A/N: Well, somewhere along the line we had to deal with Will, didn't we?
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
8. H is for Husbands
"So it's true" said Will, wondering now if he had been a fool to beg one days grace from Calypso just to come here and see with his own eyes if the rumours he'd heard were true.
"Will, I'm so sorry if this hurts you" said Elizabeth, tears in her eyes, "I would never do that deliberately, but I..."
"You had to be true to your heart, Elizabeth" the Captain of the Flying Dutchman smiled slightly, "I'm not blind, you know. A part of me always wondered... You and Jack are so alike in so many ways"
Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something, anything, perhaps to argue the point or make further apologies, but nothing seemed right for this moment.
"Will Turner" said an unmistakable voice then and both turned to see Jack approaching, his daughter held with one arm, whilst the other hovered at his sword (just in case), "Ten years up already, is it? You'd think I would've noticed such a passing of time"
"Indeed, Jack" his fellow Captain smiled, "Another seven years or more til my feet may touch dry land, but I was granted a day away from my duty so I might be here aboard the Pearl... to say my goodbyes" his happy expression faltered then as he looked to Elizabeth.
"Oh, Will" she cried, even as Jack's arm wrapped around her shoulders and her daughter wriggled to be handed over, "Not goodbye. Not forever" she said desperately, though her old lover's eyes seemed transfixed on the dark-haired child in her arms, "This is Annabella" she introduced, "Sweetheart, this is Uncle Will" she smiled through her tears.
"She is... beautiful" 'Uncle' Will said honestly, "As you are Elizabeth. As you are as a family. Perhaps we should have realised from the very beginning that this was how things must be"
As Will turned to go then, crossing the planks back onto the Flying Dutchman where his father and crew waited to travel back to the beyond, Elizabeth leaned into Jack's embrace and continued to cry.
"Having regrets, luv?" her current husband asked, though his eyes remained fixed on the man she used to call her love.
"Only one" Elizabeth sniffed as she looked up into his eyes, "I wish I had married you first and saved us all some heart-ache" she sighed.
"And to think you said things would never have worked out between us" he smirked.
"I just couldn't keep telling myself that" she smiled back just the same, as they kissed.
