Author's Note: Ok this is my first POTC fic so go easy on me! It follows the idea that the Commodore didn't do the noble deed in letting Elizabeth go to Will, but kept her for himself.

Chapter One: The Parting

Ten days after return to Port Royal

The Official cleared his throat as he stood on the gallows. Jack Sparrow stood not far away, his hands tied and his head hung.  "Jack Sparrow , be it known that you have…"

Jack sighed. "Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow."

The Official continued "For your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature. The most grievous of these to be cited herewith: piracy, smuggling…"

 Elizabeth, standing with her father and her future husband, swallowed hard and shook her head. "This is wrong."

"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law. As are we all." Governor Swann told her.

The official's voice drifted back. "Impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England…"

Jack smiled. "Oh, yes." He looked over at the executioner who glared at him.

 "…sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul."

Will looked up as a bird squawked. 'It's Cotton's Parrot!' Will thought. Realization dawned on him and he looked over at Jack. Will made a beeline for Elizabeth. He looked up. "Governor Swann . Commodore. Elizabeth . I should have told you every day from the moment I met you…I love you." The Governor blinked. Will strode away from them and the crowd watched on as the noose was put around Jack's neck.

Elizabeth looked up and noticed Cotton's parrot. She gasped. "I Can't breathe." Elizabeth fell backward as the drums began to roll louder. The Commodore made to go after Will but turned back as Elizabeth passed out. He knelt beside the Governor who was trying to rouse Elizabeth.

Will drew his sword as he stormed through the crowd, pushing people out of his way. "Move!" he yelled as he threw the sword. The plank was dropped and just as Jack was about to have his neck broken, the sword wedged itself in the plank, providing Jack with a foothold. Will jumped up onto the gallows and blocked a swing from the executioner. He swung at the big man and as the executioner made to decapitate Will with his axe, Will ducked and Jack was cut loose. He plummeted down to the bottom of the gallows. Will pushed the executioner off of the gallows. Will jumped down after him. Jack, whom had cut his bonds with the saviour sword, had grabbed his noose and chucked one end to Will. They ran at three of Norrignton's men at clotheslined them, before taking the feet out of two of them.

After they had successfully put about 10 men out of action, they were surrounded and Jack and Will had no means of escape. 'Great,' Will thought, 'now we're both going to the noose.' The Governor and Norrington came running up the hill. The Commodore glared at Will.

"I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill conceived escape attempt but not from you." He said in a haughty tone.

Governor Swann shook his head sadly. "On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency and this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!"

Will glared defiantly

"And a good man. Jack pointed to himself proudly. "If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear."

Norrinton sighed. "You forget your place, Turner."

"It's right here, between you and Jack." Will told him.

Elizabeth left her place by Norrington and stepped next to Will.

"As is mine," she said.

Governor Swann's eyes widened. "Elizabeth! Lower your weapons. For goodness' sake put them down!" The men put their weapons down.

Jack looked up and noticed the parrot. "Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this." He stepped over so he was an inch from Governor Swann's face. "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually, ecumenically, dramatically?" He stepped towards the wall. He turned suddenly and looked at Elizabeth. "Elizabeth love …it would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry." Will frowned. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. He turned to Will. "Will …nice hat. Men!" Jack stepped backwards. "This is the day that you will always remember as the day that you –" he was cut short as he toppled over the side of the battlement into the ocean. Lieutenant Gillette looked over the side of the battlement.

"Idiot. He has nowhere to go but back to the noose." All of a sudden one of the soldiers yelled 'sail ho!' They looked up and sure enough there was the Black Pearl entering Port Royal.

"What's your plan of action? Sir?" Gillette asked, puzzled.

Governor Swann gave a small smile and looked at Commodore Norrington. "Perhaps on the rare occasion pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?"

Norrington nodded. He turned to Elizabeth who was looking deeply into Will's eyes. Their hands were clasped.

"I'm so sorry, Will. I-I-I promised I'd marry Norrington if he agreed to rescue you." Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears and she laid her head softly on Will's chest. Tears ran down her face. Will laid his head on hers and rubbed her back. She cried softly and Will closed his eyes.

Norrington cleared his throat.

Will slipped a small something and a note into Elizabeth's hand. Elizabeth looked up into Will's eyes. The chocolate orbs looked back at her. "I did it for you Will," she choked.

"I know you did love. Thank you with all my heart." Will twirled her hair in his fingers.


"I will always love you, Will."

"And I've loved you since the day I met you. And I will love you till the day I die and forever longer," he whispered, so that only she could hear. Will leant down and kissed Elizabeth passionately. His hands held her face and her hands moved across his back. They broke apart after an indignant grunt from the Commodore.

"Turner that's my fiancé." Will nodded. Elizabeth stepped slowly away, reluctant to let Will's hand go.

It was then that Will realized that that kiss he had just shared with Elizabeth, the touch of her skin and such close proximity, was the first and last time. She was Norrington's. Not his. She had given her freedom for him. She had married a man she didn't love, so that he would be saved.

The guards slowly departed and the Governor, with a pleased look on his face and a look of slight disgust at Will, turned and left also. Will felt tears well in his eyes as he watched Norrington give him a cold stare and then lead the love of his life away. Elizabeth turned back as Will's heart tore in two. Norrington slipped his hand around Elizabeth's waist. Will groaned as the pain of what he was seeing tore at his chest. He was losing the only person he loved. Elizabeth looked deep into his eyes as Norrington led him away.

"I will always love you, Will." He bowed his head, taking off his hat and tears began to stream out his eyes.

"Till the day I die, Elizabeth," he called back. His voice broke and Will turned and leapt over the side of the fort. Elizabeth pulled away from Norrington in shock. She ran over to the side and watched as Will swam away, out of her life and as Jack's crew hoisted him above the Pearl.

Norrington walked over to his fiancé and put an arm around her. Elizabeth inwardly shuddered. His touch was so cold compared to Will's. His hand seemed rough and in no way did his presence soothe her like Will's did. But she would have to forget Will now. She was to marry Norrington and become Elizabeth Norrington. No. She could never forget Will. He was a part of her life, now and forever.

*

Will swam, not knowing whether he was crying or if it was just the water, but he had a fairly good idea. Never had he felt so much pain in his life. It was unbearable. His heart was being cut with a million knives. He kept swimming, trying not to think about Elizabeth. She was going to have to marry, sleep with and bear children to a man she didn't love all so his life would be saved. And there was nothing he could do. Nothing.

*

 

Jack grabbed the rope and was swung on board the ship. He looked up at Gibbs as he sat on his bum. "I thought you were supposed to keep to the code."

Gibbs smiled "We figured they were more actual…guidelines." He offered his hand to Jack, who used it to stand up.

Cotton handed Jack his hat. "Thankyou," replied Jack.

Anamaria smiled. "Captain Sparrow." She placed his coat around his shoulders. "…the Black Pearl is yours."

Jack walked over to the wheel and rubbed it fondly. He paused and then looked at his crew. "On deck you scabrous dogs! Man the braces! Now...bring me that horizon."

"Yes sir!" came one of the crew.

"Ark! Man overboard, man overboard!" squawked Cotton's parrot. The crew rushed to the starboard side. Sure enough there was a man swimming towards the boat.


"It's young William!" cried Gibbs. Jack frowned. He was sure that after he'd left, Will and Elizabeth would get together and Norrington would see they were meant to be. Obviously not. The crew threw a rope over and hoisted Will up.

"Welcome aboard the Black Pearl mate," Jack grinned, swaggering over in his usual drunken manner. Will shook his head. He threw off his cape, leaving it sopping on the deck and pulled off his hat, wringing it out then throwing it overboard.


"Ay mate!" came Jack's yell. "I told ye that was a nice 'at mate? What'd ya 'ave to go an' toss it o'erboard for ay?" Will shook his head and trudged downstairs into the cabins. The crew heard a door slam and all looked at Jack. "Summit's wrong with him," Jack sighed. Deciding to talk to him he handed the wheel over to Anamaria, his first mate, and followed Will.

"Will?" Jack followed the wet footmarks into one of the cabins. "Will mate?" he asked as he opened the door. Will had discarded his top layers and was now lying on the bed in his pants and a white shirt. Silent tears ran down his face. "Will? Whatever the hell happened?" Jack asked in horror. "I thought you and yer bonnie lass was gunna live 'appy ever after?"

"So did I," Will choked, his voice breaking again.

"Geez mate what 'appened?" Jack pulled up a chair next to Will's bed. "She didn' turn ye down did she?" Will shook his head.

"She's going to marry Norrington."

"Whatever the hell would she wanna do that for?" Jack asked, bewildered.

"She promised that if they saved me she'd, she'd." He broke off again. "She'd marry Norrington."

"Ay?"


"Because of me she's gunna have to marry that bastard and bed with him and bear his children and……… there's nothing I can do."


"Will mate, I really am sorry. I know how much yer love 'er and she sure as hell love you."

"I don't think I'll ever see her again," Will said swallowing hard.

"Oh sure ye will mate. Jus' you watch."

"No Jack. She's gone."

*

Elizabeth sat on her bed looking hopelessly out her window. She had barricaded herself in her room the day Will had jumped the fort and had not left it since not even to eat. Her father and the Commodore had been up constantly but she ignored both of them.

A knock came on the door.


"Elizabeth? Elizabeth are you there?" It was her father.

"What do you want?" she asked disrespectfully.

"Elizabeth that is no way to talk to your father!"

"You're no father of mine. A true father would let his daughter marry the man she loves!"


"Elizabeth, you are first class. Turner was a third class, not worthy of you."

"He was worthy of me! He still is! More so than Norrington who has done nothing. Will risked his life for me, he looked death in the face for me he was more worthy than any other and I loved him. Is it not enough that I love him?"

"Listen dear, he was a blacksmith. You are a governor's daughter. It isn't socially correct!"

"Who cares? We loved each other!" Elizabeth cried. She began sobbing again and curled up in her bed.

"Elizabeth dear, it could never have been. Now you and the Commodore are to be married in one week. I do hope you will be out of your room by then." He left and Elizabeth sobbed even louder. She reached into her pocket. It was just then she remembered the present Will had given her before he left. She pulled it out and fresh tears welled in her eyes. It was a small gold ring with a single diamond in it. A small WT was printed just under the diamond and engraved in the inside of the ring was Will Turner loves Elizabeth Swann forever. Elizabeth gave a small sob as she looked at the ring. Norrington had given her jewellery adorned with diamonds and other jewels. He had sent her a necklace with a huge diamond on it and several smaller diamonds but this meant more to her than all of them. Will had made it himself and she hated to think how much of his savings he had used on that small but precious diamond. She clutched it in her hand as a fresh wave of tears hit.

Elizabeth opened the note. It read

Elizabeth, my love and my only

You and I both know well your hand has been promised to Norrington. I love you Elizabeth like I will never love another. I am sorry it had to be this way. Take this ring and treasure it. I will never forget you Elizabeth. You are the only one for me and if I cannot have you then I shan't have anyone. I wish you all the best,

Love forever

William Turner II

Elizabeth closed her eyes and sobbed harder, clutching the letter to her chest.

*

"Jack? Where be Will?" asked Gibbs. It had been three days since he and Jack had rejoined the Pearl and no one had seen hide nor hair of Will.

"He be in his cabin." Jack replied, pulling out his 'broken' compass.

"What he be doin in there. I ne'er seen the lad so depressed what be eating him?"


"I promised Will I wouldn' talk about it till 'e was ready." Jack adjusted the wheel a little. Gibbs, knowing the conversation was over, left.

Jack was beginning to worry about Will. The boy had a fighting spirit, but it appeared to be all gone now. He'd just given up on life.

"Bloody Norrington," Jack growled. He had hated the man since he had first shaken his hand back when Jack had saved Elizabeth from drowning. "Gibbs come take this wheel!" Jack yelled. The older man appeared and took the wheel without question. Jack swaggered down to Will's cabin.

"How you be this morning Will?" asked Jack as he sat down on what he had now designated 'his' chair.


"Not different than any other in this hell." Will was lying on his bed, his back turned to Jack.


"Listen mate. We're about to dock in Tortuga. I was thinkin' ye might be wantin' to come ashore."

"No Jack. I'm not even sure why I swam to the Pearl. I shoulda just jumped onto some rocks and got rid of my misery."

"Now, now, Will. We can't 'ave any o' that talk. Imagine what ol' Bootstrap would say if 'e could 'ear you now." Jack picked up a bottle of rum from Will's bedside table and took a swig.

"My father's not here, the love of my life is about to marry a bastard and I have nothing left in my life. Tell me Jack, why shouldn't I talk like that?"

"Because it's not you mate. Yer the son o' Bootstrap Bill Turner! Ye have fightin' spirit mate. Why don' yer just go back ter Port Royal and get yer bonnie lass?"

"I can't, Jack. She's to marry Norrington." Jack sighed, seeing it was fruitless.


"Well me an' the crew'll be at the bar. Hope ye join us soon Will." With that, Jack stood and left leaving Will to drown in his sorrows.

*

Next Chapter: The Wedding. And some other stuff. I'm not telling coz I don't know meself yet.


Author's Note: Don't worry we'll have Jack back into character soon at least. Will and Elizabeth however will take longer to heal.

Hope you enjoyed R&R


Kaibun