A/N: I am SO SORRY I haven't written in so long, but when AWE came out, I became a lot less inclined to write this. But I did, and I've got the sequel going to. Sorry again, but I'll be updating every week probably. Please R&R though!! XD So I guess this is all AU…Oh well, nothing wrong with AU!! XD This is like my spin on AWE.

Chapter 20

Caylie left the Dutchman soon after speaking with Clanker. She didn't see him again, she didn't want to. She didn't tell anyone about what had happened. She didn't tell anyone about their fight. Bree realized very quickly Caylie wasn't herself, but when she tried to ask the girl about it, Caylie was quick to deny it and smile innocently so Bree left it alone. Jones noticed it too, and he was positive it was Clanker's fault, he thought everything concerning Caylie was, but he knew better than to ask Caylie about it. She was so determined to protect Clanker, no matter how much hurt she'd have to endure. She wouldn't tell him anything if she thought it'd threaten Clanker in any way. Jones tried to ignore it, but Clanker was the same way. He'd do anything to protect Caylie. Including hide his own feelings deep down…Jones suppressed the voice of reason in his head, trying not to admit it was right. Caylie stayed in her cabin most of the day, trying to go over what she had said to Clanker before she had left the first time around. What had angered him? She had seen him on the deck of the Dutchman that day…she thought they'd been alright. She gave him her necklace…didn't that matter to him either? She had been so sure it had. It seemed they had been over this fight again and again. Each time resulting in Caylie doubting their friendship. Maybe ye need to let it go. Maybe ye're just not meant to be with him. He was right ye know. Ye're Davy Jones' niece; he's part o' Davy Jones' crew. Two very different statuses, eh? Caylie let the voice consume her. It became part of her. It was the voice that taunted her every night and every day. She couldn't ignore it and she soon stopped trying. Clanker, in all this, was over whelmed. It all seemed to happen so quick, he barely realized what he had said until after he'd already said it and before he knew it Caylie was gone again, shielded tears in her eyes hidden by a mask of indifference and false happiness. This seemed like the billionth time they clashed in the same argument. And the same voice that haunted Caylie haunted Clanker as well. It made him doubt all he lived for: Caylie. It made him doubt her. It made him doubt what he was hoping for, and put that fatal phrase in his head: Maybe it wasn't meant to be.

Caylie had to forcefully try to push thoughts of Clanker out of her mind as the days wore on, because soon the Golden Dawning saw a new ship, one she'd been tailing for some time now. Another pirate ship…one rumored to be captained by one of the evilest men to sail the sea…Captain Barbossa. Caylie knew she needed a distraction so she forced her crew, reluctant as they were, to sail towards the ship. It was not the biggest ship she'd seen, and it wasn't very fast either, but nonetheless, she was a ship and she was crewed by Barbossa, a person Caylie had recently wanted to meet. She jumped onto the rigging, gripping it with one hand, her other on the hilt of her sword. She could see the ship didn't have a very big crew at all. The Dawning managed to sail alongside the ship very easily. Caylie looked over to make sure she had their attention and smiled a bit. This'll be fun.

"Cap'n Barbossa, is it?" she called over, a mischievous grin on her face.

Hector Barbossa reeled around at the sound of his name and looked into the playful face of a young woman. She was definitely a pirate by the look of her but there was something about her…something special Barbossa couldn't identify. Something he'd seen before. He frowned. Was she a goddess? No, goddesses didn't look like that. She was a pirate. He just couldn't figure out who. He'd met almost every pirate woman, but not her.

"Who be askin'?" he growled.

The woman held her head up confidently. "Cap'n Caylie Adams."

"Caylie Adams be it?" he asked, an eyebrow raised. NOW it made sense. He'd heard of her. The first woman to be brought aboard the Flying Dutchman. The first person to be released from the Flying Dutchman's crew…alive. She had a legacy, but she didn't look it. He was disappointed. So this is the famous Caylie Adams? A girl cap'n?

"Aye," Caylie nodded. "What make ye o' it?"

"Ye're a very brave woman," he commented, earning some sneers from some of his crew. Caylie hopped onto the deck of his ship and held her sword out, twirling it around as she paced. She was a lot more nervous than she looked, but she hid it well. She did not want the legendary captain to think badly of her, but she barely knew how to act. "Then I suppose ye've also 'eard abou' me merciless behavior towards men who disrespect me as a woman," she told him, holding her sword to his neck. She smirked. This looked right. And besides, it was fun.

"An' if I did?" Barbossa asked her keenly, his eyes glancing at the shining sword.

"Then ye should learn to keep yer mouth shut," Caylie snapped. "I've 'eard that ye're goin' ter World's End ter git Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker."

"Ye've 'eard right," Barbossa said bitterly. "An' after the Black Pearl."

"Aye, I knew ye wouldn't be goin' ter all tha' trouble jus' fer Jack Sparrow. Not ye," Caylie said, shrugging. "Jus' checking."

Barbossa gave her a curious look. Who was this woman who seemed so comfortable around him and everyone? Why was she here? Pirates rarely went to other pirates unless they wanted something. "What do ye want?"

"To make a deal with ye," Caylie said, sheathing her sword.

Barbossa folded his fingers around his apple. "A deal?"

"Aye," Caylie said. "A deal."

Barbossa looked around at the crew and then motioned for Caylie to follow him into his cabin. Caylie followed him, her sword still at her side. She caught sight of a young man who looked frightfully familiar. She gulped and continued to walk with Barbossa, tearing her eyes away from him.

"So," he said once they'd reached the cabin and he'd sat in his chair, "what's yer offer?"

Caylie began to pace. "Well, as it seems to be a well known fact now, I spent time on the Dutchman, with Davy Jones. I also…let's jus' say came upon the map o' Davy Jones' locker and how ter go through it."

It had been true. She had gone to Signapore, and she'd stolen the maps. She smirked at the thought. Sao Feng was a fool. An evil, smart fool. She knew she'd have a debt to pay later, but she didn't mind.

Barbossa stared at her. "Ye know how to make it through the Locker?" He was interested now. He had no intention to go to Sao Feng for help, or any other captain who knew the way through World's End. If this lass had the key, he wouldn't say no.

"I do," Caylie said. "An' I'll help ye on one condition."

"What be that?" Barbossa asked.

Caylie knew very well she was dealing with one of the most demonic men on the earth but she was Davy Jones' niece. She was also Caylie, meaning she was very spontaneous as it were. "Ye owe me a debt o' one favor I want. Anythin'."

"Ye bloody well decided ter take a leaf out o' Davy Jones' book have ye?" Barbossa smirked. This girl obviously didn't know who she was dealing with…He was pleased. He'd had no problem with playing her out.

"Cap'n Barbossa, do not take me as some idiotic daft person with no sense at all. I know exactly who ye are and who I am dealin' with. I also know the chance o' ye gettin' Jack out o' the Locker successfully without this map is pathetic to impossible."

Barbossa pursed his lips. "Well Sao Feng's got a map."

Caylie nodded. "But 'e ain't goin' ter give it to ye. Ye know that. 'E hates ye." She sat down on his desk comfortably, swinging her legs over the side.

Barbossa looked at her, as though contemplating what she'd said. He chuckled, putting the apple on the table. "Ye stole them maps, didn't ye?"

Caylie smirked. "So what if I did?" she took the apple and bit into it.

Barbossa liked her style. Very nice. He was impressed, even if he'd say nothing. "Then I'd have ter strike a bargain with ye."

Caylie grinned roguishly. "I knew ye'd see me way, Captain. So, ye up to me bargain?"

Barbossa grinned. "Aye, I am." He stuck out his hand. Caylie shook it, handing him back the apple. Barbossa looked at it, shaking his head. She walked back up to the deck.

Caylie was about to climb back onto the Dawning when she was held back by that familiar-looking man. He looked at her. Caylie blinked at him.

"You've been on the Dutchman," he said. "You were part of their crew and you escaped. How?"

Caylie shrugged. "Some things are best left unanswered. I happen ter be one o' them." She focused her eyes. "Ye look bloody familiar."

The man rolled his eyes. "So I'm told daily around here. William Turner. My father is Bootstrap Bill Turner. That's why. If you were really on the Dutchman, you'd know him."

Now it made sense Caylie's head. So this was Bootstrap's son. She should have realized it. "Oh, ye're Will Turner. Aye, yer father's told me abou' ye."

"He told me about you too. The girl who could stand up to Davy Jones," Will said in admiration.

"Ye've seen Bootstrap?" she asked him.

"Yes. I was taken captive on the Dutchman for a while and I managed to meet him," Will explained.

"Well, nice to meet ye Mr. Turner," Caylie said kindly, turning and hoping back onto the Dawning and into her cabin. Maybe she could become friends with Will…he wasn't Clanker but if Clanker wanted to be that way, two could play at that game. Will seemed nice, and if he was anything like his father, they'd get along fine. I hope I don't have to see Clanker for a long time. I won't go back to the Dutchman unless I absolutely need to. I'm sorry uncle, but it's the only way. I'll still see ye again…jus' not when Clanker's there. I've been hurt too many times now over the same bloody things.

Caylie needed a distraction. She thought that joining the Ebony and her mission would be a good choice. She had been wrong. It seemed she thought more of Clanker and not less while sailing along with the Ebony. Every time she looked at Will Turner she'd think of Bootstrap, which made her think of her uncle, which made her think of the Dutchman, which made her think of Clanker. It was a cycle she couldn't hide from and she hated it. She hid in her cabin most of the time, playing melancholy songs on her organ and singing softly to them. Every single man in her crew, without exceptions, had fallen in love with her voice. Some of them didn't like her, some hated her, but when they heard her sing, they forgot all their hatred and would listen.

This was the way it was on the Dawning. Caylie barely spoke to anyone anymore unless she had to. She hated having to wear a mask of lies all the time. She hated what Clanker did to her. She wished she could run back to Jones and talk to him. Tell him how Clanker had hurt her, how he had been cold with her. But she knew she couldn't. Jones was too temperamental. He wouldn't understand. He would become angry. He would flog Clanker. Clanker would hate Caylie. She knew she had to keep this to herself, as much as it pained her. What about Bree? Why didn't ye tell her? the reason in her head asked. Caylie didn't have a reason for why she didn't tell Bree. Maybe she didn't think it was necessary to trouble her with her problems, when Bree had so many of her own. In any case, no one but Caylie and Clanker knew what had happened, and it was tearing them both up inside.

Clanker was having just as much, if not more, trouble with what had happened. It had been his fault, and he knew it. The guilt swept over him so violently, every day, every night, all he could think of was how angry he was with himself. He had made the same mistake before, and he had fixed it. Why had this time been different? Because he didn't fix it. He didn't go after Caylie and hug her, telling her how stupid and sorry he was. This time he had let her go. He had let her go with pain in her eyes and a fake smile on her lips. Sometimes he wished he could tell someone. ANYONE. Just get an opinion on what to do. Tell Jones. He knows her. Clanker, like Caylie, ignored the reasonable voice in his mind. It was wrong, he was convinced. He might as well jump ship if he was even CONSIDERING going to Jones. Jones cared about Caylie. If he knew what Clanker had done, Clanker shuddered to think about it. No, he couldn't tell Jones. He sat in his hammock, looking at Caylie's necklace, wondering what to do with himself.

"Where did ye get that?" someone asked him from behind.

Clanker jumped a bit then growled. Bree. That little snoopy bilge rat. Yet for some reason he was relieved she had asked him. "Nowhere special."

"Lyin' isn't yer strong suit Clanker. Ye might as well tell the truth," Bree said, sitting in the hammock across his, her own.

"Why do ye care anyways whelp?" he snapped at her.

"Because all ye do is stare at it, when Jones isn't lookin', mind ye, but it is and I think everyone wants to know why," Bree answered, then a thin smile spread on her lips. "Did ye git it from Caylie?"

"Shove off," Clanker growled, turning in his hammock until he wasn't facing Bree.

"Ye know, I only spent a few minutes with 'er, and I already know that she cares about ye a lot, an' ye care about 'er too. Why are ye two bein' so blockheaded, I don't understand," Bree said, settling herself in her hammock and going to sleep.

To be honest, Clanker didn't understand either. He didn't understand how something so perfect as their friendship had become became so ugly and complicated, full of fights and raging emotions neither could understand. Ye knew it from the beginning, ye always knew it. Ye ne'er married a lass fer that reason. Ye always knew that men and women shouldn't be mixed together…an' now ye're livin' proof as ter why. Serves ye right fer not ignoring 'er ter begin with, the mean dominating voice echoed through his head.

But how could I ignore something so…so Caylie? So innocent and fun. So fiery and stubborn. So…so beautiful and sweet-NO! It's true. I should've ignored her. Right from the start. I was stupid. Clanker debated on the subject, torn between the two sides. But how could something so wrong…feel so right? It made no sense. At that moment nothing did.