Author's Notes: Oh dear fish sticks! It's here! At last, oh my gosh, I feel so happy J It has been hectic these past months but now life seems to be better. Well, I am so sorry for the wait and I hope this will help. There have been some horrible events taking place and it's drained me silly. Also I am a natural procrastinator so…you can imagine. Enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have any rights to Pirates, I do not own it and I am making no profit from this fic.

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He watched the sunset that decked the evening sky. It was this that was one of many reasons he had become a pirate. He took yet another inhale of the saltwater air that he had been born into. The peace and serenity that blanketed him was nothing short of pure bliss. It was the only kind of comfort only ole Pearl could give him. No beautiful and fair noble woman or any voluptuous whore could give him this. He was captain of the Black Pearl, he owned this ship.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," he murmured to himself with a bit of satisfaction.

"Still babbling on about your name, it's been years Jack…"

The wildly dressed man sat up from his position the face the man he called friend. Jack couldn't help but give Bill Turner one his so-called looks with puppy dog eyes lined in black expand and mustached lips pursed. Then, he released all tension and grinned.

"Can't help it mate, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow," he spoke with every word ringing with joy, "It's hard not to repeat my name, and I haven't had this beauty for very long," he said as he admired his prize, "You have to admit she's beautiful Bill."

"Not the most though," Bill stated, challenging his captain.

Jack walked closer to Bill with his own amber eyes on Bill's, "Ah yes, you married a landlubber," he said almost as though it were a crime, "A rich landlubber…"

"It's not a crime Jack," Bill said defensively, "It's called love."

Jack however did not understand the true concept of love between a man and a woman. He had never truly felt pure true love, only passionate lust. The act of love making had been nothing more than an adrenaline rush for him, never anything more. Actions running on pure love were so pure, so permanently fulfilling while quick whoring left emptiness. Jack had accepted that, he understood that he would never find love, that the sea was his only love. Gabrielle was a nice lady, oddly timid though. She completely clashed with Bootstrap's rambunctious personality, but she seemed able to release her might. Not weak, just gentle, and sincere. That's what got Jack going, the fact that her upbringing hadn't touched her, the fact that she had fallen for the lowest of low because of Bill's inner personality instead of his dashing looks. That her heart was swayed by words and actions alone.

She hadn't even seen his face when she first met him…

He'd never understand…

Jack snapped out of his thoughts, his friend was still by his side and not with his bonny lass. Now, his eyes lingered on a strange sight in Bill's palm. From what he could tell (since Bill's hand covered most of it), it was a carved piece of soap. With his undying curiosity and inimitable pick pocketing (or in this case thieving) skills, he swiped the object from Bootstrap's hands. Bill attempted to take it back, grabbing the mediocre object as though it were more precious than any other treasure the pair had ever taken. The object was nothing more than a carving of a duck, a fine carving, but a soap duck.

"What the hell is this?" Jack asked, bemused at why this could be so precious to his friend.

"That my friend," Bill began in an oddly poetic style as he took the carving from Jack, "Is the product of a love between a man and a woman.

Jack turned his eyes to Bill as though the man were mad, "A duck made out of soap?"

"No Jack," the man chuckled, still admiring the duck, "Something better," he said, beaming with joy, "A son."

"Hmm?" Jack asked, eyebrows so high they looked ready to fall of his head.

"My son," he paused for a moment with a wide smile making itself visible, "William," Bill finished dreamily, eyes locked on the object, "He made it, only six and he carved it all by himself," the way Bill spoke it was as if Will had created the greatest masterpiece, "I tell you that boy has talent, good with his hands if I do say so myself…"

The captain swung his arm around his friend's should, "Must get that from his father," he grinned wholeheartedly.

"I doubt he'll use them like I did though…" Bill chuckled bitterly.

"True," Jack nodded, "You've been put down like a dog ever since you married."

"Am not," he protested, "and Will's too much like his mom in spirit to use his hands like that," the man couldn't help but grin madly as memories of his son slipped into his mind, "He will be a fine man, definitely one to make a name for himself."

At these words, Bill spotted a mad gleam and Jack eyes. He had known the young captain for too long to not wonder what that look was. He knew that he had to stop what whatever was brewing in his eccentric's friend mind.

"Jack…" Bill said warily, "Not your successor," his tone became rather harsh spoken.

"Come now Bill…"

"I do not want Will to be a pirate."

The voice that William Turner I used when he uttered those words was harsher and swifter than any whip or brand that had been scarred upon Jack's skin. His eyes were burning, his face was set, and he was completely serious. It had been surprising enough for Jack that Bill had committed himself to one woman for the rest of his life, but a child? Jack actually liked the idea of a little pirate around the Pearl. Hell, he probably wouldn't be able to have a child so it would only be right that Bootstrap's lad would take over. Yet, Bill had even said no to that. All he could do was place a calloused hand on Bill's shoulder.

"Calm down Bill…"

His friend let out a breath of air, "Jack, I don't want Will to live the life I had to live," he said with his voice almost cracking.

"You turned out fine though mate," Jack reasoned.

"I don't want Will hating his father…having his father torn away from him at so young an age that he'll only remember him as a murderer."

Of course, Bill's past, "But we're no killers, Bill."

This was true. In fact, as far as pirates go, Jack and Bill were almost pure. Well, currently, in the past they hadn't been so good. Still, they never raped a soul…never took away a woman's purity in such a vile manner. Of course, there were still other things that were still just a vile.

"We're not exactly Samaritans are we Jack?" Bill argued with a harsh bitterness, "I can't have Will seeing that, I don't want him to think of me like that. Gabrielle accepted it, but Will shouldn't have to."

The subject of Gabrielle and Will had been heavy on Jack's mind. When a pirate took a bride there were usually two options set before him, take the woman to the sea or settle down with the woman on land. That very plight had plagued Jack's mind constantly, and now it seemed time for him to say something.

"When you go back, right mate?" Jack managed to say.

Bill's face formed into a questionable look at his friend's words, "What do you mean Jack?"

"I mean Bill, are you going to become one of those landlubbers yourself?" he said it as though it were a crime, "Going off to be with your bonnie lass?"

Now Bootstrap understood. He understood Jack's reason for questioning about his family. For once in his life Captain Jack Sparrow had found someone he could trust, he found companionship in Bill. Now he was in danger of Bill leaving the very life he knew for another. The whole idea of this newfound brotherhood between them had been something for Bill, and he couldn't help but smile.

"I didn't know you cared Sparrow," Bill mused with a smirk, a smirk that only on Bill's face, could break the tension.

"Bloody hell man would you shut up," Jack ordered, batting away Bill's arm, "Damn family man."

The silence made itself present, with both men leaning against the railing.

"You know Jack," Bill began, "I love Gabrielle, and she loves me…"

Here it came, here was the part where Bill would muse over his torment and then abandon him.

"She loved me even with me face all sliced up, didn't need to see the face that wooed a thousand whores," he couldn't help but laugh at his words, "She gave me everything."

Indeed, for she had taken them in without question.

"And we took everything from her didn't we Jack?" Bill asked with sorrow lining his eyes.

"Wasn't our fault Bill," Jack assured him, "Some people just aren't cut out for it, some should never trust the crown," he caught himself before he rambled on, "We didn't start out like that, and we didn't do the privateering thing."

"True. Still…you know she still loved me and even gave me a son."

"Just make up your bloody mind Bill, land or sea!" Jack exploded.

Bill could only smile that calm and patient smile, "These things need explaining Jack," he stated standing completely upright, "I have Gabrielle and Will, yet I have my past," he sighed, "Gabrielle understands. She knows that I can't drop everything I've known…"

"Then you'll be staying!?" Jack shouted, almost as a child would.

Bill nodded, "Aye, but Jack."

"Aye?"

"Will is going to need a father, and Gabrielle a husband, I can't be by your side forever…"

No more words needed to be exchanged. For Bill would always be a man torn between his past and his future, never again to be whole. It was his fate…

So maybe drowning was better than this….

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Present

…And really bad eggs

It had been years since that conversation between himself and Bootstrap had taken place. Years had passed since Bill had disappeared, and yet so little time had passed since him and Bill's lad had broken the curse. With one problem gone another seemed to reappear, Will Turner II.

And what a problem indeed.

He hadn't expected to speak with Bootstrap's brat too much, his only goal in life had been to retake his beloved Pearl. Out of duty to Bootstrap he decided to check up on Will out of convenience then continue onward. Never had he imagined that Barbossa would be able to track down the coin to the small port town. He knew that it would happen though, that eventually Will would be drawn into the web that his father had unwittingly weaved for him. He knew Bill didn't know the dangers of that coin, hell, he didn't even know about the coin. Out of friendship and duty…

And convenience

…he had found the key to his ship. Yet, he had grown fond of the boy, would've liked to see him as a pirate. Mind you, he would've had to roughen up a bit. However, he was just like his father, finding true love. Just as Will had braved all to hasten to Elizabeth Swann's rescue, so would Bill for Gabby. Now Will would settle down, but he couldn't settle for long…

There is something coming, an old friend, he'll be looking for Will…

"Cap'n?"

Jack's attention turned elsewhere at the sound of a coarse voice. Joshamee Gibbs, old friend, old pirate, and old drunk stood behind his absent minded captain. Beside him was the ever vivacious Anamaria who seemed to have lost a touch of her at the moment. Her usually burning amber eyes had become softer than the waves, no witty insults to spark the firestorm of exchanges that should have taken place, nothing. In fact, she seemed to be giving Jack a sympathetic look in contrast to the common cold glare she usually gave him. The entire crew of the Pearl seemed to be rather subdued instead.

"Aye Gibbs?" the tense voice of their captain stated, "What you be needing?"

Joshamee wasn't sure whether or not to continue, but with a gulp of sea air he continued, "Just heard reports of Specter's course, seems they're reaching their destination…"

That's not good.

"Well, then we'll keep ours," Jack said, making it final, "Let's just hope we'll get there in time," he sighed, his voice laced with a great weight.

"Do you think he'll be expecting us Jack?" Anamaria asked, almost revealing a tinge of weakness.

The him in question caused a torrent of shivers down the group's spines. Most of those present had not met this man, only Jack truly knew him. Still, those in his circle had heard of him and it was enough to chill the bones. So of course the ebony skinned beauty was nervous when stepping on the matter. The whole incident had only proven to pirates how cowardice the crown could be, and now they were paying for it.

"Don't know Ana."

It was the truth, how could he know? Jack hadn't even heard a wisp of information until this murder in England came up, so how would he know about Jack? It was hard for Jack to admit that he was unsure, that he just didn't know. Whatever he had been doing for so long, it had been something that Jack was most certainly unaware of. This Farnsworth, yes, Jack knew him and why he was killed. Still, it wasn't any easier to accept that.

He cleared the cloud of thought from his mind, "Well," he said, attempting to muster any assurance, "Doesn't matter do it Ana?"

She hesitated to answer for a moment, "Don't know Captain."

"You two," Gibbs said with false jubilance, swinging his arms around the pair, "We'll know soon enough."

And Jack wasn't in a hurry to know, except…

Turner

Apparently ever since Bootstrap departed, Jack had apparently become Turner's watcher. Of course, it was only right that he was. After all, anyone else who knew all the family's secrets were under either water or dirt. With these secrets seeming to become an even greater burden than before, Jack couldn't help but feel so heavy from the weight of it all. The need to escape to his cabin became even more tempting. So, with no obvious hint of his leaving, he continued to walk forward to his cabin.

"I'm going in for a little nightcap," he said to the others.

Ana, positively fuming, paced forth, "Jack, it's not even sunset!"

"Then call it a daycap," he grinned and then exited the exterior of Pearl and went to the interior.

The inside of Jack's beloved had actually been quite livable. He kept most of the items that had been on the Pearl from Barbossa's reign, for they had been his. With the exception of a few trinkets all which had been either thrown overboard or sold. The bed was a soft wine color, but torn in several places. He had stolen the sheets after bedding a noble and numerous other things as well. Why should he not have some comforts in life? After all, as a pirate, his duty was to pillage and those winnings needed to go somewhere.

Jack Sparrow took his place at his chair and table, just sitting, nothing more. Recent events now swam around him, and he didn't like one bit. As he took his seat, that's when it began…

Stone…

Stone

The whisper in his head wouldn't cease. He hadn't even been aware of the item that was out of place on his desk. It was right in front of him, yet he could not truly grasp the events around him. Everything had become a blur and all Captain Jack Sparrow could do was staring dumbly ahead as the whispers continued. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak…he could only hear. His sight was not his own, for all he could see was crimson red, just red.

"Jack, they've got the Pearl and I'm not going to be living any longer…"

Stone…

"Jac-"

The voice tried to reach him, tried to rip through the cloud in the captain's mind.

"Ja-"

Stone…

"You're stronger than this! You're going to live!"

The red was shrinking as oak brown flooded in. Soon, the red was nothing more than a shard, an insignificant shard pulsating with a dim light. The brown around the shard became more apparent with sketches of grain filling in. This was his desk, his wooden desk. Yes, he was in his cabin and he had been staring at…

A shard!?

A set of black eyebrows creased as he looked at the desk, "That shouldn't be there."

Quickly, he picked up the tiny object, holding it as if it were poisonous. His feet moved swiftly to the window moving as though his hand was on fire. He didn't even bother to take time to open the window, just punched his clenched hand through the window and dropped the cursed item into the ocean blue.

He felt the weight life as the shard sank into the sea. Then, as he took his steps in strides, he saw something on the bed that could even make a man such as Sparrow's spine tingle. It just says there, the piece of paper. If the paper had eyes, Jack imagined that it would be gazing at him. However, inanimate object did not posses eyes so he went closer to look at the ink upon the paper. With every step it seemed the pounding in his chest heightened.

Red jewel

It was him.

Then, one of those few emotions that Jack hardly ever felt came when he saw the words etched on the paper…

"See you in Port Royal, Sparrow."

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"I'm glad to have met you, Will…"

It was silent, a nice peaceful silence. It was a rare thing for Elizabeth to see Will resting so peacefully. In the past eight years she had known her love, she had only seen him resting so comfortably when he was still but a lad. Then, they both aged into adulthood just as any boy and girl would. Emotions a younger Elizabeth had never felt began to make themselves known to her in the strangest manner. Soon, she began to notice features about Will that she had never known before. She understood why those foolish girls would be giggling constantly every time they saw him. He was handsome and a gentleman and she wanted to be with him.

Her father, however, brushed off these feelings as a simple infatuation. He just needed Elizabeth to concentrate more on her education, so he had her doing more work and seeing less of Will. Still, she continued to care for him despite her father's wishes. She understood his over protectiveness for her. It was odd for one such as her to fall for someone of a lower class, but she did and she wouldn't give up on him.

She didn't and now they were together…

Indeed they were, and here he was, resting on his bed. Her fingers were brushing through his dark locks with as much tender care as possible. Their walk had been quite wonderful for she could tell from the look on his face that he was at peace being out of the shop. The stress he placed upon his shoulders was too much for him, it was something he shouldn't have to bear. Still, he worked nonstop, vying for her father's approval. Sitting here, watching him rest, it made her long for marriage more than anything at the moment. She knew what she wanted, she didn't care what her father thought, what anyone thought. Watching over the sleeping form of her lover just as she had done nine years ago, she couldn't help but feel some great euphoria well up inside her heart. The love she felt for him was strong, she knew that.

Her amber orbs rested on the awakening figure as he stretched his arms outward. A tender moan escaped his lips as his eyelids lifted. She placed a hand on his chest and placed a tender kiss above his brow. When she broke away, she couldn't help but beam at the sight of him.

"Good morning sleepy head," she whispered, though they both were perfectly aware that it was nearing the evening.

"Elizabeth," he murmured drearily, rubbing his eyelids, "What are you still doing here?"

She placed a faux pout upon her face, "Do you not want me here Mister Turner?"

"No, no," he replied hurriedly, immediately sitting up on the bed, "It's just I thought you might be at the mansion," he held her arms closely as he spoke, "I'm glad you stayed."

"As am I," the Lady Swann responded with smile and a glow, "I should, after all…" she needed to say this, "I should hope to be living here someday," he didn't interrupt her, so she finished her words, "…by your side."

She flinched at the look on her lover's face. Will's unease was so obvious that a blind man could've felt it miles off. The subject of marriage was something neither Will nor Elizabeth had mentioned often. Will didn't because he feared what she would have to face. She would face losing everything, living her life in poverty, she didn't understand that. Elizabeth had only spoken so few times because of Will's hesitance which she was hoping would die away. Yet it still remained and their relationship seemed to be going nowhere. Now was the time to confess her longings to the man she loved.

"Will, I mean to say…I mean to say that it's been a year since you've actually confessed…" she wouldn't say love, it need not be said, "…to me, but you've done nothing more William Turner."

He clasped her hands tightly, with all kindness in his eyes, "Elizabeth, I will, I promise," and as he said this, his eyes burned with an inner passion, "But there is much that needs to be done, you know that."

"No ring," she answered with an air of bitterness.

"What?" Will inquired with a quizzical expression.

"Will you have said that there is so much to be done, that you will eventually, but you have yet to do anything," she rose from her seat to declare the true seriousness of the situation, "Yet you have shown me no ring, you have not even proposed to me," her voice softened as these words spilled from her mouth, sadness blanketing them, "Tell me, do you ever intend for us to marry?"

He made no reply to this and Elizabeth's lips pursed together even tighter at this.

"Do you even want us to be together Will?"

"You know better than to ask me that…"

Her own stone cold face was set, "Can I truly know?" she sighed, "Is it my father? Has he said something? You shouldn't give a damn about what other people say Will."

"Maybe you should listen though Elizabeth!" he cried aloud, "Have you even thought about the consequences of what may come!?"

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, what she was seeing. Will standing up to meet her, trying to brush aside what she had been waiting for such a long time. Now he was saying there were consequences to their love, that she hadn't truly considered them. When her father gazed piercingly down at her the day Jack was almost hanged, was that not harsh enough? Spending days and months after that very moment in the same house as her father, barely exchanging words with him day after day! Still, she wanted to be with him but he didn't seem to understand that.

"I do not want to force you to give up anything," he said, keeping a hold on her hands.

Still, the young lady couldn't help but keep her harsh disposition, "So you must give up us then?" she pushed his hands away with a cold brush, "It's not your decision Will, I am no child and I am not helpless. I have made my choice…"

"To leave your family!?"

"To be with you," she corrected.

"You have a father Elizabeth, you have your family!" he shouted, "You cannot just walk away from that!"

"He will learn to accept us!" she explained, but her voice betrayed her, she was trying to convince herself.

The young son of Bootstrap could not let her…"Do you know for sure that he'll accept us?" he asked her, receiving no answer, "I know what it's like to be alone, to be without family…and the emptiness it leaves cannot easily be mended. You shouldn't have to face this."

This was supposedly the moment where the curtain of misunderstanding would arise and all would be well for them both. Elizabeth would see that Will was only trying to protect her because he was forced to grow into manhood without a mother or a father. Yet, she was a woman now and she had her father to help her grow. As a woman, she was able to make her own decisions. Will did not see that at all, he had apparently decided that it was up to him to make her own decisions, to choose her own path. No more! She couldn't be here, holding him gently. Here they were together, not able to flaunt their love about because they were bound by marriage, and it pained her every waking moment. They wanted to hold each other, embrace, but couldn't because he would never propose. She couldn't take it anymore.

"I wouldn't face anything if it were up to you," she stated coldly, gazing icily at her soul mate, "If I am not coddled by father than it's you. Neither one of you seems to have realized that I am able to make up my own mind so you both feel that you must make up my mind for me."

She didn't mean to speak such words, but this was something that had been on her mind for so long. She closed the distance between the young Turner and herself, assuring him that her love was still there. However, she needed to leave, to think.

"You should stop worrying about what my father thinks is best," and as she said this, her voice quivered and her eyes watered, "For once just think about your happiness, good day Will."

"Good day Elizabeth," he bided gently.

With such an unhappy parting, Elizabeth Swann departed from the smithy leaving Will Turner alone. As soon as she left, the young man sighed and brushed back a stray lock from his head. He went to his drawer to pull out a small, ornately carved box. The designs that decorated the cover were lacings of flowers tied into vines, which alone was beautiful enough. Then, he opened the lid to reveal the loveliest of objects…

A golden ring

A golden ring that within it had several words engraved upon it. This was the object Elizabeth longed for and the object that Will had been longing to give her. To give her this would be the greatest honor he could ever have. Then, the cruel reality of life swept upon him as he held the ring and placed it back in its box to continue on with his work.

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Evening

The night shift guards stood out near the docks of the small port town. In the past, the guards wouldn't have been as stiff. However, due to the attack courtesy of the Black Pearl, night rounds were much more secure. On this night though, only a single guard was beneath the docks. Sadly, on an eve of all eves, there was only one soldier making rounds that night. It was unfortunate that this poor man must take his duties and watch the sea for anything out of the ordinary alone on this night. He didn't seem to be shaking as most would do when sent on watch alone.

Sometimes when one is at the prelude of a disaster, they say that person can feel so much tension that one could feel it in the air. It didn't feel like this for him. He was calm and composed, just holding his position. He was completely unaware of what would come until it came upon him.

Footsteps

"Hello?" the soldier spoke, trying to find the source of the sound.

From the shadows the figure stepped forward, bringing more unease to the area. Everything around the guard seemed to be shaded a little darker as though to emphasize the intensity of it all. The figure's body shape was most definitely that of a man.

"Excuse me sir?" the soldier inquired politely for he did not know if this was friend or foe, "Can I help you?"

The man made no reply to the soldier.

"Sir?"

The cloaked figure stepped forward, "Pardon me soldier," he finally said, his voice hoarse and heavy, "You wouldn't happen to know a William Turner would you?"

Anyone in Port Royal who didn't know William Turner had most likely been living beneath a rock for the past year. Ever since the escaped hanging of Captain Jack Sparrow, the young Turner's name had been rolled about on many tongues. He had become the greatest pastime of gossip for the socialites, but most citizens knew him as an honorable man who had braved all and hastened to the rescue of the governor's daughter. At the same time, those of snake tongues spoke of his assistance in the escape of Captain Jack Sparrow. However, his skill as a blacksmith was more greatly known than his run in with pirates and therefore most negative words were discarded. So, yes, the soldier was aware of William Turner.

"Indeed I do sir," he replied, as it was his duty to guide those lost, "He is a well known blacksmith in these parts, and courting the Governor's daughter I believe.

A respectable lad, eh?

The figure smirked beneath his cloak as the thought crossed his mind, "Is he now? So, I take it I'd find him residing at the smithy?"

"That's where he resides."

Excellent

From the inner area of his cloak the man withdrew something that the unsuspecting soldier did not see. All he heard was a small click.

"Thank you kind soldier but I'm afraid I am no longer in need of your services."

And with a brief talk and a quick shot, the soldier fell dead to the ground as the man continued onward to the Smithy.

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partheon: I believe it's very important to have the basis of the character down otherwise it's not the character you fall in love with. So I hope I'm still doing that with this chapter, I am concerned about Jack though. Thank you for reading and I am so sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Circe-Aten: Yay! Sometimes it's hard to write them because the movie has flat characteristics for them so you really have to look to find them. Hopefully this chapter was enjoyable for you!

Hitokiri Elf slayer of evil: I'm glad you like it, thank you very much.

Random: Muwahahaha! I have appeared! I'm sorry for the wait, but I'm back. Thank you for the review.

Well, I do need to work on other things but I am sorry for the wait. Thank you all for reading and really I do love to read reviews and I do listen!

Tennyo