Well guys, this has been a great re-doing of this story, and it's been great having you guys along for the ride! Love you all!

The bell tower tolled slowly over our heads counting down the hours in the day, counting down the seconds until Jack's death.

I was standing next to Will watching the officer read the proclamation against Jack. "Jack Sparrow, let it be known that you have been sentenced to be hanged for your willful commission of crimes against the crown."

I was fidgety and nervous as he continued on. I looked up at Will and saw that he had the same problem. He looked down at me and gave me a tight lipped smile. His ruffled hat shifted as a breeze caught it and I couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked. I blushed a little and turned away thinking about Elizabeth getting married and Will and I having a chance of being together.

I looked back up at Jack and saw that he had a bit of a lopsided grin on his face. His attitude towards the whole ordeal was admirable and I couldn't help but smile just a little. He caught my gaze and winked, I smiled a sad smile in return.

Just then Will grabbed my arm. "I shall be right back, you stay put no matter what." And then walked away.

I followed him with my eyes as he immersed himself into the crowd wondering what he meant by "no matter what".

I turned back around just as the officer finished with the proclamation. "May God have mercy on your soul." As the noose was placed around Jack's neck and the beat of the drums increased, I grimaced and turned my back not being able to handle the sight of Jack being hung.

When I turned though, I was faced with a totally unexpected sight. "MOVE!" Will cried unsheathing his sword.

A surprise gasp came from my lips as well as several people around me as I backed up into the crowd to make room. To my right, I heard the hangman release the handle just as Will whipped his sword towards Jack. I turned my head quickly to follow and saw that it was embedded in the wood right under Jack who was standing on it trying desperately to keep his balance.

Before I could utter a word to him, Will sprinted past me and jumped the stairs to the gallows. I watched in awe with my mouth wide open hardly believing what my eyes were seeing.

Jack was right! There would be a daring escape.

The hangman unitentionally cut Jack from the noose and he fell to the ground. He winked at me again as he cut his bonds from his wrist with the sword Will had saved him with.

Jack threw Will part of the rope from the noose, and they started to run from the officers trying to catch them. Not wasting a breath I took off after them trying to keep within sight of them. Several times I was lost to the crowd.

Before I could stop myself, I went crashing into the red backs of several officers. After I had recovered my balance I stood on my toes to get a look over their shoulder at Jack and Will who were surrounded by officers and their bayonets. I let out a burst of laughter as Jack blew Will's feather out of his face. The officers turned around and glared at me ferociously. One of them opened their mouth to say something, but was cut off when Commodore Norrington started speaking.

"I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill conceived escape attempt, but not from you." I strained my neck to see that he was talking to Will.

Governor Swann then pushed his way through the crowd to speak next. "On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency and this is how you thank me? By throwing your lot in with him? He's a pirate!"

"And a good man." I turned to Will as he spoke, behind him Jack pointed to himself. "If all that I achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear." I gaped as I realized what he had said.

I pushed my way through the officers and stood on the left side of Will, who the bayonets were still pointed at. "Will is right. This is wrong what you are doing to Jack. He helped you too and this is how you thank him. By KILLING him!" Will glared down at me like I was in big trouble, but at the moment I really didn't care.

Elizabeth then pushed her way through and stopped at Will's right side. "Kathryn is right. They both are."

The governor opened his mouth in shock and cried out, "Elizabeth! What are you doing?! Lower your weapons." The officers looked hesitant as they looked form the governor to Jack. "I said lower them!" A few looked uneasy as they lowered their guns. The governor looked back at Elizabeth with a pained look in his eyes. "So this is your choice then?"

"Yes, it is." Elizabeth replied sternly to her father.

There was a tense moment of silence that seemed to last forever, for me at least. I realized that I had just lost Will. Again. That realization hit me hard and fast. Before I could react however, Jack took his opportunity to escape.

"Well!" He barked, "I am actually feeling really good about all of this!" He sidestepped Will and stood in front of the governor. "I think we have all reached a really special place! Spiritually…ecumenically…grammatically." Grammatically? I thought. Jack then turned to Norrington and jumped right in his face. "I want you to know that I was rooting for you the ENTIRE time." He turned around quickly and faced Elizabeth. "Elizabeth? It would never have worked between us darling. I am sorry. Kathryn!" he quickly jumped over to me. "You'll always be me queen! Will? Nice hat!" and with that he scurried over to the top of the battlement. Several officers rushed him but with a wave of Jack's arms they stopped. "Men! This will ALWAYS be the day that you-" but before he could finish his sentence, he backed himself right over the side and fell to the water below.

There was a mad rush to the side to watch Jack fall to the water below. I looked over to the side as Lieutenant Gillette uttered, "Idiot, he has nowhere to go but back to the gallows!"

I glared at him for a moment but quickly looked back as a voice yelled, "SAIL HO!" I smiled as recognition dawned on me. The Black Pear was sailing in the waters below.

The smile, however was wiped off my face as I looked at my hands and made a spur of the moment decision.

"Will!" I cried turning to him. If I had any doubts about what I was going to do, they were instantly swiped away when I saw him holding hands with Elizabeth. "Will, I want to- HAVE to tell you something before I go." I stepped down in front of him.

"Go? Kathryn? Go where?!" Will replied looking worried.

I just shook my head and smiled. "Doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that I tell you this. I love you Will. I love you more than you can or will ever love me. This is why I have to leave. I hope that your life, wherever it takes you, will be happy." I widened my smile as I wrapped my hands around his face and kissed him squarely on the mouth.

It lasted only a moment and afterwards I quickly jumped back up and stood on the battlement where Jack had fallen moments before. I figured to myself that if Jack and Elizabeth could survive the fall, then there was a good chance I would too. And if I didn't…well I didn't really want to think about it at the moment.

I took a deep breath and just as I was about to launch myself out into the air I felt someone grab my arm.

I turned in surprise to meet Will's wide smile and sad eyes. "Be careful."

I laughed a bit and without a word I slung myself off the side and landed with a loud splash in the water.

I caught up to Jack about halfway to the Pearl. "Hello Jack!" I gasped, pulling on his shirt to make him stop. "Mind if I tag along for the ride?"

Jack let out a yell of surprise and turned around. "Lass! Did you just risk your life to follow me?"

"I couldn't really find a reason to stay." I replied. "Besides I figure I might have a bit more fun following you around than staying in Port Royal."

"I have grown on ye haven't I?" Jack asked with a smirk.

"Don't kid yourself." I replied starting to swim again.

It was a few more minutes before we reached the ship. A rope was thrown over board and Jack handed it to me. "Ladies first." He said with a grin. I held onto the rope tightly as Jack tugged on it.

I let out a gasp as I was lifted into the air and swung around. I let go of the rope and landed with a thump on deck.

"'EY!" Annamaria yelled, "You aren't Jack!"

Another rope was soon thrown over and Jack was hauled on. "Cap'in Jack." Annamaria said thoughtfully as she handed him his coat and hat. "The Black Pearl is yours."

With a smile I watched Jack walk up to the wheel. I turned away from the crew to face the battlements where I could see Elizabeth and Will standing arm in arm. I slowly turned my head though, to face the horizon. It's better, I thought, to just put the past behind me. Including Will. I wonder if I will ever see them again.

I immediately shook the thought out of my head. Will was in the past and soon so would my love for him.

I had a life now on the Pearl to look forward to. A life that I knew would be interesting. A life that would certainly hold many opportunities. This was it.

A pirate's life for me.

Hurray! I am done! Please don't be sad though. I DO have a sequel that is also in the process of being redone. (I kept switching from present to past! Graa!) Anyway, you should see that around very soon. I wanted to finish re-doing all the chapters before I posted this last one for this story. Well there you are!

I love you!

Mel