Will cocked an eyebrow. "Wasn't it you who told me that not all treasure is silver and gold?"

Jack was silently for a moment. "Oh... BUGGER!" He shouted. "Bugger, bugger, bugger, BUGGER!"

Chapter Seven…Jack's REAL Treasure

I sat in the little boat, rowing desperately. I HAD to get away from that ship. I HAD to get away from its captain. I HAD to get away from any reminders of Jack Sparrow and my feelings for him. It just wasn't right for me to feel so damn happy with him even when I was angry.

As I pulled frantically on the oars something shone in the corner of my eye. Turning my head towards the oddity I caught sight of the chest. "Oh, crap." I muttered. "He'll kill me for this."

Jack's treasure chest sat in the boat. Why he had left it there I had no idea. Personally, I didn't even want to know. Pulling out a telescope, I sighed. "Where can I drop it…" I wondered out loud. I wouldn't go back to that ship. Even if it meant dumping the chest and all it's glorious riches into the sea. "Ah HA!" My eyes landed on a sand bar and I slowly repositioned the boat before Jack's voice rang out in my ears. Throwing my head up, I muttered a curse.

Jack waved at me from the railing of the Black Pearl. "You're in for it now, Missy!" He shouted above the roar of the crew.

With a moan, I dropped the oars and leapt out of the boat, swimming for the sand bar. I was nearly there when the Pearl reached me and Gibbs threw down a rope. "I'd take it if I were you, Virginia!" He called out.

With a moan I snatched the rope and glared up at him. "Well, gee, Mr. Gibbs. Isn't that SO kind of you!" I yelled before muttered "Bastard" under my breath.

Gibbs hauled me aboard and Jack came tearing towards me from the Quarter Deck. "Virginia… Whatever-Your-Last-Name-Is!" He screamed. "How DARE you take off with my treasure?" My eyes narrowed as he scolded me. "Do you know what the term TREASON means! It means taking something that doesn't belong to you!""Actually, Jack, treason is a betrayal of trust or confidence." Elizabeth laughed from her position beside Will. "And STEALING is taking something that doesn't belong to you."

Jack glared at her. "I'll call it whatever I like! Now shut up, Miss Swan, and let ME deal with this miscreant!"

"MISCREANT?" I shrieked as I shoved Jack's shoulder. "A MISCREANT, am I? Then, TELL ME, Jack. Why on EARTH would I have had second thoughts on abandoning the ship? Why on EARTH would I have felt badly once I realized that your precious TREASURE was on board that boat. Why on EARTH would I feel like crap because I couldn't forgive you for doing what was in the nature of EVERY MAN ON EARTH? Tell me Jack. How in the HELL am I a MISCREANT?"

I felt like I was about to explode form the anger that was building up inside me, heating my flesh to a feverish red. Jack's eyes were wide as I felt that heat and anger swiftly melt away. "Why on earth would I wish to every deity I've ever heard of that you would feel the same way for me as I do for you?" My voice dropped to a whisper as I hung my head, fighting against a sudden onslaught of tears. "Why would I pray every night that you would come to me and tell me that I was the one you'd been searching for my whole life? If I'm such a miscreant, why would every stroke of those damnable oars make me feel as if I was betraying you?"

I could feel the silence of the crew in my very skin as Jack's hands landed on my shoulders and pulled me towards him. "You're a miscreant because you kept going." He whispered. "Even if the chest WASN'T in the boat, a piece of my treasure would still be with you." I pulled away and my hand flew to the locket. It felt so natural to have that bit of jewelry with me that I had completely forgotten about it. "Not that." He sighed. "Even if you left this ship with absolutely NOTHING on your person, a bit of my treasure would have still been lost."

"What are you talking about?" I asked quietly. "If I didn't have anything of yours than how could…"

"You're my real treasure, Ginny." Jack laughed and laid his forehead against mine. "Silver and gold seem like grains of sand compared to you." I laughed and raised my lips to his own as the words slipped from his mouth. "I love you…"

I heard Elizabeth laugh as Will spoke to the crew. "Today, I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than 'I told you so'."