"You ain't comin' with me Will, savvy?"

"No I don't. Jack, let me fulfil my heritage, just like you said I should do. I'm a pirate, after all."

"Yer a pirates son, not a pirate. Completely different things. Laddy, you need to know something. The life you have here, it's a good life, ye have a trade, in a few years you'll have yer own smithy, you'll marry 'Lisabeth, have a few kids, and grow old and happy together. As a pirate, ye wouldn't last five minutes. Go back to her."

"No. If I have to I'll steal my own ship and beat you to every treasure trove in the Caribbean."

"Lad, is there anything' I'm gonna say that'll change yer mind?"

"No. Elisabeth understands how I feel. And… and she isn't stupid."

That got Jack's attention really well. "What d'ya mean?"

"Despite what happened, her father will never let us marry. She will end up marrying Norrington, she knows that." Will looked forlorn, like a child who's favourite toy had been taken away. "I can't stay there to watch that. To know that he has her… she never was and never will be mine Jack."

"But she's a clever… feisty… bloody annoying girl. She'd find a way around it. Don't be ruinin' yer life Will."

"She's more of a daddy's girl than you think. She would never disobey him, not properly. She told me."

"So, yer gonna give up on her, join the crew of the Pearl and make yer fortune, is that right?"

Will smiled slyly, "if the Pearl needs a crew member, I'd like to apply for the job."

"And what skills do you bring to the position, Mr Turner?" Jack, as always, revelled in the role of captain.

Will unrolled the heavy looking cloth he was carrying with him. "Well, I don't have any experience of piracy, but I would be learning from the most revered and feared captain on the seas." Jack grinned, so Will knew the flattery was working. "I'll also provide new weaponry for the entire crew," he said, revealing a large number of swords, daggers and knives. "Captain Sparrow can, of course, have first choice."

Jack tried a few of the blades out, saying nothing. He then selected one particularly fine sword, nodded abruptly and walked off, shouting a few words over his shoulder.

"We sail tonight, if you leave a letter with one of the innkeepers they'll ensure it gets back to Port Royal."

Will had already written a letter to Elisabeth a hundred times over in his mind. He didn't want her to forget him.

***************************

After a week at sea Will was starting to get the hang of things. He picked up all the necessary skills of sailing quickly, and he was starting to understand the rather haphazard routine that Jack employed to make sure everything ran smoothly.

The oil that kept everything running smoothly? Rum.

Basically, so long as there was plenty of rum on board, everyone was happy. Jobs were completed as quickly as possible, which left more time for the important task of drinking rum. Will was slightly worried that if they were ambushed, the crew (aside from himself of course) would be too drunk to defend themselves, but he reasoned that if they were able to keep the ship going smoothly even when drunk or hungover, they'd manage to fight well enough.

Will still spent his three hours a day practising his swordsmanship. He wanted to prove to Jack, and to the crew, that he was a worthy addition, that he could hold his own despite not having been raised a pirate. He was in the middle of practise one evening when he was summoned by his captain.

"Turner!" It was Gibbs, Jack's closest, well what one might term 'friend'. "Captain wants to see ya in his cabin, now."

Will had virtually been ignored by Jack since he'd come aboard. Will hadn't expected a close relationship, despite their past experiences together. He had expected Jack to take a bit of an interest though, even if just to tell him that he wasn't cut out to be a pirate and should go home. Little did Jack realise though, Will had found his home. It was on the seas, on the Pearl.

A little worried, Will made his way down to Jack's cabin. He'd never been down here before. Nervously he knocked on the door, taking the muttered response as an invitation to enter. "You wanted to see me Captain?"

Jack smiled, a broad smile that took up almost half of his face and showed off his gold teeth. "Aye. Captain. Can ye not teach those other scurvy pirates on board some manners?"

Will just stared at the floor, suddenly extremely nervous about the purpose of his visit down here.

"Mr Turner. You've been with the Pearl a week now. Gibbs tells me yer doin' well. A natural sailor, he said."

"Thank you." So he probably wasn't going to be thrown off board, that was a good thing.

"But ye haven't 'ad chance t'prove yer worth as a pirate yet, 'ave ye?"

"Not as yet, but I still practise my swordsmanship for three hours a day."

"That ye do." So Jack had been watching, or at the very least aware of what Will was up to. "Ye've never fought a pirate though. Different rules, ye see?"

"Different rules?"

"Aye, lad."

Jack pulled a sword on Will, using a swift move to immediately have the blade at Will's throat. Even Will's speed couldn't parry the blade.

"Take th'advantage lad, 'owever it may come," Jack grunted. "Think about it." Slowly he pulled the blade away. "Go practice that."

Will nodded and left. He hadn't realised how ingrained the rules of 'proper' conduct had been in him. He began to think that being a pirate was more than just seafaring and rum. It was a mindset, a completely different way of life that he hadn't even considered before now.

Consequently he changed his method of practice. He knew the skills needed like the back of his mind. It was the mindset he needed to develop. So he started to think like a pirate. For every move, he considered what would be the 'proper' response, and did the opposite.

Will didn't realise, but Jack was watching his training. He was impressed at how quickly he had picked up the mindset needed to be a pirate, and he was pleased. That was Bootstrap's blood in him, that was for sure. And he'd need the skills, as Jack knew they were coming up close to a merchant vessel that would be ripe for the taking.

****************************

Jack was at the helm, navigating a course that he knew would soon bring them into contact with at least one merchant vessel, more if they were lucky. This would be Will's first test, his first real experience of life as a pirate. Up to now, he's experienced life as a sailor - he hadn't even touched the rum that was a necessity to alleviate the long, dull periods in a pirates life between forays into battle.

Jack had mused on Will a lot since the young man had joined them, wondering his motivations, his feelings towards Elizabeth, who he had not even mentioned once since coming aboard. He had tried to keep himself aloof from Will, watching him and listening to reports from Gibbs about how he was getting on, with his work and with the other crew members. He wondered how much Will had learnt about the other side of piracy. His crewmen were hardly reticent about their relations with one another - one would have to be deaf to miss the groans of pleasure that echoed across the ocean of a night. But Will had been brought up in a proper English society fashion, and Jack knew only too well that those who practiced sodomy were considered even lower than pirates, and could be hanged for their preferences. Will as yet had made no mention of the behaviour that occurred on board, and Jack wondered what he made of it all. Jack also wondered why no one had made a pass at the young man yet, little realising that Gibbs had already warned the men that Will belonged to the captain, even if neither of them realised it yet. Gibbs had seen enough of society, both polite and pirate, to recognise an attraction, be it hidden, or as yet unknown.

They came upon a merchant ship shortly before dusk. It was small, meagrely armed, easy prey for the Pearl. Jack's crew had overrun the ship before they knew what had hit them. Their men put up a short lived battle, but after over half had been disposed of, they submitted. The pillaging of their supplies and merchandise was brief but effective, and the Pearl was soon on its way again.

A further two merchant ships were raided that night, and before anyone knew, the Pearl was speeding away, none of the vessels anywhere near enough to catch her, especially with Jack's skilled navigating. He knew the oceans better than the back of his hand.

The crew celebrated with more rum, Will with them, although he declined the strong stuff, preferring the cask of mead that was a prize from the day's raids. Its taste took him back to Port Royal for a moment, back to Elizabeth. His heart still ached for her, for what he had lost. Then he shook his head. He had lost nothing, for he had nothing to begin with. An outcast, not fitting in Port Royal, all he had to guide him was his pirate blood. The Pearl was the only home he had. It was the only place where he had truly felt at home, even though he had only been here a week.

************************

Jack was in his cabin, considering the day over a large bottle of rum. It had been a success, all things considered. They had plundered well, and young Will had acquitted himself with style, with a pirate's touch. The young man was still too quiet, too reserved. And that just wouldn't do, especially when they visited some of the more notorious ports. Will would be eaten alive there. Jack resolved to bring him out of his shell.

Over the carousing that was going on up on deck, Jack hardly heard the knocking on his door, but there it was again.

"If ye be a pirate, y'may enter," he slurred.

"May I be considered a pirate, Captain?" Will walked nervously into the room.

"Ye'gettin' there lad, that ye are."

Will looked downcast, what had he done wrong, that would make him less than a pirate in the captain's high esteem. He thought he'd done well today.

"If only y'would consider a taste of the seafarer's finest, we'd make a pirate t'the finish out o'ye." Jack lifted up his bottle of rum and grinned inanely.

"So I did my job today? I did everything that was expected of me?" Suddenly, it seemed important for Will to have his captain's respect.

"Excellent work. Like I said… at least I think I said…" Jack was confusing himself, "did I tell you that you're a bloody good pirate?"

A shy smile spread across Will's face. "Thank you."

"Sit down." Jack indicated the chair opposite him. "Have a drink." Will shook his head. "More fer me then."

They sat in an awkward silence. Jack allowed his eyes too rake over the young man, almost indecently. Will blushed.

"Ye don't find the Pearl a bit different to Port Royal? I mean, ye know, the… nocturnal activities?" Jack grinned, his gold teeth gleaming in the candlelight. He fully intended to embarrass Will, but was surprised when the young man just smiled back blithely. He knew full well what Jack was trying to do.

"Oh I don't know. I've… heard of such things occurring." Jack raised his eyebrows, so Will continued. "You forget that I didn't really mix with polite society. I lived and worked in the forge, I saw things… people doing things… that those in polite society could hardly even believe."

Jack's interest was piqued. So Will wasn't as 'innocent' as he seemed. "Did…" How could he phrase this delicately, "How close… did'ya get to that sort of society?"

Will blushed, crimson rising through his cheeks. "I saw things…. But I was so wrapped up in Elizabeth it didn't interest me."

"An' now 'Lizabeth isn't an option?"

"She was never mine." Jack picked up on the melancholy in Will's voice. He wished, suddenly, that he could heal that broken heart.

"True… cos if ye luv someone, ye never stop fightin' for'um." Jack ran his hand down the polished wood of the cabin wall. "Like me an'Pearl, I'll never stop luvin'er, or fightin' fer'er."

"You think I gave up on her too easily?"

Jack shrugged. "Ye said ye luv'd 'er. Seem t'remember ye sayin' ye'd die fer 'er."

"I would… but for different reasons than I realised then."

Jack nodded, feeling that there was something the young man was holding back.

"Can I tell you something?" Will was touched by Jack's words, and his unspoken trust and openness. He had always known, by instinct, that there were hidden depths to his captain, and he felt like he could confide in him

"Go'head."

"I always wondered… you know… the people I saw…. The things I saw… I wondered what it was like."

Jack's whole complexion brightened. This was a whole new side of the young man. "Go on."

"I mean… when I…" Will was bright red by now, and wishing he'd never started this. "Jack, promise me that this goes no further."

"Promise…. Pirate's honour."

Will took a deep breath. "When I would touch myself, I would try thinking of Elizabeth… I loved her… but it would do nothing for me. Then I thought of those men… and that worked."

Jack nearly choked on his rum. "See, said ya had pirate's blood in ya." Will looked confused, so he continued. "It's nothing' t'be ashamed of when yer a pirate. It's 'ow we survive all this…. Sole… sunny…. Solitude… it's how we do it."

"Just because of the solitude?" Will was more perceptive than Jack had realised.

"Cos it feels good too. It's in ye'blood, like I said. Sure, we've all bin wi'women… and that can be very good… but… wi'another man… it's somethin' else."

"I wouldn't know." Yet another surprise.

"You a virgin Will?"

The eyes boring a hole into the floor said it all.

"Ye wanna find out wha' its like?" Jack grinned. The young man was beautiful, no one in the world could resist the chance to teach him 'the true ways of a pirate'. But there was something deeper, Jack felt like his heart fluttered every time Will smiled, or frowned, or the way his body would flex and glisten in the sun as he was practicing his sword work. It was something that Jack hadn't experienced in a long, long time. It was a feeling that he was a little afraid of. He was a pirate, pirates weren't supposed to have these feelings, especially not the infamous Jack Sparrow. He was warmer of beds, best customer of all the whores in Tortuga, the insatiable Jack Sparrow. He wasn't supposed to fall for someone.

But he had.

The voices in his mind had taken over, and Jack hardly knew where he was. Then he heard Will's voice. It brought him back down to the ocean.

"Teach me." There was a shy, innocent smile on Will's face, modesty touching his cheeks.

Jack's decent ended with a bump. "No."

"Why?" Will looked hurt, as if he could cry, almost.

"Because it's no'right. Ye can't just use me as'n 'speriment. Yer too…… too'mportant t'me fer that." That was probably the first time that Jack had ever turned down an offer of sex.

"And maybe I asked you… because I want you to be the one?" Will bit his lip nervously. "Maybe I told you all this because I wanted you to know… maybe it's you I was thinking about when I…. When I touched myself of a night time?"

"Don'play wi'me lad. No mebbes. Were ye thinking' o'me?" This was something too important to him, an offer that was too good to refuse.

"Yes."

That was all Jack needed. He pounced on Will, knocking him on to the floor, kissing him almost ravenously. Will responded, although he little knew what he was really doing. He just went by instinct. If he was a pirate by blood, maybe this would come naturally too.

Will's tongue darted out, allowing him to taste Jack's intoxicating, rum flavoured lips. It was heady, addictive even at the first taste. He sucked on Jack's bottom lip gently, then somehow found himself backing up as Jack pushed him towards the bed. Suddenly, all that was on Jack's mind was that he made this right, that he should make this memorable for Will in the right way…. Not like his own first time. The pirate pushed all thoughts to the back of his mind as he tried to concentrate on Will.

"Wan'ta see ya," he growled, helping Will to pull off his trousers, shoes and shirt, in no particular order, until he was naked. Nervous, Will laid back on the bed. What if Jack was disappointed?

"By gad ye're beautiful." Jack's eyes raced over the virgin flesh, white and smooth, with a few telltale scars that betrayed his former profession.

"Wanna see you too Jack?" Will looked up pleadingly. He'd dreamed about the man, guessing about how he looked underneath the sashes, the flowing shirt, the breeches.

"How rude'o me t'forget." Jack began to strip, slowly, sensually… and strangely nervously. He wanted Will to want him, to be attracted to him. But how could anyone be attracted by a weather-beaten, battle-scarred body?

He stood, biting his lip, as Will's eyes devoured him.

"Jack," he gasped, "please….."

"Are ye sure this is what y'want Will?" This was for Will. He had to be in control.

"Kiss me, touch me, please, anything Jack, I need you." The pleading in the voice was enough to undo Jack, and he covered the young man's body with his own, pressing into him, grinding his pelvis into Will's, the friction all delightful to both of them.

"All 'bout ye tonight Will." Jack leant down for a kiss, and then licked a trail down Will's chest. Kissing and biting at his nipples, sending electric shocks through the younger man.

Will gasped. "Jack, what are you doing to me?"

"Shhh." Jack continued his trail towards Will's stomach, dipping his tongue into his belly button, revelling in the pure, innocent, untouched taste. He delved a little further below, licking at the tip of his cock. Will almost jumped out of his skin. Jack smiled to himself, and took Will in his mouth. He determined to bring his partner to orgasm before doing anything else, having a sudden urge to drink the essence of the young man. With practiced skill he licked and sucked, fondling Will's balls with his hand, giving them the odd lick with his tongue to give him another delightful sensation.

"Jack…. Gonna…." Will was almost incoherent with bliss.

"Do it." Jack put his mouth over Will's cock, and that caused his undoing. The young man spilled his seed, over and over, filling Jack's mouth. The pirate drank every drop, feeling like he was drinking the finest liquor, the finest rum in the world.

Breathless, he reached back up to kiss Will again, unsure which tasted better, his cock or his lips.

"Ye're beautiful." Jack murmured, "can I take ye?"

"I'm yours." Will's head was still up in the stars, he'd never had such an intense orgasm. His own hand just didn't compare.

Jack shook his head, trying to bring himself back to reality. He reached over to the cabinet at the side of the bed and took out a small vial. "Will luv, ye know this can hurt, don't ya?"

Will's eyes widened. He'd seen, and heard… things. Jack saw the fear.

"I'll not hurt ya Will. I'll never push ya further than ya want'a go."

"I'm OK." Will nodded slowly. He implicitly trusted Jack.

Nodding, and understanding the fear, he liberally coated his fingers with the contents of the vial. It seemed to be a sort of oil.

"Will, luv, I need ya t'relax, OK?" Eyes wide, Will nodded. "I'll try not t'hurt ya, but ye might not like it a'first, savvy?"

Trying to be as gentle as he could, not an easy thing for a pirate with seafarer's hands, he carefully inserted one finger inside Will. As he saw the pain flash across the young man's face he rubbed his stomach tenderly, murmuring words of nonsense until the pain subsided. Once he knew Will was comfortable with the intrusion, he angled his finger upwards until he found a little spongy spot that was like a treasure trove.

Will gasped. "Jack, what was that?"

Jack did it again, the pleasure of seeing Will's reactions heightening his own arousal.

"S'the greatest treasure in the world," Jack whispered, gently using the distraction to insert another finger, to stretch Will a little more, wanting to make it last, but wanting beyond words to be inside of him.

Finally, after what felt an eternity, he felt that Will was ready, and gently removed his fingers. Will groaned at the sudden loss of pleasure, then his eyes grew wide with anticipation and fear as he realised exactly what Jack was going to do now.

Jack was liberally covering his cock with more of the oil. He knelt timidly between Will's legs, pulling the young man close to him. He clasped Will's hand within his own. "It'll go… the pain… I promise."

"Trust you." Sweat was streaming over Will's body, all of these new sensations were almost too much for him. He squeezed Jack's hand.

He squeezed it some more as Jack pressed into him. The pain was like nothing else he had ever experienced in the world. Then… then it was gone. And the pleasure was like a thousand rainbows, like every nerve ending in his body was tingling.

"Jack…." Will gasped, "I… oh god…." He bit his lip to try and stop himself screaming.

"Let it go Will. Scream fe'me." Jack took him harder, faster… it had been too long, Will was just too tight, too beautiful.

"Aaagh." They screamed in unison, the whole ship, the whole ocean must have heard them. Jack rocked gently into Will until his orgasm subsided, and he stared down at his young conquest.

"A'right Will?" He slowly eased out of Will and lay by his side, even more enamoured of the young man as he cuddled up into his arms.

Mmmm." Will lay his head on Jack's shoulder sleepily. "You're so…. So…" he yawned.

"So what, Will?"

"Mine," Will whispered, as he drifted into sleep.

"And you're mine too, lad." It was true, but it worried Jack. Everything that had ever been his, he had lost, at one time or another. Only the Pearl had ever been returned to him. Could he put himself at risk of going through all that again?

****************************

A couple of the crew mentioned to Gibbs the next morning that Will had not been back to his quarters last night. Gibbs just smiled.

"He's with the captain."

The crewmen nodded. "So they finally figured it out? It was obvious why young Will came back."

"I believe that it was Will that made the first move," Gibbs noted, although he was not one for gossip. "Jack didn't know his own heart."

"After what he's been through, it's a risk."

There was a flash of anger in Gibbs' eyes, and he pushed the lad up against the mast. "And just maybe he doesn't want Will to know. Maybe he'll tell Will in his own time, savvy?"

All assembled nodded. The captain's business was his own. They may gossip, but they were loyal to the end.

Nevertheless, all eyes were on the captain as he came to the helm. He was wearing a smile for once, so everyone knew that for now, life was rosy. Will surfaced a little later, blushing as he received a round of applause from the crew. Jack quietened them down.

"It's about time Captain," someone shouted.

"Watch it you scurvy dogs," Jack said in a stern voice, but with a smile on his face. "Was indeed you lot being so noisy of a night that was a spiral….. no, instant… no… inspiration, to our very fruitful conversation." He grinned at Will. "In fact, I'm surprised 'alf the ships on the ocean ain't following' us th'mount of noise you lot make. Now get back to work."

They all assented cheerfully. All in all it was a successful few days.