PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN V

Author's Note: Ahoy ! Thanks for reaching the second chapter, i hope that means you liked the first one :D The story begins here. Enjoy, me hearties ! P-)

Chapter II: Another Adventure Begins

"Sail Ho!"

Gibbs opened one eye and groaned at the too bright sun, rolling on his side so his back would block the light from bothering his sleep.

"Load the cannons, gents! Come on, step to!

"For the love of God, Jim! I be tryin' to sleep!" Gibbs roared, opening his eyes to see the young man perched at the top of the mast. He sat up, shaking his head and smiling. "Playin' the gentleman o' fortune again, are we?"

"The wind is blowing, Gibbs!" James shouted from where he was clinging, before letting himself slide down the mast until he reached the deck, grinning.

"Aye, the perfect weather to set sail it is, lad." Gibbs pushed himself up, glancing at the sunny horizon. "That be what Jack would have said." He smiled slightly, and James could have sworn that he saw a hint of nostalgia twinkling in his eyes.

"Tell me again about the lands he sailed to." The younger man demanded curiously, eyeing him as if he was afraid to lose any bit of the stories.

"Again?" Gibbs sniggered. He sighed and leaned on his forearms over the edge of the ship. He took a few beats to choose one of his best memories, before finally speaking as he stared blankly at the clear sea below him, remembering the scene as if he was living it once more. "I remember the time we discovered 'bout a ritual. A bloody hell of a treasure, i' were."

"Gold?" James asked eagerly as he sat on the edge, his legs hanging over each side as he eyed Gibbs with wide eyes. The older man laughed.

"Not all treasures be gold, Jimmy." He glanced at him and smiled at the confused look on the boy's face. "The Fountain of Youth." James's jaw dropped slightly, and his eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head. "There I was in London, and I hadn't seen Jack for months, after he set sail by himself with the map that leaded to the Fountain. Years passed, they did, and he never came back."

"Where did he go?" James asked, carving for more details.

"Well, he said he found the Fountain, but that was only when poor Jack realized he needed the ritual. Meanwhile, one mornin', and God knows how, I found meself locked in the King's dungeons with a filthy clothe on me head. Probably caught me when I was too loaded to the gunwales the night before, they did. Bastards…" he growled, and James snickered, then Gibbs joined in. "Funny enough, they did a favor to me by taking me to the court."

"Why?" James asked, confused.

Gibbs turned his head to look at him, a smile crooking in the corner of his mouth. "Jack had heard about what happened to his good old First Mate. He took a while to come back to England, but he did, and he had everything planned. Jack disguised himself as the judge of me trial, Justice Smith. I'll have to admit he looked lovely with the wig on." He laughed, and a snort escaped James' lips despite how hard he tried not to laugh at his reckless father. Gibbs sighed at the happy memory and went on. "He condemned me to life of prison –as the Judge-, and immediately sent into a carriage I was. Jack bribed the driver to transport us to shore, and left we did. Clever man he was…" he looked back thoughtfully at the water.

"Did you sail on the Black Pearl?" James asked curiously.

"Nay, not immediately. The goddamned carriage driver betrayed us he did, after he's also been bribed by the Guards to bring us in his majesty's Palace. Fortunately, Jack managed to escape, while I was sent to sail under the orders of Hector Barbossa. That scallywag became privateer in service to the King, after losing the Pearl that is."

James frowned "Shouldn't he have sunk with her?"

"Well, the Pearl wasn't exactly lost. He was stolen. And that be when the story becomes interesting." Gibbs glanced at the younger boy once more. "Because this is how your parent's paths crossed." James' smile widened, along with Gibbs'. "While I was at sea, searching for the Fountain of Youth under the command of King George II's navy, Jack went to the Captain's Daughter pub. And that be where he met the imposter who stole his name to recruit a crew I had told him 'bout. The imposter, me boy, was Angelica Teach. Your beautiful mother."

"How was she like back then, Gibbs? Was she already in love with him?" James asked more eagerly. Gibbs laughed.

"Smart lass, she was too. A hell of a woman. Your mother and father had already met a few years before, and they didn't just visit Seville, that I be sure." He winked at James, who smirked. "Angelica hadn't forgiven him just yet for dumping her, but Jack redeemed himself very well after that. He saved her life, he did."

James looked back down at the water, smiling as he imagined his parents together. "Did they live happy together?"

"Aye, James. More than any of them both could have said." Gibbs stared deeply into the water for a few moments, before glancing at the boy. He too was staring, and Gibbs could have sworn he saw his eyes twinkling. He sighed and ruffled James' long locks. "Now, now, matey, your father wouldn't have liked to see you lower your head, would he?" he told him in a comforting tone. James blinked and held his head up, smiling slightly.

"I want to set sail, Gibbs." He said in a determined tone as he jumped back on the deck, his back straight. "I want to sail across the seven seas just like my father did. I want to see what he saw. I want to find a real treasure! Please, Gibbs. Let me discover what adventure feels like, and let us weight anchor." James held his breath as he watched the older man expectantly, watching his mouth for any word that would come out.

Indeed, Gibbs hadn't expected it to be so soon. However, James was already seventeen, and he had been taught to be a great sailor, without mentioning that he was Captain Jack Sparrow's son. Gibbs considered James' request over and over again, yet he saw no reason why he wouldn't let the boy realize his dream.

"Where to, sir?" Gibbs finally asked. James' lips widened into a smile.

"London, Cap'n." he said, hope filling his heart. Gibbs waited a moment before answering.

"To the helm, sailor."