A/N: Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews! :)

Disclaimer: PotC belong to Disney.

Chapter 56

Jack went back to his cabin, muttering under his breath and trying to figure out Ameerah's true reason for visiting. No doubt she had some specific reason (or perhaps even more than one reason) and something was telling him he was not that reason (even though it would have been perfectly understandable if he was).

He opened the door and walked into the cabin, coming face to face with Elizabeth, already dressed in breeches and boots, and a half-buttoned shirt. She smiled at the sight of him, but he narrowed his eyes at her, and quickly crossed the room, walking toward her.

"I thought you were tired, luv," he said looking her up and down.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "We're not going back to the discussion concerning me staying below, are we?" she asked lifting her hands to continue buttoning her shirt, but Jack took her hands in his, gently pushing them away.

"No, we're not. Which doesn't change the fact..." Elizabeth bit her lip, watching him buttoning her shirt with a small smile. "That if I leave you fast asleep, and in the next moment find you wide awake, that makes me a tad bit..." Jack twitched his nose, struggling with the last button. Elizabeth helped him and then pressed a quick kiss to his lips. He smiled. "Tad bit anxious."

"Anxious?!" Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him, leaning her cheek on his shoulder. "But I'm a pirate. Pirates can take care of themselves, can't they?" she asked with pretended seriousness, biting back a smile.

Jack smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Aye. But... I just can never be sure where you are, or what you are up to-" he said, embracing her, and placing one hand on the back of her head, his fingers slowly threading through her hair.

Elizabeth laughed. "I also know one such person."

"Do you?" asked Jack with false astonishment.

"I do," she nodded, snuggling her face into his chest. "Quite thoroughly, actually."

Jack propped her chin with his finger, and made her laugh again by playfully blowing her hair off her face, and then kissing her quite thoroughly on the lips.


"Captain Fiero," James smiled at her kindly. "I see you decided to join us, after all," he said rising to his feet when Ameerah walked into the galley with a sour look on her face.

"I did," she said through her gritted teeth, forcing a smile.

"Please," James gestured for her to sit down.

Ameerah glanced around the table, quickly scanning all the faces. Governor Swann looked at her with calm interest, and so did Bill Turner. There were also several other crew members seated at the table, already busy with their meals. Will was not in the cabin, having gone on the deck to see if they were still not being followed.

Ameerah slumped into a chair, and gave weak smile to Ragetti, who put a plate in front of her. She warily looked around, thinking about something else, and not even hearing Ragetti's question as to what she would like to drink. When he received no answer, he wanted to repeat his question, but James shook his head wordlessly telling him to leave her alone, so he shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to Governor Swann, who this time decided not to argue, and accepted whatever Ragetti insisted that he should try eating and drinking.

In some odd sense, the Governor began feeling comfortable on the Black Pearl, repeatedly catching himself not even thinking about his situation as dreadful and absolutely unacceptable anymore. There was a certain, strange feeling of peace overwhelming him from time to time when he was looking out at the sea... And he was gradually understanding better and better Elizabeth's attachment to the ocean, her attachment to this ship, to this man... And for the first time he suddenly believed that she really could, that she really was going to be happy here.

He smiled to himself, absently carrying a bit of food from the plate to his mouth. He was about to eat the small piece of meat, but something in the look of it stopped him, and he just stared at it for a moment, blinking.

"What is it?" he asked in a low voice, looking at the slice suspiciously.

Pintel, who was sitting next to him wrinkled his forehead, and looked from the Governor to the piece on his fork, and then at the Governor again. Governor Swann glanced at him expectantly. Pintel looked at his own plate distrustfully, and in a firm voice stated:

"This is a very good question, pop."

The Governor blinked at the word, and after a moment of consideration decided that a breath of fresh air might be definitely in order right now for more than one reason.


"Do you fear death?" Davy Jones narrowed his eyes at Barbossa, all the eyes of the Flying Dutchman's crewmen fixed on him as well.

Barbossa glanced at Tia Dalma who was standing at the bow of the ship, watching the scene with mild interest, absently fingering the locket in her hand. He wondered if she had known that his life would have ended so soon again when she had brought him back to life?... Her facial expression betrayed nothing and he was not sure what to think. Even though it probably did not matter much, did it? His life was over.

"I was dead once already," he said, shifting his eyes back to Davy Jones. "I wasn't afraid then, I'm not afraid now."

Davy Jones snarled contemptuously. "And haven't learned a thing in between, have you?" he asked suddenly in a surprisingly non-menacing voice.

Barbossa knitted his eyebrows, eyeing Jones suspiciously. Tia Dalma smiled from afar, turning away from them and staring out at the sea.


Governor Swann headed for the stairs that led onto the main deck with certainty that made him feel a bit uneasy. He was beginning to know his way around this ship decidedly too well.

As he reached the corner of the hallway he heard laughter, and after taking a few more steps he caught the sight of Jack and Elizabeth... dancing across the corridor.

"You hold me too tight!" complained Elizabeth with a gleeful smile, holding onto Jack's shoulders when he swirled her around, trapping her between the wall and himself.

"It's not possible," he countered in a serious voice, shaking his head vigorously, his dreadlocks brushing against the sides of Elizabeth's face. She giggled, bringing her hand to his cheek. "I hold ye as tightly as always."

"That's what I meant," cut in Elizabeth matter-of-factly. "When people dance, they're not supposed to be that close, married or not," she said haughtily, thrusting up her chin.

Jack narrowed his eyes at her. She looked at him with laughter in her eyes, and the Governor watched with wonder and soothing exhilaration the sparkles in her eyes that glittered with such joy that he had always only thought possible in those books which her mother had been buying for her in excessive amounts.

"Is that so?" asked Jack, brushing his lips over Elizabeth's.

"Jack..." she whispered, and closed her eyes. "It's really not-"

"It's really not...?" he asked continuing to nuzzle the side of her face.

She laughed. "It's really not a good idea for you to be doing this again. If you're to ever arrive on deck, that is," she added quietly, turning her head to the side.

Jack chuckled under his breath. "I may arrive on deck tomorrow, as far as I'm concerned," he said, burying his face in the crook of her neck, and pulling her closer.

Elizabeth leaned her cheek on his shoulder and they stood like that for a while without saying anything.

Governor Swann soundlessly withdrew from the scene, smiling faintly, and taking a few silent steps backwards until he lost the sight of them.


"So..." Ameerah reached for an apple and bit into it, her eyes fixed on the fruit, while all the other eyes focused on her. "You're going after Davy Jones' heart?" she asked, looking up and meeting James' intent gaze.

Before he had a chance to answer, she said with a smile: "I take it as an aye," and rose to her feet. "So it seems that we have at least one thing in common," she added, and having taken a brief, assessing look around the cabin, left the galley.


Governor Swann stood by the rail, staring out at the sea, and going in his mind through all the recent events, from Elizabeth and Will's wedding interrupted by Beckett, Elizabeth's escape, him being forced to work for Beckett until Elizabeth and Jack had rescued him from the Endeavor... That was his first longer encounter with Jack Sparrow. He remembered Beckett's alluding remarks concerning Elizabeth that Jack had kept dismissing with nonchalance that he long since had learnt to regard with caution. He remembered Jack and Elizabeth's argument in front of him, remembered Jack's face when he had dived after Elizabeth, whose legs got tangled in a rope, and then he had rescued her – for the second time from drowning... but for which time in general count?...

Then he had witnessed Sao Feng's visit, and it was then when he had begun suspecting that there was more between them that met the eye... and his suspicions were soon confirmed when Elizabeth confided in him, confessing her feelings for... her future husband, no less. He sighed at the memory of a certain very memorable note: Captain Groom and Beautiful Bride.And he smiled at the memory of Elizabeth's face just a moment ago, at the memory of both of their faces, actually; of the way they looked at each other. They were in love, that was quite clear, he imperceptibly shook his head with a soft chuckle. But there was also something else. They were fascinated with each other, and the mutual admiration that he had seen in their eyes somehow managed to put his mind at peace. He had feared that his daughter might have never met somebody whom she would have not only respected, but also admired. And although he had obviously never imagined that the man to capture her attention and conquer her heart would have been a notorious rogue, an outlaw, a pirate, he finally began accepting her choice (not having much choice in the first place, he thought with a dry smile) and feeling happy for her - finding the greatest reassurance in seeing her happy.

He looked around speculatively, squinting. Accepting her choice was one thing, and improving it was another... Perhaps there was a chance of turning the man into an honest merchant yet? The stories he had heard, about Jack working for East India Trading Company seemed to serve as a good enough proof for his disposition toward less morally dubious activities than piracy. So maybe?...

With a sigh, the Governor rested his hands on the rail wondering whether his imagination was not running away with him. Either way, it was definitely worth trying. Once everything else was resolved, once the peace was restored, he would try discussing it, first with Elizabeth, and then... Well. With Elizabeth, and then Elizabeth could discuss it with her husband... maybe.


Jack dismissed Mr. Cotton from the helm, and took his place, regarding the horizon with narrowed eyes. If they would not encounter any new problems and the weather would be kind to them, they could reach Port Royal around noon on the following day, which would leave them with a day and a half for finding the heart and... doing something with it.

Jack's eyebrows knitted, and he exhaled slowly, tapping his fingers on the wooden spokes. He could do with a number of more concrete ideas.

"What a rare sight."

Jack swiftly turned his head and glanced at James, squinting. "I'm here more often than not," he retorted with a faint hint of annoyance in his voice.

"I must have missed that common sight, then," replied James with a smile, stepping forward and standing next to helm, looking toward the sea.

"It wouldn't be the first mistake you made," observed Jack, subconsciously pulling out his compass, and flipping the lid open, but when he looked at it, he rolled his eyes, and put it away with an inward smirk.

"Still broken?" asked James, ignoring Jack's latest allusion.

"It was never broken," answered Jack, his inward smirk slowly creeping onto his face.

James looked away with a frown, trying to push his thoughts concerning the reasons for Jack's joyful facial expression off his mind. "Broken is a matter of perspective," he said, glancing at Jack, but averting his eyes before Jack looked at him. "I think you may add one more person to your list," started James taking a sharp intake of breath, and quickly changing the subject of the conversation, unwanted images of Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow in all the situations he had seen them all of a sudden springing to his mind, making him feel, again, all the regret he had thought was gone for good.

He could have asked her to marry him earlier. He had had her father's permission three years afore Jack Sparrow dived into their lives. Why had not he done that? He was always quick at making decisions, and the right decisions too. And yet in this case he had missed his chance. How would it be to always have her by his side, see her smile everyday, share all the moments with her...

And when he was thinking about all of that, he suddenly realized that the regret he felt was not a bitter feeling of unjust disappointment; it was merely melancholy, a thoughtful realization that something was gone, lost, that a part of his life was closed, impossible to be redone. He had redone so many aspects of his life, finally finding the right path, as it seemed. Finally choosing the right side... no matter how wrong it was. Maybe there was something about being a Pirate King, something more than just a bizarre title imposed on him by a collection of rogues and his own destiny. Maybe he could do something with it, something good. Maybe he could be a good Pirate King?...

"...Captain Fiero asked about the heart," said James, absently finishing his sentence, and ignoring all the sentences that Jack had said while he had been drifting away in his thoughts.

Jack opened his mouth to speak, but before he had a chance to ask James anything, he walked away with what Jack considered a very puzzling, strangely complacent, and almost prophetic expression on his face that could bode as well ill as... well.


"Oh my. Did you have a fight here?"

Elizabeth spun around, startled to find Ameerah looking around the Captain's Quarters with a small smile on her face. The cabin still looked disarranged, as they had not really had the time to make it look orderly again. Even some of Jack's drawings were still lying on the floor, although Elizabeth had picked up most of them, smilingly making a mental note to draw some pictures of Jack and one day leave them on his desk as a surprise.

"No," Elizabeth grabbed Jack's hat for which she had offered him she would have gone to their cabin while he himself had already gone to the helm. She wanted to add something about the tempest, and about the ship being attacked, but then decided that she did not need to explain herself to this woman.

Ameerah smiled and went over to the bookshelves, brushing her hand over the books in an absent gesture, that somehow annoyed Elizabeth more than it perhaps should.

"We've established a custom of knocking before entering any cabin," observed Elizabeth dryly, wishing for Ameerah to leave as soon as possible, so she would not be tempted to get into the argument with her...

... not to mention throwing a couple of paperweights at her, she thought glancing at Jack's desk.

Ameerah swirled around, a broad smile on her face, and Elizabeth did not fail to notice that she had turned around in a way strikingly similar to the way in which Jack would turn around. Whether she was doing it unconsciously, or for the sole purpose of irritating her, Elizabeth was not able to determine.

"I don't know if you'll be able to turn this ship into a mansion," said Ameerah, approaching Elizabeth, and still pretending to be very much interested in the way the cabin looked like, her eyes scanning the surrounding.

"I have no such intention," retorted Elizabeth rather sharply, crossing her arms, and pressing Jack's hat to her chest.

Ameerah's eyes flickered to the hat for only a second, before focusing on Elizabeth's face. "May I ask..." started Ameerah with a sweet and friendly smile, ignoring the edginess of Elizabeth's tone. "How have you met? You and Jack. Must have been an interesting story," she said looking her up and down speculatively, reminding Elizabeth of the way women always looked at each other's dresses during the winter balls in London.

"I fell from the sky straight into his arms," replied Elizabeth, narrowing her eyes in a small, artificial smile.

Ameerah laughed. "Alright. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said, waving her hand dismissively.

Elizabeth bit back a sincerely amused smile, but did not bother assuring Ameerah that she had, in fact, told her the truth.

"We've met in Tortuga," said Ameerah, answering the question that Elizabeth had no intention of asking.

"You do forgive me if I ask you to leave?" Elizabeth interrupted her in the most polite voice she could muster. Ameerah darted her eyes to her. "I have to change my clothes," added Elizabeth, coming up with the simplest excuse. Somehow she knew that if she was to talk with this woman any longer, she would get so annoyed that the situation might turn very unpleasant, and she would rather keep up the appearances, if only for the sake of the general atmosphere on board. She tried to block the thoughts that were invading her mind every time she looked at Ameerah, the idea of her ever touching her husband putting her in such a nauseatingly grim mood that she could hardly keep her countenance calm.

Ameerah lifted her hands, and interlaced her fingers, examining her nails with absent interest. "I still love him, you know," she said in a casual tone of voice, causing Elizabeth's eyes to widen. Ameerah looked up at her, catching, not without satisfaction, a glimpse of what she interpreted as confusion in Elizabeth's eyes.

Elizabeth had expected the woman to be annoying and arrogant, but that level of arrogance was really overwhelming. For a moment she found herself at a loss for words. But not for too long. "This is a somewhat irrelevant piece of information and also one that I am definitely not interested in," she said at last through her slightly clenched teeth.

"He loves you, though," added Ameerah, this time really succeeding in confusing Elizabeth.

"And you caught up with the Black Pearl just to tell me this?" asked Elizabeth irately, raising an eyebrow and looking at her intently.

Ameerah laughed. "You're funny," she said with a hint of sincere appreciation in her voice, and swiftly turned around heading for the door. "I didn't come here to steal him, if that's what you're afraid of," she said in a loud voice, opening the door. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at her in annoyance, and was about to retort, when Ameerah glanced at her over her shoulder and added with a smile: "But he won't love you forever either." And then she was gone, the door slamming shut behind her.

Elizabeth glared at the door for a moment, irritated with herself for her lack of ability to respond quickly to that kind of infuriating comments. She had no troubles bantering with Jack, and she had thought that she could banter and argue skillfully with anyone, but somehow that woman had kept throwing her out of balance.

"Of course not!" she shouted, and grabbed one of Jack's paperweights from his desk, and threw it forcefully at the door with an exasperated groan. "He will love me longer than forever!" Then she firmly placed Jack's hat on her head, and slumped into his chair with an angry pout.


Having given the orders, Beckett retreated to his cabin, a satisfied smile playing about his lips. There was nothing that could go wrong. Everything was planned out perfectly.

In a few hours, at dusk, his soldiers would board the Black Pearl, lock those whom he considered useful in the Endeavour's brig, kill those of no consequence.

The Governor would be locked in a cabin where they could later discuss a certain arrangement concerning his loyalty to the East India Trading Company... and his love for his daughter, of course. If he did not want to see her at the gallows, he would have to promptly agree to the offer that would guarantee her safety and after their arrival in Port Royal Davy Jones' rule over the seas would come to an abrupt end.

Beckett slowly walked into his cabin, and divesting himself from his coat, reached for a glass and placed it next to a bottle of brandy.

It was in fact a far better offer that the Governor could wish for. He would live forever, and as long as he would act loyally toward the company his daughter would come to no harm. And even more than that. She would become Lady Beckett, and that was definitely more than a pirate harlot like her deserved.

He poured himself a drink, and lifted the glass to his lips. And would not it be entertaining to see her babbling about her pirate marriage? Ardently arguing that it was legal? As if it mattered, he thought with a snort, sipping on his brandy. Those pretty eyes sparkling with anger for as long as she would believe she had a chance against him. But then of course she would have to accept the facts: that if she did not want her father's heart to be stabbed and Jack Sparrow to be hanged, she needed to be obedient and do what she would be told to do by him – by her husband.

Yes, it was definitely much better this way. It would not have been even half as amusing if Jack Sparrow was dead already. Now it was going to be so much better... This revenge. He would not kill him, at least not too soon, not until he would receive a fair amount of pain, long hours of contemplating his ship's fate, his crew's fate, finally his wife's fate; long hours of imagining her in the arms of another.

With a contented sigh Beckett reclined in his chair and pulled out of his drawer a drawing that he had taken from the Black Pearl when he had been there after jealousy-driven Mr. Turner had brought the ship to him.

He looked at the drawing, a smile creeping onto his lips. It was going to be a fairly sweet revenge, indeed.


Jack stared at the horizon, holding the wheel, and wondering what would Ameerah want with the heart of Davy Jones? Could it be the true reason for her being here? She had always been a rather dedicated treasure hunter, but then Davy Jones' heart was not an ordinary treasure, and she must be aware of that. So-

Jack stiffened, feeling somebody wrap her arms around his neck from behind, but then relaxed recognizing the exhilaratingly familiar scent of Elizabeth's hair. "I was just thinking about you, luv," he said tilting his head to the side, and pressing his cheek to hers, when she propped her chin on his shoulder.

"Liar," said Elizabeth, kissed him on the cheek, and ducked under his arm to stand between him and the helm.

"I was," insisted Jack with a trace of a roguish smile flickering across his lips, taking one hand off the wheel, and pulling Elizabeth closer. "I always am, even if I don't. Savvy?"

"Savvy," muttered Elizabeth with a sigh brushing her lips against his. He kissed her, sliding his hand up his arm, her neck, cupping her cheek. Elizabeth broke the kiss, and leaned her head on his shoulder. Jack took his hat off her head, and put it on his head. They stood in silence for a while, Jack stroking her hair, Elizabeth twirling the beads in his beard around her fingers.

The Governor, who happened to be still on deck, and was watching them out of the corner of his eye, shook his head, and walked away, smiling, and relishing the view of the ocean. He wondered why he had never noticed before how wonderful it was to just stroll across the deck looking out at the sea...

"Don't worry, Lizzie," whispered Jack into Elizabeth's hair after a longer moment of silence.

Elizabeth looked up, running her fingers across his face with a faint smile. "To whom we're going to give the heart, Jack?" she asked in a soft voice.

Jack smiled down at her. "I'm thinking that of we could make Tia Dalma stab the heart, that would solve the problem. Although she might be of a different opinion," he added wrinkling his nose.

Elizabeth chuckled under her breath. "Jack. I'm serious."

Jack rolled his eyes. "I know," he said, resting his forehead against hers. "And I'll find the way. You don't have to worry ab-"

"Jack," Elizabeth put her finger across his lips. "I want to worry. I want to worry with you. I don't want you to find the way. I want us to find the way. Me and I, you and I. Us," she widened her eyes at him meaningfully.

He drew his hand across her face. "Me brave and beautiful pirate bride," he kissed her on the nose and smiled.

Elizabeth giggled and snuggled her face into his chest, but then drew back, suddenly remembering something. "I had a little surprise visit," she said with a trace of irritation in her voice. "Captain Fiero came to inform me that she loves you," she said, looking at Jack intently.

Jack blinked, but then grinned. "But I love you," he said slowly in a low voice, leaning toward her, and relieved that she seemed only annoyed, but not angry. Although, knowing what Ameerah was capable of, it could change yet.

Elizabeth snorted. "She did say that as well," she said, pursing her lips. "It seems that your minds work quite alike."

"Lizzie," Jack silenced her with a soft kiss.

"I don't like her," said Elizabeth with a pout.

Jack sighed. "Do you know how many people on this ship I don't like?" he asked, mirroring her pout. "Not to mention all those people that I don't even know, except for knowing that I don't like them, in Port Royal, in London, who knows where."

Elizabeth smiled at him brightly and pressed her lips to his. "We'll maroon them all somewhere once we solve our other problems," she offered with a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Jack chuckled. "I'm sure there is something in the Code about marooning the King," he said with a sigh.

"Alright," Elizabeth giggled. "So we'll just maroon Will and Miss Fiero."

Jack raised his finger in the air. "And that might actually be a very good idea," he said matter-of-factly.

Elizabeth laughed.

They spent the following hours steering the Black Pearl together, until the sky turned a darker shade of blue, and the sun disappeared below the clear and smooth water surface...