It's been a long time, but it's finally here! the last chapter! i've probably lost all my "fans" because they never thought i would finish this, but i promised. and so here it is.

And as before, I do not own Will or Elizabeth or anything else having to do with POTC


Elizabeth woke to the sound of birds chirping outside her small window. Opening her eyes, she rolled over and yawned. Then abruptly she sat up.

Today is the day…he's coming today… my Will.

And with that she was out of bed, no longer drowsy, but wide awake. She felt restless and wished she hadn't cleaned the whole house yesterday. She had the need to do something, but all the work that needed to be done was already accomplished. After pacing the kitchen for five minutes, she remembered. The cake! I was going to make a cake. But wait. that won't take too long. I should save that for later. I'll make a big breakfast for little Will.

Little Will, who was not so little anymore, awoke to the smell of bacon. His favorite. Now that he was almost ten he was allowed to sit in the second to last row at the school house with all the other big kids. And normally this was just one more reason for him to love going to school, but today was different. Today was special.

He walked out into the kitchen to see his mother placing a stack of flap jacks on his plate next to the bacon and eggs. He smiled and, completely ignoring the breakfast, gave his mom a huge hug.

"Mom, guess what? Today is the day that Dad comes home!"

Trying very hard not to roll her eyes she answered, "I know. Now you'd better eat your breakfast if you're going to make it to school on time."

"Aww, Mom! Do I hafta go? Dad is coming today and I don't want to miss him!"

"Is this my son? The boy who can't wait to get to school every morning?" Smiling down at him she added, "Besides, you won't miss him. Remember what I told you? He'll be here-"

"-Right when the sun sets, I know." He looked down at his feet and then said, "But I know I won't be able to concentrate. I'm too excited. I want to stay here with you and wait until he comes."

For a moment, Elizabeth almost gave in, but then firmly stated, "You are going to school young man. With both of us here anxiously waiting I think one of us would go crazy!"

"Oh, alright." he whispered.

"You're breakfast is getting cold. Why don't you eat up. I made something special."

"Yeah, I smelled the bacon when I woke up. Thanks mom!" And with that he tackled the large breakfast and headed out the door to walk to school leaving Elizabeth to pass the time alone. At first, she had no idea what to do. She usually always had some work to do, but she had worked extra hard for the past few days to finish everything for today.

Stupid. Now I'll go nuts. How can I wait? I've waited 3,649 days. Surely I can wait just one more. Eventually she pulled out her latest needlework project just so she could have something to do with her hands. But after a couple hours of that her eyes grew tired and she decided to start baking the cake. As it baked in her small oven, she made chocolate icing and then resumed pacing in the kitchen.

Elizabeth had never been so impatient for something in her life. She had never imagined that this last day would be so difficult. each minute seemed like an hour and each hour seemed like a day. Time was traveling at the pace of a snail when even the pace of a horse would be too slow.

Finally the cake was done and she set it on the windowsill to cool before she spread the rich icing over it. After she had completed that, she was once again left with nothing to do and far more time to kill then she would have liked. So she went to visit her only friend on this small island, Jane. When she reached the door she knocked three times and waited. When the door opened, a flour covered Jane stood smiling to welcome her.

"I'm sorry for my appearance. I would give you a hug, but I'd ruin your dress."

Laughing Elizabeth pulled her into her arms and said, "A hug right now is worth far more than this dress. Besides, it's only flour. It'll wash out easily enough. What are you baking?"

"Bread enough to last us for the next week. I hate baking bread and I don't like using money on something I could make myself, so I like to make it all in one sitting."

"I could help if you have an extra apron." offered, Elizabeth. At this point baking bread and talking with her friend sounded like heaven compared to sitting around the house all day.

"Oh, heaven bless you! That would be wonderful. I'd like to finish before Thomas and Isabella come home from school."

And with that the two concentrated on kneading and rolling the dough and watching to be sure no loaf was burned. With two working they finished at around one o'clock with one hour to spare before their children would come home. They talked for awhile, and the company meant so much to Elizabeth. Before too long the subject of Will's return was brought up.

"So today's the big day huh? I'm so happy for you, Elizabeth." she said as she held her hand. "I know all your waiting will be worthwhile."

"I must admit that there is a part of me that is worried. It's been so long. I know that I still love him with all my heart, but many things can change in ten years. How do I know that he still wants me?"

"Who wouldn't want you? If what you've told me is true, then he's been doing exhausting work with a shipload of men for ten years straight. I think there could be nothing he would want more then to come home to his wife." When Elizabeth said nothing she continued, "You have been living here with many eligible men and you still love him as much as you ever did. Now, I must admit I was worried about you and Gabriel there for awhile, but your love for Will is true. I can see it in your eyes when you talk about him. I know that he still loves you."

"How did I ever get a good friend like you? I don't deserve it."

With a chuckle, Jane said, "Nonsense! Everyone deserves a good friend."

Looking at the time Elizabeth started out of her chair. "Oh, my! I'd better go if I'm going to be home before Will gets back from school." She removed the borrowed apron and hung it on the chair she had been sitting on and placed her hat on her flour covered head. Laughing she said, "And I must take a bath as well. I don't want my husband coming home to see me like this!"

Jane laughed and added, "I'm sure he won't care what you look like."

Elizabeth gave her a teary smile and a warm hug. "I could never thank you enough for your friendship. It means more to me than you could ever know."

And with that she left and arrived back at their cottage just before Will returned from school. When Elizabeth asked him what he had learned that day, for the first time in his life, he said "nothing". He was brimming with excitement and could hardly stay in one place for two minutes together. His energy rubbed off on his mother and the two of them ran about the house making sure everything was in its proper place. Elizabeth took a quick, but refreshing bath and did her hair. She even used some of the makeup she had saved for this day.

By the time the sun was just above the horizon, Elizabeth and Will had rechecked the house three times for dirt or disorder. Of course everything was perfect, but she still had a feeling that something was missing.

"Of course something is missing!" Will had said. "We're missing a dad!"

Elizabeth had just laughed and shook her head. Now they were standing at the cliff that overlooked the ocean hand in hand. Elizabeth looked down at Will and smiled. He had insisted on wearing his pirate hat even though it was quite beat up. Will looked up at her with a smile and squeezed her hand.

As they waited in companionable silence for the sun to disappear, Elizabeth felt as if she were holding her breath. As if she had been holding her breath for ten years and now that the end of her waiting was so near, it seemed almost unbearable.

Finally the sun was almost out of sight. They could see it slowly sinking beyond the horizon until it was gone. And in that moment there was a fear that welled up inside of them both. What if the green flash doesn't happen? But their worries were soon gone when a sudden, quick flash of pale green light illuminated the sky for a brief moment. And then it was there, the Flying Dutchman. Elizabeth could feel the ten years of waiting, of holding her breath, dissipate. Her waiting was done. Her husband was here.

Her excitement bubbled up inside her until she could no longer contain herself. She began laughing and running down the hill that led to the beach. Will, who was still holding her hand, struggled to keep up until he let go and ran after her. He knew the way well and would come in his own time.

By the time she had reached the beach, Will's rowboat was just pulling onto the sand. For a moment they both stopped and just looked at each other, taking in each other's faces. He looked just the same as when he left. His hair tied behind a bandanna, his pure smile, and his soul-piercing brown eyes. She had dreamed of those eyes countless nights, but this time they were real.

Then Elizabeth ran through the waves and into her husband's arms where she clung to him as if it were her only hope for life.

"I missed you so much, Will." she sobbed into his chest.

"I'll never leave you again. I swear it, Elizabeth. You will never be alone again." He promised as he lifted her face so he could look into her eyes.

And then they were kissing and Elizabeth was lost in her joy. Her life was complete once more. Suddenly she remembered Gabriel and all the guilt came back doubled. She pulled away and said, "Will, there's something I have to tell you."

As he brushed away her tears he said, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Looking down she forced herself to say, "I haven't been completely faithful to you. I am so sorry. I don't deserve you." As she admitted how she allowed herself to fall in love with Gabriel, her tears returned and Will just stood there listening without making a sound.

Once she had finished, he gave a sad smile and simply said, "I forgive you."

Completely shocked at his response, Elizabeth could only stare.

"I already knew." he said.

"B-but how?"

"Everything you told that chest… I just knew."

Still confused, she said, "I don't understand"

"All those times… you were talking to my heart. And so I could hear you."

Completely stunned by this revelation, Elizabeth covered her open mouth with both her hands and stood like that until Will broke the silence.

"So. I'd like to meet Will. Where's my son?"

Elizabeth suddenly realized that she had no idea where their son was. She turned back see little Will standing on the path that led to the beach looking at them. She smiled and waved, taking her husband by the hand to meet his son for the first time. When they reached each other, little Will stopped three feet from his father and looked down at his shoes in a shy spell. This is the first time he's ever met his father. How difficult and wonderful it must be for him.

Still holding Will's hand, she said, "Will, this is your father."

Looking up into her husband's eyes she saw tears. He slowly released her hand and sat on his knees in the sand before his son. Their son looked into Will's eyes and then took one small step forward. That is all it took to break the tension. Will wrapped his arms around his son, cradling his head against his chest.

Elizabeth stood back and let the two have their moment. Little Will had his arms around his father's neck and she could see tears running down her husband's face. And, of course, she was crying as well. She couldn't remember a time she was happier. They were a family now. The two people she loved most in this world had found each other. Then Will stepped back and really looked at his father.

After smiling at Elizabeth, Will looked back at his son and said, "I know that we don't know each other very well, but I love you. I love you so much, son."

"I missed you, Father. I really did."

Will ruffled his son's hair and stood, taking Elizabeth's had again. Little Will, not quite knowing what he should do, asked, "Could we eat dinner together? I'm hungry."

Will and Elizabeth laughed and suddenly she realized that, in her anticipation, she had completely forgotten about preparing dinner.

"I'm so sorry. I have nothing ready. I could make something, but It would take almost an hour to make."

"Is there a restaurant here?" Will asked.

"There sure is! But we've never eaten there before. Mom says it's too expensive."

With a gleam in his eye, Will said, "Wait here while I get something out of my boat."

He returned carrying a large sack which he dropped in the sand. "Why don't you open it, Will?"

Will untied the top with his small fingers and looked inside with wonder on his face. "Momma, it's treasure! Pirate treasure!" then looking up at his father he asked, "Is it real? Can we keep it?"

"Of course we can keep it. Every gold piece is ours."

Whooping for joy, Will dug his hands in the sack and pulled out some gold. Elizabeth smiled at the thought of walking through town with her husband, for all to see, to eat at the fancy restaurant. She could just see the guilty faces of all those who had doubted her word. Wrapping his arm around her waist, Will kissed his wife and whispered for her ears alone, "You have raised the most amazing son. I love you."

"I love you too."


And this concludes my Drabble series.

I hope you enjoyed it, please comment and let me know what you thought. I'm still willing to make changes or corrections if needed. I realize the end gets confusing because of the two Wills. I'm sorry about that. And while you're commenting let me know what you thought of the whole idea of Will being able to hear what Elizabeth said to the chest.