Special thanks to: wolfs rain lover123, cerysclark and Nellie

If I owned Pirates of the Caribbean I wouldn't be writing this now, savvy? Any familiar character belongs to Disney, so any unfamiliar character belongs to me:)

Turning around she walked to the rostrum where she sat down and gazed over the horizon, never looking at the red coats who were busy on the ship, or to Elizabeth who was still talking with Norrington, and least of all to Jack. She didn't know what she felt for him and there was definitely something that attracted her, but she didn't want to look like one of those love struck girls in Port Royal, who flashed everything they could at the man they had fallen for in attempt to win him over. No, a self respecting young lady waited now for the man to move. She'd made her feelings quite clear to Jack, and now it was his turn to act.

Victoria felt that they were getting close to Isle de Muerta rather then seeing it. She didn't know how exactly how she could tell, but there was something in the air that told her, along with a chill that settled in her bones. And sure enough, several minutes later Marines started to get on deck, preparing for whatever was coming next. Turning around she noticed Jack and Elizabeth talking quietly before Norrington interrupted their conversation, and again she felt a slight pang in her chest, why would Jack talk to Elizabeth and not her, she wondered.

"With me Sparrow. Turner", Norrington said before he turned around and walked to one of the longboats that was being prepared. Victoria sighed as she stood up and reluctantly followed the Commodore, she had the feeling that she would be told to stay below deck with Elizabeth and wait for them to return. And she wasn't disappointed, as soon as she stood next to the longboat along with Jack, who hadn't acknowledged her presence, Norrington addressed her.

"Miss Turner, you will stay on the Dauntless and keep Miss Swann company until we return."

Victoria clenched her hand, she had been right, but there was no way they could keep her on the ruddy Dauntless, her brother's live was at stake right now, and her place would be near him, helping him out and not waiting like some naughty girl on a ship.

"I'm sorry Commodore", she said, "But there is no way I am going to wait here. My brother's live is in danger, and my place is a close to him as possible."

"Miss Turner. We are talking about pirates, a young lady like you has no place near them. Besides you are a girl."

"I've met these pirates before, as you might not know", Victoria said as she drew her sword so fast that no one could react as she placed it's the tip against Norrigton's neck, "As you see, I can handle myself just fine, Commodore."

Norrington's eyes widened as the sword dug lightly in his neck.

"Well, if you choose to join, we won't be responsible for you."

"Fine", Victoria said as she sheathed her sword and climbed into the longboat before looking back at the stunned man on the Dauntless.

"What are you waiting for? We got to safe me brother."

Both Jack and Norrington stared at her

"I don't care if the situation –", Norrington said as he observed at rather empty Black Pearl trough his spyglass.

"Any attempt to stall the case could turn into an ambush", Norrington said, his voice trailing off. A moment Jack used to come forward with his opinion on the situation.

"Not if you're the one doin' the ambushing", he said as he leaned forwards on Norrington's shoulder, "I go in and convince Barbossa t' send his man out with their little boats. You and yer man return t' the Dauntless and blast the geezes o' of them with your little cannons, ey. What you have t' loose?"

"Noting I'd lament being be rid off", Norrington said after a second, sounding much more sure of himself and the situation that a minute before.

"Now, to be quite honest with you, there be still a slight risk t' those on the Dauntless, includin' t' future Mrs. Commodore."

Victoria noticed that Norrington's back stiffened at the idea that his future wife was at risk if he continued with this operation, and suddenly she wasn't so sure if he would go on or that he would order his man to return to the Dauntless and set sail towards Port Royal. She prayed he wouldn't decide on the latter of the two, because that would probably mean the end of her brother.

"Men, send word to the last longboat to return to the Dauntless and lock Miss Swann in the Captain's cabin. The other's will stay here and Mr. Sparrow will go on into the cave to get the pirates out of there."

His words came as a relief to her, until she realised that she too would be sent back to the Dauntless. That wasn't what she wanted.

"Norrington, I'm going with Jack", she said, refusing to stand up and move to another longboat like the Marines were currently doing, "My brother needs me."

Crossing her arms she looked from Norrington to Jack to see if they dared to tell her to do something else. She was going into the gave, if they didn't allow her to go in with a longboat that she would swim.

"Sparrow", Norrington said as he waited for Jack's answer.

Jack seemed to hesitate as he looked at Victoria. On the inside Victoria smiled slightly, at least Jack wasn't ignoring her at the moment, as she stared straight into his eyes before he turned away and sighed.

"Fine. T' lass can come, but I won't be responsible for her."

Victoria now smiled, "Good, then let us be off."

Norrington was the last to leave the longboat and neither the pirate nor the girl saw his shake his head, they were too busy pretending ignore each other again or what ever it was, the girl was lost to them.

As Jack rowed the two of them into the cave, he didn't attempt to talk to her, and Victoria was getting agitated with his behaviour but told herself that she wouldn't be the one to start talking. A few minutes later she broke that resolution, not standing the fact that Jack didn't talk.

"Why did you do it Jack?", she asked as she tried to smooth some of the wrinkles from her shirt.

"Did what?", Jack's voice came as he stopped rowing. Looking towards him Victoria found him looking at her.

"You know, first kissing me and then acting like I don't exist at all. I'm getting confused."

Jack took a moment to answer but Victoria knew his answer was an honest one.

"I told ye luv, I care about you, maybe too much an' I won't let ye get hurt, I won't let them use ye agains' me. And believe me, they would if they knew."

At his words Victoria felt a burden fall of her shoulders, a burden she hadn't known about. Not a lot of people were important to her, but those who were she couldn't loose, and somehow Jack had become one of those people in the last few days, joining her brother who was the other person. She leaned forwards to kiss Jack, but he held her off, causing her to look confused at him.

"We got t' safe the whelp first luv."

Victoria only smiled as Jack continued to row into the cave where they had her brother. When they got out of the longboat, Victoria heard the pirates shouting enthusiastically not far away from them. She turned to Jack, who pulled the longboat onto the shore, and asked what they would do next.

"Just follow me luv", he said as he started to walk towards the sound, "And try t' keep close, will ya?"

Victoria stuck close to Jack as he pushed his way forward trough the crowd, occasionally muttering a "Beg ye pardon."

"Begun by blood –", Barbossa said as he picked up a knife before trailing of when he noticed Jack walking forwards.

"Excuse me", Jack called out as he reached the bottom of the gold pile on which Barbossa stood.

"Jack!", Will called out as he saw the pirate,

"S'not possible", Barbossa muttered

"Not probable", Jack said as he waved his arms around.

"Where's Elizabeth and Victoria?", Will demanded, not having seen his sister walking behind Jack.

"Am her Will", Victoria said as she stepped next to Jack.

"They're safe, just like I promised. Elizabeth is all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really except for Elizabeth who is, in fact, a woman", Jack said smiling.

"Shut up!", Barbossa hissed as e leaned forward to slit Will's throat, "You're next."

"You don't want to be doing that, mate", Jack interrupted him.

Barbossa's eyes narrowed as he looked up at Jack, "No, I really think I do."

"Your funeral", Jack shrugged.

"Why don't I want to be doing it?"

"Well, because", Jack started as he pushed Bo'sun's hand of his shoulder and started to walk forwards, Victoria staying close behind him, "Because the HMS Dauntless, pride of the Royal Navy is floating just offshore. Waiting for you"

A collective muttering went trough Barbossa's crew and Victoria got the feeling that Jack's plan, whatever it was, was going to work.

"Just hear me out, mate", Jack said before Barbossa could, "Just hear me out, mate. You order your men to row out to The Dauntless. They do what they do best. Robert's your Uncle, Fannie's your Aunt, there you are with two ships. The makings of your very own fleet. 'Course you'll take the grandest as your flagship, and who's to argue? But what of t' Pearl? Name me Captain, I'll sail under your colours, I'll give you ten percent of me plunder and you get to introduce yourself as Commodore Barbossa. Savvy?"

"I s'pose in exchange, you want me not to kill the whelp", Barbossa stated as his gaze flicked towards Will.

"No, no, not at all by all means, kill the whelp", Jack said, causing Victoria to become confused, he'd wanted to safe Will, hadn't he. Then why would he tell Barbossa to kill him, but before she could say something Jack continued.

"Just not yet. Wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment."

Jack gazed moved over to Will and Victoria saw some sort of understanding in her brother's eyes, had she missed something. Will's eyes met her's and she knew instantly what he tried to tell her, they weren't twins for nothing. Jack had a plan, Will somehow knew of it and stood behind it. Victoria made the tiniest nod with her head, enough for her brother to understand that she too knew what was going on. Well, almost.

"For instance", Jack said as he grabbed some of the medallions, "After you've killed Norrington's men?" Victoria watched as jack started to throw the medallions back into the chest as he spoke. "Every. Last. One."

From her position behind Jack she noticed that one of the coins disappeared in his sleeve, her gaze flickered towards her brother and she noticed he'd narrowed his eyes.

"You've been planning this from the beginning. Ever since you learned my name", Will said angry.

"Yeah."

"I want fifty percent of yer plunder", Barbossa said and as he and Jack started to hackle over what percentage of the plunder Barbossa would get. Victoria looked trough the cave. She quickly fond the place where she and Jack had waited the last time around, after Jack had been knocked unconscious by her brother. In front of them was a part of the cave that laid higher then the other parts, and moonlight shone trough one or two holes in the ceiling.

Victoria looked back at the man in front of him when she heard Barbossa say, "We have an accord."

He and Jack shook hands to seal their deal.

"All hand's to the boats!", Jack shouted enthusiastically before looking at Barbossa who glared at him, "Apologies. You give the orders."

"Gents. Take a walk."

Victoria frowned at his words as the pirates turned around and started to move towards the longboats.

"Not to the boats?", Jack asked, frowning slightly. Barbossa turned to him but said nothing and as the last pirates walked into the water, Victoria suddenly understood Barbossa's order. The moonlight revealed their true form.

A/N As promised, this chapter was up faster then the previous one. I'm glad to have a wee bit more time in the evenings so I can write some. While I still update BTH, I am working on the background and plot it's sequels as well as my other fanfic Wish Upon a Star, which I plan on picking up after I finish BTH and working on it alongside Longing for Freedom.

A/N2 As always, thanks for reading and please leave a review with your thought about the story:) If you come across any spelling mistakes, please drop me a PM. While my English is pretty good after living two years in the UK, it still isn't my mother tongue