"Miss...Miss Swann?" Elizabeth opened her eyes to look over at Estrella, standing near her side. She took a deep breath, her eyes locking on the horizon as the sun rose in the early morning, creating a soft glow over the sea as the light beams shone through the fog.

"Elizabeth, Estrella. We're good friends. Please call me Elizabeth." She said softly, looking over at her. Estrella was no longer her maid, Elizabeth had seen to that. She was too much of her friend and confidante to be serving her in anyway.

"Sorry, Mi...I mean, Elizabeth. Habit." The early morning currents caused the boat to rock a little bit more than usual, and Elizabeth gripped the rail to keep herself from losing balance.

"It's ok." She turned to Estrella. "Just wanted to see the sunrise. Always beautiful out here on the ocean. Pity it may be the last I see out here."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Estrella questioned. "Never going back to Port Royal?"

"There's nothing left there that I care about." Tears sprang to her eyes, and almost immediately she hated herself for crying. Tears were a weakness to her now. Just because she didn't have anyone, didn't mean she couldn't survive. Not at all. In fact, it most likely meant that she would be stronger, and take the challenge to show the world she could be independent and raise Emma all on her own.

Why had he left her like that? She reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes. Estrella watched her, concern on her face. Most of the time, Elizabeth was fine, acting her cheerful self, socializing and playing with her daughter. But she wondered if it all wasn't a ruse, some kind of game so no one would really know how she felt. Every time Elizabeth was alone, such as now, she became quiet and distant.

"It's a beautiful mornin', to be sure." Estrella said finally.

"That it is. He..." She trailed off, biting her lip. "Every time I see it, it reminds me of him." Her voice shook, as Estrella wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Elizabeth laid her head on Estrella's shoulder, closing her eyes, tears coming fast now.

"Will...." Elizabeth stroked the hair back from his face, tears forming in her eyes. "Don't leave me again..." She sobbed quietly. "I just found you."

His eyes were starting to close again, too heavy for him to hold open. He was so tired, and it seemed so easy to just fall asleep, let the pain drift away. Estrella heard the sounds first, going to the window.
Lieutenant Groves and his men were coming up the drive, coming for Will. She turned around, running to Elizabeth's side.

"We have to hide him." She said, laying a hand on
Elizabeth's shoulder. Elizabeth nodded quickly, turning as she heard more footsteps, and the door to the kitchen burst open. Thomas came running out, followed by two familiar people.

"Anamaria, Gibbs."
Elizabeth couldn't be happier to see the two pirates.

"Merciful mother." Gibbs said softly, looking around at the damage, his eyes landing on Will, barely alive on the floor. Ana stuck the pistol she'd been holding in her belt, grabbing Gibbs's arm and going over to
Elizabeth.

"We have to get him out of here. The soldiers are coming." She said quickly. Estrella nodded.

"I saw them coming. We have to hide him. You won't get him out of here before they come in his condition." Will uttered a soft grunt, and
Elizabeth looked down, still running her fingers through his hair soothingly.

Gibbs took her arm. "Ye get rid of the red coats and me and Ana will look after the captain here. Promise." Elizabeth stared at him for a moment, before nodding slowly. "Good lass." He said, giving her a gentle smile before going over to Ana. "Let's get him into the kitchen." Ana nodded, grabbing Will's feet, while Gibbs grabbed his arms, lifting. Will winced in pain, gritting his teeth, bordering on conscious and unconscious.

Elizabeth turned to the door as Groves and his men burst in. Shock registered on their faces as they saw the scene before them, Gillette out cold on the floor, Elizabeth's bloody dress, and the amount of destruction done to the foyer. Elizabeth pointed at Gillette. "That man is responsible for the deaths of William Turner, James Norrington, and Henry Swann, among who knows how many others." She said firmly.

"Mrs. Norrington, you must be...."
Groves protested, but Elizabeth shook her head.

"I'm not. He and that other man..." She trailed off as she pointed to where Michael was, or had been. "Estrella?" The maid shook her head, as she had not seen him leave either.
Elizabeth bit her lip. "There was another man he was working with, a mercenary."

Groves shook his head, unbelieving. "Mrs. Norrington, I know your husband's death has hurt you deeply, but attacking people and pointing fingers is no way to help that." Elizabeth's mouth opened in shock, but she couldn't find the words.

"He hurt Will. He's a bad man." She whirled around, finding Emma sitting on the bottom steps, clutching a rag dolly. "He's always been a bad man." Emma said, nodding her head and staring at Gillette with a hateful expression on her face. Groves went over, crouching in front of her.

"What's that you're saying, Emma?" The little girl looked over at him.

"He said he worked too hard and too long for mommy." Emma told him truthfully. A look of understanding dawned in
Groves' eyes as he stood up.

"Men, clap him in irons." He said. "I'm sorry for the troubles, Mrs. Norrington. I'll make sure he gets what he deserves." A few moments later, the still unconscious Gillette was shackled and led away. Estrella looked down at Emma, before picking her up in her arms.

"Thank goodness for the honest words of babes." She said softly, as Emma played with her doll. The little girl looked over at her.

"Where's Will?" She asked. Elizabeth's eyes widened, and she brushed past Estrella, running for the kitchen. The door banged open, and Ana looked up, pain in her eyes.


She cried the hardest she had in months. That event, now a year in the past, seemed so close to her heart still. Estrella could give her no words of comfort, only rub her back and stay quiet.

The cry from the crow's nest broke through the early morning quiet, and Estrella looked up, squinting in the fog.

"Pirates! Pirates on our starboard side!" He shouted, and suddenly there was a flurry of activity on board, the boshun shouting orders, men working on the sails and such. They had no means to fight, being only a simple passenger and cargo ship. Elizabeth's fingers tightened on Estrella's arm, turning her head to look.

A black flag rose to the top of the mast, the grinning crossbones flapping eerily in the early morning fog. Estrella started to pull her away. "Elizabeth!" She protested, as the woman didn't move. "We can't stay here!" Elizabeth still didn't move, as the ship came closer.

"Strike our colors! We should be safe as long as they don't raise the red flag." Elizabeth broke from her thoughts at the mention of the flag that signaled no quarter given. So far, only the Jolly Roger could be seen. The speed of the merchant ship was no match for the quicker pirate ship. It was on them in a matter of moments.

Emma, awakened by the noise, had slipped from her cabin and gotten up on decks. "Mum!"

Elizabeth turned as the eight year old ran to her, clutching her hand. Elizabeth held on tightly, knowing they would never get away now. She shut her eyes tightly. So this is how it ends?

The crew of the merchant vessel stood in front of the passengers, not a weapon in sight, hoping to give the pirates what they wanted, and that they would be left alone after that. To their surprise, one line was thrown across, and only one man came across. The rest stayed on the ship, quiet.

The man could only have been the captain of the pirate ship. His hat was pulled low over his features, making it hard to identify him, crossing his arms as he stared at the crew from beneath the brim of the tri-cornered hat. Finally he spoke up.

"I'm looking for Elizabeth Swann."