Will & Elizabeth talk during At World's End

DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, I don't own PoTC, if I did, Jack Sparrow would be MINE and I'd be sailing the seven seas right now.

Elizabeth gazed out at the sunset from the railing. She was startled by a door shutting and she whirled round, drawing her sword. She lowered it when she saw it was Will. 'Oh. It's just you.'

'You know, that's insulting,' he said, folding his arms. 'I miss the smile you would reserve especially for me.'

'That was a while ago,' Elizabeth said through her teeth, staring down at the water. Her head was still filled with the image of her father, floating in the dinghy, dead and ghostly pale. Unfortunately for her, the thought wasn't planning on drifting to the back of her mind either.

Will knew her and her expressions all to well and put his hand over hers. She didn't flinch. Although their relationship was supposed to be over (or just on hold until they sorted things out) like always, Elizabeth was glad to have Will there, even if it was only as friends.

'I always could hang on to it,' she said, sadness overpowering her tone. 'I could always cling on to that string of hope of the thought that he was still alive. But now...'

'There's proof,' Will finished. Elizabeth nodded. She pulled her hand away, not because it was awkward, because she reached into her pocket and handed Will a ring. He held his breath. It was the ring he had presented her a while ago as an engagement.

'If it's over,' she said, 'then I suppose I should give this back to you for the next girl who comes along.'

Will opened his mouth to protest about her words but she raised her finger and placed it on his lips. 'I was kidding. Just take the ring.'

Will took it from her fingers, curling his hand around it. ''Liz...'

Elizabeth turned and took one step toward Will, cutting him short of his words, making his heart thunder in his chest.

'When all this is over,' she breathed, their lips inches apart. 'When everything is over, we'll talk. We'll sort it out. And then, we can make the decision whether you give that ring back to me.'

She gave him a small, teary smile and made a move to walk back to the cabin but Will grabbed her arm and seized her face with his hands and kissed her. Elizabeth knew it was not the right time but she just melted in his arms. Finally, sense caught up with her and she pulled away. 'Will, no...'

'I know,' he interrupted, softly brushing his hand down her cheek. 'I had to. Elizabeth, there's a battle waiting for us and even though we can put it off now, we can't forever. If I die then, I want you to know that I died loving you.'

He gave her the breathtaking smile that made her heart soar above cloud nine. 'And I loving you,' she said in a whisper as the sun disappeared in the horizon.

'Dinner!' Gibbs roared from below. Will and Elizabeth looked at each other for a moment and then Will pulled away from her, hurrying down to the hold. From the wheel of the ship, Jack couldn't help but smile. One day, they would get through this. He, as Captain, would make sure of it.

A/N: And he did. Jack made sure Will could be with Elizabeth by giving up his immortality. I think of Jack as Will & Elizabeth's guardian angel.

R&R!