[OT: One more chapter after this...
Although the setting sun wasn't visible in the deceased realm, a night fog began to engulf the Flying Dutchman's deck and the friends and relatives knew the departure was near. Will and his son greeted Elizabeth and Jack, and the three year old held a light blue box wrapped in a white strand of ribbon. William galloped to his mother and shoved the package into Elizabeth's hands.
"We have something for you, Mama!"
Will added, "A soul I ferried was carrying this, and she said to deliver it to the fair lady that captured my heart."
Growing even more curious, Elizabeth tugged on the bow and unveiled the present. It was a flowing lavender gown with traces of light pink at the collar, and lace hung from the cuffs. Fingering the glossy material she uttered in admiration, "Oh Will, it is beautiful. Thank you." She clutched the garment to her chest and hugged her loved ones. Elizabeth swiveled around to Jack, who was observing the scene silently. "Do I have time to change?"
He nodded and smiled, a masquerade lurking behind his murky eyes. "Yes, I suppose so. It would allow me a chance to converse with Captain Turner."
"Dad," William inquired, gazing into his father's handsome face, "can I play with Grandpa until we leave?"
"Yes, but don't be long."
As William scampered away, Jack unfurled the unique chart that was tucked in his jacket and placed it before the captain. "You haven't happened to witness Barbossa passing through here, have you?"
Will answered no and looped the rings in the familiar map. "What do you want Jack?"
"I have been searching for the Black Pearl for three years to no avail."
"And how can I be of service in that endeavor? After all, I have limited resources in the afterlife."
"Limited, but mighty." Will raised one eyebrow, intrigued by Jack's swaggering suaveness. "There is a man by the name of Jonathon Portal who will pass through the land of the dead, and he possesses the coordinates of Barbossa."
"How do you know he hasn't already been ferried-"
"Because John swears to take Barbossa's path to his grave, and he is on his dying bed. So if you will be a dear and just inquire upon..."
"Jack, I realize you want the Pearl back, but how does this aid in your plan to find the Fountain of Youth?" Jack tilted his head, puzzled by Will's knowledge of his second quest. "Elizabeth isn't completely oblivious. Don't tell me you underestimated her abilities."
"Never, William. Mrs. Turner is willing to do whatever is necessary, so why would I doubt her insight?" Returning to the subject, he gazed at the man in utter concentration. "Barbossa is pursuing my expedition because he also desires to live forever, but he isn't pursuing my trail close enough for me to evade his ways. If my ol' first mate decides to ambush me, well then, I've got a bit of a predicament on my hands, ey? So I need to discover the Black Pearl's current and future coordinates. Savvy?"
"What benefit is this to Elizabeth and I? And our son?"
He tapped his fingers on the railing. "I promise to deliver her messages to this bizarre spot when you send the coordinates."
"Blackmail more than bargaining." Will shook his head, transfixed on Jack's persuasive ways. "Jonathon Portal, is it?"
"Aye, once he is sent below the sea, the man will open up to any soul."
"And you are sure of this?"
"Entirely certain."
Will held out his hand and said, "We have an accord, but I expect you to hold to your side of the agreement." The men shook hands just as William came gallivanting back to them. As William informed them that Bootstrap expected night to envelop them fairly quickly, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner emerged outfitted in a gorgeous elegant dress.
Although Elizabeth wasn't equipped with the proper undergarments to extenuate the full body of the dress, the lavender gown still flared enough to flatter her minor curves, and the scooped neck spread in the perfect position. She had pinned back the front strands of hair and glided out of the cabin with the damp clothes draped over her arm while she carried the chest that cradled Will Turner's heart. The woman smiled at the men in her life, and after tucking the chest under her arm, she immediately grasped Will's hand when she was close enough.
"Elizabeth, you look stunning." Will complimented, and Jack readily agreed, raising his eyebrows and eyeing her up and down in approbation.
Jack cast his eyes to the ground as he announced, "We need to take our leave."
Elizabeth bit her lip and stared into Will's brown eyes. "How will we depart?"
"You will have to go in the longboat," Will responded softly, "and row until you find a vessel or land. I'll be sure to send you as close to shore as possible."
His crewmembers were already in the process of lowering the small boat, and Jack patted Will on the back. "Pleasure doing business with you, Captain Turner. Now don't forget."
"Trust me, Jack; it would be difficult not to remember anything you are involved in." Jack rambled away from the trio of Turners and climbed down the gangway into the longboat.
Elizabeth and William lingered around the captain, both gazing at him in admiration and love. William offered a simple farewell, but then came running back to his father. Will swooped the boy off the ground and into his arms, where the child promptly hugged him around the neck.
"I love you, Dad. Don't forget about us, okay?"
William's words touched Elizabeth's heart and made more tears well in the corners of her brown eyes. She wrapped her arms around both males in an awkward hug, and William giggled as he was placed back on the deck.
"I will never forget the two of you, William."
Elizabeth handed her son the chest, told him to keep it safe, and watched the three year old as he dashed to the side of the ship and crawled down the gangway. "I'll miss you most ardently."
"I would hope." He tried to lighten the mood, but the couple was in no situation to laugh. He kissed her gently on the lips which was met with fervent zeal and a desire to slake their lust once more. "I love you, Elizabeth. Keep a weather eye on the horizon, and in seven years, I will meet you and our son."
As teardrops dribbled down her cheeks, the woman whispered the sentiment back to her husband and embraced him. Will's strong arms engulfed her lavender figure and squeezed her in a loving manner. They kissed once more, sealing their devotion to one another for the remaining seven years and then Elizabeth ambled away from Will, glancing over her shoulder repeatedly as she neared the side of the ship. The woman climbed down the gangway, now occupied by tears and reminiscences. Jack guided her into the longboat and he dispensed lanterns as they were delivered to the living world, where the sun had just settled into the ocean.
"I'm sorry you have to leave him." By now William had fallen asleep as the pair rowed.
"No one could foresee this, so why should I dwell on it?"
"Deceiving yourself again, Lizzie?" Noticing her furrowed eyebrows he corrected, "Elizabeth."
"I will miss him, but I will not let life pass me by." Now she was purely releasing her innermost thoughts.
"Ah, good to hear. Care to join me on my next quest?"
"No, life on land will suit me for now. I almost believe I am delusional for waiting for him. But that thought is feral, isn't it? Jack, I love Will, and I will never betray him, but waiting for the coming days... It is not easy." She paused for no comments. She proclaimed what Jack already knew. "I will do what I must to survive and care for my son."
"Be careful though, Elizabeth." A bemused expression spread across the woman's face. "You only say survive, but you must also face yourself; you must face your decisions."
"That is very perceptive of you, Jack Sparrow."
"As I have said before, love, I have an extremely intuitive sense of the female creature."
"So you have... so you have."