The journey out of the Bermuda Triangle was, by comparison, a walk in the park considering the effort it took to sail in. The sea ushered them out quickly and with little difficulty. Even navigating the hurricane border was nothing worse than sailing through a mild storm. And, mercifully, the Leviathan was nowhere in sight. When The Jolly Mon reached the outer most edge it was met by a strong, Westward breeze rather than the doldrums the two Pirates had been expecting. The Triangle wanted them to leave. And the Pirates were all too happy to comply with its wishes.

It was early morning when they finally broke free of the Triangle's boundaries. The sun was no longer locked in its position of high noon. Instead it rose out of the horizon line behind them, lighting their way and warming their backs. Something in Emera wanted her to find out how that had happened. But she was more concerned with figuring out just how much time had passed since she'd been gone. She prayed her return to Flint's Island would be met with relief and joy instead of anger. Hopefully her family hadn't worried too badly. It was decided that Jack would put in on the island for a short time in order to resupply and set a new course. He had, at first, protested some. Emera had insisted, however. Besides, she would have a much easier time of explaining her disappearance if the proof of why she had gone was with her when she returned.

The two Pirates jumped out of The Jolly Mon and together they brought her as far ashore as they could. Her keel cut into the damp sand with solidity. Even though water surged up around her sides, she would not move from her spot. Jack did a quick, final check to insure that she was set to be left to her own devices. Then, the two headed up the beach together.

"Emera, did Caro-poleia ever keep her word to you?" Jack asked suddenly, breaking the silence, "Did she tell you about your Mum?"

A pang of disappointment struck her through her chest, "No. She didn't. I don't know why I expected she would… Likely as not, she was lying about it."

"But she did recognize your bracelet, did she not?" Jack raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the ornament around her wrist.

"Aye. What of it?" Emera glanced down at the silver cuff.

"Well," Jack shrugged, "perhaps it's not a total loss then. I'm sure someone, somewhere, would know a thing or two about that trinket. Maybe where it came from. Where it was made. I dunno, might there be a chance it could lead you to something about her?"

The young sailor stopped dead in her tracks, "Jack, you're a genius! I'd never given it much thought, but mayhaps yer right. There's a chance this bracelet could be the key to finding out at least something."

"And something would be better than nothing at all, eh?" He flashed her a smile.

"That it would." She agreed and took his arm, leading him down the beach again.

They walked for some time in comfortable silence until the grand old house came into view. This time it was Jack's turn to stop in his tracks with the exclamation of 'You live there?' to which Emera responded to with a laugh and a shrug. If she was being perfectly honest, the answer would have to be no. She didn't live there. Or at least not for the majority of her time. It was true that at one point she called the old house her home. But she hadn't for a long time. Not really, at least. It was just a place she stayed from time to time. As they walked up the slight incline towards the wind whipped building, she found that she missed the strange sort of thrill that had flooded her when she left the island to rescue Jack. Those feelings of independence and freedom were gone. Instead she felt the familiar crush of responsibility. She didn't like it.

Emera glanced at Jack. He was an independent sailor with his own ship (albeit a miniscule one he stole) and no responsibility to anyone save himself. That strange rush of liberation she had felt was his every day. He was his own Captain. There was no one to tell him what to do or where to go. He was completely free. And his being ran wild with its addicting flavor. Emera had tasted it time and time again while in his presence. It was something she longed for. Not just occasionally when she saw him, but every day.

The young sailor lead her friend right through the front door of the house. At once they were met by the sound of domestic life. Laughter and idle chatter wafted through the house from the dining room along with the sounds of utensils clinking plates. They were at breakfast. Emera took Jack's hand, leading him silently down the hall and towards the noise. The housekeeper Ms. Jeuth (an older, French woman that Cookie happened to be rather fond of), was bustling down the hall towards them with an arm load of what looked to be laundry. She smiled pleasantly when their paths met.

"Good morning, Miss Emera." She greeted happily, "You must have risen with the sun today. Did you have a pleasant walk? I see you've found a friend to bring to breakfast. You're just in time."

"Morning." Emera returned, dumbfounded, and watched the housekeeper as she continued past them and up the stairs.

"Problem, Love?" Jack asked in a low voice.

"I… I don't know." She blinked a few times, "She probably thinks yer one of the crew but… surely she would have noticed that I've been gone."

"That's interesting." He mused, looking back to where Ms. Jeuth had disappeared.

Emera took his hand and started down the hall again, "Come on."

The dining room was the first room to the right down the main hall. The white-washed rolling door was open, allowing the noise of Emera's family at breakfast to flow through the house. The room itself was of a large size, with a fireplace on the far side and half-paneled walls of white and blue. To the right were large windows overlooking the front garden and to the left was the swinging door that lead into the kitchen. In the center of the room was a long table that could easily sit more people than were ever in the house at one time. It was laden with what looked to be a wonderful breakfast. And sitting around it in the mismatched chairs were Emera's family. Only her father looked up when she and Jack passed through the door way.

"Ah, there ya are Bean." He grinned up at her from his usual position at the head of the table, "We figured you were still in bed but it looks as though we were mistaken."

"Who is your handsome friend?" Rosa perched her chin on her folded hands, looking over Jack with a mother's smile.

Mai, Emera's step sister, was beaming at Jack from beside her mother. And Cookie twisted about in his chair to take a look as well. It was only the four of them, huddled at Flint's end of the table. None of them looked surprised or relieved to see her. In fact, it seemed as though their only interest was in Jack. Emera thought this strange indeed.

"Ugh." She scratched at her left palm, "This is Jack. Or, rather, I should say Captain Jack Sparrow. He's the friend I was telling ya about. You know, the one from the Midsummer's festival."

"Aye. I remember." Flint eyed Jack suspiciously, but smiled, "Won't ya join us, Mr. Sparrow?"

Jack opened his mouth to correct him, but Emera elbowed him in the ribs and said, "He'd love t'."

The two took the seats closest to them, Emera sitting next to Cookie and Jack sitting next to her. He seemed a little uncomfortable, but smiled all the same. Across the table, Mai hadn't taken her eyes off him. Rosa and Flint didn't seem to notice. Emera glanced at her friend as they dished up their breakfast, wondering what on Earth could be going on.

"Ya look like ya caught a bit of sun, Bean." Flint remarked casually, "Did ya get up early and go on a walk about?"

She and Jack looked at each other before she said slowly, "Aye, that is, I went t' find Jack."

It wasn't in any way a lie. And still her father acted as though it were just a regular morning. As though she hadn't been gone at all.

"I'm going t' ignore the fact that ya somehow managed t' find my well hidden and completely unknown island, Mr. Sparrow," He kept his tone pleasant, but eyed Jack again, "and instead ask ya what brings you t' this part of the Caribbean?"

"Well…" Jack looked at Emera for help.

She shrugged.

"You see…" He thought for a moment, "Your exceedingly lovely daughter, Emera, invited me."

"Is that so?" Flint raised his eyes at her as he reached for another slice of toast, "And how long are ya planning on staying with us?"

"A while, I hope." Mai chimed in with a smile, "You seem terribly interesting, Captain Sparrow."

"We've yet t' discuss it." Emera replied before Jack could, embarrassed by the clear attention her teenaged step-sister was giving her friend.

Rosa laid her hand across Flint's, "Well, you certainly needn't rush. The island is lovely this time of year and we never get the chance to entertain anyone outside of my Husband's employ. Feel free to stay as long as you like."

The meal progressed like that until it was through. Emera's family asked Jack about himself and how he had met her. He answered all their questions honestly (but not in full, opting to leave out a detail here or there) and with patients. The choked, awkward feeling that had threatened to swallow Emera at the beginning was quickly replaced by a sense of ease. Jack was handling it beautifully.

It became abundantly clear through the course of the meal that no one from Emera's family had noticed she was ever gone. As a test, she asked if there had been word yet from Malcolm, her half brother. Flint replied with a kind 'You asked me yesterday and the day before that, I'll tell you once there's news. Promise.' Though that was confirmation enough, she became certain when Cookie pulled her aside, after breakfast was concluded, and asked her if she was still as interest in the Bermuda Triangle as she had been the night before. Emera simply told him, with a smile and a glance at Jack (who had been cornered by Mai), that she had learnt all she needed to know. Somehow, time on Flint's Island had only moved a few hours while she was away. She didn't know how it had happened. But she was thankful that it had. She had succeeded in bringing Jack back from the Triangle and getting him away from Caroline. And she had managed to do so without causing her family undue stress or worry. She couldn't have asked for a better result.

"Your sister seems adamant that I extend my stay." Jack smiled at Emera.

They were sitting on the beach together, looking out at the waves. It had been an effort in itself just to escape the house. Evidently, Jack was a fascinating topic for everyone. The two had picked their way back down the beach, seeking its solitude after the maelstrom of human attention. The two Pirates sat barefoot in the sand now, their boots tossed unceremoniously to one side. Jack was cross-legged in a pose that mimicked meditation. Emera, beside him, lounged with her legs sprawled out before her, resting her weight on her elbows. The sand was warm against her skin. The calm of the beach was a relief.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she started falling for ya, Jack." Emera laughed a little.

He was silent for a moment, a contemplative smile on his face.

"Please don't tell me you actually like the idea of that." She narrowed her eyes, looking at him flatly.

"I wouldn't stand for it." He assured her, but there was no hiding the look of mischief in his eyes as he said it, "Besides, Darling, the last thing I would want is to put you in an uncomfortable situation."

She sighed and avoided looking at him, instead turning her attention back to the waves crashing against the shore, "Do we really need t' talk about this?"

"Well," His smile was audible in his voice, "you did kiss me, Love."

"Need I remind you that you started it?" She raised an eyebrow and looked at him flatly again.

He frowned a little, "Did not."

"Did too." She held his gaze, "In Tortuga when we were exploring the lighthouse. Ya tried to kiss me."

Jack rubbed the side of his face, "Right. And you punched me."

"Mmm hmm." She hummed, nodding.

"Doesn't count." He shrugged.

"Does too." Emera scoffed.

"Does not." He looked at her pointedly, "I didn't know you back then. Now I do."

She raised her eyebrows at him, "Are ya saying you wouldn't try and kiss me now?"

He studied her for a moment before turning his eyes back to the ocean, "I'm not saying that at all, Love."

A smile broke across her face. She reached over and shoved him playfully. Jack laughed, a warm, rich sound. Emera laid back in the sand, stretching out completely. She tucked her hands behind her head and took in the late morning warmth. The young sailor didn't know how she had expected this conversation to go. But it was going surprisingly well.

"So now what?" She closed her eyes against the blinding sunlight.

"In the grand scheme of things or between us?" He asked, his voice lighthearted.

"Either." She replied, genuinely not minding which.

She felt Jack adjust his position beside her, "Grand scheme: It would seem that I'm in need of a new plan as it is the whole Apple thing went to pot. And you've got that business with your Mother to sort out."

She thumbed the edge of her bracelet lightly. He was right. She had a quest of her own to complete now. The question was how? She couldn't divert an entire ship just to serve as the means to her own ends. She had gotten away with it once by chance. But she knew she could never pull it off again. And there was the alarming matter of how badly she longed for the thrill of freedom she had felt while she braved all and hastened to Jack's rescue. She had a responsibility to her ship and to her father. But wasn't it also true that she had a responsibility to herself? Emera knew that she needed to find out what had happened to her mother. If she didn't, then she would spend her whole life wondering. The real question was, could she be willing to leave the comfort and familiarity of her father's ship in order to set off on her own into the unknown?

She didn't know.

"I might return to Tortuga." Jack continued, "It's as good a place to start as any and I have friends there. And you?"

"We're anchored here for at least a month. Maybe more." Emera told him without opening her eyes, "I'm not sure where we'll go after that."

Jack took her hand, his fingers lacing between her own, "No chance of you coming along then, eh? We make a fine team, you and I. I and you. Us."

She turned to look at him, sadness in her chest, "Afraid not, Jackie."

"Shame." His dark eyes searched her face for a moment, then he said with a hint of humor in his voice, "One day, perhaps."

"Aye." Emera agreed, a smile tugging at her lips, "One day."

The End

*Well, we've found ourselves at the end of another story. I'd like to take this chance to thank everyone for reading, particularly those of you who've been on this adventure since 'Welcome to Tortuga.' I have nothing but appreciation for your comments, follows and faves. They mean the world to me. If you've enjoyed reading about Emera's adventures with Jack than please, keep a weather eye out for future installments, because I'm not ready to quit yet. And, as always, just because it says "the end" it doesn't mean it's done just yet.*