Hello, and before we get started, I'd like to say thank you to Jack149 for adding this story.

Now, without further ado, I give you the final chapter!

Chapter 12

A stream of sunlight lit up the area, unfitting for the gallows it shined on. Fort Charles was set for the execution of Jack Sparrow and the people of Port Royal were gathered round, ready to watch the hanging. The beautiful day did nothing to ease the nauseous feeling that had a grip on Caroline. The drumming that filled her ears didn't help either, instead making it feel almost as if she were lined up to go next.

Everything felt too much. Despite growing up in fine dresses, she was suffocating as she stood in her pale pink gown, acting as if nothing was wrong. It was as if she were dressing up to watch the death of her freedom and the man who had given it to her. It was hard to believe that merely two weeks prior, if she had been standing in this same spot, she would have thought nothing of it. Any pirate who had been sentenced to death was paying for their crimes they committed. Yet, Jack didn't deserve that. This was his payment for saving Elizabeth. Twice. And for saving her. She would give anything to save him, but there was little she could do. Her father had made sure of that.

Standing tall beside her was Samuel Palmer. While he would have gone back to his work immediately on any other day, he was determined to see this through. Jack Sparrow was the reason for all of his problems. And he would cause future problems if he wasn't taken care of immediately. It was a speech Caroline had heard numerous times, beginning the second he saw her return to the Dauntless with him, Will, and Elizabeth.

In order to see this goal through, Caroline had spent nearly every second of her day trapped in the house or under watchful eyes. In the days following their return, unless escorted, she was not to leave the house. And talking to anyone was strictly out of the question. If an escape attempt was to be made, he had made sure she would not be a part of it.

Several spots down from them, Caroline spotted Elizabeth standing beside her father and Norrington in a similar spot to them. Partially hidden from the sun and a few steps up from the stairs, they had a clear view of the execution stand over the crowd in front of them.

Eyes glued forward, Caroline couldn't move her eyes off of Jack as he stood before them, hands bound with a noose hanging in wait.

As everyone waited, an official stood, addressing the crowd as he read, "Jack Sparrow, be it known that you have been charged, tried and convicted."

Despite his imminent death, Caroline spotted Jack mumbling to himself, most likely correcting something. Unable to help herself, a bittersweet smile spread across her lips.

"For your willful commission of crimes against the crown...Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature. The most aggrieves of which to be cited herewith: Piracy. Smuggling. Impersonating a person of the Spanish Royal Navy. Impersonating a cleric of

the Church of England. Sailing under false colors. Arson. Kidnapping. Looting. Poaching. Pilfering. Depravity. Degradation. And general lawlessness."

She couldn't help but wonder what stories he had to go along with the crimes. No doubt they were outlandish. Thinking back to the stories she had been told, she knew a few exaggerations would be within them. Except, she wouldn't have a chance to hear them. The thought pained her, tightening her chest as she clenched her fists. It wasn't supposed to end this way. Determined to keep it together, she closed her eyes tightly, willing them to remain dry.

"And for these crimes, you have been sentenced on this day to be hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul."

The noose was placed around his neck and Caroline hoped for a miracle. If there was even the slightest chance of helping, she had to take it. With her eyes sweeping for the sight of anything that might help, she spotted it. Sitting above everything else was a parrot. A familiar parrot that made her heart swell. In a flash, she moved her head, looking for any familiar figures. Though she didn't see any pirates, she spotted a peculiar looking hat making a beeline for the gallows.

And then she heard the shout from Norrington. "Marines!"

The commotion was immediate. His men moved forward just as she caught a glimpse of Elizabeth fainting. Meanwhile, the figure in the crowd pushed through them. And that was her chance. With so much going on, she dashed forward. Just as she reached the bottom of the steps, level with the crowd, she was yanked back by a hand on her arm. With more force than needed, it sent her falling to the ground, twisting just in time to catch herself with her hands, hitting the stone with her hands.

"You are not stopping this execution," her father said as he stood above her, a calculating look as he watched the scene in front of him.

And then she heard it. The silence following the drumming as her heart dropped. Whipping her head towards the gallows, she could just see the top of the rope, Jack no longer visible. The rest of the noise drowned out around her as she held her breath. One second, two seconds, then she finally heard it. The chaos in the crowd. Something hadn't gone as planned.

Soldiers raced forward to help whatever was going on and she wouldn't wait to find out. Pushing herself up, she moved, pushing herself up, untangling herself from her dress as best she could as she ducked between people. With a row of people now between her and Samuel Palmer, she had her chance. The people moved in chaos, frantically backing up away from the fighting as she raced towards it.

Reaching the front of the crowd, she couldn't stop her face lighting up as she breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had some assistance after all. Side by side, Jack and Will raced forward, rope in hand as they tripped the men coming towards them, quickly making their way up the steps towards the cliffside parapet. Following after them along with much of the crowd, she reached them just in time to see them surrounded by Norrington and his men. Governor Swann and Elizabeth appeared just behind him. With so many nearby, she knew she would only have seconds before her father was there as well.

Sword held in front of him, Norrington said, "I thought we might have to endure some ill-conceived manner of escape attempt. But not from you."

Not waiting another moment, Caroline pushed her way forward, bumping into Norrington as she did. She wanted nothing more than to run between them, but with so many weapons out, she couldn't be reckless.

Both seemed shocked by her sudden appearance before Governor Swann finally spoke. "On our return to Port Royal I granted you both clemency, and this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He is a pirate!"

"And a good man," Will said as he threw down his sword. "If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one ... So be it. At least my conscience will be clear."

"He doesn't deserve this," Caroline said as she stepped back a step, eyeing Norrington's sword as he raised it against Will. And just behind him, she spotted her father. Fists clenched and face red, she was surprised he remained where he was instead of stepping forward.

"You forget your place, Turner. As do you, Miss Palmer," Norrington said.

Standing firm, Will replied, "It's right here, between you and Jack."

Just then, Elizabeth stepped forward as well, placing herself beside Will. "As is mine."

Caroline stepped back once more, placing herself beside Jack as she watched everything unfold.

Shocked by his daughter's actions, Gov. Swann simply uttered her name. Not moving from her spot however, she merely links arms with Will. Seeing her still not moving, he called out, "lower your weapons! For goodness sake, put them down!"

All at once, their weapons are lowered, though they are still circled by the group.

"So this is where your heart truly lies, then?" Norrington asked Elizabeth, with what Caroline could only believe was a look of pain on his face.

"It is."

The tension was thick as Will and Norrington stared off, unwavering. It wasn't until Jack suddenly moved that their attention was drawn. "Well, I'm actually feeling rather good about this. I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically." As he walked between everyone, Caroline couldn't help but stare at him in confusion. What was the point in making some sort of speech now?

Jack walked up to Norrington, invading his space as he rambled on, "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that." Then turning to Elizabeth, he went on as if confessing some bitter truth, "Elizabeth, it would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry." Finally, he turned to Will, prepared for another speech. "Will," Suddenly lacking words, he paused before he simply saying, "nice hat."

As he wrapped it up, she realized, he was saying goodbye. Turning to look at him, there eyes locked as he gave her a devilish smile. "Still trust me?"

"Yes," she breathed, smiling back, willing to go with whatever plan he seemed to have in mind.

His hand wrapped around hers as he raced up the steps, stopping just before the parapet. "Friends!" he started, backing up as he went as he wrapped his arm around her waist, making her step with him, "This is the day you will always remember as the day that you-" Never finishing his words, he trips over the edge, tumbling down as Caroline let out a brief scream, hanging on before they both plunged into the ocean.

Taking a deep breath as they surface, a welcoming sight was just within view as the Black Pearl sat in wait. With a long swim in store, Caroline grabbed Jack's attention, knowing there was no way she would get there in all her layers. With far less material weighing her down and easier movements, they swam towards their freedom.

Before they knew it, the Pearl stood before them as they spotted Cotton atop the mast. A line was thrown to them and as Jack grabbed ahold of it, one arm wrapped around Caroline while she held on in return. And without warning, the line was pulled, yanking them out of the ocean and swinging them towards the deck. With little energy to worry about landing, they both fell in a heap on the deck, soaking the wood beneath them.

The crew of the Black Pearl stood around the two as they took in the sight. A tentative smile appeared as Caroline truly took in the ship for the first time. With no cursed pirates around and shining in the sun, she could start to understand why Jack had been so determined to get it back.

Gibbs stepped forward, drawing Jacks attention. "Thought you were supposed to keep to the code."

Shrugging at his words, Gibbs confessed, "We figured they were more actual... guidelines." With a smile, he offered his hand to Jack, helping him to his feet.

At the same time, Anamaria walked up to Caroline, offering her a hand as she grinned at the newest addition to the crew. "Welcome aboard, Lena."

"Thank you," she said with a grin, looking around as Anamaria walked off towards the wheel. "Captain Sparrow," she called out as she draped his coat over his shoulders, "the Black Pearl is yours."

As Jack stepped up to the wheel, he ran a hand over it, making Caroline almost feel as if she needed to give him a moment. His love for the ship was undeniable. Just as quickly as it appeared, his faced changed as he eyed the crew. With all eyes on him, he shouted, breaking their trance. "On deck, you scabrous dogs. Hands to braces. Let go and haul to run free."

With a smile on her face, Caroline watched the crew scatter across the deck, doing their job, leaving her as along as she could be with Jack while on deck. But she was content to just take in the moment. Because she knew, before long she would have work to do. This was the path she had chosen and it wasn't worth taking the chance if she didn't put all her efforts into this knew life.

"Now, bring me that horizon," he muttered as he pulled out his compass and adjusting their course.

And then she heard some very familiar words as Jack sang to himself, "and really bad eggs. Drink up me hearties, yo ho," bringing an even bigger smile to her face.

The end! Thank you so much to everyone who has been following this story and chose to see it through to the end! It has been so fun introducing you to Caroline and I hope you've enjoyed getting to know her. Perhaps some day in the future we'll even get to see what happens with the rest of their story.