Title - A Test Of Time. (Sequel to Faded Memories)
Chapter title - Will I forget?
Author - OblivionsGarden
Disclaimer - I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. Tora Black, the plot and any characters not recognized from the films are entirely mine.

-C.9-

Will didn't notice much on his short trip over to the Pearl. No the tear tracks down Tora's cheeks not the considerable change in Jack. Not the curious stares or murderous glares of Louis' crew or the hole in the toe of his boot that was letting in water. Nothing. The only thing Will could focus on as that he was about to see his family, his reason for living, a whole 6 years ahead of plan. Will was inside his own blissful happiness, disregarding everything else.
Jack could notice only one thing. One thing he'd gone through a whirlwind of emotions with, gone on adventures with, loved, caressed, occasionally mistreated and missed uncontrollably. And no, it wasn't the Pearl. Tora Black...Tora Sparrow was walking beside Jack, behind Will, her porcelain features a blank expressionless mask to the naked eye. However when it came to Tora, Jack's eyes most certainly weren't naked. He could see the mix of frustration, relief and confusion in the glint of her emerald eyes.
Tora couldn't concentrate on anything as she made her way across Louis' deck. She saw the confused sailors who helped her aboard, the ones who had their swords drawn and were ready to kill, the ships black cat stood with it's back arched and claws out atop a crate, the tear in the main sail, the splinters in the mast and the spilt bottle of rum on the floor, ready to be swabbed clean.
As the trio arrived at the railings facing the Pearl, Jack tentatively placed a hand on the small of Tora's back and held a rope steady for her. She smiled a little and took the rope, swinging back to the safety of the Pearl. Once her feet touched the deck she ran to Cotton.
"Where's Will and Lizzie?" Cotton pointed to the doors that lead below deck and Tora smiled gratefully before running off down the steps and into the kitchen.
"Oi, stop eating all the food and get on deck. There's someone here who I think would love to see you both."
Lizzie stared blankly for a second before dropping her bread roll to the floor as she stood up. "Is it dad?" Will Juniors excitement was emitting from his every limb. Tora nodded with a grin and a laugh as two thirds of the Turner family shot past her. She followed slowly behind with a satisfied sigh. The scene on deck was one that could've warmed even the icy-est of hearts.
Will Junior had his arms wrapped tightly around his father's middle whilst Elizabeth had her arms around his shoulders and her face buried in his neck. Will had one hand on his sons shoulder, holding him close and his other arm was securely around Elizabeth's waist whilst he pressed a gentle kiss to her neck.
Jack couldn't help but feel uplifted by the public display of affection that was happening in front of him. When he saw Tora he swiftly made his way over to her and pulled her aside. he red head frowned at him questioningly.
"T, I'm sorry." Jack started and Tora laughed a little.
"Captain Jack Sparrow, apologizing? To a woman no less! Th worlds gone mad."
"Aye, that it has. But non-the-less you deserve it. I have been a complete arse for no good reason."
"Apology accepted Sparrow. Now be quiet before people start thinkin' we've gone soft."
Tora turned to walk away but Jack grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him and held her firmly against his body. He crushed his lips against hers and felt the three days of burning desire pour out of him. Tora smiled into the kiss, thankful that all of the anger and hatred was gone.
Eventually they pulled apart and Tora ran a finger over the purple swelling of his eye.
"Sorry about that." She shrugged. Jack laughed a whole hearted laugh, the sunlight glinting off his various golden teeth.
"I think I deserved that one. You've got a great right hook on you by the way." The pair started to make their way back towards the Turner family as Bootstrap and a few others loyal members of the Dutchman swung over.

"So William do we have a replacement?" Asked Tora.
"Um...well no. Not really."
"Replacement for what?" Asked Bootstrap ruffling his grandson's hair.
"To be captain of the Dutchman. The have a way to restore my heart so I can be with my family."
"And the replacement doesn't have the restrictions of only returning to land once every ten years, only they can't sleep on land." Informed Will Junior.
"You made that up." Frowned Jack.
"No I didn't. It was written on the side of the bottle of Curcaw."
There was a moment of silence before Bootstrap spoke up. "I'll do it."
"Dad, no! I wo-"
"Will, I've served many years aboard the Dutchman. Ferrying souls to the other side has become all I know. The Dutchman is my home son. Someone has to do it and I'd feel like I was doing something good for once in my life. I could make you proud Will."
"I'm already proud of you dad."
"He's right Will. He knows better than anyone the importance of this job." Said Elizabeth.
Will sighed. "OK."
The next few minuted were a mess of people swinging over to the Dutchman, Tora grabbing the Curcaw and Will Junior being forced to stay on the Pearl. Only Elizabeth, Jack, Tora, WIll , Bootstrap and a few others went over the the Dutchman. Once aboard Will and Bootstrap turned to Tora.
"Now What?"
Tora thought back to Baba Fantauzzo's instructions. "Botstrap, you need to pour this," She handed him the Curcaw. "Into Will;s mouth, whilst he's lay with his heart on his chest." Tora turned to Jack who nodded in confirmation.

Will removed his shirt and lay on his back on the deck of the Dutchman, clutching tightly to Elizabeth's hand. Jack placed Will's heart on his chest, directly over where it should be as Bootstrap knelt beside his son's head with the bottle in hand. When everybody was ready, he slowly started to pour the dark liquid into Will's awaiting mouth until every last drop had gone. The five of them held their breath in anticipation but nothing seemed to be happening.
"Did it work?" Frowned Jack standing slightly behind Tora in fear of something bursting.
"I don't know. It tasted very...woody." Will frowned, making a face. A few more moments of silence passed until Will's scream of agony pierce through the atmosphere. Both Tora and Jack stared wide eyed and slack jawed as Will's chest seemed to tear open and his heart dropped into the empty space it should've always been in. His chest closed back up, leaving nothing but a faint white scar. Will sat up and Elizabeth ran a finger over the scar. Everyone turned now to Bootstrap who's bare chest appeared to be changing colour. In a fist sized circle above his heart, Bootstrap's skin darkened to black and one single trickle of blood ran down his torso.
"How do you feel?" Asked Will of his father.
"Same as I did with Davey. Only...free." The older Turner men smiled as each other before Will turned to Lizzie.
"I'm coming home." He grinned, taking his wife in his arms and planting his lips firmly against hers.
Tora sighed, satisfied at a job well done and turned to Jack.
"That's the fourth time you've helped those two."
Jack nodded.
"No complaints? No requesting something in return? No boasting?"
Jack smirked. "A complaint, they've yet to thank me. A reward, they have nothing I want and as for boasting...I've no idea what your talking about love."

Later that night, The Turners were back on the Pearl, Bootstrap having been needed elsewhere. Tora was below deck in the cabin, sat at Jack's desk. She was staring thoughtfully as the pistol lay idly across the map. Unknown to her, Jack was thinking of the exact same event above deck at the wheel.

*
"Quite now, Tora." Whispered Jack as he, Tora and the rest of the crew of the Pearl crouched down behind boxes, crates and barrels in order to listen in on the Brethren Court. Jack was the only one with a hole in which to spy through to the meeting and his silence was frustrating Tora to no end.
"Jack what;s going on? I can't hear anything." She whispered.
"Go back."
"What?"
"There's no one there. Go ba-" Jack turned to leave but there was already a crowd surrounding them and a gun in his face. Gentleman Jocard jerked the gun upwards, telling Jack to stand from his crouching position. Jack stood and held his hands up with a lazy smirk.
"Now let's not do anything rash." He stepped slightly to the left, shielding Tora. Louis Chevalle. who was stood behind Mistress Cheng noticed his movement and stepped forward with a grin that would have even Davey Jones shaking in his boot.
"Now Jack, you know what we do with spies don't you?"
"Aye, I do. But technically we're not spies."
"No?" Frowned Louis.
"No. We are pirates...bored, nosey pirates. That's all mate." Jack let his hands drop to his side as Louis lent over to whisper to one of his devoted crew members, Jack could vaguely remember being named Michelle. A man named Michelle..Jack had a good giggle the first time he heard that. Michelle whispered to the rest of his ship mates and they moved forward grabbing Tora and the crew of the Pearl, shoving them roughly into another room.
"I ask now, the Brethren Court, if they are willing to let me, Louis Chevalle, to place a punishment without question or objection."
The remaining pirates looked between each other, knowing how cruel Louis could be. Jack looked desperately at Teague to object.
"No."
The pirate brethren gasped as Teague who finally stepped forward and spoke up in his sons defense.
"No?"
"No. You can't kill him Louis but i agree he needs some form of punishment." Teague looked pointedly at Jack and Jack nodded, knowing he was never going to get away completely free. "So no, you can't punish him to death but punish him a little, by all means."
Jack glared at his dad in annoyance as Teague lifted a hand, bending one in half. Jack's eyes widened at the thought of losing a finger. Louis thought for a moment before once again, whispering to Michelle. At Louis' nod, Michelle grabbed Teague and held a sword tightly against his neck. Jack frowned in panic.
"What are ye' doin'?"
"This is your punishment Jack. You have a choice...kill him or kill that pretty little red head your so fond of. If you don't, we kill him, then her, then your crew and then you."

Tora. Jack, for the first time in his life, found himself unsure of what to do next. He couldn't kill Tora, he hadn't told her how he felt about her yet. But Teague was his dad. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Teague was his father, the one who had raised him and stopped him going AWOL when his mother died. Teague had saved Jack's life more than once and had forgotten the amount of times he's gotten him out of deep waters. Both metaphorically and literally. Jack couldn't kill Teague. However, he loved Tora with his entire being. He'd never loved anyone before and didn't want to kill the one woman who made him change. He couldn't kill Tora. Could he? What was that old saying? Blood is thicker than water. That's true but is it stronger than love? Doubtful. Teague is blood, Tora is water.
Jack opened his eyes and reluctantly took the pistol from Louis' hand. He turned to the door in which they'd taken his crew and gripped the handle. Teague is blood, Tora is water. He pushed it open and stepped inside.
Upon Jack's entrance, Tora shook free from the grip of Louis' crew and ran over to her captain, relief washing over her.
"Jack what happened? What did they do?"
Teague is blood, Tora is water. Jack looked back out at Louis' and his dad. His hand was trembling as he tried not to drop his weapon.
"Jack? What's wrong?" Tora could see he was hurting but couldn't locate a wound anywhere. She noticed the pistol in his hand and frowned. "Jack?"
Jack finally looked up, becoming entrance in her emerald eyes. She is water. Teague is blood. Jack lifted the pistol to Tora's face and dropped his eyes to the floor. She is water, Teague is blood. Water. Blood. Water. Love.
Tora's eyes widened and everything seemed to go in slow motion as she watched Jack's finger squeeze the trigger, wondering why and silently screaming in her tears.

Jack squoze his eyes shut as the gunshot rang through his ears and he heard Tora's body hit the ground. He heard a commotion behind him before his felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
"C'mon lad. It's over."
Reluctantly he opened his eyes, keeping them fixed straight ahead rather than looking at the lifeless body of his love. He let Teague guide him through Shipwreck Cove, out onto the shore.
"Leave Jackie. You did your punishment but there's not much that can please Chevalle. He'll keep going at you until you break. Take the Pearl and leave."
"Will I forget?" Jack looked up at his father who frowned. "Tora. Will I forget her? Did you forget mum?"
Teague sat down on the sand, pulling Jack with him. "No. I've never forgotten your mum and you'll never forget Tora. It's hard Jackie, I won't lie. but it gets easier as time goes on. I've done alirght haven't I?"
Jack nodded numbly. "So no amount of rum is gonna erase me memory then?"
Teague shook his head with a chuckle as he patter his son's back. "If only lad. If only."
*

A/n -
"With a grin that would have even Davey Jones shaking in his boot." - Yes I meant boot. He only wears one, he has a peg leg. And no it's not the end yet. Nearly, but not yet. I also need opinions. What do you guys think about Tora and Jack having a family? Or should I keep it as just the two of them? What do you think? Also I was thinking of doing a collection of one shots / drabbles about Faded Memories/A Test Of Time. Like one shots of stuff that happened in their lived before, during and after the stories. Only because I love writing Jack and Tora stuff. What do you think? Good Idea? Bad Idea? Let me know, xxx

P.s I hope the flashback answered all of your questions, 88dragon06..xx