At seven o'clock, the sound of servants hustling about the garden paths drifted in through the window and permeated the thick hangings of his dreams, causing Will to turn his ear into his pillow and mumble annoyed incoherencies.

"Shall I shut that then, luv?" the voice of Jack floated by, and Will heard the pirate rise languidly and the click of the window latch, followed by the shuffle of returning feet. There was a gentle stirring from the slumbering figure beside him.

Her sudden shriek sliced the serenity. Will bolted upright. Elizabeth had gone rigid, up now, and very much awake. She clasped the sheet over her thin nightgown. Following her gaze, Will tried to discern what had startled her so.

"What's wrong, darling?"

Incredulous, Elizabeth gestured towards the pirate, "Jack Sparrow is in our bed," she cried.

"A rare treat, I'm told," Jack interjected, keeping a wary eye on her airborne hand. Meanwhile, realization slowly colored Will's cheeks.

"What in God's name are you doing here?" Her voice remained poised at the pitch of disbelief.

His casual manner unceasing, Jack began to spin a yarn: "I was out and about this morning, very discreetly making my way through the garden, when my reverie was disturbed by a pair of maids clucking over the sudden arrival of one Commodore Norrington. In light of this revelation, I felt that your bedchambers afforded—" Will interrupted Jack's narration by clasping a firm hand on his shoulder:

"Just a moment— did you say Commodore Norrington is here?" The pirate affirmed the statement, and Will and Elizabeth exchanged a glance. After a moment of silent deliberation, the former stiffly got to his feet.

Two pairs of eyes contemplated the column of rippling back muscles that danced under taunt flesh, cutting lines of definition and bold enticement as the blacksmith stretched his sore body.

Jack's hands pined to feel the tense chords rolling beneath them like waves, grazing a geography familiar and alluring as any native soil. Fortunately, before the pirate's limited restraint wore out, the aforementioned attraction crossed into the annexed dressing room, oblivious to his admirers.

"Last night my father let slip that we had a guest staying with us, so I announced that an old friend of Will's was visiting: a soldier disfigured and averse to the attentions of strangers. There were several officers present; no doubt the commodore was informed without delay," Elizabeth called after him, heading towards the bathroom.

-

Will reentered the room presently, dressed in a formally pressed and starched coat. The fingers that could so deftly spin threads of gold into a flowery web of filigree fumbled with the cravat.

Shaking his head mirthfully, Jack beckoned and took over the attempt at the tie, confidently passing its ends over and under each other until they sat in perfect arrangement.

As Will's downcast eyes watched the busy fingers, a slight smile snuck onto his lips. The pirate had proved himself inexplicably savvy about yet another subject as far removed from piracy as could be. Yet again he'd provoked an irrational pride, something Will rarely allowed.

And on he went, inspecting the attire with eyes narrowed in scrutiny and hands fluttering about erratically to adjust and smooth.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps caused both men to turn and acknowledge Elizabeth. Will stepped back, coughing slightly, and Jack flashed her a quick, brazen smile, lowering his hands behind his back.

"I will go and speak to the Commodore. To avoid him would only cause further suspicion and he is no doubt determined to be received," Will announced.

"Shall I go as well?" Elizabeth asked, but he shook his head immediately.

"You stay here and keep an eye on Jack."

Before he went he kissed Elizabeth in gentle farewell, and then turned to the other with a look of hesitance. Jack smiled coyly and gave him a cheeky wink. For a moment they simply regarded each other.

"Nice hat Jack," Will said finally.

"Likewise, and more so," returned Jack, understanding.

The blacksmith took his leave and the wife and lover found themselves alone. Jack fell back into the liquidity of the bed.

"If I had what you have I'd never get out of bed."

She assumed he meant the waterbed, "Oh, its a funny thing, really. Poor Will has such violent bouts of sea longing…"

Intrigue alighted Jack's face, "Ah yes, tell me all about these longings…"

-

"Ah, Mr. Turner, I was just going to send for you," Governor Swann set down his teacup and stood immediately. Two formal greetings were hurriedly dispatched.

"You must forgive me, but I left Elizabeth to rest. After last night's festivities she felt quite drained," Will said, "but please Governor, do not let me displace you."

"No no," the governor insisted, "I believe you and the commodore have some need for privacy."

Before Will could protest, he was halfway across the lawn, leaving the air rife with a nervousness that unsettled his son-in-law, and even seemed to have breached the ever composed face of the commodore. Long seconds passed while they sat, ill at ease under the leafy branches of imported trees.

"Mr. Turner, I believe you will concur with me that there are times when a man is obliged by his sense of responsibility to perform duties which are not altogether agreeable to him," Norrington began, sounding hurried. "I can assure you I do not relish the task of separating a man from his beloved."

Will couldn't help his first shocked blink, but where he looked for signs of disgust or even triumph in the face of the man, he found none, and the inscrutable expression was possibly more terrible than either.

"The conflict between his majesty's subjects in the northern American colonies and the French as well as their savage allies has intensified of late. Resources need to be swiftly relocated if we are to hold our fronts. It is with this preface that I am charged to deliver this unto you," Norrington said, pushing an official looking missive across the table.

Will's hand was slow to raise, and his fingers clamped it mechanically. Weak with trepidation, he struggled against the seal until it finally broke off in crude little chunks of wax. With this, a massive upheaval of the Will's life commenced.

"It's a conscription notice," he said dumbly.

"Mr. Turner, you are an excellent fighter and a skilled laborer, and England direly needs both if she is to preserve her place in the world."

Will's gaze was trained to the letter, "I have to go to war? In one week?"

"Unfortunately, the ship which bore us the orders was delayed by a storm at sea. We are already three weeks behind schedule, so the entire timeline has regrettably been accelerated," the commodore noticed Will's growing dismay, "We leave on the morrow."

Will couldn't speak. His mind flitted about, registering a thousand thoughts at once, racing to acclimatize itself. He would not have Jack, nor Elizabeth. He would have neither. Commodore seemed to realize no response was forthcoming, so he spoke again:

"I know this is sudden, but the world does not wait on our pleasure—nor do our enemies. I know you to be honorable, and I cannot sufficiently relate what a tour in his majesty's service will do for a man who needs to prove his quality to his contemporaries."

"Your sense of justice is however…somewhat skewed, and I must warn you that evading the draft will condemn a man not only to complete disgrace, but also to death by firing squad. As an experienced military man I can assure you that your chances are infinitely better being fired at by savages from across a field than ten paces from a line of trained British soldiers. It goes without saying that all the Swann family would be dishonored by such cowardice."

"I believe I can have you placed with an officer in relative safety if not doing metalwork completely behind the lines…"

Will rose abruptly, "I have to go and speak with Elizabeth," he announced, voice wooden, taking the letter.

"Just one more thing Mr. Turner," Norrington added, "I have heard that there is an army man staying with you."

"Yes, Corporal…Smith."

"Corporal did you say? I rather expected he might be a captain," Norrington eyed him narrowly; "Do not let any such man urge you into foolish action. It is by my consent alone that he remains in this place, but with this business of war hanging over me I shall not investigate his presence further unless I am compelled to do so."

Will nodded numbly, and walked off across the lawn. When he was finally within the walls of the mansion, he ran.

-

The bedroom was empty. He frantically doubled back to Jack's room and knocked hard, impatiently pushing open the door. The first thing he registered was that the room was empty. The second was a pistol being cocked inches from his ear.

"You know you really shouldn't sneak up on me like that luv, I might not have been decent." Jack was standing to the left of the door, smirking as he tucked away the gun. He had no idea. Will studied the smirk tragically, trying to remember the promise it had always contained.

"I have to go with Commodore Norrington."

"Is that what he told you? Well tell him he can't have you. You've already got a wife and a lover and there's no more room in the bloody bed." Jack's grin remained playful, though Will's stoicism was starting to make him nervous and he fidgeted.

"Jack, I've been drafted." Will handed over the letter.

The trademark smile fell away, and Jack scrutinized the lad a moment. He took the paper and scanned it briefly. Then he broke into a fit of laughter, doubling over. Will stared unbelieving at this new madness.

"What…you're not actually going are you?" Jack's grin resurfaced.

"It's not a bloody invitation Jack, it's an order from King George!" Will seized the letter back. Confusion and shock began to boil themselves into a temper.

"From his highness you say? Well if it's him who wants you dead than by all means, here's my pistol— God save the king, rule Britannia and all the rest," Will's only answer was a scowl and Jack felt a touch of annoyance at the boy's thickness, "How can you even think of such idiocy? What have I told you about doing stupid things?"

"You forget Jack, that I have only a half-measure of pirate blood in me, and I am a full-blooded Englishman," Will hissed crossly, watching the smile dissipate from Jack's face.

Increasingly aware of the degenerate tone of their conversation, Will deserted it. He strode out into the hall, determined to find Elizabeth and to allow he and Jack's seething moods to simmer. The pirated declined abandonment.

"Will, just listen to me for a second you rotting blighter! I know you have a remarkable ability to let opportunities whoosh by, but I'm not letting you miss this one. I'm meeting Gibbs tonight and we can be safe on Pearl in three days, I swear it. "

"The Commodore has offered me a favorable assignment; he will do his best to ensure my safe return."

Jack leapt into his path, ire inflamed and eyes narrowed dangerously, "You think Norrington can protect you better than I can?"

"The punishment for running is execution by firing squad."

"You've got to be kidding! I'm Captain Jack Sparrow! I can take you places where they've never seen a gun, let alone a firing squad!"

Will finally pushed by him, "I will not be the coward who dodges his duty. If I don't go others must fight for me."

"But I don't care about them and you're my bloody coward! I should get a bloody say in this!" Jack ran after Will, catching up just as his wife came round the corner.

"Oh God Will, father told me, this is dreadful!" she fell into his arms, evidently outraged.

"It's not a death sentence. We're only stand-ins until real troops arrive," he whispered softly, holding her gently so as not to impose too much on her fragile figure.

Jack scoffed, "A stand-in for a corpse at best. Every month there's more ships bringing soldiers to the American shores. Line after line ravaged by disease and bullets, and for what? A few more acres in the hands of the wealthy colonists and a few more schillings in the pockets of the wealthy investors."

Will shot him a dirty look and Jack returned it with zeal.

"Will, I think you should go with Jack."

"What?" the men spoke in unison, for Elizabeth had pronounced the words so softly into Will's shirt that they fancied them imagined.

"If Jack would have you on the Pearl…you could be safe there."

Will was speechless. Elizabeth was asking him to go with Jack. The secret wish that was buried so deep within him his own heart hardly dared to whisper it. Hearing it aloud was surreal, and he felt oddly detached from himself. His two companions were no more surprised than he when he turned and walked off without replying.

-

When she finally arrived, Anamaria found Jack sitting in the back of the bar, alone, save for the company of one nondescript bottle.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here? Where's Gibbs?" Jack attempted to stand when he saw her, but quickly fell back into his seat.

"I offered to come in his place— wanted to see Will. So don't tell me you forgot the lad, you drunken old sea dog."

"Not yet, despite my best efforts." Jack pushed more rum past his scowling lips, "Young William has, in fact, chosen king and country over old Jack. He's been drafted into his majesty's service and leaves for the front lines in one week."

"He's not actually thinking of going is he?" Normally Jack would have shared her grin, but the situation was quickly loosing its capacity to amuse him.

"I don't know about that whelp anymore…used to be so bloody sure the world started and stopped on either side of him."

Anamaria took the seat beside him and crossed her arms, pinning Jack with a look of skepticism, "You don't think so anymore?"

"I'm no authority, but I don't often recall hearing of love manifest in the form of EXTREME RAGE!" He shouted the last words loudly enough to cow the din of the barroom before violently throwing back the rest of his drink and calling for another, "I don't think I've ever been so ruddy mad at anyone in my life."

Anamaria assumed an air of understanding that she knew annoyed her captain greatly, "Well, well, well, what's this potency that's so affected Jack Sparrow? It must be something strong to have brought you to the point of such a rage."

"Would that it were stronger," Jack sneered, eying his rum bottle suspiciously.

"Ah Jack—put aside that bottle of self-pity and drink from the drought of courage. You have one week to get the boy on the Pearl just like we planned. One week should be plenty for the charming persuasions of someone like Captain Jack Sparrow."

A bottle and glasses arrived at the table, and hours passed with some talking and a great deal more drinking. A wench came round to light the candles against the encroaching darkness, and the lifeblood of the establishment began to pour in, demanding drinks and all other manner of comforts.

Behind a stumbling cartographer and his buxom associate entered a bit of an anomaly— a man whose clothes were unsullied, whose hair was bundled neat as the autumn harvest, and whose chin and upper lip were edged by an impeccable mustache and the tiny foundations of a beard.

Jack immediately begrudged the imposition. He sent a sour glance to the figure, who received it and approached nonetheless. The pirate made a new attempt to stand, but the newcomer's approach was unchecked. Stubborn pride propelled the action on both sides.

"Not another step, Whelp! I'm fairly sure I'm furious with you, so just get out of here before I remember why," Jack swayed, his face scarlet from the potent cocktail of rage and rum.

"Jack, please just listen for a moment." Will's advance became cautious, though no less unceasing. A charged aura spread to fill the barroom, conducted with greater fury each time Will's foot fell closer to Jack. Anamaria stood nervously.

"Half a minute Will. Jack's not quite himself at the moment," she warned.

The blacksmith halted one foot from the pirate, refusing to be repulsed by the look of hazy fierceness Jack had assumed. By now, not the drunkest man in the bar could fail to have noticed them, and the bets had begun to roll in. The intruder was built firm and solid as a wall but the other, though smaller, was storming like the baleful Poseidon himself.

The rum sloshing in Jack's stomach offset his aim, but his strength was recklessly swollen. His fist connected explosively with the left side of Will's face. The blacksmith staggered back, breath hitching, but kept his feet. He could feel Jack's emerald ring printed into his temple, and his head pealed off throbbing notes like a great bell.

Exertion left Jack unbalanced, and he grunted with the effort of righting himself. Will was coming at him, arms raised. He cringed in expectation of a rebuttal, but the strong arms did not abuse him, rather, they encompassed him.

He thrashed vehemently, but his sapped muscles soon gave out. The rum sat heavy in his stomach like a knot of lead. His hands shook and shudders would have wracked his entirety but for the fierce, determined brace which quelled them.

Just so tightly did the blacksmith hold him, until the tremors subsided, and the form in his arms merely clung to him. Will did not fear to hold Jack with all his might. Whereas Elizabeth's refined form had to be revered and worried after, Jack's he could possess fiercely.

Only then did Will look into Jack's eyes, and seeing their fire greatly diminished, glimpsed the dim lethargy in their depths.

"What have I done to you, Jack of mine?" He whispered forlornly, leading them back to the table and away from center stage.

"You cheated…hugging's not legit in bar fights," Jack mumbled, sounding surprised but unable to muster the appropriate expression.

A ripple of the same surprise passed through their astonished audience, most of whom kept an eye on the pair though they returned to their drinking. Only Anamaria continued to scrutinize them openly.

And as they melded into the background chaos of the barroom, its denizens seemed to sense the importance of the moment though they were otherwise senseless. They had witnessed the meeting of the stumbling sea and the steadfast shore, and what a wonder it was that the two had collided spectacularly and stuck that way.

-

Jack had managed to sit, leaning heavily against the table, contentedly grasping the bottle like a pacifier. His anger had come as a gale and now vanished entirely leaving his face placid. Now he looked up at Will, as if seeing him for the first time in a long time.

"Hullo Will," he said, his long absent smile reappearing clumsily. Will hoarded it away in his memory like a treasure. Just then, Jack seemed to notice Will's face.

"What's happened to your face? Ah, William, you've such a gorgeous face—not surprised they're trying to take it from me. They always do, whenever I get my hands on anything really precious…" Jack's chattering petered off and he reached up, holding Will's chin gently between his hands, left thumb brushing across the cheek to gingerly ghost over the purple swelling around Will's eye.

"I'll kill the man who did this to you," he vowed, slurring his words terribly.

Will smiled painfully, "I'd prefer if you didn't. I'm rather fond of the fellow you see."

Drawing back his head, Jack cocked an eyebrow, "Oh, I see how it is," he replied sulkily, reaching for the bottle. Finding it empty he commandeered the glass they'd brought for Will. He tried to drink, but most of it ended up spilling onto his shirt.

"Christ Jack, you are utterly smashed," Will observed, wiping off as much as he could with his handkerchief.

Jack nodded in agreement and set down the glass. He had a third go at getting to his feet, but his legs were unsteady beneath him and he held Will's marble shoulder for support.

"Right then, who wants to take me home?" he shouted, forgetting to check his volume. Several unsavory offers emerged. Jack chose to decline and clarify.

"Which blacksmith wants to take me home?"

Sure enough, a great bear of a man, grown odious with indulgence and bold with rum remained standing.

The humor fell off of Jack's face, and after giving this latest offer a quick lookdown, the pirate decisively reaffixed his gaze on the source of his support.

"Take me home luv," he said simply.

-end part 4-

A.N. Yay, it's an angsty Halloween edition. Sorry about the wait…I wonder if anyone's still reading. All I can say is school, work, and college admissions. The good news is that this is the second to last chapter and I've already written the last one. It has only to be edited. God, you reviewers are my heroes! I am in your debt forever!

Before I get into personal notes, questions for everyone: Thorinella asked about the chapter names, but before I translate them I'm curious. Does anyone know what they mean? Also, are any of you guys, well…actual guys?

Flurby: First review, you should win a prize. Erm…how about a pretty star! Anyway, yay, you love it, you really love it! I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, fortunately jxw is still a delicious pairing. Thanks for reviewing.

Hedgeninja: Hello. Thanks for that nice comment. I think some chapters are more fluid than others. Especially my dialogue is pretty weak. Anyway, yeah, Jack is quite a sexually ambiguous handful. My apologies for this delay and I hope you find this again.

Robin Goodlass: We meet again, I can't believe you've been good enough to stick with me. I know its been a long wait, I'm really sorry. On the bright side I must've just poured a whole box of cornstarch into the plot because it is thickening like mad.

Phoenix Red Lion: Another old friend, thanks for your patience. (Bad writer, Bad writer) Yes things are getting tricksy. And Jack and Will thought they had problems before…I'm so mean to them. I don't know Voltron but I do like your name, so rock on!

Antigone's.Dream: Wow, you really made me blush. I did try to keep the captain's kookiness, so I'm glad you liked it. Also good to know you've come over to the Turrow side of the force. Forgive my slowness and thanks again!!!

Thorinella: Thanks for keeping on me. I've got this out because of you and everyone else who bugged me about it. Its been a long wait I know, but your support is wonderful. I do hate to make a girl cry, but the ending is what it is and we shall all see…

SoontobeMrs.Turner::glances nervously at name:: Heheh, hello Elizabeth, so good to see you. You know, this is really just a story about friendship…Okay well I'm glad you liked this and I hope you didn't check back too soon. A sorry and a thanks to you.

silverwolf of the night: Yeah, I'm a sucker for physical comedy. And Jack IS always looking for excuses to end up on top of Will. Oops, I'm sorry this update took FOREVER but I hope you haven't forgotten what the story's about and keep reading. Thanks.

Black Sorceress: You're wonderful. ::becomes guilty:: Please accept this belated chapter and read on. Re. Turrow in general— yes, we need more of it! More of it that actually gets updated and has some redeeming value::becomes more guilty::

LoveSamantha: First, are you Samantha or do you love her, if you don't mind my asking? Second, yes, that was a mean thing I did. Please forgive me and read some more, please? Third, Collide IS a great song. Its so very suitable for our J/W needs.

Renthead: Yes, its just a temporary little homemade one, but it might be more significant than it seems!!!! Okay, getting really dramatic here… thanks for the review. Me LOVE reviews. I hope you can find the fic again after all this time.

Thorn: Hey, you sent me a PM. Thank you, that really gave me the jumpstart I needed. I know its been ages since I updated, but here it is finally! I hope you like it okay because I don't want to get yelled at. ;)

Happy Halloween everyone!

-J.P.