I stared at Tia Dalma, feeling a cold wave wash over me. "Time for what?"

"For ye to retreat, back ta de ocean from whence ya came," She smiled, walking forward and tilting my chin up with one finger. "Yer destiny."

I shook my head. "No, I can't become a siren. I have...responsibilities here!" She looked unconvinced. "I have Jack!" I burst out, hoping to make her understand.

"Love is not eternal, Adeena Cole," She said, shaking her head. "It will only las' so long, and then, it is gone."

I felt my temper build; she had no right, no right to say that about him, that he was like Davy Jones, that he would just leave. "You're wrong." I growled, jabbing her chest. "Jack is special. Different."

"And so art all pira'es," She murmured, seeming lost in thought. "But the shoes ye've to fill art large, an' so is ya heart. Ye'll do jus' fine."

Her eyes flashed, and she spoke in a strange language. She said. It was odd; I could see her mouth moving, but it was as if she was speaking in my head. .

I tried it, the odd noises flowing off of my tongue.

He smiled, her teeth a flash of gold. .

"Little fire?"

"It is what ya name translates to in dis language," She explained, smiling devilishly. "Little fire."

"Adeena..." I said aloud. Little fire.

She spoke again in Siren.

I felt my heart flutter, at the thought of singing in another language.

I placed my hands over my mouth in shock. Tia smiled at me, proud, as if I were her creation.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

"Yes, Adeena," She said. "It 'tis what ya are meant ta be."

I shook my head. "Then why am I what I am?"

"Yer mother wanted a different life, for herself...yer father, he 'ad ruined dat fer her. But she 'ad you," Her eyes gleamed. "And she made to keep ya safe..."

"So she gave me to the humans..." I whispered.

"Ya father killed her da night afta," She hissed, her aura growing. I could sense everyone's auras; they were running about on deck, trying to tip the ship.

Up is down.

It all made sense. I bet Jack had been the one to figure it.

"My father." I raised my eyes. "Is he alive?"

"He lives," She said, in a half growl. She was angry thinking about it, I could tell. "But he searches." Her eyes grew distant.

"For who?" I asked.

I already knew.

"For you," She confirmed. I let my hand drift up to the locket around my neck.

Oddly, I felt my fingers close around a red Jamaican bead instead.

"What does he want?" I asked. The ship was tipping. We stood horizontal; our newfound--mine, anyway--powers keeping us in place.

"He wan's ya dead," She said softly. "But dat would be nearly impossible. Ya are too hard to kill, Little Fire."

"It'll stay that way." I said with a burning fierceness. "Tia, what else can I do?"

She grinned.

***

Jack coughed and pushed himself up, hearing a great whoosh noise as the water slid off the Pearl and tumbled into the ocean.

And the great Captain Jack Sparrow does it again, he thought with a bit of pride. Everyone else was pulling themselves up, panting and dripping with water. Barboussa looked particularly ridiculous. Jack found a bit of happiness in that.

"Blessed sweet westerlies! We're back!" Gibbs exclaimed.

"It's the sunrise..." Elizabeth murmured, her hair sticking to her forehead. Even soaked, she was beautiful. Jack scolded himself half-heartedly.

Pintel and Ragetti were rushing to escape the mess they had gotten into, tied to the mast. "This was your idea!" Pintel growled.

He stood up, followed by Barboussa, Lizzy, and Will. He knew what was coming.

He drew both pistols as the other three did, already tired of the argument before it had began.

"Parley?" Cotton's parrot squawked. The monkey had a flintlock pointed at his head.

Apparently, someone else was sick of fighting as well.

Jack felt someone stop beside him. "Really? We haven't even charted the course yet."

He smiled widely. Adeena held up her handgun, the one she called Pistolina, for whatever reason, a hard look in her eyes.

I am very lucky, he realized. Very lucky she has chosen me...

Barboussa chuckled.

So did the rest of them. They lowered their guns, grinning, obviously faking.

"Alright then," The grizzled captan growled, and Jack the Monkey squeaked as everyone pulled up their weapons again. "The pirates be a-gatherin' at Shipwreck Cove, and we'll be a-goin', there's no arguing it, right Jack?"

He stiffened, thinking of Teague's cold eyes. "I is arguing the point," He shot back. "If there's pirates a-gatherin', I am a-pointing my ship the other way."

Barboussa's lips tightened as Jack mocked the way he had spoken.

"The pirates are gathering to fight Beckett, and you are a pirate!" Elizabeth turned both her guns on him. Adeena hissed and put Pistolina to her forehead.

William let his eyes rest on Jack. "Fight or not, Jack, you aren't running."

Jack's heart twinged uncomfortably.

"If we don' stand together, they'll hunt us down, one by one, until there be none left but you." Barboussa spat at Jack, his beady eyes sparking with anger. Jack felt his own resentment for the traitor rise.

The last pirate... he thought.

"I quite like the sound of that," He chose to say, grinning. "Captain Jack Sparrow, the Last Pirate."

He saw Adeena give him a sharp glance. He chose to say nothing,

"Aye, and ye'll be fightin' Jones alone. How does that figure into yer plans?" Barboussa raised an eyebrow.

He had a point. Jack still owed Davy Jones a soul...about ninety five souls, now.

"I'm still working on that part." Improvising. He thought with a half smile. "But I can assure you, mate, I won't be going back to the locker. You can count on that."

He smirked over at Adeena, looking for her constant support.

"Jack, I'm going. Whether or not you choose to." Adeena said, reluctance in her voice.

Jack glared at her. Why must I love the disagreeable ones?

He frowned, then smiled. Jack fired his gun.

Adeena's eyes widened as she saw his finger tighten, and her eyes jumped to Elizabeth. A smile curled her lips upwards.

Jack almost was scared of her for a moment, but internally was glad when his pistol failed to fire. As much as he disliked the Governor's daughter; she did kill him after all, he didn't need a cold blooded murder to his name. That wasn't him.

As soon as Jack fired his gun, the others pulled their triggers as well. They were all surprised--in Barboussa's case, disappointment--when no one's heads were blown up.

"Wet powder." Gibbs said. He had been spectating. Barboussa lowered his arm with a scowl.

They began to disband, Adeena tagging along behind Jack. He sensed that she wanted to talk to him, and for once he didn't want to speak with the hybrid.

"Wait! We can still use 'em as clubs!" He heard Pintel call, and then cry in pain when Ragetti hit him over the head. He rolled his eyes. Idiots.

"Jack! Wait!"

He felt his shoulder being tapped, and he turned and pressed his lips to Adeena's. He felt her smile.

"Yes, love?" He asked, when he broke away. He had hoped that perhaps his natural charm would distract her, but he should have known. Adeena was not one to be redirected.

"Jack, I feel as if you aren't telling me something." She said, a slight blush staining her cheeks. At least a he could still affect her like be used to. He could tell, Adeena had come to peace with her newfound gifts. She would be different, now.

"I've told you everything with a side of breadcrumbs." He assured her, with a casual smile.

"I'm not stupid." She said dryly.

Jack sighed.

"I would tell you if I could." It hurt to lie to her. "But you trust me, right?"

Adeena fell silent.

Jack winced. He'd lost her trust.

"Please, this one time, trust me." He requested, taking her hands. "Please."

It wasn't often Jack said please. But it had the desired effect; Adeena dropped it.

"Alright." She whispered, and kissed him again, rolling onto her tip toes. "I love you."

"Likewise." He responded, brushing hair out of her face with a tender smile.

Jack was glad he was a good actor. It was going to take a lot of good lying to convince Adeena he was genuine.

Jack had made his decision.

He was going to become immortal, no matter the cost.