DISCLAIMER: I don't own 'Pirates of the Caribbean' or any of the characters associated with the film franchise. They are the property of the Walt Disney Corporation.

AN: This is set at the very beginning of COTBP and spans up until the main events of the film. Basically, I can't help myself. ;)

Was she an angel? An angel with lovely brown curls, wide dark eyes and…freckles? The salt water in his eyes was distorting his view. He blinked once and gripped the angel’s wrist fiercely. She gasped in surprise. Her face calmed instantly and the angel spoke.

“It’s okay. My name is Elizabeth Swann,” she said clearly, with a confidence that he had not heard in a girl of her age. She must be an angel.

“Will…Turner,” he gasped out as he began to see spots before his eyes. The angel was fading from his perception, but he still managed to hear her words in the fog.

“I’m watching over you, Will.”

He didn’t know Miss Swann and yet, for some strange reason, her words touched him. He believed that she was watching over him. Under the safe protection of his guardian angel, Miss Elizabeth Swann, the pirates could not harm him. He would live to see another day, live to find his father. He lost consciousness without a fight.

When next Will awoke, his pretty angel was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he found himself in a cabin under the very staunch watch of a rather severe looking gentleman. He was not a man to be reckoned with and Will considered, briefly, pretending to be asleep again. It was too late, however, and the man had already noted that Will had awoken.

“William Turner, is it?” he asked. Will swallowed hard and nodded. The man regarded the boy for a moment before speaking again.

“Lieutenant Norrington,” he said crisply. “It appears, William, that you are the only survivor of the ship. Can you tell me what happened?”

Will took a moment to reply. The screams of the people on board still echoed in his mind, the blood he’d seen flow still ran before his eyes, the fear he had felt was still so very clear. He swallowed back a sob. It would do no good to cry. He had nothing now with his mother dead and his father forever lost at sea. If his own journey was any indication, he could well imagine that his father was also lost to the depths. A deep sense of loss filled him suddenly. His heart was empty and he was alone. William Turner was alone in the world and this cold lieutenant was asking him for details. So be it.

“I bought a passage on the ship to travel through these seas in search of my father. My father was a merchant sailor. I hoped that in travelling the seas I might find him. Instead,” Will paused and shuddered in remembrance, “Instead I found that my search might be hopeless. With pirates on the seas, I fear my father is already dead.”

Lieutenant Norrington narrowed his eyes at the boy, taking a moment to absorb his story. “Do you know what happened to the ship you were sailing on?”

“No, sir. I was sleeping when I felt a sudden rumble. I made my way on deck to find that we were being attacked by pirates. I heard a man exclaim ‘The cargo is going to blow’ and at that point, another man tossed me overboard. The ship exploded before I had resurfaced, I found a board and clung to it. I don’t remember much after that, sir, except Miss Swann. Unless…she’s real, isn’t she?”

Lieutenant Norrington’s face finally broke into a small, warm smile. “She is indeed. And, you had been placed under her charge. However, young ladies need their rest and I took over for her until now, Mr. Turner. I recommend you rest further. It will still be a few hours until daybreak.”

With that, Lieutenant Norrington left the cabin to allow the boy a chance to rest further. Will collapsed back on his pillow and stared at the yellow light of the lantern. Miss Swann was real. He hadn’t dreamt her to life. He smiled a tiny smile and yet he did not know why. He suddenly felt that he wasn’t so alone after all. If he should be able to know Miss Swann, even a little, he could live for her. He could die for her. She was his angel. He closed his eyes and sighed. Will was surprised that he was still so tired even now. Sleep found him easily once again and he dreamed of morning.

The scent of porridge filled his nostrils and shocked him to waking. Will’s stomach growled in angry, empty protest and he sat up abruptly. Shakily, he rested his feet on the floorboards and stood. He climbed the stairs slowly, following his nose. There. Behind this door, food awaited. He could smell it. Without another thought, he pushed the door open. Will blinked suddenly in embarrassment. Miss Swann stared back at him, her mouth wide open, spoon poised to make entry. A man sat next to her, much older and dressed in grandeur with a wig unlike any he’d ever seen. Will bowed quickly.

“My apologies,” he said, back out of the door rapidly.

“Will!” he head in the delighted tones of Miss Swann. His eyes flew to her face instantly, watching her in rapt shock. She had a bright, wide smile. Will thought for a moment that surely, surely she must be an angel. The man beside her also smiled.

“You must be hungry,” he said kindly. Will’s stomach, much to his embarrassment, growled in agreement. His cheeks flared red and Miss Swann giggled.

“Join us, my boy,” the man said heartily, pulling a chair out and ushering Will into the room. Will sat down nervously, keeping his eyes on his plate. A servant rushed out and placed a bowl of steaming porridge on the plate and Will’s eyes widened. He was starving. He started at his food slowly, trying to match the polite elegance of the two others at the table. He hadn’t been brought up to know proper table manners and it was evident that he was trying his best. Will felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. The man looked down at him, and Will felt he was almost regal in appearance.

“Don’t try so hard, my boy. Just eat!”

Will looked sheepishly at Miss Swann, his perfect angel. She raised her eyebrows at him expectantly and smiled warmly. Will took that expression as permission and began eating ravenously. He hadn’t eaten in so long. He wasn’t sure how long he had been floating on that board, but he had certainly been sleeping for a very long time. When he had had his fill, he wiped his face unceremoniously. Now he realized that he must make some sort of conversation – it was only polite to do so. He glanced from Miss Swann to the man, and back again. Miss Swann was smiling softly, some fierce little fire burning behind her eyes. There were questions there that Will could tell she knew were inappropriate, but she would ask them eventually anyway.

“Perhaps I should introduce myself,” the man said warmly, “I am Governor Weatherby Swann. And you are?”

“Governor,” Will whispered breathlessly, his eyes scanning from the man to his daughter. She was an angel, or at least she was as far from his reach as any angel.

“William Turner, sir,” Will said, eyes lowered respectfully.

Governor Swann smiled at the boy. “Of course. Elizabeth, I trust you can keep Mr. Turner occupied until the journey is through. I have to return to deck. Pleasure to meet you, William.”

With that, Governor Swann had left the room with a smile on his lips. William Turner was perhaps a year older than Elizabeth, if that. At least he would keep her mind from pirates for the time being.

“Hello Will,” she said brightly.

Will looked at her shyly. “Hello.”

“I’m Elizabeth. I was watching over you yesterday.”

“Yes, I know, Miss Swann,” Will replied, his hand habitually rising to his neck. He did not see the smile fall from Elizabeth’s face as he did so.

“Please, call me Elizabeth,” she said, forcing the smile to return to her face.

Will’s eyes drew up to hers, “I cannot, Miss Swann, it wouldn’t be proper.”

His life in England may have been many things, but he could never have presumed himself to be high enough in society to address an angel by her given name.

Miss Swann gave him a pretty sort of pout, but decided to let it go.

“Where are you from, Will?” she asked, fingering the gold medallion under the table.

“London, Miss Swann,” Will replied tentatively.

“I, as well!” she exclaimed excitedly, “Where in London?”

Will did not smile, knowing that his answer may cost his friendship with this angel. “Cheapside, Miss Swann.”

Miss Swann tilted her pretty head. “Cheapside? Really?”

Will nodded. Miss Swann smiled slightly and moved on directly to the next question. “And, where are your parents?”

“My mother died not three months ago, and my father was a merchant sailor on the seas. I came here to find him.”

“Merchant sailor?”

“Yes,” he said proudly, nodding with enthusiasm. His father was a good man and he hoped to find him.

“Were you going to Port Royal, as well?” she asked.

“Not necessarily,” Will replied. Upon noting her sad face, he added, “But, it seems it’s as good a place as any and I haven’t any fare money to board another ship.”

Elizabeth’s face brightened. “Perhaps we can be friends, then!”

“I should like that, Miss Swann,” Will said, smiling slightly, “I should like that very much.”

Elizabeth smiled widely. She couldn’t quite place it, but there was something about Will Turner. Something quietly dangerous. It only served to convince her that he was a pirate.

“Father told me that we should reach Port Royal promptly. Shall we go above and look for shore?”

The idea of solid ground beneath his feet made Will’s heart soar. It had been nearly three months since he’d left England and he would be more than happy to make port. He nodded at Miss Swann and offered her his hand as she began to stand from her seat. Elizabeth smiled as she accepted his hand. If Will was a pirate, then she wondered if all pirates were as courteous and thoughtful as him. She watched him as he led her through the door and carefully up the stairs. He handled her as if she were a precious treasure. As if he was the one watching over her. She hoped with all her heart that he would stay at Port Royal forever because the chances were it would be just as dull as any other place she’d lived. With Will there, the opportunity for danger would always exist and Elizabeth Swann loved danger. She was drawn to it.