So obvoiusly it's been a really, really long time since I last updated. I haven't given up on this story. I got a job and it was the end of my senior year of high school - and apparently we were somehow mysteriously behind in every single class - and I needed to take a bit of time off until everything settled down. But now I've graduated and I'm settling in - more or less - at work, so Every Shade of Blue is back in business! Virtual apology hugs and cookies to all my readers who have been waiting for a new chapter. I love you all!

Chapter 24

Waves crashed pleasantly in the background as the wedding march began to play. The day was comfortably warm, but not hot, and the beach was bright and sunny, with barely a cloud in sight. And Elizabeth Swann, in a beautiful, flowing, white dress, smiled because she could see him, she could see William Turner standing there waiting for her, looking downright gorgeous in his tuxedo – she made a mental note to get him to dress up more often – with the biggest smile on his face that she had ever seen. His dark eyes were locked on hers as she began to walk down the aisle, holding tightly to her father's arm.

And then she was there. She was standing next to Will, who didn't seem at all able to stop smiling. She hugged her father, and he kissed her on the cheek, and then Will had stepped forward and her hand was in his instead of her dad's. As they both turned to face the minister, Will leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

"You look perfect."

She squeezed a his hand tightly, pressing a little closer to him as the minister began the ceremony.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."

Vows. Oh my God, what are the vows? I forget the vows. Oh God, oh God, oh God –

"I, William Jonathan Turner, take you, Elizabeth Ann Swann, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for – " His voice cracked and he swallowed hard, desperately trying to remember what came next. His gaze drifted past Elizabeth's head to Ana, who was silently and emphatically mouthing something at him.

"Richer! For richer, for poorer!"

He grinned slightly. "For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." He let out a deep breath, and Elizabeth smiled at him, the laughter in her eyes telling him that she knew exactly what had just happened.

"I, Elizabeth Ann Swann, take you, William Jonathan Turner, to be my husband – "

Will could feel a stupid grin beginning to form. Don't do that, you idiot, don't do anything stupid –

" – to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health – "

Don't do anything stupid, Turner!

" – to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part."

Don't do anything – "Great!" Dammit!

Everyone who was close enough to hear him laughed, and Will turned redder than Elizabeth would ever have thought possible. She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing with everyone else.

Even the minister seemed to be struggling to control a grin, but nevertheless, he managed the next words loud and clear:

"I now pronounce you husband and wife..." He looked with some amusement at Will, who was still spectacularly red. "You may kiss the bride."

And then they each took a step forward, Elizabeth flung her arms around Will's neck, and her feet left the ground for a few seconds as they kissed, the guests applauded, Jack started to wolf-whistle, and one of the other groomsmen elbowed him in the stomach.

The guests were gone, on their way to the reception, and the wedding party was alone on the beach with the nervous-looking photographer, who bobbed and weaved around them, trying to arrange them for photos, all the while muttering curses about the the wind, sand, and outdoor weddings under his breath. As Elizabeth posed for pictures with her father and her bridesmaids, the men stood off to one side, and Bill approached his son, grinning proudly.

"Congratulations, kid."

Will grinned. "Thanks, Dad."

Bill shook his head, laughing. "'Great.' I cannot believe you said that."

"Shut up," Will muttered, blushing again.

Jack wandered over to join in on his favorite pass time: teasing Will. "I can' wait t' 'ear wha' 'lizabeth 'as t' say 'bout it." He laughed. "Hell, yeh even fergot th' vows! Don' think I didn' see Ana tellin' yeh wha' t' say."

Will scuffed at the sand with his foot, glaring at Jack. "I forget things when I'm nervous."

"Then yeh better make sure yeh don' ferget wha' t' do when yeh get in bed t'night," Jack quipped.

Will shoved him into the surf while Bill and the other groomsmen looked on and laughed.

"You look pretty amazing in a tux."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. You should find an excuse to wear one more often."

"I could be James Bond next Halloween."

"You'd make a sexy James Bond."

Will and Elizabeth sat huddled together in a secluded corner of their reception hall, finally having found the time for a much-needed moment of rest.

Elizabeth rubbed at her ankle. "These shoes are killing me."

"Take them off."

"And go barefoot?"

"Nope." Grinning, Will pulled a pair of flip-flops out from under his chair.

Elizabeth laughed as she swapped out her heels for the far more comfortable sandals. "You're downright amazing." She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "My knight in shining armour. Or rather, my hero in a tux," she corrected herself, smiling.

Will slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. "Would you believe I almost asked if I could wear a kilt for the wedding?"

"Are you saying you have a kilt?" Elizabeth laughed.

"I'm Scottish and proud of it," Will grinned. "Of course I have a kilt."

"You should have worn it!"

"I nearly did," Will admitted. "But then I remembered that the tux would have a bow tie."

Elizabeth shook her head with mock severity. "Again with the Doctor Who references, Will?"

"Bow ties are cool, love."

"Hmm. I suppose I should just be grateful that it wasn't a fez."

Will laughed. "We'll make a Whovian out of you ye-"

He was interrupted by Jack, who was standing next to the gift table. "'ey, Will! 'lizabeth! Come over 'ere fer a minute."

Will glanced at Elizabeth and shrugged as they made their way over to join Jack. "What's your problem, then?"

Instead of answering, Jack held out a long, unwrapped wooden box. "This look familiar t' you, mate?"

Will took it, frowning. "Yeah. Very familiar."

Elizabeth peered at it over his shoulder. "That looks like one of the boxes you mount your swords in, doesn't it?"

Will nodded. "Yep. Actually... I think it is one of the boxes I mount my swords in." He pointed to a spot just above one of the hinges, where the letters 'WT' were just visible.

"There's a note," Elizabeth said suddenly, bending to pick up a piece of paper from the floor. "'There was a time when it might not have been true, but I can sincerely say now that I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the wedding; it's obvious to me now that you two belong together. Congratulations. P.S., I thought you might like to have this back." She glanced up at Will. "Signed, 'James Norrington.'"

Confused, Will popped the latch and opened the lid of the box. Inside was the magnificent sword with the gold inlay, the last one he had sold to pay for Elizabeth's engagement ring.

Will looked up at Elizabeth. "I don't believe it."

Jack elbowed him lightly in the ribs, grinning. "Looks like yeh've got competition, eh?"

"Shut up, Jack."

Will's musings were interrupted by the sound of a new song beginning to play. Smiling broadly, he put the box back on the table and grabbed Elizabeth's hand. "C'mon! We have to dance to this one!"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow suspiciously as she followed him, trying to hide a smile of her own. "This is from Doctor Who, isn't it?"

"Er... maybe. Okay, yes. But it plays at a wedding reception, so it's perfect, really. Isn't it?"

"This would be shortly before the groom is eaten by a giant spider, yes?"

Will grinned. "You're such a closet Whovian."

"I prefer to think of myself as a nerd by association," Elizabeth grinned back.

Will laughed and pulled her into his arms as they reached the dance floor. "I love you."

"And I love you."

You pulled me in, you stole my heart, I cannot roam no more.

Because love it stays within you, it does not wash up on the shore!

And a fighting man forgets each cut, each knock, each bruise, each fall,

But a fighting man cannot forget why his love don't roam no more.

Oh, reel me in, my precious girl,

Come on, take me home,

'Cause my body's tired of traveling,

And my heart don't wish to roam.

Walk with me, my love, my love,

Walk tall, walk proud, walk far.

For you know, my love, you are, you are

You are my shining star!

Reel my in, my precious girl,

Come on, take me home!

'Cause my body's tired of traveling,

And my heart don't wish to roam!

So there you have it! The WEDDING and a few more utterly shameless Doctor Who references! (Apologies to all non-Whovian readers...) What do you think?