Rachel was startled from her reverie by the sound of cannon fire. The deck pitched and she stumbled as the Wench was turned about. She saw Jack shouting orders but all she heard was a dull roar in her ears. Her blood ran cold when the Dauntless broadsided the Wench and her knees buckled at the sight of The Endeavour, the flagship of the East India Trading company. How had Beckett found them so quickly? She realized in despair that she would never be free and she had unbeknowingly led them right to Jack.

Rachel was aware of the crew preparing to make a stand and of Norrington's crew boarding the Wench, but everything seemed to pass in slow motion. She hadn't seen any sign of Beckett yet, though she knew if the Endeavor was here, so was he. Suddenly Jack was at her side, lips on her ear. "Go lock yourself in my cabin. No matter what you hear do not come out. I won't let him take you..."

"Jack, no!" she tried to protest but he was already moving away from her, joining in the fight. Men fell all around her and she turned and ran, afraid to look back.

Suddenly someone grabbed her from behind. "Harlot!" It was James.

"Unhand her," a voice furiously commanded Norrington. Jack stood behind him, cutlass drawn.

Norrington coolly turned to face him. "You, Sparrow, are in no position to make demands. You will be tried for piracy. Perhaps if you surrender now, Rachel will not also face the noose." She gasped at his threat. "I'm sure Lord Beckett will object to the latter but you are guilty of consorting with a pirate."

Jack knew he had no other choice. The Wench had been captured and he had no doubt the Admiral would do everything in his power to follow through with his threat. Still, he was reluctant to go down without a fight. He lowered his cutlass and then Norrington's sword was at his throat. "Parlay?"

...

The crew of the Wench that were left standing were captured and taken to the Dauntless. Norrington escorted Rachel and Jack, who was bound in chains, to the Endeavour. Cutler Beckett was waiting for them on the deck. Without so much as a glance at Rachel, he turned an angry glare on Jack. "So we meet again, Sparrow. I presume Admiral Norrington has already informed you of the charges brought against you?"

"Aye," Jack responded dully.

"You were a fool to return to Tortuga, Jack. To risk so much for a woman..." both men turned their gaze to Rachel. Cutler's eyes flashed and his hand moved to the hilt of his sword. Rachel started at the movement and Beckett's self control waxed thin. "You kidnapped my fiancée. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't circumvent the law and just kill you now?" he withdrew his sword. "Admiral! Escort Miss Morgan to my cabin!" he instructed harshly.

Norrington was dismayed that Beckett still maintained formalities with his sister-in-law. Why did he continue to delude himself? She was a pirate wench. He grabbed Rachel's arm and she jerked away from him. "No!" Beckett turned his focus to her and for the first time she saw the pain etched on his face. She positioned herself defensively in front of Jack.

"Easy, love. S'not your fight," he admonished her.

Beckett's hand trembled at Jack's term of endearment. Norrington seized her then, prepared to carry her off by force if need be. She twisted out of his grasp and without really thinking about what she was doing, pulled his sword from its sheath and held it unsteadily in front of her. Though he was manacled, Jack made a move to take the sword from Rachel. Beckett reacted immediately with his blade. Jack yelped in pain as the razored edge sliced open his forearm.

Norrington's sword clattered to the ground. "Cutler, please don't do this! I'll do anything you want! Just don't kill him!" Rachael sobbed, unable to tear her eyes away from the angry slash marring Jack's forearm.

"How could you forsake a life with me, for him? How could this pirate seduce you?" Beckett asked her in agony. She forced herself to turn her attention to him. "I could have given you the world, anything you wanted would have been yours. What does he have that I don't?" If he was angry with her for her betrayal it was masked by his pain.

"If you speak true, that you would give me anything I want... please don't kill Jack Sparrow. If you promise me this one thing I will give myself to you eternally... if you'll still have me." She would do anything to save Jack's life. Even if it meant surrendering herself to Beckett. Jack slumped to his knees on the deck, forgotten by both men for the moment.

Beckett enveloped her in his arms the moment the words left her mouth. "Of course I will still have you. All is not forgiven but... I love you. And I will not kill the pirate. But he will have to submit to the governing authority in Port Royal, that I cannot control." Rachel knew that was the best he could give her and she nodded in agreement. "We will be wed immediately. You will return to Port Royal as Lady Beckett." Jack groaned softly and Rachel's heart stuttered at the sound. "Take him to the brig."