Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story. Unless I decide to invent some characters, places etc, in which case I own them

A/N. Once again, hello. It is I. Your absolute favourite, self-glorifying author. Yeah, that was kind of random. Guess I'm in one of those moods. OK, this chapter's going to be really short 'cause I don't have much time before I have to go do other stuff. Note the 'stuff'. It's as oppose to things. So, I'd better get on with it. Oh, and Jinxeh, I really don't have the faintest idea about anything to do with X-Men, but I'll have ago in the next chapter, provided I don't forget.

Chapter 4.

Will took a firm hold on Jack's hand and headed off to find somewhere to stay. He was accompanied by Cotton and Anna-Maria (NOTHING SUSS! No really, there isn't). The rest of the crew were to stay and guard the boat, sorry, ship. They found the least sleezy/cleanest place they could and booked four rooms for an indefinite period of time. After taking their luggage etc up, they assembled in the common room.

Will sat and watched Jack mingling with the whores while Cotton went and attempted to order drinks. Anna-Maria got impatient and went to help. Apparently the inn-keeper hadn't quite figured that 'heave to' meant 'I want a rum, a gin and tonic and a red wine.' sensible little voice: you know, pirates are all supposed to drink rum. me: says who? And anyway, Will isn't a pirate and Anna-Maria is a female pirate. sensible little voice: and that makes all the difference. me: naturally Will ignored the rigmarole being played out at the bar and continued to watch Jack. He had hoped that the whores might be able to bring Jack to himself, but apparently no such luck. He sighed and turned to receive his wine.

"Perhaps you should tell me exactly how Jack came to be on the receiving end of this curse and what it entails." Anna-Maria thought for a moment. Then she placed her drink on the table and frowned at it for a minute or two. Finally she began to speak.

"Four years ago, we were in Brazil. We had sailed up the Amazon a short way and had come to a small mining village. The reports were that it was very prosperous and Jack decided that we should go ahead with plundering it. Apparently the old resident witch wife objected. She picked Jack out as the leader and cursed him. We just ignored it at first, because nothing seemed to be happening. Then after a while, we noticed that he was starting to act differently, more immaturely if you like. After three years, he hit the whole angsty adolescent stage and we decided we needed help. So we came to you."

"But his mental situation deteriorated further in the next year?"

"Yes. The speed with which it got worse increased too."

"Can you tell me exactly what this curse said?"

"It was something to do with gradually getting younger, and then having to grow up again. Can't remember the exact wording."

Will leant back in his chair and sighed. This was going to be tricky

"Well, the only two courses of action that I can see, are either we wait for him to grow up again, which could be a painful process, or we find the witch wife and persuade her to break the course." Anna-Maria looked gloomy and grunted. Cotton looked gloomy and tried to grunt.

Will looked over at Jack again. The extremely enthusiastic whores were still having no effect. But then, considering the curse, they wouldn't really would they? Five year olds don't even know what whores are. Such ran the thoughts of Will until he was pulled out of his thoughts by Anna-Maria suggesting that it was time for his lord ship to go to bed. Will sighed and got up to rescue Jack from the tangle of desperate women.

A/N. Well, I did say it was going to be really short. Personally, I thought it was pretty good for half an hour, considering the speed of my typing. I kind of thought an explanation of the curse was necessary. For your benefit and mine. Pretty pathetic curse really, but there it is. Please RR, and don't bother nagging about updates, I'm working on it.

Lexi G