The nightmare awakened Rose once again, yet she opened her eyes to darkness. She had to pat her side to make certain that she still wasn't asleep. The utter blindness revealed to her that it was still the dead of night, and that she hadn't been asleep long. She had managed to doze off before Ben had returned from telling Will that he would not be accompanying her on the Pearl come the morning light. She listened for a few minutes to the gentle inhaling and exhaling of her treasured friend, holding fast to the last few moments she had with him. She stayed like that for not even she knew how long. She stirred, however, upon catching sight of a flickering light in the distance. She pushed herself up and made her way haphazardly towards the source of the light. The light was coming from behind the doorway that led to the heart of the blacksmith shop. She pushed the door open completely and allowed her eyes to completely adjust to the light, then smiled when she saw Will seated at his desk, illuminated by candlelight.

"I see that you couldn't sleep for long either," she said.

He gave a slight laugh. "Correction, I couldn't sleep at all."

She walked towards him and leaned against the desk. "Anticipation for tomorrow has kept us both awake, it seems."

He nodded. "Aye. There is a lot at stake tomorrow for both of us. And I…haven't really considered every possible outcome until just now."

His uncertainty was causing Rose some slight panic. It was his carefree attitude and steadfast assuredness that he had demonstrated earlier that afternoon that had given her the faith that he could pull off Jack's rescue mission. Tentatively, she said, "You'll succeed in saving Jack, I'm sure of it!"

"Oh I know that," he replied, sending waves of relief surging through Rose. "I just meant me. I never considered what this would mean for me, or what could happen because of my actions."

"Well surely you'll joining us aboard the Pearl once you've succeeded in freeing Jack!" Rose said optimistically. When Will only stared deeply into the flames of the flickering candle wicks, suddenly it hit her. "Oh I see," she said softly. "You don't expect to be free yourself once the deed has been done."

Will grimaced. "I don't expect Norrington to permit my freedom. Especially given…other circumstances that put us at odds against one another."

It took a moment for Rose to understand his meaning, but once she did, it was clear as a cloudless day; The chilled atmosphere when Will had intervened between Rose and Elizabeth in the town that morning, the resentment in his voice when he mentioned that Elizabeth and the Commodore were to be married…

"Elizabeth," she said. "You and the Commodore both share affections for her. That's why you went after her with Jack in the first place!" Will looked down in slight embarrassment, but could not hide his slight grin of pride at his own act of courage. Rose grinned,"Very romantic. Is that why you're so gallantly rescuing Jack? To win her over for good?"

"No," he quickly replied. Then he stopped, reconsidering his response. He proceeded to correct himself, stating, "Yes, partly. But mostly, I…I'm not sure what changed my mind. I once loathed pirate-kind, and I used Jack to help me rescue Elizabeth, nothing more. But something has since changed my mind about them."

Rose leaned closer towards him, debating whether or not to say what she was thinking. Carefully, she finally asked, "Did…surely you knew about your father…"

Will looked up at her. "That he himself was a pirate? Yes, I've been informed." He took a deep breath then gave a pensive smile. "I've come to accept that piracy is in my blood within the past few days. It would appear that being a pirate and a good man doesn't have to be mutually exclusive."

Rose shook her head. "Your father was both," she corroborated. "I can attest to that."

"You knew him as well?" he asked. "My word. I've gone my whole life completely without a father, only to be surrounded by people who knew him well in just the past few days."

Rose smiled. "From what I can tell of your merits so far," she said, "He would be incredibly proud to call you his son." Though she was certain of this, she was still confused by his motives. "However, and I mean this with all due respect, but I've been around long enough to know that nothing comes free. No one does anything for anyone else without wanting something out of it for themselves. So what are you getting out of this? You aren't expecting to win the heart of the Governor's daughter, and you could face a death sentence yourself. Why make such a sacrifice free of charge?"

"Jack helped me. I owe him a debt of gratitude."

Rose smirked. "I know Jack, and you owe him nothing. He only helped you because there was something for him to get out of it himself."

Will took a deep breath, considering this. "Then, I suppose, I'm doing it because it doesn't seem just. Of all the pirates that I encountered in the past few days, Jack is the least deserving of a death sentence."

Rose smiled warmly. "Thank you, Will. I have perfect faith in you."

She moved to return back to where Ben was, leaving Will to continue preparing for the important day ahead of them, but his voice stopped her, stating, "Hold on a moment. You've sailed with both Jack and my father…you still haven't told me who you are or what your business with Jack is."

"Nor shall I," Rose said with a smile. "Busy yourself with the plan, Mr. Turner."

He grinned and nodded a brief goodbye. Right before she was plunged back into darkness, she left him with one final thought; "And make sure you make a grand declaration of love for your intended before the real danger begins. She can't refuse you then!"


"You're sure you can manage this? You can see?" Will asked with concern.

Rose peered into the horizon. The sun was just about to rise, but was as of yet in that hazy, light blue stage that made the air grow ever more still, ever more frigid.

"I can't make anything out in the far distance, but I have a compass on me," she reported. "They're headed for the island due East, correct?"

"Aye," Ben said, therein uttering the first word he had said to her that day. She swallowed back her resentment and merely nodded.

"I had best be off then," Will chirped, eyes wide with adrenaline. She could barely make out his silhouette, but she could tell that he had donned a large feathered hat, and she couldn't help but smile that he had taken her advice and was prepared to do the utmost to impress Elizabeth.

"Best of luck to you," she wished. "If you do run into danger, please find some way to signal the Pearl. We can find some means of aiding you both."

There was some hesitation in Will's voice as he said simply, "We'll see." He then backed away and began making his way up the hill leading back into town. Rose was left alone with Ben, and the tension between them was colder than the morning sea breeze.

Finally, she decided to be the bigger person and speak first. "See to it that he succeeds," she said sharply. Ben murmured in affirmation, then moved to give her boat a push away from the shore. As he leaned down, Rose silently wished that he would change his mind and would leap into the boat to continue their journey together.

But before she knew it, he had given the boat a good shove, sending it into the gently lapping waves. Rose dipped her oars into the water and began rowing away from the sunrise, right where the Pearl would be headed right for the island.

Ben didn't even wish her well, nor said his goodbyes.


The sun was nearly completely up by the time she had met the Black Pearl a few leagues away from the island.

"Come about!" she heard a voice yell from the deck of the tall looming ship. Even though danger lied ahead, Rose couldn't help but feel giddy with excitement over seeing her brother's ship once more in all its glory.

Before she knew it, someone had slid down a rope and landed surefooted into the boat beside her. To Rose's surprise, it was a woman! She was a beautiful, but stern-looking.

"You're expected," she barked loudly.

"…aye…" Rose stammered, taken aback by this aggressive stranger.

Taking the rope she had just slid down, this girl took the end and began to fasten it to one end of the rowboat. "Don't just sit there!" she commanded, motioning to another rope that had been dropped nearby. "Take that and follow my lead."

Still a bit uncertain, Rose fumbled to keep up with this woman, who was obviously very skilled on the water. She looked over her shoulder to examine Rose's handiwork and exhaled in exasperation.

"Give me that!" she cried, yanking the rope out of her hands and retying it herself. "If you didn't know we're in a bit of a rush, and your inexperience certainly isn't helping matters!"

"Then leave it behind," Rose suggested. "It'll only slow us down anyways."

"Nay," the woman protested, putting the finishing touch on her knot and giving the line a firm yank to signal those hoisting the rowboat from above on deck. "The mutineers managed to somehow lose all of their longboats. We'll take what we can get!"

Rose took hold to steady herself as the boat began to steadily lift out of the water and hover a few lengths away from the side of the ship. In their suddenly still silence, Rose extended a hand to her new acquaintance.

"Rose Hexfury," she introduced herself. "What's your name?"

"Anamaria," replied she, briefly squeezing Rose's outstretched hand, then returning her attention fully on the action from above.

Anamaria helped Rose climb out of the boat and onto the Pearl's deck, where all crew mates were bustling with anticipation of the rescue ahead, though being far fewer than that of the original Pearl crew. These people were certainly misfits as Will had described. The crew from her childhood all shared a similarity of being complete rogues and scallawags, these scallawags seemed a little less…wild. Less driven by treachery. This meant that Jack had either learned his lesson in picking his companions more carefully, or simply, this was all that Tortuga had left to offer.

A scruffy-looking man met her on deck. "I believe Mr. Turner informed us that two would be joining us this morning."

"Aye," Rose said, unable to hide her chagrin. "That there was, but there was a sudden change of plans."

The man pursed his lips. "It's bad enough luck to have one woman aboard, let alone two at once. I'm not so certain about this…"

"Believe me, good sir, it is in your best interests to have me aboard. This shall all be rectified once Jack has returned to the ship, I assure you."

"Let's hope," the man said skeptically. "The name's Joshamee Gibbs, longtime friend of the Captain and his family."

Rose was unable to conceal her grin as she carefully stated, "Hexfury. Rose Hexfury." She had no choice at this moment but to leave the words, If you are a friend of Jack and his family, then that means that we too are friends, Master Gibbs, unspoken, but perhaps soon enough she could at last reveal the truth about her parentage.

"Well, Miss Hexfury," Gibbs said, pointing along the shoreline to where the fortress loomed atop the hillside. "We're as of yet still concealed behind that cliff face, and we'll stay right here for a time. But we intend to make haste as soon as the parrot returns. That signals that Jack's scheduled hanging is about to commence."

Rose understood. "And by the time you sail around that face, the timing should be right for Jack to make his way to us, then?"

"Aye, that's the idea, given that things go according to plan…and Lord knows that they most assuredly never go according to plan, especially where Jack is concerned!"

Rose smiled, preparing to agree with his statement, when she suddenly heard a cry from another crewman.

"Man overboard!"

All on deck scrambled to peer over the starboard side of the ship, including Rose and Gibbs.

"I can't see!" Gibbs cried, pushing aside men who were lingering along the banister. "Is it an officer?"

Rose pushed her way to the front alongside him, peering down at the newcomer afloat in the open ocean; Ben. Her eyes went wide when she saw his slightly demure expression as he reached out to climb up the rigging of the ship.

"It's no officer," she explained to Gibbs. "It's the second individual Will informed you about! He came after all!"

They helped him aboard, and he quickly wrung himself out and pushed the hair back from his eyes. Rose rushed to his side.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. "I thought you had made up your mind."

"I had thought so too…until about as soon as you began to row away from me." His mouth began to turn upwards slightly into a lopsided grin that made Rose smile as well.

"So, are you staying?"

"If he'll have me, yes," Ben confirmed. "And, of course, if you'll still have me."

She put a hand on his arm firmly. "Of course," she said merrily. Only a few hours ago, she had accepted the fact that she could not possess a life with both Jack and Ben, but she could not be happier that somehow, with Ben's sudden change of heart, both of her dreams could come true.

There was still the matter of making sure that Jack actually was alive, and the next part of the rescue mission went into effect almost immediately after Ben's reunion with the Pearl when Cotton's parrot flew back to the ship. Gibbs gave the orders to skirt the shoreline headed right for the fortress, and steadily, the morbid, stony palace grew plainly into sight.

Rose rushed up the stairs to the wheel, where Anamaria steered with eyes unwavering from the targeted location. "Will they fire at us?" she asked her.

"Perhaps," Anamaria replied. "But chances are they'll be so distracted that it will be too late to man their cannons before we're already headed out to free waters."

"Aye," Ben corroborated, standing beside Rose. "The Pearl is the fastest ship in the Caribbean, they'll have little hope in catching us that quickly."

Anamaria looked to him. "You're acquainted with her?"

"More than acquainted," Ben admitted. "I've sailed her."

Anamaria had little time to question Ben about this, for suddenly, a large splash drew their attention to the waves below the fort.

"Give me your telescope," Rose said to Ben, who quickly obliged. Extending it, Rose frantically searched the churning waters amongst jagged rocks right along the shoreline. For a long time, whatever had fallen from that great height failed to break the surface of the waves once more. She prayed silently that this being that had fallen and not reappeared was not her half-brother, and maybe just an unlucky Naval officer.

All of these wishes disappeared, however, when something did break the surface, however, and that something owned a long mop of dark hair that could belong to no one else but Jack. Rose let out a holler in joy, exclaiming, "It's him! It's Jack!"

"Dead ahead, lads! Full cover!" Gibbs ordered. There was a tangible energy in everyone's step and sound on deck upon discovering that Jack had made it out alive and was currently swimming right for them! Even Anamaria had a wide grin on her face.

The rest of the crew was busying themselves with sailing the ship swiftly towards where Jack was currently swimming up to the ship's side, and Rose was glued to Ben's telescope, almost afraid to lose sight of him once again. Once he had come close enough that Rose felt certain that their mission was fully a success, she suddenly thought of Will. She wondered if he managed to get away. She repositioned the scope and peered up at the fort looming over the cliff to see if she could catch a glimpse of any activity. What she found made her even happier, for there, right next to the spot from which Jack had presumably fallen a few moments before, stood Will and Elizabeth sharing a kiss warmed by the rising sun.

Rose beamed. "He won her heart after all!" she whispered merrily. Silently, she thanked Will for having kept his word and succeeding to rescue her half-brother.

Jack was hoisted on deck with such a force that he nearly flew from one side to the other, but thankfully landed right at the wheel. The crew rushed to him, and though every muscle in Rose's body was tensed to do the same, she stayed behind with Ben. One thing at a time, she told herself. Let him reunite with the Pearl, then with you.

From afar, they watched as Jack was helped to his feet and once again stood at the wheel, taking Anamaria's place. Silence fell among them as they watched Jack revel in taking his rightful place as Captain once again. But just as soon as that moment began, it ended, for Jack began barking orders and his men all rushed to make sail for a yet-to-be-determined location. Rose watched as her brother, now alone at the wheel, grabbed his trusted compass and stared happily towards his heading.

As he closed the compass with a loud click, Rose turned to Ben, nearly breathless with nerves. "I think I'm ready," she said. "Come with me."

Ben nodded hesitantly. "It's best if I stay behind you, though. It would be best if joy upon seeing you came before anger upon seeing me."

Together, they moved closer to the wheel, but Jack was preoccupied with his captaining.

"Master Gibbs!" he shouted.

"Aye Cap'n?" replied Gibbs, materializing immediately as if out of thin air.

"We sail for Tortuga."

Gibbs grinned gleefully. "Aye sir!"

"Take the wheel, then," said Jack, handing off the wheel and walking steadily right towards Rose and Ben. "I'm off to go examine and rectify the damage Hector has done to my quarters."

He passed Rose and Ben, not having seen them. Rose took a sharp inhale of breath, prepared to say something to stop him, but he was too quick. However, he stopped abruptly after passing them and backed up, eyes squinting dangerously into Ben's.

Rose's heart sank when she realized that he had recognized Ben before her. This was not according to plan.

"You…" Jack growled, pointing a many-ringed finger right into Ben's face.

"I can explain…" Ben gulped.

Jack smiled, "Oh, no need for that." With a frantic flourish of his hands, he caught the attention of two of his more bulkier men. "Take this," he ordered them, referring to Ben, "And toss him overboard. I won't be sailing with any mutineers from the past on this day!"

"No!" Rose cried, attempting to pry these men's hands off of Ben. "Please Jack—er…sir, Mr. McHenry evaded Barbossa's reign!"

"It's true," Ben chimed in. "I left nearly as soon as the mutiny occurred. I regret it, sir."

Jack looked skeptical. "Aye, easy to say anything to appease the winning side!"

"It's the truth, sir!" cried Ben.

"Aye, Captain!" Rose echoed. "We both even aided William Turner in his rescue of you not moments ago!"

Jack paused at hearing this, reconsidering. "Fine then," he finally announced. "Take these two to the brig. I can't risk another mutiny, so we'll keep them the night and let them off at Tortuga." He seemed satisfied at his decision, spun on his heel and headed straight for his quarters once more.

Rose wiggled out out of her captor's grip and ran to keep pace with Jack, who had his eyes set straight ahead.

"Please, sir, I think it's in your best interests that you keep us aboard."

"Is that so?" said he, uninterested.

"Aye! I have something that belongs to you!"

Jack did pause at this, stopping his movement and looking at her in alarm. "What is it? It's not a child, is it? If it is, it wasn't me! I didn't do it!"

Rose couldn't help but laugh at this. "No," she said, with a grin. "It's something precious, and long-awaited."

Jack's brow further furrowed. "Still sounds like a child. Do get to it and assuage my fears."

Rose reached around her neck and procured his pendant. Looking downward at his belt, she grinned upon seeing that hers still stayed with him.

His eyes widened in sudden realization of who she really was. It had been ten painstakingly long years, and at last, Rose had finally made it.

"Hello, brother!"