Hello all you wonderful readers out there in the real world! I'm so glad you're gunna read this story of mine. I must warn you that if you haven't read the prequel of this story(Life Goes On With Love)…you might wanna go ahead and do that. You're going to be a bit lost if you don't. But otherwise enjoy!

The spiraling wind picked up as the Black Pearl, legendary image of piracy floated across the Caribbean waters. Jack gave his signature smile, gazing upon the setting sun and let the cool ocean air fill his nostrils. He could practically feel the Commodore's pride sink to the bottom depths along with his hopes of gaining Elizabeth. He had waited a long time to set that man in his rightful spot. It had just taken a blacksmith to get him there.

Elizabeth walked up behind him and took a reassuring breath.

"Jack"

He turned to face her downcast gaze.

"I want to - to thank you for helping Will." She stopped fidgeting with her hands long enough to meet his eyes. "For helping us, I mean."

"Oh" Jack cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Yes, well think nothin' of it."

Liz started to turn and walk away before he stopped her

"Um Elizabeth"

She spun to face him

"I know how hard that was for you to – to do what you just did. But really, I'm ye ol' uncle Jack. Just remember that."

Liz smiled then stepped to him and threw her arms around him. Jack barely patted her back with his hand.

"Careful now- that wasn't an invitation to maul me! I go a girl ye know."

She backed up and slapped him playfully on the arm.

"Oh you hush Sparrow! Not every woman thinks of you in that way…besides," She turned her chin slightly upwards. " I have my own man."

Just then Will came up to the couple of them talking

"What? Was I being gossiped about?" His smile winked at her as he slid in behind her and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Don't flatter yerself boy. I was just tellin' yer girl that I enjoyed savin' yer arses outa Norrington's grimy little hands."

Will put a hand on his shoulder "Well that's very nice of you Jack, very thoughtful."

Jack wriggled from his touch. "Now don't be getting all sappy on me!"

Liz laughed "Ah why not uncle Jack?"

"I don't need to be goin' soft. We're feared pirates" he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, trying to look dashing.

Elizabeth turned away in a fit of laughter. Jack looked at her and smirked "Pfft" then turned his attention back to the water ahead.

Will took this as a license to badger him a bit

"But what if you and Anna have little Sparrows flyin' around here?"

Jack gave him a look that told him he wasn't amused.

"You best be talkin' 'bout pet birds mate, coz Captain Jack Sparrow doesn't – do children." He spat out the last few words with disgust as if it was a disease.

Liz was still listening to the conversation behind the two men.

Will laughed and slapped him on the back. "Ah Jack, I'm just giving you a hard time. I know you don't need a family right now – that's not life for a pirate such as yourself."

Jack faced him. "Yeh I should be the one buckling you about little ones."

Elizabeth looked away and leaned against the mast, appearing to be lost in her own thoughts. Will leaned in closer to him then glanced over to Liz to see if she was still engaged in the conversation. Then he gave Jack a slight grin.

"No, I really don't know if I'd be ready for that either. Too soon I think really- just with all that's happened so far."

Jack nodded, he and Will looked out to sea- then turned to face the island they had made a stop near minutes before.

Jack squinted to see if he could tell where the old beaten military man had gone to, but neither of then could even see a palm tree from where they were. The commodore was gone, lost, stranded with his own grief for as long as he chose to stay on that island alive. But someone else was struggling with grief – not humiliation like Norrington, but one of heartache and confusion.

As soon as she heard the words spoken between Will and Jack, she discreetly bowed out from the deck and went to one ofthe guest cabins. With tears welling in her honey eyes,Liz flung herself in one of the chairs near the bay window. Reassuringly wrapping her arms around herself and trying to make sense of what all was happening.

Hurt was the first thing written across her face, then she talked herself into gathering strength. Liz mechanically wiped the salty tears from her bloodshot eyes. She quickly got up, but on her way to the door she paused at the mirror and took a hard look at the reflection. Liz leaned against the dresser as she stared herself in the eye. Taking deep breathes she wheeled herself to gain control of her emotions.

So much had happened to her in the past few months, and now it was playing like a reel in her head. The cursed pirates, Will almost dying when the ship exploded, finally stopping Barbossa and his men, her and Wills engagement which in turn forced her to leave her only family she had left and go to America. Now that Norrington was gone and the least of her worries, all she could thinkabout was how much she hated keeping secrets, things like that could ruin one from the inside. She hadn't ever taken that deep of a look at herself before.

Now she straitened her back and put up a strong composure as she spoke softly.

"Just breath Liz, you can't stop breathing now – it's too late for that. Someone's depending on you."

A small smile appeared on her face, normal color returning to her cheeks. Opening the door and joining her husband and friends back on the deck of the infamous pirate ship, she knew better days were yet to come- as scary as they may seem now.