Disclaimer- I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean ... (unfortunately) ... Disney owns all.

(A/N)- Official update for Chapter 3. I like going back and editing this. It's like visiting an old friend you haven't seen for a long while. I'm seeing all sorts of details I missed and information I can add. I like it. Also, I'm adjusting time-line issues that just didn't add up, in my opinion. Won't change the story, will just be corrected. After this updated chapter, I believe I'm going to rework Chapter 11 (because it's one that I really want to fix) and then finish writing Chapter 19. (11/3/13)

Chapter Three- Vow

Before Will came home smelling of sea water …

It was very late into the night. The outlines of Port Royal were barely visible through the blackness: no lamps or torches presently lit. Not that that detail was totally apparent to the occupants of the cave looking out towards the sea. Will could see the stars shinning brightly at the entrance to the cave: little pin-pricks of brightness scattered across a deep-dark sky. He smiled and wrapped his arms around the naked woman pressed up against him, under the itchy wool blanket she had brought. She curled up closer to him and smirked. She was still breathing heavily from their lovemaking. He smiled again, and she moved to stare up at him.

"Do you remember our first kiss Will?" she asked.

"Yes, I do. How could I forget?" he answered, smiling, "Is that what you're thinking about right now?"

She nodded and curled back into him, sighing in contentment.

How could I forget anything that's happened between us? It's all seemed dreamlike. Almost like I had no choice but to fall for her. He smiled, almost unthinkingly, remembering his first voyage with Anna Maria a year ago.

Flashback

Will was climbing to the crow's nest of The Interceptor. He smiled when the wind blew at his face, cooling him off from the hot Caribbean sun. He heard a not-so-distant humming as he climbed, and for some reason, he climbed faster, as if the sound were pulling him towards it.

When he reached the top, Will saw Anna Maria sitting on the edge of the wall lining the crow's nest, facing away from him. Even though his heart longed for Elizabeth, (hell, that's what this whole "quest" was about) he felt a stirring in the pit of his stomach as he looked at her profile: one he couldn't explain. He walked the two or three steps to get to her. She didn't notice him one bit, distracted as she was; she was looking out to sea, and she began to sing, putting words to her humming:

"O' waters, of the deep come to me,

I've waited so long to see thee in my life.

I pray to you, to take me back to the big, deep blue,

And wash away all of the sins from my skin."

Instantaneously, he felt drawn to her. Why ..? He thought to himself, and shook his head as if to rid himself of unsavory thoughts.

She kept singing the melody of the song, under her breath, as he stared at the back of her head. Will just listened to the beauty of her voice and the complexity of emotions running through her song. Her voice was weaving a sort of magic over him and he wondered at it. He had not pictured Anna Maria as the type to sing. It made her seem more feminine and less ferocious. I don't think I truly saw her as a woman before this. Such a small thing to change my entire perspective about her. Her voice is hypnotizing.

He smiled as she turned and saw him. She, however, was definitely not smiling. His frown melted off his face as he took in her expression. She immediately jumped up, looking like hell itself could erupt from her skin. Will could practically see the heat radiating off of her in waves of anger. He knew she had not meant for anyone to hear her. Probably, least of all him.

"How long have ye been standing there?" she yelled, her words nearly being carried away by the wind that was now blowing fiercely, as if caused by her fury.

"Not long," he said, tentatively, taken aback.

"Long enough to hear what I was doing, though!" she accused.

He nodded with a firm look on his face. He wouldn't deny it. He wasn't ashamed, nor did he have to explain himself for being up there. It's not like I walked into her quarters and saw her when she wasn't decent. Will felt a tightening in his groin at the thought of seeing her naked body. What is wrong with you? Have you forgotten why you're on this ship in the first place? It's for Elizabeth. Elizabeth …

Anna Maria sighed as she sank down to the ground of the crow's nest. Without thinking, he sat down next to her.

"No one invited you to stay. Leave!" she yelled. Even in her anger, her voice sounded like music to his ears. He couldn't exactly say what it was about her, but something had him glued to his spot.

"No, I won't. Not until you tell me where you learned to sing like that," with such hypnotizing intensity. He silently added to himself. "And that song ... I've never heard it before. Where's it from?" he asked. She glared at him, clearly indicating that she thought it was none of his business. He didn't care.

"If you don't leave I'll push you out of the crow's nest, savvy?" she threatened. Will didn't move. He stayed right where he was, and she looked at him curiously, the rage in her eyes slightly diminished. She sighed.

"Is that really the only way you'll leave me alone, whelp?" she inquired.

He nodded, firmly, staring into her eyes. Such enchanting eyes ...

"Fine. I learned how to sing from my mother before she left me all alone and never returned. She taught me the song, and you wouldn't have heard it before, no one would have 'cept me." she whispered. "Now will you please let me be?" she asked, less insistent.

He ignored her request. "Why wouldn't I have heard it before?" he asked, trying to keep their conversation going for as long as he could. He wasn't exactly sure why, though.

She gave him a confused look, like he was completely moronic. Maybe I am completely moronic. I should have left when she told me to the first time. Every word she says is more bewitching than the last. He thought to himself, even though he had a feeling that the same words from anyone else's mouth wouldn't have had the same effect on him. Actually, I'm entirely positive that they wouldn't. So why ..? He was pulled in again as she interrupted his musings.

"You would have never heard it before because my mother wrote it. I was the only one who she taught it to. At least, I'm the only one that I know of." she responded, quietly. Will realized she had tears rolling down her cheeks. She doesn't seem like the type to cry either. Singing. Crying. Maybe there's a lot more to this woman than meets the eye. He went to wipe the tears away before he could stop himself. Such soft, beautiful skin. It feels like satin.

"Thank you," she whispered. It wasn't the response he had been expecting.

Will nodded, his hand still on her face, though he couldn't explain why. She didn't pull away, which he also couldn't explain.

"Why did she only teach it to you?" he inquired.

"Because she wrote it for me when I was born."

Something in her answer rang false. That's a strange song to write for your newborn daughter ...

"Where is she now?"

"She died a long time ago. I got a letter from one of her crewmen, not long after it happened, telling me of her fate. A captain always goes down with their ship."

"I'm sorry. Truly."

"Don't be. She went the way she wanted to go. She died on her ship and sank to the bottom of the ocean where she still rests to this day with her ship and her treasure." she said, "I was so young when it happened, anyway. I doubt I ever really knew her, though I certainly remember looking up to her when I was little. I remember the day she left for her last voyage. I wanted to go so badly, I begged her, but she insisted that I stay on land. She knew the pirate was in my blood, but she said that I would be safer that way, just until I was a little older. She knew I would go out to sea one day, and she promised to teach me the ways of a pirate, but she never came back. If I had gone with her, I would be dead, too."

Will felt a pang of sympathy. I never really knew my father, and neither one of us will ever get the chance to know what could have been had they lived.

"Anna ..." Will began, but before he knew it, Anna Maria had brought her lips crashing into his. He was surprised, but kissed her back more than willingly, like his entire morning, no, his entire life, had led him to this point. Why am I doing this? I am in love with Elizabeth. He pulled away, although it was reluctantly. She looked at him, knowing what was wrong.

"I'm sorry. I just ..." she paused, "Thank you for having me tell you. It … helped … to talk about it." she whispered. Then, before he knew what was happening, she was climbing over him and then over the side of the crow's nest. She was already walking on deck before he could say anything else to her, and he dared not call out to her, though he stared after her long after she'd gone.

Anna Maria … He thought, longingly, wondering what had come over him. No … not Anna Maria. Elizabeth. Elizabeth. He thought, fervently, though something had begun that he couldn't quite explain. Anna Maria would not be far from his thoughts for a long while. No one had had that strong of an impact on him, not even Elizabeth, and that was saying something.

End Flashback

Will sighed, and Anna Maria looked up at him, through thick lashes.

"What's wrong?" she asked, worry lacing her words.

"I need to get back." he stated, simply. Thinking of that moment reminded him of the guilt he felt for betraying Elizabeth.

She nodded and got up, though reluctantly, putting her clothes back on. He did the same, though more in a hurry than she seemed to be. He knew if he remained with her much longer, his resolve would fade again, and he would stay with her through the night. I can't let that happen. This needs to end soon. He always told himself that, but with every letter he got from her, with every touch they shared, it seemed like he was losing more and more of himself to this woman. This woman that isn't Elizabeth.

After she was fully clothed, she picked up the blanket, shook the sand off of it, and swung it over her shoulders. She then wrapped her arms around Will's neck and forcefully, yet gently, brought his lips down to hers. When she pulled away she was red. Will realized that she was blushing.

"Until tomorrow," she said, holding his hand. Her voice hypnotizing him again.

"Until tomorrow, my love" he said, before he could stop himself, letting go of her.

She ran the distance back to the ship, not looking back. The farther she got from him, the less he wanted to go running after her. Will watched her until she was engulfed by the darkness of the night. He slowly made his way away from the cave to go home. Then he realized he didn't want to. He felt unclean; sullied. He couldn't go back to Elizabeth like this.

Why am I doing this? What is it about Anna Maria that makes me betray Elizabeth so easily? I still love Elizabeth, don't I? He thought about it. I know I still love her. Why can't I be loyal to her then? I know deep down that I want to, but at the same time, there's just something about Anna Maria ...

He began to take his clothes off again, without thinking. He did so until he was completely bare down to the skin. Will ran into the waves of the ocean and dove under, into the warm Caribbean water. He resurfaced moments later and laid back in the water before going back under again. I know I still love her. He thought again, his mind clearing. But I know I'll go back to Anna should she call upon me. And he knew she would. She always did.

An Hour Later

Will and Elizabeth were walking along the beach towards The Pearl. She was holding his hand in hers. What is wrong with him? What's wrong with me? I feel like something is missing. I know he's hiding something from me, but I feel as if my own heart is distancing itself from him at the same time. Is it because of what he's hiding, or would it be happenign anyway? She smiled at him. Her smile was strained, though. It didn't come naturally to her like it use to. He smiled back at her, and she felt a pang of guilt. His smile looked so genuine. Am I going crazy?

She had gone out without shoes on and her skirts tied up so the bottom of her legs were showing. If her father had seen her, or caught word of her indecent exposure, he would be less than pleased. She smiled to herself and walked into the warm water, letting it soak into her feet, the sand squishing between her toes. She smiled as it eased the tenderness from the shoes she wore everyday. You would think that after so long of wearing those obnoxious contraptions my feet would be used to them. She thought, but they weren't.

A man, she believed his name was Jeremiah, no doubt the one who drew the unlucky task of look-out that night, nodded at Elizabeth as they approached the ship. Will looked questioningly at her, but said nothing, and she offered no explanation. If he wants to hide things from me, he doesn't need to know that I come to drink with the crew every now and again when they lay anchor here.

As they walked up the gangplank of The Pearl, Elizabeth spied a bunch of people drinking. She assumed it was rum. What else would they be drinking? It's their favorite, just like their Captain. She smiled, thinking of Jack, and wondered why the thought of him immediately brought a smile to her lips. Why it always brought a smile to her lips. Mr. Gibbs was the first to notice them aboard.

"Quite down you mangy dogs! Can't ye see we have company?" he yelled. No one listened, and the boisterous chatter continued. "I SAID BE QUITE, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING SCALAWAGS!"

Silence ensued. Everyone turned to see them standing there. A bunch of the men, and the few women who were aboard, came up to greet Elizabeth and Will. Surprisingly, at least to Will, she presumed, they were more interested in seeing her than him. Elizabeth saw Anna Maria at the other side of the ship. She looked horror-struck to see them standing there, though she couldn't think of why.

In fact, I haven't seen Anna Maria any of the times I've come to The Black Pearl in a long time. Probably because of her new love interest, but what's wrong with her now? Why is she looking at us like that? Elizabeth thought as she raised her hand to wave in greeting. Anna Maria spun around and ran below deck before Elizabeth's hand made it halfway up. Elizabeth saw Will smiling after her, almost … longingly. She seemed to be the only one who had noticed it. She frowned. What the ..?

She was pulled back to the situation at hand as voices rose up around her. She shook her head to rid herself of her silly thoughts.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I would have loved to stay and have a drink with you," at this statement, Will looked at her like she had just eaten a worm. She ignored him, "but unfortunately I'm not feeling very well. I just came to tell you that your Captain is fine and will be back in the morning. He's sleeping off his drink at my house," she said, purposefully saying my instead of our. Will must have noticed because he frowned.

They all tried to persuade her to stay, claiming that a bit of rum would put her in order, even though she said she had already drank enough for the night, though not entirely true since she could have easily drank more at the moment, but nothing she said would dissuade them. She wanted to be home. She wanted to be out of Will's proximity so she could think about what she was feeling. She apologized over and over again until Gibbs told them to leave her alone. She waved goodbye to everyone as Will stood there looking after her, dumbstruck. Not one of them had insisted, or even invited him to stay and drink with them. After a few moments he joined her at the bottom of the plank.

"What was that about?" he said. "You were just fine a few minutes ago, and what do you mean you would have wanted to stay and have a drink?" he asked her, "And for that matter, what do you mean you've already had enough to drink for the night?"

"I don't know why I don't feel well," That's a lie, she thought. "And I meant it, I would have liked to have a drink with them, especially if I hadn't already drank tonight." Especially if you weren't with me right now.

"You've never drank rum a day in your life Elizabeth!" he exclaimed, as though that could make it true.

"I guess you don't know everything about me, do you, Will? Just like it seems there's things I don't know about you," she accused, sharply, and he winced. He's not denying it. She noticed, "Also, I did have a couple of drinks with Jack earlier while we were waiting for you to come home."

Will winced at her last statement, and she was sure that it was more about them waiting for him to come home, rather than her drinking.

Truth be known, Elizabeth had gone to The Pearl, alone, to drink with the crew when Will and Jack had been talking at the house. Quite a few times, in fact. Sometimes she would go when Jack was on the ship, and Will was either asleep or away at the forge ... or away at night. The first time she had found Will gone, she had gone to The Pearl to look for him. He wasn't there, but she had stayed and enjoyed herself. It became a habitual routine. Will disappeared; Elizabeth went to The Pearl. Though this was the first time she had actually seen a letter calling him away.

She would go and talk with the crew and have fun. She felt like she was home on The Pearl and had come to understand why Jack had wanted it back so much when Barbossa had taken it from him. It had become hard for Elizabeth to be away from it, too, and it wasn't even hers to miss. It must have been torture for Jack all those years.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"Why haven't you told me where you sneak off to at night? I know this isn't the first time," she snapped back. He had no answer for her and let the subject drop.

Elizabeth made a vow right then. The next time he gets another one of those letters from someone, or disappears out of the blue, I'm following him.

Jack was over again the following night. There was a knock on the door. The butler came in carrying a letter for Will. Elizabeth's resolve hadn't wavered. She was going to follow him. She was going to figure out what was going on.