DISCLAIMER: PotC still belongs to Disney. And the lyrics to Far Away are Nickelback's.

This time, this place

Misused, mistakes

Too long, too late

Who was I to make you wait

Just one chance

Just one breath

Just in case there's just one left

Cause you know, you know, you know

That I love you

I have loved you all along

And I miss you

Been far away for far too long

I keep dreaming you be with me

and you'll never go

Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask

Last chance for one last dance

Cause with you, I'd withstand

All of hell to hold your hand

I'd give it all

I'd give for us

Give anything but I won't give up

Cause you know, you know, you know

That I love you

I have loved you all along

And I miss you

Been far away for far too long

I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go

Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore

So far away

Been far away for far too long

So far away

Been far away for far too long

But you know, you know, you know

I wanted

I wanted you to stay

Cause I needed

I need to hear you say

That I love you

I have loved you all along

And I forgive you

For being away for far too long

So keep breathing

Cause I'm not leaving you anymore

Hold on to me and never let me go

Chapter 1

Elizabeth trod carefully the boards of Tia Dalma's hut. In her hand she clutched a crumpled letter. In her heart she cradled a crumpled bird. She paced restlessly in front of the room where Tia Dalma worked.

Will sat at the rickety table, his hand clenched around the mug one of the people from the river had provided. They both looked up when a door closed. Tia Dalma stepped from the room, her face gleaming with sweat and her long, ragged dress whispering. She sat heavily across from Will, and the two looked at her expectantly.

"I cannot wake 'im," Tia Dalma whispered. "'E is too far gone.

"No," Elizabeth said. Her knees buckled into a kneeling position on the floor. Will knelt beside her, murmuring comforts. "Might I have a few moments alone with him…to say goodbye?" Elizabeth nearly choked on the last word.

Tia Dalma walked over and motioned Will back to the table. "I put a bit o' silence on da door t' allow ye a proper goodbye?"

"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered back. As she entered the room, she glimpsed Tia Dalma pointing a lazy finger at the door before it shut. Elizabeth's gaze fell on the bed.

It was strange. The beads, the braided hair and beard, the kohl-lined eyes, the bandanna, the tanned skin; it was all Jack's. But the serene, passive expression, the soulless appearance; it just wasn't Jack. Elizabeth felt like she was looking at the body of a stranger, and yet it was still an old friend. The wounds on his face and hands suddenly stood out like a pop-up book.

"Oh, Jack," she breathed, dropping to her knees beside the bed. She laid her forehead on an unblemished part of his chest. He smelled of salt, sun, sand, and the freedom of open air. And, of course, a touch of rum. The scent comforted her, and she breathed it in deeply.

"I don't know why I did it," Elizabeth told him. "I swear. I suppose you were right. I am a pirate. All I wanted to do was save my own skin." She snorted softly. "Who am I kidding? I know exactly why I did what I did. I was scared," she admitted. "I was afraid of my own feelings. I, the governor's daughter, in love with a dirty rotten pirate? I never even admitted it to myself. I was afraid of what anyone would think. Most especially you. But now I suppose I have to admit it." Elizabeth took a deep breath of the pirate's comforting scent. "Jack…I love you. I have no idea when I figured it out. I haven't the faintest idea why.

"But again, why am I trying to lie to a dead man? I suppose it was the way you went about trying to win me over. Subtle and yet sticking out like a sore thumb. Even though I was stony and indifferent on the outside, it was automatic. Inside, I was warming up to you. I wanted to leave Will and come with you on the Pearl. A life of battle and adventure appealed to me and, even better, my love was a brave, quick-witted, and adventurous pirate.

"In those last moments on the Pearl, when we kissed, I didn't know what to do. I enjoyed it, I admit, but I was repulsed by what I was planning to do, and it soured the moment. When I chained you to the mast, I lied. I was so sorry that words couldn't express it.

"'Pirate', you called me. It summed up the situation perfectly. Almost perfectly. What was it you said about acting on selfish impulse? Well, I suppose that's what I did. But sitting in Tia Dalma's hut, I knew I had done wrong, and I hated myself for it. I still do.

"When we brought your body back, I confess I was relieved, knowing that Tia Dalma could heal you and awaken you. But she couldn't do it." Elizabeth inhaled again, Jack's smell soothing her. "God, Jack, I'm so sorry. I hate myself. I wish I had kissed you and then helped you onto the longboat so you could escape. But I didn't. I was too cowardly. I don't think I could ever do anything to make it up to you. I'm so sorry. So sorry….I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you." She repeated it like a mantra.

"Jack, don't you dare leave me, not now I've said that." She grabbed his white shirt with both hands and shook him. "Wake up!" she cried desperately. "I'll do anything. And if you don't, I'll…I'll feed the Pearl to the kraken with all your rum and your hat on board. I'll tell Scarlett and Giselle that you cheated on them. I'll blow up Tortuga and sink it. I'll tell Beckett your exact location so that he can hang you. Wake up, bugger it!" she yelled, purposely using one of his words. "Wake up!" She slapped him, but it was only half-hearted.

Jack didn't so much as twitch.

Elizabeth laid her head on his chest again and let out a dry sob. She swore at him. "Why am I so hopelessly in love with a dead pirate? Answer me!" she screamed. Then she began to sob uncontrollably. Her tears dripped onto Jack's chest from the end of her nose. "God, wake up and tell me what possessed me to kill you. Even I don't know. But you're a pirate. You know these things. Tell me why I killed you. Tell me why I love you! And it – had – better – be – good!" Elizabeth choked, thumping her fist on his chest.

Jack gave a convulsive jerk.

Elizabeth fell back in surprise, her mouth agape. His chest expanded sharply, and then dropped. He took another breath and let it out. From her position on the floor, Elizabeth gasped as she watched the pirate's labored but sure breathing.

A/n: Ooo! Something that is somewhat but not really that much like a cliffie! Please review…it makes me very happy. Even criticism is good…as long as it's constructive. See the button? Put the mouse over it…very good. Now click on it.