"Bloody hell! What did I just do?"

"You lost her Jack, for the time being anyways…" Anamaria whispered in his ear.

"I know that, savvy?!?!" he shouted.

Jack threw his hands up into the air in defeat before storming off into his cabin. The door slammed shut behind him and the entire crew, still dazed by the whole ordeal, just stared glossy-eyed in silence at their captain's quarters, waiting for Jack to come around. Gibbs, being the non-emotional guy he is, tried to hide a few drops that where forming in the corners of his lonely eyes. Anamaria went over to the old man to talk with him, hoping that together they could run this ship while Jack was unavailable. After a few nods and some words spoken, Anamaria walked sternly over to the helm where she started shouting commands.

"Everyone! Get back to work! We're headed for Port Royale."

After a whole day, Jack still hadn't exited from his quarters. Maternal instincts kicked in and Ana went to go have a chat with her dear captain. She twisted the knob and gently pushed the wooden door open revealing him lying on the bed, pillow atop his dirty, tear-stricken face. He sat up at the sound of her entering and wiped away said drops. A frown formed on his face as he saw Anamaria, but it was quickly changed into a half-hearted smile.

"I wont tell anyone."

"About what?" he asked.

Ana gestured towards his face and the streaks formed by tears. He nodded in reply and let out a large sigh.

"The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow doesn't cry, so there will be no need for secrecy." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Anamaria let out a small chuckle at her captain's pride and stupidity.

"Jack, you have to come out. We need you."

"O' course ye need me! I'm the captain after all."

"Then get off yer lazy ass and steer the ship!"

"Hold yer horses woman! I just lost me girl fer the second time and yer telling me to get out there and steer me ship? Patience is a virtue, love; one that you obviously don't possess."

"Ye got me there, Jack."

"Alright, alright I'm a comin woman. Don't get yer knickers in a twist" he kidded, trying to put up a façade of happiness. Just as Jack was about to get up from the bed, Gibbs came barging through the door.

"There's a ship Jack. A bloody English Naval one!" he whispered, completely out of breath from the sprint to his captain's cabin.

Jack nodded and lifted his gloomy self from the bed and walked slowly out of the cabin with his spyglass in hand. He rested one arm on the railing where he now stood and lifted the contraption to his eye. Norrington stood at the bow of the ship staring at the Pearl.

"Can't get rid of 'im can I? I'm not used to men fawning over me sexy charms, but then again, I am Captain Jack Sparrow: completely irresistible by all." He mumbled to himself. A smile crossed Anamaria's face as the Jack she always knew came back to life instead of the miserable one she met in the cabin moments before. Instead of going to the helm, he strutted back towards his cabin where he once again sheltered himself. Many of the crew's eyes rose as their faithful captain once again decided to disappear. Before long, however, Jack slammed the door open and glided over to the wheel, squeezing some parchment between his fingers the whole way. He mumbled a few incoherent words to himself, not that that was unusual, and directed the Pearl towards the oncoming ship.

"Raise a flag o' truths!"

Many of the crew were slightly confused, but did as told without question. He was their captain for a reason: Jack always did what was best for everyone. He lifted the paper to his eyes, scanning across the swirls of ink. Without a second glance, he stuffed the parchment into his coat pocket and simply waved at the commodore whose ship was currently situated across from his. Jack put on a mock face of happiness as Norrington made his merry way onto the Pearl. He whistled his favorite tune as the commodore walked firmly across his deck. He let out the last note as his personal bubble was invaded by his best friend (SARCASM! HAHA).

"Good evening Commodore. How may I be of assistance?" he asked thoughtfully.

"It would be wise for you to simply stick your hands in front so I can place these lonely irons onto them without struggle."

"Now, now Norrie, that's not the way t be treating an old friend, besides, where's the fun in that?."

"I will not be spoken to with such disrespect as you have so kindly just showed me."

"I'm terribly sorry, please forgive me."

"I don't think I can."

"Well then, may I ask you a question?"

"I don't believe I have a choice now do I?"

"Of course ye do, but how bouts ye step into me cabin for a cup o' tea, eh?"

"For whatever reason Mr. Sparrow?"

"Captain, if you please, sir. I have some, uh, things I wish to discuss with you is all, savvy?"

Norrington nodded in approval and shooed away the men trailing after him. After setting one foot into Jack's quarters, he cringed in disgust and tried to back out of the cabin.

Jack shook his head and grabbed Norrington's hand to be of help.

"Get your grubby hands off me, pirate"

"Ouch, that one really hurt, man." Jack pouted as a large grin spread across his features.

The two men sat down at the table and large black boots, belonging to none other than Jack himself, plopped onto the table as well. Norrington's noise curled up in disapproval, but returned to normal as Jack began speaking.

"Now, I have a proposition for ye. You, being the wonderful man you are, will deliver a message for me to Will and Lizzie and I will come with you, unarmed and locked in the brig."

"You're telling me that you will willingly give yourself up just to deliver a message to the Turners, which and then you will be hanged afterwards?"

"Correct. Oh, and the Pearl goes free, all crewmembers included." Jack whispered, barely being able to believe the words escaping from his mouth. Why is he walking straight into the noose? Oh yeah, he was in love.

Norrington looked Jack over, deciding whether or not his piratical acquaintance had any tricks up his sleeve.

"Why are you doing this?" questioned Norrington.

Jack looked down, unable to meet the commodore's gaze and muttered some unintelligible words.

"What was that?"

"Because I love her.."

"Who is this woman that, er, took your heart?" Norrington asked simply because his curiosity got the best of him.

"Why are ye suddenly so interested Commodore?"

"I believe we're having more of a man to man type talk rather than an interrogation." He replied coolly.

A small 'ah' was released from Jack's soft lips as he considered telling Norrington.

"Miss Gemma Doyle."

"Did she not disappear after a pirate raid in her home town?"

"Yes."

"Where to?"

"The Pearl."

"Under slavery or own free will?"

"Well, I suppose ye could say it t'was her free will. She took passage instead of 'er father. But then she just became part of the crew."

"I see…well Captain Sparrow, I believe we have an accord." Norrington stuck out his waiting for Jack's to do the same for a final touch. Jack did so, and once he let go, Norrington wiped his hand on his uniform. He actually felt a bit guilty for taking Jack up on his offer. It was his duty to arrest any pirate he laid eyes on, but his heart didn't want to see the man before him have a short drop and a sudden stop. Anamaria looked up as the two men exited from his quarters, Jack having irons around his wrists. She unsheathed her sword but Jack stopped her with one of his looks saying 'I know what Im doing woman!'. The crossed the plank and walked over to the Navy's ship, but not before Jack made a final speech.

"I would like to name Anamaria Captain, since I still owe 'er a ship, and Gibbs of course the first mate." He shouted to the crew. Henry stifled a grunt as Jack gave him no position.

"But I would like Henry to co-captain the Pearl with Ana. He risked a great deal for us, and ye all know it too, so I don't want ter hear any complaints from those dirty mouths of yours."

Everyone nodded and Henry looked like he struck gold, but it was soon washed away with the question of why is Jack leaving?

"I will have you all know that I will not be returning to the Pearl at any time soon, and I wish fer ye ter continue running it like always, even with my lack of presence. Do not come and fetch me, it will only result in a fight, which I don't want to have you take part in. Thank ye all for the privilege of being yer captain." With that said, Jack nodded to the crew and tipped his hat.

"Till we meet each other again, whenever that may be!" he yelled. No one said a word as Jack was drug down to the brig. They all simply stared as the ship sailed away with their beloved captain. Even Anamaria was in a state of shock. Too many bad things have been happening, and to loose Jack on top of Gemma, well that was just a little too much. Everyone had a feeling that they would never again see him, and that pained them all to loose a man so fine. He gave himself up to the gallows and there was no way to stop him. Gibbs walked over to Ana and patted her back lightly, hoping to be of some comfort. She took a deep breath, obviously being on the verge of tears, but she toughed it out. Henry walked up to her other side and together the three of them walked up the wheel, preparing to turn away.

"That stupid, egotistical man thinks he can get out of anything, doesn't he?" Anamaria asked the two men.

"I don't think he's trying ter escape this time lass." Gibbs replied in a notch above a whisper.

"Bastard…" she mumbled.

"He's gone now and it's best to remember all the good times we 'ad with that fool, right

Ana?" Henry asked.

Anamaria nodded and turned towards her fellow captain. She looked up into his eyes and saw that he too was holding back some water works.

"It appears that we've all been affected by this more than we ever imagined, huh?" she questioned.

"Looks like it. Always thought that man was invincible, but I guess everyone has ter go sometime."

"Still doesn't explain why he left and gave 'imself to Norrington." She replied coldly,

afraid of showing any emotion besides anger.

"I think we all know why 'e did it Ana. 'e loves her and would do anything and everythin in his power to protect her from 'arm. Norrington's gonna set out a search for her in return for Jack's life."

At the thought of love and the lengths her former captain would go to in order to save his soul mate, Anamaria began to shudder and soon salty tears escaped from her tightly closed eyes. Henry grabbed her and held Ana close to his heart where she would always belong. She hated showing her emotions, especially when it was grief, and was just glad that someone, specifically Henry, was there to give her some sort of comfort. Anamaria was never and never will be one for crying, but when it comes to one of her best friends walking himself to the noose, no one, not even her, can hold the tears from shedding.

Ok, there was the extremely awaited chapter. OMG, im so selfish. I've been reading tons and tons of stories and was so wrapped up in them that I forgot; well I didn't forget I just simply put off, to write the next chapter. Please forgive me. I was in need of dire inspiration and it wasn't until my dear friend came back to me after she unintentionally deserted her favorite, well sorta, writer AKA ME! So thank you Hilary for making this chapter possible and for coming back to me when I needed you most. Together we make a great pair don't we? Well, you guys can be expecting a lot more chapter because I only have one week of school left. That's right, I get out on Friday. YAY! But as a warning, I will be doing some traveling this summer, so there will be times updates will be impossible. I plan on finishing this story within one or two more chapters so I can start on the sequel. Im so excited. But yeah, anyways, you'll be getting an update either tomorrow or the next day, Thursday at the latest. I know this chapter was kinda weird with people who you never expected to cry did so, but hey, I was in a mushy mood when I wrote this because I have been crying for the past three hours after watching A Walk to Remember because that is absolutely the saddest movie I have ever watched in my life. I love crying in movies, its so easy for me to explode with tears, but when it comes to real life and people dying, nothing comes. I don't know why, im a freak like that. So anyways, tell me if you cried, cuz I did. Well, I was already doing so, but hey. So sorry again about the delay and for all the water-works. Forgive me? Ok, good. If you're reading this now then you're still a faithful reader. I thank you all, but most importantly I thank Hilary! Wherever you are, I love ya girlie! How's the chapter by the way. It was somewhere along the lines of what we planned, but a little more depressing. Hope that wasn't a bad thing to do. I was actually planning on emailing you this first, but you haven't even replied yet, so Im not gonna bother since im so excited about posting it. Also, if you don't review within 24 hours, im going to shun you. Well, not really, but I can still give threats. Im really not sure whether I like the whole crying bit. Why don't you all be good reviewers and tell me that its all ok, ok? YAY! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Jackie