Epilogue:
Harriet looked out the window facing the open sea, looking at the sunrise just as Kat used to do. She wondered what had happened to Kat and Jack, especially if Arthur Benikins caught up with them. It had been over two weeks since he left port with Captain Belstrude in their pursuit of Kat after she ran down the isle. She leaned against the window pane and just watched the sun flood the sky and bay with light. She gave a small smile as she felt hope enter through her heart. They were still alive… and they found each other. They were happy. They just had to be.
"Harriet?"
Harriet turned to her name being called and saw Dena standing a few feet from her, unsure on whether or not to approach. Harriet nodded and waved for her to come over, "I am just watching the sunrise. Kat taught me."
"She was always full of lessons, she was," Dena nodded and held her friend's hand in comfort.
Before long Harriet felt something tug on her nightgown and she looked down to see little Olivia looking up at her. Harriet smiled and grabbed her daughter up in her arms. They both looked at the sunrise together with Dena and watched some of the ships leave the port toward the morning sun. Then far in the distance Harriet could see a naval ship coming back into port. After a few moments she realized it was the same ship that her uncle sailed out on to track down his daughter. She turned around and faced her bedroom door which was still wide open.
"Robert!" she yelled for her husband.
In the bedroom Robert shot his eyes open and rolled off the huge bed with surprise. He picked himself up, rubbing his head from the hit against the side table and looked at the bed to find his wife missing. He stood to his full height and hurried out of the room, barely able to get his robe tied around him. He made the last knot on his robe as he came up next to his house keeper, wife and daughter.
"Harriet, what is the matter, darling?" he asked a little annoyed by the time and by the matter of his rude awakening, "The sun has barely come over the water."
"Robert," Harriet started still looking into the bay, "It's the Interceptor. It's sailing back into the bay."
"They couldn't have… found her," he mumbled and hurried back into the bedroom. He found some of his casual cloths and walked past Harriet and Olivia toward the door.
"What do you mean to do?" Harriet asked holding her husband's arm, before he had the chance to walk fully out of her grasp.
"Anything I can," he said softly. He placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips, kissed his daughter on the cheek and left out the doors.
"Daddy, going to fight piwates?" Olivia asked taking the big cooking spoon out of her pants and into her hand.
"Yes. The uncivilized kind of pirates… the kind who don't care who they had to kill," Harriet said stroking her daughter's hair.
Dena stood beside Harriet as down below Robert ran through the streets toward the harbor and where the Interceptor was being unloaded.
He helped it to dock, hoping that Katerina was somewhere inside, still alive. All he saw were red coats and rifles- crates and unused supplies. He walked into the ship to find Timothy- he must have preserved Katerina, if he did in fact love her. Neither were to be found. Arthur Benikins was missing as well, and Robert couldn't understand the reason why. Out of all the inhabitants on this ship, the most important of them were all missing.
As soon as he walked off the ship a hand tapped his shoulder and he turned around to face the next in command under Timothy, "You are Mister Blener. Harriet's husband, are you not?"
"My wife's name is Harriet, yes," he nodded his head.
"We have much to talk about. I must report to my superiors, but I have a message for your wife. If you would follow me, please," Robert followed him toward his post. Robert was to stay in the front room as the Lieutenant went into the other room and was pelted with questions by the new commodore.
"I'm sorry, sir, but Captain Belstrude did not survive," the man reported. Robert was on the edge of his seat when he realized he was able to overhear the conversation, "Neither did our two passengers."
"Two? I understood that you only had Mr. Benikins on board."
"We did until we found his daughter alone in a port not too far from our own," he took a deep breath, "We found her alone and took her back on board. She couldn't handle that kind of life on her own and had been through Hell- if you can excuse my term, commodore. As we were sailing back here we were attacked by a pirate ship."
"It wasn't the Black Pearl, was it?"
"No, it was the Harbinger, from what I recall," he put his head down and continued, "They took the two Benikins on board and were going to ransom them. The captain tried to get over to the ship to rescue them, but he was shot before he was even on the enemy's ship. Some of the men were killed, understandably, but we couldn't get to the two Benikins on the other ship. They were both killed by stray fire."
Robert's breath and voice was caught in his throat. The news of Kat's death was a huge shock to him. There was no way she could actually be dead. Not before she reached Jack Sparrow. She didn't even get to say goodbye.
"How did you get away?" the commodore asked, eyeing the lieutenant.
"We later realized that the Harbinger was low on ammunition and soon sailed off out of our sights. We didn't have enough time to shoot back."
"Ah, that ship does have a history of outrunning even our most astonishing ships," the commodore's scratchy voice echoed through the room, "Belstrude was a good man. I hope he rests in peace."
"As do I sir."
"You are excused."
The solider stood up and exited the room where he found Robert with tears in his eyes. He looked down at the man and understood that he shouldn't go back to his home with him to deliver the letter. After all, he could be the one blamed for killing one of his family members.
"I'll give you a carriage back to your home," the soldier offered Robert.
Robert shook his head and stood up, "No… I'd rather walk. It is only up the road."
"Then before you go," the soldier took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to him, "It is for your wife. Miss Benikins wanted to see that she got it if anything happened to her."
Robert nodded, but then looked up at the soldier, "Her name was Kat."
The soldier nodded and walked toward his men and the rest of the supplies.
Robert walked into his home slowly all the while looking at the letter in his hand. It was addressed to Harriet and he dare didn't open it without her permission. As soon as the door was closed Harriet hurried down the stairs now completely dressed and out of her night gown. Dena was right behind her with the next load of laundry on her hip.
"I didn't see, Kat," Harriet asked worried, "Where is she?"
"She wanted you to have this," Robert didn't look her in the eyes and slowly handed her the letter. He slowly slipped into the living room and into one of his chairs.
"What is it?" Harriet's voice shook, along with her hand.
"Something she wanted you to have before she died," Robert's voice shook at the last word.
Dena dropped the laundry load and her hands flew to her mouth in a horrified gasp, "No."
"Died?" Harriet hurried over to her husband's side, kneeling on the ground next to his chair, "You cannot truly tell me that my cousin is dead."
"I heard it, straight from the lieutenant's mouth. Timothy and Arthur are also dead. A pirate ship over took them on their way back. All three along with some soldiers were killed."
"What about Jack?"
"They never found him," Robert never once looked into his wife's eyes, knowing perfectly well she was crying just as bad as he was, "He wasn't there to save her. Not this time."
Harriet fell the rest of the way to the ground and looked at the shaking letter in her hand. She pushed herself to sit on the couch at the side of the room and gave herself enough courage to open the letter. Meanwhile, Robert had called Olivia over to sit on his lap to try and explain to a three year old that her favorite person in the world was gone.
Harriet began to read and before she reached the end of the last sentence her tears began to dry and her face grew a smile, "Robert! Dena! She's alive!"
He turned to her and tripped over an ottoman on his way as Olivia ran ahead of him.
Dena's head snapped quickly to the side and she ran to Harriet's other side, "What?"
"Listen to this:
Harriet, I know you must think me wicked to trick you like that, but it had to be done. I am not dead. I am just the opposite; I am finally able to live. What you have heard about my father and Timothy is true, they both have died. Timothy attacked me and fought dishonorably- ready to stab a man in the back. Jack killed him. Arthur Benikins…he was about to kill everyone, I had to do something. I shot him and he soon died afterward.
Stick with the lieutenant's story, he is a good man and will not turn Jack nor I in. That is another thing I need to tell you. I found him; I am living happily on the Black Pearl. You do not need to worry about me. Maybe once Jack is no longer wanted in Port Royal we will come back. Jack did promise Olivia that he would come back and give her at least one ride on the Pearl. I miss you all terribly. Give Olivia a kiss for me.
Love, Katerina"
Robert looked at her with a smile and looked down at Olivia, "Did you hear that? Your Kat is doing fine."
"And she will come back!" Olivia jumped up and started to prance around the room, "I goin' to be a piwate! Like Uncle Jack and Kitty Kat!"
Robert came over and kissed his wife, "This calls for a celebration," he went into the kitchen and soon came out with a wine bottle and some ale for Olivia.
"So, what should we toast?" he looked at his wife and poured another glass for Dena as well.
"We toast Kat and Jack and their new life together," she tipped her glass to his and all three drank down the wine, "Let them see plenty of new horizons."
Harriet leaned against the large window down at the sea. There was never a more relaxing sight. She would go to the Turner household later and tell them of the good news. She would have to make sure they understood to keep it under wraps, if it leaked out, she would have to worry about two warrants. She would work to get Jack's name cleared in Port Royal so she wouldn't need to worry about another shooting or hanging.
A little later that day a man came to the home and presented Robert and Harriet with a bundle of papers. It seemed that Harriet was the only living connection to the Benikins fortune and inherited all of it. Harriet had received dozens of riches in one day, but she still had to wonder, how many riches her cousin would find in her new life.
Kat stretched out long on the bed as the sun started its way across the room and toward the bed. She blinked her eyes open and took a moment to look over the room and reassure herself that she was there. The dark wood and embellishments that surrounded her gave her comfort when she knew others would find it unnerving. Without much thought, she curled back down into the blankets before she tried to compel herself from the bed. Her hand slipped out and smoothed it against the other side of the bed to find it empty. From the look of the sun it was close to mid morning. Of course he would be up by now, probably at the helm in preparation of their new course.
"Okay, Kat. Enough of this sleeping in business," she scolded herself and rolled out of the bed, "You have work to do, I am sure of it."
The clothes that were rumpled in her bag were relatively clean and she tossed them on quickly. With a deep breath she opened the door out to the deck to see the new morning. It was as if a weight had been lifted from the Pearl. The air was crisp and clean and a sweet breeze caressed her face just as it had done many times before. She closed her eyes and her hand went to her locket without a thought. It felt like she was here and she was happy for her daughter. That was enough for Kat.
The crew of the Black Pearl had left Tortuga a full day and a half after the Interceptor sailed back to Port Royal. The crew wanted and deserved a proper shore leave than what they got and Jack knew that he could use the break as well. It would also give Kat some time to actually grieve if she needed. It takes a lot to come to terms with killing a man. Jack expected that it was even worse when that man was your own father.
After the extended stay it was back to the open ocean again. There were ports to plunder and stores to loot. Kat was happy to set sail again. She was eager to see how her sails held up in her absence and to see a new sunrise, now free to enjoy them.
She walked below the others who were working hard to get the sails back in flawless working condition and reminded herself to take a look at them later today for rips. She spotted Anamaria and they both shared a smiled and a wave to one another. Anamaria nodded her head toward the helm to let Kat know where Jack had gone off to. Kat waved again as a thank you and headed for the helm. She passed a few of the crew mates on her way. Mister Henders was going over the new acquirement from the port with Kusar who shot her a smile. She passed by Lejon and Duncan who were once again arguing over the rigging lines. Mister Cotton was near the bottom of the stairs a piece of whittled wood in between his hands. Kat took a moment and looked at the piece.
"That's a beautiful piece, Mr. Cotton. I didn't know that you were that skilled. Here I thought Kusar was the only carpenter on board," she admired what looked to be a pair of sparrows on a rough branch as Cotton also took a look over his piece. He blew off some pieces from the branches and continued on with Kat as his audience. She tilted her head with an arched brow, "Any special significance?"
Mr. Cotton only smiled as his parrot was sleeping on his shoulder quite soundly. Kat smiled back with a small chuckle and climbed the stairs to the deck.
At the helm was none other than the captain himself. A smirk crossed his face when he saw her clear the stairs.
"Good morning, luv," he greeted her with a small kiss to her hairline when she was close enough, "About time you got up."
"Good morning to you too," she elbowed him gently in the side. She then hugged him and slipped in to fit right next to his side, "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You needed your sleep," he held her as he steered, "I tired you out and its good to sleep off the tears from the last couple of days."
"You tired me out?" she laughed next to him and moved so that she was in front of him and settled between him and the wheel, "I do seem to remember it was quite the opposite, Captain Sparrow."
"And yet I was still up at dawn," he countered and shifted his arms to be on either side of her and on the large wheel. He laughed at her pout and reached for his compass on his belt. He flipped it open and looked down at the arrow. It pointed straight ahead at Kat and he grumbled.
"Compass broken, love?" Kat asked with her eyes half lidded.
Jack smirked and leaned in to steal a searing kiss. As their lips separated the needle moved from Kat and the point began to tilt from the most Eastern point and the South West.
"It's working just fine." Jack laughed deep in his chest.
"It still can't decide where to go?" Kat asked a little out of breath.
"I'll let you decide," he shut the compass with a click before it dropped back to his side, still connected on his belt.
"What are my choices?" Kat asked and looked in the direction of both options.
"One is a fantastic loot score within a few days East of us. Big ship, little guns. Fairly easy- highly profitable," Jack wiggled his fingers against the handles on the wheel on either side of her.
"Sounds like an easy job," she nodded, "What's the other one?"
"More adventure, higher danger- and island that is not supposed to exist with an even more highly improbable treasure of legend," he nodded the other direction toward the South West with a single finger pointed up which tapped at the end of her nose, "Luck would not be in our favor, I'm afraid. A challenge to be sure."
"Well, be it far from me to give up on a challenge," she smirked up at him and saw that look in his eyes when he was about to find something shiny or something tasty of the alcohol variety, "What kind of treasure of legend are we talking about?"
"One that's worthy of your talents," he assured her and turned the wheel to the South West. He grabbed her next to his side and began to hum his favorite song.
"We're devils and black sheep..."
"And really bad eggs," Kat finished without thinking.
Kat smiled again up at her Captain Sparrow and then back out at the open sea ahead of them. There was a new horizon now waiting ahead for both of them.
END
