Well, here's a new chapter. I know I've not updated for a very,very long time. And I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, but I hope you enjoy the new chapter ;)

Again, thanks for all the great reviews!

It was almost sunrise, but the sky was still dark gray. A cool breeze was blowing from the east promising a good weather for the voyage. Jack took in a deep breath smelling the fresh sea air. He was back where he belonged, and it was good to be back.

Angelica had already boarded the ship along with Captain Morris and in Jack's mind was probably locked up in the captain's cabin along with not very sober captain himself. Jack, being a newly appointed first mate was to watch the crew as they filled the cargo up with provision. When the work was done most sailors were ordered to make the ship ready to sail. Some crewmen however were to fetch their dead drunk mates who were snoring on the beach and haul them aboard the ship. Jack, who didn't wish to be part of carrying heavy bodies into the boats and who didn't have any duties as the first mate except to keep watch preferred to take a boat ashore to say his goodbyes to Elizabeth. At first he simply left the ship in order not to endure the sight of Angelica smiling sweetly and whispering to Morris, but as he was walking down the beach he thought that he might as well see Elizabeth before he left. He didn't have to take a trip to the house, for he found her and Billy on the beach cleaning bottles of rum and shattered glass. Jack watched Elizabeth silently as she splashed some water on her face and picked up another broken bottle.

"You don't have to be doing this, you know," Jack told her as hauled some drunk sailor, who was sleeping on the wet sand, onto his feet and shook him.

"On your feet, sailor!" The man stared at Jack for a minute unable to comprehend where he was and then, as it finally dawned on him, ran towards the boats stumbling.

"You mean helping Morris?" Elizabeth asked.

"I mean all of this," Jack looked around the beach. "Living here alone, trading with pirates…"

"Oh, Jack," Elizabeth laughed. "I have had more than enough experience dealing with pirates."

"So why not go out at sea?" Jack raised his eyebrow. "You're a Pirate King after all. You could easily acquire a ship any time you wish."

"I don't want my son involved in all this, Jack. Besides, this is only a title. Wouldn't do much good in finding a proper crew." Elizabeth smiled sadly.

"Doesn't it bother you that his father happens to be sailing on the Flying Dutchman? He will be involved sooner or later."

"I'd rather it happened later," Elizabeth sighed. "I know he will go out at sea as soon as he's old enough. I just don't want to be the one who showed him that path. I don't want to be responsible if anything happens to him before Will has a chance to meet his only son."

"And after?"

"Will will watch over him. I know he will."

They stood in silence for a while watching the sun rise over the gleaming water, their minds filled with worries.

"Well," Jack grinned shaking off the unpleasant thoughts. "Best of luck to you with that. My regards to William." He turned, about to leave.

"And what about you, Jack?" Elizabeth suddenly asked. "What are you going to do?"

"Go after the Pearl, of course," Jack replied, surprised with the question.

"And Angelica?" Elizabeth pressed on.

"What about her?" Jack asked, bemused.

"Jack, you know what I'm talking about," Elizabeth smiled. "I've seen the way you look at her, or rather the way you avoid doing so."

"What way?" Jack pretended not to understand.

"The same way Will looked at me that night on Isla de Muerta…" Elizabeth sighed, trailing off.

"You mean I look like this?" Jack laughed somewhat unnaturally and then made a sad, doomed face that was supposed to resemble Will's "in love" expression.

"No, not exactly," Elizabeth chuckled, not offended at all. "But you get the idea."

"Absolute nonsense, love. I love nothing but the Pearl…the sea, the fresh breeze on my face," Jack said quietly, his expression dreamy.

"Jack, I am your friend and I want to help…I know what it feels like to not be sure of what you feel…not be sure of what to do about those feelings. I've gone through that with Will…and with you."

"No, you don't know," Jack interrupted suddenly. "You've always known Will loved you and it was purely my good looks…and perhaps his shyness that held you two off for so long…" he stopped when he realized that he had in fact just spoken what was really on his mind out loud. "Anyway, I've gotta go, Morris is probably snoring in his cabin right now and I am responsible to see the ship is ready to sail," Jack said in somewhat formal tone.

"Just be honest with yourself," Elizabeth took his hand in hers. "And take care." She laughed. "A stupid thing to tell a pirate."

"I shall, love," Jack grinned and bowed jokingly. "Mrs. Turner."

"Captain Sparrow," Elizabeth chuckled doing a curtsey.

Jack stood on the quarterdeck and watched the sky. They're been out at sea for two days and the weather was only improving. The strong wind blew from the east coaxing more speed from the sails. The sea was calm. Everything was turning out the way he planned except for a little detail. Jack didn't have a heading. He had no idea where Barbossa would be and therefore didn't see fit to talk to Morris about his plans having no idea where to start. He could use his compass, of course, but he didn't think it necessary yet. Well, he was scared. Scared of where the compass would point. The conversation he had with Elizabeth didn't leave his mind. What was it that she saw that made her think he was in love with Angelica? That woman? No way would that ever happen. I may have had…feelings, but that's all. Done with. She had spent most of her time by Captain Morris' side, always whispering something in his ear and ignoring Jack completely. Not like he cared anyway. However, Jack knew that soon enough he would have to talk to the captain about what he had in mind. He knew how to persuade him, of course. He had the proper leverage. He just had to use it right. Two days at sea Jack, as a first mate, had already learned Morris' habits and ways. He got up very late in the afternoon, walked around watching his crew for a while with Angelica by his side, and then locked himself up in his cabin. A few hours later Angelica, who would walk around aimlessly when the captain was unavailable, would go into his cabin and reappear in the morning only to proceed to her quarters (Jack preferred not to think about what she was doing with Morris for so long). Then the cycle would repeat. Jack had also learned that Captain Morris enjoyed playing cards and dice after having a few drinks. So, on the third day, having all the information he needed, Jack proceeded to the captain's cabin and knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" asked a husky voice from behind the door. He's already very drunk. Good, Jack thought.

"It's me, Cap'n. Jack Sparrow," Jack replied swallowing his pride and leaving his beloved title out. When Morris didn't respond, he added, "Your first mate, remember?"

"Aye, Sparrow, what do you need?" Morris mumbled, and Jack heard footsteps approaching the door.

"I need to talk to you…um, sir," Jack told him calmly although he hated the fact that he had to call someone "sir". He could hardly recall the last time he had to be polite towards someone. "It's concerning our heading."

"Alright, alright, get in, ye bloody bastard." Gritting his teeth Jack entered. The room smelled strongly of wine and smoke. Jack spotted quite a few bottles posed on the table used for holding navigational charts and maps. Those, at the same time, were stacked under the bunk Morris slept on. On the bunk Jack saw a blouse he could certainly remember seeing on Angelica. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to look away. It's none of my business.

"So what do you want, Sparrow?" Morris asked sitting back in his chair.

"I brought rum," Jack said seeing as Morris tried to lick the last few drops of rum from the bottle.

"Oh, that's very good, Sparrow, very good," Morris motioned toward the table. "Bring it over. Although, you are not allowed any before your watch is over."

"My watch is over," Jack muttered.

"What are ye doing here then, talking 'bout bloody heading?"

"Cap'n, do you, by any chance, remember me talking 'bout Barbossa stealing my ship after my journey to the fountain of youth?" Jack asked tentatively.

"That bastard? Aye! But, I don't follow, Sparrow. What does it have to do with our course at the moment?"

"Well, I haven't been entirely honest with you…When I said Blackbeard's ship was lost at sea, I lied."

"What in hell do you mean?" Morris started, but Jack interrupted raising his finger. "Barbossa have found Queen Anne's Revenge and pronounced himself captain. He has also acquired many ships that Blackbeard kept in his cabin as trophies. One of those ships was the Pearl."

"So he has a bloody fleet now, is that what you're sayin'?" Morris exclaimed raising to his feet.

"Aye, and I have found myself in need of a ship to follow Barbossa and get me ship back. I have also thought that Blackbeard's own ship, the powerful vessel, indeed, and very fast, could be a great ship to acquire. Although, I'd very much like to have for meself, I can't give up my Pearl and I have never been the one to command more than one vessel. I prefer to be by myself, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, yes, of course," Morris was really listening now. "But what…?"

"So I thought you might be interested in getting Queen Anne's Revenge for yourself. That's why I asked to join your crew in the first place."

Morris's eyes lighted up. Jack could also see all the effects of rum evaporating from his body as Morris sat up straighter processing what Jack was offering.

"So, you're saying you want me to go after Barbossa and get the bloody Pearl for you?"

"Aye, and you could have Blackbeard's own ship, the most fearsome pirate vessel in the Caribbean. I…knew that you have recently found yourself in need of a new ship and thought you might want to take this opportunity."

"Aye, a new ship…and what a ship! Although, it must be twice as fast as me ship. It would be hard to fight them. But that's bloody well worth it…to hell, Sparrow! I knew there was a reason I liked in the first place. Very well! I'll help ye to get ye ship, Sparrow!"

Jack breathed out, relieved. That was the hardest part. Now it was just the matter of getting to Barbossa and then… Jack would be free once again.

"Now, Sparrow, where is that bastard? Do you know where to find him?"

"Well…" Jack's hand closed on his compass about to show it to Morris, but he thought better of it. Morris wouldn't think twice before killing him off and going after Barbossa himself was he to know what his compass could do. "I do."

"Good, good," Morris muttered walking towards the door. "Now, follow me, Sparrow, I shall lead the ship myself!"

"Captain Morris!" Jack exclaimed. "I think…I think you need to get some rest before the battle. The crew…they will surely require your assistance when we catch up with Barbossa. I see now you're not in the best condition…" Jack motioned around the room pointing at the empty bottles. "I think you should just relax for a few hours while I establish a new course, and then, when you're fully rested…then you will fight Barbossa."

Morris stared at Jack for a few seconds and then nodded. "Yes, that sounds good, Sparrow. A good lad, you are…now, go, and tell the crew we have a new heading," he slowly laid down onto his bunk. "And, fetch me Ms. Teach." Jack had to bite his lip not to curse out loud. How dare he…How dare he summon her. Stop. That's none of your business, Jack. Just go. You will be free soon. Exhaling slowly, he opened the door and left Morris snoring on his bed.