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Sorry for the delay, I've been busy. And, hopefully, updates in the future will be weekly

Another Walk on the Beach

Thomas stood by his word, and that evening pulled Governor Swann into the Library and reminded him of his youngest daughter Elizabeth Constance Swann. Although Thomas felt as though his requests fell on death ears, his father did take them into consideration, especially given that Turner boy spent most of the night trying not to stare at Elizabeth.

It was also evident, that Thomas Charles Weatherby Swann did not know of the fate of the Turner's, and Governor Swann had no intention whatsoever of having any member of his family marry into such sorts.

What Thomas's speech did awaken inside of the old man, was that he was holding onto his last daughter with every ounce of his being, so that he would not loose the final thing his late wife had left him.

In the end, he was left in his library, a whiskey in hand, staring out at the darkness that was the bay, considering everything that he had given his children. He had allowed Thomas to return to England, where he had since rubbed shoulders with the Royal family, married, and now had provided another heir for the Swann line.

Arthur, he had allowed to join the Navy, and now he was a Lieutenant, with a promising future.

Charlotte he had allowed to marry for love. Yes James Newmarket came from a privileged background; he was by no means Governor Swann's first choice for a son in-law, especially being a husband to his eldest daughter, as he was presumptuous, arrogant and perfectly intolerant to other people's feelings and wishes.

Victoria had married well, and she knew it. Henry Ibsen was a Scandinavian farmer, by way of Virginia in the New World, and had gathered such a sum of money and agreeable reputation which made Weatherby Swann perfectly inclined to grant him permission to marry his second daughter.

Georgia was marrying only for money, and Governor Swann was aware of this. As the Cassidy name was second to the Swann name by way of fortune and power in the small community of Port Royal. However, Alistair Cassidy was also a wonderfully amiable man who had on many occasions showed such care for Georgia, that Weatherby wondered why he hadn't done such things when he was courting his wife.

Then Governor Swann thought about his youngest child. He remembered all the attractions the young men of Port Royal society provided, especially the militia and naval officers and hoped that these traits would woo his youngest daughter into matrimony, as the Governor was aware that Captain Norrington held an interest in the young woman, always asking after her and such, and he had hoped that Elizabeth would eventually find herself with the man.

But Elizabeth, who was as yet to be presented, had attained herself the attentions of a fine man no less, were it not for the young man's unfortunate familial relations. He was a sword maker, occasional Blacksmith, had a brother who was in trade, and his own father was a pirate!

No, Weatherby Swann would not hear of his youngest child being linked to such sorts, and resolved that she must be presented at the earliest possible party, and thus be wooed by the many and numerous suitors who would undoubtedly prove to be a much better match.

--ยง--

Elizabeth awoke the following morning, but she could hardly call it morning as her room was still clouded in darkness. Unable, however, to fall back asleep, she made her way to her balcony, and when she noticed the thin line of light appearing, she raced into her room as quietly as possible, and changed.

When she was dressed she crept down the stairs, and out of the house, again neglecting to leave word. But she didn't care, for she so desperately wished to see the sun rise from the point, and as she raced down the hill, she thought of asking William Turner to join her, as it was grossly indecent for a young woman to be alone.

As she ran along the street that the Turner's lived on, she glanced over her shoulder to be sure that there was plenty of time, and in the process ran into the young man she was looking for.

"Miss Swann, good heavens!" He exclaimed catching her as she stumbled.

"Shhh!" She hushed, although she was not certain why. "I have something I wish to show you, and if we do not hurry, we shall miss it!" She whispered hoarsely.

William glanced at the house he had just come from, and thought about turning down her offer as he needed to complete Captain Norrington's sword before the end of the week. But she had such beautiful eyes that he found himself agreeing to her request, and a moment later was being dragged down to the beach, then along it, as fast as possible in the direction of the north point.

"Miss Swann, where are you taking me?" He asked behind her as they left the town behind them, light growing.

"You'll find out in a minute, but we must hurry!" She responded over his shoulder.

Five minutes later they rounded a corner and found themselves staring out at the ocean, the sky at the horizon line glowing light shades of pink, orange and yellow. "Isn't it beautiful?" Elizabeth whispered, finding a rock and sitting down on it.

Will didn't notice initially what Elizabeth was talking about, as he couldn't take his eyes away from her beautiful face, perfectly framed by her golden hair and the deep maroon dress that was hanging of her form, just, at her shoulders.

He turned his eyes from her, and looked out to sea, and observing Elizabeth sit down, he joined her.

They sat there for close to an hour, watching the colours, and the sun rise from below the water, making the rippling water sparkle. Elizabeth was aware that William spent the majority of that time staring at her, and whenever she would catch him, she would blush, and he would too.

Unconsciously, Elizabeth leaned against Will's shoulder, feeling his warmth, and his arm drape itself behind her back and onto her shoulder.

As the sun continued to rise high against the horizon, Elizabeth chastised herself for wearing a winter gown in the middle of summer. If it weren't for Will being on the beach beside her, she surely would have stripped herself of her clothes, and swam in the water as she had the last time she had dared to leave the house before dawn.

"It's getting hot." She whispered, noticing Will had discarded his jacket and his shirt was unbuttoned down to his naval. All she could think of as she glanced at his heavy jacket, then trying not to stare at the revealed skin of his torso, was how she wished she could shed a layer of clothing to be comfortable.

"It is." Will responded, turning his attention to her form.

"How cool do you think the water is?" Elizabeth asked, looking at him, standing and wandering to where the water was rolling into the sand.

"Beautiful." Will responded breathlessly. A light breeze was lazily lifting Elizabeth's hair and sending it fluttering about her. Beyond her, the sun was hitting the rippling sea causing it to sparkle, the combined effect making her appear to him to be a clothed Venus.

Elizabeth glanced at him, startling herself when she realized Will had moved to be standing directly behind her. The effect of his surprise had her lose her footing and fall into the path of an approaching wave. She let out a light squeal, but Will could only laugh as a now bedraggled Elizabeth looked up at him.

"That wasn't funny!" She shouted at him, splashing water at him.

"Was too!" Will retorted, running away from her, with her following.

They ran about, splashing in the ankle-deep water, chasing each other. Their fight, which had initially begun with Elizabeth chasing Will, quickly turned into Will chasing Elizabeth, with her squealing madly as he caught her. They were having such fun that they didn't notice a pair of eyes watching them from the bushes beyond the beach.

On the beach, Elizabeth had stopped in front of Will, in an effort of dodging him, which didn't end as planned, with Will crashing into her back, tumbling them both into the moist sand.

"You did that on purpose." Elizabeth groaned as Will's much heavier body when compared to her, landed quite ungracefully atop her.

Will was going to respond but couldn't, finding him was unable to take his eyes away from her face.

It was the perfect moment, lying on the beach, sand in each other's hair, with both completely forgetting the world around them, just staring into each other's eyes. All that was to be done was for Will to lower his face to hers, and take her in a kiss. Will seemed to know this, and as he was lowering his face to hers, they both heard a twig crack from beyond the beach and tree line. After they'd turned away, a considerably larger wave than the previous rolled into both of them, causing them both to cough and splutter as salt water attacked them.

The moment was broken, but Will, as he stood, offered Elizabeth a hand, pulling her up.

"I should get you back." He spoke to her feet, more so that she (hopefully) wouldn't see his blush.

Elizabeth nodded, looking from his crown to her own feet. They then returned to Port Royal, neither speaking, because they didn't know what to say.