Off the Map - A Pirates of the Caribbean AU

He hadn't expected them to stay, any of them. William Turner wasn't entirely sure how he'd sail the entire ship by himself, but he was certain that it was possible. Odd how many things came to his mind now. No logic or reason surrounded these new epiphanies, and yet that did nothing to take away from the truth of them.

So he knew he could command the Flying Dutchman, sail it, and execute its purpose all on his own, if he had to. But men still stayed. Despite their mistreatment, there were still a few loyal to the cause. William suspected they merely feared what lay beyond, even now. However, he wasn't one to turn away good men, especially if their souls were too restless to be guided back.

So the Dutchman still had a crew, a third of its old size- they were less a part of the ship than before, and rightly so. The hands they had were all that was really needed, as it was. Captain Turner's father served as first mate; William was often struck by how much easier it was to think of him as a crewman than a relative. He almost hated that- when they had a bit of extra time, he'd talk with him about days more lively. But extra time was hard to find on this ship. And his father was always more well-suited to the riggings than the captain's quarters.

Every day, he pined for something familiar to his old life. He did his best to keep his mind from Elizabeth, but found it nearly impossible. Eventually, he thought, he'd learned to use her memory to drive him- right now, it merely taunted, reminding him that he had nearly his full sentence to play out before he set his eyes on her again.

He looked out onto the water, as he often does now, and tried his best to keep his thoughts on those who would need his help.