***Author's Note***

Just want to apologize for not updating sooner. Good news is, though, that I've written three more chapters, all of which will be posted very soon! I just bought the POTC soundtrack, so now I have music to inspire me as I write!

I've decided to keep the story in Will's POV, it's easier that way and as you said, SnowGirl7, it will be much more detailed.

Once again, thank you all so much for reviewing!!

Chapter 2: Betting with Peppermints

The sun pouring through my bedroom window wakens me from a deep sleep, the dream I was having rudely disturbed. Of course, that is probably for the best. It is the same reoccurring dream; Amanda is taken away from me by…Captain Barbossa?

It's a crazy dream. Barbossa is gone, Jack killed him years ago, and I helped him to do it. I removed the curse by providing my own blood. The vast majority of Barbossa's crew is now dead. So to dream of Amanda being kidnapped by Pirates is absurd!

It is also best that my dream was interrupted this morning because Emily was there. She has never played a major part in the dream but she has always been there, her son Matt right alongside her. Nothing about the dream makes any sense, which is why it proves best to dismiss it.

I scrunch my eyes together tight, attempting to block the sun's powerful rays. When this doesn't work I let out a loud groan and roll over, my bed sheets and comforter falling to the ground. Frustrated, I open my eyes and reach down to pull them back up and over me. I close my eyelids once again, wondering whether Amanda will still be angry with me when she wakes up.

Why do I feel as though there's something I should be doing? I dismiss the thought before falling back into a deep sleep, lying supine now, hands placed comfortably behind my head.

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"No! Amanda! I'll save you, you will be all right!" I scream to my daughter. There is nothing I can do now but watch in despair as she is taken away by Barbossa and his motley crew.

"Daddy, I'm okay. I'm right here, Daddy. Wake up." A small voice calls me out of the dream world and I am brought back to reality.

Two small hands tug at my arm and my eyes fly open and focus on a small girl, her chocolate brown eyes open with fear and concern.

"Daddy, are you okay?"

I respond by wrapping my arms around her tiny frame. I rock her back and forth, relieved that she is safe.

"Yes sweetheart, I am fine. I just had a bad dream is all."

Satisfied with my answer, she looks me up and down.

"Daddy, don't we have to go to the blacksmith's shop?" The tone in her voice shows me that she is no longer upset about what happened the previous evening. I smile at her graciously. It feels good to have things back to…

Wait. The blacksmith's shop?

Work!

I have been so wrapped up in what's been going on lately that I completely forgot.

"Oh my god, I completely forgot! How in the hell could I forget to go to work?" Literally jumping out of bed, I frantically search an old wooden chest that I have owned for years, for something to wear.

"Amanda, I need you to go to your room and get into your day clothes right away," I order, still searching through my belongings. Finding a clean button down shirt and pants I turn to face my daughter who stands exactly where I left her except her mouth now hangs open and her eyes are wide with disbelief. I raise a questioning eyebrow at her.

"Is something wrong?"

"Daddy!" She gasps, "you said the "h" word!"

I can't help but laugh.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. Even daddy's do bad things sometimes."

She nods and then breaks into a fit of giggles. Despite the hurry I am in to get to work, I can't help but chuckle with her.

"All right," I say ceasing to laugh, "we need to get ready and go, or daddy might get into a lot of trouble." As soon as I finish speaking she stops giggling.

"Okay, I'll go get ready." She smiles. "I don't want you to get in trouble." She turns to leave but suddenly twirls back around. " I bet three peppermints that I can get dressed faster than you!" She gambles with me.

'This is no time for games,' I tell myself. However, I decide to play along.

"Hmm…" I hold my chin between thumb and index finger, pretending that she is driving a hard bargain. Finally, I pull my hand away from my chin and grin mischievously.

" Four peppermints and you have yourself a bet!"

"Deal!" She agrees. The two of us shake hands and then Amanda hurries out of my room. I hear her footsteps pad briskly down the hall and then the click of her bedroom door closing. Chuckling pleasantly to myself, I begin to dress being sure to take more time than Amanda does.