AN: I think that this chapter is a little fast-moving, but it makes sense to me ha. So Read, review, and enjoy! Don't you worry, though; this story ain't ending any time soon, for I have another story line that'll feed into this. :).

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I awoke to see that Bootstrap was lying next to me still, dozing lightly. However, when I shifted to awaken my still-tired muscles, he awoke as well, gazing at me kindly. We'd only slept for an hour at the most, but I knew that any sleep would help me in the battle. I had to get free today, or else I felt as if I would burst.

Bootstrap got up after I did, going to the door. "Wait," I called after him. "Here." I handed him the key, which I'd withdrew from the waistband of my old, worn breeches.

He gazed at me, smiled, and then exited as I followed. As the humid, damp air hit me above deck, I realized that I knew we were doing what we had to, for we were pirates after all. We took and gave nothing back. As I stared in front of the Dutchman, I could see the beautifully carved head of the Pearl, Gibbs at the wheel. Not too far away was Jack, standing at the railing with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

A grin crawled onto my dirtied face as I approached the side that the Pearl would come on. I heard the sound of Jones coming and my assumptions were confirmed as I was pushed out of the way, hatred forming in my freedom-seeking body. As I looked on from a short distance away, I watched as a gangplank was lowered and Jack sashayed across it, grinning like a man who'd just gained all the gold in the world. "Ah, Jones. Long time no see, eh?"

Jones snarled into the handsome man's face, causing Jack to withdraw slightly, grimacing in the tiniest fashion. "Sparrow, I believe I have something you want."

"Yes, I believe you do. Now if you don't mind…" He tried to walk to me, but the elder Captain halted his actions.

"Not so fast. She's been on this ship for twenty years, Sparrow, you expect her to leave?"

I snorted quietly as the man I'd thought of so much pretended to think. With a hand gesture, he responded animatedly. "Yup. I do so…"

Jones withdrew his sword and lunged at Jack, causing the latter to do the same with his own steel weapon. With that, battle broke out and I felt Bootstrap brush past me in an attempt to get below deck. I pulled loose my own sword and turned to be face-to-face with Elizabeth, who smiled gently at me before turning to slay one of the ugly crew members who unfortunately, I'd grown up with.

When I turned around again, the loyal shark-headed first mate swung at me. "Never on our side, eh?" I swung back.

"It's not about sides, mate." I whipped my sword against his, knowing that this fight could go on if I didn't stop it soon. Not waiting for an answer, I continued to speak. "It's about the call of the sea and where it takes you."

Another sword entered our battle and I momentarily got sidetracked with the owner of it. Jack stood there, grinning at me as the rain began to fall melodramatically. "You've been around me too long, love."

I plunged my sword into the gut of the first mate, and he crumpled to the wooden deck, splattering sea slime around the area he lay at. I grinned at Jack. "I think a week is hardly too long, Jack."

He smirked. "Too true, too true. No doubt we're two peas from a pod."

I watched his dark eyes glitter in the fallen rain before I turned to see that I was face to face with Davy Jones. The deck fell silent as all eyes lay focused on us as if we were some sort of entertainment. "Well, well, well. If it isn't our little betrayer." The remaining crew members that belonged to him chuckled evily. I took a quick moment to glance around, scanning for Bootstrap. I prayed that he was in the Captains quarters, doing as we'd agreed. "Did you really think that I was going to let you get away with stealing the key?" I just raised my eyebrows at him.

"Never underestimate a woman, Jones." I turned to watch Jack as he spoke for me. "Mate, they're capable of all sorts of things. Murder, plundering, pleasuring Captains, doing deck work for said Captains." I could see Elizabeth gulp and roll her eyes in the background, Jones interrupting my clear vision of her.

"You know nothing, Sparrow." Slowly, Jones advanced on me, my sword at the ready as my back hit the hard railing.

I placed my right foot on the railing and kicked off, launching myself at the sea creature. I knew better than to plunge my sword into him, for I knew that cutting off a tentacle or two would upset him just the same. My actions were proven correct as the fighting resumed on the deck, the tentacle squirming unnervingly on the deck. I ignored it and I continued to focus on my footwork, knowing that Jack was watching as I carefully maneuvered my feet and sword at the same time.

As I fought, I felt my lack of sleep coming back to me, my legs starting to grow weary and heavy as I was backed to the end of the ship. "See you on the other side."

I prepared to lunge again when suddenly, the Captain before me swayed, clutching at the empty spot above where his heart would've laid. With wide eyes, I watched as he stumbled to the left of me and blindly fell into the stormy waters that were swirling ungraciously. A sigh of relief escaped me as I sunk to my knees, trying to catch my breath as the rain cleansed my skin and clothes. As I calmed my heart down, I saw a familiar pair of boots appear before me as the old Dutchman crew went to the Captain's Quarters, mumbling something or other about a Captain. "You alright, love? You look as if you've seen a ghost." I took the hand that Jack offered and I graciously accepted it, stumbling as I fought to stay fully awake.

"Aye, I'm fine." My legs swayed beneath me and I fell so that my head rested against Jack's broad, tanned chest.

As the rain fell around us, his arms enclosed my soaking form, my eyes fluttering shut to the sound of his heart. However, I didn't fall asleep for I heard a soft voice asking Jack if he could speak to me. I shook off the feeling of sleep as I saw Bootstrap with a small smile on his face. Jack's eyes still remained on me as I talked with the elder Turner. The remainder of the crews was tidying up the ship's decks. "Thank you." I mumbled to him, knowing he understood every last word I was saying.

"I had to do it, Andrea." He stared at me for a moment before coming closer and whispering something to me that only I could hear. "I never did tell you the reason that the heartbeat warded off the nightmares. I thought you'd figure it out at first, but I should've remembered that you would never realize it. The curse was meant to only be ceased when the heart of your destined one was heard, for Jones' heart would be calm and kind around his destined one, Calypso."

My mouth was dry as I nodded and smiled gently. "Are you telling me that…"

"The feelings you've been feeling towards him, the missing him, the thoughts of him, everything are part of your love for him, Andie." He stared at me in a fatherly way.

I was swept into a hug as I savored the remaining moments with my makeshift father, knowing that I would indeed see him again one day, but I would miss him. That was not even a doubt as I pulled back, smiling gently as he turned to go sail his ship.

Jack held out his hand for me and he led me back to the Pearl. I pulled away shortly to watch the Dutchman float away towards the horizon until the grey clouds turned temporarily green, the rain beginning to cease slowly. I felt a gentle arm pull around my waist and I leaned back on the owner of it, knowing Jack was there. I turned in his grasp. "Jack…"

"Darling, I think we both know what needs to be said, but said words are too hard for either of us to say, correct?" I nodded, savoring the feeling of his hand on my face as he brushed away my flying dark hair. "And if said words are said, then the said said words shall become said and written in stone, aye?"

I laughed at his use of words. No doubt, he loved the English language for the various ways he could confuse and manipulate people into doing whatever he wanted to do; most of the time, that is.

"Before he left," I began, "He told me the reason for why me listening to your heartbeat worked." I closed my sapphire eyes momentarily, taking a deep breath. "He said that it was because we're destined, Jack."

He grinned as his gently rubbed my face with his gentle yet rough fingers. I found it hard to believe that a well-known pirate such as Jack Sparrow could be so gentle with a woman. "Ah, well in that case I think that said words should be said." His eyes flickered with humor as he pulled me close against his body, positioning his mouth by my waiting ear. "I love you, darling."

My heart skipped a beat. Usually I was headstrong, not giving a damn about anyone, not softening for anything, but it seemed that Jack definitely had a way with words, and such ways led me to being silent for a moment before whispering in his own tanned ear. "I think I love you too, you rouge pirate."

He grinned at me as he inched his face close to mine. "Now, now, Andie. That's not very nice. I think you shall be punished, what say you?"

"Punish away." I grinned as he kissed me deeply, one of his calloused hands buried deep in my waving and curling hair while the other rested on the small of my back, gently kneading the skin found there.

I still wasn't used to the kissing concept, for I was confused when it came to remaining in the kiss for moments at a time, but I knew that he wouldn't let me suffocate, for he would release my lips for a moment before attacking them again.

My adrenaline slowly slowed, allowing my sleepless state to return to me. I pulled away and blinked heavily, trying to stifle my yawn but failing horribly. "C'mon, love. You can remain in my cabin, for I think I need to have conformation that you're here, darling." I grinned lazily as he supported my slumping body until I came to the bed in the familiar and huge cabin.

He helped me beneath the covers after we'd undone our effects and boots, which lay in a single pile on his desk on the far side of the room. As he climbed in beside me, I found myself snuggling closer to the pirate Captain, who pulled me close onto his chest as I fell asleep in a matter of moments.

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Jack remained awake as he watched the woman in his arms fall asleep. No doubt did she capture his attention, but the information she'd shared had made him say the three words that never in his life, nor anyone else's, would he had thought he'd ever say, much less to a woman who he'd definitely be with for the rest of his long life, according to the curse.

It would seem, Jack thought as he closed his smeared-kohl eyelids, that for once in his life, Jones did good. If it weren't for that bloody curse, then we wouldn't be here, knowing that I can finally trust someone other than Gibbs, for Barbossa can never be trusted. He bloody marooned me…

Jack's thoughts ended as he soon too drifted off into a deep sleep with Andrea in his tanned and muscular arms.