Thanks to everybody who reviewed the last chapter, here's the next one!
Jack backed away from Will abruptly in shock, and then cursed himself as a look of terror passed over Will's face, the boy immediately began to tremble.
"I-I'm so s-s-sorry J-Captain, I didn't m-mean t-to."
"First of all, since when have you called me Captain, me name's Jack lad. Second of all you've got nothing to be sorry for," Jack moved closer to Will and gently caressed his cheek, "And thirdly, yes you are allowed to do that." The pirate captain leant forwards and pressed his lips against Will's, the boy responded hesitantly at first, then more confidently as he realised that he wasn't going to be punished. Both men broke apart, gasping for breath and looking very dazed. Jack pulled Will close to him and the younger man rested his head against his chest, listening to the sound of the captain's heartbeat.
The two men stood like that until Gibb's arrived to take over the watch, then they made their way into Jack's cabin. Jack steered Will over to the bed and sat him down gently, then he turned towards find what he was looking for he craned his neck trying to see what the older man had in his hand. The captain turned and smiled knowingly at Will, then walked over and sat next to him on the bed.
"Will, I have something to tell you." Will tried to fight back the tears that he felt at the rejection he knew was about to come. Jack realised what Will was thinking and hastily reassured him.
"It's okay; I'm not going to leave you or hurt you luv. I've been waiting for the right time to tell you this for while now. I knew your father." Will's eye's widened in surprise and then he looked down at the floor. "I hope you understand why I didn't tell you before; I wanted to wait until you were well enough, until you trusted me enough."
"I understand Jack; it's just a bit of a shock that's all. How, did you know him?"
"He was a pirate too, an' a fine one at that. He was my best friend, and a good man."
"Your best friend? Is that why you've been so nice to me?"
"No luv, no matter whose son you were I would have treated you exactly the same and how I feel about you has nothing to do with him either. I know that you'll have a lot of questions and I'll try to answer them as best as I can luv." Will nodded and stood up, heading over to the open door. Jack stood up, about to follow him but sat back down when the younger man stopped and leaned against the doorframe.
The captain waited anxiously for Will to say or do something and a few moments later the boy turned to face him.
"My mother told me he was dead."
"He is, had been for five years or so now."
"But my mother, she died over seven years ago, she lied to me." Jack bowed his head then looked back up into Will's eyes.
"She did what she thought was best, I suppose. Your father, Bootstrap, he couldn't get home often, he told me that you were beginning to ask questions on his last visit, I don't know for sure, but I think she was trying to protect you."
"But if I'd have known, when she died, I would have looked for him." Jack walked over to Will and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I know you would have luv, maybe that's why she told you he was dead. Piracy's a hard life, you know that." Will nodded and leaned in towards Jack, the older man pulled him into an embrace. "Will luv, you have to know, both your parents loved you very much." Will pulled away slightly then looked up at Jack.
"If they loved me, why did they leave?"