Wow! This story has taken off with quite a bang. Seven reviewers in one night! *does happy dance* Well, replies are at the end of the chapter, and I have a little note:

Aletté is in Singapore, not Tortuga.

That was in the last chapter and was a typo. Much apologies, and I will correct it when I have time. Until then, just know that for continuity sake. Thanks Erin!

*sings*

Let the drums roll out, let the symbols ring, let the people shout, hear the marshal swing! Dance honey, sing honey, on now with the show honey!

***

Jack glanced up from his compass to see a wiry-looking young woman making her way slowly across the pier, heading for the Pearl. He smiled. He had known she would come. Morgan was very persuasive, even in letters in lieu of personal contact. A smile flickered across his face as he began to enjoy the many levels such a comment worked on. He grabbed hold of a loose rope and swung himself down, narrowly averting the gangplank.

"Miss Malycho, wonderful to see you." He swept her a mocking bow.

His cordiality was met with a slap in the face. "Idiot!" Aletté hissed in his ear. "Don't use my real name in public!"

"Right, right." Jack fumbled for a cover-up, then whispered back to her. "What name would you have me use?"

"Tur-" Aletté caught her breath, not wanting to tell him that she had been using Will as her alias. "Swallow."

"Ah," He smiled, noting the distinct similarity to his own surname. "Wise choice. Now, luv, lets come aboard, aye?"

She smiled and walked herself up the gangplank haughtily, as a young and naïve aristocrat would carry herself in a pigsty. The ship looked much the same as the last time she had seen it, the same woodwork, sails, crew…

Not quite.

Someone's face caught her eye from her peripheral vision. She turned around and nearly dropped to the deck, her mouth hanging open in shock. It was Will. Her first instinct was to be sure he couldn't see her face, though it was plain as day that he had. Aletté had been recognized. This was all Jack's fault. She spun around and nearly snapped Jack's head off. "You didn't tell me he was here!"

He raised his hands innocently. "Is there a problem between the two of you, Miss Swallow?"

"Miss Swallow?" Will asked, wondering at her new surname.

"Shut up!" She snapped, surprised that she suddenly felt angry at Will. Not lovesick, not depressed, angry. This was new, and she felt stronger for it. She rounded on Jack. "You knew he was here, and you didn't tell me? Argh! You're, you're horrible! You knew!"

"Quite the contrary." Jack pointed out. "I haven't a bloody clue what the hell you be on about, so if you'll excuse me…" He ducked around her wiry frame, but she caught him by the knot of his red bandanna. "Argh! Ouch, luv, your jerking on me neck."

"Why didn't you tell me?" She shook him angrily. "You knew! You knew and you didn't tell me! You're a filthy liar!"

Jack winced. "Please, luv, did it ever…" He gasped through her choking grasp. "did it ever occur to you that maybe… maybe I have no bloody idea what you're on about?"

She paused to consider his words, then released him and turned on Will. "What are you staring at?"

Will took a timid step back and bit his lip. "Aletté, what happened to you?" She was so different now- apart from her once fine blonde hair now being brownish and frizzy, she was snapping at everyone at every possible opportunity.

"Whadya mean what happened to me?" She spat. "What, don't you remember? 'People come into your life and people go.' Well guess what, Will? I've gone!" She spun on her heel and headed for the only place where she knew to find solace and privacy- the captain's quarters. She jerked open the dark, warped doors and barricaded herself inside, plunking down on the counter that edged the window.

Not a moment later she realised she had been followed.

"Now that wasn't very nice." Jack chided the sulking young woman. "What was all that about, darling?"

"Leave me be, Jack." She warned darkly.

He sat down beside her and wrapped her in his arms slyly. Aletté didn't bother resisting- anything was better than Will. "Tell ol' Jack what's troubling your pretty little head, darling, and perhaps I'll repay you by… oh, say, letting you experience the true pleasures of being on me ship. What say you to that?" He nuzzled his nose into her hair and enjoyed the scent of a woman- something Meryl took great pride in depriving any man except her late love of.

Aletté scowled and squired uneasily in his arms. "Oh please. Do you really think that's a viable bargaining chip?"

Jack thought for a moment. "Well it's not as if you wouldn't enjoy it, luv." He waited, and after getting no response from the petite lady in his arms, he continued with a less cocky approach. "Awe, come on luv. We've always been close, haven't we?"

"Well this particular closeness isn't exactly of my choice." Aletté mumbled.

Jack ignored her. "What's wrong with Will that nobody's told me?" He thought a moment, then winced. "He's not a eunuch is he?"

Aletté couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't a giggle, it wasn't light-hearted, more malevolent than anything else. "Will and I have a past together. And a falling-out. That's all you need to know."

This intrigued the amorous captain further. "Ah, I see. Flings with the married boss never pan out well." Aletté was silent. "Well, there is a little something about the lad you don't know, exactly. He and Elizabeth-"

"Please." She interrupted. "Just leave it be." She didn't want to hear what she was sure was coming next; he was going to tell her about them- their son, their happy lives. That they were so in love, that they perhaps now had a daughter too. She shuddered.

Jack just shrugged. "Your loss, luv."

And he did not press the subject further.

***

Will tossed and turned, mumbling uneasily in his sleep. His sweat-drenched body stirred uncomfortably as he tried with little success to banish his nightmare… his memory.

Elizabeth was sitting in the parlour, her hands trembling and fidgeting with her taupe sateen handkerchief. She glanced uneasily at her husband wearily. "Will?" He looked up. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about… do you mind?"

Will set down the candlestick he'd been designing and turned to face her attentively. "Yes, darling?"

"It's just, well… I know you've worked very hard to pay for our house here and I respect you for it. You're a wonderful provider-" He smiled. "-but the problem is-" His smile vanished. "-Jack knows where to find us here."

Will frowned. "Since when was that a problem?"

"Well," She stammered. "its not that big of a problem but… but…" Her tactfulness fell down to desperation. "I hate the sea and all the time you spend down at the harbour, and this whole pirate thing- I just want to live on land, raise a family and grow old with you. I don't need this!"

Will was shocked. "What?"

"I don't need this, Will!" She repeated, angrier the second time around.

"I do." Will murmured softly. How could she ask this of him? How could she ask him to give up what he loved so dearly?

"What?" A dangerous, spiteful look crossed Elizabeth's face.

"Listen," Her husband reasoned. "when you married me, you knew I loved the sea, and I knew only that you had an adventurous spirit. I committed to love you for that, and just because you're my Elizabeth. But you have to love me for who I am too."

She stared at him fearfully. "Then who are you- what's the sea to you, Will?"

Will chose his words carefully, but truthfully. "The sea is in my blood, Elizabeth. The sea is who I am." He waited for her slow, meditated reply.

"Then," She began. "Well, then I guess I… don't… love you."

Will felt his feet fall out from under him. Not literally, more figuratively, but he couldn't have felt more pain had he been plummeted from the highest wall of the fort onto cracked marble and jagged rocks. "You don't?" He croaked feebly.

"No." She said flatly.

Will shot bolt upright, dashing his head against the bunk overtop of him. He muttered a mild oath under his breath and rubbed his throbbing forehead. When he was younger, he would sometimes have dreams of being chased by a dragon, or being impaled on a spear by a savage medieval knight. He would wake crying and his mother would come rushing in with a kiss and a kind word, assuring him that it was only a dream.

This wasn't a dream. This was far worse than any kind of dream.

This was a memory.

***

Review Replies-

Bulletproof Dork-

Don't hold your breath too long- I have three stories on the go at once here and it can get pretty hectic. Glad you like it and thanks a million for reviewing!

Lizard-

Yes indeed I stole the title of the story from "A Little Fall Of Rain" in Les Miserables because I couldn't think of a better one, and lets face it, that was one hell of a good song.

Cecile Li-

Glad you like it and thanks for reviewing!

divinething-

I will update Swordplay and Baird's Battle soon- actually, I just updated Baird yesterday, but please be patient with me. It is exam week after all. Glad you like it and hope you keep reading. Thanks!

Erin Richards-

Aletté is my second-favourite character, because… Well, I'm not really sure actually. Yeah, Jack as a father, there's a riot for you! Thanks for correcting that- dunno what I was thinking there with the Tortuga thing- she's in Singapore! I'll fix it ASAP (which isn't all that soon either!)

I love castle on a cloud- I'm auditioning for young Cosette- mostly because I have big eyes and a kiddie voice. Now if only I wasn't so tall…

PLEASE REVIEW!!!

-SQ