Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean or the canon characters you will meet. Though you will see at least a couple of OCs in the story, I guarantee you that.

Summary: Through a series of unfortunate and unforeseeable events, the Black Pearl gets sunk by the Royal Navy, her crew captured. The men are sold into slavery, split up across the colonies of the New World. This is Jack's story. Starts 1 year post AWE. AU. Willabeth hints. Eventual Sparrabeth.

A Lifetime of Servitude

Prologue:

Ten years after the events of At World's End:

Will Turner knew that he should have been excited to know that he would be seeing Elizabeth, his wife, within a matter of minutes. But as he prepared to go to land for the first time in ten years, he was thinking mostly of an old friend- of the man who had granted him the ability to keep living as captain of the Flying Dutchman.

The memory of the last time he had seen the man kept replaying in Will's head.

"Sir! Slave ship off portside!" The man in the crow's nest called.

Will turned to look to the Dutchman's left. Sure enough, a large vessel was sailing not far past. There were a great many men on deck, smashed on one side of a barrier, shaved and stripped to their trousers. On the other side, there were fully clothed armed men. It was a slave ship, no doubt, as the lookout had said.

One slave in particular caught the eyes of the Dutchman's captain. Shaved and much different looking than the last time he saw him, Will recognized him almost immediately. The man he watched was leaning against the railing of the slave ship, looking out at sea. He froze as his gaze landed upon the ferryship of the dead. Their gazes met.

Will didn't want to believe it.

The other man's mouth hung open for a moment. A small, familiar smirk curled at his lips after he got over the initial surprise. He gave the Dutchman's captain a nod in greeting. Despite his friendly appearance, his chocolate brown eyes were begging Will to lend a hand and get him out of there.

He wished there was something he could do for his friend. He knew that he would never forget the look in his eyes, for as long as he sailed the seas as an immortal captain. But there was nothing he could do.

The eyes kept begging. Will swallowed and turned away. He had a duty to fulfill, and it wasn't to his friend. I'm sorry.

Even though he was no longer paying attention to the other man, the eyes of Jack Sparrow burned in his mind.

That had been nine years ago. He'd tried to send word to Elizabeth, but never got any reply or heard any word of Jack escaping his captors. For all he knew they could both be dead by now. Nine years was a long time. Anything could have happened.

Will used his supernatural powers to teleport himself to the shallows, sloshing his way through the last few yards of water. The waves were gentle, soothing, almost. They probably would have been if the sea wasn't the last thing he wanted to see. If he had to, he'd be comfortable spending the rest of his years living on land. Not that it could ever happen.

It was a powerful feeling that ran through him the moment his boots touched the sand of the beach. His legs nearly gave out of pure joy, but Jack's pleading eyes urged him onwards. He could not help his friend, but that didn't mean Elizabeth couldn't either.

Will looked up, scanning the landscape in search of Elizabeth. His eyes caught sight of her form on top of a hill before him. Her eyes were closed, he noted. He knew she was waiting for him. As he began to make his way to her, he took in her appearance. Her golden hair hadn't changed. But she looked different. He could see the dark bags under her eyes, the thinness of her body, and a few scars marring her skin.

But it was still his Elizabeth.

He stopped before her, breathing her name off of his lips. "Elizabeth."

A grin spread across her face even before she opened her eyes. "Oh, Will, you came."

"Of course I did." He murmured, pulling her into a hug. "Elizabeth, I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault, Will. You're lucky to be alive at all." She reminded him.

"Because of Jack. I know." Will gave a sad smile. The pirate's dark brown eyes flashed before him. "Speaking of Jack, I need to talk to you."

*X*

Elizabeth led Will to her cottage, down behind the hill. As glad as she was to see him, she was even more curious as to what bothered him. It clearly had to do with Jack Sparrow, she knew, but what about him? Was he dead? Did Will suspect her of cheating on him with Jack? The more she pondered these questions, the more concerned she became.

She had found the wooden cottage abandoned, not long after she arrived on the island. She had quickly made it her home, cleaning up the two roomed building and adding her own touch to it. It was here where she had stayed for the past ten years, alone.

Elizabeth opened the door, allowing Will to enter before her. She closed the door behind them, gesturing for her husband to sit down at the kitchen table just off center of the front room. He did, and she sat across from him.

"You wanted to talk about Jack?" She inquired.

"Yes." Will responded. "When was the last time you saw him?"

The way they spoke to each other was almost cold, as if they weren't indeed married. Elizabeth felt like she was being interrogated. Once again, she wondered what had happened concerning Jack this time.

"Will, I haven't seen Jack in ten years." She informed him. "What's he done now?"

"He hasn't done anything." He assured her. "I- He's in trouble, Elizabeth."

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean."

"Nine years ago, I found the remains of the Black Pearl. The next day, I came across a slave ship. I saw Jack on board."

"Jack? A slave?" Elizabeth managed, unable to stomach the idea of it. "There's nothing Jack values more than-"

"His freedom." Will finished for her quietly. "I know. I didn't want to believe it either. But I would recognize him anywhere, Elizabeth."

She was suddenly glad she was sitting down. "I- How was he?"

"Desperate." He told her. "I could see it in his eyes, even if he did try to play it off. He knew what was happening. I wish I could have done something about it."

"Maybe I could."

"It's been ten years, Elizabeth. He could be anywhere."

"Where was he headed when you saw him?"

"The southern part of the New World, I think."

"No better place to start than there, I suppose." Elizabeth mused.

"You're actually going to find him?" Will seemed slightly surprised.

"He can't free himself, Will. Not this time." She gave a small smile. "Someone has to help him."

"Be careful." He murmured.

"Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be alright."

"I meant with Jack."

"Jack would never hurt me, Will."

"The Jack we know wouldn't. Slavery might have changed him. It's been nine years, Elizabeth."

"Do you really think he might have changed that much?" Elizabeth asked, taken aback by his accusations.

Will gently shook his head. "I don't know. I hope not."

"I will find him."

"I know."

*X*

That night, laying in bed in Will's arms, Elizabeth found herself unable to fall asleep. Her thoughts dwelled on her husband's news of Jack's current situation. Jack was enslaved. Even now, hours after being told about it, she could scarcely believe it. Freedom was the one thing Jack valued more than the Black Pearl. To lose them both...she couldn't imagine what was going through the pirate's mind.

Could Will be right? Could Jack have changed from the experience? She couldn't picture the infuriating, lovable pirate any different than how she had known him. The thought of him being different stung. She wondered how much of him had already been lost, buried in the misery and humiliation of being a slave. She wondered how much she could save if she found him in time.

She would find him. She knew she would. She wasn't going to let anything stop her.

She'd find Jack, and she'd restore him to the pirate she knew.