Alrighty...tis my last chappie for a while...at least until I write some more. I noticed that in my hyperness, I haven't been thanking people for the reveiws I've received! (Gasps from the readers) But I'm going to take the time now to thank all of you! THANK YOU! AND RUM TO YOU ALL!I wrote this chappie...mostly by myself. Beth left on the 10th and so she edited some bits by e-mail. Thank you Bethykins! (That's what we call her on the PotC RPG group.) Anywhosit (I stole it) onto the chappie! TALLY HO!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, neither Elizabeth, nor I, own the rights to Pirates of the Caribbean so we have no right to claim other characters as our own (except Beth and Meg, of course...Through we did come up with the names for CD and Greg (also known as Grapple) ...late night in Houston...LOL). The Pirate King and Pirate Prince will forever belong to Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Once back aboard the Dauntless, the pirates were taken below deck and locked in a cell. Beth sighed, knowing that it had to be done but she could not stand seeing

her best friend locked up again. Will hugged her.

"I'll make sure nothing will happen to them," he said softly to her so that the Commodore and the Governor or any other naval officer would not hear. Beth nodded and smiled a little.

Meg leaned against the cell door. She sighed and started humming 'He's a Pirate' for no particular reason. Jack was sitting in the corner. Bored out of her wits, Meg turned around and sat down across from him. She heard someone's footsteps come down the stairs and Meg turned her head. Beth stood on the other side of the bars.

"Having fun yet?" she smirked. Meg rolled her eyes and smiled back.

"No, not really. I'm bored…"

"Bored?" Jack said in disbelief. Meg nodded.

"Well, actually," she began. "I just thought of something…" A rather mischievous grin took the smile's place. "Since you are both here, tell me about your island adventure."

Beth began to walk away but Meg reached through the bars and grabbed her sleeve.

"No! I wanna hear!"

"Now?"

"What else is there to do?"

"Sleep?"

Meg rolled her eyes again.

"I did that last time I was in a cell…that and put tar in Elizabeth's hair…and I sang."

Beth laughed.

"You put tar in her hair?"

Meg nodded and grinned again. Jack smiled and shook his head. Beth began to give an almost full account of the 'Island Adventure' leaving out some select bits. Will came down about halfway through the tale and listened. At then end, Meg applauded.

"Does he know the reasons to the rules, though, Beth?" she asked.

"Ummmmm…just one…unfortunately it's the kissing one…"

"Oh, crud…" Meg laughed. Jack grinned from his corner again.

"But what are the other reasons?"

"We'll tell you later."

Jack pouted playfully, hoping to break Meg's composure. Meg looked away at Beth for a moment. Beth shook her head.

"Hey, you were the one who started it!"

"What do you mean?"

"You pushed me…"

"But you where the one who replied with--,"

Beth had reached into the cell and covered Meg's mouth. She backed up to escape Beth's hand but backed into Jack. Both Beth and Jack smirked at Meg as a muffled question came from her mouth. Jack grasped Meg's upper arms. Beth raised her eyebrows. Jack smiled like the daft pirate he was. Beth removed her hand. Footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. Norrington soon stood at the bottom looking at the four.

"I don't want you down here, Elizabeth…"

"Why not?" she replied. "I have no right not to!"

"I do not wish to see those sea dogs again until they stand of the gallows! And you, a lady, should not be friends with…these pirates!"

Meg began howling, mocking Beth's cousin, and Jack joined, still holding onto her. Beth covered her smile and grasped Will's hand, beginning to climb the stairs. Norrington stormed away as the howling turned to laughter. Jack hugged Meg from behind and continued to grin.

"So what are those reasons?" he whispered. Meg laughed again.

"I'm not telling because then you will most definitely get ideas," she replied.

"What's wrong with that?"

Meg rolled her eyes again and pulled away from Jack. She sat on the floor. Jack stood over her for a moment but then too sat next to her. Meg leaned her head on Jack's shoulder. He looked down at her for a moment and then rested his own head on hers.

The next morning the pirates were taken back to the Port Royal jail (they had been repaired in the slightest). The hangings were to be in afternoon. Beth came to visit a couple times during the day.

"Too bad it wasn't you on the island…" she commented at an awkward moment. Meg smirked.

"Yea, and then you could've been in the cells with Will. But hey, you get to be with him now, right?"

"Yes, but still…" Beth looked at the floor.

"Hey," Meg said trying to comfort her. "You two are gonna save us, right?" she nodded back at Jack who was again sleeping on the ledge.

"We'll try," Beth replied. There was the sound of the jail door opening to come and get the pirates and Beth hid lest she was seen in the prison and punished by her cousin. Jack jumped up immediately and punched the solider who had woke him. The red coat lay slumped on the floor, unconscious. Jack blinked at him and then looked at Meg, who was already in another soldier's grasp. She grinned at Jack and slowly allowed herself to be taken to the Fort Square. As they were brought out, hands bound, the villagers began to taunt and jeer. Jack glared at them but Meg kept her head down. Jack was led onto the gallows first. Soldiers who were surrounded by spectators of the double hanging surrounded Meg.

"Jack Sparrow and Meg Owen: be it known that…" the official began his speech. Meg noticed Jack murmuring something and then looking around with puppy dog eyes. Then Meg noticed that her hands were no longer bound. A confused look crossed her features until she saw Beth on the other side of the barrier of soldiers. Beth secretly pushed a knife into Meg's hand. She put a finger to her lips. Meg nodded and waited 'for the opportune moment'.

"…For these crimes, they will be sentenced to, on this day, hung by the neck until dead." The Official continued. "May God have mercy on your souls."

Will was in his position, waiting for Beth's signal. The noose was placed around Jack's neck. He glanced at Meg for one last time. He nodded and looked at the crowd again. The drum roll started. Beth nodded to Will who began going through the crowd. Norrington seemed to notice that something was happening.

"Marines…" he started. Then the drum roll stopped, the executioner pulled the lever, Jack dropped, and Will threw his sword. Jack stood on it, slipping a couple of times. Will jumped up onto the gallows and began battling with the executioner. Meg's 'barrier' of soldiers ran forward and Meg ran to Beth.

"That was easy," she said. Beth laughed and turned her attention to the oncoming soldiers and Will and Jack. As Will ran past, he grabbed Beth's wrist, who grabbed onto Meg's, who grabbed onto Jack's. The four spun around at the top of the fort and noticed they were trapped. Norrington came forward.

"I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill conceived escape attempt," said Norrington. "But not from you,"

"On our return to Port Royal," added the Governor. "I granted you clemency and this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with them? They're pirates!"

"And good men," stated Will. Meg poked him in the side and he corrected himself. Jack pointed at himself proudly and smiled at Meg.

"If all I have achieved here," continued Will. "Is that the hangman will earn three pairs of boots instead of two, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear."

"You forget your place, Turner," said Norrington.

"It's right here, between you and Jack and Meg,"

Beth moved closer to Will.

"And so is mine," she said. Elizabeth was not there…she had to stay at home because of her repeated mental breakdowns.

"Elizabeth!" said Norrington.

"Lower your weapons," ordered the Governor. "For goodness sake put them down. She is the Commodore's cousin,"

"So this is where your heart lies, then?" asked James to his cousin.

"Yes,"

Meg smiled at her from behind. Jack looked up and saw Mr. Cotton's parrot.

"Well!" he began. "I'm actually feeling rather good about this," he walked over to the Governor. "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually, ecumenically…grammatically?" He moved over to the Commodore. "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate…know that," He backed away and started for the wall but paused. "Beth," she looked up at him. "It would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry," Beth rolled her eyes. "…But…Meg?" Meg looked up too. "I love you," Meg blinked and Jack walked farther, almost to the step but then turned around. "Will…nice hat." Finally, Captain Jack Sparrow reached the wall. "Men! This is the day that you will always remember as the day that—," and he tripped backwards and fell into the waters many feet below. Everyone rushed forward to see him hit the water.

"Idiot," said Gillette. "He has nowhere to go but back to the noose," As Jack resurfaced, someone yelled, "Sail ho!" and the Black Pearl came around the cliff. Beth and Will exchanged looks and Beth grinned. Meg who was looking down at the small figure of Jack sighed a little. Beth shoved her in the back and she fell too.

"Holy crud!" Jack whispered to himself. "Beth just pushed Meg off the cliff!"

Splash! Meg came up coughing.

"Beth pushed me!" Meg replied rather surprised as she wiped some water from her eye.

"Aye, I noticed that. You alright, love?"

Meg nodded and they began swimming towards the ship.

"What's your plan of action?" asked Gillette. "Sir?"

Norrington knew not what to say.

"Perhaps on the rare occasion pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?" suggested Swann. Norrington smiled a little but immediately wiped it off his face.

"Mr. Turner,"

Will looked at Beth. "I will accept the consequences of my actions," he then turned to Norrington. He pulled out his sword and held it in front of Will.

"This is a beautiful sword," James said. "I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life."

"Thank you," replied Will. The Governor began walking away. The Commodore took a few steps away.

"Commodore! What about Sparrow and the girl?" asked Gillette.

"Well I think we can give them one day's head start," he then turned to Beth. "Are you sure this is the path you've chosen? After all…he is a blacksmith,"

"Oh no," replied Beth looking at Will with her sarcastic smile and taking off his hat. "He's a pirate, and I love him that way," Norrington nodded and walked away. Will leaned in and kissed Beth for a really long time. After, they watched the Pearl until it sailed away.

("Oh my prince…would that you drink of my lips—,"

"Thanks, don't mind if I do.")

Jack put his arm around Meg's waist and grasped onto the rope thrown down by Cotton. They were pulled up by the crew and landed on the Quarterdeck. Jack looked up a little unhappily at Gibbs.

"I thought you were supposed to keep to the code?"

"We figured they were more actual…guidelines," he helped Jack and Meg up. She blinked realizing something and a smile grew on her face. Cotton handed Jack his hat and someone else handed Meg Jack's coat.

"Captain Sparrow," she said and turned to him. She puthis coat around his shoulders. "The Black Pearl is yours," Jack looked at the helm and rubbed it lovingly. He smiled and looked around seeing everyone staring at him.

"On deck, you scabrous dogs! Man the braces!" Many other random orders came out of Jack's mouth. Meg began to attend one of the duties but Jack pulled her back.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked playfully.

"Umm…nowhere…" she replied innocently. "Ah, Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"Y'know the rules?" Jack nodded. "I guess they are more like guidelines too…"

"Good."

"Hmm—?"

And Jack kissed her. He hugged her close as Meg put her arms around his neck.

"Uh, captain?"

Jack pulled back and saw Gibbs looking at them awkwardly.

"What!"

"We're ready to go…"

Jack rolled his eyes and grasped the helm; his arm still wrapped around Meg's waist.

"So now that they are guidelines…what were those reasons?"

Meg sighed and recited the Seven Infamous Captain Jack Sparrow Rules.

"Ah," said Jack after a short pause. "I'll have to remember those…"

"Oh, joy…" she grimaced. Meg laughed good naturedly and then smiled a bit too dreamily…that is until she heard a familiar voice on the wind…

"TALLY HO, MEG!"

Aye, that would be a quote from "The Rocketeer" up there. LOL That's the first thing that popped into my insane mind after I wrote that bit. I did copy some bits from the previous story...but that's only because there was one way to write it and I had already done it. Thank you all for reading! Thank you Beth for helping me with this one and getting the ideas that one hyper night as we were watching Pirates of the Caribbean! TALLY HO! Like GIANT RADIOACTIVE RUBBER PANTS!