The following morning I was awoken by rain falling over us, Will in a similar situation. The downpour chasing us under trees where we waited for the thunderstorm to pass.
"Yesterday was our ten year anniversary." Will smiled at me, and I gave him a quick kiss.
"We haven't even seen each other once since that day, and I'm still completely, one hundred percent in love with you." I laughed and he held me close enough that if it was there, I would be able to hear his heartbeat.
"I kept it safe all this time, you know." I told him, watching rain drip off of the leaves of a tree.
"I do know. I knew you would. Although I wasn't expecting to be getting in as much trouble as I did." He laughed and I smiled. He hadn't changed at all since the day we met, nearly twenty years ago.
"Does this mean the curse broke? Since I stayed faithful for ten years?" I asked Will.
"Yes, the crew and I are free. We have the rest of our lives together."
~
"We're headed to Tortuga today?" I asked him, sitting across from him on the small boat he had brought from the Dutchman over to the island as we made our way back to the ship.
"I would assume so, I'm sure the crew would like to see what's left of their family, if there is any. And this is most likely our best bet of finding information on Jack and their families. We could easily find a new crew if necessary."
"I bet you he's there. Or nearby. He wouldn't have gone far, he's in the Caribbean."
We sat in silence for the rest of the trip, once again appreciating the others presence. It was like we hadn't been apart at all. And Will hadn't aged a day. His wavy, shoulder length hair was pulled back and he still styled his facial hair the same way he had been years before. He assured me I didn't look any older than I was, but ten years alone had definitely taken its toll on me. Although I like to assume I look younger than most women my age.
We climbed up the ladder once reaching the ship, greeted by the crew, many of whom I'd never met before. Although I didn't know many people on the ship formally. Really, the only person who I knew was Will's father, and we had only met a few times.
"Elizabeth! Good to see you again." Bill greeted me, pulling me into a hug.
I smiled and we small talked for a few minutes, before Will took me up to the helm where he commanded the crew to prepare to set sail for Tortuga, a trip that would only take us a few days.
"Care to tell me why I had to defend the chest?" I smiled and set the mentioned chest down on a nearby bench.
"We ran into plenty of people, got some bad blood now." He glanced over at me and I rolled my eyes.
He listed off the familiar names of people I had to defend the chest from, and a few others who failed to introduce themselves, along with the various stories behind each situation. The lack of detail showed me these quarrels weren't over with. We'll have to deal with that in the future, but for now we need to find Jack.
The trip to Tortuga was smooth sailing all the way, no storms or paths crossed with enemies, a miracle considering our disastrous past. We docked the ship, and our crew members set off to attempt to find their respective families. Will and I walked down the dock, attracting plenty of stares from those who recognized us. Then again, who wouldn't stare? A Pirate lord and the captain of the Dutchman, you could say we were pirate royalty!
Unsure if they were intimidated or excited by our presence, we hurried to the popular bar a few minutes west of the dock. Someone there would have to recognize us, or have information on Jack's whereabouts. We walked into the bar almost unnoticed, a few people looking up from whatever commotion they had been involved in, nobody giving us a second glance.
"Does anyone here have any information on Jack Sparrow's whereabouts!?" I called out, the room becoming silent aside from a few whispers.
"That would be Captain Jack Sparrow to you." A familiar voice called out, before the body it belonged to emerged from the crowd. "Elizabeth? Will?" Jack's body language changed as he recognized us.
A look of pure astonishment crossed Jack's face, and despite the fact he was definitely not a hugger, he pulled the two of us into a smelly, tight, awkward hug. Ten years apart can really change a person, and apparently, ten years turned Jack Sparrow into a hugger.
"Has it been ten years already?" He asked, his words slurred due to being intoxicated, not that that was anything out of the usual. "I knew you two would make it, it was just a matter of time."
"And how old would that make you now?" I smirked, and he shook his head.
"Irrelevant. Where are we headed? Wherever you two are going, I am coming. No debate."
"Well, we were planning on finding you. But since we have done that already, does anybody have unfinished business?" Will suggested, before all had a sudden look of realization.
"Norrington"
Ah yes, this is set in a world where Norrington was never killed, but we will get into that later. I'll try my best to upload once a week, maybe twice, but I do have school and a job. So often I'll be out of the house until 10pm then homework and then bed and ugh. But yes. New chapters, hopefully every Monday as that gives me the weekend to write.
Love love love, M.