/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Eighteen

The next several days passed in a blur. Early every morning, Ana Maria left to go into Tortuga, sometimes not coming back until late at night. Jack for the most part kept his promise to watch out for me until he could no longer stand my personality and he ran off into Tortuga until the next morning when he'd stagger back to Ana Maria's fully drunk and bloody from the various fights that had erupted.

As for me, I took full advantage of routine. I slept until nine every morning before rising and fixing myself something to eat, then sat out front until the heat became unbearable and then I would go inside to do Ana Maria's chores for her before walking into town for supplies or going off into the woods to get some exercise.

One night, three weeks later, Ana Maria came home earlier for the first time since Jack and I came. Surprisingly, Jack was also home, sitting in the corner having his usual bottle of rum. Crossing the room, Ana Maria sat at the table. Sitting by the fire, I looked at her curiously. I could tell something good had happened by the way her eyes shone.

"Well, what's happened?" Jack finally asked. "You just can't sit there staring at us all night."

Ana Maria smiled lovingly at Jack. "You better watch your tongue there, Jack, look who's the one taking advantage of my place."

Jack shrugged. "Good a place as any. I knew you wouldn't kick us dear souls out after all that we've been through."

Ana Maria rolled her eyes. "I'm only doing this because of Elizabeth…and because I knew you would get yourself in trouble if I didn't take you in."

"Of course. This is the Caribbean, love, what else could you expect?" Jack asked.

I could tell that Ana Maria wanted to say something smart back at him, but chose to ignore his comment. I couldn't help but admire her for this feat. If it were me, I would have sassed him and the teasing and arguing would continue on for a while longer—several hours at tops.

"The Caribbean or not, I have the news that you have been waiting to hear," Ana Maria continued.

I gave Jack a warning look to not say anything stupid before turning back to Ana Maria. "And please tell what this news is. I hope it's good."

"I guess it depends on how you interpret what I'm going to tell you," Ana Maria exclaimed.

"And please tell us," Jack blurted out. "We don't have all day."

Ana Maria glared at Jack for several moments before continuing on. "The good news is that I have found you a ship. The bloke who owned had gotten himself promoted and rewarded with a better ship and needed to get rid of his old one before he could receive the new one. I got it at a fairly reasonable price."

"And how much was the reasonable price?" Jack asked. "I'm sure reasonable prices don't come often or as cheap as you're implying, Ana Maria."

"How I come by my wares is none of your business, Jack Sparrow," Ana Maria said sharply.

"And what is the other piece of news?" I interrupted quickly, not wanting an argument to erupt or Ana Maria to divulge any of her private business.

"I found out about your Commodore Norrington," Ana Maria continued. "He had been here recently and stayed for several weeks. But just last Friday he left for Port Royal saying that he had some 'urgent business' there that couldn't wait."

Silence fell upon the little cabin. I sat in shock, still digesting the news. Norrington had left for Port Royal with some urgent business and that could mean only one thing. He had Davy Jones' heart and he was already on his way to deliver it to the worst person that possibly have it in possession right now. And that person was Cutler Beckett.

I grasped Ana Maria's shoulder fervently. "We must go now, there's no time to lose. Who knows what kind of trouble Norrington has caused by delivering that heart to Port Royal."

Jack crossed his arms. "And where, do you propose that we find a crew, Elizabeth? They just don't magically appear on the ship when you're ready to go."

"Well, you and Will managed a ship together by yourselves without any other crew. It's not entirely impossible," I retorted.

"Trust Will to tell you all of that," Jack exclaimed. "That incident was a string of good lucky between two ships to get us on our way. It wouldn't have happened otherwise."

"Well, you're the man who makes the strings of good luck, so why can't you do it again?" I asked haughtily, unable to see why he was being so hardheaded.

Ana Maria placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "I think Jack's right, Elizabeth. It's virtually impossible to steer a ship with just the three of us and we can't rely on good luck to see us through. We'll need to find a strong, sturdy crew."

I sighed exasperatedly. "But we don't have time to find a good crew, and if we're to find one here in Tortuga, well, let's just say it will take a really long time."

"Would you rather make haste and go blindly into this mission and mostly likely fail, or would you rather take the time to make a good plan and win the mission when the enemy thinks they're the safest?" Jack asked.

I looked at Jack defiantly. "If you think that's best, Jack, but personally, I believe we should go now. People's lives are at stake right now, people's very souls. Do you want that on your conscience the rest of your life if your plan goes by the wayside?"

Jack smiled broadly. "Not many things stay on my conscience, even when my important plans fail."

I threw up my hands in disgust. "Have it your way, Jack Sparrow. But just remember when everything goes wrong, my conscience will be clear."

Jack bowed slightly in mock modesty. "I will remember that if and when the time comes, Elizabeth Swann."

I sighed and shook my head. "I don't know why I'm arguing with you." Walking to the front door, I turned back around to face Jack and Ana Maria. "I'm going to go out for a while. Don't expect me until later."

"Elizabeth, it's dangerous out in Tortuga at night," Ana Maria warned. "I don't want you to make any rash actions while you're still angry."

"I've been in Tortuga at night, Ana Maria, I'm fully capable of taking care of myself," I said angrily. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Without another word, I headed out the door. I wanted to be out and alone by myself for a while. Nobody could deny me that privilege.

"Don't do anything stupid!" Jack called out after me, but I didn't listen. I was already halfway down the lane into town.

Walking quickly, I let my mind run over everything that I had heard. Norrington had been here and I was so close to catching him. Maybe I should have done my own searching so it would have gone faster. It was a little too late now.

As I continued on my way, I couldn't help but notice two figures up ahead of me. Slowing my pace down, I decided to eavesdrop on the conversation to see if they could be trusted before passing them by.

"Well, there's only so many places that she could be," the first voice said.

"Not unless she has found herself the right sort of friends to help her on her away—or to keep her hidden," the second man exclaimed.

I stopped short. The voices sounded so familiar to me, yet I couldn't place where I had heard them before. I kept walking behind them, trying to divulge any more information from them to see who they are.

"Well, you know how that young Turner is, he doesn't want to wait for anybody else's opinion," the first man said. "He wants to do it his way and right away, as well. And he best find what he's looking for, or he'll be severely disappointed. You know how those feisty young man can be, they get disappointed then they do something rash."

I stopped short. Turner. Were they talking about Will? I only knew two Turners and the man's reference to a young Turner could only mean one thing. It meant that Will and his father were in town. Maybe Will truly did love me after all to follow to the ends of the earth.

Not looking where I was going, I found myself tripping on a tree root and fell flat onto my face. I gritted my teeth and was about to get up when two rough pairs of hands grabbed my arms and lifted me up. Tossing my hair out of my eyes, I found myself looking into Pintel and Ragetti's eyes. I sighed with exasperation. I should have known it was the two of them.

Pintel grinned and looked deep into my eyes. "Hello, Poppy. We've been looking for you and you've made your man angry with worry looking all over for you."

I jerked my arms out of their grips. "You let go of me. I don't need help from you."

Pintel narrowed his eyes. "Not unless you want to miss your beloved Will in the process. Tortuga's a busy place at night and it's impossibility to find a single man among thousands."

I shook my head. "I don't trust you. I've got friends that can help me find Will if I need to find him."

Pintel smiled. "We won't be here much longer and you'll miss him yet if you wait. Come with us and we'll take you straight to him."

I recoiled slightly. "How can I trust you?"

Pintel raised his hands in defense. "I'll let you have your hands free so in case we do any rash actions, you'll be free to defend ourselves."

I let my hand rest on the hilt of the sword that I kept on me at all times. "If I have such freedom, can I go back and get a couple of my close friends to come with me? They would be happy to see Will and everybody else again."

Pintel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What kind of friends are these?"

I smiled, proud that I have a weakness. "Oh, you know them quite well. You've been out on the seven seas with them for many years."

"And who are these people if we know them so well?" Ragetti asked.

"Only the famous Captain Jack Sparrow and Ana Maria," I exclaimed triumphantly.

"Did you say Ana Maria?" Pintel asked softly.

I nodded. "The very same."

"We haven't seen her in years, have we, Pintel?" Ragetti asked. "She hasn't paid us her debt yet and she's been eluding us ever since we brought it up onto her."

"Why don't you lead us to ole Jack and the charming Ana Maria," Pintel stated. "And we'll all go together back to Tortuga. And there we can lead you to your Will."

Conscience told me that I shouldn't bring them to Ana Maria's house, but I was desperate to see Will again and have a good long talk with him. I nodded in agreement.

"Fine, we have ourselves an accord," I finally said. Pintel and Ragetti grinned happily.

"Show us the way, then," Pintel exclaimed.

"Follow me then," I answered and soon we were heading back the way I came from just a few minutes earlier. I hoped all would turn out the way I hoped, or I was going to be disappointed.

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Author's Note: Here's the long anticipated chapter eighteen! I hope everybody enjoyed it—I made sure that I wrote a long chapter and it has satisfied everybody. I'm back from vacation and I hope everybody hasn't become too impatient. On another note, I will be starting school in about a week or so and the updates might become sparse than what I usually do, so I hope everybody will be patient with me and I'll update when I can.

Thanks to everybody who reviewed, I really appreciate it—it keeps me going. I'll update again as soon as I can and don't forget to review—it keeps the writer happy!