Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean (sadly).

Flashbacks are specified with italicized writing

Chapter One

Elizabeth saw herself stepping forward and declaring her love for Will, weaving her fingers through his rough blacksmith's hands. She then saw her father's look of dismay, remembering his words, always so collective in a situation like this, "Elizabeth... you have already committed yourself to the commodore, it is considered... improper to break your promise to him. Now let's go home and leave this matter to the armed forces."

Elizabeth didn't care what her father said but as his hand found hers and pulled her towards him, taking her away from Will and his dark brown eyes she was left in question of what to do. "No," she said defiantly, and not quiet sure what to say next "I - I am old enough to make my own decision."

"Elizabeth," he said sharply. "Some decisions are better made by your wiser elders, Commodore? Would you excuse us?"

The Commodore nodded slightly, knowing that Elizabeth leaving with her father was all in his favor.

Elizabeth tightened her grip to Will's hand, but found him letting go, "I must respect the governor's wishes," He said, almost surprised at his own words.

Elizabeth was left stunned at what Will had said. He loved her, didn't he? Why didn't he stand up for her?

Will knew that this was the only way to gain respect from the Governor if any at all and he watched Elizabeth's blank face as she was pulled away, not knowing what had come over him, being dragged down the cobblestone steps by her father, caught between words.

She awoke suddenly to the sun streaming on her face. It had been almost a decade since that day when she had been rushed away by her father. Will, as punishment for piracy had been banned from Port Royal for a ten year period of time and had fled to Tortuga to find Jack (She didn't know if he ever did) who had snuck of cleverly during her escapade

Elizabeth had watched his trial and seen his sentence, she had heard the Commodore speak as he explained, "...you have exactly 24 hours to leave Port Royal. If you are caught inside the city before the sentence is up, you will be punished with death in any form..." Such harsh words for her to hear, especially from her fiancée whom she was to marry the next day.

But her last memory of Will had been a good one. She thought of how, on his last night in Port Royal, he had snuck into her second story room to say good bye to her.

She had first and foremost grabbed him in a long awaited kiss, and then began talking to fast for him to understand, "Oh Will, this is terrible, ten years! It is so long! Too, long..."

He had nodded in agreement, "Ten years...Elizabeth..." he added, looking into her eyes mournfully as she smiled sweetly at him, their hands still fitted neatly into each one another's.

"There must be some way Will! Can't I go with you or...or... something?" She had pulled out of his arms and ran to her closet to find her chest, sorting threw this and that.

Will had patiently walked over to her and turned her to him, trying to break a smile, this was hard for him, too, "You can't leave Port Royal, you have to much of a life here, me... I'm just a blacksmith." He spoke softly, trying to calm her, but unsuccessfully succeeding.

She looked surprised at first, but then her lips began to tremble and tears brimmed in her eyes. "Then I'll wait for you! I'll..."

Will had put his hand lightly on her cheek, his thumb brushing her mouth softly, stopping her from saying anymore, "I can't do that to you...or me. I would feel guilty every second that you were here alone. And you... you are engaged...what would you tell your father?"

Elizabeth had tears running down her cheeks, why did Will have to be so reasonable? She realized that all was hopeless, that with his banishment and her engagement they could never be together.

"But we do have tonight." He said as he pulled her slowly into a soft kiss...

... And they had spent the hours of darkness together, wrapped in each others arms...

Elizabeth stopped her thought abruptly, it was very improper to think of Will in a loving way, after all, like it or not, she was a married woman... with a son...

Now, she felt a rush of guilt, as she though of her 9 year old son, James Norrington II. He was the pride and joy of her husband, but as he had grown, she couldn't help but notice his deep brown eyes, his untidy curled hair and his love of the sea. She had never said anything to anyone, but new that truly, he was Will's son, not the Commodore's. Possibly, he had noticed too, but had subconsciously chosen to ignore it.

There was a knock on her door, and she stood up out of bed quickly. "Come in." she said reluctantly as she wanted to be alone. The door opened and her maid entered. "Lovely Day, Mrs. Norrington." She said to be polite.

"Yes, quiet lovely." Elizabeth said, only to respond.

"The Commodore left for work early this morning and wanted me to tell you that he would be home in time for dinner," the maid informed her with a slight sound of jealously, all the servants...actually every woman in the town was jealous of Elizabeth's great fortune as Norrington's wife. "Oh, and young James has headed out to play." She said smiling.

All the maids loved little James, Elizabeth grinned at the thought of James' sociability and kindness, much like Will's.

&

Commodore Norrington arrived at his office and sat down in his large chair behind his oversized desk and found himself looking at the painting of Elizabeth, Young James, and himself, that his wife had had painted for him last year. His family couldn't be better, Elizabeth may have originally had doubts about the two, but he knew now that she must at least care about him. And his son...so ready to follow in his footsteps and become the next Commodore of Port Royal. He laughed slightly and then sighed, his life was just as he had always dreamed it would be...

...unfortunately, the Commodore had forgotten one simple problem that could tear apart his perfect family as he knew it. Actually, one simple person...And he hadn't thought about that person for almost a decade, but regrettably would be reminded...

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