Elizabeth woke from another peaceful dream about Will. It seemed that is all she dreamed about lately was him. Thankfully it wasn't the horrific dreams about Davy Jones thrusting his sword into Will's chest like she had so many years ago. Silently, she sat up and looked across the room to William, still sleeping in his own bed. They had arrived back to their home a day early from their year long journey on the sea, so everyone was exhausted. It was still somewhat dark outside and chilly, so Elizabeth grabbed a shawl made of Chinese silk she had acquired the past year, and walked outside to the beach. She sat in the sand and watched the sunrise. It was one of her favorite times of the day because the colors were so beautiful. The light reds, oranges, and hues of pink bounced off the water and shined all around her. It truly was a stunning sight. One that she wished she could've shared with Will. Today was seven years. It had been seven long years without her husband. Now, only three more remained until she could share every sunrise they could ever see together with him.

When the sun was fully up, she pulled her shawl around her and walked back to the house where William was just beginning to wake. Ana was awake and preparing breakfast for all of them. Elizabeth walked in and began to help Ana finish preparing the meal and told William to wash up for breakfast. He politely obeyed his mother and washed his face and hands in the basin she had left for him. William was now six years old and perhaps the most polite pirate child one could ever meet. Elizabeth decided long ago, when he was still an infant, that she would raise him with at least proper manners, even if he was going to be a pirate like his parents. The three sat down to eat together. Breakfast was peaceful with William going on about how he was going to swim later in the day. Elizabeth gently told him it would have to wait until the next day because she was still tired from their journey and needed to rest. William nodded in understanding.

"Could I just play outside the house instead?" he asked.

"Alright, but only for a while. I do want you to come inside for a while and rest later."

"Thanks Mum!" With that, he darted out the door.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Sometimes I think he has more energy than four of me. How he can go on like that for hours on end just escapes me."

"Children are gifted with that kind of energy. It just comes naturally for them," Ana said. "Trust me, I grew up with four younger brothers and two younger sisters."

"How did your mother ever keep up?" They began cleaning up after breakfast.

"She had me to help with the youngest ones while she tended to the older. I took care of the two babies, Eli and Antoinette."

"Seven children! How did she manage through all the births? I had a hard time with just William and my own mother died giving birth to me."

"Well, there were only six births. The two youngest were twins. My mama was strong and always had a will to survive for us, her children. I was there for the last three births and even delivered the twins because there was no time for the midwife to arrive. My mama even let me name Eli for helping her."

"What ever happened to all your brothers and sisters?"

"Well, the eldest boys, Joseph and James, went into a merchant business together about two years ago. Then Robert is currently training to be a blacksmith. Lily was married about a year ago and expecting a child. Then Eli and Antoinette are still only fifteen. My mama says they want to be pirates like me."

"You sound like you're proud of all of them."

"I am. Every last one of 'em."

"Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to go lie down for a while. If you're going to stay in here, could you peer outside every once in a while to check on William for me?"

"Yes, I will. I'm going to be working on some things anyways, so I'll make sure he doesn't get himself in too much trouble." Ana winked sarcastically at Elizabeth who smiled back.

Elizabeth went to her room and shut the door. She knelt by her trunk and opened it. Quietly, she moved aside letters, the journal, and a few pieces of clothing until she found the latch to open the compartment. Silently, she pulled out the chest and set it in her lap. She leaned over and listened for the reassuring sound she was looking for. Thump thump. As soon as she heard it, her heart instantly began to beat with it. Their two heartbeats became one. She wished that the heart in the chest could really be inside the one she loved, Will. It would only be three more years until she could be with him again. Seven years had gone by. Elizabeth could hardly believe it had been seven years when it felt like an eternity. As quietly as she had lifted the chest from her trunk, she returned it and latched the compartment. She sank down beside her trunk and began to cry softly. The last year had really taken a toll on Elizabeth and now it was finally catching up to her.

Their journey began peaceful, like it always did, well as peaceful as you can get with a five-year-old running around deck. All the crew adored her son and happily answered all his questions about the ship and anything he could think of. It wasn't too long into the voyage when little William fell ill for the first time in his life. Elizabeth had always zealously guarded his health and when he became sick, she felt like it was her fault. For days his body burned with fever and he cried out in his uneasy sleep. Elizabeth rocked him back and forth in her arms and hummed to him in order to calm him down. She prayed that her little boy be spared. Finally, days later, his fever broke and he was able to sit up and drink a few sips of soup at a time. Elizabeth was thankful that her son would be alright. She didn't think she could've handled losing her only child, nor could Will have handled having to ferry his son's soul to the other side. Until he regained all of his strength, she didn't allow him to go outside their cabin on the ship. The crew constantly inquired about his health which proved to Elizabeth that they did care about his well-being. William did not like being cooped up in the cabin all day, but he obeyed his mother in hopes that he would be able to go outside again soon. Within another week's time, he was outside running around like he always did, but Elizabeth kept a close eye for any kind of cough, sniffle, or fever. But William remained in pristine health.

Months passed in peace as they sailed from port to port. William enjoyed the sights of France and Singapore most. While in Singapore, Elizabeth picked up a few more robes for herself and allowed William to pick out a few items himself. He picked a few toys and even a hat that he took a liking to. Also while in Singapore, William picked up a friend and tried to sneak it on the ship under his shirt. His mother caught him two steps onto the ship.

"William James Turner!"

William cringed at hearing his full name. He knew it meant he was in trouble. As innocently as possible he looked up at his mother. "Yes, mum."

"What exactly do you have under your shirt?"

At this point, William knew it was futile to try and hide his new friend from his mother. Slowly, he procured the puppy he'd been hiding under his shirt and presented it to her. It was a tiny, pathetic looking thing. Its fur was black and it had one white spot on its tiny chest. Elizabeth couldn't resist looking at its sad little blue eyes. She had to admit it was cute and could see why William wanted it.

"Where did you find it?"

"She was all alone in the street. She looked so sad mum, I couldn't just leave her. Can I please keep her if I promise to look after her?"

"William, do you realize how much trouble a dog would be on a ship?"

"I promise to look after her and won't let her get in the way! Please mum!"

Finally, Elizabeth conceded to allow her son to have a companion. William and the dog took to one another right away. He named her Daisy. In the weeks that followed, wherever William was Daisy was sure to follow. She even slept curled up next to him. Elizabeth had to admit the pair were quite cute together. When Daisy didn't grow for a month, Elizabeth knew she was going to be a small dog, which was better for everyone. She documented William's first pet in his journal for Will. She wondered if Will ever had a pet growing up, but quickly dismissed the thought when she heard barking and giggling.

During the ninth month at sea, William celebrated his sixth birthday. Elizabeth showed him the journal for the first time and asked him if he would like to write in it since his writing skills had improved over the last year. Instantly he set off drawing a picture for his father and writing underneath it an explanation of what the picture portrayed. Daisy slept at her master's feet while he drew. Elizabeth had to smile at the whole scene and wished Will could be there to share it with her. The tenth month crept by uneventfully with just two stops to restock supplies and to get William some new clothes since he grew out of his by the minute.

Two weeks before they were to come home, the unthinkable happened. William's sweet puppy, Daisy, became very ill and died. William cried so hard as it was his very first experience with death. The crew organized a sea burial for the poor dog. William couldn't contain his tears in the cabin that night. He curled up in his mother's lap and sobbed.

"Why mummy?" he sobbed. "Why did my puppy have to die?"

Elizabeth consoled her son as best she could. "Sweetheart, sometimes those that we love have to leave us. But they don't leave us for good. We'll see them again. Daisy is probably watching over you right now."

"Really?" William's tear streaked face looked up at Elizabeth's.

"Yes. My father died a few years ago, before you were even born. I know he is watching over me and you. I know it hurts right now, but Daisy wouldn't want you to cry all the time. She would want you to remember how much fun you had together."

"Alright." William laid his head back on her shoulder and eventually fell asleep. Elizabeth carried her son to his bed and tucked him in.

She slid into her own bed, still wishing she could take away her son's pain. Her thoughts turned to the day she thought she had lost Will for good. The gut-wrenching feeling that she had watching him struggle for breath, knowing that each one could be his last. They had only been married for less than an hour. Elizabeth remembered Will closing his eyes for what she thought was the last time and Jack pulling her away, knowing that the ship was about to go under. She remembered thinking that he was gone and not coming back. When the ship resurfaced minutes later, with Will at the helm, she could not help but feel unexplainable joy that he was alive when she had seen him die moments earlier. It was a feeling of relief and pure happiness. Elizabeth knew she was lucky to have Will in her life and lucky that he was alive. He was the grace of her life.

Aboard The Flying Dutchman

Will stared down at the scar that graced his chest. It had been seven years since his heart was cut out, but it still felt like only yesterday. He knew his heart was safe with his wife though. The wife he married the very same day he had his heart carved out. Elizabeth. The woman he loved with everything inside of him. Only three more years remained in his sentence before he could go home to his family. The family Elizabeth had given him less than a year after his departure. He couldn't wait to go home and spend time with his wife and son. There were so many things he wanted to teach William and so many things he wanted to tell Elizabeth. He sat in the silence of his cabin. The crew knew not to disturb him on this day. Even his own father knew how hard it was for Will to be separated from Elizabeth. Will often wondered what she was doing at that very moment and what kind of mischief his son was getting into.

The last year was rather uneventful for Will as not many died at sea. Most days he sat in the solitude of his cabin, refining the plans for William's sword or staring at the ring he was going to give Elizabeth. He finally had a meaning for every stone that was on the ring. Now he was perfecting how to explain each one to his wife. One night, as he was sitting at his desk and holding the ring in his hand, a knock came at the door. He bid them to enter. Bootstrap walked through the door. Will greeted his father and allowed him to sit with him. Bootstrap saw the ring in his hand and smiled.

"Thinking about what you're going to say to her?"

Will nodded. "How can you tell someone you love them so much when no words come close to even describing how you feel?"

"I often asked myself the same question when your mother was alive. The answer I came to wasn't until after she passed. It isn't in the words you say all the time. Sometimes it's in the actions and things you do to show her that you love her."

"There is only three more years until I can give her this, until I can be with her always."

"When that day comes, Will, it will be something you both deserve, as well as your son. I'm sure he's growing by the minute. Your mother used to send me letters about you. She'd tell me all the things you were up to and how much you were growing." Bootstrap patted his son on the back.

"She would always tell me how much I looked like you except my eyes, which looked like her's. William has the same eyes. Elizabeth told me in the letter I received last year. Calypso has been kind enough to allow a few letters to pass between us."

"The Sea Goddess can understand true love when she sees it. Don't forget that she once loved too."

Bootstrap left his son on that thought and went up to the helm. Will thought about how Calypso understood his and Elizabeth's circumstances. He knew she fell in love with Davy Jones, but never knew how deep that love ran until she couldn't help the Bretheren Court during the battle against the East India Trading Company because Davy Jones was on their side. Will wondered silently to himself if Calypso knew how much he loved Elizabeth. He then thought of what his father had said, that it was the actions that show how much you love a person in addition to the words. Right then he decided that he would show how much he loved Elizabeth to her when he got home.Home. That seemed like such a unfamiliar word to him. Living on the sea for seven years made him forget what land felt like. Yet, at the same time, home meant Elizabeth and William to him. Home meant being able to wake up with his arms wrapped around his wife and having their son wake them just so he could play. Home would be where he and Elizabeth would have more children and a happy life. It would be a permanent place where they could build the life they had always dreamed of. Having a life together meant the world to them. Will couldn't wait to come home and be with Elizabeth and their son.

After recollecting his year, Will stepped outside of his cabin into the bright sunshine of the day. He walked to the front of the ship and leaned on the railing with his forearms. The ocean was calm and blue. They had been granted a beautiful day. Once again, his thoughts turned to Elizabeth. She would love to be on the ocean with him, sailing to wherever their hearts desired. He wished she could be on deck with him so he could wrap his arms around her waist and smell her hair, which always smelled of jasmine. Only three more years remained until he could do so.

"Three more years," he sighed. "Only three more and I'll be home. I promise Elizabeth."

A/N: Yay...only 3 more years left! Here's another chapter. Sorry if it's badly done, but I felt inspired to write something and this is what came out. Let me know what you think! Reviews greatly appreciated.