A/N: Wow, lots of reviews to reply on. Not that it's a burden though! I love getting them! Here's another chapter for all my lovely reviewers! Oh yeah, there's some flashbacks thrown in here so if you get lost with the setting changes, I'm very sorry.
obliviongates: Yeah, things have to be depressing sometimes. I've learned it the hard way in a lot of books my teacher made me read in English. Thank you so much for posting your story! I love it, I love it, I love it!
Robinisawesome: Aw man, you're ruining all my fun of torturing Anna and my readers by saying she can't marry him. But don't worry; I won't torture Anna too much. (he he he.)
American Drama: Oh so now that was your favorite chapter, I see. Well, you could say this story is coming to an end or you could say it's just the middle. It all depends on how you want to look at it, lol. (Cryptic, aren't I?)
RC: I'd like to see Anna and Will together too, but I seem to have no power over what my fingers decide to type so I'm just reading this story same as you. I really don't know what my chapters are about till I read them over again.
somegrl28: I don't think Will will ever stop being stupid.
Elizabeth: Yeah poor Anna caught in the middle of her parents and her own needs. Well, I can't really tell you if Will and Anna will be together because that would give everything away!
Forensic Photographer711: Love triangles are so fun though! Don't worry, happiness will come…eventually.
Mystisch: Yeah, yeah, I know. But if everything just went right for Anna, then this story would be boring. I know Will's a fine man but as I said, the story would be boring if I didn't throw in the arranged marriage thing.
Pghal6: I'm afraid the madness will never end as long as I have control of this story. I am quite insane, really (just in case you haven't figured that out yet) but I promise the love will begin…eventually.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Pirates of the Caribbean. I only own Anna Wilson and any other characters you do not recognize.
Chapter Fourteen: Home
Anna stood next to Lieutenant Anderson in the crowd of people watching the execution of Captain Jack Sparrow. She was in a tight, fitted dress and corset like she used to wear before she left with Will. She had forgotten how awful the dresses were and how breathing was out of the question when wearing them. The man standing next to her, her fiancé, stood proud fully dressed in his naval uniform, complete with a powdered wig. He was handsome, no doubt, but there was something about him that made Anna uncomfortable from the moment she met him, the night before Jack's hanging, when she returned to Port Royal.
"Anna dear, you will find Lieutenant Anderson a very fine man," Anna's mother said happily as Anna, her mother, and father rode in a carriage to Lieutenant Anderson's home for dinner.
Anna was to be engaged that night. She was forced into it by her father's guilt trip. Her heart hammered in her chest as they rode past the blacksmith's shop where she had first had the idea of being interested in Will Turner. The shop was illuminated and she could see the silhouette of someone inside, working, most likely Will.
The carriage came to a halt in front of a large house with a very large amount of land. A footman came and opened the carriage door, helping Anna and her mother out while her father got out on his own. They walked to the door and were greeted by a butler.
"Good evening," the butler said. "The lieutenant is expecting you. Please take a seat in the parlor."
The parlor was finely furnished with imported furniture from all over the world. The walls were decorated with fine art from the renaissance, such as works by Leonardo da Vinci. Anna's parents marveled at the luxuries and were satisfied with what they would receive out of this marriage.
Anna sat quietly on a sofa with her head down. She imagined herself on a ship away from all standards of society and all judgment. She liked her life as a pirate, although she was considered a criminal. No one had any expectations of her. She was free.
Anna's daydream was interrupted when Lieutenant Anderson walked into the room.
"Good evening Lieutenant Wilson, Mrs. Wilson," he greeted smiling politely. He turned and looked at Anna. "Good evening Miss Wilson. You are the one your father has talked so much about. Now I see that what he has said is the complete truth."
Anna kept her head down and faked as smile. "I am quite flattered, Lieutenant Anderson," she said trying to be polite as possible.
"Please, call me Matthew," he said and took her hand, placing a kiss on her fingers. Anna nearly jumped back with surprise and rubbed her hand lightly.
Anna felt a nudge on her arm and looked up to her fiancé. The memory of the night before melted away back to the fort, where Jack Sparrow stood at the noose. Anna noticed that she was rubbing her hand, which now showcased a diamond engagement ring. She wanted to take it off forever and fling it into the ocean where it would be forgotten, but the forces that be would never allow it.
"Anna, are you alright? You seem…uncomfortable," Matthew asked quietly.
Anna looked up to him and smiled weakly. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You look flushed," he insisted.
"It's just the heat," she said trying not to sound annoyed.
She looked back down to the square cut diamond ring. The memory of the night before came flooding back to her.
Anna's family and Matthew sat at the dinner table. The two lieutenants talked mostly of politics and the navy, boring stuff like that. Anna's mother listened intently and nodded in agreement with all of her husband's opinions. Anna pretended to be listening as she went through the sequence of events when she was away from Port Royal in her head.
"I believe, sir, that you have brought your extravagant daughter here to hear about my offer made to your family," Matthew said changing the topic.
"Oh yes, Anna has heard of the situation I am in and of how kind and generous you have been to us Lieutenant," Anna's father said, clearly sucking up to him so that he would be sure to get the money he sought after.
"Miss Wilson, I would like to ask of your hand in marriage," Matthew said smiling.
Anna kept her head down. She knew she was supposed to act flattered but she wasn't. This marriage was just a business deal. She knew what she had to say but when she raised her head and opened her mouth to answer, her voice didn't seem to work.
"Speechless from flattery, most likely," Anna's father spoke for her.
"I would very much like for Miss Wilson to answer for herself, though," Matthew said still smiling at Anna.
Anna nodded slightly knowing that speaking was out of the question. Her throat closed up and she stood strong against the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes.
"Excellent! I knew you were a smart woman, Anna," Matthew said knowing it was safe now to go on a first name basis.
Anna faked a quick smile as her stomach churned. She felt as she was about to puke.
"Excuse me," she managed to croak out, "I need some fresh air. Such a commitment is very overwhelming."
"I understand. You may be excused," Matthew said and turned to talk to Anna's father some more.
Anna walked out of the room and could faintly hear the beginning of her father and fiancé's conversation.
"Do not think Lieutenant that your daughter is enough in return for me helping you out of debt. She is not worth what I'm giving you, especially after her encounter with pirates I've heard so much about," Matthew said in a cold voice. "You will owe me when you get back on your feet."
Anna clenched her fists at her side and practically ran out the door to breathe deep the cool night air.
"Damn greedy bastard," she swore under her breath and kicked the gravel on the path to the front door.
She looked up and saw a building in the distance that she knew to be the town jail. Her heart started racing as she remembered Jack's sentence to be hung the next morning, and she quickly left the home of Lieutenant Matthew Anderson without a second thought.
The jail was dimly lit with a few torches here and there. The soldiers that were supposed to be guarding the door were sleeping so Anna was able to slip by them and to Jack's cell. He sat next to the window that looked out to the bay that Port Royal sat at.
"Jack," Anna said quietly.
He turned his head and smiled his usual mischievous smile, but the usual spark in his eyes was missing.
"'ello luv," he said, "thought you'd be at home having tea with your little upper class friends."
Anna shook her head. "I don't have any little upper class friends. They're all to shallow."
"Wha' 'bout Will then?" Jack asked smiling as the spark started to return to his eyes.
Anna smiled slightly and laughed a little. "My parents would kill me to know that I even spoke to him."
"They knew you was with pirates," Jack said simply.
"They think I was kidnapped like Elizabeth," Anna said laughing a little to herself at how easily she was able to fool her parents.
"Ah, I see. So you do have a liar inside you somewhere," Jack said smiling with his usual spark back fully.
Anna laughed out loud. "You know your going to die in less than a day. We should probably think up some escape plan. I wouldn't be able to live knowing that the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow was beat by the Royal Navy."
"Aye, young Mr. Turner was here earlier. He's the one who knocked out those guards over there. We've got a nice plan going," Jack said smiling.
"Oh…" Anna said feeling a bit jealous because she was left out of Jack and Will's plan.
"Don't ye worry, though. We thought up of something for you in case you came by and wanted in on the plan."
Anna looked up and smiled. "Oh, really?"
"Aye."
She pondered the thought of engaging in rebellion with pirates and smiled.
"What do you need me to do, cap'n?" she asked making Jack smile.
"Ye'll be there tomorrow and most likely with your father and that bloke lieutenant…captain, whatever, Anderson."
Anna nodded.
"So ye'll be standing with the navy, eh?"
She nodded again.
"I need ye to distract 'em in some way. Will can't very well save me with the navy on his arse so it'll be very kind of you to keep the navy distracted for at least a couple seconds."
Anna laughed. "Alright, I think I can manage that."
Jack smiled and saw her hand with a diamond ring on it. "Where'd ye get that, luv?"
Anna looked down at her hand and rubbed at her hand where the ring lay. "I'm engaged."
"No!" Jack said sarcastically. "Who the 'ell wants to get married to you?"
Anna half-smiled. "It's more of a business arrangement rather than a marriage. My father's in debt and if I marry this bloke, my father will be able to pay off his debts. I'm merely a tool."
"Ye could come with me on me ship when I hunt down Anamaria and get me Pearl back," Jack said smiling. "Being a tool to work on the ship's a lot more useful than just getting married."
"Thanks," Anna said sarcastically and Jack smiled.
"Eh, it's fine, luv. If I escape in one piece, the Pearl could always use more helpful hands," Jack said.
Anna smiled knowing that going out to sea was what she wanted most…along with being with Will Turner.
"I'll consider the offer," she said.
"Better decide quick, luv. Ye got one night to consider it," Jack said.
With that, Anna turned and left the jail and ran back to Matthew's house with a new spring in her step knowing that she would be able to leave this hell hole the next day, as long as Jack doesn't screw up his escape plan.
The memory melted away once again as an official began to speak and drums began playing as Jack's execution was about to begin.
"Jack Sparrow, be it known…" the official began.
Anna smiled to herself as she saw Jack correct the official quietly by saying "Captain Jack Sparrow."
"…for your willful commission of crime against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be sighted herewith, piracy, smuggling…" the official continued.
Elizabeth stood in a shaded and set aside area with her father and Commodore Norrington. She hated watching Jack stand there all alone in front of his death.
"This is wrong," she said just loud enough for her father to hear.
"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law, as are we all," the governor said looking straight forward at Jack.
"…impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England…" the official continued.
Anna smiled slightly and rolled her eyes. "Only you, Jack, only you…" she whispered.
"What was that?" Matthew asked looking down at Anna who smiled back at him.
"Oh, nothing," she said putting her polite voice on.
"…sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you've been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul," the official finished.
Will stood among the crowds looking up at Jack. He had seen Anna standing next to an officer of the navy with a diamond ring on her left ring finger. She had promised herself to someone else. He remembered her short talk with him on the Dauntless. She had meant what she said when she told him to go with Elizabeth. He saw Elizabeth standing next to her father and fiancé. He knew he had to tell her now or be lost.
"Governor Swann. Commodore. Elizabeth…I should have told you everyday from the moment I met you," he began knowing the path he was choosing. "I love you."
Anna, who had seen Will walk over to Elizabeth, stiffened at the words. She had known from the moment she saw Will look at Elizabeth that she would never be with him, but him saying it took her back. She felt as though someone punched her in the stomach. Her mind went blank and forgot her whole plan of distracting the navy.
She saw Will out of the corner of her eye moving towards the platform which Jack stood on. The whole plan came back to her. She saw Elizabeth faint, distracting the Commodore and her father. Anna smiled and fell backwards gripping her fiancé's arm.
"Anna?" he said kneeling down. "Anna!"
She didn't move until she felt her fiancé leave her and run off somewhere else. She sat up and saw Jack and Will running towards the edge of the fort. Anna ran behind the navy until Jack and Will were surrounded by muskets aimed at them in a tight circle.
"I thought I'd have to endure some manner of ill conceived escape plan, but not from you," Norrington said pointing his sword at Will.
"On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency. And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!" the governor scolded Will.
"And a good man!" Will said dropping his sword.
Anna smiled at his firmness with the officials that normally would break a man in this position.
"If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boot instead of one, so be it," Will said. "At least my conscience will be clear."
"You forget your place, Turner," Norrington sneered at Will who just raised his eyebrows.
"It's right here, between you and Jack," Will said firmly.
"As is mine!" Elizabeth said out of nowhere and cut through the circle of soldiers to stand next to Will.
Anna had thought of standing in front of Jack and offering her life for a friend's, but she was stopped from going anywhere from the firm hand of her father's gripping her upper arm.
"Elizabeth!" the governor said trying to stop his daughter from putting herself in a dangerous situation. "Lower your weapons! For goodness sake, put them down!" he said to the soldiers.
"So this is where your heart truly lies then?" Norrington asked Elizabeth lowering his sword from Will's neck.
"It is," Elizabeth said simply.
There was a long and awkward silence between Elizabeth and her former fiancé before Jack spoke.
"Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this. I think we've all arrived at a special place, eh? Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically?" he said to the governor and walked over to Norrington. "I want you to know I was rooting for you, know that." He walked back to Will and Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, it would have never of worked between us darling, I'm sorry. Will!"
Will looked up acknowledging Jack.
"Nice hat," he said smiling and looked down at Anna.
"Coming, luv?" Jack asked.
Anna moved to walk forward but was stopped by the iron vise grip of her father. She knew she was stuck.
"Not today," she said quietly.
"Aye, I'll be back, don't worry," Jack said smiling, making Anna's father glare at him more than he had been.
"Gents, this is the day that you will always remember as the day that you…" Jack began to say but tripped over the edge of the fort, falling into the water.
Everyone in the area ran to the edge of the fort to see Jack treading water.
"Idiot, he has nowhere to go but back to the noose!" an officer said.
"Sail ho!" the sentry called making everyone's head turn to the Black Pearl which was sailing towards Jack.
Jack swam to it happily and was quickly pulled aboard.
Anna smiled to herself and was pulled away by her father. "Anna, don't you dare pull a stunt like that ever again! You are going to stay right here for the rest of your life married to Matthew! You will never go near that pirate ever again!" her father yelled and pulled her away.
Lucky for her, she didn't have to see the kiss shared between Will and Elizabeth or the acceptance of their wedding that would take place soon. She knew nothing that happened at the fort after Jack escaped. She just went home and waited for the Black Pearl to call her home.
She sat at her bedroom window looking out to the sea for a week, coming out only to eat. It was during the night that her salvation came. The dark ship appeared in the harbor. Anna, with everything she needed packed away in a sack, waiting for her, changed into the clothes Anamaria gave her. She had hidden them in her closet behind all the dresses. She took off her engagement ring and wrote a note of a short goodbye and left it on her desk. Before she knew it she was standing on a dock in the harbor as Jack pulled up in a rowboat with Gibbs and Anamaria.
"Told you I'd come back," Jack said smiling.
"I've been waiting," Anna said smiling back.
Jack stood there with his arms crossed and looked over her. "You sailor!" he barked at her, making her jump back about ten feet.
"Aye?" she said quietly.
"Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" Jack asked smiling.
Anna laughed. "Wind in the sails," she said imitating Cotton's parrot.
She got in the boat and rowed to the Black Pearl and left to sea, the only place she could now call home.
A/N: The end…or not? lol. Yeah, I really don't want it to end there either. Therefore, what you've all been asking for will happen. Drum roll please! A sequel! Yay! lol. You've all probably guessed it already. But first, I have an after word kind of think coming soon so keep reading! Please review.
