This chapter may contain scenes that may be distressing for younger readers. You've been warned.

I cried when I wrote this chapter, and you'll see why! Enjoy!

Also, I've made a trailer for this story that you can view here:

www. youtube. com/ watch?vO0HTNw33pS8

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Started With A Kiss

Chapter 22 – Too Late For Sorry

Both Jack and Elizabeth felt their breath being knocked out of them at the instant the bullet came into contact with Jack's chest. Jack's arm slid out of Elizabeth's grasp as she stood, open-mouthed, at the sight of Jack falling, seemingly in slow motion through the air, before landing on the ground, clutching his chest in agony, his eyes shut in pain. She dropped to her knees beside him just as Will dropped the gun beside his feet.

"Jack..." she gasped; already his hand and shirt were soaked in blood from the wound.

He managed to open his eyes, just. "Elizabeth..." he whispered gently.

"Jack, you can't die!" Elizabeth cried, lifting his head up with her arm. "You can't!"

"I don't think I have a choice, Lizzie," Jack smiled weakly. Even at times like this, he managed to make jokes.

"I need you here, with me..." Elizabeth said softly, her eyes already swimming with fresh tears.

"You'll always have a part of me with you, remember?" Jack smiled, putting his hand on Elizabeth's stomach. She put her hand on top of his.

"I know..." she whispered, losing control of keeping back the tears, "...but I want you here with me."

"Don't think that's possible," Jack grunted, pain overtaking him.

Elizabeth's tears were now falling freely and mixing with the blood on Jack's chest. "But, we were going to be married!"

"Sorry, love," Jack said apologetically. He could feel himself slowly slipping away. She could feel it, too.

Not caring about getting covered in blood, Elizabeth wrapped her arms gently around him, and held him as tightly as she could without causing him any more pain. She was now crying and sobbing her heart out.

"Elizabeth," he whispered, reaching up and cupping her face with his un-bloody hand. She sobbed some more. "You were the only one who could ever make me say this..." there was a long pause while he gathered breath, "...I love you, Lizzie. Please remember that. I...love...you."

He gave her one last smile, and she cried and cried as she watched his eyes slowly close, the ghost of his last smile to her still shadowed on his face. His hand left her cheek, and fell to the floor limply.

She sobbed and gasped and cried as she clutched his still warm body, knowing that he was gone, before choking out, "I love you too, Jack Sparrow. I always will."

Everyone on the island stood watching the tragic scene with sorrowful and sympathetic faces. Except Will. He still looked triumphant. But as he watched Elizabeth cry and kiss Jack's forehead lightly, he realised what he'd done. She was crying rivers over the peaceful pirate, and it suddenly dawned on Will that they'd meant every word they'd said to each other. They'd been in love.

He slowly approached Elizabeth. "Elizabeth..." he started cautiously.

She slowly turned her tear-stained face to look up at the man. "Don't say anything."

"I just wanted to say," Will went on, ignoring her, "I'm sorry."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "You're sorry?"

Will nodded. Elizabeth reluctantly let go of Jack, placing him ever so carefully on the ground, and stood up, facing Will.

"Well then, if you're sorry," Elizabeth said, but then she started screaming, "then that makes everything alright, doesn't it?!"

Will tried to reach out to her, but she smacked his arm away angrily.

"Don't you dare try and tell me you're sorry!" Elizabeth cried out menacingly. "You just killed the man I love!"

"I didn't think you loved one another," Will tried quietly.

"I was going to marry him!" Elizabeth yelled. "And would I do that if I didn't love him?!"

"You were going to marry me!" Will protested.

"Yes," Elizabeth nodded, "but I did love you. But you weren't there for me when Jack was, were you?"

"No," Will admitted quietly. "But you chose to chase after him, didn't you?"

"I had no-one else," Elizabeth said truthfully. "And I didn't choose to fall in love with him, either. But now, after seeing what you're really like...I'm glad I did."

Will had no decent reply to that, so instead he watched as Elizabeth walked over to where Will had dropped the gun. She bent down and picked it up. She saw that it still had a shot or two, and smiled. She turned to face Will.

Ignoring the fact that they weren't alone on the island, she spoke directly to Will.

"I've nothing left to live for now," she said sadly, looking down at Jack. He looked as though he was sleeping. He still had a smile etched onto his face. "But there's something I have to do."

She slowly drew closer to Will, holding the gun in her hand tightly. She placed the gun to her temple, and heard it click.

She was inches away from Will, who was begging her with his eyes not to pull the trigger, to end her life.

But, he saw she wasn't going to. Not yet anyway. First, she gently pressed her lips to his, and gave him a passionate kiss. Will closed his eyes and sunk deeply into the kiss. Was he forgiven?

No.

Elizabeth gently moved the gun from her temple. Will was paying too much attention in kissing Elizabeth to notice her actions. But, his eyes widened as he felt the gun against the side of his head.

But, before they had a chance to break apart, Elizabeth pulled the trigger, and watched as blood slowly tricked down the side of his face. His mouth left hers and she watched him fall to the floor at her feet. She dropped the gun to the floor, and she was shaking violently.

She knelt down beside him. He was still alive, but only just. He was gasping for air desperately.

"This is my payback, Will Turner," Elizabeth whispered. "You should never have killed Jack."

"I..." Will managed, coughing up blood.

"It's too late for sorry," Elizabeth said softly. "I hope you enjoy it in the afterlife. You might see Jack there."

Will went to say something else, but couldn't get the strength. Instead, he gasped one more breath of air before dying.

Elizabeth shook again as she stood up, and walked shakily over to Jack's body. She took him in her arms once more and started singing.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for..." she sang gently, tears falling down her face again as she looked down at the man she loved, "...me."

...

Do you hate me yet?

Well, Will's dead and out of the picture. Go Elizabeth!

No, this is not the end. There's still a big battle scene towards the end that has to be written, but I'm closing in on final chapters so stay tuned!

Review please!

QueenSerenity818 out.