OT: I apologize for the grammar mistakes in the last couple chapters. I know there weren't a lot of mistakes, but I still wanted to apologize because it is one of my pet peeves even though we all do it:D. Anyway, only one or two more chapters to go! Be prepared for a saucy fourth chapter!

Chapter Chapter Three: Exceptions and Sentiments

"Do tell what said exception is," Jack proposed, taking a seat at the table, seemingly tranquil.

"Elizabeth's touch of destiny was delivered after William's sovereignty because of her journey through de seas. She has met men of value," Calypso gestured to her surroundings, "proclaimed battles as de Pirate King, and stayed true to de man who loved her."

"And who I love," Elizabeth added, reversing the woman's words while directing a glance at Jack and Will anxiously.

"De only way Miss Elizabeth is able to reject de title partially is to share de captaincy."

"Share? As in split the duty?" Elizabeth asked, eagerly squeezing Will's hand.

Calypso sighed and answered placidly, "Yes, but dere are conditions." They curiously gazed at the woman. "De partner must be one who..." She paused, her eyes scanning the room. An ephemeral emotion of her own heartache seeped into her mind, and the goddess blinked quickly, trying to rid herself of the thoughts. "One who," she started again, but the sensation began to overwhelm her, and she ceased speaking when a single tear dripped from the corner of her eye. The crowd observed Calypso as she wiped the tear onto the tip of her index finger and looked at it with a perplexed expression. The droplet made her skin tingle and burn; she flung her limb violently, finally articulating the end of the sentence almost with a roar. "De person must have possessed the touch of destiny in de past!"

Accepting the compromise quickly with the heart issue settling, Elizabeth embraced Will briefly, but then looked to her son. "And William... Can he join us?" The thirty-three year old inquired, putting her opposite hand on William's shoulder.

"Yes, and someone must carve out him heart too. All tree hearts are to go in de chest."

Calypso suddenly flinched and bounced her lower back against the table, slipping her hands under the rim in indignation and growing increasingly uncomfortable. Something had clicked in the past few minutes, and she nodded her head and switched positions, relaxing her arms across her lower abdomen and breathing rapid, her complexion gradually glowing and her eyes brazen. Murmuring another invocation, Calypso pressed the palms of her hands together.

"Tia Dalma?" the former captain asked. When the woman didn't respond, Will spread his arms around Elizabeth's shoulders, pulled her back and then did the same with his son. Jack leapt from his seat, tilting his head inquisitively at her bowed head and odd antics.

The sea goddess' chest rose and fell, her hands wrapped around her head, and her feet began to disintegrate, the disease gradually creeping through her body until she crumbled in one foul swoop. Little claws clinked against the floor as crabs cascaded to the ground, darting about the pirates' feet. William bent down and scooped a light tan crab into his hand, gazing into the creatures beady eyes. The crab lunged for the boy's face, and he quickly launched it across the room, looking to his dad in bafflement.

"What happened to her?" William asked.

"I don't know..." Will responded as the mass of crabs scurried out of the room.

"The emotion overtook her," Jack stated solemnly and pointed to Will and Elizabeth, "She felt your amorous spirits and could not repress her own sentiments of the past."

"What sentiments?" William inquired, yearning for more information on the mysterious person.

"Dear old Calypso loved and lost to Davy Jones, or rather, Davy Jones loved and lost to her."

William stepped forward and picked up the locket he had found in the organ room. "You mean these two lockets belonged to Calypso and Davy Jones?"

"Indubitably, young William."

He now eyed the trinket with greater infatuation, and shoved it back in his pocket to examine later. "So can we leave now?"

"I suppose so," Will answered, his eyebrows furrowing at the eccentic situation. He had never expected to Captain the Flying Dutchman for twenty years, but he cherished the fact that he could spend the last decade with his wife and child.

"But what about my heart?" Elizabeth looked to Will questionably.

"We must follow her instructions. If only she had told us before she replaced my heart..." Will rolled his eyes at the irony of Calypso. "Our business is finished here. Let us go to the ship."

Bootstrap swooped the empty chest off of the table and led the way. Elizabeth whispered thoughts into Will's ear as he guided her through the door with his hand in the small of her back.

"Jack," Elizabeth said, looking over her shoulder at the man, "I didn't see the Black Pearl. Are you coming with us?"

As Jack tied his compass back onto his belt, he responded cheerfully, "It just so happens I don't have a boat to carry me off, so I might as well join the Turner troop. Care to navigate me to Barbossa, Will?"

Will shook his head and didn't give him a solid answer as he left Elizabeth, Jack, and a few other spectators in the quarters.

Elizabeth spoke first, half-smiling when realizing he had other plans in mind for the new captains. "I don't recall you ever giving a reason as to your presence."

"Why, without me, who would negotiate?"

"Admit it, Jack, you stood idly by for the most part."

"About carving your heart out, Elizabeth... If William is occupied, I'd be happy to perform the necessary action." He grinned and let his eyes rest on her bosom for a moment.

"I think I have that issue covered."

He shrugged and walked alongside her as they reached the docks when William came scampering to them. "Jack," he said, his face lit up, "I just discovered that I'm at a higher rank than you."

"What?" Jack partially exclaimed as he and Elizabeth traded intrigued stares.

"William, you should not inform people of your rank. It is unspoken and implied. No need to rub one's face in the matter."

"Dad told me that I was."

At that moment Will looked over his shoulder and broadly grinned for the first time that evening. Elizabeth realized that William was only acting under his father's subtle orders, and she left the boy and Jack to a slightly disputing conversation. "Will!" Elizabeth shouted as he meandered into the captain's cabin holding the chest. Bootstrap immediately went to the helm and began to give orders as Sparrow and William boarded the ship. Will popped his head out of the chamber just as Elizabeth was about to open the door.

"Come, my love, it is a miserable duty, but we must carve out our hearts. We will not submerge until tomorrow, so William may rest before we remove his heart."