"The Return"

AUTHOR: Melissa (otherwise know as, JohnnyDee)

RATING: PG-13 for later chapters.

EMAIL: melismelli_101_@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER: I do not own POTC, blah, blah, blah.

TIMELINE: A year after the end of POTC.

DISTRIBUTION: johnnydeppzone.com, fanfiction.net, and other sites.

CHAPTER: 8.Face-To-Face

Charlotte looked back towards Tortugas, laughing inwardly. Imagine if

Jack were standing there, watching his ship sail away. "Would ye' like a turn at the

wheel, Charlotte?" Annemarie asked, operating the helm beautifully, as if she owned the

ship." I'd love to," Charlotte answered, tightly gripping it in her hands. It felt amazing to

have so much power in your hands, Charlotte thought as she pulled the wheel a little to

the right.

Annemarie watched Charlotte as she fumbily maneuvered the wheel.

Annemarie was not much for being with girls, especially since she had been alone most

of her life, but when she first met Charlotte, she felt a connection. Something about this

girl gave her a sense of freedom. After all, Charlotte suggested the two of them take

Jack's boat. Annemarie tried arguing with her, telling her it was not the best idea, but, as

usual, Charlotte had a justification. "Didn't you say Jack owed you a boat?"

So, here they were now. Sailing the open seas, with the sun just setting.

Charlotte had her turn at the wheel and handed it back to Annemarie. Charlotte walked

back to the stern, watching as Tortugas became smaller and smaller. It was now freedom

that she finally felt. Like a bird being released from its cage. Something that he had never

felt before, but now, she could not get enough of it.

************************************************************************

Jack sat on the edge of the dock, watching the sun slowly disappear. He

missed the Pearl already. Right now, he would be at the helm, watching his men mingle

below deck. His eyes would be set on the sun, waiting for its slow demise to the other

edges of earth. Jack shook his head. Why was he being so sentimental? Annemarie could

not be so furious at him that she took his boat. If so, he probably deserved whatever she

was planning on doing. Although, a slap in the face would feel mighty better than the

loneliness he was experiencing right now.

Jack looked over at Gibbs, disgusted. An empty canteen lay within the

clutches of his open hand, his face clumsily on his shoulder. Gibb's mouth opened with

the rise and fall of his chest while he snored loudly. Jack turned back to the sea and saw a

boat entering the bay. Jack studied it a while, when it became clear to him that this very

ship was the Dauntless, commanded by the one and only Commodore. If it were not for

that fact that every man on board was waiting to hang him, Jack would be madly waving

his arms and asking for passage. No, Jack had a better idea.

* * *

Jack slowly crawled out the boat and tugged on the rope that lay hanging

from the Dauntless. He began to pull himself up, slowly, making sure he made no sounds

that could be heard from those above and below deck. From what Jack had observed, a

boat of about 30 men went ashore, possibly looking for Jack himself. It appeared that no

one was above deck as of now, so Jack took the opportunity and made his way up the

side of the Dauntless. Darkness was falling and the moonlight began to cast shadows

about the water, giving it an eerie glow.

As he reached the top, Jack grabbed the sides of the boat and pulled

himself up, only to find himself face to face with Commodore Norrington. Jack, still

dangling off the side of the ship said, "Why, long time no see, mate!" Jack outstretched a

hand, waiting for Commodore to help him out. Commodore sarcastically smiled and

roughly pulled Jack aboard. Jack stood up and dusted himself off as he said, "So.. what

brings you to Tortugas Mr. Norrington?"

Jack did his best to smile, considering that he just lost his ship, and was

just captured by the British Navy within the past 24 hours. "Nothing that concerns you,

Mr. Sparrow. Right now, if I were you, I'd be conjuring up an escape plan from the

bowels of the brig." Commodore smiled and pulled Jack to the Captain's quarters.

Commodore pushed the door open and was met by a surprised Will and Elizabeth.

"Excuse me, but I believe you'd like to see who I found scrambling up the side of the

Dauntless."

Will came forward as Jack removed himself from the Commodore's

clutches. "Jack! Elizabeth!" Jack cried when he screwed his face up in confusion. "Why

aren't you dead?" Jack replied as he pointed at Will. Will, looking as confused as Jack

was addressed Commodore. "You can't lock him up now, He knows where Charlotte is."

Jack put his hands together in a prayerful stance as he whispered, "Thank You!"

Elizabeth came forward as she said firmly, "Where's Charlotte?" Jack

laughed as he said, "I knew it.that rebel child is yours!" Elizabeth glared at Jack as she

waited patiently for his answer. "Well, your daughter and the lovely Annemarie have run

off with my ship!" Elizabeth's face turned furious as she muttered, "That girl." Jack

continued, "She also has a thing for being dishonest. First, she said Will was dead, then

failed to mention who her parents were AND said that you two would not be looking for

her, which, you obviously are."

Will ignored Jack's little spiel as he asked quickly, "Where have they

gone?" Jack stared back at him with confusion. "Where'd they go? The Black Pearl is the

fast-" We know, we know. Just help us find them!" interrupted Elizabeth. Jack winced

as the Commodore's grip on his shoulder tightened. Jack swatted at Commodore's hand

when Commodore finally released him. "I'll help you find her, if I can keep my boat!

Savvy?"