Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean, but I do have the Sexiest Man Alive issue of People Magazine that I stole from a restaurant. *shifty eyes* They wouldn't care though. It's like four month old issue. Damn... Johnny is so fine!

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The sun was rising when we arrived back at Port Royal, its merry face warming those under it. All, that is, except for Jack and me. I was pissed about the whole situation, and Jack looked as if he'd lost a best friend. It was I look a knew quite well. It's the look of one that has lost something dear to him. In this case, the Pearl was the object of affection.

We once again found ourselves shoved into the fortress jail. "Well, this looks familiar," Jack grumbled, and stared vacantly out the window. I grunted in response, and together we watched the sun rise in stony silence.

"Ye know, it's ironic that the place we met for the first time would also be the place where we say farewell," Jack commented, no trace of humor in his voice.

"Aye, 'tis," I drawled listlessly. The sun was almost high in the sky now, and the hanging, Norrington had told us, was scheduled for noon. "I wonder how many people will come to watch the hanging of the infamous Captains Sparrow and Harris?" I wondered aloud.

"Who knows, love, who knows."

The next couple of hours stretched by pretty much uneventfully, and next thing we knew we were being paraded out to the platform. Hoards of people massed about, all wanting to watch the hanging of the big, bad pirates.

"Morbid group of people," Jack slurred nonchalantly, inspecting his surroundings.

"Aye. It must be a favorite Sunday afternoon past time," I said sarcastically. The guard behind me gave me a sharp prod in the back.

"Quiet, you," he snapped, trying to look authoritative.

"Shut up before I beat your arse," I growled, reaching instinctively for the cutlass that wasn't there.

The guard sneered, and rolled his eyes. "And how do you suppose that you'll do that?" he asked.

"Oh, she'll figure out a way," Jack said casually, and continued with the previously interrupted conversation. "I figure that if you've got nothing else to do but watch a hanging, then yer one sorry son of a bitch." Jack grinned, flashing his gold teeth. "Now, take me for example. My life is far from what they consider perfect, but ye don't see me standing around watching me mates being hanged." He tried using his hands for dramatic effect, but quickly abandoned that attempt seeing as how they were bound together.

"Nay. You'd be out getting drunk," I laughed.

Jack smirked. "That be true. Now, where is that boy?" he asked, referring to Will. "I figured he'd have some elaborate escaped all planned out."

"He's not capable of thinking that far ahead," I deadpanned. Jack was about to add to this, but was cut off by our arrival at the gallows platform. Until now, I'd viewed this whole scenario as mildly entertaining, but now anxiety came crashing down like a crate full of cannon balls. I found myself barely able to breathe as I stood staring at the noose in front of me.

"It's a shame to lose such a pretty one," the executioner rasped from behind his dark veil. I shivered, and glared icily at him. I knew he was leering behind that dark mask, and I was itching to knock that sneer right off of his face. Clearly Jack saw this.

"Control yerself darling. It's not worth it just to get revenge on the likes of him."

And so the two of us stood in front of a mass of people, waiting for either death or rescue; the former we didn't deserve, but the latter was looking bleak. Sighing, I awaited the inevitable, but continued to scan the crowds for even the slightest hint of escape.

"Jack Sparrow , be it known that you have-" an official began. I was jolted back to grim reality, and glanced over at Jack.

"It's Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow," he grumbled uselessly. 'Still the same ol' Jack' I thought.

"-for your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith - piracy, smuggling-" The official continued to drone.

I resumed my crowd-scanning, only half-listening to what the announcer was saying, and my eyes fell on Elizabeth. She was standing with her father and the Commodore. Will was nowhere in sight. 'Poor lad,' I thought, feeling slightly sorry for him. I saw Elizabeth say something, and her father answered her. 'Probably talking about what type of scones will be served at tea,' I thought bitterly.

"-impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England-"

My eyes snapped back to Jack, who was grinning crookedly. "Ah yes," he muttered, and looked over at the executioner, who returned it with a glare.

"You'll have to tell me about that sometime," I said lightly.

"Aye, love, maybe I will."

"-sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead." The official finished, and pulled out another scroll, containing what I thought to be my crimes.

"Rachel Harris, be it known that you have...." He began.

"At least he didn't say 'Miss Harris'," I sighed.

"....for your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith - piracy, smuggling, sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on both your souls."

As the nooses were put around our necks, I saw Will pushing through the crowd. He seemed to be coming from where Elizabeth was, and looking up, I saw her pass out.

And then I realized.

Will was shoving through frantically now. "Move!" he yelled, and jostled through the front row of onlookers.

I heard the lever being pulled, and realized he was too late. I squeezed me eyes shut and braced myself. But nothing happened. I opened them, and blinked stupidly. I saw Jack standing on a sword embedded in the wood where the swinging door should be. He looked slightly alarmed until Will cut him down.

"Um, a little help here!" I called to Jack, who jumped back up onto the platform, and cut the noose. "Thanks, mate," I said gratefully.

"Nothing to it," he answered casually, and we leapt off and joined Will at the base.

The three of us barreled through the panicked onlookers, fighting off Norrington's men the whole way. Unfortunately, we weren't paying attention to where we were going, because we found ourselves in one of the towers, completely surrounded by soldiers.

"Oh my Christ," I swore, glaring angrily at the bayonets pointed in our direction.

"I second that," Jack put in, although he looked slightly amused.

Norrington sauntered up, looking like a mixture between upset and pleased with himself. "I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt but not from you," he said to Will.

"On our return to Port Royal , I granted you clemency. And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with them? They're pirates!" The Governor exclaimed in disbelief.

"He's a good man," Will stated. I sniffed haughtily, and elbowed Will in the ribs. "She's just along for the ride," he added.

"I'm gonna murder you the next time I get a chance," I hissed in his ear.

"If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn three pairs of boots instead of two, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear."

"You forget your place, Turner," Norrington growled.

"It's right hereÉ between you and Jack." After a time he added," And Rachel."

"Ye know Will, that was very touching," I snipped irritably.

Elizabeth came to stand next to Will. "As is mine."

"Elizabeth!" her father gasped. "Lower your weapons. For goodness' sake put them down!" he ordered, and the guns were lowered reluctantly.

Norrington looked crushed. "So this is where your heart truly lies, then?" he asked sadly.

"It is," Elizabeth replied softly.

I glanced over at Jack, and saw his face light up. "Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this," he remarked cheerfully. 'I wonder what's made him so happy,' I thought suspiciously. Looking up, I noticed a very familiar looking parrot, and I also felt a rush of relief.

"As am I," I added, giving Norrington a cheeky grin.

"I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually, Ecumenically, Grammatically?" He asked the Governor. Then he turned to Norrington. "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that. ElizabethÉ it would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry."

"Damn right it wouldn't have," I muttered under my breath, still sore about the whole island incidence.

At last, Jack turned to Will. "Will... nice hat," he teased, and Will, who had obviously been expecting something more endearing, raised a quizzical eyebrow. Jack began to back slowly toward the wall of the battlement, and I gravitated with him. "Friends! This is the day that you-" He backed into the wall, and losing his foothold, fell over it.

"What he meant to say was, 'This is the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow'," I finished for him. "But he's a klutz. Now, Norry darling, I must be going. I'm sorry I ruined my execution. I'm sure it took ages to plan. It was blast while it lasted though. Will, you really must tell me sometime how you rigged that trap door, though, I hope I don't see you again. Elizabeth, best of luck with not killing dear William. I know I would," I finished. Elizabeth smiled at me. "And now, I'll just be leaving. Places to go, people to see. Ta!" And I leapt off the battlement.

As I plummeted towards the water, I was thinking two things. One, I hoped I wouldn't crash into the rocks and die anyway. The other was that I knew I was free again. I'd finally come to terms with losing my ship, and now I was going to get it back with Jack Sparrow's help, although he hadn't yet agreed.

I landed in the water with a splash, narrowly missing Jack who was waiting for me. "It's about time," he said, treading water.

"You'll be happy to know, that my farewell wasn't near as dramatic as yours, but I did manage not to look like an idiot while executing it."

"I did that on purpose," Jack said defensively.

"Sure, whatever," I laughed, and we swam to the Black Pearl anchored securely in the harbor.

TBC

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A/N: One more chappie left! And the consensus seems to be that everyone wants a sequel! And so a sequel y'all shall have, but it might be a while. Don't lose hope! And I just want to say how pleased I am to have gotten over 100 reviews. I got 103! Keep up the good work mates! Goal is 120 by end of story, although that seems highly unlikely. ^_^ A cookie and a mug o' rum for all who review!

Jack: What if I review? Do I get rum?

Me: Maybe...

Jack: Yer evil.

Rachel: She likes me, don't ye?

Me: Aye.

Jack: *sighs* Women.

Rachel and Me: *smirk*

Until next time,

~TheSiriusSparrow~