One More Breath
Chapter 1
Authors Note 1: Okay, so maybe I'm afraid. Afraid of what you ask? Of being without a story to write. I know, I know. I have the Agent Sands one to finish, but two chapters from now and it'll be over. Banished Demons, three at most. Then I have nothing left to write and that just can't happen.

The fog was just rolling in, the ocean was quiet and peacefully conserving it's strength for morning. Annamaria loved this time of night, she would stand at the wheel and just be glad to be there. The feeling was unlike any other, those who'd never been on the sea and had no idea of the life they led wouldn't have understood.

As Jack would say, 'The Black Pearl' isn't just a rudder, keel, and sails. That's what she needed, what 'The Pearl' really is… is freedom. With the wind blowing the salty smell of the ocean she closed her eyes and wondered when Gibbs would be done talking to the Captain.

Anger should have settled in, it was her only defense against the crushing heart-break she otherwise would have faced, cold hard reality had taken that away from her. Rage might come later, but for now ice had settled in and she didn't want to let that go yet.

It seemed hard to believe, but Annamaria had been preparing herself for this ever since she'd met Captain Jack Sparrow. Five escapes, three near-death experiences, and countless other chances for them both to have died.

They'd cheated the fates one time too many, at least they would go down doing what they loved. 'The Pearl' had outlasted many of the pirate ships not only in the Caribbean, but in the Spanish Main as well.

They were the last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, 'the British Royal Navy', and even the other pirates had yet to bring them down. 'The Pearl' struck fear into the hearts of men, some of which was the doing of Barbossa. 'East India' was their only true opponents now, one they should have avoided.

"How is he?" she heard the footsteps as Gibbs put his hat back on and looked down at the ground.

"Askin' for ye." He replied with a sigh. "Thin's don't look s'good, Ana."

"They never do." She moved so he could take control of the ships' wheel and headed into Jack's quarters. Anyone else would have expected to see maps and ship parts all over the place, however the room was as neat as could be.

A bureau with his extra clothes and hers too now that she thought about it. Small things that she took for granted, like the daggers and pistol on the far side wall. A lot of good they did when someone was to die, yet not so useful in saving a life.

There were maps, in a nice pile on the far side of the wall including everything from France to Tortuga. They'd been to places most people only dreamed of seeing and they had something they brought back from all of them.

"Ana?" he whispered struggling to sit up from the bed.

"Shh… I'm here." She sat on the corner and put a pillow behind him. "Don't move around so much, Captain. You'll pull open the stitches again."

"Jack, luv. Just Jack." He grinned roguishly ignoring the stabs of pain coming from the wound on his chest and upper shoulder.

They had faced open ship battles with less trepidation than they faced one another now.

"What course have you set for 'The Pearl'?" Jack broke the silence, he knew there was only a slight chance that he'd live to see another voyage, but he'd fight for it just as he fought for everything he'd made for himself. Annamaria was the only one he'd choose to take over for him. She understood the weather, the ocean, and most of all the ship.

"I was thinking to return to Port Royale. There's said to be a new doctor there, one of… high recommendation."

"Ana-"

"I don't want to hear it, Jack. Not one word. I'm not giving up, and I'm not letting you die, do you understand me?"

"You promised, luv."

~ It had been five years since Barbossa was left in the cursed cave of Cortes, their escape from Port Royale, and Will's marriage to Elizabeth. Laying together in the same room as they were in now, Jack and Annamaria spoke quietly despite the fact they were alone, the rest of the crew were carousing on Tortuga. It was one of the few serious conversations they'd had, but it was one of the most important.

"The last pirate threat in the Caribbean, luv. What's going to happen when 'The Pearl's' reign is over? Will we fade in history too and become just another bedtime story told to children?"

"I doubt 'the Pearl' will become a nursery rhyme, Jack. Even if it does, that won't be erased from history will it." She kissed him when she saw the droll look on his face. Just the thought of his ship becoming a nursery anything was enough to have his eyebrow raising in question of the speakers sanity.

"Promise me something? He asked, "When the day comes when there aren't any more daring escapes, or rescues from my crew, promise me that you won't risk everything for it."

"For what? What are you talking about? I thought we said to hell with the code and that we'll live each day as it comes, why so worried about it now?"

"Each day as it comes, each hour, minute, yes. Promise me that you'll live yours should something ever happen to me."

"And I'd have your promise on the same terms then." She sighed, he was entirely serious about this and when Jack got it in his head to do something heaven help them all trying to change it.

"Agreed." He held out a hand, she met his in a firm handshake and tossed her long black hair out behind her.

"Agreed."~

"I promised, yes. I didn't promise to give up on you when I could do something yet to help."

"There's no setting another course then?"

"Not a chance in hell."

"Ah, well I tried. 's all that matters, aye?"

"Yes." She leaned into him as she sank further down on the bed and didn't let him see the tears brewing behind her eyes. "That's all that matters."

Authors Note 2: Hahahaha! Yes! I did it! I finished the first chapter. Oh wow. If you could only know how many paragraphs were deleted into cyberspace. Now I'm on to the next chapter where a lot will be explained and where Jack's fate is still undetermined. I had trouble torturing him in the other stories, how am I ever going to work up the courage to kill him? Not that he will die for sure, but there needs to be a darker story that I've written instead of all peaches and crème, right?