Disclaimer: Said it before, I'll say it again. They're the Mouse's toys. I'm just playin' with `em. Though of course not literally, cos, whoa, I'm not that lucky. Can you imagine that fun someone could have with a Jack clone? .. I mean you could... er.. play house.. or.. doctor.. or... okay. Done now.

Author's Note: I've come to the conclusion that this is going to be a long story. Well, it sorta is already. But its gonna be longer. I don't want to have easy fixes for any plot twists that I throw in there, so explanations and escape might actually take awhile. That being said, I don't know, I don't know if its odd to have so much character development in the middle of an adventure. Most people write one or the other, but I feel that to be realistic I need to have it all together. Drama, romance, adventure, comedy, ect. Cos that's what real life is, all those things at once. The only thing that makes it hard is trying to find time for needed character development in the middle of a life or death situation. The trio can't beg for a timeout and talk out their problems. Hopefully I'm just being nitpicky with myself, and no one else is noticing things that are terribly off. I've tried to be consistent, so much so that I read the entire story before any update just to be sure. Lol, can you guys tell I have zero self esteem and more insecurity than you can shake a stick at? x__X; So, yah, I don't know. I'm never gonna wanna end this! Hopefully I'll end up writing sequels or something, cos I'm gettin' pretty invested in this story.

Erinrua: Your reviews always make me feel happy! Lol. Emotionally attached, eh? Heh, me too. I've now seen the movie seventeen times ( And it still feels like one. No end in sight. I can't help it! ) and I am totally and completely invested and in love. Just awakens a sorta freedom adventure-y something, I guess. Almost like Jack does for Lizzy, guess he does the same thing for me. ;x You're right, she could easily go either way here, but as I said in another chapter, maybe the only reason she is with Will is because she doesn't know anything else? I think there's more to it than that, personally, but they owe it to themselves to find out. For better or worse, perhaps it would be wise for her to go and out and see what the world has to offer before settling down with her first love. She has nothing to compare it to and she is the type that would spend her entire life wondering what she was missing out on. Listen at how I talk about her.. strange how real characters can become, isn't it?

Erinya & Woliveslover: Yay for JE supporters! Honestly though, you guys rock, its nice to all be rooting for the same team. Keep readin'! ^_~

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The tension was almost tangible as the trio was led out of their cell and up on deck. No one said a word, not even the pirates, as the boats were loaded and they began to row into the cave. Isla de Muerta hadn't changed a bit, Elizabeth decided. Still the same place of doom and gloom that she remembered, though slightly less exciting, considering that amount of times she'd been, and the possible death that was coming. On the ride through the darkness Elizabeth had decided to sit in between Jack and Will, maybe subconsciously illustrating her dilemma, or more likely, making sure no one got hurt.

If he could have, Will would have taken Jack's place as the primary sacrifice. Not because of any loyalty he felt to him, or anything like that, but, because, at the moment he had nothing left to live for. Though Elizabeth had not made her feelings known, he found it painfully obvious that she wasn't sorry about what had happened. Only, as he had suspected, sorry she'd been caught. It was Jack, however, that he wasn't sure about. Everything in him wanted to believe that he was just using Elizabeth for one last bit of fun before his death, but there was something about the way he looked at her that said otherwise. A pirate in love? Will almost had to laugh when the thought entered his mind, though, he reminded himself, his father was a pirate. A married pirate. A married pirate with a child.

Perhaps, he reasoned, the reason the idea of love seemed absurd when the subject was someone like Jack, was because Jack hadn't had that many people who cared about him. So why would he have reason to fall in love? There was no reason in the world for Jack to have anything more than a one night stand with some whore, cos there had never been anyone worth it. But, the question became, had that changed? It didn't seem a far stretch. Jack had made it perfectly clear, on many occasions, without ever saying a word, that he cared for Elizabeth. So, if he cared for her as a good friend, and was willing to have a physical relationship with her, what was the difference, technically, between that and love? The fact that Will could think of no difference grieved him even more.

Eyes watched Jack and Elizabeth like a hawk, looking for any sign of a look of love. Will wanted to be sure of his situation, he wanted to know if this was all run of the mill infidelity, or if the two really harbored feelings for each other. But, both Elizabeth and Jack kept their faces down, never daring to look at each other in Will's presence. Though it wasn't just Will's presence that kept Elizabeth from locking eyes with Jack. She wasn't sure what was going through the pirate's mind. He so rarely shared his feelings with anyone, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. It had been clear that from a physical standpoint he'd enjoyed their encounter, and would have been more than willing for it to go further. But from an emotional standpoint? Had it meant anything to him at all? Elizabeth wondered if he hated her for coming on to him, and in the process, causing him to loose his friend. She wondered if she'd also fallen off of his pedestal, and become no better than the whores in Tortuga that he shared a bed with. Or, had she ever been on a pedestal at all?

It was clear to her, that Will hated her now, and she was left to speculate as to whether or not Jack had jumped on the bandwagon.

Jack didn't hate her, however. Far from it. He wasn't quite sure what he was feeling at the moment, other than confusion, and maybe a bit of infatuation. There was something else there, though, something he couldn't name. Or, well, something he simply wouldn't name. To admit any real feeling for a women would make him reachable, it would mean that things in the world could get to him - it would mean that he was vulnerable. Captain Jack Sparrow didn't like to be vulnerable. After becoming a pirate Jack had worked long and hard not to become attached to anyone, they'd only leave, he assured himself. In fact, if he hadn't trained himself not to feel, Barbossa's betrayal may have been even more of a blow. Because, then, he would have been loosing a trusted friend, someone he let in, instead of just some bastard who double crossed him. Then, when the news of Bootstrap Bill's fate had finally reached him, he may have had to grieve. It would mean that the sneers from the upstanding people of the world, that told him he was nothing but a piece of trash, might actually -hurt- him. No, Captain Jack Sparrow could not afford to be vulnerable.

But then he'd met William Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Two amazingly loyal new friends, who, he was quite sure wouldn't betray him. Though he would never admit to that fact, to admit that he trusted someone would only make him feel like a fool when it turned out they weren't trustworthy. As he was almost certain they would, sooner or later, most people backstab you eventually. So he tried his best to stay unattached, to look at these two people as nothing more than players in his grand adventure, pawns that he could use to get his way, and the only thing he'd ever really openly loved - the Black Pearl.

Things didn't work out that way though, Jack's guarded heart was actually touched in the moment that Will and Elizabeth took their stands in front of him, and saved his life. No one had ever cared for him like that, not even his own Mother. Though, still, of course, he'd never thank them out loud. That's why he'd written them, that's why he'd returned to Port Royal. Actually, he'd returned to Port Royal more than once over the course of the year, but he remained out of sight, only checking in on his friends. Part of him believed they were better off without him, he wasn't worthy of such good people, so he didn't announce his arrival.

That's why Elizabeth's accusations of him flaunting his lifestyle in front of her, to lure her onto the Pearl, had hit him so hard. That's why he'd turned and left the room, even if that wrong move had earned him a beating. Because he believed her, in some way, he believed that he'd done her a disservice by bringing her to Tortuga, when she was clearly so above it. There was part of him that saw a fire in her, though, the same one he had. So, beneath her or not, he felt she derseved the chance to try her hand at the life she'd dreamed about.

All three prisoners were shaken from their respective thoughts when the boat they were in made landfall. They were surrounded and shoved into a straight line that lead into the main cavern, where all the treasure was. Their hands weren't bound, which all three found odd, not to mention careless. Probably because their kidnappers thought they had enough man power to keep three people under subjection.

The cavern hadn't changed either, though some of the treasure was gone, probably used on food and drink, and .. pleasurable company. Also, the chest that had held the Aztec Gold was gone. They'd probably dropped it into the ocean, or hid it somewhere, to avoid cursing at all costs. The main difference in the space as a rancid smell, the scent of decomposing flesh. Which made sense, of course, considering Barbossa's dead and decomposing body, which was resting on a sort of sick alter. Candles surrounded, though it was hard to tell if they were for magickal purposes, or to mask the smell of death. Elizabeth wasn't sure how much decomposing a body should have done after one year, but this one looked as if he was just cursed again, perhaps the curse was the reason.

"Up ya go, mate." Pintel said as he was leading Jack up the hill of plunder, to the alter.

Elizabeth and Will were shoved up after him, and made to stand and wait. As Ragetti had said, if Jack's death didn't work, they would be next. It seemed, by the position they'd bent him into, that they intended to slit his throat. Eyes darting around the room for means of helping him, Elizabeth was beginning to panic, yet there was nothing she could say. She only looked to Will, hoping that he would put aside their differences and help the man he'd called a friend. The blacksmith made no move, he just kept his head down, as if he didn't want to watch at all. A heavy hand was resting on her shoulder, holding her in place, but she didn't turn to see who was keeping her. Shrugging off the hand she moved quickly and caught Jack's captors off guard, and shoved them away.

"You can't do this.." It wasn't a very good argument, but it was all she could manage. Her tone was pleading, but she knew no one would care.

Jack looked almost suprised to see that she appeared to be concerned about his wellbeing. But, he didn't want any harm to come to her, so he spoke gently.

"Elizabeth, luv." He stopped himself when he used the pet name, noticing that Will flinched when he had, "Elizabeth.. be a dear and go stand next to William. There's no call for you ta be worryin' bout me."

At almost the same moment that he'd instructed her to stay out of it, Bo'sun delivered a backhand to her face, so that she wouldn't forget who was in charge.

"Get back in line." He said coldly.

Elizabeth held her face, a look of shock was there, though she shouldn't have been shocked, he'd hit her before. Glancing once again over at Will, she was almost angry to see that he made no move to defend her. 'My God,' she thought 'he really does hate me.'

Her tear filled eyes met Jack's again, and she silently begged him to do something to save himself. Though she didn't know what he could possibly do at this point. Seeing her distress he spoke again.

"Now, now, don't cry for ole` Jack." He hesitated, as if telling her that he wasn't worth a second thought, "If ye cry then I might just do it to, and no one wants that, savvy?" Even though he had meant for the idea of him crying to be a joke, the lump in his throat said otherwise, though it wasn't noticeable. He'd had a lot of practice at hiding any feelings, you know.

Sniffling, a lone tear slid down her cheek. In that instant, if it was possible, she almost hated Will. How could he let Jack die? He hadn't even made a single move. He hadn't even spoken in defense, at the very least. Did he really hate them so much?

The blade of Pintel's cutlass was placed to Jack's throat, but before it could be pulled across, Will cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention.

"Excuse me?" almost sounding polite, "I'd actually.." Elizabeth eyed him, hoping this was the part where they all fought for their release, "I'd actually like to do the honors."

A twisted smile formed on his face to rival the one Pintel usually wore.

"What?" Elizabeth gasped, had she heard him right?

"What what?" Will turned to face her, "It's the very least I can do. Seeing as how he.." he motioned towards Jack, hatred in his eyes, "stole the love of my life and stabbed me in the back. I'd like to return the favor.. ten fold."

There were doubts among the pirates, but the general belief was that Will wanted revenge, and they'd be more than happy to let him have it. Usually they would have assumed that it was a ploy to save his friend, but after what everyone had witnessed in the brig, they knew better. This man wanted to cut the throat of an ex friend. If Jack ended up dead in the process, which is what they wanted, then why should they deny Will his vengeance?

"Be my guest, mate." Pintel handed Will the cutlass. There was a moment between them, where they almost shared the comradery of murderers.

As the blade was once again pressed to Jack's throat, he knew that he was getting exactly what he deserved. He'd betrayed one of the only real friendships he'd ever had. He deserved to die. But, one can imagine his suprise, when the blade did not cut him, and instead was turned on the man directly behind Will. It was time for the fight to begin. All Will had done was wait for the opportune moment. For a second Jack thought that all was restored, he allowed himself to hope.

"Knew you'd come through, mate. Even if it was by doin' somethin' stupid." He flashed a winning smile. A smile that was not returned.

"Pray that my anger is quelled by the time I get done killing all of these bastards." Was all a stonefaced Will said before jumping into battle.