Disclaimer: Don't own Smallville/Pirates of the Caribbean

Sequel to: Curse of the Black Pearl.


Chloe had heard much of The Captain's Bride, both from Will and her sisters, but she still wasn't ready for it. Since Will had been heading to Tortuga Chloe was all too glad for the excuse to go to the pirate island she'd heard so much about and also see her younger sister. She hadn't seen Lucy since she'd joined Captain Jack Sparrow on that rowboat and escaped Port Royal and the life she led there. While Lu still corresponded on the sly with them it wasn't the same. Chloe had grown up close to all her sisters, and had missed the youngest Swan desperately.

When she'd found out that Lu had taken over The Captain's Bride she hadn't been able to keep her jealousy from bubbling up. Lu was out living her dreams, and Chloe – what were her dreams and aspirations? For most of her life all her desires could be summed up in one name: James Norrington, and yet so much had changed. Now Chloe was trying to discover who she was and what she wanted.

"I could always call upon Lucy and have her visit us at our lodgings," Will offered for the hundredth time as they stepped through the doorway into the "den of stinky iniquity" as Lana had once described it. All of a sudden everything hit Chloe at once and she just stopped as she took it all in. People were drunk, everywhere, they smelt. There were some playing poker, others laughing over their cups, others getting very friendly with some women whose profession was quite obvious thanks to their apparel. "We can still leave," Will whispered in her ear.

She turned to look at him in horror. Why would she leave? This was fascinating!

And yet Chloe never got the chance to tell him that because a familiar voice caught her attention. "Chloe?"

Turning towards it, Chloe grinned brightly. Now that she'd seen her younger sister in drag once she could recognize her easily even when she dressed like a guy, hair still short and held back with leather. "Lu!" She hurried forwards and hugged her shocked yet ecstatic sister. "I have missed you!"

"What are you doing here?" Lu hugged her back and kissed her cheek before she pulled away and grinned at Will, who she exchanged a hug with as well. Her smile suddenly disappeared. "Are you eloping?" She turned to Will and punched his shoulder. "Have you gotten my sister with child?"

Will went puce in embarrassment. "I—I would never-I respect your sis-how could you even contemplate that I would disrespect her so-?"

Lucy ignored him and turned to Chloe. "So why are you guys here?"

Chloe ignored Will as well, annoyed. "I was kidnapped by a mermaid, apparently. I cannot actually remember much of it. Will found me by chance on an island while on his way here to see Jack." She made a face. "We were also attacked by pirates."

Lucy's eyes widened. "You sound like you need a drink."

"We do," Chloe agreed before Will could refuse. She looped her arm around Lu's and followed her sister to the bar. "I have missed you."

"And I you," Lucy smiled at her as they sat down on the stools and she went behind the counter. "But I love my life here. I know that it does not seem like much, but-."

"Lu, this place – these people – are fascinating," Chloe interrupted her softly. "You never smiled this happily back home. You made the right choice to come here."

Lu's smile was breathtaking and she reached out to grab Chloe's hand, which she squeezed tightly. "Thank you."

Will glanced between them and smiled softly. He noticed something behind them and frowned as he moved to rest his arm on the small of Chloe's back.

Lucy noticed this and smirked.

Someone cleared their throat, loudly.

Chloe glanced over to see an attractive blonde eyeing them disapprovingly.

Lucy peered over her shoulder and grinned brightly. "Giselle! Come meet my sister, Chloe!"

And all of a sudden that disproval disappeared and the girl looked much younger than she had two seconds ago. "Oh Chloe! I have heard so much about you!" She moved around the counter and nearly pulled Chloe off of the stool in her excitement before she pulled away and motioned to Chloe while eyeing some of the intrigued patrons. "I have finally met my sister-in-law!" A cheer rose from the drunkards whose curiosity was now satisfied, and they returned to their drinks.

Giselle eyed Will with a little nod before she kissed Chloe's cheeks. "Are you eloping?" She smirked at Will. "Have you played sheathe the dagger one too many times?"

"Gi," Lu admonished despite having just asked the same questions earlier.

"Why else would they be here?" Giselle wanted to know as she rounded the counter and leaned against Lucy, smile mischievous.

Lucy would've had to have been blind not to notice the curious glances Chloe and Will were sending her. But Chloe didn't know what her sister expected. This woman had just proclaimed herself Chloe's sister-in-law! Who exactly was this girl and what was going on?

Lucy waved at someone who entered the establishment before she leaned over the counter and whispered to Chloe. "Giselle helps keep people from questioning why a strapping young guy like me is not interested in the whores on the island. In return she's been able to give up her old job and work with me here." She turned to smile at Giselle, who'd gone to serve the newcomer. "Plus, she gets to spit in every drink she gets for Jack."

Will snorted in amusement. "Does she still slap him every time she sees him?"

"No, but Scarlet does," Lucy replied with no compassion whatsoever. "And he deserves it."

"Slap?" Chloe asked curiously.

"Long story," Lucy assured her. "So, how long will you two be here for?"

"We will return to Port Royal on the first ship we can barter passage on," Will declared quickly. "I have given Miss Lana my word that I would find Chloe and bring her back safe and sound."

Disappointment filled Chloe, but she understood. Will had given his word - and Lana was probably sick with worry. Still, when would Chloe ever be able to come back to Tortuga? She'd probably be stuck in Port Royal for the rest of her life. A sense of suffocation and, oddly enough, dryness, filled her as she scratched her arm.

"Sweet Jehoshaphat!" Giselle snapped as she returned to them, but her gaze was on the front door. "Can that strumpet not come in here for one night?" She turned to Chloe and glared. "That there tart keeps coming in here to try and tempt Lu away from me." She placed her hands on her hips, visibly insulted. "Does she take no for an answer? No. She flashes those small little breasts of hers…" Giselle propped up her own boobs. "…and tries to steal my man night after night."

Chloe turned to Lucy and mouthed: You said she knows you are female, correct?

Lucy looked very tired and resigned as she mouthed back: I cannot stop her, she is competitive.

Will watched Giselle storm out from behind the counter to confront the newcomer, telling her to get out of her husband's bar. He then turned to Lucy. "Why does she keep referring to you as her espoused?"

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Well, I told you two before, right? I needed a cover story, and when Giselle found out she gave me the perfect way to keep people here from finding out that I am… you know." She cleared her throat. "Who would ever suspect the truth if I have a wife who can contest to otherwise?"

Chloe's eyes widened and she stood up from her seat. "You married her?"

Lucy nodded slowly, obviously waiting for the screaming to begin.

Chloe glanced back at her sister-in-law, who was arguing loudly with the brunette who'd arrived. "Is that even legal?"

"It is for Louis Swann," Lu muttered softly.

"Who would have ever thought that you would be the first Swann to marry?" Will snickered.

Lucy's lips twisted in amusement. "I know, right?"

Chloe frowned as she sat down. "You could have invited us, you know. You are married - even if just for show - and you did not even think to tell us!"

"It would be hard to explain though," Lucy admitted. "I mean, imagine father's reaction if I wrote "Salutations papa, I just married a woman while pretending to be a man, because the men in this pirate town only see women as whores and I want to gain their respect before I reveal myself to them"."

"That is overly complicated," Will told her. "But I know that it isn't safe for women in this sort of place."

"Harlot!" Giselle snapped.

"So were you before you tricked Louis into marrying you!" The other woman snarled.

The men cheered.

Groaning, Lucy palmed her face. "Where's Scarlet when I need her?" With that she went to physically yank her "wife" away from the other woman.

Chloe watched them with a growing smile. "Lana is going to be horribly scandalized by this."

"We should be horrible scandalized by this." And yet Will was outright grinning. "Trust Lu to do something like this though."

All Chloe could do was nod. "Lois is going to be insulted that she was not here to plan the wedding."

"I wonder what the marital practices are here in Tortuga?" Will mused. "Is there even a church?"

That was a very good question.

"I cannot believe Lu is married," Chloe whispered softly. No matter the circumstances, her sister was married. That was shocking. "You know, it is supposed to be a disgrace for the younger sister to marry before the eldest. My sisters and I were sure Lucy would be the last to marry, that we'd all have found husbands years before she decided to settle down."

Will eyed her oddly.

Her eyes widened when she realized she sounded wistful. Color darkened her cheeks as she glanced away from him resolutely. What she and Will had might be amazing, but it was also incredibly new. He'd been in love with her for years - the same years she'd been in love with James - and she didn't want him to think that he was a rebound or that she was trying to force him into anything. Will was the type of guy to do something because it was "proper" or "right" and a part of her knew he'd propose eventually because it was both those things - but she didn't want him to feel pressured into it. And now that she thought about it, she didn't want him to propose just because it was proper and right either!

Unease and despair rolled in her.

That was how she missed the look of pure resentment and jealousy that flashed over Will's face as he watched her.


Will knew that he shouldn't be drinking so much, but he couldn't stop himself. Chloe's laughter rung clearly in the loud room. She was on the other side of the counter with Giselle, who looked and acted nothing like the prostitute Will had briefly met on their last visit to Tortuga. Giselle grinned brightly, clearly happy (not only today, but with her life) and was in the process of teaching Chloe all about the different ales and spirits they served at The Captain's Bride. Will loved seeing Chloe this open, this bright and shining, this happy. Usually he just soaked in the view and sound, unable to keep himself from being openly in awe at the fact that she was with him, but tonight he couldn't because, damn it, it hurt.

He'd seen the look in Chloe's eyes, heard the tone in her voice, felt the tension in her earlier. At first, when she'd talked about marriage, he'd foolishly thought that she might've realized his plans and was prompting him to take the simple ring he'd created for her and propose - and then he'd seen the look of unease and guilt and realized that she'd merely been thinking about the many years in which she'd planned on becoming Commodore James Norrington's wife. The night had gone downhill for him from that moment on.

While he'd been so sure that he could live as second in her heart he wasn't too sure anymore - not after having kissed her lips and held her near. As the days went by he was finding it harder and harder to restrain the pirate side of him - and he only did so by burying it under his "gentleman" side. He needed propriety to keep him from doing something he'd never forgive himself for - like despoiling Chloe in a dark alleyway. Heavens knew he'd been close to it too many times during their swordplay lessons!

Knocking back another drink, Will watched Chloe and wondered whether she'd figured out yet that Norrington's behavior towards her was decidedly less than brotherly now. She hadn't noticed Will's affection for years so he was banking on a similar cluelessness towards the Commodore's affections, because if she realized that the tone of Norrington's letters were slowly yet surely turning more into that of a man to the woman he held dearest - Will would lose her. She might've told him once in the smithy that she'd never accept Norrington after his engagement with Lana, but Chloe had been in love with Norrington since she was a child. Will understood it, understood years of longing for something you could never have, and then the greedy way you clutch to it once it is surprisingly enough offered to you. Hadn't he done the exact same thing once Chloe had finally noticed him?

Will was torn between hoping Norrington's ship went down somewhere and he was shipwrecked on some fruit-filled island for the rest of his days, or…. Will's hand went to his pocket, where he could feel the small container that he kept on him at all times. Norrington could give Chloe a better ring, one that she deserved. Will hated himself for being so much less than she deserved. He was a mere blacksmith's apprentice who couldn't afford a ring and had had to create one of his own.

Pain bloomed in the back of his head caused him to let go of the small box and turn to find Lucy glaring at him. "What was that for?"

"For being an idiot." Lucy held her hands on her hips. "She's still corresponding with Norrington."

"I know." Will hoped that the resentment wasn't obvious in his tone. "We read his letters together sometimes. She hasn't kept any of this a secret."

"She said that when she wanted to tell Norrington it wasn't proper and that they should stop corresponding with each other you told her to keep writing him, insisted even," Lucy grumbled. "She believes you do not care that she writes to the man that - if she had had her way - she would be married to now. Probably heavily pregnant for."

Will knew he couldn't keep the emotion off of his face as he imagined that. Chloe Norrington, wife of Commodore James Norrington, with a large ring on her finger, all the wealth and power a man of his position could provide her - and with children who were perfect mixtures of both of them.

He closed his eyes tightly as nausea rolled in his stomach.

Lucy let out a deep breath. "You obviously care, Will. So why did you lie to her about this?"

"She has been friends with him for years, Lucy, who am I to tell her she cannot be friends with him anymore?" He ran his fingers through his hair in growing agitation.

"Balderdash, no one is asking her to stop being friends with Norrington, but correspondence like the one they have is… intimate." Lucy leaned closer. "What if Norrington finally takes off the wool from in front of his eyes and realizes what you have since you were a child? That Chloe would make a fine wife?" She raised an eyebrow. "What if he returns, victorious, with Jack's neck for the hangman? It will make him a hero in the eyes of the city – more than what he already is. If they believed he was in the position to need a wife before, returning to Port Royal with Captain Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl... they definitely will push for him to marry." She raised an eyebrow. "And father would be pleased to have Norrington in the family – he will not care who brings him in."

Will wouldn't look at her, couldn't. "There is no way that Commodore Norrington is going to capture the Black Pearl."

"I would not be so certain," Lucy mumbled. "The last I heard the good Commodore was closing in on them close to Tripoli. I think we will have to wait and see what occurs."

He was going to throw up from nerves.

"Ask her, Will," Lucy prompted. "I know you want to – you have wanted to marry my sister since we were children – you need to ask her."

"And what if Commodore Norrington does realize how incredible she is?" Will turned to look at Chloe, who had thrown her head back in laughter. "What if I snatch her away – pledge her to me – and she one day resents me for being the reason that she cannot be with him?"

"How are you so completely idiotic?" Lucy wanted to know. "I am not saying that Norrington choosing Chloe will make her go back to him – I am warning you that our father loves us, and because of this he might force Chloe to marry Norrington!"

"Because Norrington can offer her a life that I cannot," Will agreed, having known and feared this all along. "Because there was love before, and a deep friendship remains. Where there was once love there always is a kindling of hope."

"You ridiculous cur," Lucy snapped. "If you are going to be this way then Chloe should be with Norrington! At least he fights for what he wants and doesn't give up before there is actually a fight to be had!"

Will turned to her with a glare. "I am not giving up on her! I want to marry her! I-!" He hesitated before he pulled out the ring and showed it to Lucy. "How can this compare to anything he could bestow upon her?"

Lucy stared at the ring with a tender smile as she reached out and took it from him. "You made this yourself."

He slumped over in disappointment that it was so obvious. "Yes."

"She will love this, Will." Lucy looked up at him with a grin. "Do you know how romantic it is that you made this yourself?"

"You mean that I couldn't afford to buy her one?" He grumbled.

She rolled her eyes and eyed the ring before she passed it back to him so he could hide it once more. "Ask her. What do you have to lose?"

He gripped the ring tightly in his pocket. "Everything."

A giggle had them both straightening in time for Chloe (who reeked of rum) to appear and fling her arms around Will's neck. She was very much on her way to drunk, if not already there. "What are you two talking about?"

Giselle, who was not even the least bit tipsy, arrived by Lucy's side, grin mischievous. "Gentlemen only talk about certain things when alone: Politics, religion, their vices, or, mostly, their women."

Chloe snickered and pressed a kiss to Will's temple. "Your woman – that has a nice ring," she whispered softly against his hair before she turned to the girls. "In the words of Captain Jack Sparrow – as recited to me by one Lois Swann – why's all the rum gone?"

Lucy turned to Giselle. "How much did you give her?"

Giselle's grin grew. "She insisted. Said she would not be able to have any fun once back in stuffy Port Royal. I had to help my kinswoman enjoy her night here!"

Chloe nodded in agreement to Giselle's words before she slipped unceremoniously onto Will's lap.

His eyes went wide in shock as his body tensed having her warmth on him. This was heaven and hell, and both Giselle and Lucy looked like they were laughing at him.

"Aye, lassie, come and drink with me an' me mates," one of the men called to Chloe. "Le' us show yus a fine time!"

Will stiffened further, this time in anger.

Giselle raised an eyebrow at the men. "Can you not see me and the husband are with family? Git with you varmits and do not bother us unless you do not want to be drinking in our fine establishment in the future."

"You are too cruel, Giselle," one of the men booed.

"Tell yer woman ta be nice ta us, Lou!" Another yelled.

Lucy snorted as she flung an arm around Giselle. "I will take all of you in a fight without a second thought, but a wise man knows not to cross his missus."

Giselle nodded in agreement.

The men grumbled but didn't say anything else.

Only then did Will realize that Chloe had fallen asleep on his lap.

He sighed and rested his chin on the crown of her head. Heaven and hell.


When Chloe awoke she was in a bed she didn't recognize. For a moment she was scared she'd been kidnapped by pirates for the third time, but when she heard the chaos and mayhem happening outside her window she remembered that she was in Tortuga. She glanced down on the floor and sure enough Will had made himself at home there with only a pillow. When booking this place he'd been torn between how improper it would be for them to share a room and how risky it was to let her stay on her own in this sort of place – especially when the owner of the place would know she'd be alone. So that was why he was now sleeping on the floor.

Sighing, Chloe shifted so that she lay on her belly and peered over the side of the bed at Will, able to watch him at leisure. He was handsome, incredibly so. It was a different sort of handsome from James, and one she'd been incredibly blind to for so long. How had she never noticed Will before? Now that she had she felt like she'd found her soulmate, couldn't understand how she could've known him for all of these years and merely considered him a brother figure. What had changed? It was more than just James choosing Lana.

Will groaned and shifted on the floor, something appearing beneath his pillow. It was a small box.

She should leave it alone, shouldn't pry, and yet Chloe found herself reaching out and snatching the box from under the pillow. Chloe sat up slowly and eyed the small box, wondering exactly was it was, and then she opened it and lost all breath. Inside of the box was a ring. It was finely crafted, exquisitely beautiful. It wasn't horribly gaudy or showy like the monstrosities women in Port Royal used. No. It was so elegant and beautiful. There was only one craftsman that she knew who could make such a beautiful creation.

Tears filled her eyes as she slipped the ring free and slid it onto her finger. It fit perfectly.

"You were not supposed to find that," Will whispered softly.

I need to apologize - I should not have done this - I should have left it alone! And yet that wasn't what came out of her mouth. "Is this ring for me?"

"I do not want you to feel obligated to accept any commitment to me," Will answered instead, his gaze failing to meet hers. "What we share is still new, and I would never expect you to—."

"Yes."

Will's eyes met her, wide in shock. "But—."

"But what?" Chloe dropped the box as she leaned over the edge of the bed. "Yes."

Excitement and worry and guilt mixed visibly on his face as he leaned forwards towards her as well. "Chloe…" That guilt suddenly grew tenfold and he reached out to clasp his hands over hers. "Please do not answer me now. Take some time. Truly think this over. In fact, please forget that you found this ring." He gulped. "We should not rush into this."

Hurt and confusion filtered through the excitement. Why wouldn't he just accept the fact that she wanted to marry him? Unless… maybe he didn't want to marry her again. Maybe the reason he hadn't given her the ring yet was because courtship with her was different than he'd expected and he was rethinking everything.

Lowering her gaze, Chloe fought her tears. It was only her years of practice hiding her broken heart that she managed to keep her voice calm and her expression neutral as she slipped the ring off of her finger, placed it back into the box, and handed it to him. "I apologize for snooping. It was wrong of me." She smiled and knew it looked genuine, she'd mastered this facade of happiness many years ago. "You are right. This is not a decision to be made in haste."

Will stared at her hand, at the box, and took in a deep breath before he took the box back and slipped it into his pocket. "I knew you would understand."

"Of course, Will." She kept that smile on her face despite how much it hurt. "Deciding something like that in haste is folly, you are, as always, wiser than I. I just jump into things with the excitement." She cleared her throat and slipped from the bed. "What time does our ship leave Tortuga today?"

"You have a couple of hours to spend with Lucy before it departs." Will stood as well. "I will leave you with her, there are some things that I need to do before we return to Port Royal."

"Of course." She fought the lump in her throat. "It is good to return home."

Would a day come when it didn't hurt to smile?


"That imbecile!" Lucy spun around and kicked the wall, hard. From the moment Will had dropped Chloe off and disappeared she'd known something horrible had happened, but she hadn't thought Will would be that stupid! Chloe had even told him yes! So why had he done that? Did he really think Chloe would choose James Norrington over him? She will if he doesn't get his game together!

Giselle peered out where spoke outside with Scarlett. She bit her bottom lip and pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. "Poor little lamb. You could tell she is heartbroken."

"They are both so ridiculous, I could strangle them!" Lucy strangled the air. "He should have merely accepted her acceptance instead of trying to be a gentleman! He is not a gentleman! He is a pirate! We take what we want!"

Giselle tossed a look at her over her shoulder with a snort.

"Do not mock me." Lucy pouted as her hands fell to her side. "I am truly livid, Gi."

"I know." Giselle turned towards her. "But it is not your business. This is between the two of them."

"He is my best friend and she is my sister," Lucy argued. "I have every right—!"

Giselle shook her finger. "No you do not."

"Yes I do," Lucy muttered as she folded her arms over her chest.

"Mind your own business." Giselle's voice was soft but determined. "Whatever is to happen between them they need to be the ones to decide it. You and everyone else need just let them muddle through this."

"But they are going to make a mess of this," Lucy bemoaned.

"It will be their mess," Giselle responded. "You already gave your friend counsel. He did not take it. Now all you can do is let them work things out."

"What if they do not?" Lucy asked softly. "What if they mess everything up so horribly that Chloe ends up married to someone else?"

"If she marries someone other than William Turner she was not meant for William Turner." Giselle motioned Lucy closer, and when the girl dressed in drag joined her side, Giselle looped her arm through hers and motioned to where Chloe and Scarlett were smiling at each other. "Tell me what you see."

Lucy peered up at Giselle curiously before her gaze shifted to her sister. "She gets along with Scarlett."

"And with me." Giselle waited a moment. "With whores."

Lucy flinched, like she always did when Giselle brought this up. "You did what you had to to keep alive, and now you do not have to. You are not a woman of the night anymore."

Like always, Lucy's defense of her had Giselle smiling softly. "Yes, but Scarlett is. And even if I were not, I still am not a fine lady for your sister to mingle so freely with."

"There is nothing wrong with you," Lucy muttered rebelliously.

Giselle's grin grew. "What I am trying to say is that your sister might be a lady of fine upbringing, but like another Swann I know so dearly, she is not a lady at heart." Giselle could see Lucy's eyes widen. "Your sister thrives out here, like you do. Forgive me for saying this, but your friend wishes to be a proper gentleman, and if so, he has no business with your sister." Giselle smiled softly. "What your sister needs is a pirate."

Lucy frowned as her gaze returned to Chloe. "I do not see Chloe enjoying a life always on the sea, or being hunted, either."

"But do you see her enjoying life as the wife of a lord, being pampered and hindered from freedom by her position?"

Lucy's eyes widened. "No. Maybe before, but not anymore."

"Exactly. Which is why I do not think this Commodore is any threat either." Giselle leaned in close. "The pirates here though?"

Lucy snorted. "Which do you think would catch her fancy? Scroggins with his one tooth or Farkas with his penchant to fart whenever he has whiskey in him?"

Giselle laughed and nudged Lucy playfully. "Not all the pirates here are so terribly unattractive! In fact, I am sure that if Chloe were to stay she would find someone handsome enough to sway her thoughts from William Turner or any other proper gentleman."

Lucy didn't look so sure. "Will loves her, Gi."

"But will he ever love himself enough to truly allow himself to have her?" Giselle asked softly.

The troubled look on Lucy's face was answer enough.


TBC