Not long after the Dutchman surfaced next to two ships in the true world, Captain Turner, at the wheel, made his way towards the half sunken ship since the other one was still floating.
"Check for survivors," he ordered.
Bill looked at the other ship in wonder. "It can't be could it?" he wondered. "Will, that's a ship with black sails."
"Uh-huh," said Will, not seeing the point.
"There is only one ship with black sails upon these waters," added Bill.
Will suddenly turned to the ship with black sails. He gazed up and down the ship. "It's the Black Pearl," he noted.
"William," a voice called.
"Jack!" Will cried, rushing to main deck where Jack Sparrow stood, fixing his hat. "This is the second time I can honestly say I am glad to see you."
"Awe, you missed your dear old friend Captain Sparrow did you?" said Jack sweetly.
"Aye, I did," said Will. He looked at Jack.
The pirate hadn't changed one bit. Jack looked a little weathered from the recent years, a particular mark resembling an 'X' on his right cheek and another scar on his cheekbone on the left side added to that. Much of the flamboyance about Jack was removed. He wore the simple attire any normal sailor did. Or was it that his clothes were new and clean. He wore an ivory tunic and green vest, both hardly buttoned. A simple belt was about his hips however, the buckle was made of pure gold. The breeches were a chocolate brown and gold buttons ran down his knees. His boots were black and hardly scuffed. There was nothing really of the Jack Will knew eight years ago. The compass wasn't at his side, nor were his pistol, cutlass, and only one dark blue sash went around under his belt.
Jack's once kohl lined eyes were no longer lined in the black kohl. A rich, chocolate brown was to be seen in them. The brown seemed to bear a glistening of gold and were much bigger than they were with the kohl. A familiar red bandana remained about his head, but what made Will's eyes widen in sadness was that Jack's hair was past his shoulders in dark brown waves. The dreadlocks were gone and Jack's hair was hardly ratted from the sea air. A single braid with his treasured beads was the only reminder of Jack Sparrow as he was as it dangled on the right side of his face.
But the fact that Jack Sparrow hadn't changed in eight years caused a sly smile to prick the corner of Will's mouth. Not changing wasn't the only odd trait about him. Jack Sparrow was no normal mortal indeed.
"Are you all right Will?"
"Fine," lied Will, but continuing to gaze.
"I thought you wouldn't like my new adjustments," admitted Jack.
"Why?" Will asked.
"It was time to move on from the past. Things have changed. Jack Sparrow died Will. He died and never returned from the belly of the Kraken," Jack told him. "You know I never really came back."
"I know," agreed Will.
Jack, fingers stretched out in Will's face, smiled however. "I still have me rings though and the beads and a braid and me bandana. That should be Jack Sparrow enough."
"What about the hat?" wondered Will with a sly smile.
"I wear it whenever I can. A certain ten year old girl seems to have taken it over," said Jack.
"Ten men have moved on. The rest are alive," called Maccus, returning to the Dutchman with the rest of the crew.
Jack looked at all of them. "I see they are still human and you aren't tentacally yet," he noted.
"Impressed?" asked Will.
"Honestly, I honestly didn't think you and your murdering wife would last this long apart," said Jack then added with a finger raised. "Honest." Will laughed at the Jack Sparrow he knew. "This calls for a celebration. Rum all around. Three bottles each Turner!" Jack cried, flailing his arms about.
Ever crewmember looked at Will who forced as smile as he shook his head. "No thanks Jack."
"You do have rum don't you?" asked Jack, his face curious with worry.
Will pointed at him. "You can have the rum Jack. I have no liking for rum."
Jack's mouth dropped. A pirate captain with no liking for rum. Insulting. He took a bottle into his hand and took long drink not. He cradled the rum, not to hurt its feelings from Will's neglect.
"Why doesn't the whelp like rum?" he asked the crew.
They shook with laughter but no one dared to say anything just by the look on Will's face which meant the Locker.
Bill stepped forward. He went to Will then clamped his hand over his son's mouth and held him back. "Well Jack, he decided to feel sorry for himself. So, I gave him five bottle of rum."
Jack shrugged. "Five bottles in eight years."
"No, one day. He drank five in a few hours in fact," said Bill.
"No one is mental enough to do that. Besides, William is half dead. It should have had not affect on him," said Jack.
"Well, we are half alive. Five in just a few hours was enough," said Bill, holding his struggling son back.
"You should have been there," said Edward.
"You wish I was there. I wish I was there," said Jack, disappointed. "How drunk was he?"
The crew laughed even harder. They began imitating Will. When it was all finished, Jack was on the deck leaning against the mast turning red from laughter. He couldn't breathe. His eyes swelled with tears.
Will's face was red from embarrassment. His eyes were furious, especially since his father still hadn't let him go. Now that Jack Sparrow knew he gave it three days for the Caribbean to know and a week for the rest of the world. He managed to pull himself free from his father's hold.
"How long have you been searching for a ship with dying sailors?" he asked in an attempt to change the subject.
"A week," said Jack, brushing himself off.
"Why have you been trying to find me?" Will asked, not sure if he wanted to know.
"It's been too long since I last saw my favorite whelp. Come, we must talk about our dealings on the past," said Jack as he pushed Will to his cabin.
Inside the captain's cabin, Will sat on a chair with one leg over the arm as usual while Jack stared hard at everything. Jack poked at the carvings, spun the globe with his finger, inspected the spyglass, compared his compass to the one sitting on the table, adjusted his bandana sash while looking in the mirror, unfolded the map of Will's journey, read a few of the records and list of supplies then finally sat down. He put his feet on the table and took to his rum again.
Meanwhile, Will was hard at work with a block of wood.
Jack waited a moment, but Will made no notion that he was sitting and prepared to talk. He drummed his fingers on the wood. Seeing that didn't work, he leaned over the table and snapped in Will's face.
"Hmm, did you say something?" asked Will, like he hadn't been ignoring him.
Jack rolled his eyes as he slouched down. "You know, being captain has made you lose your mind," he pointed out.
"No, just my life," corrected Will, unhappy. He waited a moment. "This was all your fault."
"Wot?" Jack cried insulted. "Who saved your life and gave you the name Captain Turner?"
Will glared at him. "Had you stabbed the heart when you took it, I wouldn't be here and you would be immortal. That was too easy. You had to gloat in your victory."
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Wot didja expect?" asked Jack.
"Not what happened next," Will told him.
"Why do you no longer like me?" whined Jack.
"You ruined my life," said Will.
"I saved your pathetic life and brought your dear father into it," said Jack.
"No Jack, I should be with my wife and son. I don't even know how my son looks or how he acts or if he knows about me or has any friends or even knows I love him!" Will shouted.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "You have a son?"
"His name is William James Turner. He was born nine months after your victory over Beckett. I only saw him when he was two days old. That was the last time I saw both of them."
"Poor lad. The boy will never know his father but every decade for only one measly day."
"Whose fault is that Jack?"
Jack smiled. "Yours Turner. Had you let Lizzy marry the former living admiral, she would have her own son with a father at his side, but that was too easy. You're Captain Will Turner. You have to do whatever your heart tells you. How are you surviving without that beating thing inside you? I wonder, has Elizabeth Turner given up on her Turner name and gone to something else?"
Will shook his head with a smile. "She wouldn't. She promised."
"How sure are you? You haven't seen her in eight years. She hasn't seen her own husband. Perhaps you chest has been cast into the sea and she's moved on. Well, William do you know?" Jack stood and walked around the room. "You know Turner, she should be mine. It would have worked between us. Her and I. I and her. Your son should be my son. I would never abandon my own son."
"I haven't abandoned him."
"Then why are you not there? Perhaps dear Elizabeth Turner has become darling Elizabeth Sparrow with her son Will Jack Sparrow."
"You didn't! She never would!" Will hollered as he stood.
Jack looked at his fingernails. "How sure are you?"
Will breathed harder. Fear and not believing were in his eyes.
Jack looked at him smiling. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Tell me, do you fear not being loved by dear Elizabeth or that she has become my bonny lass Elizabeth Sparrow."
"Prove it Sparrow," Will demanded. His face grew pale and frightened.
Jack revealed a ring on a specific finger of his left hand. "She's better than any wench."
Will screamed as he took Jack's pistol and shot him in the chest.
Jack Sparrow did not fall dead or cry out in pain and agony. He stood in Will's cabin with a huge smile on his face. "The Immortal Captain Jack Sparrow has such a lovely ring to it. Wouldn't you agree?"
Will turned. He took something off the table. "I would agree," he said, stabbing Jack through the heart with the broken sword.
"Will, I told you to play nice!" shouted Bill as he bolted through the door.
"Hello Bill and the rest of you others," greeted Jack. He pointed at the sword sticking out of his chest. "I see you had to keep a piece of Jack Sparrow on board."
"You're not dead," noted Maccus.
"No, he found the legendary Fountain of Youth and his immortality," Will said dully. He sat on the table looking disgusted.
Jack stood next to him inspecting his fingernails. "Six bottles should help you forget."
Will looked at this father with a glare as Bill laughed. "I'll never escape it, but Jack your immortality may become of use. Now I may kill you as often as I wish"
"Good luck with that," said Jack with a raised finger.
"Be nice," Bill told Will again.
"I am. I'm letting Jack enjoy the supposed pleasures of immortality while satisfying my revenge," Will said. "He did this to me."
"No, I did," said Bill, sorrow filled.
"Ah, yes. He admits to cursing you aboard this ship," Jack said.
"Shut it!" Will ordered then pointed to his father. "Don't start."
Jack nodded. "Shut it and don't start. I like that."
Will rolled his eyes as he leapt off the table. He pulled the sword from Jack's chest. Pushing his way through the crew, he made his way to deck. The salty sea breeze was needed to calm him down.
"Wot's gotten into him?" wondered Jack.
"You made him believe his wife married you and gave him up," replied Bill.
"Oh…is that all?" Jack snapped.
Bill rolled his eyes before leaving for his son on deck.
"Here we go again," muttered Edward.
"Wot?" wondered Jack.
"The two of them are once again going to argue over which one cursed Will on this ship. Last time, Will had his father hanging by his bootstraps to shut him up. Another time, Bill wound rope around Will," added Edward.
"I wonder what they'll do next," noted Greenbeard.
"Ah, this I simply must see," Jack noted curious. He took his bottle of rum in one hand and pranced onto deck looking for the Turners.
Fortunately for Jack, the two were at the helm talking. Though, it was more like arguing with each other over what happened that time ago…again.
"Do you two always argue?" wondered Jack. Both Turners shook their head. "Then why argue now?"
"Because you're here Jack. You brought this mess upon my son the first time you met him," replied Bill.
"Had I not brought this mess upon the whelp, you would never know he exists," Jack snapped.
Bill opened his mouth and raised a finger. He realized Jack, unfortunately, was right.
"I know you're dishonest, but I need an honest answer," said Will.
"That depends on your honest question," said Jack, cautious.
"Why did you come here Jack?" Will asked softly.
Jack shrugged. "Because I wanted to know how my best friend is doing as captain of this ship," he told Will very softly, with his head down.
"Best friend?" Will asked softly.
Jack nodded. "Usually I have no feelings for anyone, but you obviously lack emotion so it's all right to admit it."
"Never thought I'd hear those words coming from your mouth," admitted Will.
"Don't expect them to, never, ever, never again," added Jack with a raised finger.
"Just don't lie to me again, especially about Elizabeth. Have you seen her?" Will began.
As more crewmembers gathered around them, Jack looked at them. He raised both forefingers. "Come, let us converse in your cabin, away from these un-Jonesy men."
"Please do not come out with swords through each other," requested Bill before they left.
"That depends on him," mumbled Will.
Bill nudged his arm before sitting in a sunny corner with his book.
In Will's cabin, again, he and Jack began their long discussion. Will explained everything from the moment he and Elizabeth parted to that moment, leaving the nights when he needed his father's shoulder more than anything from the story.
Jack, however, had quite the story: being left on Tortuga, Gibbs running off with Scarlett and Giselle, finding his immortality in a dingy then going out to find Barbossa, getting shot by Barbossa, making a deal with him that wasn't quite his plan, but benefited both: Jack got the Pearl for his own and Barbossa got immortality, Gibbs came back on the Pearl, the lovely Anamaria joining the crew, hiding from the Navy, finally doing something with his father, learning that Teague was finally proud of him, hearing stories of Davy Jones and piracy's last stand…he ended his tale telling of the legends he's heard of Captain Turner and his heavenly ship.
At the end of it all, Will smiled. "At least I know someone's life had turned out much more better than my own," he said.
Jack laughed at his words. "You are lucky though," he said. Will laughed at that. "No, you are truly lucky. Your name is legendary…William, you're a living legend. Those men aboard that ship kept going on that Captain Turner would save them from death. Each day the legend grows and I become nothing. I just fade into ancient history like the Geeks did."
"You mean Greeks," said Will.
Jack waved it off. He looked at Will's carving. "Sea Turtle," he noted with a smile. He took it from Will's hand just before Will brought the knife down. "This is good."
"Come with me," said Will, standing.
Jack followed Will to the organ chamber. He looked at the shelves of carvings and piles of wood. His eyes fell upon the organ. He daintily walked over while Will searched through his carvings. He played a note then jumped back.
Will laughed. He came to him and held out a carving that was the size of his hand.
Jack took it. "It's a sparrow. A sparrow for Jack Sparrow," he noted.
"Better than a sea turtle," said Will.
"I see you do have a liking for sea turtles mate," Jack said as he went toe the wall of sea turtles. He poked at all of them. "Not many are alike Turner."
"The children don't take the pairs," said Will as he sat on the bench in front of the organ. He began playing with his chest of sand.
Jack carefully reached for the two sea turtles. They were the size of his hand outstretched. Both were exactly alike and completely flawless.
"I like these," he noted.
"I just made those: one on my birthday and the other on Elizabeth's," added Will.
"You know, William, I have your sea turtle game discovered," said Jack.
"Really?"
"Even with all these sea turtles strapped to your feet cannot lead you to Elizabeth and her to you," Jack told him obvious.
"No," Will said with a heavy sigh. He wrote Elizabeth and Will into his chest of sand.
Inspiration struck. He took the two turtles from Jack's hand. He pulled out his knife and began to carefully carve into their backs.
Jack leaned over. "Wot are you doing?"
"Sea turtles may not bring us together, but they can keep us together," explained Will. He held the sea turtles up.
Jack looked at both. One had Elizabeth carved into the back, the other had William. "Just how do you intend to deliver these to dear Lizzy?" he asked.
Will looked at him with a sly smile as he drummed his fingers on the wood.
Jack turned. "There's no one there," he noted.
"No, Jack, you can be the delivery boy. Give this to Elizabeth," said Will, handing him the turtle with William carved onto the back. He fumbled through his carvings until he found a ship the length of his forearm. "This you can give to my son." Jack unwillingly took them. "You're the only way I have to them for two years."
"No, I don't want to do this. They can wait," Jack said.
"Trust me, you want to do this because dong this keeps you from ever returning from the Locker which is where you'll be returning if you don't want to do this," Will told him, playing with his sand.
Jack's face grew pale as his eyes dulled. The memory of being in the Locker alone forever came back. He looked at Will and nodded. "I want to do this."
"Good," said Will, sifting sand through his fingers into the chest.
Jack watched. "If you ever stepped on that," he began, pointing at the sand.
"I know; father gives me this lecture each time he sees me doing this. I've smashed half the jars on Earth to keep it in this, but he insists that the sand must be kept in a jar," Will said with the tone that he really didn't feel like hearing it again.
"There is a way to seek revenge on him for giving you the rum incident," said Jack with a smile.
Will looked at him with a scheming grin.
Both Captain Turner and Sparrow returned to main deck without swords through them. They laughed as Bill went to them.
"Jack, your crew is becoming bored. They've been swinging from ship to ship and that monkey is going to get shot," Bill told them.
"It doesn't work," Will reminded as he pointed at the monkey with his jar.
"You finally put that death trap in a sealed jar," said Bill relieved.
"I've heard the lecture too many times. I swear I say it in my sleep," said Will.
"Actually, you do," laughed Bill.
Rolling his eyes, Will walked away.
"How is he truly?" wondered Jack as he pulled Bill into a corner.
"Better, he's come to accept this. It took eight years, but he has. You don't know how many nights he's cried in my arms, just wanting to be held and loved by someone again."
"The whelp never mentioned that," noted Jack, looking at Will while the monkey climbed on him.
"Will needs her and his boy. He needs them more than me. He should have them not I," said Bill.
"Don't be so hard on yourself or him when he plays with his sand," said Jack, before walking off.
Bill watched his son talk with the Black Pearl's crew. They looked at Will with deep respect and admiration. He knew it felt good to see old friends again.
Late evening Will stood at the bow with a handful of sand in his palm.
Bill looked at him with the look that meant put it back.
"I wonder what would really happen if I set foot on it," said Will thoughtful.
He looked at his open palm of sand. His eyes were curious and longing. He slowly bent down.
Bill began to go to him deeply afraid.
Jack stepped in front of him as the monkey chased him.
Bill slowly went to Will.
Will opened his palm on the wood then stood up again. He looked at his father.
"We've always wanted to know," he said as he lifted is foot over where his hand was.
"William, no!" Bill cried desperate as he rushed to him.
Will's foot was over that spot. He looked at the sun that touched the horizon. He suddenly fell to his knees screaming in torturous pain. He struggled to breathe as he clutched his breast. He fell forward on his stomach.
"No, please no," pleaded Bill Turner as he took Will into his arms.
Will weakly looked at him. His eyes pleaded for forgiveness. He tried reaching out to him. "I'm sorry," he said pained. He sighed and fell into his father's arms. His body went limp as it had done years ago.
"Will, no. Please. Will, come back! No, Will," Bill sobbed, rocking back and forth.
Both crews surrounded them. No one said anything. They stared down at Will in horror. The only sound was from Bill crying into Will and…Jack Sparrow laughing.
Jack was against the mast doing all he could not to laugh. He let it out in a long burst. His body trembled and ached from laughing.
Bill looked at him, tear soaked and horror struck. "How can you laugh Jack? Even you care for Will. Now he's dead. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have gotten him that jar of sand. I should have thrown it into the sea. I should be the one lying here." He cried into his son's hair. "William, my son. Why? Why Will? How can I tell Elizabeth and little Will that you are dead?"
"Actually, she knows I'm dead because I'm half alive. When you're half alive technically that means you are half dead."
Bill gasped along with everyone, but Jack, as he looked down at Will.
Will Turner smiled at his father as he set his arm behind his head. "Move your arm up more. My neck hurts," he told him.
"William, you're all right! You're alive!" Bill cried, holding his son close. Will's body trembled from laughter. Bill pulled him away. "You're all right!" he screamed furious. He slapped Will twice.
Will didn't move. He was in his father's arms laughing too hard. He could barely breathe.
Bill dropped him on deck.
"Ouch," Will laughed as his head bounced off the wood.
Bill stood absolutely furious. He held onto the rail while he caught his breath and began to calm. His body still trembled in fear. He looked down at Will who still laughed.
"Will," he began but nothing else came out.
Everyone else understood and broke out laughing as well.
"This makes up for everything you've done to me," Will told him finally standing. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He took a deep breath.
Bill's fingers clenched as he turned away.
"Jack, remind me to thank you," said Will, leaning on the rail.
"My pleasure William," Jack said proudly.
Will noticed that his father came from the hold with a bottle of rum.
Bill glanced at Will then took a long drink.
"Ah, I almost forgot," Jack said with a raised finger. He scurried over to his Pearl then scurried back. "I noticed you have no colors."
He handed Will a slightly weathered piece of cloth.
Quite curious to see that Jack Sparrow had given him a gift, Will unfolded the cloth. It was the Pearl's colors, the very same that was hoisted by the Pirate King, and flown their last stand.
"Jack, what about your colors?" he asked.
"Already have them," replied Jack proudly as he pointed towards the Jolly Roger high above his ship blowing in the breeze.
Will smiled as he handed the flag to his father. "Hoist the colors Mr. Turner," he ordered.
Bill smiled as he did so.
The flag was flown once more.
Will stared hard as it folded and blew in the breeze as it had done so long ago.
"Consider that your wedding present," said Jack. He turned toward his crew. "All hands, on deck! Haul those sheets!"
Will watched as they all scurried back to the Black Pearl while waving and saying their farewells to him.
"Jack," Will said before Jack left. Jack whipped around. "The Locker or not."
"I'll choose not," Jack said immediately.
Will returned to his cabin. Moments later he handed Jack the sea turtle and ship.
"When she is in private give her this," he added handing Jack a letter. "If I find that you've read it that means the Locker as well. Deliver these and don't read the letter then you can still be the free Jack Sparrow. If not, it means Will Turner's Locker." Jack laughed at that. "I wouldn't laugh if I were you Captain Sparrow," Will added with seriousness.
Jack smiled and nodded. "Well then Turner, the sea is calling," he said gloriously the turned to board his ship.
"Captain, Captain Turner," Will told him.
Jack turned his head and shrugged. He took three steps.
"You know Jack, you still owe me money," Bill called, rather annoyed.
"Well, you've gone this long without it," Jack noted continuing to walk away.
"Pay him or you go to the Locker," added Will.
"The next time we meet," replied Jack walking faster.
"Now Jack," Will told him. "No matter where you are at sea I'll find you and set my pet after you which just happens to be Jones's Kraken."
Jack Sparrow stopped dead. He turned as he fumbled for any bag on him. He quickly handed it to Bill.
"Take what you need," he told him cautiously.
"Give nothing back," replied Bill very pleased. "Thank you Jack."
Jack turned and grumbled, walking away.
"Tell little Will I love him and I'll be home in two years," added Will quickly.
"I'm to understand that if it doesn't that as well means the Locker?" wondered Jack in a sarcastic tone.
"No, it is just a request," Will told him simply.
"Any more bloody orders Captain Turner?" Jack asked with a heavy sigh.
"Aye, come back in a few years," said Will with a soft smile.
"As you wish my rum unliking pirate friend," Jack promised.
Finally, he was able to set foot on the Pearl's deck. They began to sail away.
Not too far away, Will heard every man aboard the Black Pearl burst into laughter. The laughing didn't end, but a pirate chantey began. Yo, ho, yo, ho, a pirate's life for me. One voice carried out louder that the others. Ho yo, ho yo, pirate's a life me for.
"Sparrow!" Will hollered, furious.
The laughter became louder.
"The world is going to know of that in a month," laughed Bill.
"Nope. Thanks to our dear friend Jack Sparrow, I give it a week," Will told him unimpressed.
Bill Turner looked away as he rubbed the back of his neck. He was thinking more like around three days for the whole population of the world to know what he did to Will, but, of course, he would never admit that.
A Note from TurtleHeart: i have more done than this, but last minute i realized i needed a very important scene following this reunion. i have to simply get it into words from my ideas store so it should be up along with the rest of what i have redone soon. i just thought i would provide my readers with a little piece to keep it going. hope you are all enjoying it!