Lord Beckett's eyes narrowed as he looked through his spyglass. "Why would they be heading back to the island?" he asked no one in particular.

William Turner stood nearby, glaring at Beckett with intense hatred. "I take it you have decided to hold off the attack," he said in as nonchalant a tone as he could muster.

Beckett turned to Turner in vague surprise. He had been so intent on watching his prey, he had almost forgotten that he as onboard the Flying Dutchman. "I do not understand why you seem so upset," Beckett commented. "Your beloved is safe on the island…for now." Beckett looked back through the spyglass. "There has to be a reason…there's something on the island that Captain Barbossa wants. But what?" Beckett looked at Turner again. "Why are we picking up speed?"

"It's called wind, Lord Beckett," Turner said cheekily.

Beckett barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "We have to stay as distant as possible. I don't want them spotting us." He turned his spyglass to the island. Given the Dutchman's position, the island was about the same distance away as the Black Pearl.

Beckett swept his gaze over the sandy beach of the island. Admiral Norrington was simply sitting, appearing as though he did not care that the Pearl was returning. Beckett caught Norrington throwing the young woman seated nearby him a rather nasty look. Beckett's heart jumped slightly as he set eyes on Robin.

How could she, being a ruthless pirate, remain so beautiful? He struggled to hold back a sigh as he watched her rise to her feet, her long hair waving in the breeze. Robin glanced down toward Norrington and said something that made the Admiral's eyes narrow, and Robin grinned, making Lord Beckett's stomach do a slight flip. Cursing himself silently for this, Beckett forced his eyes to move to the others on the beach. He should never have become attracted to her. Just as Robin was disappearing from view, she turned in his direction.

Beckett focused on the woman again. She appeared to be simply scanning the horizon—and then her eyes suddenly caught his. Beckett's eyes widened. He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. Robin was now looking at the Pearl. Beckett smiled slightly, chuckling at his foolishness. Of course she did not see him; they were too far away. He was being silly.

Of course, maybe he wasn't…

Beckett looked at Mrs. Turner, who was currently glaring hatefully at Robin. Beckett smirked—Robin certainly had a way of making people loath her nowadays. He moved his spyglass so that he was looking at Jack Sparrow. Merely thinking the pirate's name left a bad taste in Beckett's mouth. He wished he could shoot Jack from here and be done with it.

Wait a minute…Jack! Beckett's eyes widened as it all became clear. Of course Jack Sparrow would have an ace up his sleeve…or a map.

O O O

The four watched uneasily as a jolly boat with three people rowed from the Black Pearl and to the island. Barbossa stood at the head of the small boat, and he stepped off as the boat reached the shore of the island. Pintel and Ragetti stood quickly and jumped out of the boat to come ashore as well, with Ragetti pulling the boat along behind him by a rope until it was on the beach. Barbossa motioned for the two to stand by and guard it, most likely in response to the glint in Robin's eyes.

"Well?" Barbossa said expectantly, looking from Jack to Robin.

"Well, what, Hector?" Robin asked, receiving a very harsh look from Barbossa in the process.

"The map," he growled.

Robin turned sharply toward Jack, who grinned broadly. "You're talking to the wrong pirate, mate," Jack said, smirking.

Barbossa smiled. "I'm glad to see that I won't be dealing with her." Robin's eyes narrowed. "Let me guess—you want off this charming little isle?"

Jack's smile broadened. "Oh, that's only part of it, mate." Barbossa's grin faltered. "I give you the map, and I get the Black Pearl. Savvy?"

"No!" Barbossa exclaimed. His face softened. "Jack…an entire ship for a piece of paper…that seems a tad unreasonable."

Jack continued grinning. "You've no hope of finding the Fountain of Youth on your own, mate."

Barbossa's eyes narrowed. "After we find the Fountain of Youth…" He hesitated. "…then the Black Pearl will be yours," he finished grudgingly.

Elizabeth felt James shift his weight so he was closer to her. "I notice that we are not involved in this bargain," he whispered in her ear.

"And what about us?" Elizabeth asked. Jack and Barbossa turned to her, appearing as though they had forgotten that she and the others were around.

"Lizzie will have to come along, too," Jack said.

"Jack!" Elizabeth said sharply, tilting her head towards James.

Jack sighed. "And the Admiral as well," he muttered.

"Done!" Barbossa said.

"Not done!" Robin exclaimed. Her eyes widened as Barbossa drew his pistol and aimed it at her chest.

"You have a problem, miss?" he asked, sounding sincerely concerned although his actions obviously indicated otherwise. "Everyone else seems to be happy with the arrangement."

Robin's jar dropped, causing Elizabeth to smirk in delight. Usually Elizabeth would be against marooning anyone—it was a severe punishment that generally led to death. But Elizabeth hated Robin with every fiber of her being, and she was quite certain that Robin felt the same way about her. Also, getting Robin away from James felt important to Elizabeth. It was obvious to Elizabeth that Robin enjoyed causing him pain and Elizabeth had caused enough of that for him in the past.

"I'm not happy with the arrangement."

Elizabeth was not the only one who gaped at James when he said this. Jack and Barbossa both looked absolutely stunned. What could ever compel James to desire Robin's safety? Glancing at Robin, Elizabeth was surprised to note that she did not appear remotely interested in the fact that someone who should hate her was now suddenly trying to protect her. Elizabeth turned back to James, who looked quite uncomfortable with the looks he was receiving.

"You are suggesting that we take this mutinous wench along?" Barbossa asked incredulously. Robin looked at James expectantly, but James was apparently unsure of how to respond to Barbossa's question.

"He's right—we should bring her with us." Now all eyes turned to Jack. However, this time, only Elizabeth and James appeared taken aback by this statement. Barbossa merely appeared annoyed, and Robin smiled ever so slightly.

"Are ya sure, Jack?" Barbossa took a step closer to him. "This be the same vixen that got you marooned, Jack," he reminded Jack quietly, glancing towards Robin. "You want to trust the maiden again, when she so deftly plotted against ye?"

"Apparently not so 'deftly'…" Robin muttered. "You're outvoted, Captain Barbossa."

"Am I?" Barbossa asked, appearing amused. "It seems to be three to four in my favor, miss."

Robin grinned. "Really? All those who favor me rejoining the crew of the Pearl?" James and Jack exchanged a slightly bewildered look as they raised their hands slightly. "One, two. Robin pointed to herself. "Three…ah, four and five."

Barbossa looked behind him and groaned. "You two will be lucky not to be keelhauled for this," he hissed at Pintel and Ragetti, who both gulped and lowered their hands. Elizabeth saw Robin's hand twitch, almost as though she was going to reach for her gun, but the pirate restrained herself and smiled sweetly at Barbossa as he turned back to her. "Just give me the map," he ordered Jack harshly, glaring at Robin.

Jack held up a finger. "One moment, mate. Be right back." Jack dashed off towards the trees in a drunken manner, leaving behind a group of slightly bewildered pirates.

A few minutes passed, during which Robin wandered casually over to the jolly boat and engaged in a quiet conversation with Pintel and Ragetti. Barbossa followed her every move with his pistol as she did so. James collapsed onto the sand, and Elizabeth sat down beside him. "What do you think is taking him so long?" Elizabeth asked him. James shrugged and refused to look at her. "James," said Elizabeth, putting a hand gently on his shoulder. "Why?"

James turned sharply toward her. "Why what, Elizabeth?" he asked softly. Before Elizabeth had a chance to answer, she was interrupted by a harsh voice.

"What took you so long?" Elizabeth turned to look at Barbossa, who was shouting at Jack. Jack was running towards them from the trees. James stood rather hastily as Jack came closer, offering Elizabeth a hand, which Elizabeth accepted. She could not help but notice that he held onto her hand a little longer than was necessary.

"Well? Where is it, Jack?" Barbossa asked impatiently as Jack approached.

Jack opened and closed his mouth a few times and made some strange motions with his hands as he thought of what to say. "Um…it isn't where I put it, mate." Jack flinched when Barbossa yelled in frustration and turned his gun toward him. Robin seemed to relax slightly now that Barbossa's anger was aimed at another.

"What do you mean, Jack?" Elizabeth asked worriedly.

"I mean it's not where I put it, love." He shrugged. "I don't know where it could have run off to."

"No map, no deal!" Barbossa said, and he headed toward the boat, shoving Robin roughly away from where she stood by the two pirates guarding it. Robin's eyes narrowed.

"What about Jack's compass?" Robin said suddenly just as Barbossa was stepping into the boat. Barbossa froze and turned slowly to her.

"Now why didn't I think of that?" Barbossa took Jack's compass from his belt and slowly opened it. Wherever it was point, it did not seem to please Barbossa. "Here." He snapped the compass shut and threw it to Jack. "Find the map, and I'll hold up to my side of the bargain."

Jack gave a sort of salute as Barbossa, Pintel, and Ragetti all loaded into the boat and began to row away. Robin and Elizabeth both walked up behind Jack, one looking over each shoulder at the compass in his hand. Jack glanced at the two nervously before opening the compass. The arrow spun erratically for a few moments…