Ok, so I guess I've been pretty terrible, leaving you hanging as I have...Well, here it is...It might be the final chapter...just give me some feedback as to what ya'll might like...Continue or leave it be...? Hope you enjoy this chapter...R&R!

"Silence"

"I…I love you…"

After the words left his lips, his heart began to sink and he wondered if he had made the right decision. She continued to stare out over the water even though his lips brushed her ear softly; he loved how close he was to her…

"Oh, I'm such a bloody fool!" he thought to himself. "I've made the wrong decision and now she's not saying a word."

He pulled away just enough to see the rest of her face and sighed; she was biting her lip. But he decided silence was his best bet… If he said something too soon, it may determine if he were to live his life alone or with the woman sitting inches from him. "Silence is the key." he thought.

So he waited…minutes dragged on and Elizabeth remained speechless. Jack grew extremely nervous as the silence wore on and he sat up straight, keeping his eyes on Elizabeth and her porcelain face. In the silence he decided to pick out the most beautiful things about her…

Her eyes; they mesmerized him, held him captive in their brown depths. He knew that whatever she asked, he'd do it for her just so he could see admiration in her perfect eyes; whatever she asked, he'd accomplish it…even the impossible.

Her hair; long and tangled… He loved the untidy mess of her blonde waves that lifted in the wind to reveal her neck and shoulders. He loved the feeling of the strands brushing his arm as the breeze carried them gracefully…

Her smile; so flawless and bright…every time she'd laugh, he couldn't help but look and see that smile and grin to himself. It brought something out of him that he couldn't help but feel; fear. He had a fear of vulnerability…fear of loving someone and depending on that person with his life. And he depended on that smile and the person who owned it…

He looked her up and down, his heart picking itself up slightly at the sight. If it took an eternity to wait for her to say something, he'd gladly wait; as long as he could stay there and watch her. It took all the strength he had to keep himself seated beside her and not wrap his arms around her and allow his lips to meet hers. It took so much out of him just to hold her hand… It was shocking how much he cared; how much he respected her… It was so different this time around…More genuine…More meaningful…It was true love…

He remembered the first time he had realized he loved her and almost laughed; he was so disgusted at himself… He had asked himself over and over again why he felt the way he did and every time he looked at her he'd try to find something else to catch his attention so he wouldn't have to accept the truth. But after that night in Port Langosta, when he had sat on the beach with her, he knew he couldn't defeat the monster known as love and the vulnerability it trapped him in. He was in love and he knew it. And now he was watching the woman he loved sit in silence, wondering to himself what could possibly be going through her mind.

"She's probably trying to find the safe way to let me down. The polite way to crush my heart…that's it…she's plotting how to destroy me in the cleanest way possible."

His heart began to beat impatiently, and he looked away from her and at his hand wrapped gently around hers. He wished it could be like that forever; her hand in his. He wished she would accept him and say she wanted him more than anything else…more than the whole earth…more than the universe…more than William…

"Ugh, William…of course…that has to be the reason she's so silent! I'm such a fool! How could I be so blind? She still loves Will and now I'm going to be stuck with that letdown!"

He couldn't take it. All he wanted was her and now he knew it was all a dream he was hoping would come true and be reality. As much as he hated to let go, he released her hand and stood from the rock, his feet sinking into the sand as he slowly stepped away from her. She blinked and turned to look at him; he couldn't look at her. He turned away and began to walk away toward their camp. Every part of him yearned to stop and sit back down beside her and hold her but that vulnerability had to be destroyed once and for all…

"Jack…"

He stopped then. His heart picked up its pace in surprise and he shrugged; never turning to face her.

"Jack…" she said again, her voice weak.

He stayed turned away, his eyes closing as she said his name. "Ah, that is too much."

"Jack…"

This time the voice was even softer; he almost couldn't hear it. He couldn't take it anymore…he turned around. He looked up slowly and saw her face. She was still biting her lip. She was rising to her feet slowly; her hair lifted gracefully off her shoulders. She looked nervous…

"Yes…yes, love?" he whispered.

She took a step forward and he raised an eyebrow. "Why is she so nervous?"

She set her lip free from her teeth and looked down at her feet, her hands clenched into fists.

"Lizzy?"

She didn't look up but moved one step closer. She opened her mouth slightly and looked as though she was going to speak but no words came. Jack stepped closer to her.

"Lizzy, what's wrong? Tell me, love." he said softly, wishing to wrap his arms around her and let her know she could trust him.

She looked up into his eyes and whispered, "Don't go…"

He grinned. "What makes you think I'd leave you now?" then he added. "I'll only leave if you ever want me to."

She nodded, stepping even closer. "I don't want you to…"

He closed the small distance between them and reached a hand out to touch her face. As his fingertips brushed her cheek, she closed her eyes with a smile forming on her lips.

"Elizabeth…" he whispered, cherishing the feel of her soft skin at his fingertips.

"Jack…"

He smiled and lifted his other hand to meet her other cheek; gently brushing hair away from her face. "You're so beautiful…"

She blushed and he could feel the heat against his hand; he chuckled.

"Jack, are you being honest?"

"About…?" he smiled, playing with the strand of hair he had swept out of her face.

"Do you really love me?"

He looked straight into her eyes and nodded. "I really do…"

She smiled wider and nodded. "I…"

"Yes?"

"I…I…"

He placed his hand at her chin and lifted her head up to look right at his face. "You can tell me, love…" he whispered softly.

"I…love you…too…"

Jack's heart pounded and then skipped multiple beats at the words. He never thought she'd really feel the same way and now that she had let the words pass her lips, he almost couldn't believe he had heard them right.

"You do?" he asked stupidly. "You idiot, of course she does!"

She caught the hand that had been playing with her hair and held it tight in hers. "I do…"

He stared at her face for a long moment, not fully understanding what had happened. She loved him and now he had no clue what to do… He had wanted to hear those words for days now but after hearing them, he had no clue where to go from there.

He grinned awkwardly and pulled her close to him, placing her arms around his neck gently. After he placed them there, he wrapped his arms around her waist; his hands shaking. "Stop that, Jack!"

She looked away for a second and then back up at his eyes, biting her lip like she always seemed to do when she was nervous.

"I love when you do that…" he chuckled.

She blushed again and all he knew was that he had her in his arms and she wanted to be there…

He leaned down and kissed her cheek, her blush warming his lips as they brushed lightly over it. Then he kissed the tip of her nose, and she giggled. And then, after a moment of letting his lips linger over hers, he kissed her lips. His heart was pounding in an effort to break free from his ribs as she kissed him back as he felt her arms tighten around his neck. He closed his eyes and pulled her closer…

After what seemed an eternity, he pulled away; breaking the kiss. He opened his eyes and saw her face and her still closed eyes. The sun was beginning to rise and the light brought out the splendid color of Elizabeth's blushing cheeks. "You're so beautiful, love…"

"Oh, Jack…" she smiled, resting her head on his chest.

"I'm only telling you the truth…" he whispered, and held her close to his heart, kissing the top of her head. "I love you so much…"