Elizabeth had been aboard now for about a week or two. She'd shown up in Tortuga a year after they'd last seen each other and two years after Will became Captain of the Dutchman. And as they sailed through frozen waters towards the last weeks of December Jack wished she could just leave so he could –at least try- to get on with his life.

She would just prance around and help the crew and give her opinion on how she thought the Fountain could be found. Jack couldn't decide whether he wanted her or hated her!

And as Christmas neared Jack wanted her there less and less. Partly because their bickering grew more and more and secondly because she was distracting his crew by reciting tales of how wonderful Christmas was. Why had he ever accepted her on board?

"Christmas is indeed much like marriage," he'd finally exclaimed on Christmas eve with an arrogant smile. "A clever game made up to distract people from life."

She'd pointed a finger at him. "Christmas is the day of our lord Jack Sparrow and don't you dare be disrespectful."

"I wasn't disrespectful! I just said I thought it was smart," he pointed out with a smug smile as he left her to her thoughts.

Later that night he sat with his compass open trying to figure out their course. Finding the Pearl and taking it back had been one thing and finding the fountain quite another. As his compass settled on where he knew was a certain somebody's direction he gave out a frustrated sigh and chugged the rest of his rum.

He didn't much care for the sound of chatter coming from the diner as his crew (including her) celebrated Christmas with a few drinks and tried to ignore them. Who needed to celebrate Christmas anyways? He preferred a good pub and some rum.

As a cloud of laughter cut the air he rolled his eyes tiredly and rested his forehead on the table. Why had he ever accepted her request and allowed her to come with them? The reason seemed lost on him now. He rested his eyes for s short while and tried to block the sound of chatter and laughter from his mind. Before he could do much resting however there came a sound and the window was blown open by a cold wind. Jack sprang to his feet and went to close it but noticed a shadow standing right by the curtains and squinted to make the figure out.

"Bloody hell! Dad is tha' you?" he asked in disbelief.

Teague's figure moved out of the shadows. "No," he shook his head. "It's the ghost of Christmas Past."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Oh sure it is! And I'm the King of England," he said with sarcasm. "Actually I did pretend to be of the Royal Family once and I—"

"Jack! You've made Christmas miserable for so many people and I've come to show you what Christmas is about. To make that happen we must first travel into the past."

Jack squinted. "Have I had too much rum?"

"Not more than usual."

"I thought not."

Teague nodded. "Give me your hand."

"Is there rum where we'll be going?"

"I suppose so," Teague said briefly.

Jack grinned. "I have a feeling I'll like it."

Next thing he knew the world was spinning and spinning and all the colors blended together. When everything came to a stop Jack and Teague they were still in a cabin but Jack could tell without a doubt that the cabin wasn't his. Instead of his desk a small baby cradle rested in the corner and everything ,from the book shelves to the trinkets on the ground, was tidy and well organized.

Jack frowned and started snooping around in his usual fashion until the baby started crying and a beautiful young woman rushed in the room to the cradle.

"Erm, pardon our intrusion we were just about to be on our merry way and leave—" Jack started to explain.

"She can't see or hear us Jack," Teague informed him.

Jack just stood watching as the woman rocked the baby gently from one side to the other and almost didn't notice as the cabin also started rocking from left to right. The woman paid the ship's movement no attention.

The rocking grew sharper and more threatening and still the lady stood calm and whispered to her baby.

"Will they be all right?"

Teague looked sad. "You'll be fine, a Christmas miracle but she won't survive the typhoon."

Jack nodded sadly. Somewhere at the bottom of his heart he already knew who the mother and child were. Before Jack could observe the swaying cabin any further Teague had grabbed his arm again and the world started spinning.

This time Jack found himself standing on the docks as a young boy ran past him with the speed of light followed by a big fat sailor swearing and yelling after him. The boy caught hold of a rope and climbed to the poles above the dock and jumped aboard a docked ship.

"This isn't the end Sparrow! I'll catch you and when I do you'll whish you'd 'ave died in the same typhoon you were born in."

A mocking laugh echoed in the dock but Jack couldn't determine where it was coming from. "By the time I'm done with you you'll wish you'd gave me your ship Smithy!" came a the reply. The sailor left as he cussed under his breath. When he was out of sight a young Jack Sparrow fell –quite literally- out of the sky as he let go of the rope he was hanging on to. A heavy sack dangled at his belt and a satisfied smile hovered on his lips.

"Sometimes it seems too easy," he whispered with both hands on his hips. "Merry Christmas Jack," he chanted to himself. The two older pirates followed him as he walked into town while playing around with his sac of coins. He came to a sudden stop at an ally where quite strangely he heard a muffled cry. Curious as he was he ventured deeper in the street only to find a little girl hugging her little brother and both bundled in a blanket.

"What are you looking at?" Jack said, irritated. He fingered the sac of coins at his bet and squinted. The two children said nothing but shivered slightly as a soft wind blew.

"Are you bloody joking? It's bloody hot!" Jack complained.

Again the two remained silent.

Jack sighed in surrender. "Oh all right but don't tell anyone how nice I am," he ordered as he dropped the sack of coins at their feet and continued on his way.

"I guess we'll be steeling some rum for Christmas dinner," he muttered to himself with a smirk.

Grown up Jack barely had time to blink before the scenery changed yet again. The changes had become rapid now.

First they were on a beach standing next to Elizabeth who was sitting alone and whispering "A Pirate's life for me" and then Jack saw himself at his desk trying to work with his compass which wasn't working properly. The last image was of Elizabeth and himself at a table chatting away over a bottle of rum.

When they were finally back in his cabin Jack feigned a yawn. "What was the point of that little show?"

Teague glared at him. "That was a little reminder of your past Christmases. You used to have a spirit…You gave those little kids your money—"

"Which I'd stolen," Jack pointed out.

"And remember when both you and Elizabeth were alone on Christmas?"

"I'm always alone on Christmas!"

"But the Christmas after that you went to see her! You had a nice time with that bottle of rum."

Jack rolled his eyes. "The key word there being "bottle of rum"."

"Fine! Be stubborn. Tonight you will be visited by two more spirits. If they don't change your opinion you might be doomed to a horrible fate."

Jack rolled his eyes yet again. "Yeah! Yeah! Hung by the neck, so on and so forth…Good night dad!"

Teague shook his head tiredly. "It's actually the ghost of Christmas past…Oh whatever! You can call me dad if you want."

Jack waved at him cheerfully. "Good night and merry Christmas."

Teague lingered for a second. "Good night. I have to go persuade the Grinch now. That ought to be fun."

With that Teague flew out the window leaving Jack to lie down for a rest but before he could a voice rang in the room.

"Why Captain Sparrow! You aren't going to bed so soon are you?"

The voice made Jack freeze and turn hesitantly. "Elizabeth?"

"No it's the ghost of Christmas present actually! Ready to see how crappy you've made Christmas this year?"