Chapter 1
The Black Pearl (A Fortnight Later)
Margot sat in the crow's nest and stared at the horizon, watching the sun set. She sighed and glanced down to see her father at the helm, touching the wheel every once in a while to set their course.
She grinned as he appeared to lose his balance and lurch to the right before catching himself. Jack Sparrow was still a handsome man, his black hair streaked with white but still long and full of beads and other trinkets. His skin had startled to wrinkle and lose some of its color but his muscles remained intact aside from his slight rum belly.
Margot heard a noise and turned to see Petey climb up into the crow's nest, "Shift's over".
Margot clambered down the rigging and hopped onto the deck. She sauntered over to Jack and stood beside him at the wheel.
"Hey Da," she smiled.
Jack Sparrow looked down at his only child and smiled back, "How's my lovely lass?"
Margot rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, "Why Port Royal? Norrington will want your head".
Jack sighed, "A promise to a friend".
Margot looked up at him frowning, "I didn't think you had many friends, Da".
He smirked, "Me neither".
Port Royal
It was midnight and Weatherby Swann and John Turner were sitting on a deserted beach, waiting.
"Tell me again why we're sitting here," muttered Johnny as he stared at the ocean.
"Sparrow and I arranged a rendezvous here. He can't be seen in Port Royal or he will hang," replied Swann.
"The least he could do is be punctual," frowned Johnny.
"Pirate," shrugged a voice from behind them.
Johnny leapt up and turned to see a pirate leaning against a palm tree examining his fingernails. He pushed off the tree and ambled over to where Johnny stood with his grandfather. Johnny frowned as he watched the man stumble and weave, his hands flailing about.
"Swann," the pirate tipped his hat.
"Jack Sparrow," sighed Swann, "This is my grandson John Turner".
The pirate 'Jack Sparrow' stared intently at Johnny, "So I hear you're definitely not a eunuch".
"Hardly," tersely answered Johnny.
Sparrow smirked, "Finally, a Turner I can relate to. Well we'll be off then. My crew's waiting".
He took off down the beach and John turned to his grandfather, "I'm named after that?"
His grandfather smiled and hugged him tight, "Godspeed John".
He returned the hug and then let go, "Goodbye Grandfather".
Weatherby watched as his grandson disappeared into the night after Jack Sparrow, a tear slipping down his cheek.
An Old Rowboat
Silence filled the air as Jack Sparrow rowed the two of them to his ship. Johnny couldn't see a ship anywhere in the distance and assumed it was going to be a long, silent journey.
"How did you know my parents?" Johnny decided to break the silence.
Jack tensed and stopped rowing, cursing under his breath, "Didn't think ye'd be asking that so soon".
Johnny quirked an eyebrow, "Well I am".
"Strange things happen in these waters lad. I saved your parents once, and they saved me. We had an accord".
"And this accord included taking care of their son?"
Jack Sparrow resumed rowing, "I'm not taking care of ye, land lubber. I had a space on me ship and needed an extra hand".
Johnny sighed and slumped down in his seat, "How far away is said ship?"
Sparrow laughed, "Why Turner, it's right in front of yer face".
Johnny squinted into the darkness and to his surprise a ship started to materialize, a black ship with black sails, virtually invisible in the darkness.
"The Black Pearl. Make yourself useful and get that line".
Johnny grabbed the rope and he and Sparrow scrambled up the side of the boat. Jack hopped on board with practiced eased and Johnny attempted to follow suit but tripped at the last moment, falling flat on his face.
The Black Pearl
Johnny picked himself off the deck as laughter rang out around him. One laugh in particular caught his attention and he looked up to see Jack Sparrow with his arm around a beautiful girl. Her long black hair was loose around her shoulders and her violet eyes were sparkling with her laughter. He stared at her, one corner of his mouth turning up, giving her his lady-killing smirk. She just raised her eyebrows and shook her head, ducking under Sparrow's arm and strolling away.
He gazed after her and was shaken out of his thoughts by another pirate, "Why'd ye pick up this lubber Captain?"
An old pirate to Sparrow's left glared at the speaker and held out a hand to Johnny, "Hello there young Turner".
Johnny took his hand and stood up, a question on his face.
"Ye look just like William ye do. I'm Mr. Gibbs".
Johnny smiled at him and started to respond when Jack interrupted, "Mr. Gibbs. Signal the men, set the flags and make good to clear port".
"Aye aye Cap'n!" responded Gibbs as he set the men to their tasks.
"Turner. Find yourself a bunk and put your things there. Then help my crew," ordered Jack as he turned to the wheel.
Johnny picked his bag off the deck and carried it below decks, picking out an empty hammock and throwing his things on top of it. He walked up the stairs and turned a corner, ramming into someone. He steadied the person and felt a fist in his stomach.
"Mind your hands," glared the girl from earlier as he bent over in pain.
"Sorry," murmured Johnny. He straightened, holding out his hand, "I'm Johnny Turner".
The girl looked up swiftly, "Turner?"
She ignored his outstretched hand, muttered something under her breath, and went marching upstairs.
Johnny shook his head, "Strange girl".
Up on deck Margot was confronting her father, "You've brought a Turner on board then?"
Jack sighed, "Aye love. That I have".
"Mum told me all about the Turners you know. They've caused you nothing but trouble. A promise to a friend? You owe them no promise".
"Lass. Your mum was a bit prejudiced against the Turners. I may have told her tales that were…dishonest," admitted Jack sheepishly.
Margot put her hands on her hips, "Then mayhap you start telling me the honest ones".