Disclaimer: I do not own POTC

Will Turner looked over towards the starboard side of the ship. Port Royal. It had been 10 years to date since he had seen the town. It looked to have grown quite a lot in size. But the beaches still had their southern charm and the wind still whistled peacefully through the palms. It was quite unlike Tortuga...

"Will, your stop is 'ere..." a voice we all now said from behind him.

"I know," he responded.

"Nervous?" asked the voice. "You really shouldn't be, you've only been gone, what? Ten years...? I'm sure not much 'as changed...not much at all..."

"Sarcasm doesn't help, Jack." Will said still looking towards the beach. "Come check with me in a few days, I'll watch the horizon." Will trusted that Jack would be back for him, they had become tight friends since he had caught up with the crew in Tortuga after his banishment.

"We'll be 'ere, It'll be nice to see the good ol' fort again, wont it now? Good luck mate!" He smiled at Will and helped him lower the life boat. Will climbed in and smiled. "Until then?" he said

"Until then." winked Jack.

&

Young James was running down the beach. Yes, he was playing pirates again. Yes, against his mother's wishes. It wasn't fair; all the other boys got to play pirates. Why couldn't he? He borrowed Fredrick's extra sword again, but it wasn't quite the same as the one his Mum had taken from him. Oh well. At least he could play. The boys had put together a ship of driftwood on the beach and were happily playing inside of it. James had a spy glass that Nathan had gotten for his birthday. "AHOY MATEYS!" he said, "LOWER THE ANCHOR!" the boys never tired of this game.

Suddenly he noticed a ship on the horizon. It was a beautiful ship, well taken care of. He scanned it, the sails were a crisp shade of crème, the wood un-worn, and... he gasped in excitement, "BOYS! A real pirate ship, out there! I see the pirate flag!"

All the boys fought for the spy glass to get a look at the lovely ship and it's Jolly Roger. None of them had actually seen a real pirate before. One clever little boy asked, "What would a pirate ship have business with in Port Royal?"

Another answered, "Probably looting and swashbuckling is my guess..."

"Do we care what it's business is?" said James, "It's a pirate ship, a real pirate ship! Wouldn't it be exciting to meet pirate?"

Young James didn't realize, well actually, none of the boys realized, that just down the beach, one was approaching them at that very moment.

&

Will had left the boat far down the beach. He didn't want to draw attention. And if he needed an escape he knew where to go.

The Fort was as beautiful as he remembered. He didn't much have a plan. He actually didn't know why he was here. Elizabeth was married. She had a husband, possibly a child, and a LIFE...unlike him. "I'll just give her a call for old time's sake." He soliloquized.

He scanned the water and then the beach. There were some young boys playing and a few couples walking. He realized it must be Saturday, a holiday. It had been so long since he knew what day of the week it was.

Abruptly there was a cry of pain and he looked over to see what had caused it. The boys whom had innocently been playing were now huddling over someone who looked to be surging in pain. Not being one to ignore such a thing he ran over to them. "What happened?" He asked kneeling down next to the injured boy.

"We...we was just playin' pirates." One said, they were a little surprised at a stranger coming out of the blue to help, but none the less thankful.

"It wasn't my fault." Nathan protested. "Honest!"

"No one said it was your fault." Will said as he put pressure on the wound in attempt to make it stop bleeding. The gash was in his upper and, and was fairly big. He also noticed a piece of cloth. This was not the first time he had been cut. But this one was worse.

"What is your name and were do you live? I'll take you home."

"Please mister...d...d...don't take me ho..home, my ma will..."

Will did not have the patience in this situation. "Fine, I'll leave you here to bleed to death." He pretended to stand up.

"No, don't go!" James was feeling slightly light headed from loss of blood. "My name is James and I live in the big house on Twenty-Third Avenue."

Will didn't know exactly where that was; and hoped that James would lead him. "Try to stay awake," He ripped a bit of his own sleeve and wrapped it around his arm. "I'll get you home." He picked him up and walked up the beach. The boys followed him, beginning to ask the mysterious man questions...

"Where ya' come from mister." One asked.

Will wasn't sure how else to answer, so he said. "The sea."

"Are you a merchant sailor?" Asked Fredrick. Will really wasn't sure if he should lie or not. If he said he was a pirate one of them could go straight home and tell his father who would immediately alert the Commodore pirates were about, but if he didn't say his name...

"I'm a pirate." He said, hoping to impress the boys. He had never really spoken these actual words aloud before.

"WOW!" There were gasps and awes and many of the boys began to ask questions excitedly.

"A REAL PIRATE?"

"ON A REAL SHIP?"

"WHAT'S IT LIKE?"

"HAVE YOU FOUND ANY BURRIED TREASURE?"

He wasn't sure what to say when James asked. "Have you ever heard of Will Turner or Jack Sparrow?"

Will was startled and almost dropped James. Will Turner? How did this boy know about Will Turner? "Actually, yes I have." He said smiling.

"My ma, she told me a story about them! It's my favorite" Said James.

"Wow, I'm a legend." Will thought smiling proudly, but still curious.

"This is my house," James said. It was a large house. Maybe the biggest he had ever seen. He wondered who James' parents were to own such a lovely place. He walked up to the large door and knocked. James was looking drowsy and he shook him a little.

There were a few hustled voices behind the door, and finally, it opened, followed by a surprised cry "James, OH! What happened!?"

Review