pirate finished this statement with a mysterious smile on his lips…

"And what exactly does it have to do with Elizabeth's sleeping issues?" The young man was clearly tired with the conversation, though what Barbossa said obviously surprised and worried him.

The old pirate took his time before he answered Will's question, but when he finally did, it sounded more like a gloomy sentence."Apparently, 'er problems may mean that she will be yer next guide".

……………………………...

Elizabeth left her cabin on shaky legs and closed the door behind her carefully. She didn't forget to wash her mouth after drinking, she had enough problems even without Will telling her what's appropriate for a lady and what's not.

"Ya know what they're saying 'bout women who drink alone?" The low growl startled her, she hadn't expected to meet anyone right outside her cabin, and certainly she hadn't expected to see there their temporary captain, Barbossa.

She managed to focus her thoughts and give a firm answer. "Firstly, no, I do not happen to know what they say, and secondly if you are implying that I was drinking you are mistaken, Mr Barbossa. Mistaken and rude" Elizabeth tried to make her voice clear and steady, at the same time making all efforts to avoid his all knowing look.

"Firstly, madame, I would've smelled the rum even if ya'd been drinkin' it yesterday, so stop pretending that this little pirate's habit didn't become your habit too. Yer young lad may be blind but I know exactly when and why you're drinking, darlin'… Oh and secondly… it's Captain Barbossa puppet, just for you to remember…" A mocking smirk stretched his lips.

"I've got only one Captain, Mr Barbossa, and now, if you excuse me, someone's waiting for me" She passed him by in the most aristocratic way she could. Her father would've been proud of her if he could see her. Barbossa scowled at her but said nothing.

Just when Elizabeth was disappearing around the corner, his last words reached her ears

"I know what you're dreamin' of, darlin' and believe me, it's not even half as bad for you as it is for him.

Remember, if ye wanna cheat death ye'll need much more than just rum and a fancy dress, when the time comes you'll have to be ready, so maybe ye should ask yourself a question… Have you got what it takes?"

Elizabeth didn't response, in fact she acted like she hadn't heard it at all. But she did hear him.

"Have you got what it takes?"

Have I got what it takes?

……………………………………

When Will entered the cabin it was all ready and prepared. Candles, delicious meal, wine and his beautiful fiancé, looking just like a few months ago. Maybe a little bit thinner but apart from that, remarkably stunning. All the worries he had in his heart disappeared instantly. She loved him, she must have, nothing else mattered.

Elizabeth approached him slowly and took his hand into hers. He lifted them gently and placed a soft kiss on her palm.

"It's perfect… you are perfect" He said quietly.

"Thank you, love. I did it all for you, I wanted to thank you for the things you're doing, for not chasing Norrington and the Heart." For the first time that day she felt overwhelming peace and it was thanks to him. That was why she had fallen in love with him in the first place, he'd been making her feel safe and loved and she hadn't asked for more.

In response Will smiled shyly "I promised that I would let my father free, I promised that I would save him, but I also promised that I would save Jack so let's just say that there will be time for everything." He stopped for a moment, as if he was thinking if he should tell her something. She noticed his hesitation but didn't press the matter, she knew that Will would not keep from her anything significant.

Finally with a deep sight he continued, but this time there was seriousness in his features "I spoke to Barbossa this morning and examined all the maps Tia gave us" He looked her deep in her eye and finished "I think we're approaching our aim. The Gates are close, but I guess we'll have to speak to our Captain and make him tell us everything he knows. I hate to think that our fate is in his hands but I'm afraid there is no other way"

Will didn't mention their earlier conversation, he didn't want to bother Elizabeth, besides he realized that Barbossa probably wanted to scare him. He forced himself to stop thinking about it and focused on his beloved woman. "Come Elizabeth, lets eat and not think about such things tonight, in a few weeks it will be all over and finally you'll become my bride, making our wishes come true"

Elizabeth smiled, although she couldn't avoid the feeling that if everything would end up as they wanted, maybe there would be no wedding at all…

But for now they ate and drank pretending that everything was fine, pretending that the glorious aim of their journey was not the Hell itself.

……………………………

Deep under the ocean another night came and once again Jack was awaiting for his punishment. This was the worst part, those long hours between his every "meeting" with them. He couldn't even plan to escape, he couldn't do anything, all he could do was wait and count the seconds turning into minutes, minutes turning into hours…

He tried to sleep but the dreams didn't come this time. He tried to imagine her but she was out of his reach, Jack knew what she looked like, but he just couldn't recall her face… it was all blurred. Maybe angels were not allowed to appear in Hell…

"Elizabeth… Lizzy…and Pearl" He spoke those names out loud and they sounded familiar, he managed to picture them in his mind tonight but with every hour it was getting harder. His time was running out and he was well aware of this fact. He just hoped they were close and he really had something to wait for.