A/N: Sorry for the delay! This summer's been pretty busy. I'll be gone for the next two weeks, then the new Harry Potter book comes out...which mean's it's gonna be a while before the next update, so sorry this is so short. A few notes before it starts--this chapter contains a bit of JE. I personally do not believe Jack and Elizabeth still have feelings for each other after seeing the third movie, but JE is too much fun to play with, so I'm pretended Jack still 'loves' Elizabeth. Don't own POTC, bla bla bla, and thanks for reading.

Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!

"What was that?"

Will shut the compass. "I can't make Elizabeth immortal. It's not fair to her. We need to find another way."

He turned and hurried through the water. Jack rushed to catch up.

"Wait! Wait!" Jack called. "Let's rethink this. We're here, at the Fountain! It is my thinking that—"

"No one's stopping you from finding the Fountain!" Will said angrily over his shoulder. Not good, not good, not good.

"Come on, mate, don't you want to save your damsel in distress? 'Ere's a way!" Jack tried.

"No," Will said firmly. "I won't do this. It's not fair to Elizabeth."

"Why not?

"Do you understand immortality?" Will asked. "Do you?"

Now that was funny. Jack knew all about immortality. "Of course I understand it!" Jack replied. Before he had a chance to make another argument, Will whirled.

"Why doesn't your compass work for you?"

"It's Elizabeth, alright?" Jack shouted. He paused. "That didn't come out right…"

Will tensed. "Elizabeth?"

"It's almost annoying the way she keeps popping up in my head," Jack grumbled. "Haven't thought about her once since that battle, then I went and visited her and I'm thinkin' about her again…it's not like we're that different, me and her…we 'ave kissed before…maddeningly annoying actually…"

"That compass points to my wife?" Will asked quietly.

Might have not been the best idea for Jack to voice his thoughts aloud…

"More like it's trying to decide if it should point to your wife, actually," Jack corrected.

In an action so quick Jack barely followed it, Will took out his sword and pressed it hard against Jack's neck. "Stay away from her!" he shouted. He was literally simmering. "You gave us a chance to be together. Why don't you leave it that way?"

Why couldn't Jack just leave it that way? It had seemed so simple on the Dutchman. Jack hadn't felt a thing for Elizabeth. And he had known that the whelp and Elizabeth should be able to be together, and he had known that he had to stab the heart because it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to Will to die like that, and it wasn't fair to Elizabeth to not have her husband. And in all honesty, besides a casual "How's she doing?" thought once in a while, Jack hadn't thought about Elizabeth.

One visit and it was all it took.

He was doubting his past choices again.

"Are you listening?" Will seethed. He jabbed his sword at him again. "STAY AWAY FROM HER!

Jack blinked in surprise. "Easy, lad."

"What was that?" The sword pressed down harder.

"Captain."

Will smiled, but it wasn't his smile. It was cruel and strange and different.

Suddenly, the smile broke. The sword fell to the water with a splash. Will dropped his hand and stared in horror. There was silence. Then Will disappeared.

"We best get back to the ship," one of the crewmembers said slowly. Jack just nodded.

They left the cave. Jack stopped at the river and filled an empty rum bottle with it's water. Then, they boarded the ship.

"Where is dear William?" Jack asked Bootstrap Bill Turner.

"Down in the captain's quarters." Jack made to leave but Bootstrap stopped him. "Says he's not to be disturbed."

"Of course not," Jack said easily, slightly shaken by what had happened but not enough to actually stay away from Will.

"Jack!" Bootstrap called. "I'm serious. Leave him alone."

"What makes you think that I won't?" Jack asked.

Then he walked away from Bootstrap and barged into Will's cabin.

Will was sitting on his cot with his head in his hands. When Jack closed the door Will lifted his head. He looked tired. Jack took a few steps in. "There's only four years and three months left," Will said quietly.

"I know that…"

"But if Elizabeth isn't faithful…I'd be stuck here forever."

"I think you'll find that—"

"And it's not just that," Will continued. He sounded pained. "I don't want to be separated from her ever again, Jack. I couldn't do it. Because I love her."

Jack just stared. Will looked him in the eyes.

"I don't want to be like Davy Jones. I don't want to become what he was. And I don't want my lover to betray me. I…I need you to promise me that you would never do anything." Will said.

"I don't think I'm much of a threa—"

"Please promise me."

"Alrigh', lad," Jack said softly. "I promise."

Will closed his eyes. "Thank you."

A/N: Also...I'm trying to decide between two different endings. One is more tragic than I'd like it to be, but realestic. The other is happier, but might be slightly contrived. It would be great if you could review and say which you'd prefer!