Chapter Two
The Black Pearl

"Jack wants me to sign on? As a sailor?" Will asked, surprised. Jack hadn't even sailed for Will for a good stretch of time, and Will was quite certain he was a better blacksmith than sailor.

"Yes." Chris took in a deep breath and pulled at the constricting bodice of her dress before continuing on. "We're going after a treasure, and before we set out, he wanted to come here and see if you would sign on. The profits from the hunt would surely make you able to buy your own shop." She surveyed the snoring Mr. Brown and continued, "He also said something to the effect that he owed you one."

Will eyed her skeptically. "Why didn't he come to see me in the first place?" He asked. He certainly wouldn't put it past Jack to be able to sneak into port. He was, after all Captain Jack Sparrow.

"As he put it to me, he escaped the gallows here and wouldn't be a welcome person at all, so he sent me since I have never been to this port before." She grinned. "He also wanted to see me in a dress. Dodgy bloke, that Jack…"

Will weighed the options. He could stay here and slave away in Brown's smith, or he could sail with Jack and wrangle up enough treasure to be able to buy a ship and find Elizabeth and Ali. "Give me an hour to pack and make sure things will be taken care of in my absence." Will said.

Chris grinned. "Done."

An hour later, Will slung the bag that contained a few sets of spare clothes and his weapons onto his back and exited his home. After leaving a note for Mr. Brown that he was leaving and didn't expect to be back any time soon, and sending a letter with similar wording to Governor Swann, he and Chris left the smithy and went to his house. Now that he was packed, he turned and locked the door to the house and hid the key underneath a rock near the door. He turned to Chris, who had sat upon the steps into the house and had removed her shoes. "I'm ready." Will told her.

"Lovely." Chris slipped her feet into her boots and groaned as she stood. "We have quite a bit of a walk ahead of us, mate. I hope you're in shape." She and Will then set off for the path that led to the cove where the Black Pearl was anchored. They walked past the docks, past the governor's mansion, and up into the hills of the outskirts of Port Royale. By the time they had gotten that far, Chris was hobbling like a horse with a thrown shoe. She stopped them long enough to pull the boots from her feet.

"Aren't those a bit impractical for hiking anyway?" Will asked, his brow raised.

"Aye, they are." Chris nodded in exasperation. "I usually go barefoot, but I had to wear shoes into port. I think Jack hid my normal boots." She picked her shoes up and stood, stretching her now bare toes onto the dirt path. "Much better. Come on." They followed the path down to the cove where the Black Pearl rested gently on the water, looking as picturesque as ever.

"Oi! Jack!" Chris let out a whistle she and Will came to the shoreline. A jolly boat was beached on the sand, waiting for them. "Success!" Chris called across the water and pointed to the man beside her. Will watched as Jack walked to the bulkhead and waved. Will and Chris shoved the jolly boat into the water and jumped in. Each took an oar and they were broadside the Black Pearl in no time. Once the jolly boat had been winched up to the deck, Jack greeted them both. He offered his hand to Chris, but she ignored it. She pulled herself from the boat and said, "I'll be down in my cabin changing, captain." With that she trotted below to change into her trousers.

Jack laughed as Will climbed out of the boat. "That Chris there won't let any man treat her like a lady. Learned that the hard way." He touched his jaw, as he recalled the memory before turning to Will and clapping him on the back. "So how have you been farin', Will?" he asked. "How's Liz?" Will shook his head and said nothing. "Ah, I see. Well, go ahead and get cozy, lad. Anamaria'll assign yer watches later."

Will let out a heavy side and climbed the stairs to the bridge, passed the wheel, and continued to the bulkhead rising before the rudder. He let his bag sink to the deck as he leaned on the railing and sighed. Why didn't he tell Jack? He raked his hands through his hair. He'd have to tell Jack eventually, but not now… Not so close to Port Royale…

Chris emerged from below, tying her rather long shirttails in a knot so that they wouldn't get caught on anything. She looked about and saw Jack tapping his chin in thought and looking aft. She followed his eyes and saw Will hunched over at the bulkhead. "What's the matter with him?" Chris asked. "Did ye say somethin' to vex him?"

Jack shrugged. "Just asked him 'ow his girl was. She must have left 'im. Never took Liz for anything but monogamous." Jack turned to Cotton at the helm and those in the top. "Let out the mainsail! Prepare to make way!" With that, Chris climbed into the top and Jack went to the helm, taking it from Cotton. Once the Black Pearl was away from Port Royale and the watch changed, Chris looked down and saw that Will was still leaning against the bulkhead. She dropped from the top down behind him and joined him at the rail.

"We'll be stopping in Tortuga next, if ye're looking to drown your sorrows or… anything." Chris said, turning to look at him.

"Thanks." He murmured. He had watched as Port Royale slowly shrank from sigh before disappearing altogether. Even though there was nothing there for him anymore, it had been his home for more than a decade. He and Elizabeth had married and made a home there. It was where Ali had been born, where she had taken her first steps, and where she had said her first word. He never wanted to return again if Ali and Elizabeth were not with him. A tear slowly make its way from his eye and dripped down his cheek.

Chris noticed. "'ey." She leaned over and wiped the tear off with her sleeve. "You all right Will? Ye're not getting seasick, are ye?"

Will shook his head yes, then no. He should have told Jack, he should have told him. He didn't know Chris, but he felt this sudden need to tell someone, anyone what had happened. If he didn't tell someone, his chest was going to explode. "My wife, Elizabeth and my daughter Ali were captured by pirates one year ago." He said softly. "We searched the seas, but we didn't find them. I-I just can't ever get them out of my head... And watching Port Royale sink from sight, knowing they're not there, knowing that I don't ever want to return there without them…" The tears were now fully fledged. He angrily wiped them away and then covered his face with his arm. Chris, not having too much experience dealing with crying people, and not knowing William Turner extraordinarily well, did what she thought was a comforting pat on the back. Will sniffed and ran a hand under his nose. He stared blankly at the horizon, not saying another word.

Chris heard the deck creak behind her and looked over her shoulder. She saw Jack standing there, his face a mask of sorrow. He had heard the entire thing. He beckoned for Chris to come to him. As Chris' hand lifted from Will's back, he looked back and locked eyes with the pirate captain. Jack nodded in understanding as Chris crossed to him. Will looked back to the sea and Jack put an arm around Chris, ushering her away from the man. "Come on love. Bein' alone right now is the best thing for him."

Later that night, the gangplank was lowered at Tortuga and half the crew was given shore leave. Chris and Jack disembarked, and as they hit the pier, Will joined them. "You sure you're up for it, eh?" Jack asked, grinning. "Last time we were here, I don't recall ye being too keen on Tortuga's numerous attractions."

"Well, there's a first time for everything." Will said, grinning at Chris and the captain.

Jack put an arm around Chris and Will. "Tonight will be a night you will not forget my dear sir and fair lady. Tonight is the night you will always remember as the night you made merry with Captain Jack Sparrow!"

"'Fair lady?' Lord, I need a drink." Chris sighed, her eyes closed in exasperation. Jack let out a booming laugh and led the woman and man to his favorite tavern, the Faithful Bride. The crowd inside had not lessened in rambunctiousness since Will had previously been there, but it was relatively mild tonight. There were no knife fights and few brawls. Jack procured four mugs of rum, two for himself, and one each for Will and Chris. The three sat down at a table and Jack promptly downed the first mug of rum in three gulps before beginning to slowly nurse the second one. Will sipped his hesitantly, not really wanting to get drunk and pass out in Tortuga. Anything could happen to an unconscious man in the pirate port, and Will didn't want to test the possibilities.

"I wish they'd keep whiskey on hand." Chris mentioned as she accepted her rum.

"Well if ye don't want it, I'll take it." Jack said, reaching for the drink.

"I didn't say I didn't want it." Chris replied, pulling it from his grasp.

Will zoned out as the back and forth continued between Jack and Chris. He observed the room as he sipped his rum. He saw the ladies of the night working their charms, several card games going, and a brawl that was coming close to its end. As his eyes continued to roam, he suddenly saw something that made him choke on his rum.

"All right there Will?" Chris asked, thumping his back to help clear his airway.

Will rubbed his eyes and stared at the little girl that had entered the tavern. She looked so much like… But no, it couldn't be… But it must be, she had Elizabeth's hair and Will's eyes, and she looked just like her, except older. "Chris, Jack… Ali is here."