Oki oki, so it's not a one-day update, it's a five-day one! Still better than I've been known for! Thanks for all the reviews. Pardon me if my replies see less enthusiastic, I lost a lot of sleep last night at the overnight at horse camp. Notice how it's specifically called 'The Overnight', and not 'The Sleepover,' savvy?

Little Miss Sparrow: I didn't know either. All I know is that it's NEVER in a million years gonna happen again. Lol, thanks for the review!

Authoressinhiding: You only say that because you've written similarly. What I specifically meant was 'is this the end for Amy?' Savvy? So, would this suffice as an e-mail?...Dotdotdot...thanks for the review, by the way!

pirateobsessed: Aye, awesome soundtrack. The only annoying thing is that it won't stop playing in me head...well, that's really not so bad, then again. Oh, and methinks this chapter doth your question answer.

obbits14: Ah! I bow to you, oh faithful reviewer! Here, have some rum...more rum. Here's your chapter!

SamanthaSparrow: SQUEE! Jack's Lost Crown! -glomphs and puts crown crookedly on head- -gigglesnort- Oops, did I just steal that?...Well anyways, at least you didn't hafta wait SO long for this, eh?

marauder4ever: Thanks, I was writing it to the music. That always helps me, so long as the music accents the mood, and it fit perfectly in with the sequence. Danke for the review!

Kal: YAY! I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE INFATUATED WITH NORRIKENS! SQUEEE -runs around in circles- New reader, weehoo! -runs around in MORE circles- -sways like drunk- Wow, it's amazing what a lack of sleep does to you, eh? Thanks for the review, I hope this stops the twitching.

Jess is a pirate: You know, now that you've said that, the urban thing is most definitely going to be quoted. -twitch- Ow. And tell Jimmy that plastic spoons are lethal. That really hurt! Oh and about the not reviewing earlier thing? Don't feel bad! You weren't in the mood for it, I totally understand. If anyone should be beating on themselves, it should be me—I kept bothering you and bothering you about it, and I'm sincerely sorry, savvy? -hugses- Lylas, mate.

Disclaimer: Disney! I always know de wind was goin' blow you back to me one day! DON'T SUE ME I OWN NOTHING! Geeze...they just HAFTA ckeck up on me every update. It's like they're stalking me. -looks nervous and glances over shoulder- Eep!

Enjoy!

Chapter Sixteen: The Journey Yet Continues

Gentle sunlight filtered in through a window, turning a golden shade as the evening approached. Chocolate brown eyes opened to meet it, and a deep breath was taken at the unexpected pain. Amy blinked once and tried to ignore her arm. Yes, she was alive, if only a bit worse for wear. She could hardly believe it though. She shifted her position slightly, trying not to disturb her arm, which she found bandaged and tended. It had grown somewhat stuffy, as she felt, and she carefully peeled away the blanket to see that she was once again in her pajamas from home; the black cotton/spandex tank and the light blue-and-green bottoms. With a light blush, she shrugged off all mental questions of who had dressed her, and instead tried to get her bearings. She was lying on the chart table in the captain's cabin, so she recognized blearily. Looking to her right, she spotted a figure drooped in a chair nearby, head bowed to his chest, asleep. It was James, and his expression was taught, his face a bit paler than she remembered. But then again, her memory was a bit fuzzy at the moment, so she couldn't be sure. His short brown hair was tousled and unkempt, and she pondered at how he was able to sleep at such an uncomfortable position. He was just like her cat in that sense. She took in the rest of him, and noticed unusually bare feet and a certain book lying open in his lap. She smiled slightly, and lay her head back down, rustling lightly under the sheets. At the sound, he stirred slightly. "You know, James," she said very softly, "I'm pretty sure there are a few things a mite more comfortable in here than that chair."

He opened his eyes—those dark hazel eyes which turned an icy green when he was excited, and an even darker shade of hazel when he was irked at something (the latter of which being what everyone who knew him as the Commodore almost always saw)—and saw her, leaning lightly on her right elbow and twisting over to see him. He smiled and closed the book, set it aside, standing and coming nearer to sit at her side on the table. "You're awake," he noted.

She looked herself up and down. "Yeah, I'd already wagered that..."

He chuckled. "Sorry. I guess I've been around you for too long—I'm starting to point out the obvious."

She grinned. "You say this like it's a bad thing!"

"Who knows if it is? I know neither of us does."

"True. True."

They sat in silence a moment before James carefully gathered her into a hug, which she gingerly returned. "You gave us all quite a fright yesterday," he murmured into her unkempt hair.

"Oh!" She pulled away from him slightly so they could see each other. "What about Jack? Did the demon give up the goods?"

"If by 'goods' you mean how to undo everything, then yes. As soon as he had seen what he'd done to you, what with promising his brother he would never kill, he agreed to tell us what needed to be done. Jack has gone through the procedure to reverse the Eohippus' work. All we can do now is wait."

"Ah," Ames nodded. There was another pause. "So what'd he end up having to do?"

"He had to eat another fruit in its entirety, rind and seeds included."

"Ick."

"Yes," he chuckled. "Anamaria says he would not stop complaining about the cramps, bloating, and awful taste."

"Still with signs?"

"Still with signs," Norrie nodded. "But that'll all change soon."

"My thoughts exactly."

There was yet another pause in which they released each other fully and sat there in meditative silence. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit sore, but that's to be expected."

"No stinging, burning, itching?"

"No burning or itching, stings a bit though."

"Good. Then Jack's 'precious' rum was not wasted after all." There was a short pause, and they both broke out laughing at what his face must've looked like when faced with such a suggestion. They hugged again, and Ellie kissed the top of her head, saying, "I'm so proud of you," before taking a firm, though careful hold on her shoulders. "And don't you dare scare me like that again, you hear?" he ordered, smile replaced with a stern expression.

She nodded and he released his grip. "And you? How are you feeling?"

"A bit tired, but nothing that negative."

"Good."

"You know...I'm thinking there's someone who would want to see you." James rose and took a peek out the cabin door, then closed it and returned. "On second thought, he's a tad busy right now and won't be able to get away to see you."

"Then why not bring me to him, eh?"

"I don't entirely trust you to walk, pet. You lost a lot of blood, and it would be unwise to do anything of the sort so soon."

"Well I can't have lost that much blood, seeing as how when I sat up and when you hugged me, I wasn't dizzy." He seemed to consider this. "At least let me try standing up."

He blinked and sighed. "Fine." And he helped her slowly to her feet from the 'oh-so-comfortable' map of the Atlantic. Ptooi.

"Ooo..." Todd swayed like a drunk. "Mebbe I am a bit woozy after all. Foot hurts too."

"I imagine so," he answered, offering a steady arm for her to lean on. "All that dueling opened up the wound again. Don't worry, Mr. Cotton was kind enough to notice and tend to that."

"I'll have to thank him when I get the chance." She took a deep breath in the hopes of clearing her dizziness, but hardly had an effect on it. "You're right, I don't trust me either. For walking, at least..."

"Well, there's always this option."

"What opt—?" She was cut short when he gingerly hefted her into his arms. "You're sure I won't be too heavy for you?"

"Heh. What are you, maybe one hundred? One hundred-ten pounds? I've lifted plenty heavier than you."

"Oh. Dude, you'd be so buff where I come from...prolly benching like fi'-hundred pounds, I'd bet! Cool!"

"Uh...sure..." She smirked at his confusion. If she ever got him into her world, there would be so much to teach him...Oh, thought she with a wicked mental image, Gangsta Ellie...heehee, that'll be interesting... "What's that grin? I know that look...it's an evil look, and it never bodeswell. Should I be worried?"

"Nope, nuh-uh, not at all," she answered too quickly. He quirked an eyebrow, but proceeded to carry her out of the cabin. Once on deck, she blinked several times as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. It was a moment before she noticed all the crew around them, hard at work. The day just seemed so more colorful than she remembered it. Everything did. She heard a squawk and looked around to see the gold-and-cerulean parrot landing in the ratlines, looking at her.

"The living still tell tales!" it cried. And she couldn't help but smile.

It was then that she realized James' line of travel, and looked ahead. There she saw him, standing at the helm, eyes focused on the horizon. Though as they neared, she understood that his eyes were not so focused after all, and it seemed his shoulders almost sagged. "Is...is Jack all right?"

"He'll be okay after a few days and this whole ordeal is over. I'm told the reversing takes a rather large toll on the body. Aside from that, he can't eat or drink anything but water until everything is complete."

"Oh. Wow...poor Deb..." Jack reached up with one hand and rubbed exhaustedly at his eyes with a thumb and index finger. "No rum—how can he hold out?"

"By taking all the time he can to steer the Pearl before lack of nutrition weakens him too much. I admit, I don't think I have ever seen a man as devoted to his ship as he."

"That's what you like about him, isn't it?"

"What gave you that idea?" he asked defensively. "He is a pirate. There is nothing to admire." Ames just gave a small, knowing smile, eyebrow slightly quirked. James sighed irritatedly. "Fine. Believe what you wish." They climbed the steps to the bridge, and there they waited, beside Jack.

As if suddenly sensing their presences (likely), the pirate whipped out of his thoughts and turned to see them. And his eyes fell on the girl, a lopsided grin spreading across his face. A look and a nod passed between the two men before he took the child in his embrace (which was quite a bit less steady, though still as comforting, mind you all) and swung her in a slow, careful arc as they hugged. "G'morning, Jack." He blew a soft breath against her ear as their embrace ended. "How are you faring without the rum?" He gave her a look mixed of sadness and annoyance as if to ask, 'Why did you just have to ruin the moment?' That was his job, after all... She laughed lightly before a wave of dizziness momentarily washed over her. "Ooo, laughing not the best idea...I mean I know laughter is supposta be the all-time healer, but methinks this ain't gonna work so well, eh?" He smiled faintly, but was silent. Her brow creased. Something was definitely off. "Jack?" No reply came. "Why don't you say anything?" He only looked at her sadly again, and shook his head, ruefully, hugging her close. She looked to James, confused.

"Oh...yes...my apologies, I had neglected to mention that he cannot speak, cannot make a sound."

"Horse too?"

"Horse too. 'Following time of silence, time of hunger, time of chaos, time of pain / Comes time of wisening, time of understanding, time of discovery. / Control? None. / There is only peace, only harmony, only life,'" he recited.

Then why don't you just think to me? thought she to him, locking gazes.

There was a silence, a hesitation in which she began to lose hope, began to wonder if they were still connected. Then, an exhausted murmur: Too...tiring... She blinked and immediately understood. Seeing as they had learned things the hard way, she knew just how draining it was to speak only through telepathy. With so little 'precious' energy left—what with two days without food—speaking through thought was simply not an option.

She nodded. "I eagerly await our next conversation, Debbie. It should be...interesting, to say the least. Ellie, if it's not too much trouble, I don't want to drain Jack too much...and somehow, I think Jack wants me in bed or something." Jack was in fact giving her a stern, almost parent-like look. She thought a moment. "Then again, I can always try my hand...er, feet at walking again..." However, even as she felt Jack weakening as he held her, he would not let her down. Instead, he nodded to Norrington and they exchanged armloads; nothing for girl, or girl for nothing.

James turned to take her back to the cabin. They left, Amy peering around her, for all intents and purposes, 'nephew's' shoulder at Jack who was again looking at nothing, hand resting absently on the helm. And for the first time, she really began to worry about him. "Do you think he'll be all right?" she asked.

James shrugged gingerly. "Maybe some minor negatives, but nothing he won't be able to bounce back from, I don't think."

She nodded agreement, leaning her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes. "James?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too," came the reply, soft as if from a lack of use over the decades...

Boring, I know. Jess, that would be 'love as a family member', savvy? I know what's going on in that head of yours. Lol. To everyone else, I bid you all good tidings until my next update...in about a year. KIDDING! Don't go pulling out your pistols, gawd. Mebbe only a month this time! I swear on me honor as a pirate...wait a minute -ponders- Oki never mind, I'm confusing me. Anywho, leave a review! Only a few chapters left, mates! Review while you can!