"The Return"

AUTHOR: Melissa (otherwise know as, JohnnyDee)

RATING: PG-13

EMAIL: melismelli_101_@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER: I don't own POTC.

TIMELINE: 13 years after POTC.

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

CHAPTER: 21.The Setting Sun.THE END

Jack slowly rose from his previous position on the floor and stood, barely

able to stand. Annemaria ran over to Jack, falling into his arms, sobbing into his chest.

Jack, quite shocked that Annemaria was showing her emotions only pulled her closer.

With all that transpired, what could he expect? Every thing had changed, for the better,

but mainly for the worst. Annemaria slowly crept her arms around Jack's neck and

stopped her sobbing, only sniffling back the tears that had previously flown.

"I thought I'd lost you.," she mumbled into his chest, praying Jack felt

the same way. Jack pulled away and Annemaria did the same. Jack pulled down his

dirtied shirt and revealed to Annemaria the necklace she'd given him so long ago. Staring

at the necklace, she picked up in her hands but quickly dropped. "Oh, Jack!" she cried,

pulling his shirt open even more.

A small bullet lay imbedded in his chest, the bullet that cleanly went

through the seashell. "Don't worry love!" Jack said with laugh. "I'll be all right." He

stared down at the bruising and slowly shook his head. "I knew that thing would come

handy some day!" Annemaria felt like laughing but the mood of the cave stopped her.

She turned from Jack and walked over to Elizabeth and Charlotte.

Jack reluctantly walked to Bill who was still sobbing. Kneeling next to

him, Jack placed his hand on bill's shoulder. Bill looked up at Jack and noticed his

concerned face. "She was so innocent. Ne'er did she do a thing wrong yet she was the

one punished," Bill mumbled between sobs. Jack nodded, "I know Bill. I know..."

Bill's head lowered again and Jack took this as a sign that he wanted to be alone.

Annemaria waited as Elizabeth and Will embraced, listening to

Elizabeth's silent sobs. Will looked past Elizabeth's shoulder, staring in shock. He

obviously still had not taken it all in. Elizabeth pulled away and looked to Charlotte who

looked about like Will. She sat on the empty trunk and stared off, not realizing Elizabeth

was looking at her. "Charlotte?" Elizabeth said, her voice breaking

Charlotte still looked ahead, not keeping her eyes off Catherine's still

body. "The last thing I said to her was...was that it was her fault-that we." Charlotte

broke out in tears and Elizabeth quickly rushed over to her daughter and sat next to her.

"You didn't mean it, I know you didn't!" Elizabeth exclaimed, holding her daughter

close to her heart. Annemaria soon came over to console Charlotte while Will walked

over to Catherine's dead body.

He stood above her, staring into her beautiful green eyes, almost hazel like

his Father's. Kneeling next to her, he closed her eyes as a tear fell from his eyes. This

young innocent woman sacrificed her life for Jack! Will thought as he struggled to keep

the pain inside of him. "Yet I barely knew her!" he whispered, shaking his head. Standing

up to leave, he waited to say one last thing. "I'll miss you.." Will whispered, and then

he turned back to his Father.

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

The violent wind and pelting rain hit Elizabeth with the same realization

she had just one week ago. Catherine was gone....just as quickly as she had come. She

pulled the black veil closer about her face and smoothed down her black taffeta that she

wore on this somber day. Turning back to face the wind, she watched as they slowly

lowered Catherine's coffin into the ground.

Elizabeth had heard that hearing the dirt fall on the wood is the worst

sound you could ever hear. Blinking back rising tears, Elizabeth tried to block out the soft

thud of the earth hitting the cedar wood. Her attention was brought to Bill who fell on his

knees before the coffin and cried out, "Don't leave me!" Will knelt next to his sobbing

Father and placed his arm around his shoulder. "Father.its o.k." Will tried, only to start

crying himself.

The speaker priest gave the benediction and soon dismissed the small

crowd of gathers. One-by-one, the few townspeople soon left, only leaving Bill,

Elizabeth, Charlotte and Will. Charlotte stood next to her Mother and tried something

that she never attempted. Reaching for her Mother's hand she grasped it and looked up at

her mother, tears in her eyes. "I love you, Mother!" she whispered as a tear slipped past

Elizabeth's cheek. Grabbing her daughter in a mad passion, Elizabeth said the same. "I

love you too, Charlotte Rose!"

Will slowly stood up, supporting his Father. The two stood before the

newly defaced ground where Catherine's body lay below. Bill knelt once more and

placed his hand upon the gravestone. "I love you, child. Don't forget that!" Bill muttered,

sniffing back a tear. Grasping Will's hand, he pulled himself and walked toward

Elizabeth and Charlotte who drew away from each and walked with the others, away

from the grave.

* * *

Jack peered from behind the tall palm trees that secluded the graveyard

from viewing. He walked towards the newly made gravesite and stopped when he was

only three feet before it. He knelt down and brushed his hand against the engraved words,

"Catherine Emily Turner. Devoted sister, daughter, and friend." Jack placed the freshly

picked roses on the headstone. He stood and looked at the small white rose that lay at her

feet. Jack wasn't the sentimental type usually, but this was different. This woman died for

him, Jack Sparrow!

Being the Casanova he was, Jack wasn't a simpleton when it came to

women and their feelings for him. It was apparent that Catherine loved him but a special

kind of love. An appreciation for him, a thoughtful love for him. Jack walked away from

the grave, unable to stand the sight. He walked toward the clutter of palm trees when he

stopped. Turning back, he whispered slowly, "I'll make it up to you Catherine. After all,

you're worth it!" Turning back, he continued to walk on as a clearing appeared in the

cloudy sky, shining a ray of sun on the dozen roses that lay on the headstone of Catherine

Emily Turner.

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

Annemaria maneuvered the helm, roughly take the sides and turning it this

way and that. Dinner was being served below and she had the privilege of staying above

deck and keeping an eyes on things. Though Jack was the one who suggested that

Elizabeth, Will, Charlotte, and Bill come aboard after the funeral took place, she didn't

entirely agree with him. She rather hoped that she would get time alone with Jack, but her

chances were ruined. Her thoughts on the subject were that Jack really didn't care.

Sighing into the wind, she brushed back a stray hair that blew in front of

her face. The sun began its demise towards earth and gave the sky that familiar pinkish-

golden color. Watching the sun sparkle on the blue waters, Annemaria didn't not notice

Jack come above deck.

Turning from the ocean, Annemaria shook her head. There was no

possibility that Jack loved her, she thought. 'He would have said something by now' she

mentally told herself. Annemaria kept herself from screaming when a hand brushed the

back of her neck. She turned to see Jack behind her, smiling from above her shoulder.

"What are you-"No questions!" Jack said as he pulled her hair back from her neck,

planting a tender kiss on her mocha brown skin.

Annemaria tingled at his touch as she slowly became accustomed to the

feeling. Jack turned her around to face him. She looked up into his brown eyes and gave

him a smile, blushing to the roots of her hair. Jack pulled her hair back again and lowered

his head, meeting Annemaria's willing lips. The two stood fro what seemed like eternity,

not feeling or caring about the world around them.

After a minute, they both pulled away to catch their breath. Annemaria

turned from Jack's face and debated what this meant. Did Jack want Annemaria? On the

other hand, did he want her heart and soul? Jack pulled her chin towards him. "Look at

me," he demanded, looking into her eyes. "What does this mean Jack? I can't let you hurt

me again!" she mumbled, tears rising to her eyes.

Jack gently brushed away the tear that fell from her eye. "I could never

hurt you again. I don't care what happens, I could never do that!" Jack said softly,

surprising Annemaria with his uncommon gentleness. Looking into those eyes again for

reassurance, her face lit up. "Jack, you're so, gentle-I don't.." she started, her eyes

twinkling and laughing. "There's much you won't be knowing about Captain Jack

Sparrow!" Jack said with a genuine smile. Smiling back, she lowered his head to hers.

"Maybe I should find out!" she whispered thickly in his ear, sending chills down Jack's

spine. Jack laughed and continued what he had previously started.

* * *

Charlotte giggled as she and Charles slipped past the room where her

Mother and Father stood. The two ran past the room and started up the stairs that led

above deck. "You don't know how strange it is to walk in on your parents doing

something like that!" Charles laughed when he suddenly stopped traveling up the stairs.

"Shhhhhhh!" he hissed causing Charlotte to stop. "What?" she questioned, lowering her

voice. Charles pointed towards the helm as Charlotte's eyes widened. There stood Jack

and Annemaria, passionately kissing beneath the majestic sunset.

"How romantic!" Charlotte whispered, wishing she'd fall in love

someday, not knowing she already had. "Oh, please!" Charles hissed, looking at

Charlotte who stared all dreamy-eyed. "Come one! We gotta slip past them or your

parents will find us!" Charlotte nodded as they silently crept past Jack and Annemaria

towards the stern. The two burst out laughing when they made it where no one could hear

them.

Charles almost doubled over when Charlotte tried to stop them. "Charles?

Charles!? Shhhhhhh..Someone will hear us!" she said in between giggles. Finally

ceasing the laughter, Charles caught his eye on something in the water. "Look!" he said,

pointing the object below. Charlotte leaned over the rail, peering into the glittering water

below. It appeared to be a flower of some sort but she never found out. Turning to

Charles, she was confused when she saw him staring at her queerly. "What?" she said,

blushing lightly.

"Nothing.." he said dreamily, looking out past her. "Just about how

beautiful..." he paused for a moment, looking back at Charlotte. "The sunset?" she

interjected. "No," he said, shaking his head. Leaning closer to Charlotte, he whispered,

"You." Charlotte blushed to the roots as she stared into Charles eyes. She soon turned

back to the sea, watching it slowly roll past them.

Charles stood back, feeling a pang of rejection as Charlotte looked out

toward the sea still. "What are you thinking about?" he said. "Oh, just about what it's like

to be in love," she said, turning to Charles. He smiled and leaned in, giving her a long

peck on the cheek. Charlotte wrapped her arms around him and thy stood, embracing

each other before the setting sun.

* * *

Elizabeth frantically wrapped her robe about her bare body and after a

quick search, found Will's pants. Throwing them to him, anger welled up inside her. "I

can't believe Charlotte! Hasn't she the brains to knock before entering someone's room!"

Elizabeth muttered loudly. Will pulled his pants up and walked over to Elizabeth. "Stop

worrying, Elizabeth. There's other things you should be thinking about. For example, the

relationship between Charlotte and Charles!"

Elizabeth turned to Will and placed her hands on her hips. "What do you

mean?" she questioned. Will laughed as he moved toward his wife. "You know what I

mean!" he said with a raised brow. Elizabeth didn't respond but stood up on her tiptoes

and gave Will a kiss on the lips that he willfully returned. They stood there, still clad only

in pants and a robe. A loud creak sounded the room as Gibbs opened the door before

realizing his mistake. Elizabeth screamed as she turned toward the door, while Gibb's

began to mutter crazily. "Sorry, Miss Turner. Didn't realize that-Well.you know what

I.." Doesn't anyone knock anymore?" Elizabeth said, as Gibbs's quickly left the room.

Shutting the door, Gibb's shook his head. Making his way up the rickety

stair's he walked out into the open air. Turning to the helm, he found what he didn't

expect. "Oh, sorry there Jack. Didn't know I was intrudin' on anything--- ummm..."

Annemaria laughed while Jack turned to Gibb's with a sarcastic smile on his face while

the man quickly left for the stern, disappearing as quickly as he came. Jack turned back to

Annemaria as he said, "Maybe we should go downstairs!" he said, as the two walked

away from the amazing sunset.

Gibb's continued to the stern, embarrassed that he just walked in on two

couples. Lightly laughing to himself, he recalled the days when he was in love. Walking

round the corner, he quickly regretted his decision."Mr.Gibbs!" Charlotte cried, quickly

pulling herself away from Charles. Gibbs only grunted in frustration as he walked away

from the two, leaving them both very confused.

Stomping down the stairs, he passed the cabins quickly and went into the

mess hall where he found Bill with a glass of rum. Sitting down, he sighed loudly

looking across the table at Bill. "You in love right now, Bill?" Gibb's said, questioning

the man. "Not at the moment," Bill said, scratching his soul patch. Giving a sigh of relief,

Gibb's continued. "Thank the Lord!" Gibb's said loudly as he poured himself a drink. "I

thought I was the only one. Seems everyone on the boat's crazy with love!" Bill smiled

as he raised his glass to Gibb's.

"To the Pearl?" Bill questioned, swishing the brown liquid inside the glass

around. Gibbs smiled as he raised his glass too. "No...to Jack!" The two men clinked

glasses gulped down the liquid, and slammed the glasses down, bursting out in laughter.

NOTE: My story is over. I'm so depressed, but there might be a sequel, so look for it!