*NOTE* Okay, this is totally and completely unnecessary, considering the fact that this site is called fanfiction.net which denotes the fact that no characters on this site actually belong to the writers unless they've made up an original one, but let's jump on the bandwagon anyway! None of these characters belong to me. Unless I come up with an original character (avoiding a Mary Sue at all costs). Oh yeah, and having seen the appalling spellings of some other fanfictions, I'd like to make a distinction:

Eh: rhymes with hay; what Canadians say habitually/stereotypically.

Aye: pronounced like "eye". Means yes.

DO NOT CONFUSE THE TWO!!!

Now let's get on with the story.

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Chapter One – A Toast and A Reception

Captain Jack Sparrow was really quite drunk. Of course, so was the rest of the crew, but he prided himself on being able to hold his rum better than most of them. Although, come to think of it, Gibbs had certainly posed a threat in many a past drinking contest. In any case, the crew was below decks, getting even more drunk and generally embarrassing themselves in various ways. One of the most important rules of piracy: life is short, so when there's reason to celebrate, don't hold back. Slipping out from under the noses of the best officers in the Royal Navy just before getting killed seemed like a good reason to celebrate.

Jack, however, was not with the crew. He had excused himself right before the third bawdy rendition of "A Pirate's Life for Me," on the grounds that he was the captain and, as such, could do what he bloody well liked. Sometimes he really regretted teaching that song to the crew. Jack paced the deck pensively. His balance was off because of the large amount of alcohol he'd drunk. The hangover he'd have in the morning would be one he'd not soon forget. Well, later on in the morning, at least. These were the wee hours in which most land-lubbers were asleep. They had no lives, those people. Doing their monotonous little chores and moving in their endless, predictable cycles. Piracy was much more exciting, if a bit dangerous, and the rewards were infinitely more pleasing than any kind of satisfaction those unacquainted with the ocean could ever have. Jack hoped Will and Elizabeth didn't have boring lives, though it seemed highly plausible that they did now that he'd left. The aristocracy was not well-known for their sense of fun. They'd occasionally have some kind of ridiculously opulent ball or lavish ceremony, but there was never any rum, and where was the fun in that?

Jack climbed the stairs to the quarterdeck and leaned heavily on the railing. The amber liquid in the brown glass bottle he held sloshed as he took a rather undignified swig, savoring the alcohol's pleasant burning. He raised the bottle to the pale slivers of rising sun.

"Cheers, Will." He downed the remaining liquid and slid to the ground, still leaning against the side of the ship. Jack grinned to himself, tipped his worn leather hat over his eyes, and allowed the rum to take its soporific effect.

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Elizabeth and Will smiled artificially as they graciously received yet another solid silver tea set. This time it was Lord and Lady Barclay who were to blame, both of whom shot Will dirty looks as they passed the lace-draped table covered in wedding gifts.

"That makes four," Will sighed glumly, forcing himself to refrain from returning the evil glance. He was dressed in his best finery, plumage and all, and he did not look comfortable in the least.

Elizabeth smiled genuinely. She looked rather happy for someone who was wearing such an unwieldy dress that she had to use Will as a support.    "Oh, cheer up Will. I'm sure they mean well."

"Perhaps, apart from the fact that they think I've married above my station."

Elizabeth prodded him in the ribs.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"Stop being so gloomy! We're married now! It is our duty to keep up appearances."

"Appearances of what? Pompous aristocrats?" Will was rewarded with another sharp poke.

"Pay no attention to them. They don't know what a fine man you are." Elizabeth pressed herself more closely against Will, her face the absolute picture of contentment. Will's expression softened into a smile.

"Well, if you're happy, I'm happy." He suddenly adjusted his posture, straightened his hat, and surveyed the ballroom with an air of very exaggerated dignity. He heard Elizabeth giggle at him near his shoulder.

"Elizabeth," he paused, "do you think we should've invited Jack?"

Elizabeth gave him a perplexed look. She remembered what Jack had said after they'd been rescued from the deserted island on which they'd been marooned by Barbossa. "A wedding – I love weddings! Drinks all around!"

"He'd have liked that. But if we had invited him, Commodore Norrington would have tried to kill him — oh, good afternoon Lord Carrington!"

The conversation ceased abruptly and both Will and Elizabeth rushed smiles onto their faces as another small group of aristocrats congratulated Elizabeth, trying to ignore Will as best they could. Once they had disappeared into the throng, Will took up the conversation again.

"We owe him a favor. Without him, I'd never have found you."

"I know that." Elizabeth looked sadly up at the high, domed ceiling. "Will, we don't know where he is, and even if we did, my father would never let us go if we told him we were searching for him."

Will sighed.

"Well, maybe we'll run into him on our honeymoon."

Elizabeth looked doubtfully at Will, who wrapped his arms lovingly around her waist.

"We will see him again, Elizabeth. I can feel it."

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Author's note: There, now that wasn't so bad, was it? Thank ye kindly for reading, and I hope to get at least one review. I do have another chapter in progress as we speak. I mean, as I speak. And as you read. Okay, I'm finished now.