A/N: It's gonna take a long time for me to get used to editing and formatting everything, I'll warn you. I'm working on it, though! Just keep trekking along...

Still own nothing except for what my mind creates.

"Alas, good travellers, our time comes to a close!" Maev spoke cheerily, her cheeks flushed as she took a downing sip from her second mug. The pub was now nearly filled, the glowing faces swimming with laughter and delight. A groan swam through the Irishmen and sailors as Finley shrugged his shoulders sadly. Maev glanced at him smiling. He was flushed like her and was finally opening up to the crowd. His violin sang beautifully and he was not ready to leave. "But good sister!" He feigned a whine as he leaned on her shoulder. "I think we can give these fine folk one more song. Don't you?"

Her gray eyes glittered as she saw the spark in his cobalt blue stare. "Why... what did you have in mind?"

"Let me entertain them, you've had the spotlight for ages!" Finley pulled back and shouldered his violin and struck up a sliding A to a B. The fiddling tune poured through the mapled wood of the violin's F-holes as Finley began to step around the platform. Maev took the cue and gently sat down on a nearby chair and pulled a pair of spoons from her pocket.

Finley, though he rarely showed it, was indeed an Irishman. Not because he drank heavily (he usually passed out after three mugs), nor that he had the red hair. Finley was an Irishman because he could feel the old fiddle tunes in his bones and blood. The violin was his closest companion and he drank its heavy wine with eagerness.

The song he had begun to play was famed. 'The Butterfly.'

The slow melody suddenly picked up into another reel and Maev began to play the beat softly on the silver spoons in her hand. Both Fionn children knew the song well and both enjoyed the bliss that the music left upon them. Finley began to step around again, accepting the rhythmed claps from the crowd. His feet danced around the platform again as he picked up the third reel and his blue eyes flew to his sister, motioning for her to join him. Maev nodded and leapt from the chair, following his pattern with the spoons still clicking. A shout of happiness erupted from the pub and soon several other men had joined in the traditional Irish steps.

It took all his preserved stance to keep from joining. Hector had already shot a glare at Ragetti when he began to clap along. But the pirate could not deny his longing to join in the entertainment. He was entranced by the brother and sister, the light playing against the boy's crimson hair and the magic of his music. And the girl, the pure little soprano...

Hector shook his head and pushed his mug aside. Clear your thoughts, Barbossa, he thought. We have to find the map...

He chewed on his lip when he caught his stare wandering towards the woman's gray eyes as the two leapt to the final note.

"Thank you!" Finley smiled wide to the thundering cheers breaking through the pub.

"And God keep Ireland!" Maev laughed, twirling around Finley.

"They've got pretty sounds," Ragetti murmured as the two walked through the tables.

"Definitely better than Jack's singing," Pintel chuckled under his breath.

"Shut up, you two!" Hector hissed.

His heart skipped suddenly as the siblings stepped past his table. The woman's wool skirt floated past him, grazing his boot.

Her eyes grazed down into his for a brief moment before looking away hurriedly.

Later...

"Maev, you were right, that was amazing! It was... it was fantastic! We should do this more often!" Finley laughed in the street 20 minutes later. He swung his violin case lightly in his hand, still dancing about as the cobblestones turned to a dirt path. Maev stared at him. "God's love, Fin, two hours ago I had to pry you off of the door, now look at you." She mumbled, walking ahead of him to the quaint little cottage on the right. A shimmering lantern danced in the front window and the sound of a woman humming filtered gently into the night breeze.

"Mam! Da! We're home!" Finley burst through the little door, cheeks burning bright.

"Darlings!" A tiny woman with silvering black hair stepped in from the left. She rubbed her hands over her plump middle as she reached up to kiss her son and then her daughter. Her eyes glowed with a shimmering blue. "And how was it?"
Maev snorted. "Ask the master fiddler here, mam."
"It was wonderful, they loved us!" Finley smiled, setting his violin down. "Do we have any more ale?"
"You've had two mugs tonight, Fin, you're fine," Maev sighed as she walked into the tiny kitchen. She nearly bumped into her father who walked in at the sound of their voices. "And here's my lass!" The nearly white-haired man scooped his daughter into a tight hug and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Well, keep nothing from me, how was your first?"

Maev smiled and sat down, waiting for her mother and Finley to follow. The family was seated and immediately the night flowed off their tongues.

"And my violin never went out of tune--"
"--cheered so loudly after Danny Boy--"
"--Not even Phillip could top that!--"

"Were there many people?" Their father cut in after a while.

"Aiden!" Their mother chided. "Let them speak!"
"Well, the crowd just kept getting bigger--"
"--remember those sailor blokes?--"

Their father cut in with a wave of his hand suddenly, his misted gray eyes pausing. "Sailor blokes?"

Maev felt a heat cross her face. "Yes, there were about a handful of men who looked like they'd just blown in from the ocean."
"Smelled like it too," Finley added in.

Aiden Fionn's brow furrowed. "What'd they look like?"

Maev cocked her head. "Why?"

Meanwhile...

There was a rustling beneath the bushes in the lantern-lit window as Hector stepped back. He shook out his stiff knees silently; he was getting too old for crouching these days. His fingers immediately began to stroke the ragged brown beard on his chin as he peered into the window one more time.

What a lovely little family, he thought. Two talented children, busy mother, inquisitive father, and a nice home to top it off.

You've done well with your life, Aiden.

There was no mistaking the fear that passed the father's eyes when Finley brought up their party, Hector knew that look all too well. He smiled and began to make his way down the harbour.

Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

Back on the Ship

The moon mirrored of the glassy waters of the harbour as Captain Jack swung his boots onto his desk. Just as he had tipped his hat over his eyes and was ready to sink into a rum-filled dream, the door of his cabin swung open. "FINLAND!" Jack roared spontaneously as he toppled out of his chair from surprise.

"Captain Sparrow!" Pintel walked in, followed by Ragetti. They both saluted him foolishly before waiting for him to speak.

Jack peered up from behind his desk, the kohl smearing over his cheeks and his ebony brown eyes. "...what have I told you buggers about the door being closed at this time...?" The two pirates paused. Ragetti began to fiddle with his eye before speaking up: "That we are not supposed to bother you at this hour or so help us God we'll be thrown to the locker of Davey Jones?"

Jack glared at the two. "And what precisely are ye two doing now?"
Pintel smiled stupidly and nervously as he backed out of the room. "Sorry, Cap'n..."
"Next time..." Jack growled, "KNOCK!"

Both the pirates instantly scurried out of the room.

Jack stood up shakily, his head swimming. He swayed too and fro, nearly losing his hat. That must've been stronger rum than I thought, he pondered, plopping down on his chair. "Now, where was I..." he mumbled as he leaned back and tipped his hat over his eyes.

There was a sudden loud, sharp knocking at the door.

"DEVIL BE WITH YOU!" Jack thundered to the door, nearly ripping it off his hinges. "I outta gut you both and string yeh by your innards to the high mast, NOW WHAT DO YOU--"

Hector Barbossa stood serenely and poised. "Good evening, Jack."
The captain lowered his hands and he smiled toothily. "Ah, me first mate... come in, come in, care for some rum?"

Hector shook his head, taking off his hat as he entered and sat down in his usual chair across from the fine maple desk. "I suppose the blighters forgot your rule then, eh?"
"There's no hope for those two... Pastachio and Rufus or whatever..."
"Er, Pintel and Ragetti, sir," Hector grinned.

"Well, never mind them!" Jack took his seat swiftly, pushing a dirty lock of dark hair from his burning eyes. "On to pressing matters: Did you...?"
Hector nodded. "Though, not the map, persé."
Jack moaned and leaned back, rubbing his temples. "Hector... I told you to FIND the map, not the map, persé-"
"I found you one better, sir."

The captain paused and stared at his first mate. "What are you getting at?"
Hector smiled and reached for an apple from the little bowl at Jack's left. "Just a question, captain... do ye happen to remember Aiden Fionn?"
Jack's darkened eyes lit up and he twirled his braided beard. "What about good ol' White-Eye?"
Hector stared at the ceiling to mask his annoyance. "Do ye happen to remember WHAT White-Eye possessed right before he left?"
Something sparked within the pirate's eyes. "And you're saying... he lives just in that little town? Right there? I could literally fire my pistol and there would be a chance it would his his house?"
"Well, you're quite out of range... but yes, I suppose."
"So he is IN that very town?"
"Yes..."

Jack grinned. "When's the last time we had a good ol' chat with Aiden?"

The Insanity ensues... my mind is that of an enigma.