A/N So this chapter is kinda slow and a little boring. I apologize. But it gets the story moving. I'm not as proud of this chapter as others. But Will has been introduced! And I know I promised that the last chapter would include the ceremony but it was too long so I planned on moving it to this one but this one got long too. Obviously it will be in the next! Xoxo JTD

Maria finished readying herself for the ceremony and promptly left her room. She checked the clock in the hallway. She was ten minutes early for their scheduled departure time. She decided to wait downstairs. As she reached the top of the staircase, she noticed a male figure standing in the foyer, waiting. His sleek brown hair was tied back. He was wearing a brown, polished coat. He looked very much the dapper gentleman – far from the boy she met eight years ago.

She began to walk down the stairs, lightly floating. Upon hearing footsteps, Will turned around and his eyes lit up at the sight of his long time friend. Maria held her head up high and confidently descended the staircase.

"Good day, Senorita Cortez."

"Please. Have we not gotten past formalities after all these years? Call me Maria as you always have."

Will blushed. He looked down before slowly raising his head and looking deep in her eyes.

"Alright, then. Maria."

Her name on his lips sent chills through her spine and a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. No one would ever make her feel this way.

"Do you like my new dress? The governor gave it to me for my birthday."

Will feigned guilt for momentarily forgetting her birthday. "Yes. That's right. Happy birthday, Maria."

Without realizing it, their faces had inched closer together. She could almost feel his break on her face. They looked into each others' eyes – longingly. Maria shyly smiled.

"I had a dream about you and me last night."

He gave her a quizzical look.

"About the day we met. The promises we made to each other." She made sure she looked directly into his eyes. She wanted to see his face when she reminded him. "And I woke up with the strangest feeling."

"About us?"

"About everyone. About the me - "

"Will!"

Maria was interrupted yet again by Elizabeth almost running down the stairs to greet her sweetheart followed by her father. She rushed to his side and hugged him. The look of their embrace made Maria physically sick. 'That should be me,' she thought.

"Master Turner," Governor Swan greeted.

"Governor Swan."

"I trust you did not come empty handed."

"Oh, father!" Elizabeth admonished.

"No, I did not. I come with your request," he said pulling out a long case from behind his back. "Here the sword to be presented at the ceremony today." Maria watched as he demonstrated the excellent quality and the craftsmanship of the sword that he had made. Will had become an excellent blacksmith since they docked at Port Royal. There was no one more proud of him than Maria. She smiled inwardly when he displayed his tricks with the sword.

"I'm sure Commodore Norrington will appreciate it. I trust you will thank your master for me."

Will nodded in gratitude but Maria knew inside he was disappointed. Although he was under the town's blacksmith's tutelage for eight years, Will had surpassed the talents of his supervisor. He was a master blacksmith who never received the credit he deserved. Maria silently scolded her benefactor.

"Will, are you to attend the ceremony?" Elizabeth asked, hope radiated all over her face.

Will shook his head. "No. No. Unfortunately I am to be kept very busy today in the blacksmith. But I would like to take you on a walk later today. Maybe around the fort?"

Elizabeth blushed and turned to her father for permission. He lightly nodded. Maria cringed inside. How could he do this right in front of her? Flaunting his affections for Elizabeth when she's standing right next to him – and on her birthday no less.

"Wonderful. I'll call on you later this afternoon."

"I look forward to it."

"Governor Swan, your carriages have arrived 'round front," a butler interrupted.

"Well, Master Turner, we shall see you soon," Governor Swan said escorting Maria and Elizabeth to the door. Maria felt no emotion whatsoever.

"Oh, Maria. Do you mind riding in your own carriage? The stable has informed me that our large carriage is being repaired."

Maria nodded in agreement.

Governor Swan escorted Elizabeth into their carriage and Elizabeth waved at Will from the window, smiling like a giddy school girl. Maria grimaced. Will noticed.

"Something wrong?"

"It's a curious thing is it not? Making silly promises to one another as children – thinking we were the only ones who would ever care about each other ever again. Orphans. Yet here you are – courting the governor's daughter and not some lowly Mexican orphan girl."

"Maria - "

"No need to apologize, Mister Turner. Buenos dias," she said as a footman assisted her into the carriage. Her eyes never left Will's.

As the carriage drove away, Maria looked as Will stood on the front steps of the mansion longingly watching the carriage ride away. And Maria thought that it was a metaphor for the current status of their relationship. Loving each other from afar as they grow further and further apart.