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Spoiler: I don't think Will's going to have more fans after this chapter... But it's really not my fault... Plot requirements:)

Disclaimer: Well, I do not own POTC. Yet:)

Chapter 11

Governor Swann was nervously walking along the deck, knitting his eyebrows, and trying to calm down his anger, his frustration, his sadness; all the emotions which were haunting him since Elizabeth's flight from home.

Or should he rather call it elopement?... The very thought gave him shivers. He was completely stunned when he found her in Tortuga. He hoped that she would not be there after all. He could not quite grasp the meaning of it all. Why was she doing this? She did not want to marry Commodore Norrington, a respectable man (as it were, back then at least...), because she did not love him. Yes, he could understand that. Although he believed in marriages in which love came with time, what he wanted the most was his daughter to be happy, and if she was certain she would not be happy with James Norrington... well, then he had no intention of making her marry the man against her will.

And then William Turner appeared. It never occurred to the Governor that his daughter may consider the boy as a proper husband. He was hard-working, polite, and he even proved to be impressively brave risking his life for Elizabeth, but the idea of having a blacksmith (turning pirate too...) as a son-in-law still did not appeal to him very much. By now, he did respect William Turner, he even liked him. But he would not wallow in his grief if Elizabeth should eventually decide not to marry the boy.

And apparently, she indeed did not want to marry him. She wanted to do something worse. It was incredible, her attitude, her attachment to this repulsive, revolting (he could not find the words which would be effective enough to express it), repugnant man; the pirate...!...

He recalled the conversation they just had minutes ago, and her words echoed painfully in his head. He was listening to her in disbelief, but she seemed extraordinarily serious, and even embarrassed, in a way (which only confirmed the truthfulness of her words), when she simply said that she loved this man, that she loved Jack Sparrow. And not only loved, but loved "very much", "more than you can imagine", "more..."

He interrupted her at that point. Perhaps he should not have, because she really tried to be honest with him, and he should appreciate it; but nevertheless he could not stand all of this.

When she was a child, it has never crossed his mind that she would cause him any such troubles. He made every effort to enable her to become a proper, beautiful, and bright lady, taking care of her education, readings, manners, artistic skills, and what not. It seemed obvious that one day she would marry a fine gentleman, and live with him peacefully, and happily ever after. He always thought of her as of a princess, and wanted for her a fairy-tale-like life.

But apparently what Elizabeth wanted, was not a fairy tale. Or rather a peculiar type of a fairy tale, that he could not accept.

And yet, what terrified him most, was that look in her eyes, that look of...

"Sir..."

The Governor turned around, and saw Will, who looked depressed and strangely tired.

"I've been informed we're getting close to that island, Isla de Dolor, so...", said Governor Swann with a forced smile.

Will nodded absent-mindedly, and after a moment of awkward silence, told the Governor what he has just overheard. He even confessed all his lies, as he felt that there was really nothing more left to lose.

The Governor expressed his mild understanding for his actions, although he thought to himself that

it was not, after all, a good sign, as far as the boy's personality was concerned. Nevertheless, he listened to his words carefully. So they were going to pretend that they are angry with each other, and after Jack Sparrow will be put ashore, Elizabeth is going to follow him, clandestinely escaping from the ship.

It occurred to Governor Swann, that there was something strikingly naive in this plan, something... innocent, which made him, for the first time, question the rightness of his actions.

"I've a key...", said Will timidly, wondering what the Governor is thinking of at the moment, as he was very pensive.

"What key?", he inquired.

Will explained. The Governor nodded listlessly, and walked away.

Meanwhile, Jack and Elizabeth were still in the cabin, oblivious to what was happening outside. They were sitting on the bed, as there was really no other place to sit, although it appeared to Elizabeth to be rather a hazardous location in the company of Captain Jack Sparrow, especially considering her newly developed complete inability to concentrate in his presence. On the one hand it annoyed her, because she felt that it somehow limited her independence, but on the other, it felt terrifyingly sweet... which actually annoyed her as well.

Jack was holding her hand and smiling quizzically.

"What is it, Jack?", she asked with suspicion.

"Nothing", he replied innocently, staring at her steadily.

He really did not think about anything specific at the moment. It just felt funny for him to simply sit with a girl, looking at her, holding her hand, and watching the shades of colors sparkling in her eyes. Her eyes were brown, but he could see in them almost every color... or at least he believed so. Oh, bugger.

"You should go, Jack", Elizabeth said reluctantly. "Or they will not believe..."

"I know", he nodded, and suddenly pulled her towards him. "I love ye, Lizzie, Elizabeth", she wanted to say something, but he brushed her lips with his fingertips to prevent her from doing so ."Let me finish, luv, because... Ye know it's quite difficult, and I can't say I've much of experience in that field..."

Elizabeth looked at him closely, studying his face, and this curious expression in his eyes, which she have not seen before.

"What I'm trying to say is...", he continued in a low, but firm voice, "I wanted to... I... I wish ye to... be with me, Lizzie", he said looking at her intently.

"I am... with you... right now... I think", answered Elizabeth somewhat confused.

"No", he countered. "I mean yes", he corrected himself quickly. "Actually... what I mean is... I want ye to be with me... forever."

Elizabeth gazed at him wide-eyed, utterly amazed. A smile flickered across her face, but she did not want to smile too early.

"Marry me", he whispered, staring at her with these dark, mysterious eyes that she fell in love with.

There was something of a promise in his voice. The promise of freedom, the promise of happiness, the promise of cool wind, burning sun, and starry nights; the promise of seeing his eyes every day, for eternity.

She was stunned into silence, and just stared back at him without uttering a word. They looked at each other in silence. In silence which was suddenly broken by somebody on the upper deck, shouting in a strong voice:

"Isla de Dolor!!!"

"I'll better go", said Jack quickly, heading for the door.

"Jack, wait!", Elizabeth caught his hand before he put it on the knob. "I..."

He looked at her hesitantly. She wondered whether he was only pretending, or perhaps was really not sure of the answer, which option, in case of Captain Jack Sparrow's well-known self-appreciation, seemed rather incredible.

"I will marry you", she whispered quickly with a faint smile, and opened the door for him, almost throwing him out of the room.

Then she leaned against the closed door, shut her eyes, and smiled to herself. She has never felt that happy before. Suddenly, everything around her was beautiful. The world was beautiful. There were so many days to come, and each of them with him, with his voice, with his look, with his smile...

And a year and a half ago she did not even know him. He was somewhere without her, without even knowing that she exists.

But she knew that he exists. She read stories about him. She smiled at the recollection. Little did she know then, that someday she will meet him, that she will fall in love with him...

Elizabeth sat down, feeling rather dizzy, regretting that she threw Jack out of the room. She did that out of the nervousness and excitement, and now, she wanted to run after him, but of course it would not be wise. They had to escape, yet. And that was the priority now.

Perhaps, if she would have listened carefully, she might have heard a key turning in the door's lock.

But she has lost herself in thought, and has not been listening to anything but her own thoughts.

On the other side of the door, Will slipped the key into his pocket, and slowly walked away.