Disclaimer: Jack still isn't mine because Disney isn't through with him yet!

AN: I would like to mention that this story is almost over. That is, unless people want another sequel. I'm open to the desires of my readers. So if anyone wants a sequel, please say so in your review. Thanks, and enjoy!

Chapter 13: Jack's Return and Deals:

The Black Pearl. It was those three words that brought hope into Lara's heart. She had hoped and prayed for Jack's return to her, and now he was here!

'But why is he firing on a fellow pirate ship?' she asked herself. Lara mentally shrugged. It was Jack she was thinking about; he probably had his own things going on in that head of his.

As Lara was thinking about Jack, the Governor and Elizabeth looked confused on the fact that Jack was defending Port Royal and not attacking it.

"It makes no sense!" the Governor exclaimed, scratching his head in confusion.

Elizabeth looked thoughtful before she spoke up. "Perhaps he's fighting them because he knows that Lara is here?" she asked no one in particular.

Her father blinked. "You might be right. If Captain Sparrow has feelings for Lara, he could be doing this to protect her. But why would he be so close to Port Royal in the first place?"

"Well, it could be that Jack was returning to kidnap Lara again and ran into this small inconvenience," Will suggested. "After all, he did kidnap her before. Perhaps his plans were interrupted this time."

The Governor nodded. "That could be it." He then frowned. "Still, I would like a word with Captain Sparrow as soon as this battle is over with."

The four of them waited another half hour before Commodore Norrington appeared.

"The enemy pirate ship has fled, Governor Swann," the Commodore stated in his usual stern voice. "And it appears that we owe Captain Sparrow a small debt of gratitude." He appeared to be ill as he said those last words.

The Governor nodded. "It appears so. Has Captain Sparrow come ashore yet?"

Commodore Norrington shook his head. "Not yet, sir, but we have sent out a messenger to him asking him to come ashore for peaceful discussions."

Governor Swann nodded in approval. "Most excellent, Commodore. When he arrives, will you send him up to my home as soon as possible?"

The Commodore looked as though he were going to protest the idea, but instead kept his peace. "I will do that, sir." He quickly bowed to the two women and left the four of them alone.

Lara, still seated in a chair in her wedding gown, turned towards the Governor. "What do you plan to do with Jack once he arrives onshore?"

The Governor smiled. "You will have to wait and see, my dear."

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Once it was certain that the enemy ship wasn't going to return and retaliate, and that the Black Pearl wasn't going to open fire on Port Royal, the Governor, Will, Elizabeth, and Lara were put into a carriage and sent up to the Swann mansion. Once there, the Governor went straight to his office with Will while Lara and Elizabeth went upstairs to Lara's room.

As the door closed behind them, Lara hugged Elizabeth with all of her might as she burst into tears. Elizabeth looked at her friend in surprise.

"Why, Lara, whatever is the matter? I thought you would be glad to hear that Jack's come back!" Elizabeth exclaimed, pulling out her handkerchief and offering it to her friend.

Lara took the handkerchief and dried her tears. "I am glad he's back, it's just that, well, there's no way for me to be able to marry him. I'll have to tell him about Thomas, and I don't think I can do that to him." She sniffed and dried her tears, again.

Elizabeth patted her friend on her back, then held her. Several minutes went by, and the two of them were quietly thinking of a way to get Lara out of her deal with Thomas. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and a serving maid entered.

"Mrs. Turner, Miss Storm, the Governor requires your presence in his office," the maid said.

"We'll be right down," Elizabeth said. She looked at her pale friend. "Come on, Lara, you have to see him sooner or later." She pulled on Lara's hand. Her friend nodded before getting up and following her downstairs.

The two of them slowly made their way downstairs, pausing to knock on the door.

"Come in," came the Governor's voice. Elizabeth pushed the door open and entered.

Lara hesitated. She wasn't sure she wanted to go in and face Jack. How could she tell him that she was going to marry another man in order to save his life and the life of every other man (and single woman) on the Black Pearl?

As she stood there contemplating, she didn't notice the heavy footsteps coming towards the door. Suddenly, the door flew wide open.

It was Jack. He looked almost exactly the same as he had before. The only difference was that his eyes seemed a bit emptier than they had been when they had last seen each other onboard the Black Pearl. That emptiness vanished the moment he saw her. Instead, they lit up with awe and joy, staring at her for a moment before he opened his arms to her.

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He stood there for several seconds, taking in the stunning creature in front of him. There she was, his bonny lass, in an elegant wedding gown. It was a beautiful white gown with lace and ruffles at the neck and wrists. Her dark, chocolate brown hair and eyes were enhanced by the pale whiteness of the gown, and although her hair was falling loose of its place on top of her head, he still felt that she was the most amazing creature in the world.

Neither one spoke or moved until he opened his arms to her. Tears filled her eyes as she ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck before bursting into tears.

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Lara sobbed for a few moments before regaining her senses. She wiped her tears away before she looked up into his eyes. He looked at her for a brief second before bending her back in another theatrical kiss, much like the first one they had shared on the battlements after his 'hanging.' Polite coughing from behind Jack's back interrupted their private moment. Jack broke the kiss reluctantly and righted her before the two of them looked at the intruder.

Will was standing there with a broad smile on his face. "I'd hate to interrupt, but I believe that the Governor would like a word with all of us inside?" He raised an eyebrow.

Jack frowned at him. "Ye sure know how to ruin a romantic moment, Will," he growled. Will only smiled at him before going inside. Jack sighed. "Well, lass, what do you say to letting a rogue pirate escort you inside?" He offered her his arm, which she politely took. The two of them entered the office, closing the door behind them.

The Governor waved them to two empty seats. "Please sit down, Lara, Mr. Sparrow."

"Captain Sparrow," Lara and Jack corrected him together. They turned and smiled at each other while Jack led her to a chair. After Lara had seated herself, Jack sat down and took possession of her hand.

Governor Swann cleared his throat. "Captain Sparrow, I am afraid I am in an awkward position right now."

"How do you mean, sir?" Jack said, politeness in his voice. The Governor tapped his fingers on the desk before answering.

"First of all, you are a pirate, and pirates must be hung for their crimes against the British Crown and it's Navy." He raised his hand to prevent the others from interrupting him. "However, you have rescued my daughter twice, once from drowning and once from being a captive of Captain Barbossa. You have then prevented Lara from being shot by that same Captain. Not only that, but today you have helped save this town from being destroyed by your fellow pirates." The Governor leaned over his desk. "What I am trying to say, Captain Sparrow, is what sort of game are you playing?"

Jack sat there for a moment and stared at the Governor. "I have no game, Mr. Governor. I saved your daughter from drownin' because it was the right thing to do. I saved her from Barbossa because I wanted me ship back, and that was the only way te do it."

"What about saving Lara from being shot? And saving Port Royal from other pirates?"

Jack squeezed Lara's hand. "I saved her from bein' shot because I loved her then, and I love her now, which is why I saved her town."

The Governor nodded. "I realize that you love her, Captain Sparrow, and that you are a good man, despite the fact that you are a pirate. However, I was wondering if you would be willing to make a bargain that will prevent you from being hung the next time you are in these waters."

Jack perked up at the word 'bargain.' "Exactly what sort of bargain are ye talking about, sir?"

The Governor smiled. "If you are willing to help protect Port Royal from further attacks, it would mean a great deal to us. I'm not asking you to personally attack your fellow pirates by any means, or to betray any plans of pirate attacks."

Jack frowned thoughtfully. "Well, the only way fer me to keep other pirates away is if I claim Port Royal as me own personal territory. That would keep the other scurvy dogs away from the island, considerin' my history with harmin' those who attack islands I like." The Governor gave a small smile at the idea, but it disappeared when Jack held up his hand. "However, there has to be a *reason* fer me to like the island and protect it."

The Governor frowned. "What sort of reason are you talking about, Mr. Sparrow?"

Jack smiled. "If me wife were from Port Royal, it'd give me reason to like it." Lara gave him an alarmed and hopeful look as she squeezed his hand in excitement.

The Governor was silent for several moments before he spoke again. "And who exactly would you like for your wife, Mr. Sparrow?"

Jack smiled even wider. "I'll 'claim' Port Royal as me own after ye let me wed my bonny lass." Jack held up his hand, still attached to Lara's.

The Governor blinked. "Well, you might want to speak to her before you ask her to marry you, Captain."

Jack shook his head. "I'm not blind, Governor. I see her wedding gown, and that she must be marrying another man, but you won't have a deal until I'm married to my bonny lass."

The Governor frowned. "I still think you and Lara should talk privately, Captain."

Jack shook his head. "No, we'll settle this while we're all here." He looked at Lara and waited.

Lara was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "Jack, there's something I have to tell you."

Jack squeezed her hand. "I know, lass. I know that yer getting married to that stiff-necked red-coat." He smiled at her shocked expression. "I can see it in yer eyes. Now tell me why ye would do such a thing, hmm?"

Lara looked at their clasped hands. "Thomas threatened that, if I didn't marry him two weeks after he 'rescued' me, he would have the Commodore send out the fleet to capture and hang you." She looked up at him, not hearing the Governor gasp in surprise. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I couldn't let him do it, Jack, so I said that I'd do it, if only to spare your life, and the lives of your crewmembers." She looked him in the eye, begging for him to understand.

Jack smiled. "Don't worry, lass. I understand." Lara looked relieved.

"As do I," said the Governor, making Lara start in surprise. She had forgotten he was there. "I am appalled at Lieutenant Pierce's treachery."

Elizabeth looked hopefully at her father. "So you'll call off the wedding, father?"

The Governor shook his head. "I'm afraid we can't do that, Elizabeth. With the entire town knowing of the wedding and how respectable Mr. Pierce is, it will be difficult to convince people of his vile plans. They will think that Lara is saying this because she's nervous about her wedding." He turned towards Lara. "I'm afraid you're still engaged to him, my dear."

Lara looked like she was going to cry as Jack put his arms around her to give her comfort. Before anyone could say anything more, there was a knock on the office door.

"Come," said the Governor. A butler stepped in. "Yes, Edward, what is it?"

"A messenger from the fort, sir," the butler said, bowing. "He claims it concerns Miss Storm."

The Governor looked puzzled. "Well, show him in." The butler bowed before backing out of the room. A moment later, a man in uniform walked in and bowed.

"Good afternoon ladies, Governor, and," he paused before addressing Jack, "sir. I bring urgent news from the fort. It appears that Lieutenant Pierce has been seriously wounded during the fight with the unknown pirate ship." Lara and Elizabeth gasped.

"Is he alright?" Elizabeth asked.

The soldier shook his head. "I'm afraid not. He was hit in the head rather severely by some loose stone and is unable to recognize anyone or anything. The doctors have declared a severe case of amnesia, and it will take years, if not the rest of his life, to recover his lost memories." He turned to Lara. "I'm terribly sorry for your loss, madam. I wish this hadn't happened on your wedding day."

Lara gave a small smile, despite the fact that she was inwardly jumping for joy. "It's alright. I'm sure everything will work out in the end."

The soldier nodded. "I'm sure it will, madam. If you will excuse me, I must return to the fort." He bowed before exiting the office.

Several moments of silence passed before Jack spoke up.

"So, how does tomorrow afternoon sound fer a wedding?" He grinned his traditional cheeky smile.

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AN: See? I got rid of Thomas without having to resort to violence, especially since violence doesn't solve anything. Well, okay, it did save Elizabeth and Lara in the first story, but still. Anyway, I hope that this chapter didn't seem too long and that people enjoyed reading it! If you did, please leave a review!

(Spoiler: There will be some explanations in the next chapter about Will's "disappearance" and why Jack was so "conveniently" close to Port Royal.)