Dear friends.


This new chapter will not have any of the review recordings it deserves, and yes, I realize that it is 2 ½ days late. For that, I apologize. I hope to have chapter 24 up by tomorrow, but keep in mind that this will depend greatly on whether or not I can manage to fix my internet. Yes, I broke it. I think author notage is in order. Now go read.



This is the part of the story where I stand up, hug you all, and start crying. Well, that's ain't gonna happen.


Instead, I ain't gonna stand up! Mwa ha!


*cries and huggles, much like Harry and Cho....only no kissing involved. :P*


You all gave me 225 reviews! Heck, you gave me more than 225 reviews! Which is why, dear friends, I must ask you all for a favor. My room mate tuned me in for not asking for enough reviews. She says I can get more than 275 with this chapter, (since you already gave me 250!) so I'm being forced (blame her!) to ask for 300. I told her it would take two chapters to get that....but hey! You could always just go out and prove me wrong!



In case no one knew, that last chapter was heavily influenced by the "Greek and Roman Civilizations" lecture I had that morning, and yes, we had been talking about Charon, the river Styx, and how dismally depressing the Greek Underworld was. So it influenced. :)



Okay. Besides not owning Will and Jack and all said affiliates....I now have to admit to not owning Charon and the Styx too, or I heard a rumor that Hades has some nasty lawyers. Pain and Panic, I think?



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I woke up again.


And I flatly refused to open my eyes. Keeping them clenched so tight purple spots started dancing behind them, I refused to acknowledge anything around me. If I never woke - then nothing could happen, no difference would be made, and I could pretend that I'd never had to make any kind of choice.


I was just going to stay asleep forever.


My stomach grumbled, and I winced. Shoot. Maybe I couldn't stay asleep forever.


But I didn't want to open my eyes. What if Charon had been lying to me? What if....he had been a dream? Maybe I could just open my eyes and go on with my life - wherever it ended up being! Yeah, that was a plan. Let's just blindly pretend that something that we know was real is really fake, and blunder blindly through life, banging off people and things, until you knock off from walking into a sword. Brilliance.


Still squeezing my eyes shut, I wiggled the fingers on my left hand. All good. Then I wiggled the fingers on my right hand. Not so good.


In fact....


They were still bandaged.


My eyes flew open, and I sat bolt upright like someone had just pinched me.


My hand was still bandaged! And as I sat up, a red coat slid off my shoulders, and when the blood stopped rushing to my head, a simple, sturdy cabin spun into view.


It had worked! I was still here!


Ignoring the fact that my right arm still had what equated to a bandaged dead-weight on the end, I pushed the blankets off me, and swung my legs over, bare feet touching rough wooden planks. Relieved to find I still wore the pants and red-coat I'd put on before, I bent, and awkwardly, pulled my boots on with one hand.


I stood, then had to wait for minute, waiting for the blood to drain back out of my brain. After an unsteady minute, I headed straight for the door, but instead of barreling out like I wanted, I paused, and cracked the door open a little. Beyond my door was a small, narrow hallway, an open door on either end, one facing sunlight, the other dim lamp light. And directly in front of my door, stood a man with a gun.


Good heavens, I had a guard. Back to the door, gun lazily held in one hand, a white-wigged, uniformed man stood directly in my way.


Swallowing, I cleared my throat. "Excuse me," I asked softly, making him jump. "Are you guarding me?"


The relieved smile that spread across his face was hardly the kind of thing I would have expected from a guard. "You're awake!" He beamed, stepping back, and swinging the door open for me. "The Governor was quite worried. I was assigned to ensure no pirates tried to accost you."


I blinked. "Oh, really?" Stepping out warily, I looked around, my stomach complaining again. "I don't suppose, my good man, that you could direct me to the galley?"


"Right through this door, 'ere," he pointed to the lamp-lit opening on the end of the hallway. "Come on right this way, then."


"Er..you're....accompanying me?"


"Right," he nodded. "Dear me, Parsons would never forgive me if I let you out of my sight."


I sighed, though I don't think the guard noticed. Parsons again. The prime reason I had seriously considered that heading back might be a better option. "Where is he, anyway?"


"Sleeping," the guard confided, as he took my elbow to steady me as we set down the stairs. "He's stayed at your beside for the past three days. The Commodore ordered him to get some sleep." He paused, then added, "But I'm sure he wouldn't mind being woken up, if you'd like."


"Oh, no." I said quickly. "Let him sleep. I just need to get some food."


"Right," he beamed, and I sighed again.


The galley was nearly empty when we finally reached the bottom of the flight of stairs. More stairs descended yet father, into a dark hole, a hole that I suspected was the brig. The cook was working in the corner, at the massive coal stove, and to my surprise, Christine and Elizabeth sat at one of the tables.


That was where my escort led me, then headed towards the cook as I stood there awkwardly. I didn't say anything, but then Elizabeth looked up, eyes widening. "Heather!" She gasped, and Christine spun to face me.


"Heather!" Christine yelped, leaping up to give me the biggest hug I think I'd ever had in my life.


"Watch the hand, kiddo," I said with a smile, though admittably a bit of a wince. She quickly stepped back, in time for Elizabeth to also give me a hug, though thankfully, she watched my hand carefully. "It's good to see you on your feet."


"Thank you," I said honestly, then added, with a sheepish grin. "Though I'd really like to get off my feet, so if you don't mind, may I?"


Insisting that it was no problem at all, they shifted over on the benches so I could collapse at the table.


Resting my arms on the table, I leaned forward, drinking in the presence of my friends. Elizabeth looked a little depressed, I decided, hands worrying on the table, eyes downcast. I knew how she felt - she may have saved the one she loved, but she was doomed to marry another.


Christine still wore the yellow dress she'd been wearing on Barbossa's ship. The edges of her shift poked out of the low collar, and the blood-stain -she later informed me that this was actually a wine-stain - was still splashed across her torso. I wondered, briefly, if I should tell her the whole story of how she was stuck here forever, but decided that the details could wait. We had our whole lives here, after all.


"So, you'll be wanting to head back to St. George after the wedding?" Elizabeth asked. Christine didn't even lift her head at all, so I knew that she had already been informed, and that she'd already argued it for my sake - and lost.


"No." I said firmly, shaking my head. "We're not going back."


"At all?" Elizabeth looked surprised, but Christine's head had snapped up to stare at me.


"We're not?" She squeaked.


"Not in this lifetime," I said softly, reaching my left hand forward to set it on top of Christine's hands, which had suddenly balled into fists. "It's time we lived life, Christine. We won't get an opportunity like this for some 300 years."


Elizabeth gave me an odd look, but I could see Christine doing the mental math, her eyes suddenly lighting up. "Then..." she whispered.


I had to smile. "Enjoy it while you can."


The guard returned at that moment, neatly cutting off any difficult questions Elizabeth might have had, and set a plate with steaming stew and tough sea-biscuits on the table, along with a tin mug of what smelled like watered-down rum. He looked at Elizabeth and Christine for a moment, then glanced at one of the small windows along the wall. "Do you...suppose you'd be alright if you stayed here for awhile?"


"Of course," I smiled my best disarming smile, watching as he relaxed. "Just mind you don't wake up Francis - he needs his rest."


"Er-right." He nodded, looking almost embarrassed, like that had been part of his plan. "Well then, you stay with them, then? I'll be by later to bring you back topside."


"Thank you," I smiled, hoping he'd take the hint and leave.


He did.


Sighing with relief, I picked up the spoon he'd left, and began attempting to eat. Giving up for the moment it took me to take a swig of the drink - just enough rum in it to make me start craving it, not enough to make it feel like I'd had anything to drink - I asked, "So...what's happened since the last time I was conscious?"


Christine grinned a little, but Elizabeth looked far more sober. "My father felt the need to announce the 'double weddings', as he insists on calling them. I don't know who, but someone told Jack. He's...not impressed."


I winced, and set my spoon down again. "I have to talk to him."


Christine shook her head. "He's under lock and key, guarded constantly, and the guards have been given strict instructions to not allow you to speak to him."


"Is that so?" I said, and stood up.


"Don't do anything...stupid," Elizabeth implored, and whether she realized she'd picked up one of Jack's mannerisms or not, I had no idea.


"Oh, no. I'm not nearly honest enough for that." Fist clenched at my side, I marched towards the stairs, and, ignoring the other's protests, headed straight down. Stalking into the dim circle of light left by an oil lamp, the guard spotted me, and stepped forward, blocking my view of the one cell he was guarding. I could see other cells stretching off in the opposite direction, and I swallowed at the sound of several catcalls and yelps for mercy from the imprisoned pirates. But I ignored those cells, and glared, instead, at the one with a single guard. The cell for dangerous and important prisoners. "Stand aside." I ordered, voice shaking.


"I'm afraid I can't do that, miss." He said, grip tight on his musket.


I grit my teeth. "Stand aside."


"Please."


The voice stopped us both in our tracks. It had floated from behind the guard, and as he turned, I realized that Jack was standing in the cell behind him, arms looped through the steel doors, lazily. Lifting an eyebrow at our gaping expressions, he clarified, "Please stand aside. And do let the girl through."


"I'm not - " the soldier began, but I help up my hand, motioning for him to stop.


"Then don't tell anyone." I said firmly. "But if I have to do something drastic, I will. Let me through."


The soldier hesitated, then lowered his hands. "Alright...but I'm staying here."


"Suit yourself," I said, marching around him, and stopping just in front of Jack's cell. "Jack."


He raised an eyebrow. "Captain."


"Fine. Captain." I sighed, feeling all the anger draining out of me. "Are you alright?"


"Peachy," he said sarcastically, and I blinked.


"Jack, what - ?"


"I heard the news. Congratulations." Jack's eyes were dark and stormy, and I shivered a little. I had never seen that look in his eyes before. "Have you set a date yet?"


"Jack, this is not my fault!" I couldn't believe that he was going to hold something so ridiculous as my fault. For pete's sake, I really had just given up a heck of a lot for this man! "I don't want to marry the man - Elizabeth's father and the Commodore did this to me!"


"Right. You're still marrying him."


I clenched my fist, wishing I could with my right one too, so I could use that right hook I'd been working on against those pirates. "Jack! You're....you're...you're impossible! I didn't ask for this! I'd thought maybe...maybe...oh, forget it!" I spun away, hugging my arm close to me. At this point, I was chewing my lip, fighting off tears.


There was a long moment's silence, then Jack said softly, "Yeah, well. Take care of your husband."


"Yeah." I didn't turn back to face him. Instead, I just hissed, "I thought you were different, Captain."


And then I broke into a run, barreling past a startled guard, and stumbled onto the stairs, but didn't slow down. At the top, Christine and Elizabeth tried to talk to me, to get my attention, but I just dashed past them, taking the stairs two at a time in my desperation to get away.


Hurtling down the hall, I threw open my door, slammed it shut so hard it shook on its hinges, then cast myself down on my bed. Then and only then did I let loose the floodgates, sobbing into my pillow. Fine, let him be that way! Just...just...just let him! Fine, let him just act like a jerk, I'll just marry Francis, and let's see how you feel then, Captain! Francis was cute, I suppose, no Sparrow, but - who needs a Sparrow, anyway? Certainly not me! I could get by just fine without him!


I ignored the opening door, the strange sound that I couldn't identify that floated over from it, and then ignored the feel of the side of my bed dipping under someone's weight. A hand set on my shoulder, and I flinched away. "Heather...what happened?" A soft voice asked, and I relaxed slightly when I realized that it was the last person I had been expecting.


"Nothing, Will." I whispered. "Nothing."


The hand set itself on my shoulder again. "I may not be an expert at women, Heather, but I think I can tell you well enough by now to know that's you're lying through your teeth."


I whimpered, pulling my knees towards my stomach, curling up. "Will..."


It surprised me considerably to find him wrap an arm around me in a awkward hug, but I didn't complain, and instead, rolled over and half-sat up to bury my face in his chest. "It's alright," he said softly, patting my head. "You can tell me."


"It's Jack," I whispered.


"Ah." Will sighed. "I understand he heard the news. I'm guessing he wasn't pleased?"


"Will, he was so cold, like he didn't care what happened to me, or..." I sniffed, fresh tears flowing, staining the front of Will's vest with a large wet patch. "He doesn't care!"


Will sighed, and awkwardly patted my back. "I think, maybe...he feels threatened."


"Threatened?" I sniffed.


"He seemed quite....ahem....free with you back before I'd even rescued Elizabeth," his voice paused, sounding sad himself. "And she told me that you were quite comfortable with him yourself when on the island. And then, suddenly, he goes away for a few hours...and you're getting married."


I glared into his vest. "That was not my idea!"


"I know, I know." He soothed, and I reluctantly lowered my head back onto his chest. "But I don't think he can believe that."


"So what am I supposed to do?" I demanded. "We're going to be arriving back in Port Royal soon, aren't we?"


"Tomorrow," he confirmed.


"And then he's going to be hanged, and I'm going to be married!" I clenched my fist in frustration. "What am I supposed to do?!"


Will sighed. "I can't tell you what to do. You'll just have to...follow your own heart."


I heaved a sigh, trying to think.


My concentration was broken by a rattling of the door, then sudden pounding and muffled shouting from the other side. Startled, I shot up, and stared, wide eyed, at the doorframe - and the sword effectively lodging it shut.


"Your handiwork, I presume?" I asked, raising on eyebrow.


Will smiled sheepishly, and handed me a handkerchief. "Wipe your tears, then remove the sword."


"And you?" I asked, reaching with the cloth to wipe at my eyes.


"I doubt anyone would be pleased to see me here," he smiled a shy, mischievous smile. "So I'll get out in a more unique manner." Standing up, he headed towards the single small window, throwing it open. "Just...follow your heart, and you can do no wrong."


"Thanks," I grinned, trying to rub the moisture off my cheeks.


He nodded once, and swung out the window, grabbing onto a convenient rope to pull himself towards the deck.


I waited a few moments longer, hearing the pounding on the door get ever louder, then stood, took hold of the sword with my own hand, and pulled. It proved to come out much easier than I had expected - it had simply been wedged in the lock.


As soon as the sword was out, the door swung open, and Francis stumbled into the room. "Heather!" he gasped, breathing hard. He had evidently been the one pounding on the door, though Christine and Elizabeth, the Commodore, the Governor, and a few miscellaneous soldiers stood behind him. "Are you alright? I had thought that maybe - "


"Yes." I said shortly, breaking off his question.


He blinked, then asked, "Yes, what?"


"Yes." I repeated firmly. "I will marry you."


He blinked, then a smile spread across his face, to join the beaming grins of Norrington and Swann, and the horror-struck expressions of Christine and Elizabeth. "Heather! This is wonderful!"


I jumped as he swung his arms around me, spinning me around. "You've made me the happiest man in the world!" he cheered, and as I spun around, I could tell that the Governor obviously thought that he should feel as joyful as he did.


"Yes, thank you, Francis. Please, can you put me down?!"



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Erm. Yes. Such ends chapter 23.


*hides under her desk*



300!