Disclaimer: I still don't own Will Turner. What a bummer. Oh, and by the way, I don't own anything that Disney owns. I think you can figure out what…pretty much everything. Gosh darnint!

Chapter 2: Plan and Pacing

"Why would you do this!?" Elizabeth yelled. "Why would you put everything in jeopardy?" She was on the verge of tears.

"I did this for you," Will Turner said quietly. His thoughts were elsewhere. He paced back and forth in the parlor and said nothing. He was, actually, asking himself the same question. Why would he risk his life? It would be no use. He would lose. Norrington was the best shot in the navy. As they always are, Will thought.

"But you will die!"

Will stopped pacing and looked at Elizabeth without moving his head. "I did this because I love you." The woman he loved, the woman he was about to die for didn't even have faith in him. But what did he expect? He didn't have any faith in himself.

"I would rather have you alive than dead. Either way I'm going to be married to Norrington!" Elizabeth glared at him. Will just started pacing again. She couldn't get through to him. He thinks like all men do, she thought hotly, with what's between their legs not their ears.

"Unless I kill Norrington."

"If you kill Norrington they will most likely throw you in jail. That is, if they don't hang you!"

Will swallowed. Perhaps he had spoken too quickly. "Elizabeth," He said finally, turning to her and taking her hands in his, "if I die, I will not have died in vain." She sighed and slightly rolled her eyes. "You don't believe me?"

"Of course I do. Will, I love you but I don't want to see you dead!" She pulled her hands away and looked away. He would never understand. She went across the room and looked out the window towards the sea.

"It's too bad Jack isn't here," Will said, coming behind her.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, I'm sure he could think of some plan…"

"Jack Sparrow?" She laughed. "He spent three days on that wretched island drinking rum! He's not the great scoundrel that the books make him out to be!"

"But the Black Pearl. He brought me to it. He even sto-I mean, commandeered two ships in the same day! And then he helped us both!"

"Will, he's not a hero-"

"You might not think so but he is. He was the only one on the damned ship who stood up for my father after they killed him! And if it weren't for him, you would be dead! He must be captain for something! They might be Pirates, but they don't pick drunken idiots to lead them!"

"But, Will, he helped you because he wanted his ship back! There was no chivalry, no gallant acts. He was just using you to get to the Pearl!"

"Well, it worked, didn't it?" Will's face was stone.

Elizabeth sighed "Yes…I suppose it did."

"Before tomorrow, I promise you, Elizabeth, I'll think of something."

She nodded and tears welled up in her eyes. Tomorrow they would have to realize that there was nothing he could do. Will kissed her softly on the lips and, after taking his hat off of the table, left the Swann home possibly for the last time. Elizabeth turned back to the window and took a quivering breath. "Please, Jack…help him," She whispered to herself.

Will returned to the blacksmith shop. The sign swayed eerily above his head as he went inside. There he found Mr. Brown reading over a large ledger; this was surprising to Will for Mr. Brown had a devotion to the drink.

"Will," He looked up. "The Commodore was 'ere before. Lookin' for you, 'e said." His words were still slurred together and almost unfathomable.

"The Commodore?" Puzzling. The man who was going to kill him was looking for him…

"Wanted to talk to you, 'e said."

"Thank you…I'll go speak to him then." Will hesitated before leaving. Was this some sort of trick? No. He was the one who needed tricks. Norrington wasn't afraid of losing the duel. If he is, I'd like to see him in battle! It was a short walk to the Commodore's office. Will knocked on the door with great apprehension.

"Come in," Norrington said lazily from his seat at his desk. He shut his book as Will entered. Why did the boy look so frightened? "Ah, Mr. Turner, I assume your Mr. Brown told you I was looking for you?"

"Yes…yes he did."

"Sit down, Mr. Turner," Norrington gestured towards a wooden chair. "I have something serious to discuss with you, Mr. Turner and I ask that you listen carefully." He took a breath and began. "A duel, Mr. Turner, is a very serious commitment. It's almost like a marriage." He raised his eyebrows and stood up, pacing as he spoke. "When one asks a woman for her hand, he must go through with his proposal. If he does not he is seen as someone…untrustworthy. But, if this lady agrees with her fiancé, then the wedding is called off and no feelings are hurt. I believe you understand what I am implying, Mr. Turner?" He looked pointedly at Will.

"So you want to compromise something other than a duel?"

"Not exactly, Mr. Turner. I am completely comfortable with the thought of a duel. What I am saying, Mr. Turner is that you should think before you say something that could endanger your life. And that you take my advice next time you are in a situation like this. If there is a next time," He mumbled the latter sentence as he turned around. "Mr. Turner, if I had no pride, I would have refused your challenge. You see, I am not the heartless, cruel man that you and Elizabeth see me as. I do care for her. In fact, I care for her as much if not more than you do."

Will jumped out of his seat. "If you did then you would've done more to save her from those Pirates."

"Mr. Turner, I am not talking about what I did and did not do!" He shouted. The two men glared at each other for a moment. "I don't want to hurt Elizabeth in any way. It is obvious that she will never feel the same about me as she does you. That is why I wish you did not speak before you thought." Norrington had turned away again but his voice was no longer strong.

"I understand," Will said quietly. But there was nothing he could do unless he wanted to be branded a coward.

"Please, Mr. Turner, act upon council, next time…" Norrington turned his head slightly so he could see Will from the corner of his eye

Will nodded. "Thank you, Commodore." He knew there was nothing more they could say. He stood and left the Commodore in silence.

A/N: Yes, I do feel kinda bad for Norrinton. I know how he feels. Please review! Be kind. Constructive criticism is welcome!