Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 18 and the final chapter of When It All Comes Down. Thank you to those who have kept up with this story. It really does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying it. I promise that there will be more to come in the future stories. Without further ado Chapter 18. ENJOY!

Chapter 18

Rose stood with her sister dressed in a gown that her father had gotten her. She bit her lip softly as she looked up at the gallows as the sounds of drums could be heard. She looked up and saw Jack up there, wrists bound, with an executioner checking the mechanism of the trap door with the sandbag.

"Jack Sparrow … be it known that you have been charged, tried and convicted...For your willful commission of crimes against the crown...Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister

in nature … ...The most aggrieves of which to be cited herewith ... Piracy... Smuggling…"

Rose shifted closer to her fiance wondering if this was the right thing indeed to do.

"This is wrong." Elizabeth said softly, taking the words right out of Rose's mouth.

James didn't look over to Elizabeth nor respond to what she had said.

"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law. As are we all." Their father said, speaking for James.

"... Impersonating a person of the Spanish Royal Navy... Impersonating a cleric of the Church of England… ... Sailing under false colors… Arson...Kidnapping, looting, poaching… pilfering... depravity... degradation… and general lawlessness…... and for these crimes, you have

been sentenced on this day to be hung by the neck until dead… May God have mercy on your soul…"

Will walked past Governor Swann, James, Elizabeth, and Rose. He paused for a moment. "Governor Swann. Commodore. Miss Rose Swann."

They glanced at him.

Elizabeth does not look at him.

"Elizabeth."

Elizabeth turned to look at him surprised.

"You should have told you every day from the moment I met you… I love you."

Her eyes went wide in shock as are her father and James.

Will nodded his head satisfied that he had said everything that he needed to before he continued on his way.

Rose smiled a small smile as she looked over at Elizabeth who was now red in the face thinking.

Elizabeth watched him through the crowd as he pushed through the crowd towards the gallows where the noose was just put around Jack's neck. Elizabeth looked up and spotted Cotton's parrot and quickly put the idea together of what was about to happen.

James moved past Elizabeth and Rose, staring at Will. "Marines! -"

Suddenly Elizabeth staggered away from James, Rose, and her father. "I can't breathe!" She said as she fainted.

Governor Swann, Norrington and Rose reacted to her plight.

"Elizabeth!" Her father yelled.

The commotion had distracted the crowd.

Rose put Elizabeth's head on her lap as her father fanned Elizabeth.

Elizabeth suddenly jolted up.

"What...?" Her father blinked a few times finally understanding.

CBPCBP

Jack and Will were surrounded by Marines.

James walked up followed by Governor Swann, Elizabeth, and Rose.

James held his sword on Will and Jack. "I thought we might have to endure some ill-conceived manner of escape attempt." He looked at Will. "But not from you."

"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 is a pirate!"

"And a good man." Will said as he threw his sword aside. "If all I have achieved here is that

the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one ... So be it. At least my conscience will be clear."

"You forget your place, Turner." James said looking at the young man that had admitted his love to Elizabeth.

Will pointed, glanced down, and then back up with a smile. "It's right here - between you and Jack."

Elizabeth moved quickly, stepping beside him. "As is mine."

Rose smiled a small smile. She knew that Elizabeth was picking the right side.

"Elizabeth."

Elizabeth linked her hand in Will's.

"Lower your weapons! For goodness sake, put them down!"

Rose slowly stood with James.

James glanced from Elizabeth to Gillette, and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Gillette gestured for the marines to lower their rifles and they did.

"Well, I'm actually feeling rather good about this. I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically ...I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that. Elizabeth, it would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry. Will …" He threw his hands up wondering what to say to him. "Nice hat."

Rose shook her head as Jack sprung up the steps to the wall.

"Friends! This is the day you will always remember as the day that you -" Jack suddenly slipped, losing his balance and was gone over the edge.

Everyone rushed to look over the wall as Jack resurfaced from under the water.

"Idiot. He's nowhere to go but back to the noose." Gillette said.

James watched the scene below them.

Gillette looked at James. "What's your plan of action? Sir?"

James does not respond, dealing with all of the ramifications of the last few moments.

Governor Swann noticed his delmia fairly quickly. "Perhaps on the rare occasion when pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?"

James looked at him and then turned away from the wall to look at Elizbeth and Will.

Rose stood by James's side biting her lower lip softly.

"Mister Turner."

Will stated towards him, but Elizabeth gripped his arm, concerned for his fate. "I will accept the consequences of my actions."

Elizabeth understood, admired it and slowly released his arm.

Will joined Rose and James who was still holding his sword.

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

Will looked surprised at James and then nodded his head. "Thank you."

James turned away, leading Rose away down the stairs.

"Commodore? What about Sparrow?" Gillette questioned.

James smiled. "Oh, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start."

Gillette watched them go confused.

Rose walked with James slowly grasping lightly onto his arm. "Are you certain that you can allow him to give him one day's head start?" She questioned softly looking up into his blue eyes.

He slowed looking into her eyes. He lightly touched her cheek.

Rose's cheeks flushed softly as he touched her cheek.

He slowly brushed a few strands from her face before slowly leaning in and capturing her lips softly in a soft kiss.

Rose gasped softly before kissing him back softly in return. Perhaps he wanted to spend time with her before he went off to arrest Jack once again. But this moment, it was the moment that she had been waiting for, for quite some time and she was finally happy to know that he cared for her as much as she cared for him. Perhaps one day soon after going after Jack they could marry and have a life together.

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This is the end of the final chapter of When It All Comes Down. I hope that you guys enjoyed it very much and please leave a review and let me know what you think. I know I cut a lot out of the movie just because I really didn't want to have a lot going on in this story of bouncing back and forth too much. Let me know what you think of Rose and James together. I think that they make a smart pair. I will try to get the next story for this series out soon, but it might take me a while since I'm working on a lot of other stories to finish up the first books in a series before continuing onto a second one. Thank you all for understanding. Until next time.