Caribbean Crusades

Chapter 10

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Well here it is guys. The final chapter of Caribbean Crusades. The end of my first POTC fic. Quite sad, really. Just a little note, this chapter involves a bit of fluffiness…heh heh…

Well, for all those wanting to know if there'll be a sequel, I think there might be. I've written the first chapter of it, but it might not turn out to be anything good, so if it isn't, I probably won't post it. I'm actually writing another story at the moment, which I'll post as soon as I'm finished. Should be pretty soon. It's a bit more serious than this one, but it should be good. My second story's always better than my first.

Padfoot's Pirate: Uh, let's put it down to poetic license…heh heh…I defy the laws of physics! Yes, I agree, Streaking!Jack would be very great, unfortunately I can't fit it into this chapter…oh well, I'm sure you'd be able to imagine it right?

Chibi-ami: I loved that long review. Aah, I'm so jealous of you. Why can't I have a 3ft. tall Johnny Depp stand up cut out? *sniff* oh well, I have a good imagination, I can imagine one standing in the corner of my room…heh heh…I haven't seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas yet. I think it's rated R18 here, and I'm not 18 for another 6 months…=(. I don't think my parents would like me getting out something like that anyhow. I think I'll go to my friend's house and her dad will get it for us…heh heh…

Righto, without further ado, onto the last chapter of Caribbean Crusades…

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I sate at my favourite place at the bow of the Pearl, legs dangling off the side. The wind was blowing my now matted blonde hair all around. It was pulled off my face with a dark blue bandanna, which Jack had given me just this morning, when he'd officially made me a member of his crew for as long as I cared to stay.

His gesture had shocked me slight, as well as the small ceremony, which was accompanied by a lot of rum drinking. Any excuse to have rum, I s'pose.

But this wasn't the matter at hand, I thought, as I was sprayed with a fine mist of seawater. The matter at hand was this little niggly feeling that had been bothering me for some time now. The feeling that made my stomach flip every time I saw Jack, what made me look around for him every time I entered a room, or stepped out on the deck, and what made me miss him if he wasn't there.

I'd never felt this kind of thing before, but I had an idea of what it was, and it didn't make me feel any better.

I watched the dolphins gracefully swimming alongside the bow of the ship for a moment, before deciding to get back on deck before I was missed.

I needed to talk this over with someone, and I knew just who would be fit for the job.

"Nah-uh. No way. I don't do the girl talk thing." Anamaria said, holding her hands out protectively as she backed away from me after I'd pulled her into an empty cabin.

"Just sit down. It's not going to be that bad." I said, motioning for her to sit on the bed. I sat cross-legged on the other bed, opposite her.

"The only reason I'm asking you this is because I have no one else to turn to. I'm…I'm confused."

Anamaria folded her arms and leaned back against the wall, beginning to look interested in what I had to say.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I wasn't going to beat around the bush. "IthinkI'minlovewithJack." I said, all as one word.

Anamaria raised an eyebrow. "What was that? I didn't catch it."

"I think I'm in love with Jack." I said, slightly slower.

"Sorry, could you say that again?" Anamaria said, a small smirk playing on her face.

I frowned. "Are you going to take me seriously, or what?" I snapped.

Anamaria grinned. "Don't get yer panties in a knot. I heard ye the first time."

"So…"

"So what?"

"So what should I do about it?" I asked, exasperated.

Anamaria pulled her legs up onto the bed, and sat cross-legged, mimicking my position. She leaned forward. "Listen up, girly, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once. Jack's a pirate. He only loves three things. The Pearl, the ocean and rum. In that order. He doesn't get attached to things, because in our line of work, they can only be used against you. Now, say, if you did so happen to catch Jack's eye, and he wants more than just a roll in the hay with you, all the more power to you. But I would watch yer back. Jack has…the Pearl has countless enemies that would love to get their hands on ye. And I'll tell ye for free, ye wont' like none of it. I won't go into details, but it usually begins with pleasurin' the crew and usually ends in death." She paused for a second. "Now if I haven't totally put ye off, Jack's at the helm." She gave me a sly grin and motioned towards the door. "Scoot."

I gave her a small, nervous smile and slipped out of the cabin and made my way onto the deck.

I'm going to do this, I told myself, I have to do this.

I saw Jack at the wheel, and my stomach did a little nervous roll. I swallowed and headed out straight across the deck. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, I said to myself. Left foot, right foot, left…I can't do this. I swiveled around on the spot and started walking back in the direction I came from.

"Sam! Hey Sam!" I heard Jack call.

I made a slight grimace and turned around, putting on a large fake smile as I did so.

Jack turned the wheel over to Gibbs and walked down onto the deck with me.

"I need to talk to you." We both said at the same time.

We laughed, and that eased some of the tension building up in me.

"You first." Jack said.

"Can we, uh, go somewhere else?" I asked, motioning towards his cabin.

He nodded and led the way, opening the door to the cabin for me, and closing it behind him.

"You might need to sit down for this." I said, wringing my hands nervously.

Jack shrugged and sat down on the bed and looked up at me expectantly.

"Jack," I began.

"Mmm?"

"Jack…I…I love you." I blurted out.

"Sorry?"

"I love you." I repeated.

"No, I heard you, I'm just sorry." Jack grinned.

"Jack, be serious. I know this is unexpected, and I didn't realise until this morning, but it's true." I said, really fast.

Jack stood up and grabbed my hands, holding them in his large ones, which calmed me down slightly.

"I'll let you into a little secret. I was going to tell you the same thing." He whispered, moving closer and closer to me, so that our noses were touching.

He then captured my mouth with his own, giving me a passionate kiss, touching my tongue lightly with his. Passion burned low in my stomach as I ran my hands through his hair…well halfway through his hair, as they got caught in the matted bits.

We separated after what seemed like ages, but we still stood as close together as we could. I took a deep breath. I felt like I'd been entrusted to taking care of something of great value.

Jack sat down on the bed and pulled me down next to him.

"Why?" he asked, his voice all husky. "Why did you choose me? I can't give you the life you deserve. I don't want you to throw it all away just for me."

Captain Jack Sparrow, ego the size of all seven seas put together, requiring an ego-boost? Almost unheard of, but I'll oblige anyhow.

"Jack." I picked his hand up and laced his finger with mine and placed it on my lap. "I chose you. Only you. I don't' care what kind of life you give me, so long as you're a part of it. And the way I look at it, I'm not throwing away anything. I'm gaining freedom…love…and you." I said, kissing him between each of the last three words.

I could feel him grin. "Just so long as we're on the same page." He said, before laying me down on the bed and proceeding to work his magic.

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Well guys, that's it…the very end of the very last chapter of my very first POTC story. I want to thank all of those who reviewed my story and all of those who didn't, but read it anyhow. And I especially want to thank those who stuck with me when it was deleted. I don't know why that happened.

Well, I'm off camping now…it's going to be fun! I will probably get a lot of writing done while I'm away and I'll post my new story when I get back, so watch out for it.

And so this is my final goodbye for this story…

~Rhi