A/N: Ahhh! Unlucky ch. 13! lol. Glad you all liked the last chapter. Once again, sorry about it being depressing. Hope you enjoy this one!
pghal6: I'm sorry if I'm upsetting you, lol. Asking me about the sequel again, eh? Well I've been thinking about it but I still have to see how I end this story before I even start to outline anything else. Thanks for the review!
Mystisch: More's coming! Hope you like this chapter.
Forensic Photographer711: Please don't puke. I don't like puking. This chapter isn't much of a picker upper but I tried to make it a little happier.
obliviongates: Yay! I influenced something in your sequel! I feel so special, lol! It's okay to feel sorry for Elizabeth, lol. Glad you felt that. It's what I was aiming for everyone to feel. You're asking about sequels now too? lol. As I said before, it depends on how I end this story, and if I can think up a story for it. Well, until a week I shall hate you, lol, jk. And no it's not helping.
somegrl28: don't we all wish Will would forget about Elizabeth? Thanks for the review!
poptart-angel: Yeah, I've noticed a lot of soap opera scenes but nobody's complained so I didn't do anything about it. True work of genius, eh? You could say that lol. I'll try not to torture Will and Anna too much.
nicole: Glad you liked my chapter, even though it was depressing. Don't worry, Anna will be with someone. (laughs evilly)
American Drama: Yeah that does suck but it hasn't happened to me though…yet. Here's another quick update.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Pirates of the Caribbean. I only own Anna Wilson and any other characters you don't recognize.
Chapter Thirteen: Engagement
The soldiers and sailors aboard the Dauntless were celebrating when Anna, Jack, Will, and Elizabeth returned. They didn't ask why because they knew that Barbossa's crew had been defeated. Elizabeth stepped on the deck first, startling Commodore Norrington and Governor Swann, who were standing right there.
"Elizabeth!" Norrington exclaimed.
"Hello, James," Elizabeth said smiling weakly.
"Are you alright?" her father asked her.
"Yes, I'm fine," Elizabeth said looking up as Will climbed on deck helping Anna up along with him.
"We'd best get you inside so you can rest," the governor said leading Elizabeth away.
Jack finally made it up on the deck with the gold crown still on his head and just a fraction of his plunder in his arms. Norrington gave him a cold glare as he made it aboard.
"How nice to see you again, Sparrow," Norrington sneered.
Jack smiled. "Aye, same here," he said making Norrington glare more.
"Well, I say it's about time we put you in the brig so you can begin your contemplation on the meaning of 'silent as the grave,'" Norrington said coldly and motioned for two soldiers to come and take Jack below.
Anna and Will watched amusedly as the two soldiers attempted to keep Jack quiet and tried to maneuver him down the stairs below deck. Their attention was suddenly averted as Norrington began speaking again.
"Miss Wilson? Is that you?" Norrington said with his high-class, snobby voice.
Anna looked down at her feet. She couldn't hide from anyone now. There was no where for her to run to. She nodded.
"Gillette!" Norrington called. A naval officer with a powdered wig like Norrington's walked over.
"Yes, sir?" he asked.
"Retrieve Lieutenant Wilson for me, please. Tell him I've found his daughter," Norrington said just above a whisper but Anna could still hear him.
She knew she was in big trouble now. Her father was here and he would see her in sailor's clothing, dirty and not presentable at all. She anticipated the scolding that was to come. She looked up at Will who was smiling slightly.
"Good luck," he whispered and squeezed her hand in reassurance.
"Thanks," Anna said looking back down to her feet. "I'll need it."
Will smiled to himself and laughed making Anna laugh quietly also. They looked up and saw an older looking man wearing a naval uniform and coming towards them.
"I'll leave you with your father," Will said quietly.
Anna nodded. Will walked away to the port side of the ship and leaned on the rail. Anna's father moved closer. His expression changed from annoyance to gratitude as he saw his daughter standing on the deck.
"Anna!" he nearly shouted and ran to her.
Anna forced a smile back. He moved forward and embraced her tightly without delay. Anna stiffened slightly from shock. She slowly moved her arms up and hugged her father back. After a couple minutes her father moved back and looked her over.
"What happened to you? What are you wearing?" he said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"My…um…skirt ripped so I had to wear these," Anna lied and began fidgeting.
"Well, we'd best get you into some appropriate clothes before we get back to Port Royal. Your mother will have a fit if she sees you like this," he said leading her to the captain's quarters where Elizabeth had been led to. He rapped on the door.
"Yes?" a female voice called from the other side, obviously Elizabeth's.
"Are you decent?" Lieutenant Wilson asked.
"Yes," Elizabeth answered.
Anna's father opened the door and let her in.
"I hope you don't mind some company," he said and closed the door.
Anna stayed near the door. Elizabeth sat at a desk. Only a couple of candles were lit and some moonlight came through the windows so there were still some dark corners and areas.
"It's okay, Anna," Elizabeth said breaking the silence, "you can sit down."
Anna walked over to another chair by the desk and slumped down into it like she weighed five hundred pounds. She hadn't slept in a couple of days and was exhausted. She forgot her weariness and looked up at Elizabeth. Her eyes were tired and sad. Anna knew who she was thinking about.
"Why did you do it?" Anna asked snapping Elizabeth out of her daydream.
"What?" she asked surprised at Anna's question.
"Why did you choose Norrington?" Anna asked more clearly.
Elizabeth sighed and buried her face in her hands. She looked up again, directly at Anna. "I don't know," she said. Anna could tell she was lying.
"Elizabeth, there's got to be a good reason. You're a woman that wouldn't give into what society wanted for her. You're stronger than that," Anna said, surprised at her own words.
"I know…" Elizabeth said distantly.
There was a long silence. Anna rested her head on the back of the chair, assuming the conversation was over.
"James wouldn't have risked it," Elizabeth said quietly.
Anna looked up. "What?"
"James wouldn't have gone to save Will if I hadn't accepted his proposal," Elizabeth said.
Anna sat quietly now curious at what happened on Elizabeth's voyage to the Isle de Muerta on the Dauntless.
"Did you tell him about the curse?" Anna asked.
"No," Elizabeth said laughing sarcastically. "He definitely wouldn't have risked it then."
'Duh, how could I ask such a stupid question,' Anna thought to herself. "Well, Will's safe now. Go back on what you said and stay with Will," she said surprising herself once again.
"What?" Elizabeth asked out of surprise.
"You heard me," Anna said quietly.
Elizabeth was speechless. She saw the sadness in Anna's eyes and saw how hard it was for her to say that.
"I would not give my word lightly," Elizabeth said softly, remembering a conversation she had with Norrington earlier.
"I wish you could hear yourself," Anna said. "You sound so hopeless."
"I know," Elizabeth said trying to laugh at herself. "Why are you doing this anyway?"
Anna eyed Elizabeth suspiciously. "What? Trying to get you to marry Will?" she asked.
Elizabeth nodded. "I know you love him Anna," she said softly.
Anna's eyes widened. Was it that obvious? "I don't know what you're talking about."
"It's obvious. The way you look at him and your actions when you talk to him," Elizabeth said.
"How would you know? You were on the Interceptor with us for less than a day," Anna said sharply.
"A lot can happen in a day," Elizabeth said simply.
Anna was silent. She couldn't say that she didn't love Will. If she tried her voice would falter immediately, she knew it. She simply nodded. "Tell Will that you love him, Elizabeth or your life will be ruined forever," Anna said.
"I can't do that. I would only hurt him more," Elizabeth said.
Anna felt bad for Elizabeth. Any hard feeling she had once felt towards her because Will loved her was gone. She scooted her chair over to her and hugged her tightly, knowing that that's what she needed. Elizabeth accepted the hug and leaned into Anna.
"You're such a good friend, Anna," Elizabeth said.
"I haven't known you long enough for you to say that though," Anna replied.
"But it seems like I've known you forever."
…………………
Anna stood at the window of the captain's quarters. Elizabeth was sleeping in the small bed on the side of the room. Anna couldn't sleep. She tried several times but her eyes wouldn't close. She couldn't get comfortable. She felt as though she were being held back from everything. She couldn't breathe while inside that tiny room.
Anna opened the door to the cabin as quietly as she could and walked outside. Her hair danced lightly on the cool night breeze. The moon shone brightly, illuminating the deck with an eerie blue color. Only a few soldiers and sailors were on deck. She sighed with relief as she saw that neither Commodore Norrington nor her father were on deck. She walked to the side of the ship and looked over the side. The black water lapped gently against the sides of the ship, making it rock gently.
She gazed into the water and fell into a dreamlike state, forgetting her surroundings. She heard a sound behind her and snapped out of it, but didn't turn around. She heard the noise again. It sounded like footsteps moving towards her. She stayed still and waited for it to go away. It was soon next to her.
"I didn't expect you to be up now," a deep voice said.
Anna looked up and saw the all too familiar dark eyes of Will Turner. She smiled slightly.
"Hello, Will," she said and turned to look out at the black sea again. "Didn't expect to see you out here either."
"Couldn't sleep," he said simply.
"Same," Anna said distantly, falling under the spell of the sea once again.
An awkward silence fell over them. Will looked over to Anna. She looked so peaceful, gazing out to the sea like that. It was though she belonged out there. She seemed so happy but so sad at the same time. She seemed forced herself out of the dreamlike state she fell into and looked up at Will. She raised an eyebrow in question.
"What?" she asked softly.
He was dangerously close to her now. Anna could feel his breath on her skin. His hand raised and touched her cheek. She closed her eyes and soon felt warm lips pressed against hers.
'Oh no, Anna, no! Don't do it, pull away now!' a voice inside her head warned. Anna didn't listen.
The kiss deepened for what seemed like hours but only lasted a couple of seconds. The screaming of the voice in the back of Anna's head was too hard to handle. She pulled away quickly, realizing what was really happening. She looked down at her feet and breathed heavily.
"Oh, god," Will said turning away and burying his face in his hands. He rubbed his eyes and leaned on the side of the ship. "I'm so sorry."
Anna shook her head even though he couldn't see it. "No, it's…it's alright," she managed to say. "I mean, it would have been alright, but…" she trailed off.
Will looked up.
"You still love her," Anna said quietly.
Will stood speechless. "What?" he said.
"You still love Elizabeth, and don't deny it, Will," Anna said looking at him straight in the eyes.
Will looked down at his feet.
"She's out of my reach now," he said simply.
Anna rolled her eyes, annoyed at having to repeat the conversation she had with Elizabeth with Will. She grew tired suddenly and yawned.
"I'll just go back to my cabin," Anna said awkwardly and smiled slightly at Will.
Will nodded. "I'll…um…see you…around," he said.
"Yeah," Anna said quietly and walked to her cabin. She could tell it was goodbye to Will then.
…………………
The sun shone brightly over the Caribbean Sea. The sky was a bright blue and there were hardly any clouds in the sky. Sailors ran around the deck of the Dauntless, doing the duties they had to do in order to dock at Port Royal. The island of Jamaica was clearly visible along with the bustling port.
Anna stood on the deck looking away from the land. She couldn't stand land at that moment. She wanted to be at sea. Her heart ached knowing she would have to leave it soon.
"Why do you look out to sea when there is land so near?" a voice asked.
Anna looked up to see her father, standing proud next to her.
"I don't know. Ever since we've left the Isle de Muerta, I haven't been able to keep my mind off the sea," she said quietly.
Her father laughed quietly. "That's what I felt the first time I went to sea. It was at the crossing from England. That's why I joined the navy," he said proudly.
"I guess when something calls to you, you must answer it," Anna said.
"Well, I also joined the navy to get higher status in society so I could marry your mother," he said quietly and smiled at Anna.
"You must've loved her very much," Anna said distantly, her manners were kicking back in.
"Oh yes," he said. "I only wish you could've had the same."
Anna raised her eyebrow and looked up at her father.
"Anna, I need to speak with you about something important," he said, his voice changing from lighthearted to serious.
"About what?" she asked.
"Marriage," he said simply.
Anna's heart stopped. Marriage? She couldn't get married now. No she wasn't ready.
"Anna, I know how much you would prefer to marry because of love, but I hope that you will find this man to be very fine and that you learn to love him," he said, not looking into his daughter's eyes. He couldn't bear to see the anger in them.
"An arranged marriage? Are you insane?" Anna shouted.
"Anna, please listen to me," he begged with his daughter.
"Why? What's so important about this man?" she asked.
Her father sighed and rubbed his temples. "Anna, your mother and I are having serious money problems. Please, if you marry him, you will not have these problems," he said.
"Oh, so it's all about money isn't it?" Anna shouted.
"Anna, please!" her father shouted.
Anna shut up suddenly seeing the hurt in her father's eyes.
"Anna, we're going to lose the house soon. The king isn't so kind to those who can't pay their debts. All hope is lost if we don't have money. We'll be sent to Georgia to work off our debt," he said quietly.
Anna stood in shock. "What?" she said quietly. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"We didn't want to concern you with it. Please, do this," he pleaded with his daughter.
Anna stood quietly. She was stuck. She had to marry whoever this bloke was. "Who is he?" She asked quietly.
"Lieutenant Matthew Anderson," her father answered simply.
Anna's mind raced. The dream she had aboard the Interceptor suddenly flooded back into her mind. She was going to be locked up in that house forever. She couldn't let that happen, but she had to. She nodded slightly.
"Thank you," her father said and kissed her on the cheek before walking away. The Dauntless was almost docked by then.
Anna turned from the sea and saw two soldiers bringing Jack up from the brig. She laughed a bit to herself, trying not to be so upset about her situation but it didn't help. Her mind suddenly raced and she worried about Jack's fate. She ran up to the Commodore who was standing near the helm.
"What's going to happen to Jack?" she asked quickly.
"Miss Wilson, hello. I suppose a short drop and a sudden stop tomorrow will do the trick," he said coldly and walked away from Anna, leaving her at the helm.
A/N: Sorry if this chapter's too depressing or "soap operaish" (as my friend would say). I tried not to make it so upsetting, but in order to go with my storyline I had to. Please review!
