Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: Calypso's Bargain

Rating: K+

Genre: General

Summary: AWE spoilers!!! When a mysterious woman offers Jack the chance to reunite Elizabeth and Will, and take the place as captain of the Dutchman, will he do it? And why does he want to?

Status: In Progress

A/N Thanks to the amazing people who reviewed!!! I know my chapters are really short, but this one is probably going to be my longest yet. Also, there will be some Sparrabeth in this chapter, but I am a HUGE Willabeth fan, so the final paring will be Will and Elizabeth, but I need to start setting up something, so there will be a romantic Jack/Liz moment. WILLABETH RULES THE WORLD!!!!!!

Disclaimer: I once dreamed I owned POTC, but then I woke up and discovered that Disney owned it. How tragic.

Chapter 4: Setting Off

Jack heard Maria scream, and he stopped dead in his tracks. What had she found that scared her so? She screamed again, so Jack took off running. When he reached the door to the house, the light from the sunrise showed Maria kneeling by Elizabeth. Jack also kneeled next to Maria, and took one of Elizabeth's hands.

"Jack, I…I think she's alive."

"What were ye trying to do? I thought you'd been hurt, or something!"

"I tripped over her body. That might cause someone to scream."

Jack was about to reply when Elizabeth stirred. His attention snapped down to the woman on the floor. He reached down to brush some hair off of her face. Elizabeth woke up, looked at Maria, then at Jack.

"Jack! Thank God you're here! I was attacked last night, and they took my son!"

"Shush, Lizzie, relax. You're safe now. What happened?"

Maria stood up. "I'm going to check upstairs for her son." Jack nodded, and Maria slipped up the stairs. Elizabeth watched her round the corner, then returned her attention to Jack.

"Who is she?"

"Never mind right now, love. Tell me what happened?"

Elizabeth told him everything. She talked about her son's birthday. Then she recounted the story of the attack on her home. When she finished, Jack let out a string of curses.

"I'll get them for that. Now, darling, that lovely girl upstairs, she's a friend. Her name is Maria…don't know her last name, and she's a 'messenger'. She is helping me find a way to free dear Mr. Turner from the Dutchman."

At the very mention of Will's name, Elizabeth sat up. "The chest!" she exclaimed, as she picked herself up and ran up to her room. Maria was just coming out of it, holding the Dead Man's Chest. Wordlessly she gave it to Elizabeth. Elizabeth took it into her arms, and cradled it. Looking up, she asked Maria "How are we to free Will?"

$$$&&&&&&&

"…and then we summon Calypso, she switches the hearts, and Will is free."

"How do you switch the hearts?"

"Calypso places Will's heart back in his chest. Then she cuts out Jack's heart."

The plan was really simple, Elizabeth learned. There was a hidden chest (with a hidden key) that would summon Calypso. They also needed an offering. Not necessarily a human sacrifice, but one made from the heart. Jack giving himself up for Will could be that offering. However, Elizabeth had one, final question for Maria.

"What is a messenger?"

"A messenger is one who could have saved many lives, if given the chance. They had a purpose, one that would have altered history. However, before they got a chance to reach their potential, they died, by accident or by design. I was one of those souls."

"Who were you?"

"I can't say."

Jack, who was already bored into a near stupor by this conversation, decided now would be the opportune moment to interrupt. "Who's going after the chest, and who's going afta' the key?"

"I'll go after the key. I can take the Empress, and your compass." Elizabeth said firmly.

"No love. You'll take the charts, I'll take the compass."

Maria interjected "Elizabeth gets the compass."

"But its MY compass, darling."

"Jack, do you know what the compass would probably point to if you took it?"

Jack sighed. He knew she was right. "Fine. Does anybody know where the Empress is docked?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Its my ship. Its anchored by the pirate city of Compass Bay."

$$$&&&&&&&

A few hours later, Jack wandered over to where Elizabeth was standing by the railing. He could see there was something troubling her. "Love, what's wrong? I know, your husband is one of the undead, and your son was recently kidnapped, but …"

"Jack, I should be going after him. Liam, I mean. He's my son, but I'm casting him off, while I go gallivanting after some key to free Will." A single tear traced its way down Elizabeth's face.

"Don't cry, darling." Jack said as he wiped the tear away with his hand. He left his hand on her face for just a moment longer. He leaned in to kiss her, and…

She shoved him away. "Jack, I'm married. I can't do this. As I've said before 'It would have never worked out between us.'"

Jack turned away. "As I've said before, Mrs. Turner, 'Keep telling yourself that.' I've got to go check something."

Elizabeth realized she must have upset him so much. Never before had he called her Mrs. Turner.

$$$&&&&&&&

Maria sat in the rigging, thinking on the situation before her. The kidnapping had thrown a nice turn in her plan. Something evil was brewing on the horizon, she could feel it. And now… Jack's failed kiss was also not the best thing to happen. Thank Calypso she'd arrived when she had. Things could be much worse…..

A/N Next time Will must choose between pulling souls back from beyond, or the son he never knew he had will die. So review and I will update so much faster!!! Luv ya all!!!