"Will," I called, pulling myself up and over the railing.

He turned, having been staring reminiscently out over the sea, hanging off of the ratlines. "Adeena."

I stalked over to him, an odd stillness in the air. "How does it feel to be immortal?"

He rolled his eyes. I doubted that's what he wanted to hear. "Tell Jack I feel just like I did yesterday." He informed me with a hint of disdain for the pirate.

I frowned. That stung a bit. "Elizabeth is thrilled you're alive."

He smiled slightly at her name. "I'm thrilled that she is. Did she tell you that we married in the middle of the battle?"

I blinked. Wasn't that odd? "Elizabeth Turner," I tried. "That sounds wonderful. I've forgiven her, by the way. And I am also married, if you care." Gah, it was still weird.

Will's gaze had been drifting, but it snapped back to me as if I had just grown two heads. "Married? Jack?"

I rolled my eyes. "Who else? Yes, Will, Jack married us." I felt the smile unwillingly climb to my lips. "Adeena Sparrow. I rather like it, but I know you don't like him...I frankly don't care."

He sighed, as if my fate was sealed. "If he hurts you --"

"Yes, yes, you'll kill him," I waved him off, "And you'll have to come through me, and I do happen to be part Siren, which I am sure you are now aware of due to your new --" I gestured at him, "Unnaturalness."

The look in his eyes was guarded. "One day. Every ten years."

I hardened my gaze. "It could be never." I said harshly. "But Jack Sparrow proved that he is not the heartless pirate you make him out to be, as did your father. I hope you can respect my decisions, William."

"Tell him thank you along with the original message." He said after a moment.

"Fine by me."

I walked forward and into his embrace, realizing I wouldn't be seeing him very often, now that his heart was locked away in that blasted chest. "I'll really miss you, Will."

"I'll miss you as well." He replied softly. I closed my eyes, thankful.

***

"Your chariot awaits," Gibbs told Elizabeth with a smile. When her carefully stony expression didn't soften, his grin fell. "The oars are inside." He said quietly, stepping away.

She began walking down the line we had formed, meeting our gazes in turn, nodding to those she was particularly close to. "Mrs. Turner." Barboussa acknowledged her, a glint in his eyes. She smiled slightly.

"Goodbye, poppet," Pintel said. Ragetti was at his side, looking as if he was holding back tears. I'd heard that story; seems they were friends, in the end.

She stopped beside me, turning so we could face one another. Without comment I stepped froward and wrapped my arms around her.

She reciprocated. "I'm truly sorry, Adeena."

"I know. It's fine." I said. "Congrats."

"Same to you. He's a good man, don't let him think otherwise."

"Ha." I smiled as I pulled away. She looked slightly amused, but I didn't think she was in the mood.

Jack was next. He was obviously trying to act like he didn't care (bastard) but I think he did, anyway. "Jack," She said, "It would have never worked out between us."

Ha!

"You keep tellin' yourself that, darling." He smiled mischievously, knowing very well that I was right there. "But you're right." His gaze drifted to mine. Fine, you've redeemed yourself, Jack Sparrow.

Elizabeth smiled sadly. "Thank you, Jack."

***

"This is a problem." I whispered.

Jack let out a little groan, agreeing. "I should have marooned him, the --" He let out a string of colorful words.

"You'll wake the children," I said sarcastically, staring down at Joshamee Gibbs, who clutched a teddy bear, out cold on the end of the dock.

Jack had decided to stop at Tortuga, because we felt the need to celebrate, and why the hell not? So we'd left Gibbs in charge of the Pearl, but judging by the splotch of black on the horizon, Barboussa and our crew -- our crew! -- had left us behind. I hissed a few spouts of angry Siren. We'd just got the Pearl back, it seemed, and there it went again.

"I vote we leave him here." Jack suggested.

"You aren't that cold. I vote that we somehow contact the Empress." I said, referring to my own ship.

"Oh, them. Where are they?"

"I have no bloody idea, which is why I said we should find some way to contact them!"

He shrugged, digging in his pockets and emerging with a bottle of rum. "Do you know how long it takes to send mail by sea?" With that, he wasted the rum on Gibbs' head.

Gibbs woke with a start, sputtering and spitting, coughing. "Mister Gibbs," Jack said with a hint of irritation, "Is there any particular reason why my ship is gone?"

I stood just behind Jack, fixing my fierce gaze on the drunk. If he squealed or something of the sort, I was going to die laughing.

"The ship?" Gibbs asked, disoriented. "We're on the ship." With that, he laid back down.

"Epáno!" I snapped. Up!

He jerked awake in a panic, jumping to his feet. "Jack!" He exclaimed. "Jack, the ship's gone?"

I was proud of Jack. He was going a great job of not killing him. "Really?" He asked sarcastically.

I touched his shoulder. Gibbs seemed to realize I was there, suddenly, and was startled all over again. "Miss Adeena!" He gaped at me. "Your eyes!"

I frowned, touching the back of my eyelid. "What? Is my kohl running?"

Jack looked as well, and he looked mildly surprised. "Oh," He said. "Yeah, that happened earlier. Back to why my ship is gone --"

"Never mind me," I agreed, before slapping Gibbs. He looked shocked. "There. Go on, Jack." Jack looked on the verge of bursting into laughter.

It was Gibbs that spoke first, looking resigned. "Take what you can," He said to Jack.

Jack grinned. Gibbs was forgiven. "Give nothing back," He replied, and they knocked fists. Gibbs walked between us, heading over to Scarlet and Giselle, who were (not so inconspicuously) ogling Jack from behind us.

My pride made me mention it. "They never learn," I gestured over my shoulder.

Jack peered around me to look. "They never do. Anyway," He grabbed my collar and gave me a rather passionate kiss right in front of them, "You don't need to worry."

I smiled. "I still will." I paused. "Thanks for everything. Really."

He grinned, hugging me to his chest. "You are very welcome. Adeena Sparrow. I like it."

"Commodore Adeena Sparrow sounds even better."

"Commodore Jack Sparrow beats that one."

"Ah, shut it."

"You'd be lonely if I did," He said, and I pulled away. "But look what I got!" And he grinned like a little kid.

I raised my eyebrows. "What do you got? Not another jar of dirt, I hope?"

"Don't insult my jar of dirt," He said seriously.

"I'll insult whatever I want."

Rolling his eyes, he promptly unfolded the Navigational Charts.

"And?" I asked, tracing a circle.

"You could act more excited," He tapped my nose fondly, "But it does more than get less-than-fortunate sailors out of Davy Jones' Locker." He visibly shuddered. "It also leads to the Fountain of Youth."

I was immediately uneasy. "Jack, no."

"Why not?" He asked, looking dejected. He probably predicted my answer. "It's something to occupy ourselves with, and I don't recall saying I wanted to become immortal!"

Hearing him say it was harsh. "I don't want it to tempt you. And," I hesitated. "The Sirens created the fountain."

"That's...interesting." He said. "How do you know?"

I touched my forehead absentmindedly. "I don't know," I said, "Knowledge tends to flow into my head occasionally. For instance, my surname wasn't Cole."

He blinked. "Really?"

"No. I think I named myself, years ago, when I met Will. I was hiding in the ashes of the forge, hence Cole." I smiled. "It's Ireneaus. Adeena Ireneaus."

He was silent. "That's...nice."

"Thank you," I said, knowing he didn't know how to respond and that he meant it. "About the fountain..." I nodded to myself. "Let's do it, why not? It could be entertaining, watching you find something that's been lost for hundreds of years."

"You'll be helping me," He swatted me with the map, "And therefore I suggest you climb into that dingy before I make you." The dingy? What dingy? Oh, the dingy that Hector Barboussa had left for us, rather than marooning our asses and taking off in our ship.

"Fine, your highness," I said, hopping off of the dock and nearly tipping the thing over.

"Oh, I like that. Even better than captain." He followed, a tad more graceful than I had been.

"In that case, I won't call you either." I grinned.

He smirked back. "As long as you don't steal my ship."

I tossed him a bottle of rum, taking one for myself. They had been conveniently hidden under the seats. "I couldn't do that, I'm far too innocent."

"Like hell you are," He retorted, and we clinked glasses.

"By the way," I asked curiously. "What was with my eyes?"

He studied my electric green orbs. "They were glowing."

I blinked, alarmed. "What?"

He waved me off with a signature flail of his arms. "Not literally, more like...I dunno, quit asking me."

"I'm just that great," I assured him.

Jack smirked at me. "See, I've affected you." He raised his bottle.

"Drink up me'hearties, yo ho," I said, smiling, before he could.