Instead of doing the heroic and right thing, Gemma just stood there in awe. With her body going numb, she had no control whatsoever and therefore resembled a statue. The drums had ceased and within he next moment, Jack would drop and be gone for all eternity. There was nothing Gemma could do besides not blink just in case she missed it. This was for real; there is no going back. She can't tell him that she still loves him so much it hurts, or the fact that she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. Time is the enemy, and that's exactly what was running out. Jack lifted his head and their gazes met yet again, but it was only to give her a small smile of forgiveness.

A tiny tear trickled down her already wet cheek, wiped away carelessly by a hand, while the other was searching through her garments in order to find something…anything to stand in as a weapon. Gemma couldn't let this happen, she loves Jack too damn much. But her search proved hopeless when she found nothing. All hope was gone and would be lost forever.

"This is too much, I can't take it."  She whispered to whomever was listening. The handle was being pulled down to open the ground beneath Jack's feet as Gemma just turned around from the sight. Elizabeth spotted her and grabbed with force to turn her around.

"Gemma, Jack would want you to watch."

Gemma tilted her head in confusion, but did as instructed and turned around. Within the next millisecond, Jack was dangling off a rope, head to the side, but his smile still intact. No fight, no scream, nothing. Just a smile, which meant everything to her.

"He still loves me" she voiced her thoughts, but it was all too hard to understand with silent sobs escaping from her tingling lips. A finger touched the softness in remembrance. Never again will she get to kiss Captain Jack Sparrow. Gemma vowed then and there that she would never again love another man. The hole in her heart was permanent, and the only person that could mend it was now dead.

Without warning, Gemma collapsed onto the ground in a faint.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Coolness spread through her body, and Gemma moaned in pleasure at its delightfulness. A large hand caressed her face leaving her with that familiar feeling of lust. She shifted her arm and felt silk underneath it with the softness only one bed could ever have, not that she spent much time in it. A grin appeared on her face as she took in that scent of rum and seawater. Comfort enveloped her body as Gemma felt herself rocking side to side. The only place that had all these things was the Black Pearl.

"Jack…?"

"I'm here love. Just stay still."

Gemma nodded faintly before once again slipping from consciousness.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

This time when Gemma woke up, she didn't feel the hand or silk, no familiar scent filled her nostrils, and there was no comforting feeling of being on a ship.

"Jack…?"

"No Gem, it's me, Lizzie."

"Liz? Where am I?"

"In your bed, don't worry. Will and I are here for you. Just go back to sleep."

"No, no I can't. I have to save Jack, I…I …I cant lose him again."

"I'm afraid it's already too late, but at least he knew you still loved him."

No words escaped her lips, but she just nodded slightly at the truth.

"Why was I on the Pearl before I came here?"

Will and Liz shook their heads

"You were probably dreaming Gemma." Will said lightly.

"Wait, how did you know I loved him… love him?"

This time, Will and Liz just smiled happily and decided to share their history with the former captain of the Black Pearl. They started from the beginning when Will was found as a small boy and went all the way to their first kiss atop the fort. The entire time, Gemma was up and listening with perky ears and a goofy smile across her face at the thought of puppy love.

"That was so wonderful of you Will! And Jack did all that?"

"Yes he did, and many more things as well. He also has been writing letters to us every so often since the last adventure and even mentioned you in some of them." Will said.

"Really?"

"Really really." Liz cooed.

"What did he say?"

"Well, he said how much he loved you, and how he hoped the feeling was mutual. Also that he actually cried when he thought he lost you." Will informed her.

"Jack…cried? That makes it seem like he really cared."

"Did you ever have a doubt?" Elizabeth asked curiously.

"Sure I did. All during the beginning. Never knew what he actually thought of me, especially in that state."

"What state?" they asked in unison.

"I was under a beauty curse. It sounds childish really, but it was dreadful. For the first time in my life, I had been ashamed of myself. I was stripped of all my semi-appealing features and turned into an ugly wench. It was absolutely horrid. So, when I met Jack, I thought I would never get the chance to be loved by him. But of course, being the wonderful man he is, Jack had to be the one to break the spell and bring me back to life. There was a storm and I was thrown overboard. He jumped in to save me but it was too late. Believe it or not, I had already died. To me, it felt like sleep, but he didn't know that. When I awoke the next morning, I was myself again, but he was nowhere to be found. I assume my transformation had something to do with him declaring his love for me."

"Wow, that is a wonderful story Gemma." Liz said, completely enlightened, and Will nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, but it was all for nothing. He's gone now; I can't go back to the Pearl without him there. We never even got to confess feelings to each other properly."

Will placed a warm hand upon her shaky shoulder, and Gemma let a few drops of water fall from the depths of her eyes. She brought a hand up to erase them, but Elizabeth beat her to it with a handkerchief.

"Now you listen to me Miss Doyle," Elizabeth stated, "it wasn't all for nothing. You know how he felt at the end, and you experienced that wonderful feeling of acceptance. Not to mention all the great memories you have of your times together. And besides, you will always have a home here with us, don't you worry."

Gemma tried to smile, but instead stifled another sob. "Thanks you guys. You have both been so wonderful to me. I don't know what I'd do without you two. I hate to be such a mess right now, but I can't help it anymore. Why was the commodore such an ass? Does he always have to follow the rules?" she screamed, pounding her fists into Will's chest as he grabbed hold of her body for safety.

"It's perfectly fine for you to mourn, Gemma. Even I can't hold back my tears, and you don't see men crying very often. And, the commodore was just doing his duty, it's all a part of work." Will said, hoping to soothe her broken heart.

Will and Elizabeth grabbed hold of the tearful girl and rocked her to sleep. They left Gemma to herself in the moonlit room of their home, both praying that a miracle would happen, and Gemma would no longer have to live in misery.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

One Year Later:

Gemma stopped at the top of the stairs coughing before heading down to meet Will and Liz. By the time she was down the flight, spots of yellow filled her eyesight, and she swayed with dizziness. Will quickly rushed over and caught her before she fell, but his heart was filled with worry. Elizabeth went to go fetch the doctor, and was soon back with him by her side.

"It happened again Doctor. This is the second time this week."

"Yes, I know Mrs. Turner. I wish I could say what was wrong, but I haven't the foggiest idea. I'm truly sorry, my dear."

"I didn't mean to be rude, but I do appreciate your willfulness to come so quickly. What can we do to help her?" Liz asked.

"Since it appears that Miss Doyle has been losing weight, I suggest you pressure her to eat some more. Has anything else been happening that I am unaware of?"

"Well, she seems to be awfully tired lately, but that's it." Will supplied.

"I suppose she should get all the rest she requires. But if you'll excuse me, I shall be on my way."

"Yes of course Doctor, you're a busy man, don't let me keep you away from the others." Gemma growled.

"Hmph…" he answered and walked out the front door.

"You don't have to be so hostile Gemma. You're sick and we need help."

"You don't have to pretend as if I'm not here when you speak with that devil though!"

"He is not a devil, he is a doctor, and the best one at that."

"You know my opinion on doctors, guys, lets not push it."

Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, we know. The only doctor you will ever want is Jack." Will said lazily.

"That's right." Gemma said in a huff.

Will's eyes showed concern, "Now, what is this about you not eating?"

"That's not true. I've been eating plenty. Truthfully, I have no idea what is going on, but I refuse to believe I am anything but healthy."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes in a jokingly fashion, " You know very well that you're not doing the greatest. We just have to figure out what exactly is the problem. Has anything else happened?"

Gemma looked down and shook her head. She didn't want to say anything that might upset them. Their anniversary was coming up, and there was to be a grand party at the house. Will and Elizabeth were in a lover's trance at this point, but they had already done enough loving. Elizabeth was as fat as a cow from pregnancy; approximately one month left. Gemma wanted nothing more for them to have a perfect night with no worries of her. They had been absolutely wonderful to her since she first met them. After Jack's death, she had accepted their housing offer and lived with them. Life was going good, or as good as it could get without Jack being in the picture. Many men offered to court her, but she politely refused some, others took a nice beating by her own hand after they tried being a little too friendly. But life had gotten a little more complicated after some things started occurring regularly. Things such as the dizziness that just overcame her, and it was true, she had been losing weight. But the most recent of all things was the coughing. Every so often, a random coughing fit would envelope her body in pain and the worst of them all sometimes even brought blood to her hands that muffled the noise from her mouth.

"Ok then. Why don't you go and take a little nap, and when you're done, we can go dress shopping for tomorrow night. How does that sound?"

"Splendid…" Gemma replied unenthusiastically. She just hated being treated like a little kid. That's how it felt with all of Will and Liz's babying. Sure she appreciated the concern, but there is a limit. Besides, they were expecting, and that's what their minds should be on. What shall we name the baby? Is it going to be a boy or a girl? Will it be healthy? Those are things Will and Elizabeth should be concentrating on, not her little spells. Gemma attempted to get up, and was immediately aided by Will's helping hand, and together they trudged their way up the stairs and into her room. She plopped herself onto the bed and tried tearing off her dress. Before long, Elizabeth came in to help her.

"I know you hate corsets, as do I, and with your sudden illness, perhaps it would be best if you were to not wear them anymore?"

"Nonsense. Don't be absurd Lizzie. I am absolutely fine."

"I think your body disagrees."

"You may be right, but it doesn't matter. In this society I am expected to be a lady, and a lady I shall be."

"You may dress up and act the part in public, but don't try to fool us. We're not stupid Gemma. You're longing to go out on the open ocean once again, to use your sword fighting skills in a life-threatening situation, to see how the Pearl is fairing without their beloved captain. You want to go home."

"That's preposterous! I was raised on land and I intend to die there as well. No need for unnecessary complications."

"You and I both know that isn't true. Why do you keep fighting you really are?"

"I'm not that adventurous girl anymore. She died when Jack did. It's too risky being that girl. Everyone she loves ends up dead, and its all her fault. I don't want to be that person anymore. Can't you see that?" she asked, practically screamed, in exasperation.

"Let me go and get a stick, I will be right back."

"A stick?"

"Yes! A stick! To knock some sense into that pretty little head of yours! No one's death was your fault, know that. Stop hiding Gemma. Right now, you're not the girl Jack fell in love with, and I know he would be disappointed because of that."

"I don't want to disappoint him." Gemma grumbled.

"Of course you don't. So shape up! Don't resist. And, for the love of all that is holy, please let us help you. You're sick, and you know it. Tell me whatever it is that you're holding back, because I can see the tension building up inside you is becoming lethal."

"I swear its nothing unusual!"

Elizabeth nodded, not believing her one bit, but decided to drop the topic. She was sure Gemma would tell her whatever was wrong in due time. She finished unhooking the corset, despite the other girl's protests. Liz kept slapping away Gemma's hand when she went to reach for the laces. She was simply too weak to be doing it by herself, which she always insisted she did without a maid's assistance.

"Liz, just let me do it."

"No."

"Liz, please, you don't understand!"

"What don't I—" Elizabeth stopped herself short when she saw what Gemma was trying to hide all this time: the tattoo of the map on her back.

"Gemma, what is this?"

"Ergh, that's a map."

"Obviously."

"That leads to treasure."

"That's a no brainer."

"That Jack and I were after."

"No surprise there."

"But it caused many difficulties. Including my getting kidnapped by an evil man."

"Looks like we've been on the same boat."

"But Barbossa didn't take advantage of you."

"He what?!? Gemma what happened?"

"I think you can figure it out. After that, I would have been killed, but Jack saved me."

"That's so awful! Why didn't you ever tell me this before?"

"I didn't think I needed to. I wanted to bury my past, and in order to do that, I had to be a different person. One who's never been in love, or, or been hurt in any way."

"I understand. But it think this conversation has taken a little out of you, so into bed you go. You must be resting so you may buy your dress later this afternoon. Plus, you heard the doctor."

"Yes, of course, Elizabeth. Silly me, always forgetting I must take naps like two year olds."

Elizabeth shot Gemma a dirty look for the comment, but didn't say anything more and left the room shutting the door on the way out. Gemma reached out of bed and dabbed a cloth in some water and let it rest atop her open mouth. It seemed to be somewhat comforting. But just as soon as the comfort came, another coughing fit took over. She hacked until all her insides were threatening to come up. Delicate fingers picked up the now blood soaked cloth and quickly threw it out the window, where she hoped it was not to be found.

A man outside shifted his gaze to the falling object and walked stealthily towards it from behind the bushes. He peeked over and saw a small handkerchief with splotches of red all over. 'How odd' he thought. But once again his gaze shifted to the balcony and the woman who was hobbling over to railing. She appeared extremely tired and looked like she was having a bit of trouble breathing. 'Must be those bloody corsets.' He mumbled. Before she saw him, he slipped back into the afternoon shadows.

Meanwhile, up on the balcony, Gemma was gripping her stomach. "I don't even have a bloody corset on, and my air stills feels constricted!" she said to the birds out on the nearby tree. Walking back over to the bed, she figured it best to take the nap Elizabeth suggested.

Please don't shoot me! I gave you a chapter! And it's almost done!

Please Review!