The house was just in view as Elizabeth, Ana, and William walked up the path from the beach. It was a well-worn path now because they had used it so much over the last few years. A few men from the crew followed them with their things. Within minutes, they were at the house. The crew helped to put things in their place and respectfully said goodbye to their Captain and first-mate. Elizabeth thanked them and walked them outside. Once they were out of sight, she came back in and shut the door. She looked around the house and sighed. This house had been a refuge for her nine years ago when she had no where else to turn after Will left. She had spent the first two months of her pregnancy and every other year in this house, raising her son. And this would be the house where she would wait for another year before Will could come home.

Once everything was settled, she helped Ana prepare dinner for the three of them. During dinner, William talked about all the things he wanted to learn over the next year before his father came home. Elizabeth beamed with how much William wanted to impress his father and knew Will would be proud of their son. At eight-years-old, he knew more than most boys knew who were twice his age. He could controll the helm of a ship on his own, he knew how to properly wield a sword from constant practicing with his wooden ones, he could read and write, and he knew everything there is to know about pirates. William dreamed of one day having his own pirate ship to sail the seven seas with. Elizabeth loved her son's enthusiasm for his family's heritage. Not many children took interest in their parents' professions, but William emersed himself in it. Every night before bed, he still requested a story about his father and Elizabeth gladly obliged his request.

After dinner, William practiced a little more before he grew tired and went to bed. Elizabeth tucked him in and told him a story. Soon, he fell asleep. Elizabeth kissed his cheek and went over to her own bed. The moonlight was shining bright through the window and cascaded around her like light from Heaven. She sat on the bed, staring out at the night sky. Today was nine years. Nine years without Will beside her. Only one more year remained and they could be a family again. Her thoughts drifted back to the day, so many years ago, when Will was in her home delivering Norrington's sword for his promotion. She walked down the stairs to see him standing with her father.

"Will! It's so good to see you. I had a dream about you last night."

"About me?" Will was taken back by the thought that Elizabeth had actually dreamed of him.

"Elizabeth, is that entirely proper of you to c..." Governor Swann tried to interject his sentiments, but Elizabeth continued.

"About the day we met. Do you remember?"

"How could I forget, Miss Swann?"

"How many times must I ask you to call me Elizabeth?" Elizabeth smiled sweetly at him.

"At least once more Miss Swann, as always." Will shyly smiled back.

As they had grown older, he had called her Miss Swann and she had always asked him to call her Elizabeth. It was their own private moment. Elizabeth smiled at the memory. They had always loved each other, but were afraid to say anything. Her father had always instructed her to have a sense of propriety in such matters, but she couldn't just ignore what she felt in her heart. At one point, she had even consented to marry Norrington in order to save Will. All she was thinking of was Will in that moment. All of that seemed like so long ago. Elizabeth curled up on her bed and began to recall her year at sea.

The first four months of their journey was uneventful as they traveled to different ports to check on the other pirate lords. Everything seemed to be in order as nothing much had happened since the last time she had made her rounds. When she reached Singapore, she was greeted warmly by the men who were loyal to her. They reported of the doings of the East India Trading Company. Since the death of Cutler Beckett, control of the company fell to a lower man named Thomas Evers. He ordered that all pirates and pirate ports be left alone and that anyone who interfered would face punishment. Elizabeth was pleased with the news of this development. Now all pirates everywhere could sail in peace without the interferance of outsiders. She thanked her informants and left them in charge of her duties in Singapore until she would return. Then The Empress set sail again.

As they neared Port Royal, they ran into an old friend, The Black Pearl again. Jack, as always, was hospitible and invited them to stay aboard for dinner. Elizabeth thanked him kindly and they stayed for dinner. After dinner, some of the crew took to entertaining William with their stories of how they first became pirates. William was emersed in their stories and wanted to hear every detail from their first swords to their latest fights. While the boy was distracted, Jack took his mother aside to have a word with her.

"Elizabeth, love there is something I must tell you."

"What is it Jack?" Elizabeth was curious to what Jack had to tell her.

"I spoke with Will again."

"You did?" Elizabeth couldn't believe that he had seen her husband more than she had in previous years.

"Indeed. Another of our crew, an older gentleman, passed on earlier this year. Will came for his soul." Jack looked as if he had been hit over the head with a bottle of rum.

"Is he well?" Elizabeth managed not to cry.

"Yes. He inquired after you and young William. I told him that you both were well the last time I saw ya. He misses you something terrible Elizabeth."

"Thank you Jack for telling me."

"You're welcome love."

That night, after putting William to bed, Elizabeth stayed up crying. Jack had seen her husband more than she had in the last eight and a half years. She missed him more than she could ever possibly put into words. There was a void in her heart without him there beside her. An unexplainable void that could not be filled with anything else but Will. It was something no one could understand but her and Will. They were made for each other and nothing, not a curse that separated them for ten years, or anything else could ever interfere with that love. She fell asleep that night, imagining that he was right by her side and holding her close.

In the ninth month of their voyage, William turned eight years old. Elizabeth presented him with the dagger from his father and explained where it came from. William was exstatic at receiving something from his father. When he found out that it had once belonged to his grandfather as well, it made the gift all the more special. That night, he approached his mother, intent on getting an answer to a question he had always had since he was old enough to understand that his father was gone.

"Mum." He tugged gently on her shirt sleeve to get her attention.

"Yes William." Elizabeth turned to face her son and answer whatever he might ask.

"Why do you cry all the time at night?" His question was point-blank and straightforward.

Elizabeth was taken back. She didn't know William had heard her all these years. "I miss your father very much William. It's been a long time since I've seen him."

"Why is always gone?"

"That's a long story..." Elizabeth paused and looked at her son's pleading eyes. He wanted to know the truth. "I suppose you're old enough to hear it. Come sit beside me and I'll tell you everything."

William sat by his mother and listened to her every word. Elizabeth explained about Davy Jones, the Dead Man's Chest, and how he was after Jack. She explained how her and Will's first wedding was interrupted by Cutler Beckett. Every detail that had been denied to William in previous telling of these stories was now told. When it came time, she told him about the battle during the maelsrom and how she and Will were married by Barbossa. Tears came to her eyes when she told him how Davy Jones stabbed Will in the heart and how Jack sacrificed his immortality to save Will. William held his mother's hand gently. She told him how Will only got to spend one day on land with her before he had to leave.

"That's why your father can't be with us. He has to complete his ten year duty to The Dutchman before he can come home."

"Did papa really have his heart cut out?" William wanted to know the absolute truth.

"Yes, he did and I've kept it safe all these years. Would you like to see the chest?"

William nodded. Elizabeth got off the bed and went to her trunk. She lifted the lid and moved aside everything on top of the compartment, unlatched it, and lifted out the chest. William came over and knelt next to his mother. He pressed his ear to the chest. Thump thump. Immediately, his eyes grew wide and he stared at his mother. She nodded to reassure him of what he heard was real. Gently, she placed the chest back in its hiding spot and shut the trunk. William came over and hugged his mother.

"Don't worry mum, papa will come home to us soon."

Elizabeth found comfort in her son's words. She knew he was right. Will would come home and they would be together as a family. She couldn't wait for Will to meet their son, the little boy she had raised alone for eight years and was so proud of. In many ways, he reminded her of Will more and more everyday. He had the same ability to comfort those he loved and cared about most. Elizabeth knew that once Will returned that he would share a special father/son bond with William. William would want to know every story his father could tell about his adventures for the past ten years. Elizabeth could not wait until she was reunited with Will, not only for her son's sake, but for her own.

Aboard The Flying Dutchman

All was well aboard The Dutchman. The Captain stepped out of his quarters, gave the orders for the day, and proceeded to walk up the stairs to the helm. Will knew his father would be there. The last nine years had passed with his father by his side. He had always sought out his advice when he needed it and wanted to know more about his mother before she had died. Bootstrap Bill had remained on the ship to pay the debt he owed his son, though Will insisted that he was free to move on. Will was glad that he stayed. He stood next to his father at the helm and began to talk.

"Today I've been married to Elizabeth for nine years. Only one more year and I'll get to be with her." Will paused to recollect his thoughts for what he was going to say. "What will you do after, since you have no further ties to The Dutchman?"

"I suppose it'd be time for me to move on. I've been wantin' to see your mother for quite sometime now. As you last act as Captain, before you leave, I would like you to be the one to ferry my soul to the other side, son." Bootstrap sighed and held tight to the wheel.

Will nodded in reply. "I will, Father."

As sad as it made him feel, he knew that his father deserved to move on, to be with his mother. Will knew that it wouldn't be for another year, so he intended to make the last year with his father the best one. He patted his father's shoulder and went back down the stairs to his cabin. Once the door shut, he took off his bandana and laid it on the table. He sat in the nearby chair and felt the ring on the cord around his neck. Only one year remained until he could give it to Elizabeth. Beneath the ring was his scar. His fingers graced it for a moment. It had been nine years since his heart was cut out and yet, the wound still felt as fresh as it did the moment it happened. He knew it was safe with Elizabeth. It had always belonged to her. No one else in the world could've stolen his heart as easily as she did.

Will moved from the chair to his bed. He thought of his last year. Many of his original crew had moved on because they no longer feared death. All who passed on said that Will made death a lot less of a foe than when Davy Jones controlled The Dutchman and the locker. Will ferried all their souls to the land of the dead. Though he would miss many of the crew who had become his friends over the years, he knew that their souls were going on to a better place.

During the course of the year, he took on a new charge from The Black Pearl. When he arrived to the ship, Jack was waiting for him. Will was glad to see an old friend and the familiar faces of the crew. Jack greeted him warmly and Will even had time to speak with his friend. His first thoughts, were, however were to inquire after his wife and son's well being.

"How's Elizabeth and William?"

"They're both well. William is growing into a fine, straping lad. Looks jus' like ya, I swear it. Elizabeth is teachin' him all about pirates and whatnot."

Will beamed with pride. His son was learning from the best. "Did you deliver the letter and box I left for her?"

"Indeed. She was happy when she saw it was from you. I don't think I ever saw her so happy as I did that day. She misses you something fierce Will."

"Only a little more than a year remains until I can be with her. I promised her that I would come home to her and I fully intend to do so."

"You stick to that promise Will."

"I will."

"So, how's things otherwise on The Dutchman?"

"They're alright. I spend a lot of time talking with my father. I never really thanked you properly for sending me to The Dutchman in the first place. I would have never met my father had you not." Will offered his hand forward.

Jack cautiously grabbed it and shook it. "You're welcome." He was unsure how to answer a thanks like that. After all, he bloody well tricked Will onto that ship in the first place to square his debt with Jones.

Will parted soon after that to return to The Dutchman and his duty. Reassured that Elizabeth and William were doing well, his mind was at ease again. The months crept on slowly as Will continued his duty. A few more souls came to him to be guided into the next world. One night he was standing out on the deck of his ship when a blinding light surrounded him. Out of the light stepped Calypso, in her human form of Tia Dalma. Will bowed his head in reverence. It had been a few years since her last visit, so he was surprised that she had come.

"What do I owe the honor of this visit?" Will raised his head to look at the goddess.

"I come to give ya a gift, William Turna. You have done your duty faithfully for years, so I come to reward ya." Calypso stepped forward, closer to Will. "Look into da waters and you will see what I mean."

Will walked to the side of the ship and gazed down into the water. It was as dark as the night sky and the waves were lapping against the side of the ship. Calypso waved her hand and suddenly the water began to swirl before his eyes to produce a picture. In the picture, he saw Elizabeth holding her sword. The sun was shining brightly around her. A boy came up to her with a wooden sword shaped exactly like hers. Will suddenly realized that it was William, his son! She was teaching him defensive moves on a beach. Will noted how skilled his son had become. Elizabeth looked as beautiful as he remembered her. Age had not affected her as Calypso had promised. She looked exactly as he recalled. The last thing he saw was Elizabeth pull their son into an embrace and smile down at him before Calypso waved her hand again and the picture was gone. Will turned around to Calypso.

"Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me to see my family safe and well."

"You 'ave served me well and I like to reward those who do well." Calypso's mouth formed into a smile.

Almost as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared from the ship, leaving Will to his own thoughts. He had seen Elizabeth and knew that she was well. He had also seen his son and how much he had grown. Elizabeth was right, he did have her hair and his eyes. Watching his son learn sword play was a proud moment for Will. Elizabeth was teaching him well. Calypso had truly given him a gift and the hope to carry on until his duty was complete. He saw what he had to look forward to when he arrived home.

Will remembered that night well. He absorbed every ounce of what his wife and child looked like into his memory. Now all that remained between him and being with his family was one year. One year of service left. Will knew that the hardest year lay ahead of him. Now he could count the days until he could come home. Everything he had been hoping for and waiting for the last nine years came down to this last year. After this last year, he could return to the land of the living and those who were waiting for him there. He would be restored as a full time husband to his beautiful wife and a father to his son, the son that Elizabeth gave him. Will layed in his bed and thought of how wonderful it was going to be when he finally reunited with those he loved the most.
A/N: Here is another anticipated chapter! Only one year remains!!!!