"Tortuga, Mister Gibbs! I need rum, lots and lots of rum." Jack stated, as he made his way up to the helm, and taking hold of the wheel.

                                                             >>---------------------------------<<

Jack sat at his table in the tavern, drinking from his tankard of rum; normally he would be with the others, drinking and gambling, enjoying the little time that he had on dry land; but this time was different, this time he felt the need to be alone with his thoughts. As he drank, his eyes fell on the commotion across the room, a large crowd of men were gathered around a table; Jack's curiosity got the better of him, and he made his way through the men until he could see who all the attention was on. There, to his surprise, sat an older man desperately gulping at the contents of his tankard.

"I tell ya lads, it was the Devil's Own; that cursed ship has been in my nightmares ever since I set foot on me first ship. That damn ship cut through the water like nothing I've ever seen. It was on us before we could do anything. I'm telling ya, our ship stopped dead in the water, even though the wind was blowing at a fair rate of knots. We were boarded so quickly we had no time to hide or arm ourselves." The old man said, shaking his head, terror showing in his eyes.

"But it was the captain that really scared us, she called herself (y/f/n) (y/l/n), that woman is evil I tell ye. Those eyes of hers are burned into me psyche; she told er men to slaughter me crew and then bring her their souls. I watched as er men killed each and every last living being, pulling their souls from their corpses. The Devil's Own is back with a vengeance, ya better all be careful lads. I lost me crew and me ship to that damn creature." The old man said, taking another gulp of his rum.

"How did ya get away then?" One of the men in the crowd asked.

"The captain asked if I'd tell the story, I said I would; she seemed to like the fact that I was the only one that didn't beg for me life." The old man shuddered.

"I think ya spinning us a yarn old man, too much rum that's what I think it is." Another man called out.

The old man became indignant. "Making it up? Ya think I'm making it up? Well am I making this up?" The old man said, as he pulled up his sleeve and showed the men a fresh brand on his arm, of a skull with large devil horns. Jack couldn't believe it, after all these years surely it couldn't be the same woman. She was older than him when he met her all those years ago. The old man must be mistaken; if the Devil's Own really was still sailing it must be a new crew, a new captain.

The few days of respite on Tortuga, as the crew replenished supplies aboard the Pearl didn't give Jack any of its normal pleasures; normally the rum, and the woman would flow freely, and he would take advantage of everything that the pirate port had to offer, but this time was different. After the revelations of the old man in the tavern, Jack found himself incapable of thinking of anything else other than The Devil's Own, and its captain.

His desire to be back at sea was overwhelming, he missed the sea breeze flowing through his hair, and the sea spray against his cheeks; the captain had been right all those years ago, when she told him that he would never feel more at home than when he was at sea, and now that the Pearl was pushing off from land, he felt a wave of relief flow over him.

                                                              >>--------------------------------<<

The next few days passed without incident, life aboard the Pearl was as it always was, and Jack seemed to be back to his normal self. The hushed murmurs about the Devil's Own, had slowly died down, replaced by the usual grumbles about scrubbing the deck, or fixing the sails.

Jack and Gibbs stood at the helm, Jack spinning one of his usual tall tales as Gibbs visibly rolled his eyes.

"CAPTAIN! SHIP ON THE PORT BOW!" Came a call from the man in the crow's nest. Jack grabbed his spy glass and rushed to the railing followed closely by Gibbs. He focused the glass and saw something he hadn't seen in over 30 years, The Devil's Own. Jack lost his grip on the glass as it fell to the floor. Not again, he thought to himself; if it was true, surly he wouldn't be as lucky this time. But the Pearl could outrun the devil, couldn't it? As Jack stood frozen, Gibbs grabbed the glass and stared with horror as the flag he had only ever been told about was unfurled and fluttered wildly in the wind.

"The Devil's Own! THE DEVIL'S OWN!" Gibbs screamed out to the crew. Gibbs looked to Jack who simply stood at the rail clutching his necklace in his hands.

Gibbs turned to the crew. "We're gonna try and outrun the devil lads, all hands on deck, splice the main brace, I want every sail we have. Let's make the Pearl fly gentlemen."

Gibbs grabbed a hold of Jack and shook him. "Captain, we have to run."

Jack looked at his friend. "Aye Mr. Gibbs, we can try."

Jack rushed back to the helm and took hold of the ships wheel. Without thinking he took out his compass and opened it; its small hand spun dramatically, before pointing to the Devil's Own. Jack shut the lid and frantically shook it, only to open it and see it point in the same direction. What could be on that ship that he wanted? He looked back towards the vessel and watched as the devil stuck to their tail.

There was an horrific scream from the crow's nest as the man that was stationed there fell to the deck, a single arrow protruding from his right eye.

"Can't you make us move any quicker, mister Gibbs?" Jack asked, his hands gripping onto the wheel.

"Not unless you have a few more sails up your sleeves, and can control the wind captain, no." Gibbs retorted, as he ushered men up into the rigging.

Without warning the Pearl came to a shuddering halt, the sudden stop throwing men to the deck; Jack and Gibbs ran to the rail, looking in horror as the sea around the Pearl began to bubble and foam.

Jack slumped to the floor, clutching his necklace in his hand.

"What are we gonna do Captain?" Gibbs asked, as he looked down at Jack.

"Nothin mister Gibbs, there is nothin to be done. But if this is it, then I am going to die with rum in my hand; if the captain of the Devil's Own wishes to find me, I shall be in my cabin, getting drunk." Jack said, dragging himself from the floor, and staggering below decks.

Gibbs and the rest of the crew watched as the Devil's Own came gliding effortlessly alongside them, the ship's deck only mere feet away from that of the Pearl's; with an ordered, planks spanned the gap as men invaded the deck, forcing Gibbs and the rest of the crew to their knees.

The sky grew darker as the captain of the Devil's Own stepped foot on the deck.

"Ah, the infamous Black Pearl; I've been after this prize for a very long time, she is so very pretty." The captain hummed as she brushed her hand lightly over the railing feeling the knots in the wood. Her voice though seemingly sweet and calm sent waves of fear through the Pearl's crew.

"Such a prize is one to be kept wouldn't you say Mr. Christian?" The Pearl's crew watched as the large blonde man seemed to stand to attention as the captain spoke.

"Aye captain, she could prove useful." The man said, his eyes scanning the ship, and its motley crew.

"Which of you are the captain and first mate?" The captain asked as she looked over the crew.

No one dare speak, but eyes furtively shot towards Gibbs.

The captain walked over to him, looking him up and down. "Well, you most certainly aren't the captain, so you must be the first mate." Gibbs said nothing, choosing instead to spit towards her feet.

The captain knocked Gibbs to the deck with the butt of her pistol to his temple, a deep cut forcing crimson ribbons of blood to race down the side of his head. She grabbed his face forcibly pulling it up so that his eyes met hers.

"Was it your idea to try and outrun the devil or was it your captains?' She hissed, as she looked up surveying the crew.

"And where is your captain? Is the coward hiding below deck, trying to save his own skin?" Gibbs said nothing, and she threw him to the floor.

"MISTER. CHRISTIAN!" She bellowed out to her first mate, who came rushing up to her side.

"Take two men and find the captain of this floating heap and drag him up here, I want to know who this man thinks he is." The captain growled, as Christian grabbed two men and pulled them behind him.

Below decks Jack sat at the large table in his cabin, a bottle of rum in one hand, and the charm of his necklace in the other. Thoughts raced through his head about every possible way there could be to save himself, the Pearl, and his crew, but he knew nothing would work. As he took another gulp from the bottle, the door to his cabin flew open, three large men standing in the doorway.

"Take this coward up to the captain." Jack heard a voice call out, as he kept his eyes on the table.

The two other men grabbed him, dragging him up the stairs and out into the sunlight, throwing Jack onto the deck in front of their captain. He pulled himself up on to his hands and knees and looked up at the figure. There was a small chuckle from under the hood as the feared captain looked down at the man in front of her.

Pulling down her hood the two came face to face, Jack pushed himself backwards in disbelief. It couldn't be, but it was. She looked exactly the same as she did when he first laid eyes on her all those years ago, not a wrinkle, a crease or a line. No grey hairs or weakened body, she was as beautiful as he remembered. They looked at one another, a smile forming across her perfect features, as she crouched down in front of him.

"Is that my little sparrow?" Her voice was calm and sweet, and her eyes sparkled as she took in his features.

"My, my little one, didn't you grow up handsome. Has it really been that long since I saw you last?" She said, as she placed one hand on his cheek, while the other pushed his hair behind his ear.

"Don't you remember me little sparrow?" He could see disappointment in her eyes at the thought of him not remembering her.

"Aye captain, I remember you." Jack said, pulling out from under his shirt the necklace he never took off. She looked down at it taking it in her hand.

"You wore my kiss all this time Jack? Since the day I gave it to you?"

Jack was confused, he had always thought her kiss to his head was the kiss of the sea, yet now he realised he had been wearing her kiss. It had kept him connected to the ocean, connected to her.

The captain stood up, turning to her first mate. "Mister Christian, you and the men keep an eye on the crew, Captain Sparrow and I have somethings to discuss." She said as she offered Jack her hand, leading him back below deck.

In Jack's cabin she took his face in her hands. "Well now captain, what do I do with you and your crew? I do have my reputation to consider after all, I can't have anyone think that the devil has gone soft. I believe that you and I must come to an accord, my little sparrow." She said, as Jack snaked his arms around her waist.

"And what did ya have in mind Captain?" Jack asked, a characteristic smirk pulling at his lips.

"Oh, I can think of one or two things, Jack."

                                                         >>----------------------------------<<

On the deck of the Devil's Own stood a boy, no older than 10 years; his long brown hair fluttered back over his shoulders as the sea breeze blew against his face. His brown eyes twinkled in the evening light as the sun sent out a red haze; he was the apple of his mother's eye; a gift from the captain of the only ship she had ever allowed to go safely on its way.

The captain came up behind her son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are we nearly their mother?" The young boy asked looking up into her green eyes.

"Yes little one, we will be there soon." She answered, looking out into the vast expanse of the ocean.

"Will he be there?" He asked, following his mother's eyes out into the watery vastness.

"He will, I can already feel him." She told him, gripping his shoulder a little tighter.

"CAPTAIN! SHIP ON THE STARBOARD BOW!" The call of the man in the crow's nest rang out, splitting the silence.

"Mister Christian, make course to rendezvous with that ship." The captain ordered.

The first mate made the necessary adjustments and the Devil's Own flew to its meeting. The captain crouched before her son, brushing his hair behind his ears and placing his hat on his head.

"We must have you looking your best for when you meet him." She said, smiling at the young boy.

The captain brought her eye glass up, scanning the deck of the approaching ship, smiling widely when she saw the man she so desperately wanted to see, with the speed of the Devil's Own and the speed of his ship, it would not be long before the three of them were together.

Within what seemed like a heartbeat, the Devil's Own drew up alongside the other ship.

The word came. "CAPTAIN BOARDING."

Mister Christian stepped foot onto the other ship's deck, holding out his hand to be taken by the captain and then the young boy who hid underneath his mother's cloak. She smiled as the other captain wrapped his arms around her.

"Hello, my little sparrow, you are greyer than last I remember." She chuckled, running her fingers over his beard.

"You would be too if ya had this crew." Jack said, as he brushed his fingers through her long hair.

"But you still look as beautiful as the day I met ya love." He hummed, as he pulled her closer.

"Are you sure you want to do this Jack, are you sure you want to leave the Pearl, you never have before?"

Jack nodded. "Aye, I'm leaving her in good hands, and I was never this old before, love." He said, softly caressing her cheek.

"I have someone for you to meet little sparrow." Jack looked on as the captain moved her cloak and a small figure appeared. His eyes widened as the young boy looked back at him, the child was the spitting image of him when he had first met his mother.

"Is he.......... is he mine?" Jack asked, as father and son looked at one another.

"Oh Jack, he is every inch yours; the only difference is, is he doesn't have facial hair, or drink rum." She chuckled, as she watched the smile come to Jack's face.

"Come love, we should be going. Say your goodbyes, and we will meet you onboard."

As the two left, Jack did as she said before making his way to the plank and crossing over to the Devil's Own. As he stepped foot on her deck, he felt a strange sensation, as something inside him seemed to change. Looking down at his hands the wrinkles disappeared, his hands flew to feel his face as the skin began to replenish.

"I'm younger, how......how did that happen?" Jack asked, looking over at the smiling woman.

"Do you know how old I am Jack? You don't stay looking like this without a little help." She said, as she pulled the shocked Jack into her arms.

"We have all the time in the world to grow old together now my little sparrow." She said softly, as her lips met his.

As the sun finally set, The Devil's Own sailed into the looming darkness, ready to take on its next adventure.