A/N: Here's the new chapter. Enjoy.
Sorry if the mythology was congusing for some. I understand that if you haven't read any mythology it might have been hard follow. But the confuzzling stuff ends...from this chapter things start clearing up.
About Liz's son...you'll hear about him in later chapters. Not yet though.
Jack woke up startled by the noise he heard. He bolted straight but in his haste the hammock rocked furiousely and he crashed to the ground.
"Damn me for being such a gentleman and offerin' the bloody wench me bed!" he cursed himself under his breath.
He found that the bed was empty, Elizabeth was bent over his desk working on something(the charts no doubt) and the banging sound from out side that had woken him still continued.
"Good morning sleeping beauty!" Elizabeth looked up at him from the desk.
" 'Mornin' luv! Waz that sound?" Jack asked rubbing his head.
"Nothing just the crew running around and ready to set sail again."
"Right! How long 'ave you been awake?"
"Not long."
Jack nodded as he put on his boots and headed out on deck.
"On deck all hands! I want full canves and I demand speed. No time to lose! " he barked in his captain voice as he walked across the deck. He headed below deck and snatched two green apples from the stash before heading back to his cabin.
He tossed one of the apples to Elizabeth who caught it without even raising her head from the charts. "Thanks!"
"Don't mention it. Gotten anywhere with the charts?"
"No! So far I've found a way to go to the underworld, a way to Isla de amor and the fastest route to the North Pole but no hint as to what 'deception' means!!"
"Like I said luv! Lay back and let it come to you."
She got up from the chair and walked in front of the desk. "Not everyone can be layed back like you!" she said with a small frown as she rolled the apple around in her hand.
"You can try..." he grinned as he took a bite from his apple and threw it aside. "Reminds me too much of Hector." he explained with a grin as he walked closer to her.
She smiled weakly as she put the fruit on the desk behind her. She sighed. "Jack...what if..."
"What if what Lizzie?!" he asked with raised eyebrows.
"What if we can't?! What if we never figure it out? What if-"
"Oh damn all the what ifs and maybes! Elizabeth! Stop thinking and start living in the moment. You were doing so great when I last left you. What happened to the selfish you? The 'you' who led the pirates in the battle? I only see small glimpses of that person these days?! What happened?!"
"Time happened Jack! I've been away for too long. I've forgotten what it feels like."
Jack grinned mischeviousely. "You mean you've forgotten what it tastes like?! Why not make you remember?!" he teased as he brushed his finger on her lips lightly.
Elizabeth felt the urge to slap him but she felt tired. Too tired and confused to do anything but wait to see what happens.
Jack was happy to sense her surrender, he grinned and ran a hand along her jaw line. He bent forward but the little angel on his right shoulder wouldn't let him kiss her.
"Captain Sparrow! You shouldn't take advantage of a confused, upset young lady!" the voice scolded him.
"Mate! Don't lose the oppertune moment! Kiss her now or forever wish you did." the little devil with the pitchfork ordered him.
The moment of hesitation caused Elizabeth -who'd closed her eyes- to open her eyes slightly. She regained her composure and nodded. "Thanks Jack!" she smiled at him.
"Captain! A ship's near! No colors." someone yelled from outside.
She rushed out of the cabin leaving Jack to mentally beat himself up. "Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!" he cursed.
" It's what you get for being slow mate! I told you you should go for it." the little devil Jack Sparrow said.
"You did the right thing." the angel Jack said.
"I hate you?! Did you know that you little winged pest? I've always hated you and I will always hate you." he said in his mind as he walked to the door.
"And yet you can never get rid of me." the angel said.
"Unfortunately." both Jack and devil Jack said.
On deck Jack took out his telescope and looked at the ship in the distance. "Oh bloody hell!"
"What? What is it Jack?!" Elizabeth rushed towards him laying a hand on his shoulder.
Jack folded the telescope. "It's the Flying Dutchman."
Everyone stood with wide eyes.
"And she's coming towards us." Jack added.
Elizabeth lowered the round black hat she was wearing so it covered her face even more. She waited. She waited for that bloody ship to come closer so she could see who'd killed him. So she could lay eyes on the bastard who'd took Will away from her. Jack didn't say anything...he didn't try to comfort her. He seemed to know how she felt and he just let her be by herself.
They both stood at the railing as they watched the ship with white sails get closer to them.
"Seems like who ever it is 'is been doing 'is job right." Jack commented.
"Uhum. The sails are white...looks nothing like a ghost ship." Elizabeth agreed.
The two ships moved towards eachother until they were at canon range. They then dropped anchor.
Jack watched the crew of the dutchman with curiosity. He couldn't spot their captain.
"Capt'n? Orders?!" Gibbs asked him.
"Tell them I need a word wiff their captain."
Gibbs nodded. "Captain Sparrow commands to talk to yer captain ye sea dogs! Whoever he may be." Gibbs shouted to them.
Some how from the moment that bloody monkey swinged to the Dutchman as it shrieked, from the moment Jack heard a holow laugh coming from the Dutchman and from the moment he heard the clicking of boots against wood Jack knew who he was about to lay eyes on.
"Oh bugger!" he exclaimed as the sound of the boots got closer. He steadied himself as he lay a protective hand on Elizabeth's shoulder who still had most of her face hidden beneath the hat.
"Jack what is it?!"
Jack didn't have to answer because his answer made his way across the crowd gathered on the deck of the Flying Dutchman and grinned at them as Jack the monkey bounced on his shoulder.
"Jack! Jack!" the captain of the Flying Dutchman laughed as he bit into an apple.
"Hector! It's been too long." Jack said cheerfully but his face showed nothing but horror.
"Last time was on the Pearl remember?! You marooned me on that blasted beach with naught but a pistol an an apple?"
Jack laughed nervousely. "No I didn't!"
Barbossa glared at him as he used his power to appear on the deck of the Pearl. Jack had gotten used to the captains of the Dutchman doing that so he wasn't really surprised.
"Ok! Maybe I did...but we're all perfectly peachy...or should I say appley in your case! You're alive, I'm alive and Jack's alive!" Jack said motioning to the monkey.
" 'Tis true! But doesn't make me want revenge any less."
"Well you know better than to try and take the Pearl down. Poseidon's promised to protect it if you haven't heard the stories."
Barbossa grinned as he took another bite of his apple. "Wasn't talkin' about the ship Jack and none of you can die here, all of the faces here are familiar except... I see you got yourself a fine...girl here!" Barbossa turned towards Elizabeth who still had her face hidden beneath the hat and plunged his sword into Elizabeth's stomach in one fast motion.
Everyone gasped in surprise as Elizabeth took hold of the sword's handle. She hated it every time she expirienced death without dying...the pain was almost unbareable.
She pulled the sword out of her flesh as she lifted her hat, revealing her face.
"Mrs. Turner?!" Barbossa whispered in shock as Jack snickered.
"No! Not anymore. Not since you killed my husband." she retorted as she glanced at the bloody sword. The sword that had been built and owned by Will. The sword he'd built for Norrington and then came to own himself. "I wonder...after killing me, what is it you plan on doing next?" she asked.
Jack grinned and wrapped an arm around Elizabeth's shoulder. "Hector my friend! We're all nigh untouchable here. Scram mate because if I want to...I can find your blasted heart and stab it and chop it!"
"But you wouldn't...because you hate nothing more than the duties that taking my place brings!"
"Aye! Maybe I wouldn't. But there's a very upset young lady here who doesn't give a bloody damn about having to do the job...she just wants to kill the man who killed her husband." Jack snapped. He was Will's friend afterall and he was Elizabeth's friend too. He cared...he hated that he did but he cared. He hated Barbossa for what he'd done.
Elizabeth nodded, confirming Jack's words.
Barbossa chuckled. "I've hid that bloody red pump of mine somewhere no one can find."
"We have an eternity to try and find it." Jack informed him.
"Surprised you even had a heart to put in the chest." Elizabeth whispered under her breath.
"Lizzie! I've had a stroke of utter brilliance."
"Don't you always?"
"Maybe ol' Barbs here can help us on our little...quest."
"What quest be that Jack? You seem to always be on a quest." Barbossa asked with a smirk.
Elizabeth ignored Barbossa. "You expect me to ask help from the man who is the reason for all my suffering?!"
"I expect you to put aside your personal feelings in aid of the bigger picture..."
"The bigger picture being killing him?"
"Noooo!" he said in a cautiouse tone. "The bigger picture being finding the espejo inverso!"
Barbossa interrupted at this point. "You want to be mortal do ye?"
"It's crossed our minds." Jack grinned.
"I can't say it hasn't crossed mine...I'm doomed but yer not! I'll help ye."
Jack looked alarmed that he'd offered to help without any persuading on his part. "What?! Why would ye do that? I haven't even convinced you yet."
Barbossa rolled his eyes. "I'll take the Pearl after yer dead and...I also miss our adventures." he grinned toothily.
"Ah! Seems like everyone's missed Captain Jack Sparrow's adventures these past years. Not tha' I blame you two. I'm an interesting bloke." he looked back and forth between Barbossa and Elizabeth who was clutching her wound in pain.
"All right! Both of you. In my cabin. Talk. Now." Jack ordered. Barbossa rolled his eyes and helped Elizabeth walk to Jack's cabin. Jack sat on his chair, resting his feet on the table.
Barbossa took the bed, laying down on it as if he still owned it. And Elizabeth sat on the corner of the desk pressing a wet cloth against the cut.
"Well there hasn't been a reunion like this since the last brethren court! Remember tha'?!" Jack chuckled as he sipped some rum.
"Clear as day." Barbossa answered.
"Frightful as a nightmare." Elizabeth spat.
"Of course there was a court after that. Neither of you showed up..." Jack smiled.
"I saw no point in it." Barbossa informed them.
"I did show up!" Elizabeth protested. "Didn't see you there."
"Must've missed eachother. I just poped me head in and left." Jack confessed. "I just realized...Lizzie! You're still our king. After this is over we can call another court! Won't that be fun...I'm sure the pirate lords have passed on the legacy so-"
"I don't think so Jack." Elizabeth shook her head.
"The lass is right. The golden days are gone Jack...nothin' we can do abou' that. Just accept it."
Jack snorted. "I refuse to stop being a pirate! You two are just bitter...and no fun. Let's just get down to business."
"First of all! You'll probably want to kill us right after we're mortal so we part ways once we find the mirror. We won't reverse our state while we're close to you."Elizabeth said.
"That's fair." Barbossa agreed.
"Me crew and I aren't even sure we want to be mortal again." Jack confessed.
This one was new on Elizabeth. "Than why are you helping me?"
"For the sake of the adventure." he grinned.
"That's fair too." Barbossa said who was helping them for the same reason. "So what can I do for you that you can't do yourself?"
"You can make sure we see no more ships in our path and..." Elizabeth trailed off. "There's the matter of deception."
As if on que Jack spread the charts on his desk. Barbossa came over to observe.
Half an hour later Barbossa finally rose to leave.
"I'll keep the bloody ships away from yer Pearl...and I'll think abou' how we can open the chest." Barbossa said as he went back to the Flying Dutchman. Even the supposedly brilliant captain hadn't found the answer to the riddle.
"Captain Barbossa! Let it be said that I still hate you for what you did to Will..." Elizabeth said right before he left.
He laughed. "Why? I'm not the only one who's to be blamed. Jack marooned me on the island where I found the chest. Why not hate him?" he said with another laugh, he was gone.
Jack felt like someone had stabbed him in the chest, he'd never considered this fact before. Elizabeth too was shocked at the revelation.
"Oh bloody heaven! I killed me best mate...without knowing it." he flopped on the bed and took a sip of rum. His eyes were still wide. "If I hadn't marooned the bastard on tha' beach he'd have never done the whole chopy-chopy thing."
"Don't blame yourself Jack...I did that for so long before I realized it was no use...it was in the hands of fate!"
Jack nodded with a sad grin. "Well there you go. I killed your dear William...I'm the reason for all your sufferin' and if I was keen on getting the mirror before now I'm bloody certain I'll get it for you."
She couldn't help it. Her heart just melted at the sight of the new determination that swept over his face. She sat beside him on the bed, rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her hands around him, hugging him tightly. "It's not your fault."
"Well! As a friend once told me...best not wollow in our grief. But Elizabeth...I swear, if I could do anything..."
"I know."
"Fan-bloody-tastic mate! You were many things...never a eunuch or a pansy. Now you've gone all mushy!" the little devil chirped.
"That's true." Jack thought.
"I think you're sweet." the angel said.
"Shut up." Jack commanded.
Elizabeth tried to stand but the pain stopped her from moving."Ow!"
"Oh! My apologies miss Swann...I'll get you bandaged up right this second." he said as he got up. He took out bandages and a bottle of rum from his desk drawer and knelt in front of her. He observed her shirt which was stained with blood and had a few buttons starting from her neck and ending right under her chest.
"Now that's going to be a bit of a problem." he mumbled to himself. "Luv are you wearing a bra?!"
"What?" she shrieked in surprise.
"I regret saying that your wound is nigh unaccessable unless I unbotten your shirt...erm, blouse!" Jack said and started undoing her shirt before she could protest that she could treat her own wound.
"Oh thank god! You are wearing a bra...it would be unfortunate if you weren't. Only for you though!" he grinned as he dabbed some rum on the cut. She flinched at the sting but didn't pull away. Though she couldn't help but shudder as his fingers brushed her flesh in the process.
"There! All done. Now take off that shirt."
"Huh?!"
"I'll give you the one I was wearing before we came aboard the Pearl...this one's bathed in blood."
"Oh!" she nodded and took the shirt off. He had to look away because he wasn't sure he could handle seeing her in so little clothing. He threw her the black shirt he'd been wearing.
"So you want to stay immortal?" she asked as she buttoned the shirt.
"I'm not sure...I'm not sure I've had enough wild adventures yet." he said. "Although even if I use the mirror I can always drink from the fountain again."
She nodded. "But is it worth going to Aqua De Vida again?!"
He chuckled. "We all took some extra water from the fountain. No need to go to that blasted place again."
"I did too...for my son. I was pregnant with him when I found the fountain and I thought I should take some for him. I still have it." she smiled sadly.
Jack wanted to ask about what had happened. What had happened to her son? Why hadn't he drank from the water? Why had he died?
He felt that she didn't want to talk about it so he left it alone...for now.
"So we can all go back if we ever regret it eh?! We can drink the water again."
"If I ever find a reason to live, I'll drink the water again." she smirked.
"I'm sure we can find you a reason to live."
"It seems you've already found your reason to live."
"Oh can you please shut it?!" he commanded the voice in his head.
"Land hooooo!" they heard Marty's voice shout.
"How can it be?! We've only been travelling for two or three days!"
"You're forgetting which ship you're on luv."
Jack grabbed his sword and pistol and strapped them on. Elizabeth took Will's sword which Barbossa -of course- had let her keep.
"Shall we?" he teased.
"We shall."
"Isla del desconocido here we come!" the two voices said together.
Love?Hate? Mixed emotions? Let me know kindly.R&R
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