Author's Note: Thank you CaptainTish and rollinpeaches for your reviews. Much appreciated.

Entr'acte

Howells had sat Will down at the tavern and listened patiently to his explanations. They then worked their way through several rounds of ale until Will's head was buzzing. Laying his forehead against the cool wood of the tabletop helped only a little, but he couldn't quite find the energy to sit back up.

"Will, mate, 's not nearly as bad as all that, y' know." A chuckle. "Y' remind me of Jack."

Will lifted his head enough to see Howells' grin. "I remind you of Jack Sparrow?"

"Not in looks, mind you. A parallel, p'raps, in situations."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"'E lost his ship, his love, you lost your Elizabeth. He drowned his sorrows in Tortuga…" He smirked at Will's empty tankard. "Only diff'rance is, he never gave up."

"I am not giving up!" But Will was sober enough to realise that the anger was directed more towards himself than Howells. "I… She left me!"

"She waited for you. And she'll be back again. She loves you."

"And I love her."

"Never said nothing different."

"I know she'll be back, I know it, but I don't want to wait."

"You made her wait. Last time."

Will sighed and closed his eyes, feeling the rough grain of wood against his cheek. "You don't know what it's like." He winced and immediately felt ridiculous. He hadn't meant to sound so petulant.

"I had a wife and child once, y' know." Will jerked his head up, fast enough to make the world tilt around him, and when everything settled he watched as Howells smiled at the tabletop. "They were beautiful."

"What happened? I mean, if you don't mind…"

"My wife's dead now, and my son…" Howells looked up at Will, dark eyes searching his face. "Well, he grew up."

"He left?"

"Not before I did."

Will sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "I've been feeling sorry for myself all evening about something that's my own fault. I'm sorry. Tell me about them." Howells frowned, face darkening. "Please."

"No." He stood and waved away Will's protests. "No, William, I won't. I've booked us a pair o' rooms upstairs, all right?" He was halfway across the tavern in the time it took Will to blink. "Y' coming?"

Will decided to let it go. "Yes. Yes, I'm coming."

The next morning saw Will in a far happier state. He was at the docks, his head aching a little, but the pain was by no means debilitating and he smiled as he heard footsteps approaching.

"She'll come," he said, matching Howells grin for grin.

"O' course she will, but you'll have t' wait a couple o' months. Way I heard it, Jack plans to spend Christmas here. He hasn't changed a bit."

Will felt his heart sink a little. "Christmas?"

"Apparently so."

"But… What do I do until then?"

Howells tugged on Will's shoulder until they were facing each other. They were the same height, same build, Will's hair darker and Howells older, creases etched into the corner of his eyes whenever he smiled.

"Fancy sailing with me for a bit?"

Will grinned. "And we'd be here in time for Christmas?"

"'Course. Couldn't let y' miss your Elizabeth again, could we?"

"I…" Happy breathlessness, like how he used to feel around Elizabeth, how he still did when the light caught her just right, reflecting silver-gold. "I don't know what to say."

Howells laughed, eyes crinkling. "Say 'yes'!"

"Yes!"

"Good lad! Now let's gather me crew and plot our course for St Kitts."

Howells made for his ship, still chuckling, but Will stayed for a little while, admiring the sun rise and wondering whether Elizabeth was watching it with him, wherever she was.