Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 13 of Jaded. Thank you to those who have left reviews for this story, it really does mean a lot to me. We're getting closer and closer to the end of this story. I hope that you guys will continue to enjoy Rose. I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Without further ado Chapter 13.

Chapter 13

Elizabeth was thankful that they had been saved from the island. She and her older sister listened to what their father said before going on in attack mode. "But we've got to save Will!"

"NO! You're safe now. We will return to Port Royal immediately -– not go gallivanting after pirates." Their father snapped at the two of them.

Rose winced looking down knowing that she went against her father's words by going after Elizabeth.

"Then we condemn him to death!"

"The boy's fate is regrettable ... But then, so is his decision to engage in piracy."

"To rescue me! To prevent anything from happening to me!"

James's eyes went wide wondering if there was another motive for him going after the pirates.

Jack saw an opening and played Norrington. "If I may be so bold as to inject my professional opinion. ...The Pearl was listing near to scuppers after the battle. It's very unlikely she'll be

able to make good time. Think about it. The Black Pearl ... the last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, mate. How can you pass that up, right?"

James looked over at Jack. "By remembering that I serve others, Mister Sparrow, not only myself."

"Commodore, I beg you - please do this ... for me. As a wedding gift for you and my sister."

Rose's eyes went wide.

Everyone was taken by surprise by what Elizabeth had said.

James looked at Elizabeth weighing her words before looking over at Rose.

"Elizabeth ... are you accepting the Commodore's proposal for your sister?" Her father asked, his eyes wide.

"I am."

The Governor looked at his eldest daughter. "Do you accept the Commodore's proposal?"

Rose swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked up into James's eyes. She took a shaky breath and slowly took James's hand. "I do." She said softly.

"A wedding! I love weddings! Drinks all around!" Jack looked over and saw the look on the Commodore's face. "I know. "Clap him in irons", right?" He questioned holding up his hands.

"Mister Sparrow. You will accompany these fine men to the helm and provide us with a bearing to Isla de Muerta. You will then spend the rest of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase 'silent as the grave.' Do I make myself clear?"

"Inescapably clear."

Mutogg and Mullroy escorted Jack away from them.

CBPCBP

James crossed towards Rose who was talking with Elizabeth softly.

"Commodore, I must question the wisdom of this." The Governor questioned James softly.

"With all due respect, Governor …" He quickly checked himself before getting upset with Elizabeth and Rose's father. "Mr. Turner is a subject of the British crown, and therefore under

my protection."

"Rightly so. Take care of her." The Governor said softly looking back at his daughters who were busy talking about something important.

James walked towards Rose and Elizabeth. "Rose… Miss Swann. I find myself … worried that your answer is perhaps ... less than sincere."

Rose looked up at James. "I would not give my word lightly." She said softly, her cheeks flushing some.

"I know. But is it wrong for me to wish for it to be given unconditionally?"

"It is not a condition. It is a request. Your answer would not change mine. You are a fine man ...

James." Rose said softly.

James just for a brief moment, smiled into a wide boyish smile before his military bearing reasserted himself. "Well. Very well. Excellent." He offered his arm to her.

Rose looked over at Elizabeth who nodded her head before she slowly took James's arm. She slowly walked with him.

James looked at her with a soft look on his face. "Your sister is quite the little planner…"

Rose looked over at James, her brows furrowed.

"She never wanted to marry me, but knew what was best…"

Rose's cheeks flushed. "She thinks we'll make a fine pair…" Rose admitted softly. "She had told me countless times to begin with…" She said as she tucked some hair behind her ear. "She means well."

James nodded his head slightly. "You have grown into a fine woman…"

Rose looked over at him, her eyes locking with his. "And you are a fine man… any woman would accept your proposal…"

James gave her a small smile. "You always did have a bright side of thinking of things."

Rose nodded her head shyly.

"I have to admit… you did a fine job helping your father with Elizabeth."

Rose nodded her head shyly as she worried about her lower lip between her teeth. "Yes." She said shyly.

"You would make a wonderful mother."

Rose looked up at him blushing, dusting her cheeks. "You really think that?"

James gave her a boyish smile and nodded his head. "I do."

Rose nodded her head shyly. "You'd make a wonderful father… a doting one at that. You'd protect us."

James cleared his throat, nodding his head shyly.

CBPCBP

James and Rose strided up to Elizabeth and Jack who were busy talking and the two of them stepped back.

James tossed Jack his compass. "With me, Sparrow."

Jack turned and gave Elizabeth a brief backwards glance and he followed James after James bidded his fiancee Rose a good night.

Rose came over to her sister shyly biting her lip softly. "I know why you did what you did." She said softly to Elizabeth. "You accepted the proposal for me…"

Elizabeth turned to her sister. "You and James… are the perfect match."

Rose looked down shyly, her cheeks flushing. "You wanted to save Will so you can also have that very happiness that you know James will give me…"

Elizabeth nodded her head shyly. "It is."

Rose looked up at her sister. "I could never thank you enough for this…"

Elizabeth gave her sister a smile.

CBPCBP

Elizabeth struggled as she was hustled inside by Gillette and two marines alongside her sister.

"Sorry, but it's for your own safety!" Gillette said as he went to go towards the door.

Rose slowly sat down on the bed biting her lower lip.

"I don't care what the Commodore ordered! I have to tell him – the pirates - they're cursed! They can't be killed!" Elizabeth said as she looked at Gillette with wide eyes.

"Don't worry miss, he's already informed of that. A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told him the whole story." Snickering with the marines, he shut the door.

Elizabeth turned away angry. "This is Jack Sparrow's doing."

"Does that surprise you that it's his doing, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth paced around back and forth in anger.

Rose looked up at Elizabeth watching her pace back and forth in anger. "Pacing around on the floor isn't going to help you any, Elizabeth…"

Elizabeth looked up at Rose as an idea came to her.

Rose looked up hearing the door being knocked on lightly.

"Rose."

Rose swallowed the lump in her throat. "Go." She whispered softly to her sister.

Elizabeth nodded her head.

Their father let out a soft sigh. "I just want you to know .. I believe you made a very good decision today ...Couldn't be more proud of you. But, you know, even a good decision,

if made for the wrong reasons … could be a wrong decision."

Rose slowly went to the door and put her hand lightly on it. "It isn't a wrong decision father… Elizabeth knew that I loved him when he proposed to her… she wanted to make things right."

"You are wholeheartedly in this choice?" He asked softly.

Rose took a soft nervous breath. "Yes. I am." She said softly.

The door slowly opened and his eyes went wide seeing several knotted bed sheets hanging from the captain's cabin window. He moved to the opened window and glanced out, glanced up and then looked out at the black sea. "Oh ...What have you done?"

Rose slowly came over to her father. She put her hand on his shoulder. "Father… she loves him."

Governor Swann took a breath and looked at his eldest daughter. "You sound so much like your mother when she married me."

Rose looked down shyly, biting her lower lip softly.

Her father turned on his heels. "Rest we'll be home soon."

Rose nodded her head softly.

He walked towards the door and opened the door despondent. A body plummets to the deck in front of him.

Rose's eyes went wide as she got up to her feet after having sat down only seconds before. "Father?"

Her father shut the door gently, trying to go unnoticed. He looked back at his daughter. "Sit, darling."

Rose slowly sat back down on the bed biting her lower lip.

Her father peered out the glass window at the mayhem that was going on the deck. He dropped down below the window and peaked up again as the face of a dead marine slammed into the glass right next to him.

Rose jumped nervously.

Her father looked up and saw a pirate looking at him. He cowered and began to back away from the window below the window.

A pirate hand reached through the windows grabbing at him. One of the pirate hands grabbed onto his wig and pulled it off his head.

He refused to let it go and had a tug of war with the pirate over the wig. He grabbed a bullhorn off the table behind him and whacked at the skeleton arm which fell to the floor.

Rose's eyes went wide. "Father?"

He looked over at her. "I'm fine." He said giving her a look to alert her that he was fine. He wouldn't betray himself on how he really felt. He suddenly scrambled dawy from the arm as it began to crawl after him. He stood up watching the arm in horror and then grabbed a map off the table and began to beat the skeleton arm. He then picked it up and struggled with it, then shoved it into a bureau drawer. He backed up against the chest as it rattled. He knew the arm was trying to escape.

Rose quickly moved to her father and he quickly wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her back soothingly hoping that it would calm her fast breathing.

Governor Swann continued to rub her back as the clanging of the sword continued outside.

Suddenly the desk was no longer rattling. Her father slowly got up to his feet. He slowly put his hand on the pull hesitating then slowly opened the drawer. His expression went to a sickening gaze backing away.

Rose shakily got up to her feet wrapping her arm around her father. Rose blinked a few times, hearing the cheers of the marines.

Her father peaked out of the cabin window and saw the battle was over. He slowly came out of the cabin with his daughter joining in on the cheers, congratulating the marines. It

Rose looked at Norrington with an adoring gaze.

James looked over at her and slowly broke out into a smile when he saw Rose's gaze on him. He moved towards her, touching her arm lightly.

Rose looked up at him. "I'm not hurt."

James gave her a soft adoring look. He was glad that she hadn't been hurt in this long battle that they had. He had to admit that it was nice to be back with her and seeing her beautiful face.

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This is the end of Chapter 13. There is only one chapter left of this story. I have to admit that this was a long journey to get here and I'm so excited that it has turned out this well. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Should Rose really be with James or should she be with Jack. I really think she should be with James due to that deep rooted love that she has of him. Let me know though. Until next time.