This is the last post (aside from the Epilogue-for your convenience, I added it at the same time as this post) It's been a great run everyone, thank you for the replies! Important note at the end!!!!

Chapter 20

"You have to get out of here," Elizabeth insisted, pacing the room nervously and looking to Gin who sat near the head of the bed for support.

Jack stood, leaning carelessly against one of the closed balcony doors. "Elizabeth," he sighed tiredly. "Much as I know how this whole situation deeply troubles you, I'd like to speak to Ginny 'ere alone."

Elizabeth seemed reluctant and looked over at Gin again, silently asking her opinion. She received a nod of approval.

"Alright," she conceded, heading for the door to the hall. She stopped just before reaching for the knob. "I'll…stall dinner." She faced Jack. "Ten minutes," she advised. He nodded and they both watched her exit.

"You're both right," he said, as soon as she disappeared behind the closing door. "I should go."

Gin nodded, absently picking at a fraying string protruding from the pillow in her lap, something to keep her eyes occupied and off him. She swallowed hard.

"You could, um," He pushed off from his position against the left French door and stood upright. "You could come with me."

She smiled wistfully, tugging the string further out of its intricate weaving and holding it between her thumb and forefinger. "What happened to 'a pirate's life is no life for a lady'?"

He shrugged and stepped up to the edge of the bed at the foot of it. "You wanna stay 'ere?" Her eyes returned to the pillow, ever growing in fascination. "Go back to England?"

"No," she finally admitted after a several seconds of deafening quiet. "But, I…" she trailed off, trying to think how to word what she meant to convey. "What I wanted has never really been a deciding factor in matters regarding my life."

He rocked back on his heels, then forward again, as if trying to entertain himself. "You know…" he started. "I think you were right the first time we talked about this." He sighed and averted his own gaze. "You should stay…I should go." She looked up at him again and he offered a half-hearted crooked smile. "Besides," he said, "Richie down there's startin' t'grow on me." He jerked his head in the direction of the hallway.

The return of his sardonic humor almost made her ache. She had discovered long ago that it was a type of defense mechanism, a way of keeping his emotions closed off, of not getting too close to anyone. It had taken her a long while to break down those barriers and here he was, building them up again.

She sniffled and raised her head to look at him. "I think…we're too different."

He stood there, glancing around the room at the doors, the bed, the bureau, anything but her. "Yeah," he eventually agreed. He walked over and snatched his weathered hat from the nightstand beside her, then turned to the balcony doors, intending to leave. Hell, jump over the balustrade for all he cared. Apparently for all she cared, for that matter.

"Jack." She grabbed his left hand and he hesitantly faced her again, his dark eyes almost black. She slowly rose to her feet and brought her lips to his, catching him off-guard-an unusual occurrence. But it didn't take him long to recover and he responded eagerly, accepting the kiss hungrily and letting out a low groan.

He had to force himself to slowly pull away and open his eyes to stare at her.  He brushed her hair behind her ear, then secured his hat on his head and began backing away.

"G'night Miss Harold."

With that, he turned and pulled the balcony doors open, disappearing through them.

She watched him go, staring at the overhang railing and the view that the second story room offered. "Bye," was all she whispered, and even then, half to herself.

It would be years before she saw him again.

* * * * *

OK, yes, that was the end, but don't worry, I'm planning a sequel that I should start posting on at least by this weekend!

POLL: Should I start the sequel under this story's name, or start a new story all together for it?????

And be sure to read the epilogue, it's IMPORTANT!