Sail On Silver Girl

Chapter 24

The fine sand caressed the soles of her bare feet as she descended down the dunes toward the beach. Silver squinted at the horizon – a frail line of warm orange announced the end of night, yet it would be at least a couple of hours before the sun had completely risen and the morning fog disappeared. As her eyes scanned the shore she noticed that her eyes became misty at the thought of never returning to the life at sea she had come to enjoy so much. Without wanting to admit it, Silver's eyes were searching for the Pearl, but the large black ship wasn't in sight. With Jack gone, she had lost both the love of her life and the ticket to endless freedom on the oceans. As this realization hit her, Silver feared her knees might give way. She wasn't made to be a queen, and the thought of turning a pompous landlubber again made her sick.

Suddenly her eyes caught the silhouette of a dark figure contrasting to the white of the sand. Silver couldn't distinguish whether it was a particularly large piece of driftwood, or a human, though the former seemed more probable as she couldn't imagine another person as daft as her to go gallivanting along the beach in the wee hours of morning.

Her curiosity was awakened though, and Silver casually slid the rest of the way down the sandy dune, thankful for any distraction that would take her mind off of Jack.

Her thoughts wandered back to Jonathan. Yes, leaning back into his strong, loyal arms and letting him take care of her would offer a relationship guaranteeing security. But also one promising boredom. Silver needed the thrill, the endless adventure that seemed to follow Jack Sparrow any- and everywhere he went. Jack impersonated the freedom she craved, the desire to live life to its fullest, the boundless excitement of sailing the seven seas and the overwhelming lust they had shared. It had been Jack who had made her feel these extremities. Jack had made her laugh, he had made her yell and cry, and slap him. Silver was no longer an empty shell when around the roguish pirate: Jack Sparrow had made her alive again.

Bitter tears started welling up in her eyes, as she understood that her realization came too late. If only, if only…if only she had another chance! The tremendous need to tell Jack how she really felt was almost too much to bear. While she wiped her tears away angrily though, she didn't know just how soon her wish would be answered; her vision cleared and she was surprised to be this close to the mysterious figure on the beach already.

Then her heart seemed to cease its constant rhythm for a second, only to race twice as fast as she realized exactly who was lying mere meters in front of her, soundly asleep.

Jack hadn't left yet. Whatever he had been doing on this remote part of the beach, he hadn't left her behind – and Silver was close to dancing of joy. She kneeled down in the sand next to him, lovingly straightening his bandana and trying to memorize every beautiful contour, every scar of the man she loved. Yet as Jack turned in his sleep and stroked his goatee, Silver withdrew her hand, full of fear. The feeling of happiness was replaced by a nagging sense of doubt: what if Jack wanted nothing to do with her anymore? What if she would humiliate herself, confessing her love only for her hopes to be dashed again? What if he had seen her and Jonathan? Her stomach turned at the thought and she damned that fateful night. She couldn't bear to be hurt another time…but could she bare a life without Jack? Wasn't this what she wanted? To take risks, instead of living a boring life? Her hand hovered over Jack's cheek again, and yet she did not dare touch him. Kneading her fingers, she contended herself for a while just staring aimlessly into the sun, whose dangerous crimson peeked out of the water, and inhaling Jack's scent, memories flooding her mind. Jack, how he kissed her on the deck of the Pearl…Jack, how he sat beside her during her fever….Jack, how he held her in that alley…Jack wiping her tears…

Silver mentally jumped at the feeling of a warm hand placed on her neck and all her thoughts vanished abruptly as said hand began to caress her there. Not daring to turn, Silver waited for Jack's voice, which, with its sleepy husk, send her mind reeling.

"Decided to return to ol' Jack, eh?", he whispered mockingly, but when Silver's eyes finally met his she couldn't miss the obvious joy and relief in them.

Silver nodded silently, but then all she had wanted to tell him burst from her at once, and she didn't even care if she sounded too mushy for a pirate. Deep in her heart, a part of her was still a vulnerable girl…

"Jack…oh Jack, you cannot believe how relieved I am that you haven't left me behind. I feared…I was so scared that you had set sail again, that the Pearl and my last chance were gone, and there is still so much I have to tell you…I…I…." Her excited voice faltered and dropped to a shy whisper, but her eyes stayed fixed on Jack's. "I cannot imagine a life without you."

After a minute of silence, the heat between the two almost tangible, Jack cleared his throat and brought a hand to Silver's face, gently rubbing her there with his thumb.

"I…I had a speech actually thought up for this occasion…ah, of course, something very eloquent, to do with the scales of a fish, or was it – "

"Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"Shut yer mouth, just this once…"

Jack happily obliged to this request and moved in to claim Silver's soft lips, curled into a smile, as his. He was stopped by a whisper though, almost too hushed to be heard, and Jack froze as he heard her words. His full lips hovered over hers as Silver sighed.

"I love you, Jack Sparrow."

His voice was low, husky and full of emotion as he answered,.

"And I seem to have taken a rather similar liking to ye, love…"

Silver smiled at his choice of words. Typically Captain Jack Sparrow. Her captain.

And finally said Captain closed the last space between them, just in time for the warm rays of the morning sun to completely emerge out of the endless ocean and bathe the beach into stunning hues of reddish orange and pinkish gold, turning the sea into a field of diamonds.

The union of their lips wasn't gentle, but filled with the irresistible yearning for each other, tongues moving over and over heatedly as they sealed their love. They separated slowly, savoring the restored intimacy between, neither able to fully grasp the sudden, unexpected turn of events that returned them to each other.

Jack pulled Silver down into the sand next to him, propping his head up on his hand to lovingly gaze at her face and play with a strand of her ebony hair.

"I've missed ye…Sam." He confessed with a twinkle in his dark eyes. Reminded with his mention at her masculine disguise, Silver giggled, playfully boxing Jack into his shoulder before resting her head there.

A final dark thought disturbed her though: was she to confess her little escapade with Jonathan? Her brows furrowed slightly…but as she looked at Jack with a mischievous smirk on his lips she decided against such a declaration of guilt. Every woman has the right to her little secret she thought…and she bet that Jack has more than enough of his own. Besides, they were pirates, always encompassed by an aura of mystery rather than complete transparency of character. And she already knew she would love every moment of this new life.

Feeling brave and intoxicated by the mere presence of Jack, Silver unconsciously licked her lips and, to Jack's approving smile, tugged at his shirt collar to bring him closer. Snaking his hand around her neck Jack pulled her on top of him and Silver pressed her lips to his in another soaring and breathtaking kiss, both completely oblivious to the world around them as their love for each other was finally requited.

A/N: The End. I know it took a while to update, and considering I didn't start the chapter before tonight I feel really guilty. But now I was too eager to update for you guys that to wait another day to check the chapter – hope you don't mind, but instead like it! Once again, thanks to all my reviewers, you guys have kept me going with this story. I would love to pass the 200 mark (my goal ;-)) – and remember, I can see who read at the hit count. Hehehheee.

Replies!

Leira925: Thanks for your long review! Haha, your German skills are really impressive, by the way. Now to answer your questions: her mother died when with another child (I think I mentioned it somewhere?), so it was only her and her father. And, also, it's just a week or so after her father died, so the city is still mourning and didn't "fall apart" – although I see how you can get that impression ;-) Sorry, I'll make it clearer when I rewrite!

Last Petal of a Dying Rose: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

Auburn Emotion: I know what it's like to be busy, don't worry. Glad you reviewed! Thanks!

Rose Atlee: hehe, thanks for the suggestion. Hope this chapter was to your satisfaction…?

AttackingHentaiChibisLoveFluff: you get them back together. And Jack's not even hurt, great, right:D

Rika: Wow, thanks, I'm really glad you think so!

Cap'n Meg: I appreciate you spending two hours just to read all of this! I'm amazed! Thanks so much, and sorry for the delay!

crazeeI: I know it took quite a while, but hope you sticked with it…thanks for your review!

Smegginbrilliant: yes, they are meant for each other. Hehehe. Hope you liked the chapter, I appreciate your reviews!

A special thanks to Sparrow's Someone, psychotic kitten, Rose Atlee and punkdpirate for being AWESEOME reviewers – you guys were great, thanks for your constant feedback!

Well, that's it I guess, thanks for sticking with me and this story everyone and don't forget your last chance to review!

Ta,

Sereture