Alright! I'm finished. It's all over. Final chapter. Long time in coming I know but I'm happy with it. Let me know what you think. I may rewrite the ending. Any suggestions?

Chapter 4: Anchors Aweigh

Lacey's house was bustling with activity even before Will and Elizabeth had reached the front door. Anamaria could be heard yelling orders from the back room, having Gibbs and the other crewmembers of the Black Pearl organize the day's purchases. Elizabeth ran into the kitchen, colliding with an unknown man.

"Whoa!" he cried, catching the flagon of rum that had almost hit the ground. "Where's the fire, missy?"

"Please move aside," Elizabeth replied. "I have to speak to Jack Sparrow immediately."

"Immediately?" The pirate grinned. He was obviously of Spanish dissent, with a long scar running down his right cheek. "Or not so immediately?" He reached for her, grabbed her arm, and was shocked to find a small revolver pressed into his groin.

"I'll say it again… get out of my way." When the pirate didn't move, she cocked the gun. "Now," she growled.

He stepped to his left as Elizabeth raised the gun to aim at his chest. "Lesson two must have been defending myself against unwanted attention, so let's get this straight. I do not want you to make any more passes at me. You got that, Spaniard?"

The man visibly gulped. "Yes, ma'am. I got it."

Lacey laughed from the doorway. "Aye, Lizzy m' dear. Lesson two was well learned, wasn't it, Banito?" She took Elizabeth's arm and led her upstairs to where Jack was packing. "Sparrow, this lass is a mighty fine addition to ye're crew. Balls of solid rock, that one has."

Elizabeth shrugged Lacey's arm away. "Jack, Commodore Norrington has men here in Tortuga. I saw them with my own eyes!"

Without saying a word, Jack shoved his clothes into the pack faster. Lacey stared at Elizabeth in disbelief.

"Already? Are you sure?"

"Do you doubt me, Lacey?" Elizabeth's eyes were full of rage, daring the older woman to answer negatively.

"No, she doesn't." Will appeared in the room holding his bags as well as his fiancé's. "Do you, captain?"

"Lads, listen up!" Lacey yelled, dashing down the stairs into the common room where her crew lounged. "We sail at first light. Make ready my ship."

Jack winced. "Pardon? Why not my ship?"

"She's right. The Pearl will be under guard by now. The Sea Serpent is the only way to escape that blasted Norrington." Anamaria handed Jack his hat. "Captain, let her go."

"I'll not be leaving me ship."

"Then we'll leave you." Lacey's eyes clouded over. "Don't think we won't."

Jack thought for a few moments before saying, "Aye then. I suppose it's all a bit superfluous, really. What are we waiting for?"

Dawn came all too quickly as Lacey led Will, Elizabeth, and Jack through the streets of Tortuga, creeping through back alleyways and keeping to the shadows. The Sea Serpent was anchored in the harbor, crew on board, ready to sail.

"Ye are the slowest bunch of landlubbers that I've n'er come up against. Move faster!" Lacey hissed.

Once the crew from the Pearl was safely hidden from view, Lacey gave the orders to haul up the anchor. Below deck, Elizabeth toyed with the flame from a single candle. Alone, she could hear the water splashing the sides of ship and the crew running across the boards above her.

"We meet again, my dear."

Elizabeth gazed beyond the candle and let out a blood-curling scream as she came face-to-face with Norrington.

"Is that any way to greet your fiancé?" Norrington asked. "Now, I'm going to give you one chance… just one chance to see the error in your previous actions or my men will swarm over this ship, killing all on board."

"You wouldn't. You wouldn't dare," Elizabeth spat.

"Oh believe me, I would."

Elizabeth thought of Lacey, her mentor and friend. She thought of Jack, with his crazy notions, but forgiving heart. She thought of Anamaria, who taught Elizabeth how to be a good pirate. She thought of Will and how much she loved him, Elizabeth shuddered to think about what Norrington would do to Will. She couldn't let her true love die.

"I will return with you," she whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"I will return with you and be your wife on one condition."

Norrington raised his eyebrows. "And that would be?"

She took a deep breath. "That Will and the others are left alone. That you allow then to sail on and not follow them. Do this and I will go with you."

"Done."

He grabbed her arm and dragged her up the stairs to where the crew of both ships stood. Will made a move to go to Elizabeth, but found a sword in his path. Elizabeth counted her friends, but found Lacey to be absent.

"Gentlemen, Miss Swann has agreed to marry me and leave these pirates behind." Elizabeth's attention returned to the Commodore and to his speech to his me. "Once we are off of this island, the pirates are to be brought to Port Royal to await their trials. Their ships are to be burned, their belongings confiscated. Am I understood?"

"You promised!" Elizabeth cried, attempting to wrench free of Norrington's grasp.

He smirked. "So I lied, just as you did."

"But sir, steel n'er does."

Norrington turned towards the sound of the female voice and found a sword less than an inch away from his neck. "Who are you?"

"I am Lacey Morgan, captain of this ship. And ye, sir, are trespassing. All of ye, drop ye're swords or the Commodore will get his red blood all over me ship." The crew did as she commanded, closing in as a group while the former captives of Lacey's ship secured them with rope. "Now Norrington, if ye'd just step to that ladder yonder, this whole mess will be behind us." She motioned for Norrington to back up to the railing.

"Lacey, don't," Elizabeth pleaded.

"Must be done, me girl. He knows too much."

"Then let me have him." Elizabeth picked up a fallen sword and took Lacey's place in front of him. "You would have killed me, taken my life as well as those of my friends. You would have destroyed ships, pillaged and plundered. You're no better than any pirate."

Norrington made no motion to defend himself.

Will turned to Jack. "Is she going to kill him?"

Jack shrugged. "Don't know, lad. Wait and see."

"Norrington, I have every right to demand your life and to take it." She paused in an internal debate. "But I won't. I give you back you life."

"Lizzy! Ye can't be serious!"

"Ah, but I am, Lacey. I will not be the cause of blood on the water." She turned back to her captive. "However, the next time you follow me, I'll let Lacey have her way with you. Now… get off of me ship, ye worthless scum!"

She pushed her sword closer to Norrington, making him take a step backward into air. He landed in the water with a splash, sputtering to the surface.

Elizabeth laughed as she raced into Will's waiting arms. "I think I'm going to like being a pirate."

"Captain, what of the prisoners?" Gibbs asked Jack, who looked to Elizabeth.

"They are to be set free, left to fend for themselves in Tortuga," she answered. "Lacey, let's set sail. That horizon is looking more and more promising."

"Aye, that it is, Lizzy m'dear. That it is."

3