It remained drifting a few yards out while Gibbs and Anna Maria rowed to the pier. Jack, truly hiding gills, would have been happy swimming to the boat himself, but they noticed he had company in town, which was a special occasion. "Ahoy, Captain," Gibbs greeted with a tip of his hat. Anna Maria remained quiet and frustrated.
"Gibbs, how was the rum," Jack said while lowering himself into the boat, Will and Elizabeth following.
"Fit for a governor. Mister Turner, Miss Swann; pleasure to see you after such a storm."
"It's Mrs. Turner now," Elizabeth amended with a smile. Gibbs nodded, remembering quite vividly then.
"Anna," Jack teased, sitting slowly next to her, "I'm so happy to see you."
"How was the jail," she flatly asked. "As you remembered it?" Jack scowled.
"You told her, Master Gibbs?"
"Aye, Captain, it was the parrot." Elizabeth promptly cleared her throat and smiled meekly to the other lady on board.
"There were flares shooting up like the second coming—a whole fleet of ship cast off, we thought after us, until they turned north," Gibbs mumbled while rowing steadily towards the Pearl.
"It seems to me that some foolish minion has taken the Turners' boy," Jack seriously uttered. Anna Maria's eyes widened and she leaned forward in interest.
"You have a boy? How is he?" she rambled. Elizabeth smiled again at her ethusiasm and pulled her cloak tighter about her.
"He's just about four years old—John Michael is his name."
"They call 'im Jack fer short, can you fancy that?" Jack added quite proudly. Thunder rolled ahead as the side of the dinghy knocked against the mighty arm of the Pearl. "Ah, my little girl…" Jack cooed with a loving strike against the old boards. Almost instantly, the boat lifted from its cradle at the arms of the waiting crew, who cheered and laughed in the clearing rain at their leader's return.
"Pirates don't have children, they have ships," Dibbs explained before climbing on board after his captain.
"They don't mind takin' other children at that," Anna Maria coldly added before hopping over the side.
"Will you ever forget that?" a distant voice called from the helm.
"Why," Elizabeth angrily muttered, "it's true." Will soon followed her onto the unsteady deck, a familiar chill running through his bones at being reunited with the Pearl. She could see the magic that took his features as he greeted each of his old friends once more. All this time, he'd been pining for the sea, she thought glumly. She felt niether a fit mother or wife.
"Cap'n Jack!" a young voice called out. Jack turned from his righteous place beneath the nest and smiled. A clumsy-looking boy with blonde cords falling over bright blue eyes shambled into the center of the boat, seeing the two new visitors in the frail mist. "I asked that your return be quick." Jack smiled approvingly and nodded haughtily.
"There hasn't yet been a day they've got Jack Sparrow." All could see the full admiration the younger had for his captain, although he could not be a day over eighteen. His gaze drifted to the mysterious stranger near the edge and then the angelic vision at his side. Immeidately, he blushed and bowed slightly in reaction to Elizabeth's presence.
"Pardon me, m'lady, 'tis been a while since we had a lady on board," he stammered in apology. Anna Maria growled as the crew chuckled in agreement. Elizabeth smiled briefly and nodded in gratitude. Will's eyebrow raised slightly before he stepped forward.
"Do you have any idea of where we migtht start looking, Jack?" he asked, jogging to the spokes' side.
"We're looking for a ship, aren't we?" he replied slowly. Anna Maria glanced up from her maps only for a moment. "We're looking for a ship, Mistress Navagator."
"Aye."
"Who's the boy? I don't remember him," Will asked, glancing over his shoulder to see the charming young gent seat his wife near main mast. Jack half-smirked and nodded.
"He came aboard about a year past. Born sailor, that boy. We call 'em Lory." Will looked again as the ship rocked and creaked in the wind. "Found him floatin' ashore…no gold 'bout his neck, though." Will smiled as best he could and released a heavy sigh. Jack nodded, understanding without words. "Aye, it is good to come back."