Thank you to Audrey and Demus! And yes, Demus, I am a POTC girl… I watched it at a birthday party and was blown away. It's an ace film! :)

A/N: apologies for crazy formatting in the second half of this chapter. And the crazy way it's told too!

Chapter 2: Grazed Knees

The journey home was done in stony silence. Will kept glancing across at Elizabeth, who was determinedly looking out of the window.

"You didn't mean it," he said after a few minutes.

"I did," she replied softly. "I'm sorry, but I did."

"Oh. So… I'm boring. You know, thanks for telling me after we were married."

"Oh Will! I didn't mean that! You're not boring; our life is. We're stuck in this web of politeness day after day, and after a while you just want to go up to someone and slap them in the face, just to remember what raw emotion feels like!" She turned to face him. "All of this, none of it's real. This isn't real life, it's a mockery of life! 'Good morning sir, good afternoon ma'am!' Pah! All these niceties, they'll get us nowhere! Can't you see, the rich are targeted more than others by thieves, crooks and even pirates because we're so much more stupid and out of touch! We swan around in our 'imported mink' and 'Persian silks', unaware of the real world and the endless bounds life has!" Suddenly she stopped, and faced the window again.

Will was silent for a few minutes. "So, what do you want to do?"

"That's the thing; I don't know."

"Well, if you don't know, I can't help you."

Elizabeth paused. "I know," she said softly.

###

What was I thinking? She thought later, lying in bed, looking across at Will. I know I need to get out of this life, but… it's so difficult. I'm going for a walk. She got dressed in her only common clothes, and slipped out of the house. The night was balmy, with a few clouds dotting the still black sky. Breathing in the thick air, she stumbled through the gardens. However, treading a step that wasn't there sent her crashing to the ground, grazing her knees. Quietly cursing, she dusted herself off and went exploring in the town…

Back in the master bedroom, Will woke with a sigh. Reaching to find Elizabeth, and realising she had gone, he leapt out of bed and flew to the window. There, in the distance, he saw a small woman's frame worming her way through the dusty town. "Oh, Elizabeth!" he exclaimed breathlessly, changing his clothes and running out of the house…

This town does have a certain charm to it, she thought. The quaint little houses, the shop signs, the ruggedness of it all… She stopped for a moment to savour it, then felt silly. I'm being a pompous ass! She thought to herself, grinning. "I'm being a pompous ass, a pompous ass, a pompous ass…" she sang. Twirling around, she felt more rebellious than she had done since the pirates left. She was desperate to hang onto that feeling…

Will was running after her, already breathless. I've let myself go… got to get fitter. He found he was lost. How is that possible? I used to live here… hey, I don't recognise that sign! When did THAT open? He slowed to a halt and tried to get his bearings. He spied his old blacksmith shop, and instantly knew to turn right to reach Elizabeth…

"I'm being a pompous ass! I'm mad, I'm crazy, I'm free," she whispered to herself. But she stopped when she saw a figure in the shadows. Darting to a nearby alleyway, she squinted to get a closer look at the figure. He was tall, well built, and – from what she could see, had big boots on. Familiar boots… of course. "Hey! Over here!" she whispered into the darkness. The silhouette strode over to reveal himself. "Hi," he said…

"Hi," a man's voice said. Will paused, not daring to move. "What are you doing here?" Elizabeth whispered. Will opened his mouth to answer, only to be interrupted by the man. "I was passing through…"

"You didn't follow us, surely!"

"Now why would I do a thing like that?" Will crept closer.

"I don't know. Maybe it's my over-active imagination, once again craving the fun and excitement of the pirate life," Elizabeth said coyly.

"Mebbe." Both were silent for a few seconds, and Will's mind suddenly clicked. It was Robertson. Terrified of what they were doing, Will coughed to make himself known…

"What was that?" Elizabeth said. Her heart started pounding – if Will caught them out here, he'd get completely the wrong impression. They listened for a few seconds, and just as she was about to speak the cough came again. "Hello?" she called into the blackness.

"Oh stop yer fretting," Robertson said. "You're making summin of nothin'."

"I'm not! I'm not some silly air-headed rich girl!" she hissed. Once again she listened for the coughing, but nearly screamed when a hand came upon her shoulder. "Hello, Elizabeth," Will said.

"Will! What… how…?"

"Who were you with?" Elizabeth glanced at the spot where Robertson had been, but he'd gone. It seemed it was a habit of his, to disappear at the sight of trouble. "No one," she answered.

"Don't lie to me. Please," Will pleaded. That please broke Elizabeth's heart. She could hear the desperation in his voice. "Alright, it was Robertson. The pirate at the party?" Sounds like a children's story, she thought grimly.

"Ah yes. I remember." He fell silent.

"Will? Will, are you OK?" He walked off back to the house in reply. "Will!" she commanded. "Will, get back here! Will! Please!" He walked on. Sighing, she turned and walked in the opposite direction.

###

She didn't return until the early hours. Will had fallen asleep, but only after several hours of tossing and turning – though Elizabeth wasn't to know this. He doesn't care anymore, she thought. He can just go out like a light after a row, while I wander the streets all night feeling rotten! She changed and climbed into bed, deliberately trying to disturb Will. It worked; he woke up and saw her just arranging the covers around herself.

"Where did you go?" he asked.

"Places," she replied frostily.

"I was worried."

"You didn't look worried when you were just sleeping like a new born."

"I was?"

"Yes." Silence.

"I didn't sleep for hours." Turning to face him, she could see dark rings under his eyes. Once again, the guilt kicked in.

"Will, we can't go on like this."

"It's a rough patch."

"No, it's not. We have to sort this out. But I've got to sleep. We'll talk later." She turned away again and closed her eyes, praying she'd sleep. Will got up and dressed, all the while dreading the doomed later.

###

I admit this isn't going very well, but it's an experiment for me. So if you could review (hint) with constructive criticism I'd appreciate it…