Bedtime Story: Tell Us a Story

by TurtleHeart

A tale Will tells to the family: his destiny never occured, Jack had amnesia, Elizabeth was in a coma, and he returned home to what he ran away from. What he learns about Jack and his own past... Part One completed.

2. II

-)(-

"Awkward timing to walk into a story," said Dirk, Marie and Joceline behind him.

Liam giggled as he squirmed against his father. "Daddy was afraid to eat a sandwich."

"I didn't know wot it was," replied Jack. "I didn't know wot a lot of things were. You don't like things you don't know wot they are. Stop mocking me about it."

With an innocent smile Jack once gave me, Liam looked at Jack.

Jack nodded to me. "Go on, this is making much more sense to me now."

"Not really," my incredible cousin Dirk decided to comment upon as he sat backwards in a chair beside his father across from me.

I rolled my eyes and continued the story. Finally, after a bit of convincing it wasn't going to kill him and that he would like it, Jack did take a bite from the sandwich to discover he did in fact like it.

-)(-

Having eaten his sandwich as Jack merely began eating his, Will took the bowl of meat and vegetable soup in his lap. A small amount was scooped into the spoon. He set the spoon in his mouth, thought a moment, and then nodded his head.

"Not bad," he admitted. "Hot, but not bad at all."

"What is that?" asked Jack.

"Soup," replied Will. "It's good in fact."

Finished with the sandwich, Jack set the rest on his plate. He stuck his finger in the middle of the bowl. Yelping, he pulled back and sucked on it.

"I don't like soup," he announced.

"Blow on it Jack. Soup is hot," said Will.

He watched Jack blow on a spoonful of the soup then slowly eat it. Although he never would admit it to anyone, watching Jack caused him to smile every time. Jack looked and acted like a small child, curious about everything in the world. He trusted him like the world in fact.

"What?" asked Jack. "You're looking at me oddly."

"I'm sorry, I just feel like I'm beginning to know who you are," replied Will.

Jack's face lit with joy. He set the soup on a table beside him then stared at Will. "You know me?"

"Of course I do," said Will. "We've known each other for over two years."

"How did we meet?" asked Jack.

Will smiled. "We met in Port Royal, Jamaica. At the time, you were a pirate on the run from the Royal Navy. Pirates and marines have never been good together. You wandered into the smithy, the place where a blacksmith works…"

"What is a blacksmith?" wondered Jack.

"A blacksmith is someone who makes swords, cells with half barrel hinges, horseshoes, and anything with metal. I was a blacksmith," explained Will before continuing. "We fought a small battle between the two of us and you said I seemed familiar. It was my father you meant at the time. You were an odd person Jack, but wonderful."

"Am I now?" asked Jack quietly.

"You still are," said Will.

Jack nodded. He looked at the blanket then played with a loose end. His face lowered more. Something was clearly on his mind.

Will tilted his head to attempt to see Jack's. "Tell me what is in that mind of yours."

Jack raised his head with tears in his eyes. "Do you think I'll ever remember who I am or will I always feel like this?"

"Like what?" asked Will, scooting closer to him.

"I don't know how to tell you," said Jack with a shrug. "I don't know anything."

Will set his palms on Jack's shoulders. "I will help you remember who you are. I promise you Jack, you will know who you are."

"If I never remember?" asked Jack.

Will shook his head. "You will, I promise. Do you know what a promise is?" Jack slowly shook his head. "A promise is something someone makes to another person. A promise can never be broken. When a person says I promise, it means he is forever debted to remain true. He has to do good on his promise no matter what. So, no matter what happens, I have to help you remember who Jack Sparrow is and I will do just that."

"You will help me then?" asked Jack, quite unsure.

Nodding, Will stood. He searched around the room. On a table in the corner where a few pieces of eight, holes already through them and leather cord wound in a ball beside that. He strung a few glass beads, the piece of eight, a random shell, and tied a square knot on the side. He tied the ends on the leather then began back to Jack.

"Here, this is my promise to you. Until you remember who you are, this will remind me I made a promise and you have to tell everyone that I promised you I would help you. With the entire world knowing I made you a promise, I will have to stay true and you can always remind me this necklace is a promise I made to you Jack," said Will. He set the necklace around Jack's neck.

Jack looked at the necklace. He looked at the piece of eight and smiled.

"What?" asked Will, the expression on Jack's face seeming hopeful.

"It looks like the one you have," noted Jack.

Will looked at his neck. Not only did the necklace Elizabeth gave to him hang, but the two rings did as well. He slumped low.

"What is it? You don't seem like you just did," said Jack.

"Don't worry about me Jack. All I want you to do is think about you. I will worry about the rest," said Will.

Jack gave a nod of his head, his hair falling in front of his face. Moving his hair, he laughed. Looking at Will he realized how much he truly did like him.

Will and Jack shared a smile that was much closer than being friends. They shared a smile brothers would have.

Rather than sleeping, as he should have been doing, Will lay on his back during the middle of the night. His fingers slipped in and out of the rings around his neck as his eyes stared at the ceiling.

Below, reflecting moonlight from the water cast lighted shadows on the ceiling. The light danced with the rhythm of the night.

His right hand was below his head. Sleep was an impossible task to accomplish at the moment. Thoughts plagued his mind. Edward was captain of the Flying Dutchman, his own father was helping and supposedly would receive freedom afterward, his wife was unlikely to wake from her injuries, the great battle for piracy ended and even now he felt piracy was a lost cause, he was injured and sore from something he couldn't recall happening to him, Jack Sparrow didn't know a single trait about himself, and he somehow had to tell the rest of the world that Jack Sparrow currently had amnesia in the morning.

Will sighed. How was he going to tell everyone about Jack? The world knew Jack Sparrow as a great pirate who made up everything as he went along. No one could ever match his cunning. He possessed such a unique mind that anything else wasn't the same. There was only room for one Jack Sparrow and the world was lost. Never again, even if Jack did remember anything, was the world going to be the same. He knew, if Jack did remember, nothing was going to be the same.

In all truth Will had to admit to himself that he didn't know anything about Jack and he knew he was the only one who could help Jack Sparrow. He didn't trust another soul, nor did he have a choice. By making Jack a promise, he sold his soul to helping Jack Sparrow remember. He wasn't sure Jack trusted anyone but him.

As the night was beginning to melt away by a faint glow beyond the cliffs of the Cove, Will's tired, heavy eyes finally fell shut, but his mind continued to ponder and question everything he was about to embark on.

Although it was needed, Will did not sleep long. He woke to much more pain than the previous day and Joshamee Gibbs taking bloody rags and cloth into a bowl.

"What did you to me?" asked Will, his breaths heavy.

"Cleaned your wound, stitched thicker thread into your skin, and placed clean bandages around your body," replied Gibbs.

"Should it hurt like this?" wondered Will.

"Feel as though it is burning?" asked Gibbs. Will nodded. "Compliments of Edward Teague. He contains quite the apothecary in the Caribbean. I have medicines for you, Jack, and Elizabeth."

"How is she?" wondered Will as he pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Same as before," replied Gibbs.

Will's eyes closed as he slumped. "I'm not going to give up on her Josh, nor on Jack."

"He was asking about you all morning Will. I think he needs you by his side," hinted Gibbs.

Slowly, Will pushed the blanket from his body. He stood, moving one limb and bone at a time. "Do anyone but you and I know of his condition?"

Guilt in his eyes, Gibbs shook his head. "I don't want to tell them Will. Jack's like a son to me. I don't know how to tell them."

"The best way of doing anything is to just do it," replied Will as he pulled a clean tunic over his head and breathed sharply as he did so.

"Please don't over do it Will. Your body needs to rest," requested Gibbs.

"I can rest later," Will told him as he took his coat from off the table. He turned to Gibbs. "How does it look?"

"Will, a slight infection began. I have something I need to combine with your blood day and night for a few days. You will allow me to do it without fighting. I don't approve to see you out of bed, but I won't be something I'm not," said Gibbs.

"Which is?" wondered Will, his eyes narrow in confusion.

"Your father William," replied Gibbs. He shrugged then added more. "But he did tell me to look after you as if you were my son."

"To begin, you can rally the Black Pearl and anyone else who should know of Jack," said Will as he and Gibbs began walking down the hall. "Who is with Jack now?"

While saying this, Will found himself being led to Jack.

Jack was asleep on his side, curled in blankets.

"I had to do it Will," said Gibbs, apologies in his voice. "His head was throbbing and burning. He isn't naturally asleep."

"I would rather have him like this while I think of what to do. I don't want him being alone while he is awake. There is no telling what a mindless Jack Sparrow will do," admitted Will.

Not long after, Will sat at the far end of the table in the Court Room with six others accompanied by two each sat around the table.

"Josh, I meant only the crew when I told you all those should know," said Will.

"William, these are the Pirate Lords. They do deserve to know. To tell the crew should be done in a more private matter with Jack present," said Gibbs.

Will swallowed hard as he fidgeted in the chair. His mouth moved into several words several times. Each attempt was another fail at saying the words. He drew a breath then looked at each one of them.

"Do all know what amnesia is?" he began.

Heads nodded around the room.

"Jack," began Will, his voice failing him again. "Jack Sparrow has amnesia. He has no memory of his life. When I saw him, I had to introduce Joshamee and myself as well as tell him his own name. Jack's mind is lost from him."

"When has he had a mind?" asked Barbossa.

"Before now," replied Will, his eyes staring at the table. He looked at them. "You don't believe me do you?"

"Jack Sparrow cannot be harmed," said Mistress Ching.

"He always manages to find away from harm," noted Jocard.

"Not this time," said Will.

A heavy sigh carried across them as Hector Barbossa suddenly sat in the chair. His mind recalled past events. "Your father brought you bloodied here. I took Elizabeth. Edward carried Jack back. The entire side of his face was bloodied and his skin white, but only his face white. I saw his head." He looked at Will, his eyes wide and confused and an emotion Will believed to be concern and fear. "Jack Sparrow's memories were struck from him as his head was struck."

Will nodded. "His skull is slightly bruised, eye bloodshot, and forehead severely bruised. He asked me if it was all right to eat a sandwich."

"I don't believe you," said Ammand. "I have known Jack Sparrow and Edward Teague many years."

"What will it take for you to believe me?" shouted Will. "Jack Sparrow does not know who he is. He has amnesia. My wife will never wake again. I have an infection growing on my body. None of you did anything. Three people faced Davy Jones and all three of us nearly died. What more do you need? Do you need proof that Jack Sparrow's mind is lost? I'm sorry to say Jack is unconscious at the moment, otherwise I would have brought him here. He is unconscious not only because his head causes him terrible pain, but because Joshamee and I don't know what to do with him. I made Jack a promise after explaining to him what a promise was. I told him I would die if it meant returning his memories to his soul. It is no wonder none of you believe me. You did nothing to prevent this from happening." He stood. "If you'll excuse me, I'll be with Jack. He doesn't deserve to be alone. He's already alone from the world. I'm not going to cause him more pain."

The short conversation completed, those in the room watched Will walk out.

Each of them looked at each other, questioning whether to believe the difficult news Will brought upon them or question the difficulty that something terrible happened to a man the world seemed to believe as immortal.

Although he didn't know why, Will's feet took him to his wife's side. All he did was sit at her side, gazing at her beautiful face. Once every few minutes he brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

It was she. She was the only soul in the entire world that calmed his troubled mind and brought comfort to him. If it were not him who went to her she would come to him. Of all people, she knew him the best. Simply being beside her gave him untold comfort. He felt the most comfort at her side now than he ever had since waking.

"I wish upon every shooting star that you wake soon," Will told her. "I don't know what to do. I know, if you were awake, you would know what to do for Jack. You would know what would bring about his memory and you would help ease my pain. You don't know how much pain I'm in and it's only pain from my chest. Add your condition and Jack, and I don't know why I'm still alive. I can't do this on my own. Josh won't know what to do because Jack was like a son to him. I don't believe Barbossa has a single care for Jack. He can take the Pearl and not worry about fighting for it again. None of the Lords believed me. And Jack is lost from everything. I don't know what to do."

He soon found himself laying beside her, his hand wrapping around hers. Hours as his mind slipped in and out of sleep, he lay beside his wife simply thinking of what he could do in the world to help Jack, ease his pain, and bring her to life. Now more than ever he wanted his father. There were times before when his wanted his father, but now was the greatest of them all.

Finally, near the end of the day Will's mind became completely conscious again. Seeing her as the way she had been for days, he sighed heavily. Since he was the one in there tonight, he poured a few mouthfuls of water into her body drip by drip.

He pressed his lips against hers before walking out with a solemn mood upon him. Walking down the hall, he heard sweet laughter like never before. Following the laughter, he walked into Jack's room where a dog sat on Jack's bed licking his face.

"Louie," noted Will.

Seeing Will, Jack's face brightened more. "Will, I have a dog."

"I see that," said Will as he sat beside Jack. "His name is Louie."

"Louie," Jack said to the dog whose ears he was now scratching. "I like your name."

"Have you had anything to eat?" wondered Will as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Joshamee brought me dinner and introduced me to my dog," said Jack. He looked at Will deeper, his mood shifting. "Are you alright?"

Will nodded. "I'm worried."

"Me?" asked Jack.

"You, me, Elizabeth, and what I'm going to do," replied Will.

"Who is Elizabeth?" asked Jack.

Forgetting for a single moment, Will shut his eyes. "She is my wife. We have known each other for years. When two people want to spend the rest of their lives with another they will marry so no one else can take the other away."

"A wife. Did I have a wife?" wondered Jack.

"No," replied Will. "I don't think you loved anyone like that anyway."

"Is that bad?" wondered Jack.

"Of course not," replied Will. "You have a free soul Jack. Some people are like that."

Jack nodded. He rubbed his head as Louie rested his own head in Jack's lap.

"How is your head?" asked Will.

"It doesn't hurt bad anymore. Joshamee said I was getting better," said Jack.

Will nodded.

Four taps on the door caused them both to flinch and jump.

"What is that?" asked Jack quickly.

"It is what you do when you want permission to enter a room while someone is in the room," said Will as he went to the door.

Hector Barbossa stood in the hall. His eyes moved past Will to Jack. "Is it a smart thing seeing him?"

"Perhaps you can bring something back," Will said quietly as he stepped aside.

Barbossa's eyes never left Jack as he entered the room.

Jack looked at him oddly and curiously. His eyes wandered around the room as if in thought.

Prepared for this, Barbossa merely brought a chair beside Jack's side.

The two looked at each other for a time.

"Will, who is this?" wondered Jack, his voice shy and quiet.

Will's eyes caught part of Barbossa's as the pirate shut his eyes while his entire body slumped. "This is Hector Barbossa."

"Does he like Hector or Barbossa?" asked Jack.

"Either is fine. Ye may call me Hector or Barbossa," replied Barbossa.

Jack pointed at him. "I will call you Hector because that should be your name."

"If ye want," said Barbossa.

'Jack' scurried from Barbossa's shoulder to sit in front of Jack and poked at Louie.

"What is that?" Jack asked, pointing at the monkey.

"This is my monkey. His name is Jack," replied Barbossa.

Jack smiled. "Like me." He patted the other side of Louie. "Come here 'Jack'. I want to look at you."

'Jack' made a few tones before scurrying onto Jack's shoulder where he began picking through his hair.

Jack laughed while he lowered his head.

The monkey jumped from his shoulder to wander around the room before settling on the windowsill. His tail was curled as he wiped his face.

"I like him," Jack told them. "I want a monkey."

Barbossa and Will shared a look.

"You have a dog Jack," replied Will. "A dog is good enough for you."

Jack nodded. He turned to Barbossa. "Do you know me?" Barbossa nodded. "Are we friends?"

"I wouldn't say we are friends but we have known each other for an amount of time and I do know ye well," replied Barbossa.

"Everyone knows who I am," muttered Jack with a heavy sigh.

"That is how it is supposed to be. You have amnesia Jack," said Will.

"It's not fair. Why can't I know me?" wondered Jack. He looked at Will. "Why me?"

"I don't know why it was you Jack but I do know this is how amnesia is," said Will.

"What do you know about me?" Jack asked Barbossa.

"I know ye have the Black Pearl, the ship ye always somehow manage to get back after I take it," began Barbossa. He was cut off by Jack suddenly poking Will.

"What is a Black Pearl and ship?" Jack softly asked.

Will's mind thought as his eyes danced around the room. He pointed above him. "I know this is a poor example, but this is a ship. The Black Pearl is your ship. Ships are used for transportation, meaning taking a person from one place to another. Ships sail on the water. You see, we can't walk on water because that is how it is. We use ships to cross oceans and seas and large amounts of water. Do you understand?"

"The Black Pearl is a ship, which is used on water when we can't walk on land to get to another place," said Jack, his voice in a question as he spoke.

"Aye," replied Will.

"What else do you know about me?" asked Jack to Barbossa.

"Ye are the best pirate the world has seen and yer not immortal as the world thought," said Barbossa.

"Pirate?" wondered Jack.

"I'll explain another day when there is more daylight. That requires a long explanation and lesson," Will told him.

Jack's mouth widened into a yawn. He rubbed his eyes then allowed himself to sink into the pillows and blankets. Neither Will nor Barbossa bothering him being in the room, he pressed his face into the pillow more before sleeping gently.

"That was Jack Sparrow," Will said to Barbossa.

"What are we going to do?" asked Barbossa.

Will shrugged. "I don't know anything about Jack and I promised to get his memory for him."

"Well," began Barbossa as he stood. "Ye won't be alone on that venture."

Impressed, Will watched him leave the room. Apparently, he thought wrong of Barbossa as well.

Not long after Barbossa left, Will left Jack's side as well. He returned to his room and eased himself onto the bed. Burning pain returned to his chest. He rested his back against the wall with a heavy, slow sigh.

Coming from Jack, Gibbs noticed Will's facial expression. Whether Will liked it or not, he entered.

Seeing him, Will rolled his eyes. He opened his mouth.

"Don't tell me to leave because I will not and certainly do not tell me you are fine Will. I know you are not fine. The stitches in your chest must be replaced," said Gibbs.

"You won't let me refuse will you?" asked Will.

Gibbs shook is head as he began easing Will from his tunic.

Piece by piece, the bandages were removed and exposed Will's injury to the air around him.

Each removal of a layer the uncomfortable sharpness in Will's chest worsened until becoming accustomed to air. Although he wasn't truly surprised, Gibbs never left the room, for he had all he needed in there.

"You were going to do this tonight no matter my argument. Correct?" assumed Will.

Gibbs nodded. With a tweezers, thread was slowly being pulled from Will's body.

"Josh, what do you suggest I do with Jack?" asked Will. "I don't want to leave him in Shipwreck Cove. There must be somewhere I can take him."

"I don't know Will. The world doesn't welcome Jack Sparrow lad," noted Gibbs.

"If you've forgotten as well, Jack has no memory. He is no longer the Jack Sparrow the world un-welcomes," reminded Will.

"I can tell you one thing that I know. You, Elizabeth, and Jack need professional medical attention. I don't know as much as the world assumes. I've forgotten most of it since my days in the Royal Navy," said Gibbs. He set aside the bloodied thread and merely looked at Will's chest. "We need to get you professional attention as quick as possible. Stitches are not holding well against your ribs."

"Were my ribs cut?" wondered Will.

"Scratched with the blade yes," replied Gibbs.

"Thought so," muttered Will as a hot rag was patted over his wound.

"I cannot believe this is coming from my mouth," began Gibbs. "Will, I think we should sail to London. I know London has advanced in medical knowledge since I was trained. There are surgeons who can help the three of you."

"I ran away from London for a reason Josh. I swore I wasn't going back there," said Will.

"You may just have to. I assume you have family in London?" said Gibbs.

Will's head slightly nodded. "Aye."

"Then we are going there not long from now," said Gibbs.

"Josh, I don't think going to my family is best. You don't exactly understand what they are like," said Will.

"Will, I've seen a lot in my time. I've seen the best and the worst of the Royal Navy and pirates. There is nothing that I cannot understand," said Gibbs.

"Have you heard of a family in London? Seastone?" began Will.

Gibbs nodded. "A powerful, influential merchant family that is."

Will bit his lip as his mind told him not to do it, as he told himself that for thirteen years. "Richard Seastone is my grandfather. Alexander Seastone, his son, is my uncle. Charlotte Seastone, his daughter and twin sister to Alexander, was my mother. Father married her. I was born Lord William Alexander Jonathan Seastone-Turner." He looked at Gibbs who stared blankly at him. "And you don't believe me."

Joshamee Gibbs looked at Will, the blankness across his face fading away with Will's sigh and small shake of head. "You are honest about that aren't you?"

"I ran when I was nine after mum died because I knew Richard would mold me into the perfect lord. I didn't want it. I've kept it secret from Elizabeth even. You are the first soul who knows since I was in London at age nine," said Will. "Please keep it this way. I don't want the rest of the world knowing until we reach London."

"You're a Lord of England," noted Gibbs softly to himself.

"Josh, can you please finish. I'm tired, sore, and I need to sleep," said Will.

Deciding nothing more could be done, Gibbs stitched Will once more. The stitches were holding, but not to the extent he wished. Skin would need to heal on its own and the wound was more susceptible to infection and disease. Attempting to counter it, he bandaged Will's torso once more.

Although he said he was tired, Will lay in bed staring at the night sky fumbling with his parents' rings. Thinking of both of them, he realized how much he wanted his mother back in his life and craved his father's freedom. Joshamee Gibbs knew his secret, but, for the first time in his life, he felt better than he normally had. That night was one of his best sleeps he ever slept. To finally have told another soul relieved the burden of his secret upon his conscience

---

Considered to be part of the Brethren Court by association to Elizabeth, Will, unfortunately, was required to attend the meeting that was held the following morning.

Regrettably, Barbossa was the one to wake before daybreak and received his very own broken nose because of his assignment.

Following everyone else, Will trudged in the room as he allowed his mind to wake slowly. At the head of the table in the back was an empty chair and a large book sitting on the table beside the book. As every other chair was taken, he trudged himself to the chair and plopped down. He rested his head on his palm and yawned long.

"And who is this?" asked Ammand.

"Whoever he is he has no right to be here much less appears to want to be here," said Mistress Ching.

"Honestly, I don't know where here is," Will told them.

Jocard bolted to his feet and pointed at Will. "Then leave. You have no business to be here fool."

"You dare call your Pirate Queen, temporary Lord of Singapore and the Caribbean, temporary King and temporary Keeper of the Code fool?" warned Barbossa. His voice was casual, not expressing the slightest concern.

Even Will's eyes narrowed in wonder and confusion. He looked at each of the people in the room. "Am I to assume this is the Brethren Court?" he asked.

Barbossa nodded. "Yes Turner and you are on it so best pay attention." Will sighed as he let his hand fall to the table. "As you all know, you must report on the most recent battle, which shouldn't be difficult for any of you considering we were the only brave souls willing to face the Devil."

"Zere waz no need for uz. You were doing quite well," said Chevalle.

"A bit of assistance would have been helpful," said Will.

"Was the Black Pearl not the flagship?" asked Mistress Ching.

"Aye," replied Will.

"Then why were you on the ship if you did not want to face the Devil?" asked Mistress Ching.

Will's eyes narrowed in a glare. "And who are you to call me a coward when I faced Jones."

"William!" called Barbossa, sounding like a father scolding his son. "I know yer upset over the result of the battle, but now is not the time to tell the world. We must discuss what our future holds. We are the leaders of piracy or what's left of it. What should we do? That is to be our discussion."

"This?" Will's voice came in the back, unamused.

"Do you have a solution then William?" asked Barbossa.

"Is it that difficult?" wondered Will. The confused sets of eyes staring upon him made him realize he had to answer his own question. "What becomes of piracy is there is no more piracy. That world is dying if not dead because of this battle that none of you took part of, save Hector over there. The Navy has surrendered for one reason: piracy is a lost cause. Aye we won the battle between Cutler Beckett, but what did we win? We can't go back into the world as pirates. Piracy died with our victory. Upon a new captain of the Flying Dutchman a new era was brought upon us. Pirates must now blend with the world and adapt to the normal life. We can't hide on the seas in our ships any longer. The world has changed. It is time we changed with it."

"Change how?" wondered Jocard, his voice intrigued by Will's words.

Will shrugged. "Become one with the Royal Navy to begin." The entire Court, including Barbossa, looked at him as though he was not serious. "What I mean to say is acquire Letters of Marque or a license to pirate against another country."

"I approve very much. Damn the British," said Chevalle, his voice in high honor.

"What are our other options?" asked Ammand, not as enthusiastic as Chevalle.

"Become a merchant for your place of port. There will never come a time that you will be boarded by pirates and because of that everyone will trust you with their goods," said Will. Ideas flowed from his head and he shared them aloud. "Those of you that are most familiar with ships there is a high possibility that carpentry will do you good. I hear it pays well and the word from sea comes to carpenters first. Pursue your long awaited dreams. You are Pirate Lords, surely that shouldn't be difficult. You can simply give the life at sea a rest and settle on a nice piece of land silently guarding over your seas or simply hand your piece to another."

"The Royal Navy will not simply leave us alone. We are wanted men, and woman, now more than ever," said Villanueva.

"I have heard to hide from the enemy one must become the enemy. The Navy will never suspect any of you as pirates once you have joined. You'll be safer than you ever have been," said Will.

"Not many of us are what the Navy allows," said Mistress Ching.

"Have you ever thought of having a child or two of your own?" asked Will. "You don't appear to be of age where burdening children is not possible."

Mistress Ching smiled. "I like you."

At the other head of the table, Barbossa rolled his eyes.

"And what about our Lords of Singapore and Caribbean?" asked Ammand.

"Don't worry about them. They are coming with me," said Will.

"And where are you going?" asked Jocard.

With the word on his tongue, Will was still not able to say it. The very thought brought horrors of his past to his mind. "London."

"Ye can't bring Jack there. Every man knows who he is," said Barbossa.

"Every man but Jack," reminded Will. "You've seen him Hector. He is not Jack Sparrow. No one will know it's him. Trust me."

"I do trust ye and that is my problem," said Barbossa. "I trust ye too much."

"What iz your name?" asked Chevalle.

Will opened his mouth to respond and had every intention to say his name, however, a figure slowly walking from the shadows stole his attention.

Jack wandered in the room, the expression on his face appeared as though he did wrong. He looked at the eyes that gazed upon him.

"Jack, what are you doing here?" asked Will.

"I didn't want to be in bed any more and I'm hungry. I heard you and I don't know where I cannot be hungry," said Jack.

"When I'm through with this we can eat," said Will. He stood. "In the meantime, you can wait here with me. I'll find another chair."

"Alright," said Jack. He walked past the Lords on the right of the table to sit beside Will who found another chair.

"My name," Will suddenly remembered. "Will Turner."

"They don't know you?" wondered Jack quietly.

"Now they do," Will whispered back.

"And who are they?" Jack asked, pointing at the others around the table.

With the same thought in mind Will looked at them. "Who are all of you? Where are your seas of Lordship?"

"Well ye know me, but I am Lord of the Caspian Sea," replied Barbossa.

"I thought that was a lake," noted Will.

Barbossa rolled his eyes. "And that is the reason I never tell anyone where my piece came from."

"A lake?" wondered Jack.

"Water surrounded by land," replied Will.

"Oh," Jack whispered, nodding his head.

Ammand, who was sitting beside Jack, turned his head to look at him oddly.

"Sri Sumbhajee, India."

Jack's head tilted to the side as his eyes widened in wonder. "Is that how he talks?"

"Apparently," said Will, sharing Jack's confusion.

"Gentleman Jocard, Africa."

"Chevalle, the Penniless Frenchman, France."

"Villanueva, Spain."

"Ammand the Corsair, Barbary Coast."

"Mistress Ching, China."

Will nodded.

Jack leaned close to Will. "What is China?"

"A country. I'll tell you another day," whispered Will. His attention was once again on the Court. "Anything else we need to discuss?"

"Provisions in Shipwreck Cove are running short due to recent events," said Barbossa.

"Then each of us shall provide money or bring provisions," said Will.

"We have no pieces of eight," Jocard pointed out.

"Am I to assume you have no pieces of eight on you?" wondered Will.

Each Lord looked at one another in a curious matter. Apparently, not one contained a single piece upon him, or her in Mistress Ching's stance.

Will sighed. "Empty your pockets. I cannot believe this has to be done again."

Again, each Lord looked about in curiosity.

"A piece of lint would suffice," said Will, his voice becoming desperate.

"Not even that," admitted Barbossa.

Shaking his head, Will shut his eyes. He squeezed the bridge of his own.

"Will, this was in my pocket," said Jack. "Is it what you need?"

Will's eyes turned to Jack's hand where bright beads tumbled about. He shut Jack's hand. "No, these are yours. Put them back in your coat pocket."

Jack nodded as he set his hand in his pocket again. "Why do I have them?"

"Because they are yours," replied Will.

"What did I do with them?" asked Jack.

"You had beads strung up in your hair. They had to be removed to properly bandage your head," said Will.

"That's," began Jack, his mind searching for the word and the word expressed on his face. "Odd."

"It was you," replied Will. "And to solve the Piece of Eight issue, I believe Captain Barbossa should provide nine pieces of eight for wasting away the former pieces."

"Fair enough trade," agreed Barbossa.

"Anything else?" asked Will.

"That be all Turner," replied Barbossa.

"I expect your reports to be handed to me before you leave for your native seas," added Will. "Meeting adjourned."

"One thing," Jocard said before any stood. He looked at Will. "Who is Captain now?"

"Edward Teague," replied Will.

The room and emotions quieted.

"Does he know?" asked Ammand quietly.

"I intend to have him never know. He will remember before I let him meet with his father again," said Will.

"If he doesn't?" wondered Ammand.

Will shook his head. "He won't know." He stood and turned. "Jack."

Jack jumped to his feet and chased after Will. He glanced behind him a few times in curiosity at the Court. "Where are we going?"

"Are you still hungry?" wondered Will.

Jack nodded. "I think that is the reason why my stomach is making noises."

"Yep, you're still hungry. I'm sure Ragetti cooked something up this morning," said Will.

"Ragetti? Someone I knew?" assumed Jack.

"He's a good man and a good cook," Will told him.

Inside the Courtroom, the Lords still sat silently and in their own thoughts. It seems the very idea of Jack Sparrow with amnesia is no more than an amusing tale to tell. Jack Sparrow having lost his mind and regained it within a few minutes the story would be told. Reality was before their eyes. The amusing story was anything but amusing. Jack wasn't Jack and the world would never be the same without him.

-)(-

Niamh continued poking my arm as she had done for the past few minutes apparently trying to gain my attention. I finally looked at her, having enough of her games.

"Yes Arcelia?"

The little girl looked at her father. "Daddy, what was it like not remembering anything?"

"Confusing. Lost to the world. Confusing. Frightening at times. Lonely. Confusing. Cold. Confusing," replied Jack.

"It was confusing then," said Niamh to herself as she nodded.

"I believe it was more frightening than confusing. I didn't know anything and I was afraid of everything because I didn't know anything and everything was worth being afraid of. Sometimes everything is reason to be afraid of anything and anything can be a reason to be afraid of everything," added Jack.

"One thing is certain," said Edward as he looked at Jack. "You still talk confusing."

"No, it's normal," I replied. "That can never be confusing."

"I'm his own father and still trying to decipher his words," said Edward.

"Jack has always been Jack and Jack not talking like Jack isn't Jack," I told him.

He gave me an odd look himself. Beside me, I heard my father softly laugh.

Jack looked at me, the most curious of them all not to mention the only one that seemed to pay me any attention as well. "Keep going."

Seeing as you were hungry, I took you to the kitchen where Ragetti was cooking breakfast for certain people. He, as well as the rest of the cooks, shared recipes for dishes across the world and received small instructions and tips to better cooking.

-)(-

Walking into the kitchen, Will breathed deeply. He heard Jack do the same behind him.

"It smells good," noted Jack.

In the distance, pans and pots fell on the floor, creating a commotion that approached.

Out of breath not because he was running but because Jack was there, Ragetti suddenly stopped in front of Jack. He looked at him in wonder and sadness. Words formed from his lips however no sound escaped.

"Are you Ragetti?" asked Jack, pointing at him.

Ragetti nodded. "Uh huh. And you're Jack."

"I know," replied Jack. "I know my name."

"Wot else do you know?" asked Ragetti.

Answering the question, Jack's eyes lowered causing his head to lower slightly. "Not enough."

Exhaling deeply, Ragetti sighed. Heartbreak and disappointment formed in his eyes and expressed on his face. He turned and bent to collect his fallen pans.

Will lowered himself to the wooden floor to help him. "He's hungry Ragetti. Do you have anything?"

"He doesn't remember anything?" asked Ragetti.

"No," Will softly replied.

"I'll help him," promised Ragetti as he stood. He nodded and went to stand in front of Jack. He grabbed Jack's right hand. "Captain Jack Sparrow, I Ragetti, give you my promise that I will help you remember who you are."

"Will already promised me that," said Jack, motioning to Will.

"I know things he doesn't," said Ragetti. "I was there the day you made the agreement with Davy Jones. Will wasn't."

"Davy Jones? Who is he?" wondered Jack.

Life in the kitchen ended for a few moments as all eyes turned to Jack Sparrow.

Noticing and feeling their eyes, Jack's head lowered as he took his hand back. He bit at his nails while occasionally looking at the eyes gazing at him in wonder and complete confusion.

"I came here because I was hungry," reminded Jack.

"I'll have something in a moment," said Ragetti as he began running backwards.

Will set the pans and pots on the table while Ragetti was gone from his counter.

Quickly, Jack walked to Will's side and whispered in his ear. "Should I know Davy Jones?"

"I'll tell you sometime who he was," said Will.

Jack nodded. "You need to tell me a lot a lot of sometimes."

A smile came onto Will's face with Jack's confusing words. "I know and I will."

"I know you will. Somehow I know you'll tell me," said Jack confidently with a nod.

"Captain Jack, I'm making your favorite breakfast," called Ragetti in the back. He poked his head from the busy cooking in the room. "Cinnamon sugar toast, porridge, and pineapple coconut milk and fresh lime in your water."

"Sounds delicious," noted Will.

Ragetti nodded quickly. "It is."

Will took Jack's wrist to lead him from the kitchen and into the dinning area. Although he expected it sooner, Marty, Cotton, Pintel, Mullroy and Murtogg slowly approached the two of them.

Jack looked at their faces with a blank expression across his face. He looked down to resume weaving his fingers through the spaces between fingers. He couldn't see them so they couldn't see him.

"Jack," Pintel said, his voice unsure.

"I don't want to talk to anyone else who knows me," said Jack before standing, walking past everyone, and settling himself in a darker corner of the room.

"It's true then?" wondered Marty.

"Let him be. He'll want to talk with all of you when he's ready," said Will.

"I knew a man with amnesia once. He never remembered a thing," Murtogg said casually.

"And I don't wish to talk to anyone who believes Jack won't remember," announced Will as he stood to follow Jack's example and join him in the corner.

"This is not good," noted Marty.

Will stood over Jack quietly. He clutched Jack's shoulder.

Jack's head turned slightly. His hand was placed over Will's. "What is this feeling called?"

"Try describing it to me," said Will.

"I want to kill everyone who knows me and my stomach hurts and my eyes burn," replied Jack.

Coming in front of Jack, Will knelt. His free hand was set on Jack's other shoulder. "It's called jealousy and anger."

"I hate it," said Jack.

"Me too," admitted Will. "I felt like that every moment of my life for nearly a year and I couldn't run from it because I was on a ship. I couldn't hide because the person causing me to feel that way was the person I love the most."

"Elizabeth?" asked Jack, his voice unsure but recalling words spoken to him earlier.

Nodding, Will sighed as he sat in front of Jack. He took his hands back to rest them in his lap.

"Are you going to tell me that sometime too?" asked Jack. Will nodded. Jack's lower lip curled and eyes burned with anger. "When are you going to tell me everything you promised me? I'm not going to remember unless you tell me."

Knowing this to be true, Will slumped more. He wasn't going to tell Jack he knew nothing about his friend. That was the reason nothing was explained to Jack. He didn't know how to explain anything to him in a manor Jack would understand now. Had it been the Jack he met two years and months ago a simple sentence would have sufficed to explain piracy to Jack. A simple glare could explain his feelings of jealousy and anger.

"Will," Jack's voice called.

Blinking his eyes, Will looked at Jack whose face was frightened and pale.

"Are you alright? I didn't mean to say it like that," said Jack, his words quick and tremulous.

"It's all right Jack. I deserve to be spoken to like that," said Will.

"Was that anger?" wondered Jack.

"Aye," said Will.

"I don't like it," whispered Jack.

"No one does," said Will.

A smile widened across his face as his hand reached to a brown cord strung partly before Jack's white tunic. He pulled on the cord until shiny objects came from beneath the tunic.

"It's your promise," reminded Jack.

"I know," said Will.

"Uh…Will, I have your food," an uncertain Ragetti announced softly.

Jack's head whipped to the side as he inhaled deeply. The scent coming into his body caused his eyes to shut and a smile to widen across his face.

"Delicious," he said.

"What was that Jack?" asked Will.

"You were right. It does sound delicious," said Jack as he reached to take the plate of toast for himself.

Immediately, he shoved bread wholly into his mouth. The large bit and mouth not big enough for the entire piece, he gagged and choked until finally managing to swallow.

"You all right?" asked Will, a concerned smile and wide eyes on his face.

Choking and swallowing at the same time, Jack nodded. He waved his hands in front of his face as if to tell them he was going to live but continuing to cough.

"Will, I think he needs this," said Ragetti.

"Jack, drink this," said Will, tacking the cup from Ragetti's hand

Tears forming in his eyes because of his coughing and choking, Jack's hand reached for the cup. He drank a few swallows while ignoring his coughs. Some swallows later, he breathed deeply. Of all things, a smile widened on his face, a gold tooth grinned smile that reminded Will and Ragetti who this man in front of them was.

"That is good bread," Jack told them.

"After nearly being killed by your breakfast you say it's good," laughed Will.

The world coming to a halt in Jack's mind, he listened to Will's sweet, chiming laughter. The smile on his friend's face was pure and angelic appearing. The high eyebrows caused his eyes to open. It all seemed so familiar in his mind.

"I remember!" Jack cried as he bolted to his feet.

Life in the room halted as all eyes turned to Jack.

Will's laughter immediately stopped as he stood. "Remember what?"

"Someone named William with a smile like yours and laughing just like that," replied Jack talking quickly.

"That's my father," said Will, his voice barely loud enough. "What else do you remember?"

Jack shook his head. His voice was less than excited and eyes disappointed. "Nothing. I just remember someone with hair like yours and blue eyes and laughter and a smile like you have."

While everyone else sighed, as hopes of Jack's full recovery were killed, Will's heart and spirit was lifted. A small memory of simply remembering his father laughter gave him hope it was quite possible for Jack to remember.

"You remembered something Jack. Don't look like that," Will said.

"It doesn't mean anything. I just remember a person's face," Jack told him.

"But this means you have the potential to remember more," said Will. The smile on his face grew. "Name one thing you want to know and I'll spend the entire day doing my best to explain to you."

"Why do I remember him?" asked Jack.

"Because you and my father knew each other," replied Will.

"Why?" asked Jack.

"He was with you after he left me," said Will.

"Why?" asked Jack.

"I don't know why," said Will.

"Why?" asked Jack.

"Because my father never told me," said Will.

"Why?" asked Jack.

"I never saw him after he left until recently," said Will.

"Why?" asked Jack.

"Now that is something I can explain," said Will. "Come on."

"I'm still hungry," Jack told him.

Will looked at Ragetti.

Ragetti nodded as he handed Will the tray he brought the food out on.

"We can eat and talk," said Will.

"Is this going to take long?" wondered Jack.

Will's laughter was anything but amused. "Oh yes."

Not exactly enthused anymore, Jack shrugged. "I don't think I want to remember anything if all you are going to do is talk."

Will adjusted the tray to carry it with one hand. With his free hand, he grabbed Jack Sparrow's sleeve and tugged. "Come along Jack."

-)(-

"Daddy," Emma quietly said. "Did you really tell him what Uncle Barbossa did to Grandfather?"

I nodded.

"And he understood it?" asked Aidan.

I nodded, understanding my son's wonder. "It literally took until dinner for me to explain why Barbossa did what he did to my father because I then had to explain what a pirate was. I'll admit, that was the oddest talk with anyone I had ever had considering I learned what it is to be a pirate from the man that asked me what a pirate is."

"Talk normal daddy," Aidan said.

"Jack taught me what piracy was. Years later I had to explain it to him," I said in English as Elizabeth and Aidan liked to say.

"I still remember that conversation," said Jack. "You refused to tell me who exactly Davy Jones was. Your complaint was that I was already confused enough as to why a man would strap another man to a cannon by his bootstraps."

Father's soft laughter came from behind me. "I still wonder what brought thought into Hector's head."

"Bootstrap Bill Turner?" I suggested.

Agreeing that may have been why, although I knew it was why, Father gave a nod of his head until wholly nodding.

"William, please continue," Richard said.

Along with myself, we looked at him oddly.

"This is intriguing," my grandfather used as his defense though I knew it reminded him of someone in the room.

"Yes," said Alexander. "I do like hearing this story again however it wasn't my brother in law that lost his memory."

I turned to father just as he gave Alexander an annoyed, typical, let it be glare. That seemed to be the only expression on his face when he looked at my uncle these days.

Deciding it best to continue on with the story before Alexander received a black eye, I pulled my squirming four year old in my lap.

I explained to Jack why father was never there and what piracy was. Jack never once asked a question as I explained one of his questions. In my mind I thought believed it was because he somehow knew when each question was filled. No sooner did I fulfill Jack Sparrow's questions than Hector Barbossa came to me with his own question.

-)(-

Common to the night, Will sat on the bed. His back pressed against the pillow between him and the wall with dab of Edward's apothecary on his chest. Long ago he surrendered to admitting the pain was present.

Gibbs assumed the pain Will endured as he attempted to end all illness on the wound.

Will's eyes shut as he pressed against the pillow. A small sound of pain escaped along with his loss of breath.

"I know Will," said Gibbs.

"No, you don't," Will told him.

"I do," assured Gibbs. "You're stronger than all men I've known save two or three. You don't give into admitting pain easily."

"Well, if you had to have stitches pulled from your torso morning and evening, a burning, stinging, terrible smelling, sticky cream pressed into your blood including over scratched ribs, and a needle poked through you again only to have the thread pulled out in twelve hours barely having relieved the soreness of the morning or evening's torture session I believe I'm entitled to give into admitting there is pain," Will told him, his voice passionate about his words as well as proving there was pain present when the rag was pressed against him. He pointed to Gibbs. "You don't know."

"When you explain it that way no one knows," said Gibbs. "I've seen worse Will, but I've seen better."

"What of the infection?" asked Will.

"Still present, however it is something I would not devote my hours noting upon. It is very slight and has brought your temperature to higher than it should be," said Gibbs.

"That explains a few things," muttered Will.

"This is why I put you through these torture sessions Will. I don't want the infection growing," said Gibbs.

"And is anything going to heal if you continue to pull the stitches every twelve hours?" wondered Will, his tone quite sarcastic.

"Your side and quite an amount of your stomach require no stitching," said Gibbs. A heavy sigh came from him as he threaded a needle. "The injury above your waist is inflamed and concerning me."

"You just told me it is nothing to worry over," reminded Will, concern coming into his voice.

"There is nothing you can do Will, nothing more than you aren't already doing," said Gibbs. His eyes and face grew grave as he looked at Will. "However, there is one more request I have of you. If you feel your fever is increasing and your chest burning please tell me. The last thing your father needs to have you aboard that ship because of your stubbornness."

Drawing a deep breath, Will's eyes lowered. His response was a simple nod.

'Jack' hopped on the bed.

"Git, 'Jack', get away from that," demanded Gibbs. He shooed 'Jack' from the bed.

"'Jack', leave the man alone," Barbossa's voice said as the man entered the room.

'Jack' looked at him then scurried to the windowsill and screeched out to the night sky. He walked along the floor, his tail curled, to Barbossa.

"Ye don't have to pretend that doesn't hurt lad. A fool would know that to hurt by simply looking at it," said Barbossa.

Will's eyes rolled. Apparently he wasn't acting well enough. "Why are you here?"

"I came here to ask you a question," began Barbossa. Making himself comfortable, he pulled a chair beside Will, removed his hat to set on the bed, crossed his legs, and swirled the wine in his cup.

Both Gibbs and Will exchanged shocked glances. Barbossa seemed more proper and well cultured than they thought.

"Why London?" asked Barbossa.

"Clearly I need better medical attention than what I'm receiving here as Josh noted to me. My wife needs to be looked over. I need to know what the impact physically did to her. Jack has no choice but to come," said Will.

"And you expect the Black Pearl to sail right up the Thames and not be sent to the Locker?" wondered Barbossa.

"I'm not taking the Pearl to London. The Pearl is going to be left anchored in Scotland on an old friend's property. We'll take another ship to London," said Will.

"Which ship?" asked Barbossa as he rose the glass to his mouth.

"Haven't thought of that yet," admitted Will. "Ow!"

"Sorry Will," apologized Gibbs.

"That was my rib Mr. Gibbs," said Will.

"Where are we going to stay in London Mr. Turner?" asked Barbossa.

It was Will's turn to ask a question of his own. "We?"

"I'm certainly not trusting letting you take Jack around London as you please," said Barbossa.

"Are saying you are intending to look out for Jack Sparrow?" asked Will, his voice shocked.

Barbossa's eyes turned to the wine. He swirled the liquid in the glass then drank. "I don't trust anyone around Jack. After your actions recently, I especially don't trust ye. To be honest, ye are about the last person I would leave Jack in the care of."

"Why?" Will asked, slowly moving forward.

Gibbs's forceful hand pushed against Will's shoulder. "Lie still."

Barbossa drank a sip then cradled the glass in his lap. "Ye are the definition of pirate lad. Ye cross everyone to achieve yer own ends. Ye fight for what ye want and will fight to the death if need be. Yer heart passionately, fircely loves. There be nothing more deadly than a pirate with a fierce heart. Yer stubborn and won't give into anything ye don't want. For all we know ye could die tomorrow and we wouldn't have the slightest of warnings until yer flat on the ground dead. Most deadly of all, yer possessive. Elizabeth is yours. A small kiss to kill him and I know ye wanted to kill Sparrow and Elizabeth for kissing him. No offense lad, Elizabeth is temporarily gone from yer life. Yer already devoting yourself to Jack and taking him wherever it is you go. Jack isn't going anywhere unless someone will look after you lad."

"To respond to your question Hector, I intend to stay with people I know in London," said Will.

"Out of the question," said Barbossa. "We are going to an old friend and once colleague of mine."

"Can this friend be trusted?" asked Will.

"He was once pirate alongside me. I sailed with him William," said Barbossa. "Now I know this may seem odd, as I even do not believe these words that are coming from my mouth. This former pirate is now a nobleman of England and a powerful voice in Parliament as well as the merchant trading business. Do not think of me as mad because we know that belongs to Jack and I do know what I am doing. This man's name is Richard Seastone."

Gibbs stopped what he was doing and found his eyes moving to Will.

Laughter erupted in the room. Although his chest was being stitched and a needle close beside him, Will was unable to contain the humor in that. "Impossible. Richard Seastone was never once a pirate. Trust me Barbossa. That man is the last person on Earth who could be pirate."

"I was expecting something like that from you," admitted Barbossa.

Will's laughter stopped as a thought struck his mind. "Why?" he asked.

"Tell me William Seastone, who knows?" asked Barbossa.

"I didn't tell another soul Will," said Gibbs before anything was done to him.

Not hearing Gibbs's words, Will's eyes stared at Barbossa in wonder and disbelief. "How long have you known?"

"Since an acquaintance by the name of Alexander Seastone introduced me to Jack Sparrow and his friend Bill Turner," replied Barbossa.

"My uncle introduced you to Jack?" asked Will.

"Aye, and to be killing him when we arrive," said Barbossa.

"Then you should have known the Turner you wanted was a son," noted Will.

"Bill never mentioned ye much to us lad. He mentioned everything about his child to Jack. We knew yer father had a child and that be about it," explained Barbossa.

"You knew I was a Lord from the beginning?" wondered Will.

"I may be a scallywag pirate, but I do know how to respect another man's past and life," said Barbossa.

"Not much respect for Jack," noted Gibbs.

"There is always one exception to a man's rule," declared Barbossa.

"Richard won't be pleased to see you or any pirate in his home," warned Will.

"Yer the best pirate of us all and I do believe he'll be pleased to see you. It's been too long since we sat by the fire with our wine talking," said Barbossa, anticipation and excitement in his voice. "And the other ship is called Star of Madagascar. She be Edward's. I've already spoken to his crew and the Chinese. Arrangements have been made and both ships are preparing to sail in two days."

"Two days?" wondered Will.

Barbossa nodded. "I'll be at the helm of the Pearl teaching ye to captain a ship and therefore ye teach Jack. Edward's first mate will captain the Star."

"I can't leave yet," Will said, concern in is voice. "I don't know a thing about Jack Sparrow that Jack should know."

"Ye know, Jack was here a great many times. His father has lived here for years. There is something here William, ye just need to look," said Barbossa.

"Where would I find Edward's crew?" asked Will.

"Eating or drinking their evening wine in the great hall," replied Barbossa.

"And I'm done William," added Gibbs.

Will glanced at his chest seeing the new bandaging. He slipped his arms through his tunic and buttoned it as he left the room.

"Did you truly know who Will is?" asked Gibbs.

"I've known. It explains why his heart is noble," replied Barbossa.

"Does it explain his nasty honest streak?" wondered Gibbs.

"I would expect that was from his father however I can promise ye that his selflessness belongs to his grandfather," said Barbossa.

---

Will jogged to the main hall where men were indeed drinking wine and sitting about on the floor. He approached an odd group of men that reminded him of Jack.

"Are you part of Edward's crew?" he asked, pointing at them.

"Part of us. My name just happens to be Duke and yours is…" said Duke.

"Will Turner," replied Will.

Mouths of wine were emptied back into the glass as they looked at him.

"Billy's child?" asked Bailey.

"Aye," replied Will.

Les Char jumped to his feet and grabbed Will's hand. "It be truly an honor to shake the hand of Billy Turner's child."

His eyes narrow in confusion and wonder, Will felt himself move his torso back. He slowly retrieved his hand from the person that was crushing it.

"Why am I such an honor to meet?" he asked.

"Yer father is, don't tell Captain Teague, the best man I've known and he's mentioned so much about ye in the past," replied Les Char.

"I'm not here for just no reason," began Will, an odd smile coming on his face as he wondered just what his father did to this man. "I came here for Jack. I don't know anything about him and I was hoping you could tell me some things about him."

Les Char opened his mouth to speak. He raised his forefinger to Will with a smile on his face. Turning, he shooed the other men to back farther away from him.

Will leaned closer, attempting to listen to their conversation, but also attempted to act casual.

A moment later Les Char and Bailey turned.

Bailey pointed at him. "This was your idea mate. If Cap'n Teague asks this was all your idea and you held us at gunpoint."

"All right," Will slowly replied, his voice unsure.

Soon, he was led out of the main hall to a passage under lock and key. Nothing was spoken to him as he walked through halls hung with tapestry and paintings. The floor below his feet was laid with carpeting. The wood was pure redwood.

"This belongs to Edward. This is his suite," said Bailey. He pointed to several doors. "His quarters. His study. His library. Through his quarters is his private study, which none of us have been in. You will find everything you need through there.

Will gazed around the room. All the wood was redwood. The furniture was cushioned with red pillows, curtains were of heavy red brocade, embroidered with gold cloth, carpeting made in fashion of Persian with many shades of reds and gold.

"Why have you brought me here?" he asked.

"You wanted us to tell you of Jack. We thought it would be more beneficial, seeing as you are not going to be here in Shipwreck Cove forever, that you bring everything of Jack's with you."

"Anything containing Jack Sparrow's name set on this table," said Will, clearing the table in the center of the room.

"Jack's Christian name is Jonathan Galvyn- with a "y" -Thomas Teague," added Les Char.

"He has two middle names," Will noted to himself.

Bailey handed him the ring of keys allowing only Will into the private study.

As he walked to the door leading to Edward's quarters, he looked at the keys. Surely there was not this many keys needed on the ring. At the door, he spent quite some time discovering which keys did not fit through the lock while looking at his fellow mates in the room as they read through papers scattered about and brought more within the room.

Finally, he entered through the door only to discover another locked door at the end of the room. To begin he rummaged through the room finding nothing belonging to Jack.

Unfortunately, the process was to be repeated. Many keys did not fit through the lock. Only one key was destined for this door.

The room beyond the door was spotless clean. It was not what he was expecting. Drawers and cabinets lined the room filed with a few books, neat stacks of paper, and trinkets. A blanket covered chest was on the floor under the window. In the corner of the room rested a desk and chair. This was the only room belonging to Edward's not covered with a rug. The solid redwood reflected his face when he looked down.

Something not of the mortal world guided him to the chest below the window. Although he repeated the process of discovering which keys did not have their destiny with the lock, something in his head told him to keep going,

Upon opening the chest, he knew this was the one thing he was looking for.

Resting on cloth covered piles lied a bear. Just by the pattern of the cloth Will knew this teddy bear belonged to Jack when he was a child. The cloth was black cotton. Fading gave way to the many washes and, therefore, many years of use. The eyes were silver and stitched in such a form that it reminded him of stars. The mouth was formed into a small, childlike smile. In the center of the teddy bear's stomach flew a silver sparrow.

Will pressed the bear against his face. Vaguely, the scent of coconut came through his mind. He set the bear aside to take a pile. Finding it was heavier than he expected he wasn't surprised to discover these being books.

Six dark green leather bound books. No specific markings bore what these books were to be exactly. Book by book he set them in front of them. The bottom book's coloring was faded. Yellow, fraying pages were buried beneath the cover.

His curiosity taken, he opened the cover to the first page. Jonathan Galvyn Thomas Teague, I write this for you. Although I am a young man newly made father on this day of October 27, I will one day no longer be with you. I write this journal and expect many more to follow so you will always know who your father is and how much I love you. Everyday, or as often as I can, I will write my thoughts of you. And one day, when I am no longer with you or should you be lost from the world, this journal will be here to give you my company and memories we've had together.

Will softly laughed to himself. It was no laugh of humor or amusement, but of shock and disbelief. His search for the quest of Jack Sparrow could very well begin and end with these six journals.

Having the feeling this was what he wanted the journals were delicately placed back in the chest as well as the teddy bear. He dragged the chest into the center of the room.

Bailey and Les Char looked at him with wide, frightened eyes.

"Am I to expect this contains Edward's most valued and personal items?" assumed Will.

Both nodded.

Will understood from the expression on their faces that if anything ever happened to a single paper or item in that chest, he would be hanged on the spot.

"We need to put these on the Pearl," he told them.

"Everything?" wondered Les Char.

"Aye, everything," said Will.

"This isn't all of it," said Bailey. "Knowing Jack, you will want to come with me. Charles, start boxing."

Will followed Bailey down the hall away from Edward's suite. "Are you joining us on this venture?"

"Aye, I am one of those that must come," replied Bailey. "Turner, I am Edward's first mate. He would trust his ship in no other hands than my own. Perhaps he would trust Jack, but Jack is currently out of the question."

"Has this sort of thing happened to Jack before?" wondered Will.

"Not to this manner mate, but he has lost a few hours of memory inside his mind. A few severe head wounds have done that," said Bailey.

"How would you describe Jack Sparrow in a single word?" Will suddenly asked.

Bailey laughed aloud as he turned his head to look at Will. "Impossible. If ever there was definition for the word impossible this is it mate. Jack Sparrow is not a single personality. Sometimes we think Jack has two personalities and he does. He has an image for the world and an image in private. Seeing the two within an hour you would think Jack Sparrow is two people in one, but he isn't."

"How do you know?" asked Will.

"Turner," began Bailey as he stopped in the middle of a hall. "You will understand when you begin to understand Jack."

Thinking of that, Will's eyes lowered in thought. Clearly, this task was not going to be as simple as he thought. Since meeting him, he has only known one Jack Sparrow. To hear that he changes in private is another matter. He must now understand both to bring Jack back.

A whistle at the end of the hall brought his mind into what he had to do. He jogged to Bailey.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked.

"Well, you need to take the Code with you and Jack will need a few bottles of medicines," said Bailey.

"The Code?" wondered Will. His eyes narrowed in thought. "The Pirate's Code?"

"As set down by Morgan and Bartholomew," said Bailey.

"I didn't think the Code existed in paper form. Always thought it was told from pirate to pirate," admitted Will.

"Ah, here we are," noted Bailey as he entered the Courtroom.

Will took a quick look around. He walked along the table, allowing is fingers to touch the wood until he came to the end. As his companion went into an adjacent room, he was more interested in the selection of guitars leaning about on the chair in the back. He made himself comfortable in the chair and put his feet up on the side of a chest in front. One of the guitar strings was snapped. He strummed his fingers down the other notes. Such a beautiful harmonious sound echoed in the room.

"Musically minded Turner?" asked Bailey

Will turned his head. "The opposite of." He saw the thick wrapped book like object under Bailey's left arm. It was bigger than he expected.

"Jack," began Bailey, his breath dwelling on the "k". He moistened his lips. "Jack loves music."

"Never thought Jack to be the musical liking type," said Will as he stood.

Bailey smiled. "There have been days Edward has sat outside Jack's door listening to him write."

"Jack writes his own music?" wondered Will.

"Turner, Jack Sparrow has composed a book of music since I last knew him," said Bailey. He walked out of the room. "Come."

Will hopped over the chest. He took a few steps before he noticed the guitar in his hand and made to put it back.

"Don't you even think it. That is coming with us," Bailey told him.

Trusting him, as he knew nothing of Jack, Will shrugged and met up to Bailey. "Have you heard Jack's music?"

The look on Bailey's face softened as his heart skipped a few beats. "Once, years ago I was making rounds finishing something for Edward. It required me to bring items from his ship. I passed by the Pearl. This was the middle of the night. I heard him playing and singing."

"Jack sings?" asked Will, suddenly. His expression was complete shock on his face.

"Jack's voice is higher on the male range. Placing it musically, he is a tenor according to Edward. His voice is beautiful. A single note somehow has a melody and harmony at once. That one time I heard his voice I stopped dead on the dock to listen. Jack's voice is specific. The tone comes direct from his heart and soul. It's soft and sounds like a lullaby. It isn't quite pure and angelic. The way he talks is how he sounds when he sings. No- that's not true. I don't know how to describe his voice. You need to hear it to understand."

"Jack Sparrow singing and writing music," Will whispered to himself. He laughed. "And I thought his music knowledge amounted to telling the world that I have a lovely soprano voice. I don't know how to sing much less play guitar."

"Well," began Bailey. "I hope you've always wanted to learn."

"Learn what?" asked Will, not liking the way this was sounding.

"Learning to play guitar, perhaps having singing lessons as well," said Bailey.

Will grabbed Bailey's arm to turn him around. "I am not learning to play guitar and I refuse to sing for another. I can't sing."

"Everyone can sing," Bailey told him.

"I can't," Will told him.

"You haven't been taught how to put it to use," said Bailey. "Can you let me go? We're not finished mate."

Will released him. "Why me?"

"This Jack trusts you. I've seen it. You've become the one person Jack trusts to be there for him. Ironically, your father was that man," said Bailey.

"Did my father learn to sing and play?" asked Will, his voice quite sarcastic.

"Your father asked Jack to teach him. I believe that is a yes," said Bailey.

"Will this help Jack?" asked Will.

"Music was as much a part of his life as his ship," replied Bailey. "I told you Jack seemed like two people. In private, music is his passion. Publicly, sailing is his passion."

"Music and sailing," muttered Will. "Any other passions I need to know of?"

"Not passion, but more important to him," said Bailey, careful of his words. "Jack doesn't have the healthiest of souls."

"He lives on luck and good fortune," agreed Will.

"Not quite," said Bailey. "He lives upon his father's apothecary."

"What do you mean by that?" wondered Will.

Saying nothing, Bailey simply motioned to follow.

Curiosity at its peek and his mind through with the games of mystery, Will rolled his eyes but did follow. It seemed the only method to have him understand was to be shown.

The two walked into a room.

Will was past the doorway, unable to move further as wondered and thought consumed his mind. Every medical instrument known to man lined the room on shelves. Some were obvious to their use, others however, he had no desire what it was needed for no matter how simple the procedure. A bed in the center of the room had sheets that were meant to be white. Knowing that was the color of washed blood, Will turned away.

He joined Bailey by a bookshelf on the left side of the room.

"See every one of those bottles?" Bailey asked as he searched through the books. "Place them in this crate."

Will looked at the shelves of bottles. "All of them?"

"I would if I were you. I doubt Jack's body will allow him to remain healthy in London. It is coming on autumn there. Temperatures will lower and Jack was never one to keep warm easily," said Bailey.

Trusting him as he had done so far and not being let down yet, Will nodded. He brought the crate closer and began settling bottles in there, largest on the bottom, smallest on top. Taking the first bottle in his hand he saw a string attach a piece of paper. Pain relief. He took another. Surgical recovery. And another. Unconsciousness. Fever. Infection. Malaria. Yellow fever. Pneumonia.

"Bailey," whispered Will.

"Ah ha!" exclaimed Bailey, reaching for a book in the shelf. He noticed Will's pale, horrified expression. "You will want to memorize this book Turner. It contains symptoms of illness, the course of the illness, and treatment as well as the proper medicines and amounts to provide."

"Has Jack had every one of these?" wondered Will, pointing at the remaining bottles.

"Unfortunately yes," said Bailey. He took the largest bottle of all. "Jack has required this bottle more than everything else. Too many times before has Jack been given the contents of this here bottle. The only method for him to heal with ease is to simply not have him aware of the pain and what his father must to keep him alive."

"I never imagined Jack to be the one with a simple cough," admitted Will.

"You'll learn when you begin to understand him," reminded Bailey.

"I'm not sure if I want to understand Jack Sparrow," said Will.

"Someone has to," Bailey told him.

"Surely Barbossa or Gibbs or you even can better handle Jack's mind than me," said Will.

Bailey slammed a book on the floor. "Will, it's not about you anymores. Every word from your mouth has been a compliant. I am simply assisting you. Remember, it was you who came to me because you didn't know anything about Jack. You have taken it upon yourself to bring Jack Sparrow's memory back. You made him a promise. I know this because Jack showed every person he saw the necklace. You brought this upon yourself. Going into the mind of Jack Sparrow is no simple task. There are horrors in Jack's life not even his father knows and I doubt your father knows as well. You have to reawaken every moment in Jack's life." He looked at Will. "Do you care if Jack remembers?"

"I want him to remember," Will told him.

"Then stop thinking for yourself," Bailey spat. He slapped Will's arm and stood. "We have to go to Jack's room. Hurry up."

Muttering to himself, Will collected the bottles and jars then followed Bailey. Through with his companions domineering manor, he volunteered to not speak on the way to Jack's rooms. Although it didn't surprise him, Jack's suite was nearly exactly like his father's however on the opposite side of the fortress.

"What am I looking for in here?" asked Will.

"Start folding blankets. I'll hand you everything you need," said Bailey.

"Should we sail Jack's room to London?" Will asked him sarcastically.

Bailey whipped around with a raised finger. Deciding against it, he forced a smile and disappeared into another room.

Will began wandering in and out of the rooms with blankets of all thickness. He questioned Jack's health when he brought fur blankets into the main room. Thin, cotton blankets in the Caribbean was acceptable. Fur however, implied something wrong. Even though fur blankets impressed him, he was more impressed at the pile of folded blankets on the floor when he was through as well as the pillows, guitars, books, random knickknacks, charts and maps, coats and clothes, soaps, spices, and incense.

Not even being told to do so, Will began wandering from the fortress to the Black Pearl.

A single foot on the ship, the entire crew surrounded him.

"Will, are we really going to London?" asked Pintel.

"I always wanted to go to London," Ragetti added.

"Aye, we are going to London," Will told them as he pushed through. "Why? Because I have relatives in London and medical knowledge has advanced. We have no where else to go."

"But I don't want to go to London," said Pintel.

"It's too close to the Navy," noted Marty.

"Sometimes to hide you must go into the enemy's territory," Will said as he walked into Jack's cabin.

He tripped over a chest. Dropping the armful of blankets, he looked about.

A monkey scurried across the piles on the table to hop on his shoulder.

"Ah, William, more," noted Barbossa, his voice less than enthusiastic. "I thought I would organize Jackie's items."

"Don't touch anything Jack wouldn't want you to," said Will.

"Turner," said Barbossa as he walked over the piles and messes. "I know Sparrow doesn't want me touching anything of his, but he has no choice now does he."

Will nodded. "There is more than this."

"I expected so," said Barbossa.

Will made to leave, but turned to Barbossa.

Behind him, Barbossa sighed heavily. He jumped over piles and continued stacking books in the corner. Standing, he removed his coat and sashes as well as his hat. He untied the bandana from his head to braid his hair instead. He rolled up his sleeves and continued.

"Do you want help?" asked Will.

Barbossa looked around the room. "It's better for ye to help me in here than drag chests and heavy items from the Cove lad. Mr. Gibbs won't be pleased to here ye stacking and moving things in here. I don't want ye overdoing it lad. I don't need that infection on yer chest growing."

"Are you admitting what I think you are?" wondered Will as he approached. "Are you worried about me?"

"Looking after ye rather. If anything ever happened to ye yer father would come in all his fury and hate to me first lad. I don't want that happening," said Barbossa. He looked at Will's shoulder. "I think 'Jack' here likes yer company anyway."

Will looked at the monkey sitting on his shoulder calmly and collectively. He nodded as he wandered to the pile of blankets. After navigating through the piles of junk, he set the blankets in Jack's quarters on a chair.

"And William, Elizabeth can have the other quarters. Ye and Jack are going to share his quarters. I think Jack will feel best that way, being that close to the man who made a promise," added Barbossa.

"He did tell everyone he saw," said Will with a laugh to himself. He looked at Barbossa. "What about you then?"

"I can make a fine little room below deck," said Barbossa.

"What a mess," Bailey's voice noted.

"I have company so the mess will be relieved," called Barbossa.

Bailey looked at Will and nodded in approval. "Best for your recovery anyway."

"Does everyone know what happened to me?" Will asked them, his voice sarcastic.

"Jack and Elizabeth as well," added Barbossa.

"Why?" wondered Will.

Bailey sought the time to leave as opportune.

"They saw the three of ye when ye were brought here. Master Ragetti nearly had a breakdown over ye three," said Barbossa.

"He's not what I expected of a man when I first met him. He's odd and not quite smart, but he's a good man. Good friend," said Will. "I'll admit my opinion of you has changed."

"Ah, how so?" wondered Barbossa. Hopping over piles once more. "Before ye go and explain that, we need a path from one end to the other."

"Aye," agreed Will quite suddenly.

"Eh, forget it," said Barbossa. "Now, tell me, what did ye think of me before."

"You remember me as I was before," wondered Will. Barbossa nodded. "Use your imagination."

"And I'll admit you have changed quite a bit since then young Master Turner," said Barbossa.

"Haven't we all?" noted Will.

"Ye've changed the most," said Barbossa.

"Enlighten me," requested Will, quite curious.

Barbossa stood to arch his back before continuing to manage the heavy crates and chests. "Before, ye were a naïve little brat unaware of the world but a single woman. Ye had not one eye upon the world until your Mrs. Turner was taken. So, I did ye a favor when I took her. I'll say simply watching you while on our journey to Singapore I learned quite a bit. Ye changed into a fine pirate and a damn good man. Yer everything like your father was. There were times I nearly called ye Bill. Unlike your father, ye worked to achieve yer own ends, kniving, stealing, lying, and keeping burdens for yer own good. I think ye've made a better pirate than yer father could ever become."

"How so?" wondered Will.

"Yer father was too selfless. He didn't care about what happened to himself and in the end I think he regretted that small honest trait of his," noted Barbossa.

Will nodded. He leaned on a chair not piled with items. Eventually, he slowly sunk on the chair. Breathing deeply, he looked at his chest. Although he thought it was bleeding, he was pleased to discover no blood and only white bandage. However, the wound burned painfully, not having taken this amount of strain since coming upon his body.

"Ye going to live lad?" asked Barbossa.

"Aye," replied Will, holding his arm out for "Jack" to scurry down to the table. "How did you acquire the Piece of Eight to the lake?"

Barbossa stood. He looked at Will with pursed lips and a raised eyebrow. "Unlike ye it seems, I find it to be a great honor. Although my domain is a lake I am still Pirate Lord."

"Pirate King," Will told him, pointing at himself.

"Every King needs a Queen. Elizabeth, was named King," said Barbossa.

Will's eyes narrowed in confusion but looked around as he thought. Understanding, he nodded. "Well, I am temporary Keeper, King and Queen, and Lord of the Caribbean and Singapore."

"Anyhow," said Barbossa, now joining Will at the table. "My older sister was a pirate herself and a collector of odd objects. The eye was her prized possession. Before pirating, she handed the eye to me and told me 'Hector, I leave this to you for safe keeping. Never, never lose it. I hope you'll understand someday.' Unfortunately, that was the last time I saw her. She was killed of course by the Navy."

"I'm sorry. I do know how that is," said Will.

"No ye don't," Barbossa said, his voice quiet and eyes looking back into the past. "I was barely fourteen years old when she was murdered and my parents were long dead. After her death I met yer grandfather. I'll tell ye of our adventures one day."

"Did you know it was a piece of eight?" wondered Will.

"Not right away," admitted Barbossa. "It wasn't until I accompanied Jack on his venture to Tia Dalma. Now my wonder of her knowing it was a piece of eight is solved. Wouldn't ye know one of the nine pieces that bound ye in a single form?"

"How did Ragetti lose his eye?" Will suddenly asked.

Barbossa raised a finger. He quietly stood then left the room.

Will leaned back while still sitting in the chair. He watched as Barbossa spoke with Ragetti and Pintel. Thinking he was asking permission to tell, he had to admit that was something else he was not expecting from Barbossa.

Apparently Ragetti accepted. He looked at Will and waved while nodding his head in approval.

Barbossa walked back into the cabin. He resumed his place beside Will in the chair. "Ragetti doesn't like sharing this to the entire world. Yer lucky he'll let ye know this. He trusts ye and admires ye Will. Even Master Pintel finds it accepting to have ye know. He doesn't like to be reminded of it so keep quiet. Ragetti spoke up in his parents' and brother's defense a long, long time ago. The lad was barely twenty. And this was against the Navy mind ye. The Navy and their usual habits of torture decided to take out his eye with a cooking knife."

Will's face went sour as he thought of the occasion in his own mind.

"Him and his brother managed to escape their prison cell in the middle of the night with help from their parents. The four of them were criminals, thieves to be exact. His parents told Pintel to look after his little brother and see to it that he gets a glass eye one day," added Barbossa.

"When we're in London I'll-," began Will then looked at Barbossa in the eye. "Pintel get his little brother a glass eye…" Barbossa nodded. "Pintel and Ragetti are brothers?"

"Pintel is thirteen years older than Ragetti," said Barbossa.

"Another question I have from the world is solved," noted Will.

"Aye, they do everything together. They run away together, took the medallions at the same time, fire the same cannon, swam the same river, go on the same tasks, if one of them wanted to join the Navy the other would as well," said Barbossa.

"I hope this isn't true," Will muttered to himself then spoke up. "Did Ragetti acquire his passion for cooking after then?"

Barbossa nodded. "He's been cooking since he was a little lad. And what about ye? Did ye want to be a blacksmith?"

"I grew up in London wanting to be a merchant sailor like my father. I wanted to own my own company and have dozens of ships at my command," said Will. "What about you?"

"I simply wanted my own ship," announced Barbossa proudly.

Bailey walked in the room again. He took a look around. "I think two of you in here are worse than one doing everything by himself."

"He says good words Turner," noted Barbossa. He motioned to the door with his head. "Ye rest for the night. I can handle this on my own. Ye've separated the piles of what ye want anyway. I won't go through anything. It's not my place knowing what is in everything."

"And it is mine?" wondered Will.

"More yers than mine," said Barbossa.

Will slumped. He looked at the two of them then sighed. Knowing he was going to receive looks from both of them until he left, he simply stood and walked out. Upon entering the fortress, he did note the late time of night. Recalling on everything he did in his life, his last conversation was one of the longest shared with another person.

He wandered the deserted halls of Shipwreck City alone and with his thoughts. Barbossa was quite a sophisticated gentleman, received his Piece of Eight by his older sister, Pintel and Ragetti were brothers, and half of Shipwreck Cove managed to store itself inside the Black Pearl. This night was full of surprises.

Before walking to his own room, Will poked his head into Jack's bedroom, as he was not there before.

Jack was asleep on his side in the moonlight. He was peaceful and calm. His arms were his pillow and he was still wearing his boots and belt.

A smile widened across Will's face. Jack apparently had a good night after he was taken away by Gibbs. He pulled Jack's boots and belt from him then covered him with his blanket. Perhaps he was becoming possessive over Jack, but he realized a connection the two had that was past down from father to son. He replaced his father's position in Jack Sparrow's life.

Leaving Jack alone, Will quietly walked out of the room. He left for his own room and changed into comfortable night clothes. Having not been alone once for the day, he decided to continue his company.

The room next to him was where he slept the night beside Elizabeth.

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"That's so romantic," whispered Anamaria as she rested her head against Jack's shoulder and curled her arms around his left arm.

Elizabeth rested her head against my chest. She sat herself in my lap.

I leaned back to look at her face. Her eyes were shut but a soft smile was imprinted into her lips. Perfectly content, she simply listened to my heart beating. I set my arms around her and shut my own eyes. The two of us shared a small moment together.

Liam tugged on the sleeve of my tunic. "Keep going. When did you left Shipwreck City?"

"Oh," I said, shaking my head from the small moment but did not dare to release my arms from it.

We didn't leave until the day after the next. The day before I found myself standing on the Pearl, at the helm, wondering about a few things. I didn't know anything about captaining a ship. All I knew was what it took to be part of a pirate crew and I thought that was difficult.

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