Thanks to the readers, the reviewers, and the people who keep writing.

The HMS Dauntless cut through the waves with the proud stride of an English lord surveying his grounds. Every stitch of canvas pulled her forward as she pounded rhythmically across the swells, her commander apparently helping the effort with his hands gripping the rail in an unusual show of tension. After searching the coast for long minutes, his eyes strayed farther out to sea, and he shook his head. Three strange vessels were closing on the island. As the Dauntless passed a rocky outcropping the two ships he had been seeking appeared, huddled together in a bay. He called for a change of course to bring them nearer shore, and knew they were spotted when the flagship of the three attackers changed course in turn toward them.

BOOM.

His lip curled slightly as his hands relaxed. For all their speed, they were still far out of range. At least he knew now what he was dealing with. The Spanish captain must be mad to -

"Commodore?"

"What is it, Lieutenant?"

"It appears that, well… we're being fired upon. Or perhaps at would be the better word."

"Indeed. Curious, isn't it? Unless, of course, their guns have been highly improved." The two men looked at each other and shared the smug smile that only officers were allowed in the presence of sarcasm. Most of the Spanish enforcers were bullies, bigger on brawn than brains. Clearly the leader of this group was no different.

"Shall we show them our range, sir?"

"No. We'll wait. They should soon be aware of our escort." He glanced behind him, at the tall ships that were coming fast around the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. Two British, two French. That should give them pause. He grinned again as the French ships drew closer and raised their colors.

Jack pulled back the door cloth and breathed deeply. I could almost get used to this - he stopped, shook his head as he chuckled at himself. Sure you could, man. And a fish could get used to air. But not for bloody long. With a sigh he stepped out onto the well trodden path that led to the east but stopped, decided on a change, and turned down a narrower way to the right. A few minutes walk and he reached the shore where a margin of beach on the south edge of the island sparkled in the sun. A wooden framework housed a ship's bell, and he stared at it curiously.

Some vague memory tickled at the back of his mind, and he unconsciously rubbed his shoulder. Stepping farther out on the sand he stared at the water, scanning the horizon with futile hope. His dark eyes narrowed as he looked down at the foaming waves creeping up the shore, and he thought about his Pearl; about the Esperance, about the people that manned them. He wondered, briefly, if he'd ever see them again. Abruptly his head jerked up, his eyes wide, as if he'd heard a noise far off.

Will took a last look toward the advancing Spanish ships. "I'm going back to the Pearl." He dashed across the deck, grabbed a rigging line and leapt gracefully onto the starboard rail. He was tightening his belt in preparation to dive when his father yelled.

"Will! Wait!"

The boy glanced back and followed his father's arm, pointing northwest along the coast. Another ship. "More? How many of them are th- ?" He cut off with a gasp, dropped back to the deck and ran towards his father. "Is that – the Dauntless?"

Bill was staring through a glass, a smile growing on his face. "Aye, lad." He sighted again, looked through the scope again. "They didn't come close."

Will laughed in spite of himself. "You mean they were firing on her? Are they mad, or just blind?"

"I'm sure the Commodore will set them straight." Bill squinted off in the distance. "Ah, and he's not alone."

Will, who was staring in amazement at the two sets of ships, shook his head. "I think they've noticed that. I'm not sure the Commodore will have a chance to set them straight."

The captain looked toward the Spanish ships which were luffing wildly into the wind, trying to change course before the unexpected armada could reach them. Their paths began to curve, but momentum brought them closer to the bay first.

Captain William Turner looked solemnly at the scene. "Our turn, then. They think we're helpless." With a nod to Will, he spoke quietly. "Get back to the Pearl, son." Turning, he yelled to his men. "While they're on the run! Fire!"

The noise of cannons echoed in the bay. Joshamee Gibbs on board the Black Pearl had taken up the call to fire as soon as the first guns fired from the Esperance. By the time Will reached the ladder, the Spanish ships had pulled out of their range and were heading back out into open waters. The sudden fight was over before it had a chance to really begin.

Gibbs gave him a hand up as he climbed back over the rail of the pirate ship. "Yeh all right, lad?"

"Fine. Did we do any damage?"

Joshamee shrugged. "Don't know if it were us, per say, but I'm thinkin' they'll be careful about goin' after any ship for a while." The old pirate smiled. "That wife o' yours must be bloody important."

Will looked past Gibb's shoulder and his eyes lit up. "That she is, Mr. Gibbs. That she is." Walking past the older man, he folded Elizabeth in a rather soggy embrace. "You alright, darling?"

"I should be asking you that. We were never really in the line of fire." She kissed him tenderly before looking back out toward the sea. The Dauntless was easing into the bay as the other four ships gave chase to the retreating Spanish. A frown creased her brow. "Do you think there'll be trouble?"

Will shrugged. "They did just save our necks."

"Yes, but why?"

He looked at her with bemused affection. "Probably because your father was worried about you, Elizabeth, and knows a Commodore who worries as well." She looked up at him in shock.

"No."

With a laugh he wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up. "You'd be amazed what you drive men to. He should have named you 'Helen'." She giggled as he kissed her, and he only noticed the expression on Gibb's face afterwards. "Mr. Gibbs? What's wrong?"

The older man grumbled, wagged his head for a moment before answering. "Well, now, the problem's Bootstrap, isn't it? I mean, we weren't able to make the delivery… so what's he going to be tellin' our old friend Norrington?"

"But we tried –"

"Aye. But tryin' may not be enough to win Jack's pardon now." He walked away, calling to the men to finish the repairs they had begun before the threat appeared. Will and Elizabeth looked at each other.

"What are you going to tell him?"

Will shrugged. "Don't know, love. We'll have to see what happens at the time." Her eyes widened, and he frowned. "What?"

"Honestly, Will. For a moment you sounded just like Jack."

It was Will and Elizabeth that joined the Commodore at the Esperance, since Gibbs was still a bit wary around the man. Turner and Norrington made oddly comfortable small talk as they waited in Captain Turner's quarters for the couple to complete the foursome. Ana was originally going to join them, but had begged her captain's leave when she discovered that one of the men who accompanied Norrington over was none other than Lieutenant Ellis Groves.

"He's a fine officer. Up for promotion."

Bill smiled. "Good for him. With her standards, I'd be surprised if she'd pick a less than fine officer."

"Indeed." They both stood as Elizabeth entered the room with Will behind her. "Mrs. Turner. Mr –"

"Elizabeth, Commodore. Please." She extended her hand with a reassuring smile and he nodded quietly.

"Elizabeth." Taking her hand gently, he bowed with practiced grace over it. "The Governor sends his concerned regards. I trust you are well?"

"Quite well, Commodore." She smiled at Will who was holding her chair and sat, freeing them to do likewise. "Thank you for coming to our rescue."

Will nodded, his brown eyes bright with sincerity. "Yes, Commodore. I really don't think we'd have been able to defend ourselves. Thank you."

Norrington stared into the youth's face, searching for some sign of sarcasm or bitterness, but saw none. A good man. "You're welcome. We'd have done as much for any of the Crown's citizens in need." A miniscule smile beneath his calm expression suggested that wasn't exactly the case. "But to business. Is Mister Sparrow joining us? Or is he hiding aboard the Black Pearl?"

"Captain Sparrow." Will and Elizabeth had opened their mouths at the same time, but she beat him to it. "And no, he isn't. Captain Sparrow was wounded, and we had to leave him behind." Her eyes clouded beneath a frown.

"Frankly, Commodore..." Will stopped, unable to finish the thought.

Norrington glanced around the table, gauging their expressions. He took a deep breath before he spoke again. "I see. Well, then, I'm not sure how to carry on."

Will frowned as he watched Norrington come as close to squirming as he'd ever seen. "Is something wrong?"

With a pointed, abrupt movement the Commodore removed his hat, placed it on the table next to him, and went on. "The situation has become, shall we say, political. While the king gave the Governor to believe that he would extend a pardon, his advisors had assured him that there was no way the notorious Jack Sparrow would survive this mission." His eyes swept the group again. "Frankly, there was little hope that any of you would survive. Governor Swann was less than pleased when he heard –"

"You'd be pleased enough to be rid of him, wouldn't you."

"Will." Bill's hand rested easily on the younger man's arm until the flash of anger passed. "Let Mister Norrington finish."

Norrington stared at Will for a long moment. "Rest assured, Mr. Turner, that I take no pleasure in the dishonorable dispatch of any man. Not even an enemy." He broke the gaze and stared at the table. "Not even Jack Sparrow." After few seconds a small sigh escaped him, and he spoke quietly. "My orders were to kill Sparrow on sight. Unless he died in the execution of his mission, in which case I was to extend the pardon."

"What, posthumously?"

The disgust in the Commodore's eyes was evident, although he tried to hide it. "Indeed. That way the Crown would be free of him. And wouldn't have broken word with Governor Swann."

The quiet that drifted around the table was broken when Norrington cleared his throat in a businesslike way and put his hat back on, seeming to begin the conversation again.

"As you know, Captain Turner, the only reason we haven't charged the Black Pearl with crimes against the crown immediately is because the Governor made a deal with Jack Sparrow."

Bill nodded, glanced toward Will and Elizabeth. "Aye, Commodore. Although I'm not sure where that deal stands now."

Norrington and Turner locked eyes. For a long moment neither spoke.

"Indeed. I understand that the jewels were stolen by Spanish rebels?"

Will's eyes darted toward his father questioningly, but the Captain didn't return his glance. Instead, he looked at the Commodore. "Your informants must have fast ships."

"Actually, they weren't our informants. The news has already spread across half the Caribbean. The tenuous alliance between France and Spain is crumbling."

Bootstrap didn't bother to keep the grin off his face. "A pity."

Norrington raised an eyebrow in return. "Indeed." He brushed a bit of dust off his sleeve and continued. "So. I need to know what's happened to the captain of the Pearl."

Will opened his mouth but Elizabeth grabbed his hand and shook her head. When Norrington shot her a look, she blinked solemnly. "The captain should tell it."

All eyes were on Bootstrap Bill as he stared at the table, then looked sadly at his son and daughter-in-law. Will tried not to change his expression as his father let out a sigh. "Well, you've heard right, Commodore. The Spanish attacked us over San Juan. Jack Sparrow was stabbed in the chest, and these two put him ashore…"

"And he's dead?"

Will's eyes widened as his father answered. "As far as we know, the man's dead. At the end he put his possessions in the hands of Joshamee Gibbs." By now Will and Elizabeth were clutching each other's hand tightly enough to cut off circulation.

Commodore Norrington stared at Captain Turner. "Then Captain Sparrow died in service to the crown."

Elizabeth and Will's eyes darted back and forth between the two men as they watched each other, sensing a second conversation going on somewhere beneath the obvious one. Bootstrap gave a resigned sigh.

"That would be the case. We may have failed in the mission, but we did our best."

Eventually, Norrington nodded. "Well, then. It is my duty to inform you, and Mr. Gibbs, that Jack Sparrow and any of his crew that survive him are hereby pardoned by authority of His Majesty, King George." He stood. "Captain Turner, the crown appreciates your efforts. As do I." He nodded to them all and turned to leave, stopping at the door to look back. "I trust Mr. Gibbs will lead the Pearl in straighter paths?"

He directed the question at Will, who was startled out of his shock. "I – I don't know if she'll be led at all, Commodore. She's in need of a lot of repair, and we're far from home."

Norrington looked away with a thoughtful frown. "There's an island not far from here – the men said there was enough wood on it to build a fair-sized ship. Uninhabited and unclaimed, or so they say. Perhaps you could do repairs there?"

Will shrugged, somewhat lost. "An excellent idea, Commodore. Which island?"

Norrington's lips might have quirked in a grin for a split second as he opened the cabin door to leave. "I believe it's called Palomino."