Thank you for keeping patience with this story! It is finally at an end, so I hope you enjoy the chapter and are not disappointed…

Chapter 16

The End of it All

            Will's words were such a surprise to Elizabeth that she lost the power of speech for several minutes. Staring at him in disbelief, her eyes were drawn to the strange bundle swinging from his hand. She could not quite make out what it was, but it looked like dead flowers. Absent mindedly fiddling with her engagement ring from the Commodore, she tried to speak.

            "W- what is that?" She indicated to the bundle. Will lifted them up, and half proffered them to her.

            "Dead camellias. I- I bought them a few days ago. By accident," he explained. Elizabeth looked at him in confusion. "I bought them for you… but I couldn't give them to you. Sorry," he added as an afterthought, not sure what he was apologizing for.

            "Oh." Elizabeth didn't know what to say. Suddenly Will noticed her engagement ring.

            "Oh… I see you're… of course…"

            "What? What?" Elizabeth asked, alarmed. Will indicated towards her left hand, and she realized what he was trying to say.

            "Oh no, no! This is nothing. It doesn't matter." Shaking her head, she took off the ring and dropped it on the floor. "It's nothing."

            "You and Jack… you're not...?"

            "No! Father asked Commodore Norrington to propose again. It means nothing to me. Don't worry."

            "Oh, very well," Will replied, relieved that he was not too late. Then something occurred to him. "Then why did you say yes?" Sighing, she sat down on the bottom stair, and indicated for Will to do the same. He walked across to her, his hard shoes clicking on the marble floor of the silent house, and sat down beside her. She turned so they were face to face.

            "I said yes because I knew I wouldn't be there to see the engagement through. You see… Jack and I were planning to run away to England. Tomorrow. Actually, today," she corrected herself, noticing the time by the grandfather clock in the hall.

            "Yes, I knew that. So much for not having feelings for him."

            "I'm sorry, Will! The truth is, I was scared of being on my own with a baby. You have no idea how frightened I was; I knew everybody would judge me and look down on me and that I would be all alone for always. I didn't want that, Will! So when Jack asked me to stay with him, I said yes. But only because I was so scared! And I didn't think you'd forgive me, and he was so nice, so I just thought…" she trailed off, searching Will's face for understanding.

            "You don't have to worry. I know you must have been afraid. I can forgive you for the mistakes you've made if you can forgive me for mine," Will told her, taking her hand and looking into her eyes.

            "Thank you. And you have done nothing wrong. It was all my fault."

            "No. I spent too long trying to decide whether I wanted to be with you, when it was so obvious."

            "Hmm… well… at least we know what we want now."

            "So you will marry me?"

            "Yes… I love you."

            They both tentatively smiled at one another, before cautiously embracing. Elizabeth grasped Will's shoulder, inhaling his familiar scent, and he held her protectively. Suddenly he knew that nothing else mattered. He and his Elizabeth were together again, that was the only thing of importance in his life. The couple's awkward embrace became more and more comfortable, and they relaxed in each other's arms. Finally, Elizabeth kissed Will's ear before pulling away from him.

            "Will, you do understand that I'll be giving birth in a little under a year?"

            "Of course."

            "And… that his or her father is a pirate."

            "Yes, Elizabeth, I was aware of that," Will answered, not sure what she was trying to say.

            "And that- that that pirate is lying fast asleep and very drunk in my bedroom, and that he will be fairly angry when I tell him that I am going to stay here to be with you?"

            "How angry do you think?" asked Will, as they exchanged nervous smiles.

            "Oh, I think he'll want to kill somebody… probably you."

            "I see." He took her hand, and they wrapped their fingers together for a moment, enjoying the feeling, before starting up the stairs.

            As they arrived outside Elizabeth's bedroom, still hand in hand, her heart started to pound harder. She and Jack had been making plans… he had opened his heart to her and now she was going to take all of that away from him. Will squeezed her hand, and she turned round. They exchanged a half smile for comfort. Here we go. Elizabeth slowly pushed open the door, looking across at the bed. Jack was still asleep. She whispered this information to Will, and they both walked in quietly.

            "Oh God, I can't do this," Elizabeth hissed to her fiancé. "He'll be so upset!"

            "Come on, we have to. Let's just wake him up first." Clutching Will's hand even more tightly, Elizabeth approached the bed.

            "Jack! Jack, wake up!" Jack stirred, but slept on. "Jack!" Elizabeth said louder.

            "Wha'?" He mumbled, his eyes still closed.

            "Jack, wake up!" Blearily, he opened one eye and turned to look at her.

            "'Lizabeth. Is it time to go already?"

            "Jack… I can't go with you."

            "Wha'?!" He asked again, this time much louder. He had just noticed Will standing beside Elizabeth, and a glance down showed him that they were holding hands. He knew in a second what the situation was. "Why?" He asked, even though he knew the answer.

            "I'm so sorry," she said sincerely, using her spare hand to trace a pattern on the bedpost, "I really am. But I can't help loving Will… and it never would have worked out between us anyway, you know that! You belong on the sea Jack; I could never have let you have the freedom you wanted!"

            "That's not true! Didn't I give up my life for you? I swore I'd be wha' you would want me to be. I'd never go back on my word. Unlike you."

            "I'm so sorry Jack," Elizabeth whispered. "I am so, so sorry. I know you did your best. I know I made you promises but I just can't keep them. I despise myself for putting you through this after everything. But it can't be any other way. Will and I are going to be married."

            "Well, boy," exclaimed Jack, springing off the bed and advancing towards Will. "It took you long enough, didn't i'? Your fiancée tells you she's 'avin' a baby and you leave 'er to cope on 'er own!"         

            "She wasn't on her own, you were there! It's not my baby Jack, of course we couldn't just carry on. I admit I handled it badly, but I've realized that I belong with her now," Will defended, putting an arm around Elizabeth's shoulder.

            "And you," Jack addressed Elizabeth this time. "'E runs off when you need 'im, and now you just take 'im back? An' I was, what, just fillin' in the gap 'e left?"

            "It's not like that, Jack, we've talked about it-"

            "Oh, you talked abou' it, that makes it all better-"

            "Will's sorry, I'm sorry. And you weren't just filling in a gap. I do care about you, and I did have feelings for you." Elizabeth felt Will move uncomfortably by her side. "But my feelings for Will are stronger."

            "We're sorry, Jack," added Will, for good measure. Jack looked at both of them for a minute, then sneered.

            "Good luck dealin' wiv that woman," he told Will. "She ain't easy." He made sure his sword was secure on his belt, and picked up his hat which had fallen to the floor.

            "Jack… are you going to be alright?" Asked Elizabeth, concerned, as he strode past them to the door.

            "Don' flatter yerself, love. You ain't nothin' special. I'll 'ave forgotten about you in a week," he replied nastily. Elizabeth knew it was only to hurt her and provoke Will, but refused to rise to his unkind words.

            "Say that again!" Challenged Will , taking a step forward. Elizabeth held him back.

            "Don't, Will. He's just angry. Let it go."

            "But-"

            "Let it go, Will!"

            Jack watched Will bristle with indignation at Jack's insult of Elizabeth, and his heart gave a pang. Of course he didn't mean it. He was upset about his loss; he had never felt as much for any other woman than he had for Elizabeth… she was different, even though he had not seen it at first. Not to mention the fact that she was carrying his child. He tried to tell himself that it was for the best anyway, that he would not have been comfortable living away from the sea, but he still could not push away the anger against the two of them. Especially Will. Curiously, Jack realized that he did not hate Will. Nor was he surprised. He even felt a little relieved. Perhaps, deep down, he had been suspecting a reunion between the pair of them all along.

            "I'm going to go to Tortuga for a couple of days," Jack told Elizabeth. Will waited impatiently for Jack to leave, making his annoyance clear, but she listened to what he had to say and he was grateful. "I don't know where I'll be after that. Go wiv the sea, as usual." He and Elizabeth exchanged a weak smile at this. "I'll come back and see you. And the baby. You… you will..?" He couldn't phrase the question, and, letting it hang in the air, decided not to ask. Elizabeth understood.

            "It'll be yours, Jack. The child will always be yours." For a moment their smiles were genuine.

            "Goodbye, Elizabeth." Jack wanted to say more, his feelings were all over the place. He wanted to express his anger, his sadness, his betrayal, but he settled for another tight smile, this time aimed towards Elizabeth's stomach, at his unborn child.

            "Goodbye, Jack!" Will said firmly, keeping a tight hold on his new fiancée. He was trying to assert himself as the dominant male, but failed. Jack merely smirked.

            "'Bye for now," Elizabeth told Jack, and he left the bedroom.

            For the first time since they had reunited, Elizabeth and Will looked deep into each other's eyes and smiled with pleasure. They were together again, at last. Will cupped Elizabeth's cheek, bringing her mouth to his and they kissed for a moment, before climbing onto the bed. Not even undressing, they both lay down under the covers, foreheads together, noses touching, and fell asleep. It had been a long night.

            When they woke up, there was no sign of Jack.

            The pair of them woke suddenly when the maid had come in to place a jug of hot water on Elizabeth's dressing table. "Oh!" She cried in surprise at seeing a male body in the bed with her mistress.

            "Come back later, please," Elizabeth sleepily told her.

            "Yes, ma'am," the maid replied. Then she started, recognizing the man. "Will?" He looked up.

            "Estrella!" Elizabeth, who had drifted off again, jerked awake and looked at the maid. It was indeed Estrella.

            "Master Turner. Miss Swann," Estrella nodded, unable to conceal a smile, which was reciprocated by Will. Elizabeth felt grateful to the servant for her part in the recent happenings, but had realized that professional boundaries must not be crossed again.

            "Thank you, Estrella. You may leave the water on my nightstand." She gave a wide grin which conveyed more than could be said with words, and Estrella set the pitcher down and left the room.

            After their strange awakening, Will and Elizabeth walked downstairs hand in hand with a mind to tell Governor Swann the news. He was surprised and annoyed that Elizabeth had changed her mind yet again, but a part of him felt relieved that he did not have to follow through on all the gifts he had promised to Commodore Norrington for the condition of his marriage to Elizabeth. Norrington himself was disappointed; he had been looking forward to the prospect of the dowry, houses and plantation. However, he also told himself it was all for the best. Kathryn Saunders, the daughter of one of his Lieutenants, had caught his eye on more than one occasion and he was glad to ask her to come out walking with him one day.

Epilogue

            Elizabeth and Will were married three weeks later by the Reverend. Only Elizabeth's family and close friends of the couple attended the tiny ceremony, and the rest of the island's population only found out about the marriage the following day. The couple made the pregnancy public several weeks later, leading everybody to believe that the Will was the father. Jack Sparrow made a visit to the island once before the baby was born. He stayed for one night at an inn, visiting Elizabeth for a mere few minutes to ensure that everything was as it should be. He did not speak to Will.

            Commodore Norrington married Kathryn Saunders two months after Will and Elizabeth's wedding. There had been rumours of his infidelity to her with one or two women in the town, but these whispers were neither proved nor disproved. The couple continued to live in the Commodore's house, and Kathryn gave birth to twin girls a year later.

            Elizabeth gave birth to a baby boy, whom she and Will named George John Turner. The other inhabitants of Port Royal understood that she had had an early birth brought on by anxiety for her husband's recent decline in business. Neither Will nor Elizabeth made any attempt to correct them. Jack first saw his son four months after his birth, then fairly irregularly from then on. He jested that the growing lad would make a fine pirate, and brought him worthless gifts of strange stones and souvenirs from different islands. Occasionally, he gave the boy something valuable, such as a coin or piece of jewellery, which he instructed the child to keep secret. He knew Elizabeth would not wish for such things in her house.

            The unusual family adjusted to their life together. Every now and again, they each wished for something to change and make their existence more exciting. After all, life in Port Royal was pretty mundane. Then again, Jack's visits were always… interesting…

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