"Jack!" Will Turner opened his arms upon the sight of his old friend on deck. "When I saw the Pearl I wondered if it was you I came for."

"That's the problem, mate." Jack winced, "You'll want to rethink your form of greeting when you find out just who it is you came for."

Will's brow furrowed as he took a step forward. "Where is she?"

Jack's lips became a thin line as he looked towards the captain's quarters.

"Elizabeth!" William called as he kicked open the door.

"Will?" Elizabeth questioned weakly as she turned towards the noise.

"Elizabeth…" he sunk to his knees beside her, perceiving with his hands and eyes, "what has happened to you?"

"Ten years is a long time, Will." A tear trailed her pallid face.

"A lifetime without you." He brushed it away.

She caught his hand and held it in her own. "People change."

"They do," he examined her wistfully. "But, you've been this person for a while now. Even if you didn't know it. Even if I didn't want to see it."

Her lip quivered. "How so?"

"You've always been strong and it was wrong of me to expect you to bear being alone at home. Waiting. You fought with a sword, lead the pirates; became a goddess at sea. How could I expect you to leave that freedom behind? But, we can both sail the oceans now. Together." He held out his hand.

"All my life," she shook her head, "all my life I've been told what to do. Be proper. Marry the commodore. Stay put. Be a dutiful wife. Can't you see? Any time I'm not given a choice, it ends in glorious failure. Here it seems I haven't a choice as well."

"Of course you do," Will observed.

"And what would that be, sail oceans of time with you or towards my own oblivion?"

"Elizabeth," Will retracted his hand, his voice faint, "don't you want to sail with me?"

"No, Will," another tear escaped her eye, "I don't."

He took a breath in through his nose and stood up. "Jack."

"Will, no… It's not his fault," Elizabeth coughed as her departed husband walked out the door, "Will!"

"You did this." Will approached, clenching and unclenching his fist.

"Aye," Jack replied as he somberly stood his ground. "I did."

The resulting punch gave a wet sound against Jack's rain-slickened skin.

"You've murdered her!" Will spat amidst the thunder. "You've known she was infatuated with you for some time, and you fanned the flame to suit your own twisted agenda! That's right, Jack. I saw her kiss you. I could have ignored that. I could have forgiven the sordid things that I know, with absolute certainty, you did to her in my absence. I could have overlooked them all if she was safe. If she were truly happy. With time I could even grow to accept that. But, this," he gestured back to the captain's quarters, "this is beneath even you."

Jack hung his head for a beat as the waves rocked the boat. "I can fix this."

"You what?"

"I can fix this." Jack lifted his head, "Agua de vida, it'll make her well again."

"You haven't the time, Jack. You seem to forget who is aboard your ship this very instant. I've come to collect. And I won't leave until I have... I can't."

"Exactly." Jack pressed himself up. "You don't have to. Just stay aboard the ship while I get the Agua de vida, and all will be right as rain."

Will squinted, "You're mad."

"I'm serious." Jack's eyes locked on him. "Give her a choice, Will," he pled. "She deserves it."

Will breathed out through his nose. "You make me sick."

"I'm not hearing a no…" Jack rolled his fingers.

"Do as you please." Will shook his head. "Then again, you don't need me to tell you that." He turned, "You always have."

Jack swallowed as he brought his hand in towards his chest. He'd never been one to care about sidestepping boundaries, but the reaction from Will had him feeling a drop in his stomach. And yet, he knew young Mister Turner was wrestling himself most of all. For the woman he chose was no man's property and the boy knew this from the moment he lay eyes upon her. As for Elizabeth's state of affairs, aye, Jack blamed himself entirely. For the first time in his life he felt responsible for something, and it was dreadful. He would make it right. He had to. Even if it killed him.

Jack reached into the chest at the foot of his bed in his quarters. From which, he withdrew two gleaming chalices. He examined them before stashing them in a pouch at his belt.

Elizabeth turned her head. "Where are you… going?"

He approached her, smoothing a broad hand over her fretted brow. "I'm going to make this right, Lizzie."

Her dark eyes looked up to him. "How?"

"Never you mind that, love." The word stopped him cold, sending a shiver down his spine. Love. Love was what had condemned her.

She snorted faintly at his response. "Careful Jack, or people will think you like me."

"Like you?" He gave a brief smile before he leaned in to kiss her, "How absurd."