Thanks so much to everyone who is reading this! A shorter update today, but the climax of the story is coming up shortly after this update! Enjoy!

"Love," murmured Jack Sparrow in Paige's ear later that day while the crew danced upon the deck of the Black Pearl, celebrating their successful pillage of the British merchant vessel just a few hours ago.

"Aye, captain?" asked Paige coyly as she turned around to face him, her green eyes dancing with mischief as she flirted shamelessly with Jack.

"You were spectacular today," crooned Jack as he stroked her long, dark hair, "Absolutely spectacular."

"Why thank you," said Paige, beaming with pride and standing a little taller under Jack's praise, "I had a wonderful teacher."

Jack smirked at that as he leaned down and kissed her, holding her body close against his as his lips and tongue explored her mouth expertly.

"Me thinks the Captain's done got himself bit hard by the love bug," remarked Pintel as he elbowed Ragetti and gave him a knowing look, "I've never seen ol' Jack so caught up by a female 'efore."

"Aye, neither have I," agreed Gibbs as he joined in on the conversation, "Gents I believe you're right…Captain Jack Sparrow has fallen in love."

"She's pretty," said Ragetti with a nervous laugh, "She's very pretty…I can see why the captain likes her so."

"Aye, matey," said Gibbs as he took another swig of the pilfered rum, "That she be…but she's Jack's now, so you best be respecting those boundaries."

"Aye, Gibbs," said Pintel, nodding in agreement, "Ol' Jack'll have our head if we be takin' a fancy to his female."

"Heyo, what's that?" asked Ragetti as he looked out onto the sea, "Is that a ship?"

"Aye, so it is!" said Pintel as he ran to the side of the Pearl to get a better look, "Whose I wonder?"

"We must alert the captain," said Gibbs, his face taking on a serious look as he gazed out upon the water, "It could be an enemy ship."

Pintel and Ragetti exchanged a nervous glance as they watched Gibbs climb up to the helm of the ship to warn their captain.

"Jack," said Gibbs as he approached the still-kissing couple, "I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but there's a ship off to our port side."

Jack pulled away from Paige as he listed to Gibbs' report, "Aye? What sort of ship?" he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"No tellin'," said Gibbs, "Perhaps your scope would give us the answer?"

Jack frowned for a moment before he glanced back down at Paige, "Pardon me my love…I need to investigate this strange ship, then we shall commence where we left off, eh?"

Paige blushed at that, "Aye, aye Captain," she said with a smirk as Jack gave her a parting wink before retreating to find his scope.

Jack pulled it out and stretched out to its full length. He peered through it and froze suddenly as horror gripped his heart. Gibbs noticed his captain's reaction and knew immediately that the ship was not good news for the Pearl.

"What is it Captain? An enemy vessel?"

"Aye, Gibbs," replied Jack darkly, "The worst enemy possible…it's the Interceptor…the pride of the British Royal fleet."

…

"Ready the ship lads!" shouted Jack as he raced back up to the helm, "Full speed ahead! Now!"

"Jack?" asked Paige, looking confused and concerned as she watched Jack go into a state of panic, "What is it? Whose ship is that?"

Jack turned around and gave Paige a long, sad look before he replied, "It's…it's the Brits…the Interceptor."

Paige felt icy claws clamp down on her heart, making her breath catch in her throat as she realized what this meant. The Interceptor…it was the vessel that Commodore Norrington so often took when he was sent out on a mission by the Royal Navy. The Interceptor was the pride of the royal fleet…the fastest ship in the ocean, except perhaps for the Black Pearl…and was only used in the most serious, urgent of missions. That could only mean one thing…the Interceptor was here to "rescue" her from the Black Pearl.

"Oh no," she whispered to herself as he took a few steps back, "Oh no…oh god no…Jack…Jack they're…they're coming for me."

Jack's jaw clenched tight with tension as he glanced over his shoulder at the quickly approaching British vessel. He glared at it, hating that ship and all who sailed on her with all of his heart. That ship and those men were coming after him and his ship…and they were coming to take his Paige away from him.

"They won't take you," said Jack, his voice hard and cold with determination, "I swear to you Paige Hawthorne I will not let those men take you away from me."

Paige felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the passion and fury in Jack's dark eyes. She knew in that moment that he meant every word he said…Jack cared for her…he cared for enough to risk his own life to make sure that the Brits didn't take her away from him. That both thrilled and terrified her. She didn't want Jack to risk himself, the crew or the Pearl for her sake. That seemed way too steep a price for her.

"Jack…don't," said Paige, her voice shaky with emotion, "It's not…it's not worth all that could be lost. Send me out on one of the smaller rescue boats. I'll…I'll paddle it over to them and by the time I'm safely on board you and the crew and the Pearl will be long gone…will be safe."

Jack gave Paige a startled look, "Love, do you honestly think I would turn you over into the hands of those scoundrels? The same men who forced you to live a lie your entire life? The men who kept you from me for so long? No…no love, your place is here and it always will be."

"But, Jack…the crew, the Pearl," said Paige, tears falling down her face, "I couldn't bear to live with the burden of losing your crew or your ship because of me."

"You're not a burden," insisted Jack, "And you are a member of this crew. We fight to the death together and never surrender. And I can assure you love, that the crew will fight for you."

"Aye!" shouted Pintel from the lower deck of the ship, overhearing their conversation, "We'll fight to the death for Captain Jack Sparrow and Miss Paige Hawthorne, won't we gents?"

"Aye!" shouted the crew in unison as they brandished their swords and let out a wild battle cry.

Jack smiled with pride at his crew and gave Paige an encouraging look, "You see, love? They want to fight! After all…it is the Brits. We have a few bones to pick with them anyhow, right men?"

"Aye, aye Captain!" roared the crew in excitement as they glared out at the quickly approaching Interceptor.

"If it's a fight the Brits want then it's a fight they shall get!" snarled Jack as he began to steer the boat in the direction of the Interceptor.

Paige felt her heart flutter with a mixture of excitement for battle and fear for her now beloved crew, ship and Jack Sparrow. There was so much to be lost here. She said a silent prayer for guidance and safety and then began to prepare herself to battle the very people who had raised her on lies and deceits since she was six years old…

…

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