Chapter 4

The next few days went the same. The two people reacquainting themselves and just being playful.

One morning about a week later, Will awoke first, which was quiet normal. Looking down, he realized the reason for his sudden alertness. Somehow during the night, he and Elizabeth had become a tangle of limbs. His arms were wrapped around her, and her head and arm were resting on his chest. Her leg was thrown over his hips, and her thigh was tormenting him.

Squirming, he tried to relieve the situation, but only succeeded in making it worse. When he finally thought he could roll out from under her without waking her, she nuzzled in closer, pressing her though down harder against him, causing him to gasp and bite his lip to suppress the groan building from the pressure he craved but also feared. If she awoke to find his obvious lust for her digging into her thigh, the reaction would be quiet impressive, and not in a pleasant way.

His mind went into over drive, trying desperately to relieve the problem at hand. Just when he thought he was fresh out of luck, She rolled over, releasing him f her loving hold. He jumped up and ran to the now cold water in the bin in the smithy, dunking his head in and thinking of dumping the entire bin over his head when heard a soft chuckle behind him. He whirled around, his wet hair spraying water out, and she yelped at the sudden coldness.

She was leaning against the wall, using one of the hooks for handing tools on to hold herself up. Her wrist was healed, and her head was fine, but the injury to her back was still sore and left it difficult for her to stand and walk at times, especially for long periods of time. Seeing her smiling face, he turned red.

"Where things a little to hot in there for you, dear William?" She smirked at him, glancing down quickly at his still obvious excitement, then back to his red face. His jaw dropped and he found himself at a loss for words.

"Pardon me?"

"Well, I wanted to see if you felt the same way for me." The words were quiet, as if she was reluctant to say them. She looked down, suddenly scared of what he would say. She realized that proving he was attracted to her and proving that he loved her were entirely different, but she had thought of that a little to late.

Will froze. Did she just honestly admit to doing all that on purpose? "I'm sorry, can you repeat that. I think I mishear you. It sounded like you wanted to see if I felt the same way for you?"

Her eyes glassed over with unshed tears. As she looked at him and her face instantly became red. She started to back away, using the wall for support, and held the tears at bay.

"I'm sorry. I've obviously made a mistake, you obviously don't feel the same. So I'll just be going. Thank you for everything, Will. Really, I'll just leave you alone. Thank you." With that, she turned and walked away with her head down.

"NO! Wait, Elizabeth!" He called desperately after her. Following into the bedroom, he saw her collecting her things on shaky legs, standing near the wall.

"I'm sorry. I'll just get my possessions and go." She wiped at her tears furiously, angry at herself that she had let them slip by. She did not need Will's sympathy.

"Elizabeth, how do you feel? You have yet to tell me that, so I don't know if I feel the same way as you." He tentatively walked into the room, trying not to scare her.

She froze, then muttered something under her breath.

"What?"

Turning full around, she looked him in the eyes and said loudly, "I love you!"

Will froze. She loved him. Elizabeth Swann, love of his life, loved him in return. No words would come, his mind screamed at him one solitary thing. And he obeyed it full heartedly.

Will crossed the room to her. Elizabeth's eyes grew large in terror, misunderstanding his quick strides for anger. That is, until he reached out and put a hand behind her head and one at her waist and pulled her flush against him, pressing his lips vehemently to hers.

Elizabeth gasped. But after a moment's hesitation, she responded to his lips. Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she pulled him closer, so that the little space between them was no more.

His tongue darted out, begging entrance into her mouth, which she happily granted. A moan fell from his lips, and the kiss became more demanding, until it became the most passionate either had ever experienced.

Suddenly realizing something very important, Will pulled away.

"I love you, too. I always have, ever since we were kids." His confession came from his heart, and his hand made it's way up to cup her cheek, caressing it gently.

"I've loved you forever as well, Will Turner. It hurt when you left. I spent days in my room, refusing to come out.

"I'm sorry for that. I knew if I saw you again, I would never be able to leave, but I knew I had to. I didn't want to leave you, but I needed to make my own place in the world. I came back for you 2 years later, but I guess you were already in England by then."

"Yes, father needed to go back to speak with Parliament about a few things. That's where we met Norrington. God I hate that man."

"What's wrong with the Commodore, love?"

"He follows me around like a pirate chases gold, constantly nagging me about everything and anything. We were never together, yet he always acted, like my husband!" She threw he hands up in exasperation, then curled into his arms. After a few moments, he felt her become stiff.

"Oh my God." She gasped in shock, and pulled away from Will's embrace to look him in the face.

"They think I'm dead." She sat on the bed, thinking over what this would mean for her.

"Elizabeth, don't worry. All will be well. We can go back-"

"NO!" She jumped up from her sitting position on the bed, but was forced back down by a pain in her back. Will came over and sat behind her to look it over while she spoke.

"I'm free from society and Norrington and all society's rules. I've always wanted that. I'm here with you, I've always wanted that. Why on earth would I ever leave?" Her voice held an unbelieving tone, as if trying to convince herself her dreams had really come true.

He pondered her question before answering cautiously. He did not want her to leave, but he wanted her happiness above all.

"I live a different life style then the one we grew up in No servants, little money, little space. I can not offer you a lot." He looked down dejectedly.

"I don't care." Elizabeth held his face tenderly in her hands and kissed him gently, full of love. "I could live in a cave and still be happy, just as long as I'm with you."

At that moment, Will looked into her eyes, and knew this was the woman he wanted to spend forever with. He just had to wait for the "opportune moment".