Chapter 19

Anamaria opened her eyes and looked around in a daze. Everything was dark and she felt as if she were slowly strangling. She lay there a moment more as her memories returned. Fate had an odd sense of humor after all. She remembered everything, dying, the crystal palace, and most of all what Jack was thinking when he spoke to her last.

She knew what Turak had told him, that Turak was dead. Anamaria saw Jack. Watching him walk away made her heart break.

"Jack?" she called his name tremulously. He paused walking and she saw the muscles in his back and shoulders tense.

His hands clenched into fists and he stood that way with his head down not wanting to hear her voice. It was hard enough leaving her, Will and Norrington would bring her onto the ship so they could give her proper burial. Now he could hear her echoing in his mind. It was almost too much for him to bear.

"Jack! You insufferable man, turn around!" This time there was no mistake. Why out all the things he would remember her say, would that be the last thing he heard?

"What-" he gasped as he saw her propped up against the wall.

"Certainly took you long enough, mate." She laughed through her tears, "Thought you were going to go and leave me sitting here like a bloody fool."

"How are you-. . . but you were. . ." the fact that she was alive didn't register. He was shocked, confused, but agony quickly turned to exultation, "you're… alive!"

"I know, love. Now stop staring at me and come over here so I can talk to you without the whole ship hearing." The look in her eyes welcomed Jack home.

"So we beat the fates again, did we?" he knelt in front of her afraid to touch her for fear she'd disappar.

"Seems we have a certain propensity for it." She put her arms across his neck and melted into him, drowning, dying had never felt so good.

"Have I told you yet. . .?" Jack started to say,

"Anamaria?!" Elizabeth exclaimed, "How did you-"

"Damned if I know, lass. But she's here all the same!" Jack had never felt so insanely happy before, he wanted to run and jump and-- really wanted some rum.

"Robert. 's been a long time, eh?" Jack smiled a gold toothed smile.

"Not long enough, mate. Coulda wished for a better meeting than this." Robert grinned in return.

"Will Turner, I'd like you to meet one of your father's best friends. This is Robert DeRyat, also a good pirate and a good man."

"You knew my father?" Will asked astounded. "How? Jack never mentioned. . ."

"... Jack never mentions anything." Robert laughed.

"I'd like to speak to you of the ventures you had with my father." Will asked.

"Of course, how's about a meeting in Port Royale? I believe there is a traitor to be reckoned with first." He looked in the direction of Cilfre. Anamaria's eyes darkened and she lunged at him with a feral expression on her face. It was only Jack's arm that prevented her from tearing him apart.

"He's all yours, mate." Jack wanted a shot at the traitor himself, but there was a look in Robert's face that couldn't be denied, "You've been hunting this dog for years, unless I'm mistaken?"

"Me and all of the Caribbean. He'll be dealt with never fear." Robert tipped his hat and then swung back aboard his ship with an almost hungry look. Cilfre was bound and tied then he too was led away.

* * *

"My sincerest thanks for all of your help, Commodore." Jack shook Norrington's hand. Anamaria stood slightly behind Jack relaying the same message, had it not been for Norrington they might still be locked up in Turak's prison.

James looked at the two pirates proudly. At least this time he had followed his mind and heart rather then the normal laws of duty. He knew that there would be hell to pay later, but he knew that he'd, for once, done something rash and impetuous. James had found something, a sense of inner strength that before had been lacking.

'Yes, it was a very brave thing you did to help us." Elizabeth smiled warmly, "You're a good man, James Norrington."

"Just protecting the Crown's subjects." He smiled as he bowed and left the blacksmith shop. Taking a deep breath he straightened his hat and went to face the rest of society.

"Do any of you need anything?" Will asked, "We have a room prepared for you in the house if you prefer that."

"Yes, thank you. We're not putting you to any inconvenience?" Anamaria put her arm around Jack's waist. There was a marked difference between the two pirates. They were often laughing together and while the regular name calling was there, a tenderness to the names betrayed the difference.

"Friends are never an inconvenience." Elizabeth said firmly, "You are welcome for as long as you wish to stay."

The two women went to make preparations leaving Jack and Will alone in the smithy.

"Robert will be back as soon as he is able." Jack broke into conversation.

"I know. I suppose he'll have many stories to tell. Why did Barbossa kill him, Jack, the honest reason."

"I don't know, lad." Jack mused, "That's something only Robert would know. He'll be able to tell you, I wasn't there to see his death. I would have tried to save him, Will, he was a good pirate, wanted to be a good father."

Will looked down at the floor and silence again fell between the two men.

"… thanks for everything, William."

"It was nothing, no thanks are necessary." Will looked up surprised, he already could tell Jack was earnest no words were needed to confirm it.

"Yes, well, what say you to going after them and finding where they stashed the rum. Surely you received the bottle I sent you." Jack looked hopeful.

"I saved it for you. Best drink it when Elizabeth's not around though. You know her views on liquor."

"Bloody lucky she didn't burn it. Right devilish with fire she is." Jack slung his arm over Will's shoulders and proceeded to tell him stories of the rum-runners island. He, of course, refrained from saying anything about a certain drunken moment when he had seen Elizabeth in total abandon. That woman definitely had a good singing voice.