A/N: Last Chapter… I can't believe it. I read the story through yesterday after finishing chapter nineteen and I couldn't believe that I had written it all. All the things that Kat and Jack had done were amazing. This has to be my most gratifying piece of literary work that I have ever written. Not to brag or anything, I just feel so fulfilled in finishing this, even though I'm suppose to be doing something else. If I'm caught I can get into big trouble. Thank you for all those who reviewed all the way through. And thank you for those who are reviewing now. I hope you loved this fiction and that you'll love the sequel as soon as I can get it out. Now, without further ado, the last chapter of 'Piracy, Lust and then Love'…
Chapter 20: Return to the Open Sea
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 a week since he left port with Captain Belstrude in their pursuit of Kat after she ran down the isle. She leaned against the window pain 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.
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 watching some of the ships leave the port with 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. She stood up all the way and hurried out of the room, barely able to get his robe tied around him the whole way. He made the last knot on his robe as he came up next to his 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 new 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 coking 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. Harriet watched down below as her husband 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. He walked into the ship to find Timothy; he must have preserved Katerina, if he did in fact love her. Neither were no where to be found. Arthur Benikins was missing as well, and Robert couldn't understand the reason why.
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 Harriet's husband, are you not?"
"My wife's name is Harriet, yes," he nodded his head.
"We have much to talk about," Robert followed him toward his post as he was to report about his mission. Robert was to stay in the other room as the soldier went into the other room and 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 had Mr. Benikins on board."
"We did until we found his daughter alone in a port," he took a deep breath, "We found her alone and took her back on board. As we were sailing back here when 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 g over to ht ship to rescue them, but he was hot 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 hug shock to him. There was no way she could actually be dead. Not before she reached Jack Sparrow. She didn't eve get to say goodbye.
"How did you get away?" the commodore asked, eyeing the soldier.
"We later realized that the Harbinger was low on ammunition and son sailed off out of our sights. We didn't have enough time to shot back."
"Ah," 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. 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."
"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.
"I didn't see, Kat," she asked worried, "Where is she?"
Robert didn't look her in the eyes, "She wanted you to have this," he slowly handed her the letter and 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.
"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 commander'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."
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 dead.
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! She's alive!"
He turned to her, "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 threatened to kill me and Jack killed him to protect me. My father…he was about to kill everyone, I had to do something. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen to anything. I shot him and he soon died afterward.
Stick with the soldier'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.
"We toast Kat and Jack and their new life together," she tipped her glass to his and they both drank down the wine, "Let them see plenty of new horizons."
Harriet against stared out the window and 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 named cleared in Port Royal so she wouldn't need to worry about and other 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. She was even given Captain Belstrude's fleet of ship which he left to Katerina. Harriet had received dozens of riches in one day, but she still had to wonder, how many riches her cousin will find in her new life.
***
Kat stretched out long on the bed as she began to wake up. As she yawned she felt a little sore on her cheek from where her late father slapped her. She slowly smoothed her hands out over the bed, hopeful to find Jack Sparrow there, but he was already out of bed. Kat opened her eyes and saw a few half full rum bottles next to Jack's side of the bed. She gave a little smile understanding that he probably couldn't find the rum he wanted that morning and took a couple of swigs out of the ones he did have in his sights.
She swung her feet over the side of the bed and looked out the window. The sun was already up and it must have been near mid-day. She closed her eyes to try and adjust to the light, but nothing really helped until she was on her feet and on her way into the bathroom. She got her 'best thing next to clean' clothes and put them on, hoping that she could get some washing done by end of the week. Who knows maybe she will get some of the rum smell out of Jack's clothes.
After putting her hair up in another new bandana picked up from Tortuga before they left she left the Captain's Quarters and walked out onto the deck. She walked below the others who were working hard to get the sails back in flawless working condition and found Anamaria high in the netting.
Anamaria waved down to her and nodded up at the helm to give Kat a clue to where Jack was. Strange enough she had a huge smile on her face and she gave Kat a wink before returning back to work. Kat gave her a wave of thanks and began to walk toward the helm. Before she got there, Mr. Gibbs walked in her way and gave her an all knowing smile before walking off again.
'Wonder what that was for…' Kat thought, returning his broad smile with an unsure smaller version with a nod of her head, 'Everyone seems very friendly today, even though Jack and I did leave them in the brig for a little longer than necessary. But we did make up for it, so maybe that is why they are happy.'
After Jack and Kat released the crew, an hour after the naval ship disembarked, the crew was not so pleased. Jack gave a stern look at all of them, but then got a brilliant idea. He told them, that if they didn't mind, they could have another night in Tortuga to drink and be merry. They all stopped their bickering and headed off for another round of drinks and possibly a little more with women. That also let Kat and Jack have a little more time to talk and Kat some time to grieve.
The next morning, Jack and Kat watched the sunrise, but Jack soon pardoned himself and went to town for about an hour. The crew eventually came back a little more refreshed and in a whole better attitude. Jack, of course was the last one to board, although this time it was some better circumstances than some times before.
"So why did you need to go back in to Tortuga?" Kat asked once he got back onto the ship.
"Well, I needed to get more 'o me favorite rum, and I needed to run an errand," he smiled and started toward the helm to begin to get the Black Pearl out of the harbor. Kat helped, of course, but didn't understand why he didn't do the errand earlier. That night, Jack stayed with Kat in his cabin and let Gibbs take the wheel for the night. It wouldn't hurt to take one last night off from sailing.
Kat stepped up the stairs and to the helm where Jack was looking into an old looking compass and another case. She saw him sigh and put the other case into his pocket.
Kat came up to his side and looked over the ocean in front of him, "So where are we heading, Captain?"
"Wherever we wan' to go," he said looking down at her, "Where do ye suggest?"
"Where are the best plundering spots around here?" Kat asked a smirk growing on her face.
"Plunderin', aye?" Jack acted surprise, "I though' ye were against plunderin'."
"I actually find it quite fun," Kat said leaning forward, supporting herself on the railing beyond the wheel, "Besides, I have to get used to this life style if I am to be a crew member aboard this ship and the Captain's love. Am I right?" She looked back at Jack and gave him a smile.
He gave her a smirk and told Gibbs who was nearby to grab the wheel for him. Kat pushed herself off the railing and stood tall before Jack. Before she knew what was happening Jack went down to his knee and took her hand in his while he reached for something in his jacket.
"'Ey! 'E is doin' it!" one of the crew members announced as more climbed into the rope.
Kat looked around her, then down at Jack where her voice turned to a whisper, "What is this suppose to be?"
"Ye said ye had to get used to it because ye were the captain's luv," he took out a ring from his pocket and pushed it up toward Kat, "I say it's because ye be me wife… if ye'll 'ave me."
Kat stood shocked on the deck looking down at the ring. It had three diamonds in it, the one in the middle a little bigger than the two on the outside. The gold band had intricate engravings of leaves and flowers all around it. It was the most beautiful thing that Kat had ever seen. She looked past the ring at Jack, to see his face a so sincere and caring. He really meant to marry her. Her face grew into a smile as tears began to pull at her eyes.
"Jack Sparrow…" she began, "I will marry you."
Jack got off of his one knee and put the ring on Kat's left ring finger, "Feel better now, luv?"
"Much," she put her forehead to his and gave him a kiss. The whole crew yelled in celebration. This meant that they would more than likely have a feast that night and eat very well, not to mention drink. Gibbs and Anamaria moved the crew members back to work and let the two have the helm to Jack and Kat.
Jack turned back to his steering duties and Kat leaned on his side looking at the ring on her hand, "So this was the errand you had to run, was it?"
"Aye," Jack said proud of himself.
"You didn't steal it, did you?" Kat asked cautiously.
"'O course not!" Jack said looking down at her, "Besides, I couldn't get away with three rings, now could I?"
"Three rings?" Kat asked.
"Aye, we both need our weddin' rings, don't we?"
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.
A/N: Sorry about the semi-sappy ending, but voila! Well, there it be, for all of you to see. He he… I rhymed. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this fic, I did writing it. Now I got to get on another assignment, before my mom gets home from work early and finds that I've been writing on this instead of an essay. See ya all laters! Hopefully when I get the plot line of the sequel figured out!
^-~ Ana
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