Disclaimer: Pretty standard if you catch my drift. I, the author, am just borrowing these characters without permission, with all intentions of returning them. Nor do I own the lyrics to Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. So get off my case and go sue somebody else. I hear the doughnut shop is a good place to start. Pirates of the Caribbean ® All rights reserved, Disney 2002-03.

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

Chapter Six- Where He belongs

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Ana woke with the sunlight spilling over her face, the warmth bringing a smile to her lips. She rolled over, her outstretched arm landing on an empty pillow. Sitting up, she frowned at the rumpled bed sheets that were void of a person; Jack wasn't anywhere to be seen. Sliding from the bed, she crossed the room and slowly dressed, her day just beginning.

She had looked for him in the market as she made her way through the streets, but found nothing. She had even looked in the bars as she passed by and even the inns, but still there was no sight of him. She finally gave up and went on her way, her day's chores keeping her from searching any longer.

When the sun had set, Ana was convinced that Jack had finally left Tortuga, out to chase his dream of finding his ship. It wasn't until Jack was climbing over her windowsill and falling to the floor, that she knew otherwise. He had a smug grin on his face as he dusted himself off, but it was quickly wiped away as Ana's palm connected with his left cheek, thus starting a long chain event of slaps that would befall him for the rest of his life.

"Ok, ok!" he surrendered. "I know I deserved that-"

Ana glared at him, "Damn straight you did, Sparrow! You just up and left, no goodbye, no explanation, no nothing! You deserved that slap and so much more and you're lucky a slap was all you got!"

Jack raised his hands in defeat, "There is a good explanation for it though, it being that, the explanation is currently sitting in your kitchen with a paper."

"My parents?"

He nodded, the trinkets in his hair clinking softly. "Aye, they came home earlier than expected last night and came in to check on you," he said. "I almost got caught and luckily for me, your dad was too drunk and your mum to occupied keeping him on his feet that they didn't see me slip out the window."

She looked at him, her eyes searching his face for any hint of untruth. Finally she nodded accepting his reason before she allowed him to sit down. The grin on his face returned and she suddenly got the feeling there was more to his story, "What are you hiding?"

He looked at her, the grin getting wider. "Your parents weren't too drunk or occupied to notice you though," he commented taking a sudden interest at his dirty fingernails.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Jack propped his feet up on her desk as he leaned back, the chair teetering precariously on it's back legs, "Now they both think you sleep in the buff."

Ana's face went from surprise to anger in five seconds flat as she grabbed a pillow and flung it at him. The feather filled object hitting Jack in the face causing him to tip backwards, chair and all as he flailed his arms about wildly before striking the floor. "Ouch…"

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"So what did you do all day besides drink and get into trouble?" Ana voiced the question as she on the edge of bed staring at Jack from across the room.

He allowed the thin curtains to fall back into place as he moved from the window, a hand rising to scratch at the back of his neck nervously. "Well see, I uh, I met this man, down at the docks and well…" he trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor before returning to her.

"Ana, look, you're a wonderful girl, a great dancer and one hell of a lover," he tried, crouching down to come eye level with her. "But I can't, I can't stay- there is too much out there for me, the sea's in my blood Ana and I can't forget that no matter how much I try. She calls to me, it's time for me return to her and reclaim my rightful place upon her waves."

"You're going after the Pearl," Ana supplied.

Jack fidgeted a bit before standing, "Aye, I am. She's my ship and I'm her Captain- you can't have one without the other," he paused, taking the moment to stare at the woman on the bed. She held her chin up as she fought to be strong and to keep her anger in check. She was an adult, and she would handle this situation as one. She would not fling herself at his feet and beg him to stay nor would she cry for this man even though her heart felt as if it were shriveling.

"Look, I promised to come back once I got my ship, didn't I?" he asked skeptically.

Ana rose to her feet, her arms crossed, "Yes but you also promised to take me with you!"

Jack cringed. "Ana, I'd love to take you with me, but see, there's a problem," he continued. "The captain who has agreed to give me passage is a firm believer of not having a woman onboard."

"Well I could disguis-"

"Absolutely not!" Jack interrupted. "Do you know what they'd do to you if they found out you were a woman?"

Ana hung her head. "Fine. Just go Jack," her voice was a whisper as she clenched her fists tightly. "Go back to the sea and the ship that you love so much. I won't stop you, I can't stop you- nothing I'd say or do would ever stop you from going. Your heart belongs out there, not here and I was a fool to think otherwise. Please," she whispered. "Just go."

He took a step forward and rested a hand on her arm causing her to turn and look at him. His callused thumb stroked her cheek as he leaned down to kiss her, a slight hope that it would make things better. As his lips brushed hers, he felt her tense before he felt the hand coming into contact with his face. He stumbled back, a hand pressed to his cheek as he watched her turn her back to him.

"Go," she seethed not looking at him. "Please, just leave me alone."

Jack stood uncomfortably before turning on his heels. He had done what he had set out to do, but it wasn't as easy as he thought it was going to be. He started to climb out the window when he stopped and looked over at her, "I set sail in the morning when the sun has risen. Will you be there to see me off?"

Ana spun around, a look of anger and desperation in her eyes as she pointed at him, "You are leaving me here to chase after some ship after everything we've been through and you still have the nerve to ask me to see you off?"

He gave a small dip of his head, a spark of hope crossing his features. "No," the answer was cold but forced and she adverted her gaze from his. "You are an adult Jack, a captain of your very own ship, you can take care of yourself," she added. "And therefore, you can see yourself off as well, alone."

Jack thought of protesting, but found his lips and words not cooperating. With a sigh and a whispered apology, he disappeared out the window and into the night.

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The sun rose just like it did every other day, but for some reason, it seemed a bit gloomier than usual. Ana slipped through the streets quietly as she made her way down to the beach. She had told Jack she wouldn't be there, but she tossed and turned all night with her answer, the fear of him not returning afterward keeping her awake.

So when she saw the sun begin to rise in the distance, she silently left the house in search of Jack. She didn't rush down to the docks but instead walked slowly allowing herself some time to think. As she neared the harbor, she could hear the shouts of the fisherman and the sailors and her heart skipped a beat as she picked up her pace.

She ran down the wooden dock looking for the ship when a thought came to her, Jack never told me the name of the ship or the Captain! The harbor master! He'd know which ship it was!

Ana soon found the harbormaster and asked him of a ship that was due to sail out with the sunrise and he told her the name of the ship and the captain. She frowned as she said, "But I do not see it here.

The harbormaster chuckled a bit. "Girlie, the Red Tide has done sailed out. Captain was a bit 'head o' schedule so they left earlier than expected," he explained as he pushed past her.

Ana stood along the beach, the surf washing up over her feet as she watched the sun slowly continue to rise. She used to love watching the sunrise and sunset, but this was the first sunrise she wished had not happened, and for the first time, she cried.

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I never said goodbye and I should have, I know that now. Instead I hated him for leaving me, and I even told him to leave, my feelings betraying how I really felt. I remembered the sunrise on my face as my heart sank in my chest just as the sun sets; I wouldn't ever see him again. I couldn't blame him if he never returned or never thought about it, it was my own fault- I know that too.

I never saw him after that and I never heard from him, but I heard the rumors. Rumors that the Red Tide the ship which he set sail on, had been destroyed by the Navy. Turns out, the ship was disguised as a merchant vessel and run by a group of rumrunners under the command of a pirate. My thoughts turned to Jack and the fear that he had died during the raid, but later rumors said that he was still alive and still chasing after the Pearl.

Gossip spread from one side of Tortuga to the next; I heard that the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow was making his way across the Caribbean and he slowly built a name for himself as did the Black Pearl.

The days turned to weeks and then months and finally years, and before I knew it, it had been six years since Jack had left Tortuga and myself behind. And during the six years, he accomplished so much, but never got any closer to achieving his goal and getting his ship back. In six years he had commandeered a total of three ships, all of which were mercilessly sunk during a battle or raid of some sort either against the British Navy, the Spaniards or Privateers.

He raided several ports along his way, was wanted by almost every official the King had and yet, he still continued to make his way across the Caribbean waters, following his dream. He had no more run-ins with certain islands although later, rumor had it that he had fallen into the hands of the East India Trading Company; the stories of that misfortune to this day still ringing in my ears.

Then for a solid year everything was quiet, there were no rumors of the infamous Captain, no tales of his escapades, no legends of his adventures or treasure hunts. There was nothing but silence as Jack was forgotten and put on the backburner while the dreaded Captain Barbossa took the spotlight and for the longest time I feared the worst had happened.

Jack had said that night, that his rightful place was with the sea, and I started to believe that maybe the sea had claimed him as her own; that he was where he truly belonged.

And then one day, fate seemed to take pity on me, and once again, my world was turned upside down…

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A/N: Ok, this concludes GT&T and I hope you all enjoyed the ride! It's short, I know but sometimes small is better. And by popular demand (and threats) a sequel to this will be out shortly, but when, I am not sure. So until then, keep on reading/writing or whatever it is that you do! (So skip to your loo, while I'll do what I do best…)

Review Thanks-

Jackfan2- thanks for all the reviews, and the time you've spared reading! You're the best!

Cal- same for you, thanks for all the reviews! I enjoy reading the lengthy tidbits about what you like/favor, it helps out a lot with future chapters! Also, no sweat about not having email or whatnot. Maybe one day, until then, I'll continually look forward to your reviews and kind words.

Special Eddie- Yeah it's the last, but there will be more, one way or another! Glad you have enjoyed it thus far and hopefully anything done in the future will enthrall you as well! Glad to see you got the email/image in one piece! And again, thanks!