A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed :) I hope you all had an amazing Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza :) Here's chapter 4 for you :) Happy New Year's everyone:)

Disclaimer: Disney owns everything...

Will stood on the deck of Tia's river house later that afternoon. He watched Elizabeth with troubled eyes. He knew she was only sleeping, but he didn't quite understand why she was out sleeping in the sand.

She was different.

Elizabeth Swann never slept in anything less than a hammock aboard a ship, and her she was, outside in a fifthly swamp, sleeping in the sand. He had noticed the compass earlier, and his eyes fell when he saw it.

He didn't understand. Why was Jack's compass five feet from Elizabeth's sleeping body?

He would ask her later, he decided. He took out the compass from his pocket he had taken earlier. He studied the sleek object for a moment.

He was disgusted.

He was holding an object that belonged to Jack, the pirate who possibly stole his fiancée's heart. She was safe in his arms for months.

That is, until Jack Sparrow came along. Jack had to ruin everything.

Will shook his head. Jack was gone. There was no need to get worked up over him now. He would talk with Elizabeth when she woke up. He sighed deeply, and walked back into Tia's house, shutting the door softly behind him.

----

She was cold. Her eyes flickered open slowly. The sun was high in the sky. Her body lay in its heat. She was damp, she noticed. The swampy water was closer to her now. She figured the high tide must've hit while she was sleeping.

She sat up slowly, her mind still in a fog. Surprisingly, she felt slightly better than she had the past night. She was thankful for it. She at least had the strength to stand and walk. As she walked to the ladder, she noticed that the compass was gone.

She panicked.

She ran to the shore of the swamp. She plunged her hands into the water, the slick muck covering them.

"Where the bloody hell is it?" she whispered furiously.

"Looking for something?"

She heard his voice. She froze in her movements. His voice was slightly cold. She turned around slowly. Her eyes met his. His eyes were sour towards hers. Yet, she could still see his compassion and love in them.

Then she saw it.

He vaguely showed her the compass in his hand.

"Will…" she whispered softly. She watched as he made his way down the ladder. He walked slowly over to her.

"I found it. . ." he said gently, handing her the compass that was so valuable and precious to her. Her nerves settled. He didn't seem angry. She began to feel more comfortable around him. She took the compass from his soft hands. As her skin touched his, her heart began to soften, and she felt it being repaired.

"Why do you have it Elizabeth?" he asked softly, his voice was tender now. Her eyes were locked on his warm, soft brown eyes.

How was she going to answer that?

Her eyes darted from corner to corner before settling back on his again.

". . . I just found it in my pocket . . .Jack must have given it to me to help us find you. . .and I never gave it back," she explained, Will's eyes falling on the word "Jack".

He was quiet, waiting for her to continue.

She had to tell him the compass's secret. It was only fair. She took a deep breath.

"Will . . . the truth is, Jack's compass is unique. It doesn't point north, you knew that right?" Her voice was very soft.

He nodded.

". . .What Jack's compass points to is the thing you want most in this world. And. . ."

She took another deep breath.

". . . After a few days looking for you, I was using it. Will I'm sorry. . ." her voice began to crack.

"It pointed to Jack." Will finished for her in a whisper. His head was turned. He began to shake it. He couldn't believe it.

There was nothing but silence. Will's mind buzzed thinking about what he just heard. Elizabeth . . . his Elizabeth, wanted Jack. Over him.

"Do you love him?" he suddenly asked. It was sort of an absurd question. Yet, he did have the right to know. She still was his fiancée.

Did she love him? She didn't quite know herself. . .

"I don't know." Her voice was muffled. She looked frantically for Will's eyes. He flashed them at hers.

"But Will . . . I know that I still love you."

Will looked at her.

"Elizabeth . . . I love you. I always will. But I don't want you to marry me if you have feelings for another man. Perhaps we should wait on our wedding. To make sure . . . that you still want to be married . . . to me."

His voice was loving, tender and gentle. It was the Will Turner she knew. He raised his hand to her cheek, took his thumb, and stroked her soft cheek gently. He then leaned his face into hers, and kissed her on the same cheek. He glanced at her once more before heading back to the ladder. He climbed up and walked into the river house.

Elizabeth held back the hot tears again. She slowly walked to the ladder and climbed it. She walked slowly into the river house, shutting the door silently behind her.

" 'ello Miss Elizabeth," Gibbs greeted her. He stood from his seat by the table and offered it to her. Elizabeth smiled at him and took his seat.

"Ye be needin' anythin'?" Tia's voice came next. She walked over to her and handed her a green apple. She gratefully took it.

"Thank you." She took a bite out of the apple.

----

He opened his eyes slowly. His eyes seemed to be fried. It was dark. He felt slightly refreshed. He slowly rose himself from his laying position.

He groaned.

Every muscle and bone in his body ached. He was so close. He could make it. Once he reached his destination, he wouldn't have to move until the crew found a ship.

And of course, he could have rum.

He was severely sober. He hated it. He needed the spicy liquid in him.

The thought of the drink motivated him to swim. He eased himself into the warm, yet swampy water. He made a disgusted face, feeling the muck surrounding his body. He swam slowly into the swamp.

Candles flickered in the moonlight. His muscles burned. His chest felt as if it were on fire. He was close.

---

Elizabeth once again sat on the sand of the river house. She stared into the moon. She thought of Will . . . and Jack.

Will was her destiny. She knew that. He was the ideal man for a governor's daughter. They were meant to be together. He loved her. She loved him.

Jack gave her freedom. She wanted freedom. Needed it. He was there to give it to her. Jack –

She heard fussing in the water. She looked down to the water. There was a figure splashing madly in the water. He was groaning. Elizabeth cocked her head to the side. The strange figure was moving towards her.

Elizabeth got up and began to walk towards the figure. Could it be?

No . . . Jack was dead. It couldn't be him.

He moved closer. He finally collapsed onto the beach. The moonlight casted a quick light over him. Him.

She ran to the water.

She kneeled down on her knees. The man flopped onto his back.

Her eyes widened. She placed her hand onto his heaving chest. Tears welled in her eyes. It was him. She smiled, tears slowly falling down her cheeks.

"Jack . . ."

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A/N: Was that long enough? I hope so . . . my poor little eyes are getting sleepy! Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) Please read and review, like always :)