Disclaimer: Still not mine but I do have a plan...:evil grin:

Author's Note: I finished writing the last chapter last night so updates should be up every day again. I have only to edit the rest of the chapters and then you shall have them! Right now it looks like eleven chapters though I am toying with the idea of doing an epilogue. Thanks once again for all the wonderful reviews from you all!

Several crew members glanced at Elizabeth as she emerged from the cabin, but when their Captain didn't follow they quickly went back to their tasks. She could see The Lady Rose in the distance. It was a beautiful ship, though not as beautiful as The Black Pearl, obviously.

'Not nearly as fast, either,' Elizabeth mused, 'The Pearl will probably make it to Tia Dalma's a full day before The Lady Rose.'

Glancing around for a sign of where Will could be, she noticed that Barbossa was no longer at the wheel. She only had a moment to wonder about his current whereabouts before he came up beside her.

"I wonder what ye an' Ole Jack could've had to talk about for so long," he said slyly, one brow raised in challenge.

Elizabeth did not rise to the bait, "I don't see how it's any of your business, Mr. Barbossa," she replied, purposely leaving off the 'Captain', "And I'm sure the Captain would prefer it if you addressed him as such."

It wasn't any of his business but she wasn't going to waste her time trying to convince him that nothing had happened. He knew better than that, for one thing, but also Elizabeth didn't want to outright lie about what had happened between herself and Jack.

"Oh I'm sure he would, young missy," he replied, completely unruffled by her arch tone, "I'm sure he would."

He started to walk away from her but then seemed to think better of it. His voice, when he spoke, was directly behind her, and Elizabeth commended herself for not jumping, "By the way..." he nearly whispered, "The whelp is down in the crew quarters. I expect you'll be needing to speak with him, won't ye, lass?"

Unable to control her reaction this time, she spun and glared at him. He simply smirked at her fierce look, mock bowing and finally turning to walk away.

'Damn that man,' she mentally ranted as she made her way to the crew quarters, "Damn him and his stupid monkey and his stupid all-knowing smirk!"

Will was exactly where Barbossa had said he was, sitting on one of the hammocks in the crew's quarters. The rest of the crew, thankfully, was topside, fully occupied with their tasks. He must have been completely lost in his thoughts because she was halfway across the room before he noticed her presence. He stood immediately, ever the gentleman.

"Elizabeth," he whispered her name like a prayer and Elizabeth felt her heart constrict at what she was about to do.

She forced a small smile as she sat on the hammock he'd been occupying and motioned him to sit next to her. He did, though he maintained a respectable distance between them, as always. Once again, Elizabeth found herself comparing the two men, her two loves. They were so very different from each other.

"Will I..." she started, unsure of how to begin, desperately wishing she didn't have to hurt him, "I need to talk to you."

She felt the hammock shift as Will stiffened next to her and had a flash of realization.

'He knows. Oh God, he knows what I'm going to tell him.'

His next words confirmed her thoughts, "You're leaving me, aren't you?"

It was said quietly, resigned and, for what felt like the hundredth time that day, Elizabeth felt scalding tears pricking the backs of her eyes.

"Yes."

It was all she could bring herself to say.

"For Jack?"

"Yes, Will. For Jack."

She forced herself to look at Will's face as she said this. He deserved that at least. The pain in his eyes stole her breath and for a second she almost hated Jack for causing this. For making her see herself. For making her fall in love with him. For making her hurt this wonderful man in front of her. It was gone as soon as it came, though, for even if she'd never met Jack, she suspected she never would've been truly happy as a simple housewife. Even if her husband was as good a man as Will.

"I saw you two, you know," his voice startled her, and for a terrifying second she thought he was talking about what had just occurred in Jack's cabin, "The day we left The Pearl, when Jack stayed behind...I saw you kiss him. Was that his last request? A 'Thank You' for giving his life for us?"

She had suspected that Will had seen them but she'd been too cowardly to ask. Too cowardly to admit what she'd done.

"No. It was me...I-" she took a deep breath, "I lied, Will. Jack didn't elect to stay behind. I forced him to. The kiss you saw was my way of distracting him so that I could shackle him to the mast."

Elizabeth shut her eyes tightly, both to lock the tears in and to keep from seeing Will's reaction. She was still ashamed of her actions that day. Jack's forgiveness had lessened her guilt but she suspected the shame would be part of her for a very long time. She didn't want to see the look of disgust on Will's face at her confession. When he gently touched her face a moment later, she trembled with grief and clutched his hand.

"You truly are a pirate."

There was no disgust in his voice and Elizabeth opened her eyes, a few tears spilling from their depths as she looked into the eyes of her first love.

He continued, "Regardless of your reasons, I saw the way you kissed him. You've never kissed me like that, Elizabeth. And I saw how you grieved without him. You're in love with him."

"Will, I'm so sorry!" she sobbed, "I didn't mean to! I never wanted this to happen! I did- do love you Will, I swear!"

Elizabeth was sobbing in earnest, clutching his shirt with both hands. The guilt of what she was doing and had done clawed at her heart.

"Shh...I know you love me Elizabeth. You would never lie about something so sacred. And I know you didn't mean to betray me. Don't cry, dearest, don't cry."

Will wrapped one arm around her shoulders, using the other to stroke her hair back from her face. He was being so quiet, so gentle. Elizabeth couldn't stand it. She wanted him to be angry with her. Rant, call her names, hate her. Anything but this tender understanding.

"Why aren't you angry with me?" she sniffled, daring to look into his eyes again.

"I love you Elizabeth. I've loved you since the day they pulled me from the water and you told me you were watching over me. But I'm not a simpleton. I knew, even if I managed to win you, I'd never truly have you. You need more than what I can give to you. Piracy may be in my blood, dearest, but it's in your heart, in your soul."

She'd been wrong. She'd thought that Will hadn't seen the real her, but she'd been completely and devastatingly wrong. He had known all along, had seen her all along. And he'd known that he could never truly have her but he'd loved her enough to not care that she couldn't love him back the same way. The realization broke Elizabeth's heart so thoroughly that for a moment she couldn't breathe through the pain.

Seeing her distress, Will continued, "I'll be going with The Lady Rose, when we reach it. I understand and forgive you, Elizabeth but that doesn't mean I'm not angry with Jack. And I would rather not be around to witness the spectacle you two will, no doubt, be making."

He said it in a teasing way but she could hear the pain behind it. And she could feel the anger behind the pain. He was trying to spare her his true feelings and she allowed him to do so. She did however make a mental note not to let him and Jack anywhere near each other.

"Does he love you?"

Elizabeth had no idea how to answer that. She didn't know why he would want to know, either. Will seemed to sense her confusion the same way he'd sensed her distress a moment earlier.

"I'm not asking out of some need to cause myself more pain, Elizabeth, but I have to know that you'll be taken care of if I leave you here. Just because you aren't mine doesn't mean I won't worry for you."

His explanation made sense but she still didn't know what to say. Jack hadn't told her he loved her. She knew he felt something for her but she hadn't pushed for a declaration of love for a number of reasons. The first being that she knew how difficult it would be for him to admit such feelings. It was hard enough for him to admit that he wanted her to be with him. Pirates viewed love as a weakness and Elizabeth didn't want to pressure him into admitting something he didn't want to.

The second reason was much less logical. It simply didn't matter to her whether Jack was really in love with her or not. It was stupid, maybe, and, of course, Elizabeth wanted him to love her the same as she loved him but if he didn't...he wanted her. Jack wanted her with him and that would be enough.

She tried to answer Will's question honestly, "I don't...I'm not sure exactly what Jack's feelings for me are."

Will was incredulous, "You don't know? Hasn't he told you? Haven't you asked him?"

She could understand his reaction, "Will..." she started, "You know Jack. He's...complicated. Honestly, I haven't asked him whether or not he loves me because I don't want to push him into admitting it before he's ready if he does and if he doesn't I don't think I want to hear him say it."

"But-"

"He wants me, Will. And I know he feels something towards me or he wouldn't be allowing me to stay. And that's enough for me. I can't expect him to give more than he can."

Will closed his eyes, "So you're telling me that you're leaving me for a man who you aren't even sure loves you?"

Elizabeth's heart went out to him again, "Oh Will..."

He stopped her, thankfully, because she had no idea how to comfort him, "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I want you to be happy, Elizabeth, and I've always thought you needed more than the life of a blacksmith's wife. If Jack gives you that happiness you should seize it with both hands. But just so you know, I think he does love you. I can't imagine any man could see the fire in your eyes and not fall in love with you."

He was so earnest and Elizabeth felt tears sliding down her cheek for the loss of her first love. She hugged him, and when she felt his tears mingling with hers against her cheek, she gripped him even tighter. They sat there for a long moment as they both said goodbye to their fairytale romance.

Will pulled away a few minutes later and Elizabeth discreetly looked away as he wiped his face. He wouldn't want her to see his weakness even if he knew she'd felt it.

"You should go back to your Captain. I'm sure he's wanting to see you."

The finality of that statement brought more tears but Elizabeth forced them back. He didn't deserve a tearful, guilty goodbye. It would only make things harder for him. She gave him a watery smile as she pulled away from him and suddenly the light of a lantern caught the engagement ring still on her finger. Will had noticed it too and they both stared in morbid fascination as she slid the ring from her finger and placed it in his outstretched hand.

"Give it to a woman who deserves your love, Will."

He nodded and touched her face gently before he stood and made his way back to the deck. Elizabeth stayed in the slowly rocking hammock, going over the last several minutes in her head. It had hurt to say goodbye to Will. It had hurt more than she had thought it would. But at the same time her soul felt lighter than it ever had before. She no longer had the burden of Jack's death. She was no longer engaged to a man she loved but couldn't marry. She'd confessed her true feelings for Jack. And she was about to begin an entirely new life as a pirate, with the man she loved by her side. Elizabeth was free.

TBC...soon. I hope.