Chapter Five- Tortuga

That evening, Jack showed Francesca to her room. "This'll be yours for the time being, I suppose. Not much, but you can always join me in the captain's cabin if you like." He smiled, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

"This room will do, Sparrow." She sat down on the bed. There was a single chair and desk parallel to the bed. Jack sat at the desk, turning the chair to face her. He ran his hand through her hair, over the gash and dried blood where she had been hit by the pirate.

"You've gone through hell the last few days, that's to be sure."

"Oh, and nearly being hanged isn't enough hell for you?" she said softly.

"Not for a pirate. You're not a pirate yet. Nor do I think I'll let you become one."

Francesca turned to him, "I thought you said I'm not a child."

"Not a child, no, but you are a lady, and ladies don't belong in the rough world."

"You don't know what rough is. I had to wear four layers of clothing at that ceremony in the blazing sun. That surely is more of the rough world than I'll need in a lifetime."

Jack took the small basin of water he'd carried in with a piece of cloth floating in it and slid it across the desk to him. He took the cloth and rung it out, gently wiping the dried blood away.

"Damn those pirates," Francesca said, "...Why did they maroon you on that island anyway?"

"Well... that really isn't something I'd like to talk about; not yet."

"Is it really that terrible? Did you kill someone?"

He looked straight into her eyes. "Do you still think that I'd never kill someone without a reason? Or have you changed your mind?"

Francesca looked away, blushing. "I believe it still," she muttered.

Jack looked over her face, then slowly put the cloth back in the basin and started to get up from the chair.

"Is it so impossible for the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow to stay with one woman?"

He looked over at her again, "...You should get some rest, Miss Swann."

"Francesca," she muttered as he left.

Will had been listening to their conversation through the Jack walked above deck to his side. Will turned his head.

"Keep to the horizon, lad," he said in a broken tone.

"Why do you even bother falling in love if you can't give your heart to someone?" Will asked him.

Jack glared at him, replying blankly, "I don't know what you mean."

"Norrington saw it as well. He told me, judging by the way you acted in prison, you would rather see Francesca safe than be pardoned."

"Did he?" Jack said, smiling bitterly, "And wasn't it the Commodore who tried to keep you in every way possible from saving Elizabeth?"

"That's not the point, Jack."

"Then what is? Do tell me, since you seem so experienced on the subject of love."

"Damn you. You've got the woman you want in front of your face but you won't even answer her questions."

Jack answered without emotion, "It's really none of your business to know how I feel about her one way or the other."

"But she does," Will said loudly, pointing to the door.

"Where do you get off, lad?" he growled, "You've got your own problems. Why are you so interested in her?"

"Because she's going through the same pain as I am. And I cannot let her become a part of your many legends."

For the first time, Jack showed hurt in his eyes. He walked below deck, closing the door behind him. Jack looked into Francesca's room, where she now lay sleeping on the bed under the tattered sheet. "I'd know nothing of pain," he murmured, continuing to walk towards the captain's cabin.

In the morning, Francesca opened her eyes to find that unlike the day before, Jack was not sleeping beside her with dirt lines on his face. She got out of bed, walking to the doorway. She herd Jack muttering something and walked to his door without making a sound.

"Sparrow! Do us both a favor– if you're going to kiss me then stop dreaming about it and kiss me for god's sakes– make up your mind! I'll be getting the three of us some breakfast on deck, and if you decide to wake up anytime soon, they'll be food at the helm for you, Captain."

Jack tilted his head up and smiled, watching her walk away through the open door. "Wait..." he muttered, "...Wednesday." Jack smiled broadly, "Someone thinks I forgot her birthday."

"Good morning Francesca," Will greeted her cheerily.

"Morning Will."

"Out at sea for two days and still no sign of passing ships."

Francesca laughed, "You sound as depressed as my friend Victoria did at the ceremony."

"Victoria..?"

"Yes, Victoria Gibbs. You'll meet her when we return to Port Royal, I assume."

Will seemed lost in thought. He returned to the helm, taking his breakfast with him.

"I've never seen anyone cook breakfast over a furnace of hot coals before. How did you come up with the idea?"

"I didn't come up with it," Francesca said, "It's been a pirate wench's method of cooking at sea for years. You know, you've got to learn more about pirates, Will."

Will focused on the horizon, "I don't want to learn more about pirates than I already know."

Suddenly, there came a low singing from below deck, growing in volume until...

"And though you sail the Interceptor in the ocean blue,

I hope to sing for every birthday 'till you're hundred-two!– Sing with me, Will!"

Will didn't know what to sing, so Jack sang alone,

"Oh, every year upon this day,

I hope to sing this song,

I bring the rum and bring the food,

And celebrate past dawn;

And though you sail the Interceptor in the ocean blue,

I hope to sing for every birthday 'till you're hundred-two!"

Francesca laughed gaily, greeting Jack with a warm embrace.

"Happy Birthday, love." He pulled out a biscuit with a match in it, "It's not much, but–"

"Of course it is. Thank you," she smiled, arms still wrapped around him. He smiled as well, looking at Will over her shoulder with a sly grin. Francesca finally came to her senses, removing her arms from around his waist and neck and stepping back a bit.

"O-oh... Well, thank you, Sparrow. Here's your breakfast." She handed him his food. "Many thanks, love." The smile faded from his face as he walked to the helm.

Will passed by Francesca, whispering in her ear, "The closer you two get to each other, the harder it's going to be to pull away like that."

"I realize," she whispered back to him.

Jack turned his head absentmindedly. "Hm?"

"Nothing. Eat your breakfast, Sparrow. We'll be reaching Tortuga soon."

And so they did. They tied the boat, letting down both of the anchors. Francesca made to get off, when Jack stopped her. "I think it's best you stay here, just in case my past comes back to kick me in the britches."

"And what, pray tell, is that supposed to mean?" asked Francesca.

"It means that Jack's got a history here that he doesn't want you to see," Will explained with a hint of anger, "I really don't think there could be anything worse than this island, and I've only just arrived. The sooner we leave, the better."

Francesca stormed into the captain's cabin, slamming the door behind her.

Jack stopped and turned around. "Did she just go in my room?"

"I think she did," Will said, evidently surprised.

'Can't avoid falling for that bloody lass if I try...' Jack thought.

Will and Jack approached the bar, Jack leading the way, "...More importantly, it is indeed a sad life that has never breathed deep the sweet proliferus bouquet that is Tortuga, savvy? What do you think?"

"It'll linger."

"Oh no," he said in an undertone to Will, "here it comes..."

"What?"

"My past."

Jack acted excited, "Scarlet!"

Scarlet walked up with a smile, smacking him so hard he whipped his head to face Will. "Not sure I deserved that." Then, a blonde girl with heavy makeup walked towards him.

"Giselle!"

"Who was she?" said Giselle.

"What?"

Giselle did the same. "I may have deserved that."

Back on the Interceptor, Victoria was stepping below deck. "Jack? Francesca?"

"Vicky! You're here!" said Francesca, "Come in!"

"Captain's cabin?" Victoria laughed.

"The two mongrels left me here."

"Two?" Victoria smiled broadly, "...Will!!! He's here, isn't he?!"

"Yeah. They're 'tending to some errands.' So, why are you here?"

"I followed Mr. Gibbs- my father, to the port and hid in the cargo. He found me two hours in and insisted I go with him, but not onto the island," Vicky sighed.

"Jack too. He made me stay here. I think he's got some old girlfriends who have decided to seek vengeance."

"Can't blame them," said Victoria, "Jack's bound to have a line of girls longer than the waiting line at Nitro."

"Shhhh! We can't mention things we know about our other lives here!" she said in hushed tones.

Vicky nodded, sitting beside her, "So, anything.... interesting happen?"

"Of course!" Francesca grinned evilly.

"Oh?"

"Jack came from below deck singing the pirate's birthday song this morning holding a biscuit with a match in it."

Victoria broke out in fits of laughter. "A biscuit?"

"Come on now- it was sweet."

"Oh- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" she yelled to Francesca, causing her to jump. Victoria handed her a brown box. "Bloody people here don't know what gift-wrapping is."

Francesca opened the box, "Oh my god! Thank you!" She pulled out a silver bracelet with multicolored beads. "Did you notice? For some reason, I still have my necklace."

Victoria examined the necklace, "That's strange. Why would everything else change except the medallion?"

"I don't know..." Boots plodded on the deck above. "That's them."

"Will!" Victoria whispered loudly.

Jack descended the steps. "Who's this? Ah- let me guess... this is Victoria, aye?"

"Hey Jack."

Will walked down the steps as Jack entered the room, sitting by Francesca on the bed.

"Hello Francesca. Hello– Miss...?" Victoria gaped, running over to Will.

"Call me Victoria–" she smiled, kissing him passionately, "Victoria Turner." Then, realizing what she had done, she ran up onto the deck, leaving Will standing near the door, stunned beyond words.

"Well that was different." said Francesca.

Will finally spoke. "Why...who...?" He stopped, looking behind him, still in shock.

"Spit it out, man!" Jack yelled.

"Is she coming with us?"

"Well I hope so," she laughed, "Victoria's liked you for quite some time."

"But she's never met him till now," said Jack.

"That doesn't make any difference."

"But is she coming with us?" Will asked, still extremely confused.

"I thought you belonged to Elizabeth?" Francesca asked, cocking an eyebrow at Will.

Will said, "Of course I do!" Then, he paused, wiping the lipstick off his mouth. "...Yes."

He walked out the door onto the deck to join Vicky.

Jack sighed, "He's not going to know who Elizabeth is by the time we reach Isla de Muerta."

"Trust me- he's better off without Elizabeth."

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"I live with her."

Back on deck, Will and Victoria stood next to each other, looking out on the night sky.

"So what made you fall in...eh...love...with Elizabeth?" Victoria grimaced.

Will seemed to be taking time to think, then, "...She saved my life. I fell in love with her for that. But I haven't seen what Francesca has. She's told me much about her from her experiences living in the same household with her sister."

"...Did she?"

"Yes. But I believe that's a battle of siblings. But then..."

"I see." She glanced down at the deck.

"Victoria," Will started, "Why did you kiss me?"

"It's a random goal of mine," she said, inching a bit closer to him, "Besides, I like you."

If it weren't for the pitch black of the sea and the starless night, Victoria would've seen him blush.

"Miss Gibbs–"

"–Victoria."

"Victoria," Will continued, "...I don't know what I should tell you."

"You could start by telling me what you feel about me."

"What if I can't...?" he whispered, walking to the door. He walked back to her a few steps, "Goodnight, Victoria..." Will continued on his way, entering his cabin, closing and locking the door with a click.

Victoria groaned, "This is going to take a while..."