Chapter 2 – Version 2.0

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean.

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Will was lying in bed staring blankly at the ceiling as the events of the evening replayed in his mind. He knew something was askew and he desperately wanted to figure out what was causing Elizabeth to act so distant. The only explanation that came to mind seemed ridiculous to him at first, but became increasingly believable as he continued to mull it over.

'She can't be in love with him,' he reassured himself. 'She was so eager to break off their engagement for me.'

Will began subconsciously chewing on his lip as he dissected his theory. Elizabeth's mood began to change just days after the incident at the gallows when Jack escaped on the Black Pearl and Commodore Norrington had released her from their arrangement. At first, she had seemed pleased with the situation. He recalled how wonderful their first kiss had been. Her lips were passionate against his and her body had responded eagerly to his touch. The warm sea breeze caressed his skin as she officially became his. The sun was warm, but the feeling inside him had been warmer. Yet since that day, they had not shared a single moment that came close to matching the intensity and desire they had shared in that single kiss. Instead, Elizabeth grew more reserved with each passing day.

But this was all ridiculous. It had to be. He was just imagining things.

Will winced as he bit his lip a little too hard. The pain brought him back to reality as the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. With a sigh, he rolled over and began drifting off into a restless sleep as thoughts of Elizabeth and Norrington plagued his mind.

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Jack gazed out the window in his Captain's quarters. The stars that littered the sky were twinkling merrily as if they were laughing at an unspoken secret.

'They're mocking me,' Jack decided grumpily. He pushed the golden treasures that he had been sorting through away from him bitterly and sighed. 'I should be happy. I have my ship and all the riches I have ever dreamed about.' He frowned as he opened his compass. It was spinning lazily and uncertainly. 'What do you want?' he asked himself, but he already knew the answer. His heart had never left Port Royal.

"George!" he called out suddenly. Footsteps echoed on the deck overhead and moments later Jack's first mate appeared in the doorway.

"Yeh called, Cap'n?" George asked, peering into Jack's cabin.

"Bring me a bottle of rum," Jack murmured. "On second thought, bring three."

"Right away, Cap'n," George replied with a forced smile. He turned on his heel and headed back up to the deck, his smile melting into an angry grimace.

"Right away, sir! Anything else I can do for the almighty Captain? How about I scrub your boots for ye'?" he jeered under his breath. "Soon enough, you'll be taking orders from me, Sparrow." His lips curled wickedly into an ugly grin as his hand wrapped around a bottle of rum.

"Here ye' are, Cap'n." George scowled as he deposited the bottles onto a table and slithered out of the room before Jack could request anything else.

Jack picked up the nearest bottle and took several greedy gulps, his gaze settling back on the stars.

'Elizabeth is like a star to me,' he thought. 'Beautiful and untouchable.'

He groaned as he brought the bottle back up to his lips. Tonight, he would once again drown his sorrows in his amber goddess.

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Sunlight streamed through the window of Will's bedroom. He winced as it hit his face pulling him from his somewhat peaceful slumber. He reluctantly opened his eyes and sighed. As the sleep gradually left him, he glanced back at the window and smiled at the rays of sun.

'It's going to be a beautiful day,' he thought to himself. The worries that had been troubling him last night had melted away.

Unfortunately, as Will sat up and stretched, his thoughts suddenly snapped back to his reluctant fiancée. He groaned, wishing he could distract himself.

'No, not today. I'm not going to dwell on this today,' he told himself. He jumped out of bed, quickly washed up, and headed downstairs. A trip into town sounded like a welcome distraction that could help clear his mind. He was just about to open the front door when a voice called out to him.

"William! I'm glad I caught you before you disappeared."

Will turned around, his hand still on the doorknob. "Good morning, Governor Swann."

"Please, call me Weatherby," the governor chuckled.

Will gave him a weak smile. "What can I do for you sir?"

"I'm so glad you asked. Your wedding has been all I can think about of late, yet I realized that neither you nor my daughter have spoken to me about the details. Dear boy, can you at least tell me that you two have agreed on a date for the occasion?"

"A date?" Will tried not to choke on those words.

"It's alright, I know this is a lot to take in for you." Governor Swann gave him a kind smile. "However, I would very much like to see you two wed as soon as possible. Seeing Elizabeth happy again would mean so much to me after all we have been through this year."

A wave of doubt suddenly swept over Will.

'Why am I hesitating?' he asked himself. 'I love her. Of course I want her to be happy.'

"I think that's an excellent idea. Let me meet with her and I'll get back to you about the date, shall I?"

"Lovely, William. Thank you."

With that, Governor Swann turned and walked into the room behind him. Will released the doorknob and headed back to his room. He had to reach out to Jack as quickly as possible. He couldn't imagine going through with this wedding without his best friend beside him.

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Elizabeth was sitting beside her window, gazing at the sea. The memory of her night on the island with Jack was replaying in her mind. As she recalled her favorite part, a sharp knock at the door pulled her from her fantasy.

"Come in!" she called out.

Governor Swann peered into her room. "I apologize for interrupting you my dear, but I just spoke with William about a date for your wedding. Give it some thought and decide on one with him, would you?"

"Of course, father." She forced herself to smile.

"That's my girl. Enjoy your day, sweetheart."

The door closed and Elizabeth's smile faded.

'I should be excited. After all, it's my wedding. I'm just being silly,' she thought to herself. With a heavy sigh, she turned back to the sea and tried to imagine what Jack was up to at that very moment.

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Will reached his room and grabbed some paper and a quill from his desk. He leaned down and began to write. Once he was finished, he folded the letter, sealed it, and headed downstairs. He found the family messenger and gave him instructions.

"Send the fastest ship to find Captain Jack Sparrow," he told him. After the message was sent, he adjusted his bootstraps and walked out to the stables. With a heavy heart, he saddled a horse and began to ride toward town.

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Vickay: Well, here's chapter 2, redone. It's not very exciting.

Will: Tell me about it! I don't get to do anything but walk around the house.

Vickay: Oh shut up Will, before I make you do something unexpected. *evil grin*

Will: *gulp*

Elizabeth: Oh lay off the boy already, will you?

Jack: How sweet. I thought this was supposed to be a J/E fic!

Vickay: Hold your horses!

Jack: Well, at least I was mentioned in this chapter. And I wasn't just part of a lousy flashback.

Elizabeth: Hey! I happened to like that flashback, thank you. *realizes what she said and blushes*

Jack: *smiles* Me too, love.

Vickay: That's enough! Poor Will, you'll meet someone in the next chapter. Thanks for all the reviews!