Elizabeth stared out at the vast ocean, searching the glistening waters. She had seen the far-off storms from the deck of the Spirit, and had prayed that Jack had the sense to stay out of them and that her daughter was safe. For the thousandth time, she thought of what had happened to Thomas, and what could be happening to Mariana at that very moment. And, for the thousandth time, she replayed past events in her head, wondering why Jack had come back and taken Mariana.

Seventeen years earlier…

Elizabeth sat at the parlour table, cradling her tiny daughter in her arms, staring down into her green-blue eyes that were as deep as the ocean itself. Nothing will ever harm you, she promised the child in her mind. At that moment, a sombre looking Will came in through the door, Jack Sparrow in tow. The pirate looked more serious than Elizabeth had ever seen him, and his eyes were tired and worn. The men both took their seats at the table, Will sitting beside his wife and child, and Jack sitting opposite the small family.

"Norrington and his ships came back this morning," Elizabeth said, breaking the silence. From the sound of her voice, Jack could already tell that they had returned without that which they had set out to find. "The pirates who took Thomas were no-where to be found, and neither was my son. They looked everywhere. Every island, every port, but they didn't find him." Elizabeth's eyes welled up with tears, and a lump rose in her throat as she spoke.

"They're gone," Will said, picking up from where Elizabeth left off. "And so is Thomas."

"I am sorry," Jack said sincerely. "Truly, I am. Between my visits here, I will always watch out for any news of him." Will and Elizabeth exchanged glances, neither of them willing to say what they wanted. "What is it?" Jack asked, picking up on their feelings.

"Jack, we don't want you to come here any more," Will said at last, his tone firm.

"We are so grateful for all that you've done for us these past months," Elizabeth put in. "But we feel that this is the best way to protect Mariana. If she knew you, she could be used against you, in any number of ways. We have to raise her away from all that, so that we can keep her safe."

"So, you want to protect her by keeping me away from her," Jack said, summing it up.

"It's not that we don't trust you. We'd love for you to stay with us from time to time, but it just isn't safe for her," Elizabeth pleaded, her eyes welling up again.

"I see the sense in that," Jack said. "And I don't take any offence. I will leave at once, and I swear that I won't come back to you two until you want me," he continued, rising from his seat. "I'll leave Port Royale tonight. Will, keep them safe," he said, taking Will's hand and shaking it. "Elizabeth, take care of yourself. I wish you and your girl all the best." Then, without saying another word, or glancing back, Jack left the room and the Turner household. Will and Elizabeth sat at the table still, neither willing nor able to leave or speak. In her mother's arms, Mariana began to cry softly.

Hours later, when the sun had set, Elizabeth carried her daughter up to her room, with Will walking beside her, carrying a candelabra to light the way. They walked silently to the nursery, where Elizabeth gently rocked the baby from side to side, soothing her until she was almost asleep. Then she gently laid her down in her cradle, and smiled at her before leaving the room with Will.

"We'll keep her safe, never tell her anything about Jack, or the Black Pearl," Elizabeth said as she closed the door.

"And we'll teach her how to defend herself, just in case she ever needs it," Will promised softly.

Unknown to Elizabeth and Will though, at that moment, a figure appeared at Mariana's window, casting his shadow through the moonlight over the baby. Noticing the change in light, Mariana turned her head to look at the man. Through the closed window, his dark eyes glinted, and his lips parted in a smile that was almost fatherly. Mariana reached up at the man and cooed, smiling sweetly. They watched each other for a long time, until the babe could not longer keep her sleepy eyes open, but for a long time after that, the man watched Mariana, the coins and beads in his dark braided hair chiming in the wind.

"You can sleep safely," he said softly to himself. "Your parents will keep you safe, and I'll always be watching over you. You have Captain Jack Sparrow's word on that."

"Ship off to the starboard side!" a rough voice called, pulling Elizabeth from her thoughts. She raced over to the other side of the ship, and took out her spyglass. She looked through it, focusing it on the ship that was far off in the distance.

"It's the Black Pearl!" she cried excitedly as she recognised the ship. Will arrived at her side, and she offered him the spyglass, which he took. He smiled as he saw the ship.

"Full sails ahead!" Norrington called out to his crew. "Pull up the neutral flag! Fire a cannon to get their attention!" As soon as the orders had left Norrington's mouth, the crewmembers hurriedly began scrambling around the deck.

"We've found her!" Elizabeth cried, flinging her arms around her husband's neck as the cannon was fired. "Finally, this is all over."