"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: 9.I Didn't Deserve That!

Charlotte shivered as the night air enclosed around her, chilling her to the

bone. "Where are we going to anchor, Annemarie?" Annemarie turned around to face

Charlotte. "Well.there's a little island not far ahead. We could go ashore if you'd like."

Charlotte turned behind her and looked out upon the blackened sea. She had the strangest

feeling that they were being followed. They had been drifting for an hour, contemplating

what to do.

"It's too late to go back to Tortugas so it's either here or ashore."

Charlotte turned back with a mischievous smile upon her face. "Let's go ashore. You said

there was an abandoned shack, right?" Annemarie nodded her head as Charlotte

continued. "We can stay the night there and head for Tortugas in the morning. Sound

good?" Annemarie smiled in approval as she walked back to her place at the helm.

As they caught wind again, they slowly began moving across the black

sea. Wrapping her shawl tightly around her arms and shoulders, Charlotte walked over to

the stern, again staring out to sea. In the distance, she saw what looked like lights,

floating in the distance. As her eyes adjusted to the blackness, she knew right away it was

a ship. Charlotte stood silent, trying to catch details of ship when she suddenly

recognized who it was. She ran back to the helm, desperately holding on to her shawl the

rippled in the breeze.

"Annemarie!" she cried when she reached her, holding on to the wheel to

catch her breath. "There's a boat following us!" Annemarie quickly turned around and

gazed back at their pursuer. "Jack." she started, but Charlotte cut her off. "No, not Jack.

My parents!" Annemarie turned back to Charlotte with a confused look on her face. "Get

out the rowboat, I have to go ashore."

"No, you can't," Annemarie replied, still maneuvering the helm. "The

island is deserted except for wild animals. I cannot allow you go ashore when-"I have

to, Annemarie," Charlotte interjected. "I can't let my parents back into my life. I have

made it this far. I am not going to give up."

The two sat in silence a moment as Annemarie thought about what to do.

"Annemarie looked up at Charlotte and asked, "Are you sure this is what you want to

do?" Charlotte nodded, knowing that this is what she HAD to do. "Then who am I to stop

ye'?" Charlotte smiled as Annemarie continued, "Go drop the anchor. You can row

ashore. I'll distract them and tell Jack you're at Tortugas." Charlotte smiled as she

replied, "Thank You. I'll never forget this."

Annemarie paused for a while, savoring the moment, then came back to

her senses. Go drop the anchor, they've got the wind and they'll catch up!" The two

scuttled about, preparing for Charlotte is daring escape. They lowered the boat into the

water and Charlotte climbed down soon reaching the boat. Rowing to the right, she went

in front of the Pearl in hopes that the Dauntless would be unable to see her. Charlotte

soon reached shore and hid the boat, just in case. Watching the Dauntless slowly pull

next to the Pearl, she started for the abandoned shack that Annemarie had told her about.

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Annemarie stood quietly as the crew of Dauntless piled onto the Pearl.

They all coked the guns and aimed several Bayonets' at her throat. She lifted her chin in

defiance as several people parted through the crowd. That Blacksmith, his lass, and.of

course, Jack came forward. "Well, love. Looks like you didn't get far." Jack stood there,

flashing his golden smile, hands bound. Annemarie felt the urge to slap him, but decided

not to, considering that the whole British Navy was at her throat.

Next came Commodore Norrington, that she unfortunately never had the

pleasure of meeting. He pushed Jack aside. "Well, well. What have we here?" he slowly

asked, roaming his eyes over her body. She raised her chin a little higher and still said

nothing. The blacksmith came forward and asked, "Where's my daughter?" Annemarie

still gave no reply. "ANSWER!" yelled the Commodore, as she felt several pricks on her

throat from the raised Bayonet's.

Annemarie swallowed as she said just above a whisper, "I don't know."

Will looked at her in disgust. "Yes you do!" he yelled. Annemarie looked at him as she

replied, "She's in Tortugas where I left her." Jack turned around as he yelled, "Back to

Tortugas, mates!" Though Jack might come off as a daft sort of fellow, he could tell that

Annemarie was hiding something, particularly Charlotte.

"Not so fast." replied Commodore as he grabbed Jack's shoulder.

Commodore walked through the crowd of redcoats and stopped near the side of the boat.

"It seems to me that one of your boats is missing. Is that true, Miss.?

"Annemarie," she replied, giving him a cold, hard stare. "It doesn't seem

that t would take long to go ashore in one of the boats, right men? I think it would be the

same for you." The men lowered their weapons and filed out into the boats, making their

way to the island. Annemarie, feeling utterly defeated, stood in the same spot,

contemplating what to do.

Jack walked over to her, and stopped till he was close enough to touch

noses with her. Her chin was still raised in defiance, and she said no words. Jack smiled

as he said, "I'll be having me boat back, love. I hope that you enjoyed your little joy ride.

It could be your last." Annemarie swallowed he anger but gave Jack a good hard slap in

the face. Jack turned to face her as he replied, "I don't believe I deserved that."