ACK! I'm terribly sorry this took so long to get updated! First of all, I had writer's block and couldn't find the right words, and second, my computer had o be taken in to get a new hard drive! It should have been back Saturday but no; we only got it this morning (its Tuesday) bcuz the damn business was closed all weekend! Yeah, so now that I have it back, I can work on this. Anyway..

A/N: Sorry if this is crap at some points, like I said, writer's block. But I will get through this story! I won't stop halfway through! Replies to reviews at end of chappie.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. 'Cept for Natalie, but she's a Turner, so it doesn't really matter.

_______________________________________________________________________

Nothing Gold can Stay

Chapter Two

A year later, William Turner, more commonly called Bill, stood on the helm of the Black Pearl. It was storming and the crew was running around madly. Jack ran up to Bill, holding onto his hat, which had long since lost its feather.

"We're nearly their, Will." Will simply nodded in response, and looked straight ahead. Jack lingered for a moment then turned and left. He really didn't want to stop here, it was unnecessary, but Will had promised he would come back. Damn that Natalie Turner. Jack didn't look forward to seeing her. She was the only woman he had really disliked, even if she was the sister of his best mate.

The port was now in view and Jack sighed disdainfully. He straightened his hat and muttered to himself. "Fun to be had by all."

~*~

Natalie was cleaning tables at the local pub, where she worked. Her hair was tied back sloppily and her face was streaked with dirt. Who would've thought you could get this dirty cleaning tables? She thought.

She heard the door open and turned around to tell whoever it was that they were closed, but she smiled as she saw who it was.

"Will!" she exclaimed. She ran over to him and caught him in a big hug. He was wet from the rain, but he smelled like the sea. Natalie smiled to herself; she always thought Turners should smell like the sea. She broke their embrace and looked up at him. "Oh, Will! It's so good to see you again!"

"I know, I've missed you." He smiled down at her. "You wouldn't believe the things I've seen, Lee. Everything's just amazing-" He was cut off by someone clearing their throat.

"Ahem!" Natalie looked behind Will, though she already knew who it was.

"Sparrow."

"Turner," Jack replied, bowing his head slightly. He was still wearing that godawful hat but it was missing its feather and looked quite weather-beaten. Now that she thought about it, everything about these two was weather-beaten. Jack, more than Will. His coat that only a year ago looked worn and rough. He also had new adornments: his hair was tied back with a bright red bandana, and beads were braided into his hair. He now had a moustache and beard, which actually suited him quite well.

But her attention was drawn to his eyes. The same dark eyes that had glared at her for so many years, but he had smeared kohl under them. Natalie knew it was for the glare of the ocean, but it added something. Jack wouldn't have been complete without it.

Natalie turned back to her brother. Amazingly, he looked almost exactly the same as she had last seen him. Ah, well. Didn't mean he didn't have stories to tell. She wanted to know everything about the past year. More importantly, where they were off to next. The two siblings talked while Jack wandered around the tavern. Natalie watched him out of the corner of her eyes as he ran a finger across one of the tables, examined it, and wiped the dirt on his coat.

"He's one to be judgmental," Natalie muttered to herself.

"Lee?"

"Wha-Oh!" She gasped. "OH! Oh, I said that out loud didn't I?

Will nodded. "It's alright. He didn't hear you."

"Are you talking about me?" Jack's smiling face appeared at Will's side.

"Oh, no, Jack." Will smiled brightly. "No, never."

"Ah," Jack eyed him for a moment. "Well, then. How 'bout a drink?"

Natalie opened her mouth to protest but Will interrupted. "That sounds great, Jack." He turned to his sister. "How 'bout it, Lee?"

She raised her chain. "Alright, we'll head home." Jack spun around.

"Is this not a tavern?"

"It is."

"And why couldn't we just have a drink here?"

"Well, we could," she walked over to the door. "But I hardly think you'd be wanting watered down drinks, would you?"

"Oh, uh, no." Jack took one last look around the room. "Always wondered why rum tasted better in Tortuga."

Natalied frowned. "Tortuga?"

Will laughed and clapped Jack on the shoulder. "Come on, mate. Let's get out of here."

~*~

The walk to the Turner residence was quite long, and Natalie and Will chatted while walking, leaving Jack wondering what more they could possibly talk about. He walked a few feet behind them, looking at the scenery. There wasn't much.

The rain had stopped a long while ago, but it was still wet, and Jack splashed in the puddles in the road. Damn Bill and his promises. Jack thought. I didn't even want to come back. But no, William had to make a promise.

He stared angrily at his boots. This was such a pointless stop. And all for the only woman Jack couldn't stand.

Suddenly, Jack collided with Will. Jack, caught completely off guard, was knocked down into the mud.

"Aw, bloody hell," he muttered, looking over himself. He looked up at Will, and saw a burning fire where the Turner's house should have been.

________________________________________________________________

DUN DUN DUN! The next chapter was supposed to be part of this chapter, but I'm feeling evil. *smirks*

Now, review replies!

DePp-Ly InFaTuaTeD- HAH! I hated the book too. The poem's good though.

Fairy of Obsession - w00t! I did a good summary! *dances*

MrsPitt- Oh, I love you! Aiee!! I love your stories! Continue with yours and I'll continue with mine. "Spider! SPIDER!"

Claire- Yes, I hate that hat.

Charlotte449- :D

Kida Lee- Wow! My story is loved! People like you rock!

Meka- Aye, aye!

PineAppleLint- Meep! Don't hurt me! ^-^

CaptainElizabethSparrow- BETHYBOO! W00t! more beads! But where to put them? I've told you before I have no more room!

Nostamoon- Haha, what a kowinkydink, eh? Natalie and Jack lurve is nice. Yesh yesh.

IcePrincess618- I'm trying! It's just school is evil. *nods* Evil.

__

Yeah, so…READ MY OTHER FICLETS! "Pointless Crap" is good too!!