Disclaimer: Will, Jack, Elizabeth, Ana, and the other PotC characters don't belong to me. They are the property of Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted, and Terry. However I do own Sammi, Teague, and Eva Sparrow along with Dani and James Turner! Sammi is by far my favorite OC that I've created, I just love her.
A/N: So it's finally come to an end – this labor of love of mine that so many of you seem to enjoy. I am very relieved that I made it to the end! I know many of you are sad that it's ending, but don't despair; I'm very excited to continue the adventure in my sequel, so you have that to look forward to.
I have a small treat for those of you who are in to M rated fics. My good friend Bea (penname Cucumbucaneer) has written a oneshot entitled Last Goodbye about Will and Elizabeth's last night together before he has to leave her for Calypso. It takes place between Ch. 35 and 36, and she did a marvelous job on it! I urge you to check it out if you feel you are mature enough to do so (it's a mix of smut and fluff.)
Also, I'd like to ask everyone not to spoil their friends about the ending of the story. (This mostly applies to hidetherum members.) And please, avoid reading the reviews for this chapter if you don't want to be spoiled. Thank-yees.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the last (real) chapter of AMTHGF!!
Warning: Disturbing images, and lots of angst ahead! Ye Be Warned.
Ch. 36: The Ultimate Sacrifice
Sheets of rain assaulted Will's already chilled skin, but he paid the unnaturally harsh weather no mind. He was much more concerned with the perfectly-balanced sword of his own making that Davy Jones was pointing directly at his heart.
"Tell me, William Turner, do you fear death?" Davy growled. Will didn't answer, preferring to lock eyes with his new bride instead. Elizabeth held his fearful gaze; each was more afraid for the other than they were for themselves.
"Do you?" Jack shouted, holding Jones' throbbing heart in one hand, his broken sword in the other. This development should've given Will a bit of comfort, but something told him that the worst was still yet to come. Jack goaded Jones for a bit, and Will couldn't understand why his friend was hesitating to take the man's life.
So when Jones' sword suddenly pierced his own heart, Will wasn't surprised. He was shocked, yes, but not surprised. In fact, he'd almost been expecting it. Will grimaced as Jones turned the sword in his chest, but the pain was removed from his body. Vaguely, he noticed Elizabeth crawl over to him and take his face in her hands. He thought she was screaming something at him, but he couldn't be sure. It was a struggle for Will to keep his eyes open, even though he finally registered that Elizabeth was pleading for him to stay with her. He eventually lost the battle, and his eyelids fluttered shut for the last time just as Jack and Elizabeth helped him to stab the heart. Will was swallowed up by blackness, but it was then that he felt the most relieved.
He knew exactly what came next, as he'd had this dream before. It was terrible to relive one's tragic death, but usually by this point Will figured out that he was indeed reliving an old memory. The Dutchman was sucked down, down, down by the force of the maelstrom, dragging the now-immortal Will and the undead crew along with it. But he did not despair, for he knew his father would be along to cut out his heart in a moment, and once that happened he would wake up in bed with Elizabeth.
However, this particular dream didn't follow its usual pattern. Instead, Will opened his eyes to find Calypso standing over him with a feral gleam in her eye. The former captain slowly backed away from the sea goddess, but she advanced on him, rendering him frozen on his back with the aid of her supernatural powers. Calypso crawled atop him, and Will struggled to free himself from her clutches without success. She drew a finger across his sculpted cheekbone, lulling him into a false sense of security. Then, without warning, she plunged her hand into his chest, and ripped out his still-beating heart. Will gasped in agony, clutching his wound as he writhed on the deck.
"Why?" He managed to choke out.
"Because she cannot possess ya heart. Not dis time," Calypso breathed, gracing him with a saccharine smile. "Now it truly belong ta me." She gently squeezed her hand around Will's organ, which caused him to cry out.
"Please, stop!" Will cried, his expression twisted into one of pure suffering. "You're hurting me. My heart isn't supposed to belong to you! It belongs to Elizabeth, and only she is supposed to keep it safe for me."
"Do not worry," Calypso hissed, enchanting him with her lilting voice. "Soon all o' ya troubles will be gone. Yah'll tink of nothing but me an' our love. Say goodbye ta ya memories, William!" Calypso placed her free hand on his brow, and a tingling sensation gripped Will's head.
"No! Not my family!" He pleaded, but already he could feel them slipping away. James, Dani, William… his children were being erased from his mind at an alarming rate. Soon all Will could recall of his life was his beautiful Elizabeth. But she too began to disappear. Childhood memories of them together faded first then followed by stolen moments from their teen years. Soon all Will had left was the memory of their impromptu wedding and consummation of their marriage on the beach.
"Please, Calypso, I beg you," Will began in a shaky voice, "if you care for me at all, let me keep this one memory." But the goddess would have none of it.
"I can't let ya do dat, William," she said, while tucking a stray curl behind his ear. "Her would just get in de way o' us. It has ta be dis way – I be sorry." Suddenly Will felt Calypso's gentle mind probe as Elizabeth was wiped from his recollection forever…
Will awoke with a start, his arms unconsciously tightening around the beautiful nude woman he held in his arms. Elizabeth! Oh, thank God, he thought as he lovingly gazed down at her serene face. Will was incredibly relieved to find that he was safe on the Destroyer with his wife with all of his memories intact, but his relief was short lived. It didn't take long before he remembered the events of the previous day, as well as his promise to free his son from Calypso. How cruel it was to be delivered safely from the hellish dream-world, only to be awakened in a world where he would soon be parted from his true love forever? Not only that, but the moment he gave himself over to Calypso's control, Will knew he would be forced to submit to whatever she asked of him. He gave an involuntary shudder as he recalled the sea goddess's domineering actions, both in his dream and in reality. Unfortunately, this shudder was not lost on Elizabeth, who took this opportunity to wake.
Yawning softly, Mrs. Turner's eyes fluttered open to find her husband's striking features just inches from her own. She beamed up at him, causing Will to believe that she'd forgotten their current quandary. But once she processed Will's defeated gaze, Elizabeth was suddenly able to recall every last gruesome detail of Calypso's ransom demands for William. Will recognized Elizabeth's gradual shift in expression from enraptured to horrified, as he had just experienced the same shift. She jerked against him, and pulled him as close as humanly possible.
"Don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me!" Elizabeth whispered over and over, clutching tightly to him as she wound her fingers in his thick, dark locks. She sobbed quietly into his chest, and Will's heart broke yet again.
"Elizabeth…" Will was able to calm her eventually with his soothing words. She stopped crying, took a deep breath, and pulled away a bit so they could gaze at each other properly.
"I-I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me!" She said, her puffy, red eyes betraying her true emotions. "God, Will, I'm making this harder on you!"
"No one said it would be easy," Will said sadly. He kissed her brow, causing her to whimper.
"Will, I behaved abominably towards you yesterday," she choked out. "I only thought of myself, and didn't consider how all of this would affect you. Not to mention my selfish behavior towards William…" She trailed off, hugging her husband once more. Elizabeth knew she had to treasure these last moments in his strong arms, as she would never have the chance to experience them again. "I shouldn't have done that," she sniffed. "What kind of mother doesn't reassure her child that she will save them?"
"One who is human," Will murmured. "One who doesn't want to lose her child's father. Elizabeth, I don't hold it against you for how you acted towards me. But I do want you to set William straight before I leave at noon." She trembled in his arms.
"I've disappointed you," she cried.
"No, never," he reassured her. "I just want to know that things are repaired between you and William before I go. You two will need each other, now more than ever."
"I'll talk to him," Elizabeth vowed. "I'll help him understand."
"Good," said Will, gently kissing her pouty lips. Elizabeth eagerly responded, and the lovers became lost in each other once more. When the need for air became too great, they broke apart, panting hard. Elizabeth caught Will's hot gaze, her expression thoughtful.
"What are you thinking about?" Will asked softly.
"I'm remembering last night," she said, her face flushing. "It's never been quite that intense before." Elizabeth's confession had matched Will's own experience exactly, and he told her so.
"Well then, maybe I should leave forever more often," Will lightly teased. This comment sobered the both of them, and suddenly another fear manifested itself in Will's mind.
"Elizabeth!" He cried. "I have to write a letter!" She frowned, not wanting to let him out of her embrace.
"What, now?" She asked.
"Yes!" Will frantically insisted. "I have to write a letter to the children giving them advice that they'll need when they grow older. Oh, God, why didn't I think of this before?" He groaned, closing his eyes. "I don't even know where to begin! What if I leave out something important? What if I-"
"Will, you can't possibly write everything in a letter that you want to tell the children when they are grown up," she said, patiently interrupting him.
"I know," he sighed, lightly trailing his fingers down the sides of her cheeks, and then retracing his steps. To Elizabeth, his touch felt like heaven but she could not afford to be distracted by it at the moment.
"You're just going to have to trust that I know you well enough to tell them what your opinion would be on certain matters," she reminded him.
"Of course," Will conceded, before capturing her lips in a soft kiss, causing her to sigh. "I do trust your judgment, Elizabeth; you know me better than anyone. It's just hard for me to accept that I won't be there for Dani when her first suitor comes to call, or for Jamie when he handles his first sword. I know you'll handle these times beautifully, Elizabeth - of that I haven't any doubt. But it just won't be the same as me being there." Will winced, not wanting to think of his wife having to raise their four children alone. "And please, don't even get me started on missing the entire life of our fourth child!" Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to appease the anguish in her husband's captivating dark eyes.
"Oh, Will, you can't feel guilty about that," she insisted. "You can't help being absent! I'm sure our child will learn to love you, Will. He or she shall come to know you through everyone's stories. Our child will hold their father in the highest esteem after they hear how he saved their oldest brother from Calypso."
"Perhaps," sighed Will. "But I won't even get to know if it's a boy or a girl, or be involved in the naming process, or…"
"We can decide that right now," Elizabeth said firmly. "I'd really appreciate your input on that, Will. With all of this going on, I haven't had much time to think about baby names. However, I'm considering Charlotte if it's a girl, after your mother."
"You don't have to do that," Will said softly, warmed by her heartfelt suggestion. Elizabeth smiled sadly.
"I know, but I want to. We named Dani after my mother, so it seems only fair. Besides, I rather like the name."
"What if it's a boy?" Will asked. Elizabeth shrugged.
"I couldn't decide."
"Well, you can name him anything you like, as long as it's not William," said Will with a small shudder. "I don't think our William would appreciate that." Elizabeth gave him a tiny smile.
"I'll save that for the middle name. I would want my son to bear the name of his self-sacrificing father." Will shook his head, marveling at his wife's insistence that she use his name. He was of course touched by the tribute, but he was still a bit embarrassed by it. Will had never become accustomed to recognition for his good deeds, and he still felt uncomfortable about receiving such attentions. A small part of him still believed that he was inferior to Elizabeth, even though their class differences hadn't surfaced in years.
"We should probably go," he murmured in her ear. "William is waiting."
"Not just yet," she pleaded. "I'm still gathering my courage to face our children."
"And you will find it," he assured her. "Elizabeth, I'm convinced that there is nothing that you can't do. You've been the guiding light in my life when I had none. You've saved me one thousand times over." Will nuzzled her neck, and it took every ounce of Elizabeth's self control not to break down. Didn't Will know that it was much harder for her to let him go when he reminded her how endearing he could be?
"And you have saved me," Elizabeth whispered. "Will, I would still be trapped by the confinements that are placed on women of my class had you not rescued me from Barbossa. Norrington would've found me for sure and we would've wed the moment we returned to Port Royal." She rested her brow against his and they both sighed. "But it's much more than that," she continued. "You helped me see what was real in life, past the parties and the dresses and the facades of the nobility. It was only around you that I could be myself."
"I'm glad," whispered Will. "It was the same for me as well."
"You are everything that I wish to be, William," Elizabeth said, gazing deep with in his eyes. "You've kept me honest, preventing me from descending too deeply into the pirates' world of scandals and betrayals. And as for your decision regarding William, I have never been so proud to be the wife of such a noble, selfless man." Will's shoulders sagged with relief, as he'd been worried that she would hold his righteous decision against him. Thankfully, this was not the case.
"Thank you," said Will with a sad grin. "I try." Elizabeth's lips trembled as she knew they'd have to leave soon. "I love you so much, Elizabeth," he murmured into her sweet-smelling hair. "I always have, and I always will. Thank you for letting me go." Elizabeth bit her lip, resolving not to cry. Will was being so strong for her - the least she could do was return the favor.
"How many times must I remind you of my undying love in order to ensure that Calypso doesn't erase it from your memory completely?" She asked.
"At least once more, Miss Swann… as always," Will said softly. That did it – Elizabeth's floodgates burst when she heard his nostalgic remark.
"Dammit," she cried, sniffling as Will kissed her tears away. "I was doing so well until you said that."
"Sorry," Will said automatically as Elizabeth chuckled through her tears. "Shall we get up, then?" She nodded, and winced as the chilly air assaulted her bare skin when Will threw off the covers. Will got up first, and held out his hand to her, which Elizabeth gratefully accepted.
As much as they were disinclined to leave the safe haven of the cabin, Will and Elizabeth knew that they must face the challenges that this day would bring. They dressed hurriedly in silence, and went up on deck, hand in hand. Elizabeth was feeling a bit more confident about facing the children than before, thanks to Will's encouragement. She knew he believed in her, and that was enough.
However, just before they could disembark and go in search of William on the Conqueror, the Turners were met by a frazzled Anamaria. Sammi was with her mother as well, sporting an equally anxious expression.
"I don't know how to tell you this," Ana fretted as she wringed her hands. "But I'm afraid I have some bad news."
"Just say it," said Elizabeth. "Nothing can shock me anymore." Ana sighed.
"Alright, I'll just spit it out. The Pearl is gone, and your children with it." Sammi winced as she watched Elizabeth's face fell, and mentally prepared herself for the outbursts that she knew would follow.
"What?" The Turners cried, stunned by her revelation.
"Ana, how could you let this happen?" Elizabeth asked, her body shaking with fury. "You knew Will would want to say goodbye to Dani and Jamie!"
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth!" Ana wailed. "I wasn't thinking, obviously. Jack had this scatterbrained scheme in mind to save Will, but he had to leave immediately and in the haste to ready the Pearl, I forgot that the children still on board under Faith's care. By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late – he was already long gone." Will took a deep breath and let it out slowly. As crushed as he was, he couldn't help but feel relieved that he wouldn't have to be the one to break the horrible news to Dani and James that he had to leave forever.
"Will, I can't explain all this to them without you there!" His wife cried. "What if they don't believe me? What if they think I'm the cause that you left?" Elizabeth was slowly working herself into a frenzy, so Will dropped her hand and took her in his arms again. His guilt overwhelmed his feelings of relief. While it was true he wouldn't have to suffer the pain of watching his children's faces fall when he explained that he would have to leave them for good, it meant that the job now fell to Elizabeth. Will didn't want that to happen, as he didn't want to make things harder on his wife than they already were.
While Will and Ana tried their best to calm Elizabeth down, Sammi's thoughts wandered to her father. She could understand why her mother hadn't remembered that the Turner children were still on the Pearl, as Ana's mind had been fixed on finding out exactly what had happened to her eldest while she'd been in Beckett's 'care'. But Sammi knew it would be a very rare occurrence for her father to forget that detail, especially when he knew that Will would want to say goodbye to Dani and James. But what if her father hadn't forgotten that the Turner children were still on the ship? What if he'd left them there on purpose? Sammi's eyes grew wide as she voiced this thought.
"Hey Mum, maybe Father didn't forget that Dani and James were on board," Sammi said. "Maybe he had a reason for keeping them, and he is counting on us to figure out what that reason might be!"
"Sammi, he just forgot about them in his rush to leave," said Ana, rolling her eyes. "I know it's difficult for you to realize this, but even Captain Jack Sparrow makes mistakes every once and awhile." She turned back to Elizabeth, but Sammi didn't buy it. Not by a long shot. There had to be some significance to leaving Dani and James on the ship, but what was it?!
Try as she might, Sammi couldn't figure it out. She could hear her father in her head encouraging her, saying, 'Come on Samantha, use your head and put two and two together! It's not that difficult'. Sighing, Sammi decided to put herself in her father's position.
She was the great Captain Jack Sparrow, and she'd just learned of a way that might possibly save Will from Calypso. But in order to save Will, she had to leave right away. Why did she have to leave right away? So that the Pearl would return before Will's noon deadline was up with Calypso. But what if there could be no assurances of that? What if she went to all this trouble to find something to save Will, and nothing ever came of it because she didn't arrive back in time? Sammi could hear her father saying, 'you're very close now, you've almost got it'. She frowned. How would Jack Sparrow ensure that he arrived in Shipwreck Cove in time? Not even he could manipulate the weather to work in his favor. The only one who could do that was Calypso. Calypso! Sammi's mouth dropped open as she marveled at her father's genius.
The only way that Jack could ensure he'd return on time would be if Calypso used her powers to carry the ship on favorable winds back to Shipwreck Cove. All they had to do was ask Calypso to grant them that one favor. And now they had the perfect reason to ask for such a favor – Will's small children were on Jack's ship, and he wished to say goodbye to them before he left for good. It was so simple that Sammi couldn't believe she hadn't figured it out before.
"Mum! Mum, he did do it on purpose," Sammi crowed, catching the attention of all present. "Father did need to keep Dani and James with him, as they are his means of returning to us before noon."
"I don't understand," Ana said with a slight frown. Will and Elizabeth gave her similar looks of confusion. Sammi sighed – thank goodness she was there, because it seemed she was the only one smart enough to decipher what her father had intended as part of his plan to save Will.
"Will, you have to ask Calypso to bring the Pearl back so you can say goodbye to your children," Sammi explained. "If she agrees to do so, then it will bring back my father along with whatever else he'd managed to find that may help your situation."
"I don't know if I should ask Calypso for any favors," Will said slowly, mulling over it in his head. "And what if Jack never found what he needed?" He added. "We would be risking the goddess's wrath for nothing."
"But Will, you'd have the chance to say goodbye to Dani and Jamie," Elizabeth cried. "You know you should try to say goodbye if there's even the slightest chance that you might succeed." Will saw right through her argument in a heartbeat.
"I know you're hoping that Jack will have found some way to save me," Will said sadly as he rubbed her back. "But Elizabeth, we've been over this already – there is nothing that he can do."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that," said Ana. "I know my Jack, and he wouldn't risk missing his chance to say goodbye to you, Will, if he didn't have a damned good reason."
"Please, Will!" Sammi pleaded. "You have to ask Calypso to bring the Pearl back! Don't give up on my father – he might be able to help you."
"But what if Calypso asks for something in return from me for her favor?" Will worried.
"Then you comply," Elizabeth shrieked softly, resting her head on his shoulders. "Will, I have to exhaust every possibility – I have to know that I've done everything I can to try and get you back. Please, do this for me?"
"But what if she asks me to do the unthinkable?" Will asked, the shock registering in his haunted eyes. "I know she will want to humiliate us both, if give the chance. She'll want to show you her claim on me."
"Then let her," his wife insisted. "I can handle it."
"I don't like it," Will muttered.
"Oh, and you think I do?" Elizabeth countered, raising her eyebrows at him. "Will, it's the best chance we have. I'm giving you my permission to do whatever she wants."
"Alright," Will reluctantly agreed. "But I'm only doing it because you asked me to, Elizabeth!" Will would rather not betray his wife any sooner than he had to, but he would do it for the chance to say goodbye to his two youngest children.
"Thank you, Will!!" Sammi cried happily. "You won't be disappointed – once my father comes back, he'll be sure to-"
"Sammi, I'm going to need your help with William today," Elizabeth interrupted. Will shot his wife a grateful look over Sammi's head, as he hadn't had the heart to tell Sammi that Jack wouldn't possibly be able to save him. "I'm going to have my hands full with Dani and James when they realize that their father is..." She sniffed and Will gave her hand a squeeze. "I don't want to ignore William, but I thought that if..."
"Don't worry, Elizabeth," Sammi said with a smile full of confidence. "I can help him get through this - trust me. It won't be easy but I can help soften the blow by reminding him about what he can do with his life now that he has become mortal." The young Sparrow looked rather cheered at the idea, Elizabeth noticed with a pang of jealousy. Sammi would get to keep her Will, while Elizabeth would lose hers. But that was how it had to be, and Elizabeth had finally accepted that.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said softly as she hugged the girl. "You mean so much to him, Sammi. I know you'll be able to help him more than I ever could." Mrs. Turner couldn't be certain, but she thought she saw Sammi blush.
"Yes, thank you," Will added. "Any help that you could give Elizabeth I would appreciate as well." Sammi nodded and Ana cleared her throat.
"We shouldn't keep William waiting any longer than necessary. Shall we?"
The Turners nodded, and they fell in step behind Ana and Sammi. The short walk to the Conqueror flew by in no time at all, it seemed to Elizabeth. The Pirate King was quite anxious to hear how her eldest had fared through the night, and she couldn't wait to clear up their little misunderstanding. She had to make William understand that he was worth Will's sacrifice. She had to convince him that his mother wanted him around so much that she would sacrifice her husband. And above all, she had to help him see that he was loved.
As they approached the enemy vessel, the pirates were met by one of the high-ranking EITC officers, who nodded respectfully at the Turners. He seemed to be expecting them. Sammi glared at the man, as he'd been the one to separate her from William the day before. Needless to say, the officer winced at her steely gaze.
"Follow me and I'll take you to him," said the man. He led the group down into the bowels of the ship, where William was still being kept under lock and key. Much like the day before, Sammi ran ahead and reached William's cell before the adults did. As Ana, Will, and Elizabeth rounded the corner, they found Sammi already clasping William's hands through the iron bars. Much to Will's relief, Calypso had not yet materialized. This meant that Will would have the chance to say goodbye to his son without the goddess hovering about, for which he was thankful.
As the grownups drew closer to the cell, they could hear Sammi firing questions at William.
"Did they give you anything to eat last night? What about sleep, did you sleep at all? You look like you stayed up all night!" She fretted. "Aren't you glad your parents are here? Will is going to save you! William, are you alright?" Sammi said all of this very fast, and William seemed to be struggling to keep up.
"I'm fine, Sammi," he said quietly. But Sammi knew better. She could tell from her best friend's whitened face and droopy eyes that he had barely slept a wink. And who could blame him? He was facing either an eternity of imprisonment with Calypso, or the impending loss of his father, which weren't exactly conducive thoughts for a good night's rest. Sammi whispered something in her friend's ear, and Will could only pick out the words 'my father' and 'plan'. It was only after Sammi finished speaking to William that he realized his parents had arrived.
"Father!" William called out. "Mum!"
"William!" Elizabeth, who had been holding herself back, rushed to her eldest son's side. She started to cry a bit as she clasped her son's hands and kissed his forehead.
"You there, release him," Will quietly asked the EITC guard, who had been observing the touching scene with indifference.
"Those aren't my orders, sir," the guard said, nervously addressing a now livid Will.
"Now!" Will growled, and the soldier didn't have to think twice. He quickly unlocked the cell, slid the door open, and ran for the stairs. William bounded out of the cell and into the waiting arms of his mother. Will immediately came over and pulled them both into a warm hug. Off to the side, Ana held a sniffling Sammi as they observed the Turners' touching goodbye.
"William, I need you to listen to me very carefully," Elizabeth was saying as she stroked her son's hair. "I'm so sorry for the way I acted yesterday."
"It's okay, Mum," William mumbled.
"No, it's not," insisted his mother. "I should've made it clear to you that we would never leave you to Calypso. Perhaps then you would've slept better last night." William's eyes grew wide in horror.
"No! I can't let you give yourself to her, Father! I'm not worth-"
"Yes you are!" His parents vehemently cut him off.
"William, I'm more than willing to do this for you," his father said softly. "I want to give you a chance for a normal life; a life without immortality." William bit his lip, and looked away from his father.
"You are worth it, William!" Elizabeth cried, tightly hugging her son's lanky form. "It will be very difficult for me, but I can live without your father - I've done it before. But I could never forgive myself if I didn't choose you. William, I couldn't live without my beautiful, brave boy in my life."
"But you were so sad those years when Father wasn't around," William protested. "I don't want to see you like that again." Elizabeth smiled sadly.
"I'll live. It will take a long while, but I will recover, William. Whereas if I lost you, I could never recover." Will knew his wife statement to be one hundred percent true, which vindicated his sacrifice even more. He knew Elizabeth would never be the same if she lost her son. It would destroy her.
"Father, you don't have to do this you know," William said in a small voice.
"Yes I do," Will said firmly.
"But I won't let you!" William exclaimed. "I've already made up my mind to go with Calypso so that you can stay with Mum and she can be happy." Elizabeth sighed, watching her two noble yet very stubborn Williams argue their points.
"William, if you were in my place, and you had a son whom you loved very much, would you let him go with Calypso?" Will asked.
"Of course not!" William cried. "I would go in his place. It would be the right thing to do. I would be older, and he would have only started to live. It would only be fair."
"Exactly," Will said, smiling. William winced, as he realized what he had just said. "Now you see why I have to go, William."
"But I don't want you to," he said softly. "I should be the one to go – I ran away, I brought this on myself. This is my punishment, Father." Will rolled his eyes and sighed. How was he to get through to him?
"Elizabeth, help me," Will complained.
"William, your father is going with Calypso and that is final!" Elizabeth said, her expression a stern 'don't cross me' look.
"Alright," William said sadly. Will just stared at his wife with his mouth open; how had she done that? Shaking his head, Will turned his attention back to his son.
"I know you're upset that I'm leaving," he said gently, rubbing his son's back. "But I need to tell you a few things before I go."
"Okay," William sniffed. "What?"
"Well, for starters, you'll be the man of the house now," his father pointed out. "I'll need you to look after your mother and your siblings. Can you do that for me, William?"
"Yes, Father," William whispered. "I would do anything for you." Will closed his eyes, holding his 'miracle' son close.
"William, you are such a special boy," said Will. "I am so proud to be your father."
"Really?" His son sniffed.
"Yes," Will affirmed. "You have a good heart, and you are mindful of the needs of others. You never hesitate to defend someone when they are in danger or trouble." Elizabeth coughed. "But that doesn't mean you should be reckless and put yourself in any unnecessary danger," Will added quickly after looking at his wife. "Do you promise me that once you are made mortal you will make an extra effort to stay safe?"
"I promise," William vowed. "And I don't ever want to break my promises either - just like you, Father." Will felt a pull on his heart-strings then, and he had to make an effort to squash his emotions.
"I'm glad," Will whispered. "Always stay true to yourself, son. When in doubt, listen to your heart. It will never lead you astray."
"I will," the boy promised. Will embraced his son again, and Elizabeth joined them. Sammi continued to watch the Turners anxiously, hoping that her father would arrive in time before Will had to leave. If not, Will would be forced to ask Calypso to grant him a favor, and Sammi would rather avoid that scenario if at all possible.
"I love you, William," Will said, not without a tremor in his voice. "With all that I am, I love you." But before William could reply, Calypso appeared directly in front of the trio, startling them all.
333
This time the goddess was sporting a very low-cut violet gown, which showcased the curves of her full breasts. Elizabeth felt decidedly inferior to this stunning immortal being, and loathed the goddess on sight.
"Calypso," Will breathed, unable to keep the hatred out of his voice as he turned to greet her.
"William Turnah." Calypso's lips curled into an evil smirk as her eyes looked over Will's body. "I so glad ya decided ta show dis morn."
"Of course I did!" Will angrily retorted. "You didn't think I'd leave my son with you, did you?" Calypso grinned at him.
"I ratha hoped ya wouldn't!" The sea goddess's brazen gaze was causing both Will and Elizabeth to feel very, very uncomfortable. This was understandable, as Calypso looked as if she could devour Will in a single, satisfying gulp. "So ya be giving yerself ta me forever, den?"
"That's right," Will said coolly. "But only if you make my son mortal first." Calypso shrugged.
"Fair enough." The goddess moved away from Will, turning her attention to his son instead. William stiffened in Elizabeth's arms, who tried to soothe him as best she could. Calypso then placed her left hand on William's forehead and it took all Elizabeth's willpower to restrain herself from smacking the goddess. Unfortunately, Elizabeth knew that this was the only way that her son could ever become mortal, so she just stood by and let Calypso work her magic. There was a flash of blinding white light around her son, and when it passed, she found William to look no different than he had before.
"Did it work?" Elizabeth asked her son, who shrugged.
"I don't feel any different," William admitted.
"Here, give me your hand," his father asked, who had already drawn his sword. "I'm sorry about this, William." But the twelve year-old boy was more than willing to endure a slight bit of pain to find out if he truly had been made mortal. Everyone watched anxiously as Will left a sliver of a cut on his son's palm. Drops of blood seeped out from the wound, which continued to bleed for much longer than any cut William had ever had in his life. After a minute had passed, and the cut continued to bleed freely, Will deemed it was safe to say that Calypso had indeed removed all traces of immortality from his eldest son.
"It worked!" Sammi exclaimed, running over to hug her best friend. "This is amazing, William!"
"Yeah," William mumbled without enthusiasm. "Great."
"Just like that," Elizabeth said faintly, who couldn't help but to stare at Calypso in awe. "My son is finally mortal." Will squeezed her hand in reassurance. Elizabeth was glad to know that Will's conscience would be clear in regards to curing his son's immortality before he left with Calypso. But that fact didn't make it any easier for her to part with her best friend and loving partner.
"Aye, just like dat," Calypso agreed with a smirk. "Well, William?" The goddess addressed Will, who shot her a disgusted look. "Shall we?" Calypso gestured to the cup that still held the festering green potion, which would bind him to her and her to him.
"Wait!" William cried, doing everything in his power to stall the inevitable. "What happens when Father drinks the potion?" The boy asked. Calypso graced him with a blissful smile.
"We shall be taken ta my secret lair somewhere in de briny deep," she explained. "All o' my powahs will be forfeit as promised, save fer my natural powahs over de waves and tides. And as fer ya fatha, him shall be my immortal mate just as soon as I erase all de happy memories o' him family." Calypso leered at Elizabeth when she spoke, who trembled in her husband's arms. William's lower lip shook as he thought of his father at the mercy of Calypso. He was almost sorry he had asked.
"Calypso, before I go with you, I have one last favor to ask," Will said in a rush before he lost his nerve.
"Oh, and what would dat favor be?" She answered coyly. Will gulped.
"I'd like you to bring the Pearl back to Shipwreck Cove so that I can say goodbye to Dani and Jamie," he said firmly. "Jack decided to sail yesterday without telling us and he forgot that my children were still on board. Please, Calypso!" Will graced her with a wide eyed, pleading look which seemed to always work on Elizabeth whenever he really wanted something. "Allow me to tell my children how much I love them one last time."
"Hmm," the goddess muttered as she thought it over. How delectable William Turner looked when he desperately wanted something! She did want to please him, and grant him that last favor because she loved him dearly. But she should receive something in return, shouldn't she? Yes, something in return would do splendidly. I know just de thing, Calypso thought to herself with glee.
"Alright, William. I shall grant ya favor." Will released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"Thank you!" He cried, gracing her with a tiny smile.
"But…" Calypso cautioned, causing Will's face to fall. "I shall demand a favor from ya as well." Will closed his eyes in despair.
"What's that?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"Ya has ta kiss me, right here and right now, in front o' her." Calypso sneered at Elizabeth, who had gone pale at her request, especially when the goddess had suddenly assumed the form of Elizabeth. "Look, I'll even make it easier on you, William." She graced Will with his wife's familiar grin.
"Go on, Will," his real wife whispered. Poor Will looked at his wife, then to the faux-Elizabeth, and then back to his wife again. He didn't like this one bit!
"Oh, alright," Will sighed, remembering his previous talk with Elizabeth. "One quick kiss." The sea goddess scoffed at that.
"There shall be nothing quick about it!" She cried in Elizabeth's voice. And with that Calypso latched herself onto her prey. Will staggered backwards as the sea goddess assaulted his lips with her own. There was no love in Calypso's kiss, for her objective was to stake her claim on Will while his wife was forced to watch. Will did his best to push the overzealous goddess away, but she wouldn't have it. Calypso continued to plunder Will's mouth with her tongue as he tried hard not to vomit. All the while, Elizabeth, William, Sammi, and Ana looked on in horror. Elizabeth could only allow this to go on for so long…
"Stop it!" She cried. Calypso smirked mid-kiss and reluctantly released Will, who rushed to his wife's side. Beforehand, the goddess had decided to continue her claiming of Will until she received a reaction from Elizabeth. Calypso was not disappointed! Oh, how sweet it was to see Elizabeth finally lose! She resumed her regular form in one swift transformation.
"Calypso, you have to uphold your end of the bargain!" Will yelled in an angry outburst. He was furious with the goddess after he saw how deeply his kiss with Calypso had hurt his wife.
"Yes, yes," Calypso acknowledged him, as if bored. "I bring back Jack and him precious Pearl." The goddess closed her eyes, and stretched her arms to the sky. She mumbled something that Elizabeth guessed to be in Latin, and then she opened her eyes.
"Is he coming?" Elizabeth asked. Calypso nodded.
"Jack be on him way." Without warning, Sammi raced out of the room, presumably to head for the top deck. William trotted after her, and the adults ran after them. Calypso carefully picked up the potion-filled cup and brought it with her when she joined the group on the deck. The goddess placed the cup down on a card table amidships, which had been left out from the previous night's festivities on board the Conqueror. She knew it would be relatively safe and out of the way there until she needed it to give to Will.
"I don't see anything," Sammi said worriedly to William, leaning over the rail as she glanced out at the open ocean. She then turned her gaze to the vibrant sun. It was rapidly ascending, and soon noontime would be upon them. Her father had to get back before Will's deadline! The minutes crawled by, and still no ship appeared on the horizon. But then, suddenly, there it was! The Black Pearl was sailing along at an unfathomable rate, one that could only be aided by supernatural means. Much to Sammi's relief, it didn't take long before the mighty vessel was safely docked in a berth adjacent to the Conqueror.
Word had spread throughout the town of Shipwreck of the Black Pearl's unnaturally swift return. The pirates were anxious to have the members of the Brethren Court back, and many of them hurried to meet the ship as it docked. Among these pirates were Jack's original crew as well as Barbossa's. There had been talk of Calypso herself being present, so of course everyone's interest was peaked. Predictably, the pirates fought amongst themselves to get as close to the famed ship as they could, stopping only when they heard the voice of Captain Jack Sparrow. Sammi's nerves quelled a bit when she laid eyes on her father; now that he was here she knew Will had a chance. Jack was holding Will and Elizabeth's children, one in each arm. The Turners sighed with relief when they saw that their children seemed fine.
"Gentlemen, ladies," said Jack, nodding at the few women in the crowd. "What's all this about?"
"We 'eard Calypso was goin' ta be here!" One burly pirate yelled out, much to Jack's satisfaction.
"Well, you heard correctly, mate!" Jack exclaimed with a wide grin. "And I'm sure she would love to meet all of you. Just come on over to the Destroyer – wait a moment mates, let me go first – and then you can feast your eyes upon the goddess of all the seas!"
The crowd roared its approval as Jack wobbled his way up the gangplank and safely onto his father's ship. Faith soon followed him with Eva and Teague, much to Ana's relief. Captain Teague chose this moment to grace them with his presence, pulling Faith in for a quick embrace. Sammi took her brother and sister by the hand, helping them find a place out of the way to sit where they could watch all the action. Jack strode forward, keeping a firm grip on Dani and James as they reached for their parents. After successfully transferring the Turner children into their parents' waiting arms, Jack barely had time to get his bearings before he was tackled by Ana.
"You idiot, you almost lost your chance to say goodbye to Will!" She cried, hugging him fiercely. Jack glanced over at Will, who with William and Elizabeth's help, was trying his best to explain the tragic situation to his two and three-year old. Judging from their wails, Dani and James didn't seem to be taking the news very well.
"I know that," Jack said sheepishly, before pulling her in for a kiss. Before they broke apart Ana hissed,
"Did it work?" Jack's eyes grew anxious, and his captain façade flickered a bit, betraying his nerves.
"We're about to find out, love," he muttered. Their little moment was spoiled however, when Calypso glided over to the Sparrows. She was quite appalled by Jack's tender display of affection for Ana. Jack had never acted that way with her! He'd once told her that acknowledging one's lover in public was a sign of weakness. But here he was, doing just that! The great Captain Jack Sparrow had turned into a loving family man – what had happened to the pirate that caused him to lose his head completely?
"Ya know, ya be entirely changed since our time spent togetha all dose years ago," Calypso said, staring at Jack with distaste. All around her, pirates began to pack themselves onto the deck, each wanting a chance to see the sea goddess in person. Some were openly gaping at her, but Calypso just ignored them. She would rather speak with her old flame instead.
"And you haven't," he countered grimly, taking in her present state of undress. "Now that I'm committed to Ana, I have no use for salty wenches such as yourself."
"Ya'd betta watch ya tongue," Calypso growled. "Remember ta whom ya be addressing – de goddess o' de entire ocean!" Jack frowned at her.
"I can say whatever I bloody please to the witch who is snatching my best mate Will from all that he holds dear." Jack said this without the slightest trace of fear. She stiffened at the insult, but did nothing to retaliate. Jack and Calypso both knew that he could get away with insulting her right then, as she was much more concerned about gaining her handsome prize.
"No, you wouldn't recognize me these days, Calypso," Jack continued with a nervous grin. "But if there is one thing that I've learned from these past twelve years as a family man, it is that one should not underestimate the power of love. Even the enormity of your powers cannot match the greatest force on this earth." The deck was filled to capacity with pirates by this point, all who had quieted so they could hear the exchange between Captain Sparrow and the omnipotent sea goddess. Even the young Turner children's cries had diminished to sniffles, as if they could sense that something extraordinary was about to take place.
"You seem certain," Calypso scoffed.
"That's because I am," Jack shrugged, his expression confident and determined once more. "Because when one is overwhelmed by a deep love for someone they care about, their brains become a bit addled, and they are able to make sacrifices that a more rational person wouldn't dream of making." A shadow crossed Jack's face, but when Calypso blinked, it was gone.
"I don't care what ya say, Jack Sparrow - not even de power o' love can save ya friend," said Calypso, nodding at Will. "Dis time I made sure of dat."
"Do you want to bet on that?" Jack's voice was light, but it carried a steely edge that the goddess had never heard before. "Calypso, you may rule the oceans and create fantastic maelstroms worthy of remembrance, but not even you can predict when, in the name of love, someone will decide to do something incredibly… stupid." Calypso paused at that, for Jack acted like he knew something that she didn't. It unnerved her a tad, for she had been positive that she held all the cards. Just like this deafening silence was unnerving her! The only sound that could be heard at that moment was the crashing of the waves against the rocks as Jack and Calypso stared each other down. And that was when everyone heard it.
Clank.
Calypso's now potion-less cup rolled with a clatter along the deck, coming to a stop near the goddess. Calypso frowned. Who would have done such a thing? Judging from Will and William's stunned faces, it certainly hadn't been them. Besides, they hadn't been close enough to the cup. Well, whoever it had been, they were just wasting their time. The potion would have no effect if the drinker was not Will or William. She had conjured plenty of potion and could whisk up another mug for Will in a second's time.
"Who dares ta drink my potion?" Calypso roared. Predictably, no one answered her.
But then, the crowd parted as Calypso advanced closer to the table where the mug had rested. Standing directly in front of the table, wearing a smirk of his own, stood Bootstrap.
"Ya fool!" Calypso laughed. "Ya cannot save dem, Bootstrap. Dat potion was only made fer William Turnah, and William Turnah alone!"
"Ah, but you forgot one very important thing," said Will's father. "I am the original William Turner." Suddenly, a pale green light began to glow all around Bootstrap, growing brighter by the second.
"Father, no!" Will cried in horror, letting go of Elizabeth to run to him. "What have you done?"
"It can't be; it's not possible," Calypso said hoarsely.
"Not probable," Jack smirked, for his carefully-laid plan had come to pass.
"No. No!!" Calypso's thunderous shrieks of fury could be heard as she realized that by bringing the Pearl back with Bootstrap on it, she had sealed her own doom.
"Now my debt is finally paid," said Bootstrap, nodding at Will with a faint smile. "Goodbye, son." Will just stared at him with his head cocked to one side, shocked to the core by his father's selfless action. Now there was no doubt in Will's mind whatsoever of his father's love for him. Hot tears gathered in his eyes as he realized what this meant for him, Elizabeth, and his children – he could stay with them forever! All thanks to Bootstrap Bill, who had made the ultimate sacrifice for his only son.
"Noooo! Ya be not de William I wanted! Ya be not attractive at all!" Calypso wailed as Bootstrap hugged his son for the final time. She muttered several incantations, all having no effect whatsoever on Bootstrap. It was too late – Calypso could not undo the magic. Bootstrap chuckled at Calypso's revolted expression as he released Will and began to walk towards her.
"That's too bad – you should've thought of that beforehand," said Bootstrap with a wink. "Now you're stuck with me forever!"
"Damn you, Bootstrap!" Calypso screamed in frustration, tearing her hair out much to the satisfaction of one Elizabeth Turner.
It was then that Calypso and Bootstrap were drawn together high above the Pearl, caught in a whirlwind of magic as a pale green light encircled their forms. They began to spin in a circle, faster and faster until Will couldn't tell which body belonged to his father, and which belonged to Calypso. Just as the Caribbean sun rose to the highest point in the sky, a flash of green light temporarily blinded all who watched the spectacle. Will blinked, clearing his eyes before he looked back up at the sky in vain.
And just like that, Calypso and his father had disappeared into thin air. They had been whisked away to Calypso's lair in the briny deep, never to return to the land of the living again.
"Now that's what I call ironic," said Ragetti, shaking his head. Sammi gave a nervous giggle – she couldn't believe what had just happened! Her father had found a way to save Will after all! Her admiration for Jack swelled tenfold, which would surely inflate her father's ego later when he learned of this.
"Come on, men, let's give them some time," said Gibbs, bravely breaking the silence. Along with Pintel and Ragetti, Gibbs ushered the pirates and pirate lords alike off the ship so that the Turners and Sparrows could have their privacy. As the pirates slowly filed down the gangplank, Will just stood there like a lost puppy, rooted to the spot where he'd last seen his father. Elizabeth handed Dani and James to Faith, and made her way over to her troubled husband.
"Will?" She asked tentatively, taking his hands in hers. "Are you alright?"
"I will be, Elizabeth," he said through his tears. "I will be." Elizabeth sighed as Will turned away, not wanting the pirates to see him shed even a few tears.
"Let's go below; all of us," Elizabeth suggested.
"Everyone to my cabin!" Jack announced. "There's plenty of rum for all." Ana and Faith helped usher the little ones down the stairs, followed by Sammi, William, Captain Teague, and finally Elizabeth and Will. Once inside, Sammi and William helped Faith occupy the children so that the other adults could talk without interruption. As soon as the adults had settled in to the spacious room, Jack immediately turned to his best friend.
"You alright, mate?" Will shrugged as Elizabeth patted his arm. "I guess."
"Jack, how did you…" He trailed off, not sure how to put what he wanted to ask into words.
"How did I manage to pull that one off?" Jack grinned with pride. He explained to Will and the rest of the group about the compass and how it had led him straight to the Poison Apple. Last night, Jack had rushed aboard, found Bootstrap, and immediately told him about the situation.
"He agreed to save you without hesitation, Will," Jack said, his voice wavering a bit. After all, Jack and Bootstrap had been good mates in the past, and Jack would rather miss the elder Turner. "I hated to ask him to do it, though."
"Thank you, Jack," said Elizabeth, standing up to fling her arms around her friend's neck. Jack raised his eyebrows and she laughingly pulled away. "Thank you for saving my Will."
"Actually, I can't take all of the credit," Jack admitted. "It was Sammi who first planted the idea in my head when she returned my compass."
"See, Mum!" Sammi cried from across the room. "It was important that I gave him the compass back yesterday. And you almost didn't let me do it!"
"Then I'm very glad you are very persistent," Ana said, smiling as she scooted close to Jack. "She also figured out how to get the Pearl back on time."
"You did?" Jack smiled proudly at Sammi. "I knew she would, she's her father's daughter after all. That was the real gamble – the thing I was most worried about was returning to Shipwreck Cove on time. But she did it!"
"See, I told you he never forgets any details!" Sammi insisted as all the adults save for Jack groaned.
"You did all of that?" William stared at his best friend in awe.
"Well, yeah," Sammi said modestly. "It's not like it's that hard to think like my father. Well, not for me anyway…" The children continued their talk as they, along with Faith, reassured Dani and James that their father would not, in fact, be leaving them.
"I just can't believe it," Will said softly. The poor man was as white as a sheet, as he had certainly received the shock of his life. "I was prepared to leave all of you, and then, out of the blue, my father saved me."
"I'm so glad he did," Elizabeth said, snuggling up to her husband. She lay her head on his shoulder, inhaling his intoxicating scent. He wasn't going anywhere! She still had him to love and cherish and grow old with. That amazing fact just floored her – it was rather mind-boggling considering she'd been planning to raise four children alone as of earlier that morning. "It seemed he cared for you more than you realized, Will."
"That he did," Jack agreed, fishing around in his coat pocket for something. "Aha!" He crowed, producing a recently-sealed letter. "This is from Bootstrap." Jack gave the letter to Will, who eagerly tore it open. Will quickly read the first page, his eyes prickling with tears again, but he didn't bother to hide it. Not among these people, his closest friends and family.
"What does he say, Will?" Elizabeth asked.
"He uh…" Will cleared his throat, "He wants me to be happy, and not to mourn for him. He doesn't want me to feel guilty about his decision to spare me from Calypso." Elizabeth silently thanked the powers above for Bootstrap Bill Turner. How she wished she could thank him for everything, but that was not possible.
"He's right, you know." Captain Teague finally spoke up. "Will, your father and I had a long talk yesterday. We both know how you can be when you feel like you don't deserve something, but you deserve this. You deserve to be with your family – they need you. Bill was getting on in his years, and he knew that he didn't have many years left. In short, he knew that he was the ideal choice out of the three William Turners to go with Calypso." Teague coughed, and then resumed his speech. "He wanted today to be a day of great happiness for you, Will. He wanted you to celebrate your new future with Elizabeth." Teague stopped speaking and all eyes fell on Will. Anxiously, Elizabeth waited for her husband's answer.
"Then who am I to feel guilty when my father says I should be happy?" Will finally grinned at Elizabeth, who whooped with joy. He kissed her tenderly, thrilled to have the prospect of a long life with her lying ahead. But their moment was short lived, as there was a loud 'thunk' followed by a "William!" Elizabeth and Will's heads automatically turned to where their son was sitting, clutching his head with a sheepish expression.
"He nodded off to sleep," Sammi explained, rolling her eyes.
"Maybe you should put him to bed then," Elizabeth said absently, her mind still on Will. It was then that she realized what she had just said. After another look at the children, she found Sammi trying hard not to laugh and saw that William's face had turned scarlet.
"Oh you know what I mean," Elizabeth sighed as Will chuckled into her ear. "I'll bet you are exhausted from last night, William. You could use a nap. Sammi, perhaps you could give him some assistance? Make sure he doesn't hit his head, that sort of thing."
"Will do, Elizabeth," grinned Sammi as she helped her best friend to his feet. "In fact, I might just take a nap myself."
333
As Sammi dragged William down the hallway, she thought she heard Grandfather Teague offer to give his ship to the Turners, but she couldn't be certain. Huh, that's interesting, she mused as she prevented William from running smack-dab into a wall. Thankfully, they made it to their cabin with all of William still in tact. Once inside, William stumbled his way over to his bed, but Sammi pulled him back.
"You, Will Turner, are filthy," she stated, eyeing him critically. "I'm afraid you'll have to change into clean clothes before I can let you get into bed."
"But I can't with you here!" He exclaimed. Sammi rolled her eyes as the blush manifested itself on William's cheeks again.
"William, stop worrying!" Sammi rooted around for a clean shirt and a pair of breeches and gave them to William. She also found similar clean clothes for herself. "I'll face this wall, and you face that wall and we can change that way." William eyed her mistrustfully.
"You have to promise me that you won't turn around."
"Fine," Sammi sighed dramatically. "I promise I won't turn around. Now will you please change?" William nodded and they each faced their respective walls. But what William had forgotten was that Sammi had a small mirror on her side of the room, which would give her the perfect view of him while he changed.
As Sammi flung off her clothes and shimmied into her nightclothes, she debated whether she should take a peek at her friend or not. But in true Sparrow fashion, she decided it wasn't breaking her friend's promise if she took a gander at him in the mirror, as she wouldn't be turning around. Besides, who knew when she'd ever have this opportunity again? Sammi spied William stripping down to his undergarments before he quickly pulled on his new clean clothes. That was definitely worth it, Sammi thought with a smirk. Who knew my best friend had such a cute butt? William finally gave her the okay to turn around, which she did.
Predictably, William started to sway, so Sammi helped him fall onto his bed, placing a pillow beneath his head. She tried to get him under the covers, but William wouldn't budge.
"William, you'll get cold if you don't," Sammi reminded him. "Just like that one night where you swore you didn't need covers, but you woke me up saying you were freezing anyway."
"I don't wanna," he whined pitifully, but in a way that Sammi found to be quite adorable.
"Come on, Will," she insisted, helping him to move his scrawny body under the covers. Then she tucked him in, just as she'd seen Elizabeth do.
"Stay with me?" He asked, blinking his eyes at Sammi.
"I already said I was going to take a nap, didn't I?" Sammi reminded him, but inside her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it would burst! If only William knew what he was asking when he asked her to stay with him! Sammi would stay with William forever if he asked. She tried not to dwell on that fact that it was very possible for them to end up together now that William was mortal, but failed miserably. Sammi crawled into her bed next to William's, and propped herself up on her elbows to stare at her friend.
"Thanks for saving my father, Sammi," William yawned into his pillow. "I think that was very…" Snore. William fell asleep before Sammi could find out just what he thought about her. Chuckling, she watched his chest rise and fall under the covers.
"I'm watching over you, Will," she whispered. "Always." And then, she too succumbed to sleep.
End Ch. 36
THE END! HALLELUIAH!
A/N: I just had to end with Wammi – I HAD TO!! -grins-
I know what you are thinking… is this truly the end?! She left some things unanswered! Like the Captain Teague thing. Well, let me tell you that I have an epilogue in the works because I couldn't fit everything I wanted to say into this chapter. And knowing me, it will probably be a fairly long epilogue. And after that, you'll be probably getting some bonus transitional chapters that take place between AMTHGF and the sequel. So I won't check the 'completed story' button until it is really finished.
Well, I hope this lived up to your expectations, and congratulations to those of you who guessed the plot twist (you know who you are). I'd like to dedicate this story to my sister, as well as all my reviewers and my buddies at HidetheRum. Thanks for believing in me! Look for the epilogue in about a week. ;D
P.S. I know I made a mistake or two in here somewhere, but I wanted to post the chapter tonight. I'll give it another thorough editing tomorrow, but right now I am just too tired! Sorry if it's not perfect. I'm not a perfect person.
P.P.S. Ending stats : 1332 reviews, 200,000 + words, and over 60,000 hits. My reviewers are seriously the bomb.