Elizabeth finished her last sip of water and placed her cup back on the table with a sigh. By now she had gotten used to the growl in her stomach that begged for a goblet of her favorite red wine, but that still didn't make resisting it any easier. She wasn't an alcoholic, that could remain Jack's job, but she used to always have a glass at dinner. Just a few more months… she thought to herself as she rose to her feet.

She glanced out the window to see the last speck of sun disappear beneath the ocean. She sighed again, thinking of how her beloved Will was probably watching the sun begin to rise. It was so hard, being away from him, and she pitied him far more than herself. She knew that he needed her, just as much that she needed him, but at least she would have some help. She would have their child to raise, to play with, to talk to, to adore. And who would he have?

She tried to push away the image of him sitting alone at the magnificent organ that resided on the Flying Dutchman, playing a soft and melancholy hymn, mourning his lost love.

No; their love was not lost. It would never be lost. Their bond was unbreakable, and nothing could ever change that. Not time; not even Fate herself. They were so much more than soul mates, lovers. No words could describe their impossibly true strength and devotion. They had been through so much, and there was still so much more to come…

Elizabeth held back a few tears that tried to escape her deep brown eyes. She let out a frustrated growl and forced anything to do with her Will to the back of her mind. She could cry about him later; she would. It had become a nightly routine to polish the sword he had given her on her 21st birthday, and then climb into bed with the chest, letting his heartbeat and her tears guide her down the path to her dreams.

Straightening up a bit, she pushed her hair behind her shoulders and picked up her empty plate. As she entered the kitchen to deposit it in the sink, Mary turned and gave her a weak smile. Elizabeth smiled back before disappearing back into the dining room.

She'd had a long talk with her cook after Jack had stalked off, attempting to soothe her and reassure her that nothing was her fault. Mary had tried so many times to apologize for her inappropriate flood of anger, but Elizabeth always cut her short.

"Jack has that effect on people sometimes," she'd said. "He certainly had that effect on me when I first met him."

Elizabeth shook her head now at the thought and suppressed her laughter. Oh, how Jack had annoyed her to death when they were barely acquaintances! Nearly being choked by him was bad enough, but when they'd been trapped on that island!

She allowed some of her laughter to escape. So much had changed in the course of a year. She remembered searching for him in Tortuga, and learning the secret to his precious compass. She remembered the uncomfortable flutter of her heart as he'd proposed to her on the deck of his Pearl, and the safety and relief she'd felt as ran into her true love's welcoming arms. She remembered chasing after her three biggest fans as they nearly slashed each other to death. And finally, she remembered the spicy taste of Jack's lips as she sent him to his death. Elizabeth shuddered. That little move had nearly cost her everything: her friends, her name, and most importantly, her darling Will. Thinking back now, she didn't know how she could have been so reckless, so stupid.

At least she'd brought him back. She'd atoned for her sins and stopped the bleeding of the wounds she'd inflicted. But still, she knew that the scars would never disappear.

She didn't deserve the forgiveness she'd been so easily granted. No, it had taken a while for them both to forgive her. But they had. And she was so unworthy.

She so deserved this punishment that had been thrown onto her; separated from her love for a long and painful ten years. But he didn't. Will had done nothing wrong; nothing to earn this. It was entirely her fault, and she knew it. She was bad for him; he deserved so much better.

But he loved her, loved her with as much love as one person can possibly produce - a never-ending flow. It was painful to think of how much he loved her, even though she loved him just as much. She was destroying him; he was such a better person than she was, and the best thing she could really do was to let him go. But she was far too selfish; she could never leave him. She craved his company, his arms, his soft loving voice, far too much. She would rather die than walk away.

Elizabeth let out a deep shaky breath. Her heartbeat was now irregular, and her lungs were rattling. Such pain she was feeling right now. It was almost impossible to bear.

She had to get out. Had to escape this place that held too many memories. She grabbed her wool shawl from where it hung by the door, and stepped out into the cool night air, letting it all go.

(A/N:) Wow...realllllllllyyyyyy short chapter. Shortest one yet...I was planning on making it longer, but I found there really was nothing more to add. Actually, I hadn't planned on this at all...I was going to make ch. 13 something entirely different...but I let my hands run free...and this is what they came up with in about 25 minutes ;) lol I promise the chapters will get longer again...I've got some ideas for ch. 14...definitely won't want to miss that chapter! expect it in anywhere from 1-2 weeks. Thank you to anyone sticking with me through this story! I'm still learning :D

-Lizzie :)