The impending birth of the Turner baby should have been a time of relaxation, comfort, and preparation. It was anything but. In the months that followed, Rose and Elizabeth both barely slept a wink they were working so hard. Jefferson delivered on his promise, and even added several more pirate ships to the mission of looting valuables for the trading post in exchange for money. Rose's storeroom soon became so full with these goods that they had to utilize both rooms the women had set aside on the second floor, in addition to most of Rose's room. She resorted to Calypso's method of hanging valuables and various jars full of items from the rafters, just so that there would be room for everything. She had tables and shelves and bureaus full of books, jewelry, baubles, trinkets, heirlooms, furniture, and textiles. On the side closest to the stairway which led to her room, she kept her infirmary and hospital. Much like how Calypso had kept it, Rose had organized books and vials and bottles of herbs, poultices, and potions at the ready, as well as had a particularly handy local in Shipwreck build her a fireplace that vented out the side of the fortress to brew more remedies. There she had laid out three cots and kept her desk, as well as a hammock if she ever needed to spend the night overseeing patients' ailments.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, was busy negotiating resource allotment and docking schedules at the Cove. She helped Rose stock her storeroom and insisted upon being at every town function, though Rose preferred it that Elizabeth keep herself and the baby rested. Rose's checkups on their wellbeing were frequent, sometimes much to Elizabeth's annoyance. But each time there was nothing to fear; Mother and child were healthy and strong.

Repute grew for the island of Shipwreck. The economy of the town grew significantly as more and more heard about the island's many merits, and soon the town grew several businesses stronger. The Cove was frequented, and Rose's storeroom was consistently teeming with pirates. Attempted theft was frequent, but Rose always kept her pistol on her to dissuade such activity.

It was in one of these early days that Rose woke and came down into her shop to set up for the day when she turned a corner and nearly leapt out of her skin as she came across a familiar face she thought she'd never see.

"Barbossa!" she cried out. She placed a hand on her chest. "You gave me a fright!"

Barbossa only glared at her with bloodshot eyes and moved away from her, examining the contents of her shelves. His appearance was jarring—his face wore a pallor of grief, his shoulders hunched, and he had a profound limp. Rose's eyes traced his form down until she saw the reason for this limp—his lower leg was gone, replaced by a hunk of what appeared to be driftwood.

Rose gasped. "My god, Barbossa," she cried, "What on earth happened?"

He reacted as though she had said nothing, and just kept looking through her shelves. Rose came closer to examine the leg. Any number of factors could have explained its absence; disease, infection, taken by force… He wasn't letting her get close enough to properly examine it and check him for further infection, however, so she had to stand back and let him be.

Perhaps most disturbing was that Jack the monkey was not with him. Something had definitely gone awry in Barbossa's life since he had left with Jack. She innately feared the worst for her brother, and she took a moment to devise a sensitive way of approaching that topic. "Do you still sail with Jack?"

He stopped, glared at her, then turned away.

That's a no, she thought. At least that meant that Jack might not be in as much trouble as Barbossa appeared to be in…So he must have devised a way to leave Barbossa behind, separated from the Black Pearl.

She approached him cautiously from another part of the room, like prey approaching a sleeping predator. "Barbossa?" she asked, voice low. "Is…is there anything I can help you with? What do you search for?"

He still said nothing, eyes roaming her wares. She tried to think of any medicine he might be searching for, any object of value she had lifted from Tia Dalma's home, but she was coming up empty. How did Barbossa find out about her establishment?

"Elizabeth and I manage the Cove now," she idly said in attempts to make small talk. "We wanted this place to be a safe haven for pirates. We manage the resources and affairs of the town." Then, she gently tried to pry more details from him by saying, "Clearly something must have worked, for you found us."

This still did nothing. Barbossa only shifted and limped back towards the front of her shop. Suddenly, he stopped, staring at a table where Rose did the majority of her business. She walked around and looked where he was looking. He then gingerly picked the object up; a small, leather-bound notebook. He flipped through its blank pages.

He looked back at her. "Yours?" was all he asked.

She shook her head. "All of these goods are looted from elsewhere. They're all up for barter or purchase."

Barbossa looked back to it, nodding slowly. "She'll be bright. …the brightest," he muttered.

She stepped closer toward him. "Who?"

He jerked his head around to her and shot a fiery glare at her, unwilling to explain a thing. She put her hands up defensively. "Very well." Then, after a moment, she hesitantly added, "If it's a notebook you seek for this mystery girl, I have one that is worth considerably more." She quickly swept around towards her desk, opening a drawer where she kept the items that she thought might hold particular value or hidden secrets. She knew exactly what she wanted, and found it immediately, bringing it back to Barbossa.

"It's a different notebook, though this one is partially used," she said, flipping through the worn pages. She then showed him the cover, which was black with gold bordering on the cover with a asymmetrical ruby inlaid the center. Below the ruby was an illustration of what appeared to be a pronged constellation. Opening the cover, she showed him the first page, which had written across it the name of its original owner. "Galileo Galilei," she said. "All my evidence suggests heavily that its authentic."

Barbossa narrowed his eyes. "From where does it come?"

"My source plundered an Italian vessel. This was among the winnings. It was almost thrown overboard, considered worthless, but he saved it for the ruby alone. I rather think, however, that there's something else hidden within," She extended it out to him. "I haven't the time to investigate, but given our shared past with elements of the supernatural, it might prove useful to you. Or even your friend."

He took it from her and examined it closely, then after a moment asked, "What do ye want for this?"

Rose doubted that he had anything of value on him, let alone money. She shook her head. "It's yours."

He gave her a quizzical look, and she explained, "Consider it long overdue payment for bringing me my brother back… given that he's still-"

"He's fine," he huffed while rolling his eyes. "He made it out."

Made it out of where? Rose thought. But she could tell that Barbossa was unwilling to give her answers. Jack was safe, and that was all that mattered.

Barbossa gave her an acknowledging nod, pocketed the book, then asked simply, "Ye have a map?"

"Aye," she said, walking to where she kept the rolls of various maps she had collected. She paused, then turned back. "Local or international?"

He rolled his eyes again. "Why would I possibly need a local map?" he spat.

"Alright, alright," huffed Rose, retrieving a map of the world. She returned, spreading the map out on the table. She watched as Barbossa traced his finger from Shipwreck Cove to an island called St. Martin, then all of a sudden stop and stay stationary. Rose looked up at him to see what had caused him to pause, only then realizing that he had done so because he was glaring at her rubbernecking. She gave a guilty glance and moved a few paces off, but craned her neck just in time to see him trace a route from St. Martin to England. After that he rolled up the map, handed it back to her, then began to arduously limp his way out of her shop. It pained Rose to not be able to help him further, but there was nothing she could do. Unless…

"Barbossa, wait!" she cried, rushing to a far corner of the shop. She retrieved a simple crutch and held it out to him. "I know it isn't much," she said, "But it will help."

He gratefully took the crutch and put it under his arm. "Thank ye," he gruffly replied.

"Take care," she said, watching him as he struggled along his way. Rose and Elizabeth had anticipated their plans to bring about pirates from all walks of life, but she never expected in all her days this strange encounter from someone from her past. That was the last time she ever saw him.

Only a month later, Rose performed the most terrifying task she ever had to do; safely deliver the baby of her treasured friends. Elizabeth had stumbled into Rose's infirmary early that morning, reporting, "I think the baby is coming!" Rose instantly closed down her shop for the day and helped Elizabeth down onto a cot. Rose had helped several bayou-dwellers in labor, and comparatively, Elizabeth' was rather quick, but certainly no less painful. In some of the worst moments, Elizabeth had pain-induced tears streaming down her face as she cried out Will's name, repeating over and over again, "I need you here!" Rose felt for her friend, but there was nothing that could be done about that. A few hours later, Elizabeth gave birth to a boy. Exhausted yet relieved, the two women celebrated his first few moments on earth alone and together. Rose slept in the hammock that night alongside mother and child, and in the morning when she woke, she saw Elizabeth holding her swaddled, sleeping child with a bittersweet smile on her face.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" Rose asked, her voice cutting through the silence.

Elizabeth looked up at her. "William, naturally." Then, her eyes grew distant. "This will kill him," she said, obviously alluding to Will, her husband who wouldn't know that he had a son until he returned to Shipwreck Cove for his one day on land in another nine years. "It's just history repeating itself. Will lost his father to the Dutchman, grew up without him being present. Now our son will grow up, having lost his father to the Dutchman and growing up without him being present… He'll be crushed by this."

Rose threw her legs over the hammock, considering this for a moment. "The War on Piracy. Remember when Jack called the parlay, and you, him, and Barbossa met on land to negotiate with Will, Beckett and Jones?"

"Aye," Elizabeth said. "I'm not sure I understand how that connects…"

"How did Jones step foot on land? Ten years wasn't up for him."

Elizabeth suddenly found the reason in her words. "A bucket!" she cried. "Jones stood in a bucket of water!"

Rose grinned. "What if there's a way?" she asked. "What if there's a way we can bring Will here now?"


Rose tied off the sail of the dinghy she borrowed from the owner of the Shipwreck Tavern. The boat quivered with the vibrations caused by the beating of Will's undead heart through the metal chest, which was stained with fresh dirt from where the women had dug it up from the place in which they had hid it for safekeeping. She turned and nodded to Elizabeth, who held her sleeping newborn in her arms up on the dock. Wordlessly and with a slight air of excitement, Elizabeth lifted the key to the chest, which she always kept hanging around her neck, and handed it to Rose.

All it took was a north facing wind to start her out against the incoming tide out to the open sea. Once she had made it out far enough, Rose took the key out and placed it inside the heart-shaped lock. The chest clicked open, and for the first time ever, Rose saw the legendary heart which captained the Dutchman. She took a deep breath, reached inside the chest, and squeezed the heart firmly. The idea was that Will would feel the disturbance with his heart and instantly come back to Shipwreck Island to see what was the matter.

Sure enough, only a few moments later did the Flying Dutchman burst out of the ocean, sending the dinghy rocking violently with the disturbed waves.

Voices on deck cried out to her from above: "Ahoy!" "Who goes there?"

"PARLAY!" Rose shouted up to them.

She started when Will materialized out of the mast of the dinghy. He instantly sat across from her, eyes wrought with worry. Though this was the first time the old friends had seen each other since Singapore, Will was too panicked for pleasantries. He looked down, seeing the open chest with his own heart beating inside. "What is it? What's the matter with the heart?"

"Nothing," Rose said in a calm tone. "We just needed a way to call you here."

"What's the matter? Elizabeth?"

"She's fine, I assure you."

"What is it then?" His eyes searched hers.

Rose reached out and laid her hand atop his. "I cannot say. You must simply come with me."

Will shook his head. "I can't go ashore…"

"I know," Rose replied. "That's why we came to you."

She then steered the boat back towards the town docks and with the wind on their side, it was a very quick journey. The spoke not a word further, as Will was wringing his hands in anxiety. Rose wished she could assuage his fears, but she was keenly aware that this moment was not hers to reveal. The docks were in sight now, and upon seeing them, Elizabeth stood from the crate where she had been sitting and walked to the furthest edge of the dock. Rose kept her eyes on Will as she saw his eyes find his wife. Suddenly, his brow furrowed upon seeing the bundle she carried in her arms.

"R-Rose?" he stammered. "That- Is that…?"

Rose grinned, though her eyes teared up. "It is."

Will smiled larger than she had ever seen before and laid a hand on his face in disbelief. "When? And…everything is alright? I…I have so many questions!"

"Everything was fine," she said. "Everything is fine. You see why we had to call you now?"

He gave a slight laugh, breath still short with his sheer joy. "Girl or boy?" he asked.

"Boy."

"Name?"

"Well, that's another matter," she began. "We decided upon William, family legacy and all. But with three William's around now, we figured that might become terribly confusing. We've resorted to calling him by his middle name."

Will leaned towards her in interest. "Which is?"

Rose shrugged. "Up to you."

They were incredibly close to the dock now, and Rose swiftly reached out and tied the dinghy as tightly as she could to make sure it was secure. She then helped Elizabeth aboard, where she shared a tearful reunion with her love. Rose climbed out and back onto the dock, where she wandered off for a time so that the new family could have privacy. When she did come back a time later, her heart felt as though it was going to burst at the sight of Will holding his son, and Elizabeth resting her head on Will's shoulder with her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Well," Rose interjected, looking down at them from the dock. "What's his name?"

Will and Elizabeth exchanged a glance. They clearly hadn't gotten that far. Will looked back down at his son, examining his face.

"Henry?" he asked Elizabeth finally.

She nodded and whispered, "Henry."

Rose grinned. Henry Turner. And with parents like Will and Elizabeth, Rose knew he would grow to become someone amazing.

Will shifted, looking back towards the Dutchman, which bobbed on the waves with sails furled, waiting for him. He looked back to his wife, face somber. "Another horrible sunset approaches."

Elizabeth laid a hand on his cheek. "It's not horrible. It means one day less before you can come home to me."

He leaned in to kiss her, then he regarded his sleeping son once more. "Be good to your mother, you," he murmured, then slowly, reluctantly, he handed him back to Elizabeth. "Be good…Henry," he murmured.

Rose helped Elizabeth back to the docks where she stood, and together, they looked back at Will to say their goodbyes.

Will, however, extended a hand. "Rose?" he asked expectantly. Rose was confused by this, for all Will had to do was meld back into her dinghy and instantly, he would arrive back on the Dutchman's deck in time to return to the Locker. He was wanting her to sail them back out to open waters, away from Elizabeth. Rose suddenly realized…this was intentional. There was something Will wanted to speak to her privately about. She took his hand and was helped aboard, then prepared to make sail.

Will stayed planted as close to the dock as he could get as he looked up Elizabeth and Henry. "Every time I leave it gets harder and harder to do so," he said.

Elizabeth nodded, placing a hand on the side of his face once more. "We'll be here, keeping a weather eye on the horizon for you, my love."

As Rose unfurled her sail and the boat pulled away from the dock against the incoming tide, Will sat, staring at his new family as they grew smaller and smaller from his sight. Distantly, they heard Henry begin to cry, and Rose saw Will's face twist up in pain. She stayed quiet, waiting for him to approach her first.

He stayed there until Elizabeth was but a blur in the distance, then he said softly to himself, "I have a son." He turned inwards towards her, though his eyes were still downcast. "I have a son," he repeated. His face then contorted once more. "I have a son…who I will see what, five more times at most? And each time, he will have grown so that he is unrecognizable to me."

Rose felt a pang of empathy surge through her. "My god, Will," she said. "Should we not have told you? Should we have waited until the ten years were up? I…I am so sorry!"

He considered this for a moment, then looked sincerely at her. "No," he replied. "I'm so glad you did. This gave me the hope I needed. And now I return to two of my family." He then shifted so that he took her hands in his. Earnestly, he implored her, "You've already done so much for us, and I wouldn't dream of asking more, but you will see to it that they're safe?"

"Of course," Rose whispered.

"And lastly," he said, swallowing his reluctance, "Please don't call me here again. Not unless there's something terribly wrong, god forbid."

She shook her head, "No, of course. I shouldn't have—"

"No," Will protested, "No, I sincerely thank you. I just…I pray that you never have to live this hell. It's unthinkable. But at least the moments I have with him amount to more than nothing at all. Just knowing Henry exists will make the unbearably long days before I see him again fly by, I know this. Just…it's too painful to return more often than that."

"I understand," Rose said. She then followed his gaze to the Dutchman, which, upon seeing the dinghy approaching, unfurled her sails and began to sail towards the horizon. It was time for Will to depart.

He embraced her firmly. "Thank you," he said. "I will relish the day I discover who you and my wife have raised my son to be."

When they released, Rose smiled and said, "I will see you in nine years, Captain."

"Yes," he replied. He looked up, as though trying to remember something. "What is it you once said? 'When there's reason to smile again,' was it?"

"Aye. When there's reason to smile again," she quietly spoke. Will nodded at her, then, before her eyes, was gone. Rose immediately turned back so that she could make it safely back to shore before her eyesight waned, but she turned to face the sunset.

Seldom times, one can spot a green flash along the horizon, Rose heard her mother's voice flitter by from days long since past. You remember when I told you that there are those who can travel between the worlds?

Rose closed her eyes and smiled. "Aye, maman," she whispered to no one.

The flash of green indicates when a soul enters the Land of the Living from the Land of the Dead! Wait and see…

Rose opened her eyes, catching the last glimpse of sunlight dip below the horizon. She blinked when the green flash burst, completely engulfing Will's ship in a split second. They were gone.

Rose took a moment to consider her life and all of its many strange occurrences up to that moment. Never would she have guessed that a once parentless gypsy girl would grow to manage an island fortress with the Pirate King, and help to raise the son she bore with the successor to Davy Jones. In that moment, Rose realized that for all her weaknesses, she wasn't like her mother at all. She was stronger.

Read it again Rose… Anna's voice haunted her for the a last and final time.

"Desolee, maman," Rose replied. "I don't think I will this time."