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

Chapter Thirty Five

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. –Confucius

The road seemed endless. I felt myself stumble and I would have fallen down several times if Will hadn't been there to catch me before I fell. I had always considered myself a strong person, but I was grateful that Will stood there by my side, helping me every step of the way. I wouldn't have survived otherwise.

Stopping in a narrow alleyway, I leaned up against the nearest building, feeling my chest heaving uncontrollably. Suddenly, with no control whatsoever, I felt whatever food I had eaten the past couple of days spill out over my mouth. Choking, I fell to my knees, allowing myself to vomit mercifully. I had the urge to do that on several occasions, but I had forced it down. Until now.

Instantly, Will was by my side, holding me, comforting me until it was all over. As I finished, I gasped and fell back against Will's chest, feeling the despair that I had held inside me spilling up over the top. Clutching Will, I allowed the sobs to well up within me until they spilled over the top. Will said nothing, just rocked me gently, occasionally whispering words of comfort.

As I felt the tears slowly subsiding, I looked up into Will's eyes. He smiled encouragingly, brushing the stray hairs from my face. I loved Will so much. Not many people would have stuck around like he did, but I was ever so thankful. Will could only be Will and I never wanted him to change.

"I don't think I can do this anymore, Will," I sobbed, the tears still spilling over onto my cheeks. "I don't have any strength to go on. How can I raise a child when I can't even raise myself?"

Will kissed my lips gently. So sweet, so gentle, so passionate. I wish I could find such virtues within me, but it was a desperate quest. Why did everything have to be so difficult?

"Perhaps you wouldn't if you were alone," Will said in a low voice. "But I am here with you and I will help you along your road, no matter how road. All that matters is you and me and what we do with ourselves."

I smiled through my tears. "I knew I had loved you for something."

Will smiled back and helped me to my feet. "I think it's time for us to take care of Davy Jones, wouldn't you say?"

I nodded and handed him the bag. It made me dirty, unclean, as if I had done something wrong. I was glad to get it off my hands. I was ready to get this all settled once and for all.

"I wouldn't be doing that if I were you, boy," a voice said beside us.

Gasping, I backed up against the wall. It was Davy Jones. How he found us, I didn't know. And to my horror, I saw another familiar face standing lifelessly beside him.

"Ana Maria!" I gasped. "How did you get here? Last time I saw you, you were locked up with Barbossa!"

"Yes," Ana Maria stated listlessly. "I am to serve Davy Jones for the debts I have made."

"But," I started, "what debts?"

"Ah, so you don't know then?" Davy Jones asked, laughing viciously. "Do you even know who Ana Maria is?"

I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. All of this wasn't making any sense whatsoever.

Davy Jones shoved Ana Maria in front of me. "More than half a century ago, I had fallen in love with a woman. Well, that woman had betrayed me, thought me dead on the ocean floor. And when all hopes were lost, she went to another man."

"And, who was that man, Davy Jones?" Will asked.

Davy Jones stepped closer to Will. At this close range, I could smell his putrid smell and see the water dripping off his slimy body. It was a disgusting sight and I was forced to close my eyes lest I should vomit again.

"That man was Barbossa," Davy Jones spat. "It wasn't long before I came back from the dead, whole but not unchanged. When I had found out my love had abandoned all hope of ever seeing me alive again and was with another man, I was furious. But what really was the fish out of the water for me was when I found out she was with child with Barbossa's child. And that child is the one that you see in front of me.

"So you see," Barbossa continued. "Because of her heritage, Ana Maria has no hope to live. For in exchange for her, her parents walk free. And I will wander the sea satisfied in knowing that my life is complete."

Will's eyes narrowed. "But Ana Maria has done no wrong to you. She cannot help what has passed." Will lifted up Davy Jones' heart. "You want this back? You better let her go. And release the people in your service. They don't deserve to suffer at your expense because of a past you cannot change."

Davy Jones growled. "And what business is it of yours how I control the sea, how I live my life? This is how I live, through others, through what could have been done. I take what is due to me, no matter what the price."

"Fine." Will took out his knife. "I could easily pierce this through your heart and end your misery. Obviously you have suffered enough and need to move on."

Davy Jones glared at Will. "Fine. I will do as you wish. The crew is set free, free to do whatever they wish."

"And what about Jack and the kraken?" Will asked.

Davy Jones sighed. "And I will make sure that no harm will come to Jack Sparrow. He is a good man, after all. A good pirate, a good captain."

Will nodded and slowly handed over Davy Jones' heart. Davy Jones took it lovingly and placed it back into the gaping hole where his heart should have been all along. Stumbling backward, he clutched his chest as the hole closed up over the heart and his gruesome features receded back until he became what he should have been after all this time. A little bit older, perhaps, but normal enough for society.

Will took my arm gently. "Let's go now, we have nothing more here."

Ana Maria came to my side. "Aye, Will has a point. Let's go, I don't want to be here any longer with this thing they call a man."

We were just about to go when I felt a presence following behind us. Turning around, I saw that it was Davy Jones. And he had his sword raised above his head. I screamed and jerked Will and Ana Maria out of the way just as Davy Jones swung his sword down.

Pulling his knife out of his boot, Will threw it expertly at Davy Jones. In the last minute, Davy Jones, ducked out of the way.

Davy Jones laughed evilly. "Did you think such a simple throw could have killed me, William Turner?"

Raising his sword over his head, Davy Jones began swinging it down. Will threw me and Ana Maria down to ground. Getting the wind knocked out of me, I was unable to move and could only watch.

It was a valiant effort, but I could tell that Will was weakening against Davy Jones' years of experience. Without effort, Davy Jones knocked Will's sword out of his hands and forced him to his knees.

Davy Jones smiled. "Such nobility. You are just like your father. Too bad he won't see you die."

There was a sudden thud. Davy Jones' eyes widened in shock, a bubble of blood forming at his lips. Without another word, he collapsed onto the cobblestone street, dead. Behind him stood a furious Bootstrap Bill. And beside him stood Jack.

"Too bad that I will see him live," Bootstrap Bill said quietly.

Will stood slowly and walked over to his father. "How can I ever thank you, father? You have done too much."

Bootstrap Bill smiled softly. "I could never ask anything from you, son. Just do me one favor. Well, two actually."

"And what's that?" Will asked.

"Whatever you do, protect those you love with your heart and soul, no matter what happens," Bootstrap Bill exclaimed.

"Of course," Will said. "What's the second?"

Bootstrap Bill cleared his throat. "Don't ever try to save my life again."

Will laughed. "Only when it gets desperate."

Turning to me, Will knelt down in front of me. "Let's go home, shall we?"

I smiled and took his hand and stood up. "Those are the best words I have ever heard in a long time."

Will smiled. Without another word, he bent down and kissed me gently on the lips. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pressed closer to him and felt his arms tighten around me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jack tentatively help Ana Maria up. Jack said something and Ana Maria laughed at his wit. Before long they were wrapped in each other's embracing, enjoying a long overdue kiss.

Finally pulling away, Will traced my face with his finger. "Let's go home, shall we?"

I smiled and wrapped my arm around his waist. "I thought you would never ask."

And without another word, we headed down the street, into the horizon. Toward home.

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Author's Note: Chapter Thirty Five for everybody. I know, I know, it's a crappy ending for such an exciting story! And yes, I know, Davy Jones was probably around longer than a half a century before the story starts, but I did say more than half a century, but it works for my story, so don't yell at me, savvy?

And as for the ending, I have an epilogue coming up, so not to fret. I couldn't leave everybody in the dark about Will and Elizabeth's baby! And of course, I'm planning on a sequel, so don't cry in agony just yet.

If I don't say it next chapter (like I'd forget, but still), I really appreciate all those who have faithfully read and reviewed the story. Trust me, this story would never have gotten this far if it weren't for you guys reviewing. In fact, it would probably still be in the bottom depths of my account, never getting finished. So thank you, for helping me along this journey in completing this story.

I'll be updating the Epilogue as soon as I can. In the meantime, don't forget to review!