"Ouch," Jack said to himself sucking on his finger. He looked down and saw a splinter sticking out of it, he gave is a slight tug and out it came then the small hole started bleeding. Jack squeezed it to make sure the entire splinter was out and out more blood poured. "It would already been be healed if it were Will," he muttered to himself with jealous.

"What Jack," Will asked walking by Jack.

"Nothing."

"I thought you said my name."

"No, I didn't"

"Yes you did Jack."

"No."

"Yes Jack. I clearly heard my name."

Jack's face was scrunched up because he knew he was not going to win this particular argument, "oh alright. I was just saying that if this tiny wound would have happened to ye, it would have healed already."

"Oh," Will said looking a Jack's tiny wound.

"Ye sure ye don't know how it happened," Jack asked again.

Will rolled his eyes, "Jack for the….I don't know how many times I've got to answer that question. NO!"

Jack glared at Will, "easy there boy."

"I'm sorry Jack. It's just that everyone treats me different. They all look at me strangely and poor Aphrodite - they are all afraid of her."

Jack nodded his head, "tell ye what. I've heard of something called the Fountain of Youth, maybe if we went there we'd all be the same and no one would look at ye funny."

"Fountain of Youth? So you would never die Jack?"

"Yup."

"I'm not sure the world is ready for an immortal Captain Jack Sparrow. And just where is this anyway Jack," Will asked mocking not in the mood for one of Jack's crazy adventures.

"I heard a drunk talking about it in Tortuga on our last jaunt. Didn't think much of it at the time but after seeing ye two – well now it seems to make sense to me."

"Jack. I didn't ask for this. I don't want this to be happening and I still don't know why it's happening to me much less her. I really don't know if this is a blessing or a curse." Will hung his head confused about the whole ordeal.

"Ah. But ye are still alive boy when twice ye should have been dead. Ye will live to see ye boy grow up instead of poor William mourning another parent."

Will looked up at Jack, "I know your right Jack but it doesn't feel right. It's not supposed to be like this."

"Well there ye go. See ye ole' friend Jack is trying to help ye with ye pain and join ye. That's why we need to find the fountain of youth me boy."

Will saw there was no arguing with Jack his mind was made up, "so on to Tortuga then?"

"Yup. Just have to find our drunk lil' fellow again and share some more rum," Jack said smiling. "'Sides we need to replace some crew that we lost."

"Where are we heading now Will," Aphrodite asked walking on deck under the stars.

"We're headed back to Tortuga. Jack wants information about the fountain of youth and we need to replace the crew that we lost in the attack."

"I'm not particular fond of Tortuga," she replied to Will.

"Do you remember something," Will asked her hopefully.

"No. But from everything I've been told I don't see it as a safe place for me."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you," Will said instinctively.

Aphrodite went to him and hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you. You are the only one I trust."

Will hugged her back. She felt right in his arms, a little too right. He missed Elizabeth so much. Aphrodite was similar in build to Elizabeth but they were two different people and Will had to keep reminding himself of that.

Aphrodite felt Will suddenly tense, "what's wrong Will?"

"It's nothing. I just thought of something I must do. I'll see you below later," he lied hurriedly walking away from her. Tears began to form in his eyes. He couldn't get close to this woman. He knew nothing about her and he still loved his wife. He couldn't betray Elizabeth's memory.

Aphrodite watched as he walked away. She could sense his sadness; she knew that he was missing Elizabeth. She longed for him to hold her and she felt herself getting a little closer to him everyday. It hurt her when he pulled back from her like this. She didn't know about her former life but she felt in her heart that Will Turner was to be part of her future.

The Black Pearl anchored and while Jack allowed some of the men to go ashore, he told them that they would be leaving early in the morning so they were to have their fun and be back before dawn. Aphrodite elected to stay on board the Pearl for two reasons: one she didn't like the thought of what happened last time and two she needed to give Will some room to think. Will finally agreed to accompany Jack but only after Jack promised that two of their strongest men would stand guard over Will's cabin until Will returned.

Jack and Will started to walk towards town. "So me boy, seems ye and Aphrodite are getting mighty close lately," Jack said after having watched the two over a period of time.

"We're just friends Jack nothing more," Will started to answer.

"But ye could be more ye know."

"Jack. I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. I still am mourning for Elizabeth."

"Will. What did Elizabeth's letter to ye say?" Jack smiled at the conversation since they had repeated this same thing many times.

"I know Jack. She wanted me to move on but Jack I need to be ready, for my sake and the sake of any woman in my future."

"I know but just make sure ye don't lose the very thing ye want that be staring ye straight in the face. Ah, here we are let's just hope our happy and talkative drunk is inside," Jack said opening the door to a tavern Will had yet to visit.

"Jack Sparrow. Surprised to find you here mate," the bartender said.

Jack looked at the man strangely, "me why?"

The bartender looked at Will standing next to Jack, "is this your first mate Will Turner?"

"Aye," Jack replied lifting an eyebrow up trying to figure out what was transpiring.

"You don't know yet do you?"

"Know what?" This time it was Will's turn to try and figure out what was going on.

"Have a seat over in the corner. I be over in a minute with a bottle of rum," the bartender said then turning to one of his barmaids, "take over here. I'll be a few." She nodded and watched as her boss walked over to the corner table with a good bottle of rum and three tankards.

"OK – now ye making me nervous," Jack said watching the man pour the rum.

"'ere drink up both of you," he said handing them each part of a tankard.

Will tried to politely refuse but the bartender told him, "drink it all before I begin." Will looked at Jack and Jack just raised his glass and told Will "bottoms up."

Jack drank his down quickly but Will took a few breaths in between. Once Will slammed down the empty tankard the man began. "It was about a week or more ago when this captain completely dressed in black. He had a fierce looking crew with him too. Well, he told us to give you a message, actually both you and your first mate." At this point, the man started to hesitate.

"Well, what did he say," Will said the rum loosing his tongue and shortening his patience.

"He said his name was Captain Ares and you had something that he wanted and you would trade with him."

"What do we have that he wants," Jack asked.

"Aphrodite was the name he said."

"No! She's not something for trade," Will answered standing to his feet in anger.

"Sit down. Let me finish. Jack, he has your wife and daughter." Now it was Jack's turn to stand in anger. "And Will, he has your son."

Jack took a deep breath, "and where would this trade happen?"

"He said he'd be in Bermuda. Jack, Will, I don't trust this man. He said to give you this Jack," the man handed Jack a piece of lace. He immediately recognized it as some Jack had brought back for Jess from his last journey. Jack started to walk to the door with Will right behind him. "Be careful you two, he didn't strike me as a man that would honor a bargain."

Jack and Will started back to the Pearl, "Jack, we are going after them aren't we?"

"Of course we are and when we get there, he will regret the day he crossed Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner. We will rescue that at all costs."

As soon as they were back Jack ordered the crew to make ready so that as soon as the rest of the crew were back with supplies, they would sail. The two men left the outside of Will's cabin and Aphrodite asked where Will was. They told her that Will and Jack were in Jack's cabin plotting a new course.

Aphrodite went to Jack's cabin where she found the door slightly ajar. She could see Jack sitting looking at his maps and Will pacing. "Jack, you can't possibly even consider trading Aphrodite. There must be another way to get Jess, Jasmine and my son back. This Ares probably won't even uphold a bargain."

"I know Will. If he kidnapped our families, he's not exactly trustworthy or someone with morals. But we might have to consider going along with trading Aphrodite for our families if all else fails."

Aphrodite opened the door and Will and Jack looked over at her, "I'll go. I'll be traded. I don't want anyone hurt on my behalf."

"No Aphrodite, we will find another way. I'm not going to let you be traded," Will said looking at her then Jack.

"Look. You lost your wife Will. I can not stand it in good conscious to let you lose your son because of me."

She began to cry and Will went over and held her tightly, "we'll find another way."

Jack looked again at his maps. "The fastest way to Bermuda leads us through the Devil's Triangle and we don't have time to go around. Regards of what happens it will happen in Bermuda."

It may be a day or two before I get to update….reviews would be great to come back to…helps motivate me & all….