Disclaimer: Disney's is theirs, mine is mine. Could I make it any clearer?

Chapter 9

Naida found herself walking through heavy jungles. She was struggling to keep an eye on the river that led out to sea, and the rough animal track she was following. She almost stumbled, but caught herself on a tree branch. Frowning she stood again, before looking back towards Tia Dalma's house. She wondered if she was doing the right thing, if Beth was right, that Will was too far below her station.

"Oh, enough of this!" Naida declared finally turning away and making her way through the jungle.

As Naida walked she found herself wanting to find the beach, to see if she could see any sign of Will. She hoped he had not gone too far, she hoped he had not gone. She wanted to tell him that Beth was wrong, that she did not care if he were a blacksmith, pirate or a baron or a king. She loved him, and wanted him to know that. She had answered when he had asked her if she loved him, but she had not told him she loved him.

Seeing a sandy white beach in front of her, with foaming waves lapping at it she sped up her pace. She felt her breath catch as she approached the beach, breaking out of the tree line. She scanned the beach quickly, her breath quickening when she saw the longboat, but no Will. She felt panic seize her, she wondered irrationally for a moment that maybe Will had drowned. Stepping out onto the beach she noticed two sets of tracks, one leading into the sea from the forest, and the other leading into the forest.

Smiling to herself Naida kicked off her shoes and stockings on a whim. She then walked towards the sea, being careful only to step on the footprints already made, as she had when a child and her father was waiting for her in the surf. As she reached the surf she gasped as the water licked around her feet. She laughed as the water ran out, leaving the hem of her dress slightly wet where she had not managed to hold it out of the surf.

Careful to keep her feet in the water Naida began to walk along the shore, looking for trinkets like she had when she was a little girl. She smiled as she picked up a cone shaped shell and held it up to her ear, seeing if she could hear the sea. She sighed and rolled her eyes as she realised that she would not hear anything because the sound of the real sea was overpowering everything. Carrying on walking she began to look for stones she could skip.

That was how Will saw her when he emerged from the forest. She was standing with her back turned to him. Her dark hair was tumbling down her back. Her arm was raised to her forehead, so she could see something in the distance. She bent down to pick something up, before throwing it out towards the sea. She gasped and jumped back as a wave that was bigger than she expected soaked the bottom of her dress.

She turned and saw Will then. She smiled at him and he almost forgot to breathe at the sight of her. Her dress was of a simple pale blue, with no other decorations on it. She truly looked like a maiden who had just stepped out of the sea, especially as her hair was not caught up like it usually was. Her eyes lit up and her whole entire body posture changed.

"Will!" she called out waving to him, "I wanted to talk to you."

"You wanted to talk to me?" He asked disbelievingly as she ran up to him.

"Of course I did."

Naida took Will's arms, and held them, her hands just below his elbows. She looked deep into his eyes, searching for something there. Will realised that Naida was nervous, although he couldn't work out why she was so nervous. However, even that could not rob her of her beauty. Up close now, Will could see how pale her skin was, and he could imagine running his hands over her swan like neck.

Naida was amazed at her inability to talk. Now she was closed to Will it seemed she was stripped of all her resolve, and turned into a small, scared mass. She was careful to keep her breathing even, even as she brought her eyes up to look at Will. He had been for a swim in the sea, she could tell. His hair was still wet and hung around his face as he hadn't tied it back yet. She stared into his brown eyes and saw on concern, concern for her. She knew he could tell she was nervous, but she had to tell him, didn't she?

"Will I… I…" Naida began, trying to say what she was feeling, but failing miserably.

"Naida it's alright," Will soothed.

"No, because I can't say the one thing that I need to say."

"It can wait for another time."

"What happens if there's never another time?" Naida asked him, "It happens more often than I would like to admit. There's not another time, I mean."

"Then what is it that is so important?" Will asked with a small smile.

But Naida could not answer him; she couldn't find the words to tell him how she felt. It was ridiculous, they were three little, simple words, that had been said so many times before. So why now was it hard for her? She pulled away from Will, frustrated at her inability to say it. She drew a breath in, and rested one hand on her hips. Will came up behind her and turned her to face him gently.

"I've spent thirteen years on the Flying Dutchman, and I simply cannot say it Will," Naida explained, tears glimmering in her eyes.

"I think I know what is it is." Will smiled at Naida reassuringly.

"What is it then?"

"I think you want to say that you…" Will stopped as Naida pressed one of her fingers to his lips.

"I want to say it Will. No matter what anyone says, whether you're a pirate a blacksmith or the long lost son of a king," at which point Will smiled against her finger, "whether its wrong or right, Mr. Turner, I love you." Naida finally admitted.

Will's smile became even wider. He reverently kissed her finger, before capturing that hand in one of his. His other hand slowly reached out for Naida's neck, and came to rest there, his thumb slowly dragging across her throat. She closed her eyes and her lips parted in a gasp. Will's other hand slid to her waist before pulling her to him. He closed the few inches parting them, and pressed his lips to Naida's.

Naida gasped again, before returning Will's kiss. One of her hand flew to his cheek, holding him into the kiss. The other grasped the arm that was now wrapped around her waist, running slowly up and down the length of his arm. She revelled in the feel of his lips on hers, and the feel of his skin beneath her hand, and his scent. She felt her legs weakening, and she knew she would have fallen if not for Will's arm around her waist.

Slowly Will broke the kiss, and stood with his forehead pressed to Naida's. She stood there with her eyes closed, feeling Will's breath fanning across her face. She smiled slowly, lazily and opened her eyes. She saw Will watching her, nervous as to see her reaction. She smiled again, reassuringly, before pressing her lips against his in a quick kiss, one that was soon ended. Will smiled this time.

"We should get back," Naida murmured.

"No need, I told everyone that I was staying here all day," Will answered.

"But why would you need to get away?" Naida queried, before she realised, "I'm sorry about what Beth said, it wasn't true, any of it."

"I know that now, but how could I have known then?"

"You couldn't, but Will, never go anywhere without telling me where you're going ever again," Naida begged.

"I won't," Will reassured her.

Naida closed her eyes and smiled, nodding. This was the perfect day, she realised. The sun was shining, it was warm, and she was with Will, and there were no threats, not that day. She smiled again, as she playfully pulled away from Will before running back into the surf. He followed her, with a puzzled look on his face. Playfully Naida splashed Will as he reached the shore, and he smiled and shook his head.

"Stop that," Will answered raising an eyebrow.

"Make me," Naida answered, a cheeky smile on her face, before she splashed Will again.

Sighing Will went to grab Naida, but she had already darted off. She stood a few feet away, watching to see what her companion's reaction would be. He followed her, but she darted off quickly again, always staying just out of his reach. She turned back to look at Will and smiled radiantly. Will rolled his eyes, but his smile belied the fact that he was enjoying this game. How long was it since both of them could simply enjoy themselves?

Finally Will caught up with Naida, and caught her around her waist. She laughed happily, and tried to wiggle out of Will's grasp, unsuccessfully. Instead she simply turned to him, her smile never faltering. Will looked to her with a mock serious expression on her face, at which Naida could not help but burst out laughing at. She almost doubled over laughing, before she turned to look at him again.

Something in his eyes caught her and held her still. Her chest was heaving from her exercise. She was suddenly very aware of how close she and Will were. Slowly she stepped forward and rested her head against Will's shoulder. His arms tightened around her waist, as her arms travelled around his back. They stayed like that for a while in the surf, just embracing, neither asking any more from the other. Eventually it was Will who pulled away.

"Time for lunch," He smiled as Naida's stomach voiced its protests at not being fed.

Naida smiled but followed Will, her hand held in his. It felt strangely right being here, no matter what anyone else would say. This was not stolen moments; this was something else that made those stolen moments more and more precious. She was happy, truly happy and content and she felt like she was home, even if she never saw the house where she had grown up ever again.

Will gathered a small blanket and set it down on the sand. As he produced some bread and cheese Naida couldn't help but joke it was almost as if he had expected her to join him. He looked at her then, and said he had wanted to ask her, before he had confronted Beth. He frowned when he mentioned it, and Naida reached out for his hand, letting a simple touch comfort Will in a way she never would have been able to do with words.

They ate in companionable silence. Naida hadn't realised how hungry she was, and found herself tearing into the bread that Will tossed to her. She could not remember the last time she had the will to eat, nor the need. Her time on the Dutchman was now a blur that was firmly behind her, or so she thought. Will was watching her eat with some satisfaction. He couldn't recall ever seeing her eat nor drink, and yet here they were, sitting on the beach, acting as if they were ordinary people, and she not the daughter of a lord, and he tied to a promise made back on the Dutchman.

After lunch Naida simply lay on her back, staring up at the sky. Will smiled down at her from where he was sitting. Suddenly Naida remembered why she had really come to talk to Will and she sat up again. She brought her knees up to her chest, and hugged them to her tightly. Her good mood had gone, now she was the pensive woman that Will had first met aboard the Dutchman.

"What is it Naida?" Will asked, concerned at her sudden change of mood.

So Naida told him. She told him everything, and she didn't hold back like she once would have done. There was something between here and Will that let her know she could tell him the truth. When she finished her story she didn't look at Will, she couldn't bear to see what she thought would be on his face. She wasn't the person that he had thought she was, and she should have told him from the start. Instead she buried her head in her arms.

"Naida?" Will asked, "Naida look at me," he commanded.

Naida didn't look at Will. Gently Will touched the top of her head, and she lifted it slightly. Still she wouldn't look at him, so he again, so gently, tilted her head using two fingers to look at him. Hesitantly her eyes flickered to his, before flicking back down to look at the sand. She was finding it hard to breathe, she could never remember a time she had not been more nervous.

"Naida, look at me," Will commanded again, and he continued as Naida finally made eye contact, "This changes nothing. You are you, and this is all part of you. And that's what I love."

Naida smiled simply. How was it that Will knew her well enough to know how to soothe her? With those few words it felt like all of her worries were falling away from her. She smiled simply, thankful that there were no more secrets. She held out one of her hands to Will, like a little girl looking for comfort. He took it, and held it pressed, giving Naida a sense of security.

"Thank you Will, for everything," Naida answered.

Author's note: Altogether now, one, two, three… Awww. How sweet have I been? Okay then, usual drill, feedback appreciated. Flames used to cook my dinner on the barbecue. Constructive criticism will be used to improve my stories.