Author's Note: This was the original ending to Pirate's or Pardon. I was told to go with a happy ending for the story, so I did, but I wanted to write this ending anyway. So, here is it and here's a warning. This contains character death.
Finn and Margaret stood at the top of the steps in the town square as they watched the pirates be led in by the guards. Margaret knew that it was ironic. She was standing in about the same spot she was standing in years ago when Jackson and Elias Berry hung her father. And now she was going to watch her sister hang. Her sister who was sold to those pirates and then became one of them.
One of the officers read the list of charges and brought Quinn up to the platform, fastening the noose around her neck. The blonde pirate looked up at her sister and quickly dropped her gaze when she saw the tears in the other blonde's eyes. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and let her thoughts flow to the family she was about to leave behind.
Finn nodded, which was the signal to the guard to pull the level, and a gunshot rung out. The bullet hit the guard, but it was too late, the level was pulled and Quinn's body dropped.
"Now," a male voice rang out in the crowd and pirates came out of nowhere and started attacking the guards.
Rachel made her way up the platform. She shot the guard, but it was too late. Quinn's neck broke in the drop. Her love was gone. Quickly, she cut Quinn down and jumped into the hay below the platform to hold her deceased wife.
"Stella," Puck called out. "We have to go."
"I'm not leaving her."
"She's dead."
"I won't let them keep her body. They took her life. I won't let them have this, too."
"Fine," Puck said as he picked up Quinn's body and headed towards the ship.
…
"Where are you taking her," Rachel demanded when they got back on La Baja.
"To the coldest place on the ship," Puck answered. "We'll burn the body at the next port of call."
"What?"
"Rachel. I know it's Quinn, but she's dead and she's going to smell as she starts to rot. And it's a month back to the island, we don't have that kind of time to go back and bury her. We'll burn the body and you can keep the ashes."
"Noah," she sobbed.
"I know." He placed a kiss on her forehead and took the body away. Rachel didn't follow. She just headed to her bedroom to cry.
An hour later, Santana knocked on the door. "Noah is going to take Beth tonight. He figured that you might want to be alone."
"I am alone. They killed Quinn."
"You still have Beth. And you have Puck, Brittany, Sam, and me. And besides, Quinn doesn't want you to just sulk over her."
"How can I not, Santana? She was my everything."
"She made me promise to make sure that you moved on if she didn't make it."
"How can I move on? And here's the kicker. I finally decided that I wanted to have a baby. I wanted to get pregnant and do this for us, but I can't now."
"What's stopping you?"
"Quinn's not here!"
"Quinn will never leave you, not as long as you truly love her. And besides, I'm sure Noah will help you make a new baby that you can name Quinn."
"It's not the same."
"I know it's not. But, you have to let go and move on."
"I'm still going to seek revenge on the province and those in charge."
Santana smiled at her. "I know. I'll help."
"I can't believe she's gone."
"She lives in you and Beth. And she will live on in the new baby that you're going to have. You hear me?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, I have to get back to Brittany. Are you going to be okay?"
Rachel nodded. Once Santana left, she whispered quietly to herself. "I will always love you, Quinn."
