A/N: Well, I've kept this a secret long enough, so I guess this would be the time to say it- this chapter, Ch. 12, is the last chapter, the concluding chapter. Yes, by the end of this chapter, hopefully all questions will be answered and all ends will be tied up. I've had a ton of fun with this and I have no idea what I'm going to write next, but, anyway, yes, this is the end. I want to thank all the people who have read my story and reviewed so well- thanks bunches to you all! Without you, I would have given up hope before chapter six. I highly doubt that there will be a sequel or a continuation of this story, and I plan to move on to Harry Potter next, so if you read that, you may see me there sooner or later. And now, without further ado, the conclusion.

Chapter Twelve

The morning of the wedding arrived. The sky was dark and foreboding, threatening a storm. But despite all this, the preparations for the wedding continued. The commodore seemed exceptionally happy on that morning, almost bouncing around everywhere. However, the bride seemed much more subdued. Even though the commodore gave her frequent reminders to be at least cheerful, she could hardly bring herself to smile. She felt as though she were betraying the memory of Will.

As her maid helped her into the beautiful white dress, she urged her to be happier.

"This is your wedding day!"

Elizabeth shook her head and said quietly, "I've already had my wedding day."

Before she knew it, it was ten o'clock, and she was due to walk down the aisle. Her music began and slowly she stepped out, dreading each step, knowing that each brought her closer to Norrington and what she felt would be her doom.

After what seemed to be an eternity, she reached the altar. Norrington took her hand and smiled. The priest began to speak. As he spoke, Elizabeth stared out at the ocean. She faintly heard him ask "If there is anyone here who reasons that these two should not be united in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace" And to her utter amazement she heard someone answer.

"I've got a reason, mate!"

Her head whipped around and she saw Captain Jack Sparrow standing at the back of the crowd.

"Guards!" Norrington shouted. "Arrest that pirate!"

"Now, now, my good sir, just listen to what I have to say. Love," he said as he turned his attention to her, "I really don't think you want to marry the man who arranged young William's death and murdered your father, do you?"

Elizabeth turned to face the commodore, who had turned white and was shaking with both fear and rage. She yanked her hand away from his.

"You?!" she whispered. "You- you killed my husband and my father so I would marry you? You despicable, you- you foul-" she was now so angry she was shaking as well.

"And further more," Jack continued, "while polygamy may be legal in some countries, I don't believe it is permissible here, is it, love?"

For a moment, time froze.

"Will is- He is-"

"Alive?" said a soft voice from behind Jack. The figure stepped up out of the shadows and became fully visible. The audience gasped as one. Will slowly began walking down the aisle, limping the whole way. It seemed that the whole earth stood still as Will came toward Elizabeth.

He finally reached the platform. Elizabeth suddenly seemed to realize that he was truly there and rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. He grimaced slightly and she loosened her grip. After a moment she slowly drew back until he was an arm length away. "I thought you were dead. Will, I thought you were dead and it nearly killed me. I-" Her voice broke again and Will held her close once more.

"I'm back now. And I'm alive. And I swear to you, Elizabeth, I will never leave you again." He whispered in her ear.

Back at the altar, Norrington was shaking with fury. The priest had already walked away from him and now he stood alone, looking foolish. He knew that in mere moments, soldiers would be coming up to arrest him. They would question him, Will, and his crew. He would, of course, be found guilty. The plan had been based on the sole fact that Will, and all other witnesses would either be dead or too afraid to speak up. He would know face the gallows.

He pulled his pistol from its holster and pointed it at Will and Elizabeth.

"Well, Will, congratulations." He was breathing heavily. "You have proved more resourceful that I could have ever imagined. Lucky or resourceful, it doesn't matter anymore, does it? The only thing that matters now is that I am armed and you are not. I only had two goals in doing all this. To kill you and to marry Elizabeth. I may have failed one, but I will succeed in another." He cocked the gun.

"Commodore, please, don't do this!" Elizabeth cried.

"Shut up!" he screamed at her, waving the gun in her direction. "This is all your fault! If you had married me, like you were supposed to, none of this would have happened! You drove me to this, you- you-" He could not find the words to express himself.

Will moved and shielded Elizabeth with his body, facing Norrington, but never letting go of Elizabeth's hands. The people around them edged away slowly.

"Well, Norrington, are you going to kill me or not?"

What happened next seemed to happen in slow motion for all those watching. Norrington straightened his arm that was holding the gun and gulled the trigger. Will tightened his grip on Elizabeth's hands. Every fiber of his being wanted to clench his eyes shut or duck or run, not wanting to die, wanting to get out of there and live, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that if this truly was the end, he was going down proud and staring straight at the an who had tried to steal his wife from him and kill him and his father-in-law. His life seemed to stand still for the split second after the fun fired.

At that same instant, Jack came flying out of nowhere, forcing the gun down and tackling Norrington. The bullet grazed Jack's leg it went down, finally embedding itself in the ground. They rolled down and off the platform and landed in the soft sand. Jack punched Norrington so hard it dazed him, giving him enough time to pin the fiend to the ground. Guards were on the scene instantly and arrested Norrington and effectively ignored Jack. They obviously seemed to feel that he deserved at least a few seconds head start for saving the murdered governor's daughter and her brave husband who had endured so much. Will and Elizabeth rushed to his side. Elizabeth threw her arms around him and thanked him over and over again.

"It was nothing," he insisted. "Call it a late house-warming gift, if you want." And after bandaging his leg with the sleeve torn off his shirt and bidding Will and Elizabeth a fond farewell, he was off, dodging guards and slinking back off to the Pearland whatever adventure awaited him out on the high seas.

Will turned to Elizabeth. "I missed you so much, even if it was a few days. You were the thing that kept me alive, through everything. On the island, at the wedding. You kept me alive; you were the one who gave my life enough meaning and worth to fight for it. I can't live without you. And I'll never leave you again."

They kissed for the first time since Will had left her on the docks.

"I love you."