Elizabeth sat in her cabin on The Empress, ready for another year of sailing. William was already running around the deck of the ship, ready to take on all the new adventures his five-year-old mind could begin to imagine. They had been on the ship less than an hour and already he had chased down half the crew members he recognized to show him all the parts of the ship he had not previously explored. Elizabeth smiled that her son was so eager to learn and retired to her cabin to put her things away. As soon as all her things were settled, Elizabeth allowed her mind to slow down and catch up with her. The last few days had been hectic, getting ready for the journey and this was the first time she had really had time to think. She sat on the bed and pulled herself over to the porthole to peer out onto the ocean. The sun was already up and brightly shining in the sky. She knew that it was night wherever Will was. Will. Her beloved husband of now six years. Today was the day of their six year anniversary. They were now more than half way through their torturous ten years apart. She wondered what he was doing at that very moment.

Probably resting, she thought to herself.

She wished that she could be resting with him. One of the things she missed most was how much comfort it brought her just to lay her head on his shoulder, to feel his warmth as he embraced her. Over the last six years, she had gotten used to sleeping alone or with her son curled against her when he woke in the middle of the night, frightened by a dream. Elizabeth wondered how it would feel to actually share a bed with the man she loved and to wake up with him next to her every morning. She knew it would be heaven. The lonliness she had endured the past six years had been horrible, but she knew that it could have been far worse without her son being in her life. He was the miracle that had gotten her through the last six years and would help her to endure the next four.

As she continued to stare out the porthole, she thought of the last year. It had been a beneficial year on land for everyone. William was learning how to read and his shyness had dwindled as he talked more and more to his mother and Ana. The first whole month, Elizabeth allowed him to practically stay outside all he wanted and play in the sand and water. She had also begun his swimming lessons and discovered that he was a natural, which she never doubted because he loved the water. When he wasn't swimming, he would play in the sand and build mounds that he called his "castles". During their first month, William also began keeping seashells he found on the beach. When Elizabeth asked about them, he simply called them his "pretties" and continued to build his collection. He found them in all different colors strewn all along the beach and hid them in a small satchel in his toy chest.

After the first month, Elizabeth began adding his daily lessons for an hour a day. William enjoyed spending an hour a day with just his mother. She read him books of fairy tales she grew up with and encouraged him to try a few of the words at a time. Gradually, he began to try them until he could read an entire sentence on his own. Elizabeth was proud of his progress and continued his lessons.

The first seven months of their stay was peaceful and serene. Between lessons with William and taking him outside to play, Elizabeth's time was occupied. She smiled more at his antics as he scared all the sealife from their little cove and even caught a small fish with his bare hands. Every night, after putting her son to bed, Elizabeth would come into the small room adjoining her's and talk with Ana. The last six years had made them close companions and friends. Elizabeth enjoyed listening to her stories about her past and family. It made her think of her father often, who she still dearly missed.

"At least your father was around growing up," Ana said one night. "All I had was my mother. She taught me everything about the world and how cruel it can be sometimes."

"I would have given anything to have met my mother," Elizabeth sighed. "My father always told me she was beautiful and very opinionated. He said that is where I get it from."

A long silence followed before Ana said anything else. "Elizabeth, I never told you who was the father of my daughter, Jaqueline."

"No, you didn't now that I think of it."

"Well, it was a long time ago and I was very young. I made a lot of irresponsible decisions that I later regretted. Though I never regretted having my daughter, I regretted the fact that she would never know her true father. That is why I gave her up, so that she would have a mother and a father that would love and care for her the way I couldn't."

"You did what was best for your child. No mother could ever hold you in blame for that."

"I know, but it still doesn't ease the pain that I felt giving her to her new family. I still see her eyes gazing up at me innocently in my dreams. She has his eyes." Ana's voice began to falter.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I understand that it still hurts for you to talk about it."

"No. I have to say it or it will plague me the rest of my life. The father of my beautiful daughter is Jack Sparrow."

Elizabeth sat dumbfounded and completely speechless.

"Shocking as it is, it's the truth. When I told him that the child was his, he said he wouldn't be a proper father because he was a pirate. A pirate! Then what, may I ask, am I?" Ana paused to recollect her thoughts. "After she was born, he came to see her once. I think, though he'll never admit it, that it hit a soft spot with him that I named her Jaqueline. Jaqueline Victoria Sparrow."

"Oh Ana, I'm so sorry. Sometimes Jack truly is a scoundrel and this is one of those times. He should have acted like a man and took responsibility for his child."

"Don't go feeling sorry for me. My daughter is in a much better home with caring parents who will love her as much as I do. Just count yourself lucky that Will is going to be there for you and your child. He wants to be in William's life, but his circumstances dictate that he cannot for the time being."

Elizabeth nodded in understanding. She knew that Will wanted more than anything to be home with her and their son. Ana left her to her own thoughts and went to bed. Elizabeth sat alone in the room with a lamp lit. Her conversation with Ana had made her think of another she had with Will shortly before they were to be married in Port Royal, before the wedding that was interrupted by Lord Cutler Beckett. She had spent an evening with Will alone, without fear of reprimand by her father. Now that he knew her true feelings for Will, the Governor realized that he could do little to sway his daughter and allowed her more freedom to spend time with Will. They had gone on a picnic on the beach and were now sitting under the moonlight, Elizabeth snuggled in Will's arms.

"Will, what do you want most in this life?"

"Nothing."

"Surely you must want something."

"All that I've ever wanted I have right here, in my arms." He kissed her forehead gently. "What about you Elizabeth?"

"Oh, it probably seems like a silly girl's fantasy."

"I wouldn't think so."

"Well, I've always dreamed of building a life with you. Having a house, waking up every morning in your arms, knowing that I'm forever your's, and..."

"And?"

"...a child. I've always wanted a child of my own to love and there is no one I would rather have a child with than you." She snuggled more against his chest.

"There is no one I would rather have bear my children than you. You are going to be a wonderful mother Elizabeth. I love you."

Elizabeth smiled at the memory. She had received her greatest wish in her son. The other things would wait until Will could come home permanently. She blew out the lantern and went back to her own room. William was sleeping soundly in his bed, so she slipped quietly into her own and fell asleep. Her dream was of the day Will would come home and how happy she was when he took her into his arms and kissed her. She saw the pride on his face upon meeting their son for the first time and how complete they were as a family.

The last few months passed by uneventfully as Elizabeth continued teaching her son how to read and taking him out to swim in the sea. William reached his fifth birthday, which was celebrated by Elizabeth presenting him with his first wooden sword to practice with. Jack had given it to her over a year ago to give to him when he was ready and she figured it was the right time to begin teaching him how to properly use one. His name was even carved into the hilt carefully. Then she and Ana gave him his very first tricorn pirate hat to wear. Immediately he put it on and gallavanted around the house singing fragmented verses of "A Pirate's Life For Me" and thrusting his sword into the air. Both women smiled at the boy's enthusiasm for his own heritage. Elizabeth knew he was a pirate at heart, just like she had always been since she was a child herself. Pirates were, after all, how she met and fell in love with William's father.

On the last night of their stay, as was her private tradition, Elizabeth left William in Ana's care to go down to the beach. When she left, Ana was entertaining William with a humorous story about his dear Uncle Jack and the time he impersonated a clergyman in the Church of England. Elizabeth walked down to the shore and past her usual spot to swim with William to the spot where she had said goodbye to Will. It had remained untouched since her last visit two years previous. The waves were calm and soothing, just as they had been the night she and Will had occupied the beach. Silently, she sat down in the cool sand and pulled out something she had brought with her in a pouch. It was a piece of parchment, a quill, and a tiny bottle of ink. She sat the bottle beside her and straightened out the parchment. Then she dipped the quill in the ink and began to write by moonlight. As she finished her letter, she rolled it up and pulled out a bottle from her pouch, uncorked it, and put the letter inside of it. She recorked the bottle and set it out to sea, praying that Calypso would have mercy and allow the letter to pass to whatever world Will happened to be in so that he might read it and know how much she missed him. For as long as she could see the bottle, she watched it drift into the night, knowing that it sent her love to the one she loved the most.

Aboard The Flying Dutchman

The sun was already high in the sky when Captain Will Turner took the helm from one of his crew members. All conditions were calm at sea and the weather was perfect. Will stared listlessly out into the ocean, thinking again of Elizabeth. The ring he intended to give her was still tightly secured on the cord around his neck. He couldn't wait to slip it on her finger and tell her the meaning of every stone. The crew knew that he thought of her often, but they knew to leave him to his thoughts, especially on this day. Today was six years. There was only four more years to endure before he could see his wife and son again. He was anxiously anticipating meeting his son for the first time since his birth. Silently, he wondered who the boy would look like more. He hoped that William would bare more resemblance to his mother with her kind features and golden hair. Then again, he hoped his son would have his eyes because they were the same eyes his own mother had, gentle and caring. While thinking of his son, he thought of the gift he had been planning for quite sometime. During the time in his cabin, he had drawn out and made plans for the most magnificent sword he had ever made. When he returned home, he intended to make it for his son and present it to him on his sixteenth birthday. It would be made with the strongest steel, laid with gold filiment in the hilt, and his name engraved on it.

While dreaming of his family back home, he heard the man in the crow's nest shout something. Will took out his telescope and peered through it. Sure enough, there was something floating in the water. He ordered his crew to retrieve whatever it was. They pulled a bottle out of the water and handed it to their captain. Immediately, he broke it and pulled away the rolled up parchment from the glass. Upon unrolling it, he saw his name on it. He ordered that Bootstrap be left in charge of the helm while he went to his cabin to read the parchment. The door shut behind him and he lit the lantern for light. He sat on the edge of the bed and began to read. It was in Elizabeth's handwriting.

Will,

Tomorrow will officially be six years since your curse began. Right now I'm sitting on the very beach we spent our last day together on. Our last day together and first day as husband and wife. I can't imagine that it has already been six years and yet, I still miss you as much as I did the very moment you left, if not more. I miss the sound of your voice and how comforting your embrace is. I miss the feel of your body against mine when you embrace me. The last six years have been torture to endure without you, but my one relief has been our son. William has grown so much. He is now five years old and the brightest little boy I've ever seen. You should see him Will. He is fearless and willing to try anything at least once. I've tried to teach him to swim, but it was useless as he is a natural in the water. He loves everything about the sea and all the stories about you on the sea, saving me and Uncle Jack, fighting bad pirates, and defeating Lord Beckett. His interest in pirates grows almost everyday. I've given him his first wooden sword to teach him with, but he can't wait to learn from you. Every night, he always requests to hear a story about you. He can't wait to meet you for the first time. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of you. He has your eyes, my hair, your ears and nose, and my hands. Everyday I'm thankful to have him. I've been doing a lot of thinking Will and when you come home, I would like to have another child with you. Perhaps not right away, but sometime after I would. After all, William does need a little sister to look after. If you are reading this, Calypso has given us a small favor. Will, only four more years separate us from one another and then we can be together again. Know that I'm still waiting and that I love you with all of my heart.

Your loving wife,
Elizabeth

Will could hardly believe what he was reading. It was a relief to know that his wife and son were doing alright. He constantly worried about them event though he knew how strong Elizabeth was and she was able to take care of herself. It excited him that his son wanted to know all about pirates even though he knew that it would eventually happen because pirate was in his blood. After all, his mother is Pirate King and Lord of the South China Sea and his father Captain of The Flying Dutchman. Will could feel his chest swell with pride in his son. He knew Elizabeth would teach him all the songs she knew and how to properly use a sword, but he couldn't wait to teach him all the things he knew. The thought of teaching his son gave him something more to look forward to. Another thing was Elizabeth did want another child. For years now, Will had kept having the same dream of another child with Elizabeth, a daughter. Now he knew that the dream could become a reality.

The past six years had been difficult in ferrying souls to the other side. It wasn't a job that he wanted, but he did it in the hopes that he could go home after ten years of service. He couldn't wait to come home and sleep in his own bed with his wife at his side. Every morning he wanted to wake up and pull her close to him. The thought of his wife and child waiting for him had brought him through the first six years and would pull him through the next four. Will couldn't wait to go home and hold the ones he loved most close to him.

A/N: Only four more years to go until Will comes home!!! Let me know what you think. Thank you for all the reviews so far. I appreciate it so much.