/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Thirty Four

It was still dark out when Norrington led me through the streets. In the distance, I could still hear screams and the distant ring of swords clashing together. I desperately wanted to go in and join in the fight, but I knew that my fight led elsewhere.

Gathering my resolve I continued on, wondering where all this was leading me. Not two blocks from where my father's house stood, Norrington stopped and turned toward me. Looking at where I was, I was surprised that I still recognized where I was.

Turning to Norrington, I looked at him curiously. "This is where you used to live."

Norrington nodded. I noted that he seemed almost wistful, as if he wished he could take it all back with a flick of his hand. Suddenly, I felt a wave of sympathy towards him. So many lives had been ruined over something so small and insignificant. I wanted to take it all back, but I also didn't want to change a thing. I would never have been the person I would have been if what had happened never did. I would never have been with Will.

Norrington looked at me curiously. "Are you alright, Elizabeth?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, I'm ready. I can do this. I need to do this."

Creeping in, I couldn't help but look around me. I hadn't realized how long it had been since the last time I had seen something as grand as this. Obviously my perceptions on life had changed dramatically.

Norrington placed a hand on my shoulder. "We better go now. There's no telling who might come out and see us."

I nodded and followed him up the stairs. As we went down the hall of the second floor, I could hear the loud sounds of snoring. Looking into the room from where the sounds were coming from. As I watched Beckett spread out on top of his bed in nothing more than his night clothes, I could see Norrington grimace beside me.

"That's disgusting. Pity the woman who marries him," Norrington whispered.

"Such a small man for so loud a noise," I answered back.

"Well, never mind that. Consider it a blessing he does or you probably won't be making it out of her alive," Norrington said.

I nodded. Scanning the room, I noticed that Beckett's nightstand drawer halfway opened with Beckett's hand clutching a bag tightly. Giving Norrington a knowing look, I crept over to the side of the bed. Gently, I eased Beckett's hand off the bag and quickly took the bag away.

Rushing to the door, not paying attention to Norrington, I hurried down the stairs. Suddenly, behind me, there was a roar of noise. Turning around, I saw Beckett hurrying towards me, his robe thrown haphazardly across his shoulders. As he came hurrying down the stairs, I could see Norrington following behind him, a knowing smirk across his face. I glared at him with all that I could.

"Traitor!" I screamed at Norrington. "I trusted you!"

"Well, it looks like I'm becoming as good a pirate as any of those riffraff that you're running around with," Norrington laughed.

Before I could move, Beckett grabbed me roughly by the shoulder. "It looks like you've run out of options, Miss Swann. And for a while there I thought you were a truthful girl, a true woman of society—one that any woman desired."

"You can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest," I replied, using one of Jack's lines. "To be truthful, it's the honest ones that you have to watch out for."

"And why's that, Miss Swann?" Beckett asked.

"Because you'll never know when they'll do something incredibly…stupid," I said.

With a jerk, I managed to pull my arm away, hearing the clothe rip and tear under the strain. Running towards the door, I stopped when I reached it and turned to look at the dumbfounded men.

"And it's not Miss Swann," I shouted back at them, "it's Mrs. Turner. And you better remember it!"

Spinning on my heel, I ran out the door, clutching the bag close to me. Running towards the sounds of fighting, I gasped in surprise as I came closer. It seemed as if everything was on fire—not one place was unscathed. All around me there were pirates—and not just any pirates. They were Davy Jones' own. Hurrying through the chaos, I searched frantically around me. Will and Jack had to be around here somewhere.

A rough hand grabbed me from behind. Screaming, I spun around, still clutching the bag as if my life depended upon it. Funny how everything hung on the balance of something else.

"Why, hello there, Miss Turner," Barbossa growled, a broad grin spreading across his face. Behind him stood Pintel and Ragetti, both clutching and restraining Will and Jack.

"I see you have something very valuable, to me, and to this whole crew," Barbossa said.

"I will never give it to the likes of you," I spat, stumbling backwards. "You swore to help us, to aid us in our quest. You have a black heart, Barbossa, and I won't be surprised that Davy Jones will claim you as his own one of these days."

Barbossa laughed loudly. "And what a mercy that would be, Miss Turner. But that is irrelevant. Give me the bag, or you'll never see Will and Jack again."

I hesitated, glancing at Will and Jack, who were struggling against the arms that were restraining them, to no avail. I was damned if I gave Barbossa Davy Jones' heart, but I was equally damned if I didn't. I would lose either way. I had to choose the lesser of the two evils.

"Don't be doing anything stupid," Jack cried out, a smile on his face despite the desperate situation.

"Don't give it to him, Elizabeth," Will growled. "You'll know what will happen if you give Barbossa the heart."

I hesitated, tears filling my eyes. I couldn't lose Will, that sweet, sweet boy who never did anybody harm, who worked hard for what he earned and tried to do right by everybody he met. How could I lose such an innocent, strong man to such remorseless, senseless hatred?

Barbossa raised an eyebrow. "The choices hard for you? Such a sad fate for whatever choice you have. But you do have choices and sometimes the choices aren't always the best."

I felt the tears streaming down my face. It was so hard, all this running, all this fighting. It would be easy just to give it all up right now, to let go. Very slowly, I started towards Barbossa.

"You will do no such thing," a voice said behind me. "It's quite stupid to trade one thing for another. I would say that if you should have one, you should have all. Don't give it to him, Elizabeth, there is no need."

I turned around and gasped. "Bootstrap!"

Bootstrap Bill nodded and smiled, coming over to stand beside me and placing a hand on my shoulder. Never had I felt so glad to see such a kind face in my life.

Barbossa snarled and stepped foreword. "You, Bootstrap Bill Turner, you are supposed to be dead!"

Bootstrap Bill laughed. "I am not, though many times I had wished that I was. But unfortunately, for many of us, I am still alive. I have come to square some things off with you and save my son and daughter-in-law in the process."

Jack glared at him. "And what about me? What is in it for me?"

"Ah, and you, my dear friend," Bootstrap said, smiling. "You are the dearest friend that I have ever known; I couldn't let you have this fate, either."

"That's alright, then." Jack said.

Bootstrap Bill turned back to me. "Elizabeth, run. Run, now, like the devil's after you!"

I didn't need further provocation. I began to run. There was a shout behind me and suddenly I felt myself falling heavily to the ground. Twisting underneath the person who was pinning me down, I screamed when I saw Pintel's toothy and decaying smile.

"Why, hello there, poppy," he exclaimed. "We meet again, I see. And the circumstances have improved since the last we met."

From behind, I saw someone coming closer. Knowing that it was someone coming to get me, I kicked upward as hard as I could. Cursing, he rolled over, clutching his lower regions. Before he could move any further, the hilt of a sword clashed hard on the side of his head, knocking him unconscious.

Will sheathed his sword and wiped his sweaty hands on his trousers before helping me up. I clutched him as close as I could, not wanting to lose my love again. Will pulled away, grabbing my hand.

"Let's get out of here before we get out of here before we get into anymore trouble," Will exclaimed.

"I agree."

Without another word, we raced through streets, never looking back. Sometimes, the best choice was to leave your friends behind, no matter how it hurt.

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Author's Note: Chapter Thirty Four for everyone! Sorry it took me a couple of days to update, but I was slightly braindead and then Christmas came, so I didn't have much time to update. I hope everybody's enjoyed their holidays. I hope your New Year's just as good.

Anyways, I'm sorry I ended the chapter badly, but I found it necessary. I didn't think you wanted me to finish it all in one go, so I kind of broke it off there at the end. I'm sorry, please forgive me, as Elizabeth would say .

Thank you to all who have reviewed last chapter and for waiting patiently for me to update. I know how hard it is to wait. I promise I will be updating as soon as I can. Please bear with me, I'm almost done, and then we can get to the exciting sequel! Thanks again and don't forget to review!