NEW CHAPTER

A/N: (A long Author's Note so in case of a want to just head straight for the story - just read the bold letters). I do hope you find the ending believable.

THANK YOU! Tons of thank you to all of you that have supported this story and me for this time! I tend to start each chapter by feeling grateful for all your support because it does mean the world to me! I feel so happy to have you as readers and to receive these kind words. THANK YOU!

Also, I have reread the whole story and I always get struck by how many small little typos I have everywhere. Greatest apologies for that! It is unfortunately a result from me editing my chapters several times before uploading them. Hope you can forgive me.

As you probably understand, which I mentioned at the end of the previous chapter, is that we are now heading towards the end of this story! This one is the last. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy this last piece added to "Married." It has been an eventful and fun journey (for me as a writer) and I can only wish for the same to you as a reader. Hope I delivered something to you... :-)

I want to inform you that this chapter is about x5 times longer than my usual chapters (which tend to be between 4-5k words)! So once you start reading this, make sure you have time! ;-) A final chapter of 20 539 words lays ahead.

I probably should have split this chapter into FOUR chapters (and those still would have been loooong chapters) but oh well - here we go!

Chapter XXIII

Marry Me

MARRIED

She pulls in her breath and takes a step back from him, knowing very well that it is true.

"I would," she replies as if she also realizes it first by then.

He looks to her closely and intently as if he tries to convince her. And she must fight with any argumentation she so can find within her to dismiss his proposal. Because it makes sense. It is a rational idea. She knows as much as he does that it is a suggestion that probably is the best option for her to choose if she so ever wishes to see Frances again.

Thus he pushes the matter even more.

"Then marry me."

It has been inevitable for him to do this.

She keeps struggling with her words as if she is being cornered. And he tries to grasp her fumbling hands while she keeps on backing and trying to find any working objection as to why this is not a good idea. Her marrying Armando Salazar, which indeed had been her utter plan before she fell right into this trap of a world. For an image she pictured being so right, suddenly feels so wrong. But yes, it had been her idea a long time ago.

That was before she believed she ever would meet Jack again. Before she would live through this and everything it has done with her. Before she believed she would fall right back into the very same waves of emotions burning in her.

Before she had begun acting as if she was married to Jack.

Sadly to the event, when it comes down to it she can do nothing but to speak her heart. "I can't..," she lets out. "I couldn't do that to Jack. I'm sorry."

And she hurries out of the room, not even waiting for his response. Knowing she has hurt yet another person, she desperately locks herself inside Jack's office. Once slamming the door closed, she leans against it and exhales heavily. For a world she already lives in which is upside down, in some strange way it has now again been flipped upside down. For one can think it makes the world just normal again, but no, not at all. It could have been normal, but now with everything fallen on the surface.

Perhaps that describes her situation the best.

Nothing is what it is supposed to be.

Absolutely nothing.

To sink just right down to the floor in order to gather herself seems tempting. But she manages getting over to a couch where she can partly lay down, squeeze a pillow and try to assemble her thoughts. Unfortunately, the more she thinks about it, the more apparent and logical it seems to be to choose marrying Armando.

Marrying Armando Salazar had been her plan all along. She had not seen Jack for such a long time. They had intended on marrying. Then Jack came, back, along. For one day it had felt as the natural step. Moving on from Jack and from the way he had left her at last. To move on and try to find a bright future. As bright as it possibly could get.

And with everything she had she did try her best to get over him. It even delighted her to shoot the fact of her moving on right into his face.

But it seems as once it comes down to it, her mind and heart thinks differently. Question is of what she shall do. And the point it even graver, Frances leaves her quite no room for following this intuition no matter what.

Once Armando Salazar had crossed paths with her it had felt natural. To accept his first proposal and her deciding it was the best idea. She never should have entered that alley that dark night. And there on, she never would have been abducted to end up in this mess. Torn on choices on what to do.

If she never had been abducted and brought into this, she still would have lived in her illusion somewhere along either the Spanish coastline and a visit in the Caribbean in between.

Because her inner gut twists in her upon the thought of marrying Armando. It does. Now it does.

But on the other hand. If it is the only way she can retrieve Frances. Then she must, must she not?

Obligations go farther than a wish.

When it comes down it, it is frankly not harder than that.

All she truly and innerly urges for right now is a moment of peace. A moment dedicated to her thoughts, her tryouts of analyzing her options and what she shall head for. What is the most benefitting for them all? For her and most of all - which one will generate her daughter back?

It is clear as the brightest sky on a sunny day in the Caribbean light. She will probably by all chances have to marry Armando Salazar. There is often this saying of how often it is for the first option to be the best one. Maybe that can be true?

For the briefest moment she believes she has reached a conclusion, when of all sudden Jack embarks the room. He does not see her, letting the door close behind him in his rush towards the desk. He searches among journals and books, looking for something.

Viewing him makes this knot in her only grow tighter. Is she in for a future where she never will see him again? Is that what she wants?

They have both spoken for such a long time by a longing of never seeing each other again. How much absolutely despised one another, while they at the same time seconds later can do the precise opposite of hatred.

Lately she can even understand that his actions contradicted his words. Although if he wants her back, then why is he more keen than ever to retrieve the Pearl? Perhaps it is only his ego and pride of himself that speaks. As always. Obviously he cannot want her. But at the same time, neither does he want her to belong to anybody else. It would actually not be too typical behavior of Jack, it really would not.

Him just ruining every aspect of her life.

When he turns around and is stunned by her presence, she figures that she by now must be standing as she watches him.

"Ye're in 'ere?"

"How do we get her back?"

Jack turns back to browsing a journal of papers. "Is your original certificate around 'ere, love?"

On her way over to him, she grabs a journal off a shelf with her 'Angelica Teach' name written all over it. Non attentively she hands him it and rounds the desk to have him looking directly to her. She needs his attention.

Should she tell him that Armando is about to marry her and thereof let her have Frances back?

Yes.

Yes, she will.

"Armando wants me to marry him," she announces.

Not receiving the reaction she searches for, Jack is still down browsing journals and reading papers. It seems as if he barely has heard her.

"Now," she adds and at once have his look snap up to her.

He pauses his actions and must be baffled at hearing this. "Ye consider it?" he retorts, not enjoying what he hears.

When she does not answer but keep on looking at him, he grunts to her. "Angelica, why in hell..?"

"Because he is right," she speaks. "I can't get Frances back as your wife, as Mrs Teague. But I would be able to have her as Mrs..," and she silences for the shortest moment before finishing the sentence. "As Mrs Salazar."

Jack may actually go sick by hearing her speak the words of Mrs in front of that infernal Spaniard's surname. Titling herself as his wife like that.

He disapproves of the idea and demandingly puts his palms on the desk, leaning forward to meet her face very closely. "Ye need to give me some time."

"You need to give me some time," she repeats him.

When he leans back he shakes his head and chuckles. "Are ye threatening me, love, to marry a monster? Is that so?"

"He's not a monster," she fights back and makes them quite talk in unison. "For one, he is a gentleman-."

And now Jack almost explodes.

"Gentleman my-!"

"Offering me a decent solution to this madness!"

He still cannot buy the crap coming out of her mouth. "Ye cannot in fact mean this."

But she is. She is so serious as she has ever been in her entire life. "I'm out of choices, Jack. I am her mother."

"And I'm her father."

With her gaze almost dropping from his, his statement immediately brings her to eye him back at once. It hangs there as if she may not have heard him correctly. She does not understand what runs through her. Is it shock... or an understanding?

Yes, it is a mad world. Nothing is what it was. And probably nothing ever will be.

She finds it difficult to even comprehend why his sentence makes her feel overwhelmed. As if her throat thickens and she must breath heavier to manage getting air. All she can is to gesture him to not approach her once she makes her way towards the door to leave.

"We're going to the Rothleys tomorrow for an early brunch," he announces.

At the doorway she pauses for the shortest moment and looks over her shoulder. She gets it out of her. "Give me time."

But he never promises that, and so on she leaves.

With a bit of an empty hole this late evening, Angelica finds herself to a loss of alternatives. On what to do. She does not manage bringing Frances's home. Specifically not now once Hans has announced it all to the staff. The lie of stupidity, that the girl has been brought to Angelica's family in Spain. In order to have her bond with royalty.

It is something she herself finds highly unlikely. But according to Jack, it appeared as if all staff members bought it. Apparently it cannot be such a huge random act in their case whatsoever. Which is something she would claim finding rather tragic.

In some way or another, she just has got to get Frances home. Whether her announcement of simple change of heart, or another reason she can just make up at the spot and stick to. Truth be told, she does not honestly spend too much time debating on what purpose for such actions anybody would buy. By now, all that matters is to have her by her side as fast as possible. They are running out of time and once Rothley decide to buy Jack's nonsense of selling this island, they ought to be out of there.

It never makes things easier though. The thought of simply heading to the orphanage to kidnap the girl back has passed her mind endless of times. But unless Jack had managed finishing the contract and Hans stopped cooperating with them, they would be thrown under the carriage to say the least. If they broke the agreement and Hans's decided to it, they were claimed as pirates and all of London could be locked in a hunt for them. It was a burden that risked putting Frances for an even graver consequence. It would be a risk to her life, being somewhat related to these pirates. There pirates being herself and Jack.

It feels like a leghold trap. No matter what she does, she either ends up in the gallows but with Frances for the slightest moment - or she jeopardizes having to leave Europe and so on Frances for good.

Just nothing would seem to work.

By the hour before feeling the much needed sleep fall upon her, she decides to head into town. Just nearby to the local church. It has been quite some time for her to enter one. Even more a catholic one. Nostalgia is perhaps the senses she feels upon entering the beauty of the church. Memories of the old days in Spain. How her life used to be and what she thought her life would be with such a future. Never in her wildest memories had she beliefs of what she now has lived through.

Jack Sparrow, the grandest cause of it.

Although he never earns to be fully credited, or discredited, depending on what mood she is on, for what she has experienced.

She has grown loads since she used to live in the convent. Thankfully.

But she does still finds some sort of gentle peace inside this hole house. Specifically in times like these when she is in need of the supportive sensation the most. Her reason to be present here tonight is however another remark that brings her otherwise lowered shoulders to tense. And her heart to throb just that extra beat as if to make her nervous, feel sick and in general ill for her idea.

As a now very fancy lady, she sits inside the confession, feeling the presence of the priest on the other side. While his aura may be welcoming, it is as if she already feels his judging beliefs.

"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned."

"Every child is God's child," the priest greets. "Now, enlighten your heart."

By now she reconsiders. Is this a wise idea of hers?

Well, it must be. It may not be quite one of the wiser suggestions, but it the wisest of choices she has. So she spills her heart out, admitting for all she cares.

"I have entered a marriage in false deeds."

The gasp is heard by the priest and she must throw the woven wall a glare in order to see the shape of the man's figure behind it. But she goes on.

"Nothing in it is for real."

"Oh dear," he lets out while trying to cover up. "What are you saying, my child?"

She swallows and returns her vision to just stare into emptiness in front of her. Yes, that is a good question. What is she saying?

Her hands clasp and she takes a deep breath. She does not understand why, really, but tears form in her eyes. And those are not particularly for Frances here. They are for someone else.

What is she doing?

It is almost as if she trembles. Not only inside but it begins to even bait the tone of her voice.

"And so on," she decides to announce once she has decided. Yes, she has decided. She has. "I am here to retrieve Father's blessing in the act of annulment."

"Oh, my child?!"

She throws herself out into the chamber of the church, the detailed grandiose chamber with burning torches to lighten the colored long windows around it. The priest also is out to view her properly in the very otherwise dark chamber.

"Tell me, what is your name, child of God?"

With her eyes glancing towards the door, it is as if she for a moment reconsiders. But once he has gently grabbed her hands in his and with caring and pitiful eyes which view her intently - she lets it all go.

She needs Frances.

"Angelica."

He nods and speaks her name gently. "Angelica."

"Lady Teague, or Mrs Teague if that helps you more."

Alright. Everything will sort out just fine, will it not?

In the end it has to...

Her eyes travel down to the paper in her hands. A candlelight hanging on a golden chandelier on the wall lightening the paper up. While it is what has been quite expected from the start and Jack probably wants it anyhow, she grows nervous once entering the bedroom, ready to hand Jack this.

Maybe she even feels reliefed to see him sleeping. Breathing and partly snoring heavily. It surprises her to find herself thankful she does not have to deal with this matter now, as she had reminded herself the whole carriage ride home as of to which grand importance it was she just did it right away.

Coming from how the two of them behaved at the start of this circus, she would have slammed the door shut to wake him up from his precious sleep. Apparently she has grown since and developed yet something deeper though, reflecting on how they used to be when together for real - she is oh so utterly careful to close the door in silence.

She even undresses and changes clothes into this nightgown in pure silence. The candlelight that she brings along with her movements to be able to see is even done with most thoughtful actions to never disturb his sleep.

Before joining him in bed, she at last puts down the paper she got from the priest onto the desk. Maybe she would talk about it with him tomorrow. Now again forgetting all about how tough she was in the carriage, ready to speak to him about it.

She views the sight of Jack and feels this thug in her. Or maybe not. If she did, she risked him talking her out of it.

So when she looks back to the paper, she brings a book over it to cover the sight of it.

When laying down to savoring this night's sleep by Jack's side, in here in their bedroom, together with her husband - she is blissfully unaware that it is the very last night for it. Somehow her intuition may have spoken though as she very fast ends up sleeping tangled to him.

By the hours of the morning she wakes by the presence of a maid pulling the curtains aside. She must moan something in her sleep and try to roll over subconsciously to Jack. She finds the spot empty and immediately pops her eyes open. By this time she has grown too used to have him there that it feels overly empty without him. However it is something she never would confess out loud.

He must already have gone up.

She is just about to ask the busy maid when she stops at the end of the bed to look at Angelica.

"Your husband asked me to inform you that the carriage will be ready very soon to bring you to the Rothleys. I hope you slept well, Lady Teague."

She makes a mental note of it and warmly responds. "Thank you."

Once the maid has left to call for another ones to assist Angelica, the lady herself is out of bed and begins to choose her daily appearance. Too many times she has chosen attires not accordingly to etiquette, but Hans's teachings must have paid off at last. She is a master by now in finding a suitable outfit that screams both casualness and nobility. When she reflects herself in a mirror while maids helps her corset, she must even claim that the sight of her is fresh and... quite attractive.

But so help God if they tightens her corset further and she will not be able to breath...

The idea of speaking with Jack about the annulment still questions her inside. How would he react? Is this something she shall do? Or is it better to just keep quiet about and go ahead? Would he change her mind or just think it is the best idea?

She decides this is something she will figure out later.

At least this is the most proper option as for right now. The ache still fills her heart in missing Frances.

Her hair loosely hangs over her shoulders while some hairpins at the same time stick a few strands out of her face into her hair. They are useful to have in there in cases she had locks to undo.

When she grabs the fabrics of her skirt to head downstairs, her pace slows when seeing Hans in the entrance room by the front door, watching her every move like a hawk. He silently speaks to her to not do anything stupid. Quietly threatening her as always. She meets his gaze but never responds to it.

They are no longer a team, are they? None of them are. It has become a competition of who may win the most of a prize, unable the rest to not achieve it.

Jack's perfect timing to appear inside the room brings her to never have to exchange a word with Hans. Silently she thanks whatever up there saving her from this. She can instead head outside and Jack with a gesture of goodbye to Hans, she figures he has already shared the information about them heading over to the Rothleys anyhow.

She has not even started the day with a cup of tea, but it must be the long night's sleep that has given her the energy of the day. She is as for now though very unaware of what day there is in front of her.

But that she will find out.

She wonders how the Rothleys can cope with this sort of lifestyle. Organizing events, even so to host a 'simple' brunch, it requires a bit of effort to avoid any bad mouthing. Angelica would never have liked that lifestyle in the long run. And she cannot thereof claim she would ever be jealous of a woman like Anna. It may be fine living with a fortune to be able to pay for a living without having to rob anything and anyone, however she partly finds it as a necessity to adrenaline. And she quite only robbed bad people anyhow.

But having a noble title like this to live with this fortune without really getting to use it beyond fancy dresses, jewelry and parties, it seemed rather boring actually. This lifestyle certainly did not live up to her expectations. Partly it was better and partly it was worse. Something in between may have been a good option.

She smiles. What is she thinking? She is a piratess and if all goes well she may end up with Frances on a ship. Now she bites her lip. Or married to Armando Salazar and have to figure out if he expects her to be a housewife or accompanied on a ship.

What an odd feeling. Not being able to decide for herself. While he is charming, she truly has no idea of what he will demand of her or expect. How he would be as a husband.

She takes a deep breath and examines every detail around she wonders when again she can relax like this without being hunted as the criminal she is. It all depends on Hans. If he will remove the bounty on her.

While this taste of another life has brought her some enjoyable moments, piracy certainly does allure her vision more than this one.

Her visions are interrupted by Jack grabbing her hand. He helps her inside the carriage for yet another forenoon to spend at the Rothleys.

His eyes burn on her and she meets his stare with a quirked eyebrow. Is it now that she should drop the information of the annulment?

If she goes ahead with it, it would be rightful of her to at least warn him.

Or does she even want to do that? Maybe he will cooperate with her and give her time. He must, right? If he has ever, as claimed, had any sort of feelings for her - he would let her have Frances. He would give her the girl. He would.

He would never let her down. He never had.

But she uses the ride to the Rothley in this tryout of figuring him out. Because what does this man really want? If he wants the Pearl more than anything, she fears he even may run her over. The fearful part is that she cannot be completely sure he will not.

She can only hope.

When the carriage is just about to turn into between the gates of the Rothley estate, Angelica carefully approaches the matter.

"Will you give time to be able to get Frances back?"

"Meaning?"

"Postponing Rothley signing this contract until I have her back."

He seems not too sold on this. "Angelica-."

"No, Jack," she is frustrated with him. And she even dares uttering something before she thinks it through. It simply spills out of her and in her frustration she even misses his reaction to it. "If you love me, you will help her back in my life."

Jack seems almost knocked over by her sentence. Speaking of the l-word. They had not until now.

"If you love me," she goes on. "You will not make Rothley sign this contract before I have her."

And it is quite her deal for an annulment or not an annulment.

Pushing the matter of it, it even grows deeper than that. If he loves her or not.

Feelings she barely knows if she herself can push back anymore.

There is never an opportunity for a reply because they roll up to the entrance.

They had just been there yesterday, but somehow it feels like ages ago. So much happening in such a short time. For that matter she cannot believe either that it was briefly a year ago she lived on just as if she never would encounter a more serious problem than a decision on whom to rob. A thief or a bandit owning a not so gentle tavern, for example.

Who could have thought that she a year later sat inside a fancy carriage, on her way to a baron's estate which has become quite of a best friend to her so-called husband.

Musingly he eyes her and she cannot seem to interpret what he actually says with this. His attention returns to the papers in his hands for a quick last glance. Those are the contract papers, but Angelica's tense shoulders relax.

Jack would never let her down.

He never had.

And he would not. Not now.

The well familiar ride to the Rothleys, down roads in this perfect and exclusive neighborhood. If she had known it was the very last time she would go to the Rothleys, she would probably have savored this particular ride a bit more. More importantly, she may have even savored the night sharing that bed with Jack at the house more.

Her head had tilted to lean against the window of the carriage as the cobble stones made the ride bumpy. She kept her gaze on Jack that browsed papers and when they at last, as for now, ran up to pull a halt outside the front door, Jack placed the papers inside his coat.

A butler is outside to help Jack down it. With Angelica inside, she lets Jack gently guide her down the folded stair. Before she takes the last leap down to the gravel stones, Jack places himself in front of her and lightens her small jump by his hands on both sides of her waist.

The motion is just too warm and... intimate, that if anybody had known they were not married, this would be such a scandalous move. But for them it has grown rather natural. When she lands onto the ground the both of them freeze as if they were out to kiss one another. It is as if they silently know, while they at the same time do not at all.

"Now, we do this, aye?" Jack speaks lowly for only her to hear.

She caresses his cheek lovingly. "Make me proud."

Her thoughts of annulment seem to disappear when looking this closely and intently into his eyes. For just this moment it appears again as if they may as well could have been on the Pearl in the Caribbean climate. By themselves and nobody around. They are not at all at a baron's estate in London.

His lips at last meet hers and while she quite cannot tell he does this because Rothley and Anna are on the porch watching them - or by love, if she dares think so, she understands she cannot care any less anyhow. Even if she may wish for the latter. She would savor this regardless.

Her respond is due body reaction and it simply pulls her closer to him. This magnetic field of attraction can make any woman go insane and so on brings her to great disappointment when he so quickly pulls away, leaving this to nothing but a yet so lovingly but pure - kiss. No make out and no build up for another passionated night.

She must eye him so blissfully with dreamy eyes or else he had not needed to with his eyes motion to the Rothleys to awake her.

She has to clear her throat and straighten her posture from leaning into him to instead join his side. They promenade together up towards the porch and Anna hurries down the last steps herself to meet Angelica halfway, pulling her into a grand welcoming hug.

"Angelica!"

"Anna!"

And Jack leaves the ladies to make his steps up to Rothley. "Peter."

"Jack," the man greets. A servant is fast to approach Jack with a tray, a bottle of rum with a glass adjoined. By now obviously knowing Baron Peter Rothley's guest very well and what he prefers drinking - which is rum. Always rum.

Jack gestures a 'thank you' and has the glass filled. Rothley shakes his head to this.

"Only rum suits you," he points out. Then he nods towards a nearby door leading inside a great lounge room. "Let's go inside. I believe the weather today will not be the kindest."

Jack views the cloudy sky and agrees. "Sounds good to me."

Rothley gestures for the women to join them inside. The room has a long table set with obnoxiously much food. It is colorful with fruits, desserts and silver plates are filled to the absolute top. If Jack could only have that on the Pearl, he would have been delighted. But knowing his crewmen well this often exchanged to booze of any sorts.

He pulls out a chair for Angelica to sit in and she keeps her conversation with Anna. It is quite pleasant actually, in private enjoying just a simple brunch. Eating, laughing and enjoying time. In between, she captures Jack looking at her while smiling, his eyes as if drawn to her. But when she meets his eye, he looks away to focus on something else.

The four of them joins laughter together and for one brunch like this, it is utterly idyllic. At one point Jack even puts his hand on her arm when she is grinning to something Anna spat out. While she has grown in comfort to feel his presence close to her, it still makes her all tingly and she must snap her attention to him at once. Again having him remove his touchy hand and pretend it never really happened.

But as she forces her stare to calmly eye him until he has to budge, he at last gives her a response by winking quite flirtatiously to her. It brings her to an embarrassing blush and she smilingly has to return her attention to the Rothleys.

She would never be able to fully understand him.

So when Anna suggests them to have a walk once finished eating, Angelica thinks this is splendid idea. The Rothley garden is much bigger than the one Angelica has. It has hedges and awfully loads of bushes, plants, trees, statues and flowers. It could come out of one of those fairytale books itself. Appearing like a garden of much secrecy.

"Truth or dare was fun," Anna chuckles.

Angelica's blush grows redder. She refrains from rolling her eyes and pretending appreciating a rose bush. "Sure."

"Oh," Anna playfully nudges her as they stroll. "You can't be grumpy over the fact that you got to drool over your husband, can you?"

Knowing the apparent answer, Angelica hands it to her. "Of course not." But it also brings back the memories of that night. Every touch, every kiss and every sort of edge he had brought her over. Those were of course more private to her heart, and thus memories she kept quiet about.

And this is also something she would have to question. How would Armando react upon such a knowledge? What does he even think of her by now, having her dismissing his proposal like that? He had quite urged her many times to marry him. Perhaps this neglect of hers meant nothing in the end of the day and he would just go on asking her? But what if he ever found out about her and Jack? About what they had done. Would he then refuse marrying her and so on as result having her never get Frances back?

"Well," Anna sighs. "Sometimes it is just too fun to let go, is it not?"

Angelica has to agree. "It is."

"I mean," Anna thinks aloud as she walks. "I just believe we have too many rules to live by," and she looks apologetically to Angelica that is surprised. Does this really come from the baroness? "I mean, not that I ever would choose otherwise - but I just keep wondering what is out there in the world."

Figuring she may seek an answer from her, Angelica regards her. "It is a big world and yet London is the capitol of it all. And you are a baroness in it. It is quite something, Anna."

Her words are actually genuine, even if she herself may not fit in it, this baroness seems to on a grander level.

She huffs. "I was born into this world," Anna declares. "I suppose what I may would fancy telling you, Angelica, is that you should not be here."

Baffled, Angelica eyes her confused. "Is that so?" Has she figured her out?

"Forgive me," Anna immediately apologizes. "I just believe the best of choices for the both of you would have been to stay in the Caribbean."

Oh, apparently not. "How come?"

"Because... you seem so much happier than the rest of us," Anna finally confesses. "The way your husband looks at you. I have never seen such genuine love among any of us here. We are all arranged marriages and you should go before this aura at last even hits you."

"You think my life is perfect," Angelica states as if she thinks aloud.

She had managed fooling them all well... it seems.

She had done what she was supposed to.

While she can claim first prize for this, she cannot seem to get a grip around the almost sad feeling of it as well. So she had really fooled them all?

"If I were you," Anna goes on. "I would return to the Caribbean. There is nothing here. Of course Frances will be here for her wedding when she turns sixteen, but until then I see no reason to live in this... world, London. I suppose she will have to return at last and you may move here with a son or so in the end at last anyhow."

This makes her uncomfortable. "A son?" she asks. "We only have a daughter."

Anna laughs. "Angelica," she giggles. "At points I wonder what idyll you come from, there in the Caribbean. It quite almost appears as if you have not been brought up in nobility."

Quite offended, Angelica reacts bodily by freezing for a second and Anna regrets her mistake. "Not intending to be offensive, not at all, Angelica!" she then carefully continues the matter. "But taking this as an example, you appear surprised that your man must want a son, whether he has uttered the demand to you or not. I mean, at least here in London we all know our husbands expects at least two possible heirs."

Alright, all she needs to do is play along. She does absolutely not have to give Jack anything. At least for real that is. "Naturally I understand."

"Thankfully!" Anna joins. "But your husband, Lord Teague seems to take very good care of you. You do of course fit well in London, but I am not certain this is world's paradise after all, that's all."

Angelica has to force a gentle chuckle. "Oh, Anna, are you certain?" Firm that she cannot arise any suspicions before she has Frances back and ready to for real head back to the Caribbean for good. "I find everything perfect in this place."

Again Anna snorts. "Well, I hope that image remains. But I'm afraid you will see what world I speak of when you no longer have any choice but to live here for the rest of your life."

And then, then she utters the most strange sentence that Angelica has heard the baroness spill. Words she never believed could possibly come out of a proper and idealistic baroness as herself.

"I so wish at points upon reading the fictional books from my library, that I was a pirate."

If Angelica had been drinking something, this is what would have choked her to death. "Forgive me?"

"Yes!" Anna exclaims excitedly. "It sounds outrageously odd, but think of it? Think of the dazzling adventures and all there is out in the grand world for a pirate?"

Angelica takes a deep breath and can almost smell the taste of sea hit her. God, she misses it.

"I believe that world may not be so much of glamour as you may think, Anna," she warns genuinely.

"Naturally, but the beauty of it must be divine."

And that she can agree to with all her heart. "I suppose you can be right."

Meanwhile Anna babbles about everything, Angelica does let her words sink in more. The picture of sea, waves hitting the starboard of the ship. A Caribbean sunset and humble people. For living in this bubble for so long she must have forgotten about it. But now she longs for it more than ever.

Freedom.

Another conversation that grows deeper is Jack's and Rothley's. They have moved for an early afternoon drink inside another room where they can sit in coaches. Leaning comfortably into the softness of grand velvet and silky pillows in each couch while getting warmth from a sparkling fireplace. A servant will in between run up to it to fill more wood inside. And if they so wished for anything, he would serve them whatever eatable they ordered.

"I must admit, Jack, that I have thought a lot about this island... thing."

Ah, and here it comes.

Months of invisibly pursuing him for this must at last hand him the outcome of it.

Because here it goes.

"Do you think this is wise?" the baron goes on, seemingly debating on the matter Jack has been hired for.

The crystal glass in Jack's hand, that is leaning over the armrest loosely seems now heavier than ever. Thoughts of all kinds rush through his mind. Is he doing the best by pushing this, now once and for all?

Or should he listen to Angelica? Should he let her have her plan solving this? Trusting her that firstly kidnapping Frances will bring them any good and still have a chance of achieving this without ticking of Hans?

Partly he does not believe so. With all respect for her, this sort of plan handed him a graver risk of losing his beloved dark Pearl.

So should he perhaps instead go with the plan that he has made up by himself? And has had for such a long time? Even before Miss Pretty-Warm-Blooded-Woman began pushing him into directions she found sort of great in her bewilderment?

The answer is quite easy.

He brings the glass distantly to his lips and sips on it teasingly before swallowing it all.

"I do," he at last lets out, feeling almost scared to his very own answer. "I do. If you want wealth growing, Peter, that is what you have to do. The islands are losing their value, and I can only imagine what the crown would think of shortened wealth."

Peter peers to Jack to what at first seems like a distrust. But it is not. It is a musing mind working in between those bumps and obstacles of alcohol hitting it.

"You must be right. I can admit as much of having a detective investigating you."

Feeling a bit of nervousness, Jack manages to hide it well with an uneasy smile. "Ah?"

"Yes, I did," Rothley informs. "I have got to have anybody entering my home investigated. There can be too many people trying to nestle themselves into my life. And I cannot have that."

Suddenly Jack feels some kind of consciousness poke at him. "I am sorry..."

"Oh, no," Rothley waves with his hand. "I have already by now beheaded too many that I almost find it as an amusing silly little bet. Who is trying to be deceptive to me and who is for real? It is quite a game, Jack, I must tell you that. There are actually people out there thinking they can fool me, in my own town. Can you believe it?"

Jack shakes it head. "They must be silly... eh?"

"Oh, yes," and Rothley snaps his fingers to a passing butler. Harshly he points to his glass which is immediately refilled. "But what I found about you, as I like to tell you, is nothing but impressive words. While you inherited a lot, you still managed building it to at least the double. And I'd like to do the same."

"I see."

"And so on, if you suggest selling the properties in the Caribbean to Governor Milton, perhaps that's precisely what I should."

Jack nods distantly and feels his hand reach inside his coat. The contract threateningly close. Appealing to him like a treasure of gold lingering to be opened and spent in Tortuga.

The contract is in there, and Rothley wants to sign. But he will in that case let Angelica down.

He has to decide.

It is now or never.

Outside in the garden stands Angelica and Anna, viewing one of the many statues.

"It is Rothley's uncle," the baroness announces. "It was him that gained the crown's trust of handling the Caribbean issues - the islands."

Carefully Angelica listens.

"A horrible man, if you ask me," Anna goes on. "However he has given my husband, and so on me, this life."

For this short moment, it is as if Angelica genuinely feels sorry for Anna. While they may have their differences and other points of views, she does appreciate her sudden honesty. Apparently she does see at least somewhat the dullness of even a common day in that life.

And for what a moment when Angelica is about to compassionately comment about it, she will feel struck to keep her mouth absolute shut.

"When Frances grows older she must be schooled well to be taught any language as she will have to keep up with the title I have. If she will be a baroness she must learn how to be a hostess every single evening if she so has to."

If Angelica had not let her face freeze by now, her clear disapproval would have probably shown through very heavily. It seems perhaps after all as if they are not so much alike... But again, it is probably her that pities the baroness compared to the other way around.

However the words are provokative, even for Angelica knowing they would not be able to mean anything as she would not be there anyhow, no matter the outcome of all of this.

"Obviously she must also be taught very wisely on how she must follow our beloved son's any hint. He is going to become a decent baron and your daughter will have an important part to serve him."

Yes, it provokes Angelica very much. She wears however that smile, doing her best in making it genuine while holding her sarcasm back. It would not do her any good to question how a lady born into richness can have such a poor mind. But then she also reckons that Anna has probably never been able to the opportunity into thinking something else either.

This is her world.

But she will absolutely not ever, let her lay her hands on Frances and make her a slave to live up to the baroness title.

And perhaps that is what thugs a bit more in Angelica. She will never allow having Frances live through a life like that. Filled with a hidden misery, but with an outer false perfect happiness.

Suddenly she feels a hand grabbing her upper arm to gently pull her to him. "Love?"

Jack.

"Yes?"

He looks to Anna. "Baroness."

"Lord Teague," she smiles back.

"We are going back home now," he announces and then directs his invitation to the baroness. "You are invited for a dinner tomorrow evening."

Anna responds by nodding once, accepting.

Angelica gestures her goodbye to Anna. "Goodbye, Anna."

With no knowledge that this time it was a farewell.

Walking up towards the carriage, Angelica notices his faster pace and hurries by his side.

"I have some thinking to do," he admits.

Wonderingly she looks at him. Trying to figure out what goes on in his mind. He appears overly puzzled over something.

They are both very quiet during the ride home. Her head is still spinning about all ideas of how to get her daughter back, and it seems rather impossible to even let her thoughts drift from that matter for as much as a second. It is all that goes on within her. Any action she does and any focus she directs, it is all for one result and that result only. To get her back.

Apparently Jack's head must also be spinning. He is frowning but keeps on reading papers during the whole ride. She is never given any attention at all, except for when he in between gives her a discreet glance, as if he then he would be the one reading her. Trying to figure her answers out and debate on them.

Angelica peers to him in her own thoughts. No idea on what he thinks of. When they turn into their garden, it is pouring down and Jack has to keep an umbrella over them. He gets partly wet as the priority is to keep it above Angelica's head. Even she reacts to his kindness and walks closely to him to gently have the item cover them both as much as possible.

Inside she joins Jack's side towards the dining room. There are servants helping them off their outer clothing and hang their coats on a nearby hanger. Over all, Jack is very gentle with her, holding up doors and letting her pass. Comfortably he strolls just behind her as if he wears a watchful gaze over her.

Hans is inside the dining room and Angelica figures that she has to face this man some day or another. He motions for them to sit and they do, Jack again pulling her chair out for her. He does not need to as there is nobody attending except for Hans. Maybe that is even why Hans's eye is very aware of that precise action. He chooses however to not point it out. Things are heading to its end whatsoever.

"Did it go according to plan?" he wonders.

Jack has to nod. "Aye, very much."

Angelica decides to intervene, wondering. "We're having dinner with the Rothleys tomorrow?"

Because in that case she needs to begin planning this. Planning on where the time schedule has a hole so she can get Frances back and also how to do it. As well as the question of what to serve for dinner and what lies to bring along without causing any suspect.

It does seem like something that absolutely can happen. As many hosting dinners there are here and there. It is honestly something she does not find odd at all. So when she sees Jack sliding papers across the table to Hans, she will be met by an utter strike.

"No. Because he signed the contract."

At first it is as if she has not heard him. That he must have meant something else. That he cannot have said what she thinks he just said.

That he had made Rothley sign the papers, and so on letting Angelica all down.

Not her Jack. He would never do that.

And it quite feels as if she wants to pull breaks to a halt just to pause this very moment. Letting it sink in in the pace she can handle.

She is unfortunately never allowed to it though, as time passes regardless of what she so may wish for. It is not waiting for her to adjust to the matter. It is not in favor for her to have time to let this sink in at all.

Hans proudly reads the papers and his gloating grin speaks the rest of the truth.

Yes, Jack has done it.

She immediately stands and he reaches for her hand which she immediately snatches away from him. She seems to not be able to get enough far away from him.

Her mind is spinning greater than before and she feels how her pulse rises beyond overwhelm. The pressure is pushing her in all directions and she must figure out what to do and that NOW.

"Before you go, Ms Angelica Teach," Hans now regards her by her true name. She finds her eyes meeting him from scanning everything in desperate ways of surviving this. "I would suggest you to begin packing and that rather fast. The ship is arranged to set sail by this afternoon in just a few. About the time we'd otherwise share a pleasant afternoon tea. Now we will, aboard the ship bringing us back to Port Royal." And all turns to a nearby clock. It is not much time left for that. "So you better hurry brining all favorable dresses or jewelry you'd fancy to keep."

As if she cares of the jewelry? No amount of gold in the world can win her heart more than Frances. She is so hurt she becomes impressed by her ability of speaking to Jack. Her voice is firm but the hurt displays all over her.

"How could you..?"

"Angelica, let me explain very carefully, aye. It's not..."

"Not what?" she wonders. "Not what, Jack? It's not what it seems? Jack, it's exactly what it seems!"

When Jack stands to reach her, she runs out of the room and hurries back outside. The pouring rain and dull weather help her to grow her senses back just slightly. It reflects her emotions perfectly. Muddy ground and a heavy darkness touching her by sight as much as it does inwardly.

She needs to focus and she needs to act right away. There is no more time to spill simply thinking. She is not leaving London without her.

So she has to take matters into her own hands now at once.

Right here, right now.

It takes her about half a second before she is back inside and she hurries upstairs to her bedroom. She removes the book from the desk and snatches the annulment paper from it. Once she leaves the bedroom she is unaware that it is the very last time she will see it.

No time wasted, she enters Armando's bedroom. She storms inside and must be panting by her tryouts of pushing back her desperation. Armando stands at once upon her arrival. He eyes her worriedly and wonderingly. Probably wondering what the actual - is happening.

"Angelica, mi amor, what is going on? Tell me."

She cannot believe the words coming from her. Yet they do make sense more than anything probably ever will in this insane moment.

"Marry me," she lets out.

At first he stands as numb. Shocked in fact, that she suggests this.

"Please, We need to marry now."

She is even sort of pleading him to marry her?

Taken by shock he opens his mouth to at least question her, but she leaves no room for it. She is already running out of the house and Armando is hot on her heels.

"Angelica?" he shouts. "Angelica, stop! Angelica?!"

He is trying to catch up on her pace while not slipping on the muddy ground in the pouring weather. First before embarking the carriage he turns her around.

"Angelica!"

He holds her upper arms as if he is about to knock some sense into her. At least, demand something out of her. It is as if the cold rain is not even there as she just has suggested the most insane thing while it at the same time must be the most rational one ever.

"Are you sure?" he wonders. His winning eye speaks something else though, but she has nor feels any intention of analyzing that at all.

So she nods desperately. "And then we retrieve Frances, together."

He lets her go and nods seriously. Quite ready to give her any promise as far as she marries him. "Of course, we get her back. Together."

And that is all she needs to hear to let him help her inside the carriage and to bring them to the church. For so many rides she has thought it could not take any longer to arrive for the destination. She has urgently wished the one ruling the reigns to go faster, quicker and pulling them almost bolder across the bumpy cobble streets of London.

Somehow this time she feels this opinion separates with wishing the ride never to end this one time. Because no matter how much she now hates Jack. Oh, loathes. Purely loathes him with everything she has. She cannot neglect the last nail in the coffin once marrying Armando Salazar.

Whether she likes it or not, she is in for setting a closure to a chapter. But for all that matters, she is not the one responsible for that, is she? Jack is after all the one who chose to go by his egoistic ways. Not her.

Yet she feels the pain of his actions hit her belly as if someone physically hurt her. It is just too unlikely that he would treat her like this. Running her over as if she was the cheapest wench he has met. Someone he just pretended to care for, to love... yes, to love! When he in fact in the end of it all was just after his very own victory.

And she, the always fool for thinking he may actually in fact be in for a future with her.

But he had warned her. Had he not? He had told her endless of times that she never should 'play house'. He warned her that he never would. He warned her that nothing would stop him from regaining his Pearl. He had chosen and genuinely warned her from the start.

So why is she the stupidest fool of thinking otherwise? Why had she not listened to him?

Why had she not prepared? Why had she turned the blind eye to this side of him?

Why has she let herself thinking that this time they may end up together for the long run and not just living in a bubble for the pure goal of getting that signature. Why in the world has she let herself down like this, fooling her inner self into thinking he maybe this time wanted more out of her?

"Angelica, you're crying?" Armando searches carefully and reaches for her hand.

Oh, she does? She had no idea and immediately wipes them away as if they are poison. She would never give Jack the benefit of her hurt.

"I'm just..," she struggles. "Happy that we finally can be a family with Frances again."

He nods and hugs her to his side compassionately. And she lets him. "Of course, mi amor. You need not to worry anymore."

She swallows and brings up a napkin to force away any trace of tears. "And then we ought to leave with Hans's ship. It'll depart this afternoon, so we have to be quick."

Understanding her completely, Armando agrees. "Anything for you, mi amor."

She eyes the ring on her finger. The golden ring with the grand rubin in the middle.

No more chances now. It is over. Her and Jack are over for good.

She feels nothing as she pulls it off her finger and places it inside a pocket in her skirt. She will have a new one replaced there anyhow. One symbolizing the marriage to someone else, not Jack.

Once they pull up to the doors outside the church, Armando jumps out of the carriage to help her down. They are fast inside. Coming from a backdoor chamber, the priest appears upon the sound of someone's arrival. Immediately he recognizes Angelica.

"Child of God," he greets her and nods to Armando.

From a row of seats, Angelica finds a feather and inc to quickly sign the annulment. Then she hands it to the priest.
"Father," she speaks. "Here's the annulment."

The priest takes a dislike upon the paper of annulment he is handed. But he reads it carefully and takes his time. Then he frowns and eyes the two of them.

He simply must question. "Miss, are you certain this is the best approach?"

"I have to," and then she ushers for Armando to step up beside her to appear better. "I need to marry this man - Armando Salazar."

The priest is not too fond of this but still accepts this to some sort of level. "Do you have papers of your identity? I would need them."

She nods and hands him the papers at once. Even Armando appears impressed by her preparations.

The priest has a look that goes between them, back and forth as if to read their sudden intentions.

"So, you are Miss Angelica Teach," he states. "And Mister Armando Salazar."

Angelica bites her lip. "Yes."

Skeptically he eyes them. "Very well. When can we settle this ceremony?"

She is rather desperate and it shows in her actions. "What about now?"

"Now?!"

"Yes, I have to be married at once!"

Putting a rather scandalous reason behind such an urgent demand, his eyes drift to her belly. "And for what reason may that be?"

Armando, brisk in his tone, takes a step forward. "Because we are in love, Padre, and wants to be married in witness and conscious of the holy God."

Angelica takes a step back at his turn of hidden rage she finds rather intimidating. A part of him she has not quite experienced before.

Wincing by his threatening reaction, the priest backs a few steps and nods in agreement. "Alright. I shall marry you then." He waves to another church worker that approaches them. "Would you be so very kind and make a marriage certificate to these. In addition, approve my blessing to the annulment paper?"

"Naturally!" And then he is off with the papers as fast as he appeared.

The priest annoyedly gestures to the couple to hold onto each other. "Please, hold your beloved's hands."

They turn to each other and Angelica hesitatingly lets Armando grab her hands. The priest studies them for a long moment before he begins.

"Dearly beloved," he scans the empty chamber out of habit and sighs as he finds it utterly clear. "We are gathered here in the sight of God to join this man, and this woman in holy matrimony."

She has never heard anybody speaking these vows with her as bride. She can feel a nausea within her but understands it must have to do with the overwhelming sensation of everything she has been through in a too short amount of time.

Armando is eying her down as he stands towering over her. His eyes burning right into hers and with that firm and possessive eye, she cannot comprehend if it makes her highly uncomfortable or it she is from beforehand from everything else.

This is of course never how she pictured her marriage would begin. This is not what she wanted nor planned in her dreams. She never wanted that grandiose wedding on top of a hill, cheesy and all of that. But she at least never expected her to feel this odd within, once her time would come.

As an intuition speaking inside of her. But then again, she had for such a long time imagined the groom to be Jack. And now she would marry any person in world but Jack demonio Sparrow.

She hates him to her guts. How dare he treat her like a rag doll? She means nothing to him, as much is clear.

"Not to be entered into lightly," and now this priest glares at her. She reflects his glare back to him and he goes on reading. "Holy matrimony should be entered into solemnly and with reverence and honor. Into this holy agreement these two persons come together to be joined."

She takes a deep breath as if to calm her nerves.

"If any person here can show cause why these two people should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

It is unlikely someone would, as this church is pretty much completely empty. But she cannot help but have her vision drift to the entrance of the church. As if her vivid imaginations had this certain someone storming right into this to at least try to prevent her from marrying someone else.

But that does not of course happen.

"Marriage is a sacred union between husband and wife and shall remain unbroken. It is the basis of a stable and loving relationship and is a joining of two hearts, bodies and souls. The husband and wife are there to support one another and provide love and care in times of joy and times of adversity."

The priest takes a deep breath and a pause as he turns page.

"We are here today to witness the joining in wedded bliss of Mister Armando Salazar and Miss Angelica Teach. This joyous day celebrates the commitment and love with Mister Armando Salazar and Miss Angelica Teach start their lives together. Through God, you are joined together in the most holy of bonds."

Now the priest turns to Armando and looks up to him whenever he manages.

It is also quite the first proper moment when she begins to understand that this is a bond that just cannot be broken like that. She had after all given their true identities. None such of a thing as annulment by then. It is not something she simply can claim like that.

Now as she makes her choice, she will have to live by through it. Sharing a married life with Armando.

But then again, was this not what has wanted all along? What she aimed for and why is in this mess to begin with?

Again, but then why does she feel this uneasy inside of her?

"Do you, Mister Armando Salazar, take Miss Angelica Teach to be your lawfully wedded wife and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep her. In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you shall live?"

The answer booms out of Armando. "I do."

When the priest turns to Angelica, she feels her whole inner self pounding as if she will collapse. She just has to say 'I do' and that is simply all that she has to do. Marry Armando and get Frances. She has to and she can do this.

"Do you, Miss Angelica Teach take Mister Armando Salazar to be your lawfully wedded husband and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?"

Again, she finds her vision drift to the entrance. It stands untouched. Nobody is coming.

Why does she even think he would come? Of course he would not. He does not care for her and never probably has.

She frowns and removes her gaze to look down to the floor.

Why does she even look?

She does not want him.

It is too late.

He has harmed her too much by now. Does she not have any form of self worth at all? Does she have any dignity left inside? Does she have any pride at all? She should not ever as much as touch Jack with a metallic plier!

She hates him. He just used her.

He has never ever loved her and she has just been a fool to think so. He has just enjoyed his ways with her and she was the stupid woman to be bought by whatever he sold.

She will not make that mistake again.

She never wants to see him ever again. That demonio... that... that...

So she turns back to Armando and smiles with her closed mouth. She hopes with all she has it does not appear as sad at it may do. And she speaks the words she finds this overly difficult to now suddenly pronounce.

"I do."

And now it is too late to change.

She just did.

She just did her vows.

The priest smiles and closes the book. "I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

And it is now when Armando leans down to land on her lips, claim her as his wife that she hears the sound of the doors banging open. It is with such force the doors will hit each wall with a loud thud.

She breaks the kiss upon hearing her name by the familiar voice making her heart flip no matter how much she at the same time absolutely hates him to her core.

"Angelica, don't!"

The appearance of Jack, now dressed as himself. The true Captain Jack Sparrow, any trace of Lord Teague gone. The three edges of his hat with water drips down from the pouring rain behind him from outside.

He is marching towards them with a sword and Armando pushes her away to fumble up his own. It is as if the two bulls only exist for one another, but she still tries her ways to stop this in lack of time to be able to rescue Frances.

"Jack, stop!" Angelica prevents. "We're getting Frances back and we don't have time for this."

She is about to leave when Jack attacks Salazar and she instead jumps in a jolt. The priest gasps and backs away from the battling men.

"She," Jack shouts while fighting Salazar that equally matches his technique. "Be MY wife and cannot be married to anybody else, aye!"

The priest accusingly shoots Angelica an eye as if everything is her fault and she retorts his glare just as fast before addressing Jack. "Stop this, Sparrow! I have to get Frances back - now!"

Jack is jumping on the backrests of the rows, Salazar desperately trying to behead him and Jack with no other intention but to Salazar.

"How could ye marry this bloody runner-up of a bromide?!" he shouts accusingly to her.

She keeps away from the men lounging at one another. "When I told you I'd do anything for Frances - I meant it!"

Kicking Salazar's sword out of his hand, it brings the Spaniard an opportunity to kick the row and also bring Jack down to the floor. It takes about a second before they are at each other again.

With a swinging motion, Jack is out again with his sword - and he passes by the priest with Angelica beside. "Ye see, dear Priestie," the priest eyes Jack sternly. "Ye cannot marry her to anybody else, 'cause this lady be married to me."

She gives him a nonchalant expression. As if she never cares for him and never has. As if she just wants to be done with him, have him stop and leave her world for good.

"I had our marriage annulled, Jack."

Whatever moment she has provoked him with anything she has to receive a reaction out of him, this is probably that precise moment that she hits below the belt.

There may not be many things he reacts on strongly and not even Salazar is one to defeat Jack.

But she is.

His eyes die and the hurt in him grows deep in his eyes. The coldness of Angelica and the revelation of her words stung him more than anything probably had.

He is pulled back into the fight by Salazar and she winces by the powerful sound of the clicking swords. They do absolutely fight with everything they have.

"Ye cannot have it annulled!" Jack at last shouts from fighting Salazar across the chamber. "Because we be Mister and Missus Teague!"

The priest turns to Angelica, still accusing her for every part of drama and scandalous behavior going on inside the holy church.

"Did you, child of God, meet the requirements of annulment, or did you not?" he demands of her.

She squirms on her spot and delays her respond. "I believe so."

"You believe so?" his voice now going high pitched. "Miss Teach!"

"Missus Salazar," Angelica corrects.

Ignoring Angelica, the priest turns to the men, shouting. "Have you consummated?"

Oh God!

Her breath hitches while Salazar retorts in between his strikes. "Of course not! We just married!"

Now with a kick in his belly, Jack has Salazar falling over a row to land onto the ground. "He be not regarding you," he speaks and then looks up to meet the priest and Angelica's stunned expressions. "We did, Father, aye," and adds to just quite provoke. "Many times if I may."

With having Angelica almost lose her breath, the priest looks as if he is about to explode himself. Then he turns to Angelica with the most accusing glare.

Jack's smirk brings Angelica to urge to just have a pistol nearby already.

In frustration, she pulls in her breath. Once Salazar stands and turns to her, her irritation for Jack turns to a guilt to Armando. Because yes, they had. They had boarded their marriage in ways that may not be so appropriate for a faked marriage to begin with.

She has no opportunity to excuse herself, begin her immensely long rant of apology to Armando because she notices that in the corner of her eyes, she feels the judgmental burning glances of the priest. "Ah, is that so..?"

Her avoiding eyes must reveal it all as he priest decides to announce. "Then it's settled, Sir," regarding Jack. "You are still married to this woman."

Fearing this, Angelica makes a sound of disapproval. "No! You cannot do this!" she desperately turns to the priest. "Please, I cannot be married to him." But as she priest will not budge, she twirls around to Jack. She begins to approach him harshly. "What are you doing?!"

Before he can answer she goes on.

"What do you think you are doing?!"

"Now, Love..."

"If you can think at all!"

Why cannot she ever understand him? Get at least the slightest grip around him?

His look is stern. "I won't have ye marrying a monster."

"He's not!"

Now Jack, growing tired of her not seeing things he does - he steps forward. "Ye think Gibbs was behind all of this?" he requires. "It was Salazar all along selling us to Governor Milton, in order to get to me while serving the governor."

She stops a greater part away from him and shakes her head, not believing a word of what comes out of his mouth. "It's too late, Jack. I am married to Armando now."

"No, Miss Angelica," the priest speaks up. "You are not. You are still Mrs Teague as the requirements of annulment have not been met. And the vowels for marriage appear to have."

"That cannot be!" she tries.

"Oh, yes it can," Jack fights back his smirk again but Angelica surely notices his inner gloating.

The priest clears his throat, not greatly appreciating the topic, however finding a must. "You have made love," and Angelica blushes somewhere below her hidden rage. "Consummated the marriage and therefore I remain unable to break your vow of marriage."

She moves her gaze over her shoulder to look back to Jack. She cannot lose Frances now. She was so close. So close to a marriage that would bring her back.

Why is he doing this to her?

Why does he enjoy killing her inwardly like this?

She opens her mouth, ready to simply for another time, plead him into not doing this to her - when she feels the sharp metal against the skin of her throat. She gasps and Jack aims to reach out for her but must refrain from it.

"She married me."

"Armando?" she tries to breathe. "¿Qué estás haciendo?"

Jack's eyes fall in darkness. He has known all along it would come down to this. And he had tried with best intentions to prevent it. Yet it seems as if he was unsuccessful in doing so.

Now idiot-moron has her life in his hands and Jack supposedly a witness for it.

Armando's mouth moves to her ear, speaks lowly but with such an intimidating tone. "¿Qué piensas? La venganza."

"What for..?" she squirms but he only tightens the hold of the blade against her.

While he keeps backing with her, Jack keeps on following them, careful with each step he takes as if it is the most fragile one.

"Let her go, Salazar. She's not involved in this."

Salazar smirk breaks out. He is loving this. His provokative smile as if he owns Jack. "Oh, but El Sparrow, she is, isn't she?"

Jack's jaw clenches as he bites his tongue.

"Because you love her."

While she barely manages to even swallow due fear of the threateningly close contact with the blade, she does let her eyes fall upon Jack to catch his reaction. His hurt displaying across his face. The pain, the anxiety, the worry...

And then his eyes fall from Salazar's to hers.

As if he silently is speaking to her.

"I could've sunk the Pearl," Salazar admits. "But it wouldn't kill you as much as taking the life of what you cherish the most," and his eyes drift to Angelica. "Her."

Desperately her fingers dig into the blade and she can feel the sting bury deeper into her skin.

"Salazar, don't," Jack warns.

For whatever it was worth, at least she would die, ironically, with Jack by her side. Married to him, as it seems. She would die as his wife.

And while she makes a silent prayer within her, the clicking sound of a pan knocking the occiput of Salazar brings her into the arms of Jack.

Once she turns in Jack's embrace, the surprised priest stands with an iron pan heavily in his hands. He looks guiltily to Jack and Angelica, as if he cannot believe what he just has done.

"He would have killed her," Jack confirms to the priest, as if it may help his conscious.

The priest immediately lets go of the pan and clasps his hands while looking up to the ceiling. Silently mouthing a prayer. An apology for his supervisor.

With his caring hand brushing the tops of Angelica's loose curls, she feels rather safe in his hug. More than she prefers to admit. She still hates him to her guts. Because what will they do now?

She pushes back from him and locks his gaze. "Why did you do that?" she accuses and pushes him away. "What do we ought to do now? I cannot get her back as Mrs Teague."

He says nothing for a longer moment while he just looks into her eyes. When the priest has finished his prayer, Jack regards him.

"Oi, would ye divorce us?"

Overly dramatically, Angelica pulls in her breath. She cannot believe him! What in the world?!

"Have you gone mad?!" she bursts out and begins to hit his arms while he shields himself. "You selfish, pathetic bandit! You couldn't have me marrying to get Frances back and now you're divorcing me!"

Smirking to her, he has had enough and grabs her wrists to pull her to a stop. She struggles in his hold but he only keeps on tighter.

"How dare you?"

Jack keeps on grinning as if this amuses him. "Oh, we're playing that again?"

"I hate you, Jack! How could you do this to me?"

"Now, love," he speaks almost fearfully calmly. "Ye need to listen to me..."

She frowns to him while trying to keep her tears back, refusing to letting him know how she slowly surrenders. She may as well give up. How will she now ever get the child back? He just made it impossible for her.

Her vision is almost blurry by now.

"No... you ruined everything," she breathes, trying with all she has to push back the pain. She cannot believe him. How selfish can a man be? How can behave like that towards her? How can he treat her this badly? How is it possible? "Divorce us then, Father," she throws over her shoulder. "Do what he wants."

She gives up anyway.

She cannot cope with this anymore. It feels as if she has nothing left within her anymore anyway.

Nothing but a pure hatred for Jack.

But she gives up regardless.

So she lets him bring her back to the altar and the priest searches inside a box among papers. He is sweating and sighs when he at last finds the correct paper.

He notes something on it and then hands it to them.

"All the church needs is a signature, from both of you."

From having eyed Angelica quite accusingly, he now sees her with a more pitiful heart. She does not know what hurts the most. That Jack ran her over by all of his idiotic manners, making her never having Frances, interrupting her marriage to - yes, a monster - Salazar, or that he now when he has refrained her from everything she so at least thought she wanted, he will in fact divorce her?!

He is insane!

She can barely as much as glance to see how eagerly and quickly Jack grabs the divorce paper out of the priest's hands to be able to sign it. When he hands it to Angelica and she heavily looks over it, he also hands a few papers over to the priest that he had inside his coat.

"Our identities," he informs.

The priest accepts them and frowns once reading them carefully.

Angelica herself sees Jack's name written as his signature of the paper. It stings so much.

She knows she will regret it. She lets herself down, truly. But it seems as if nothing matters anymore anyhow.

And so on, she can reveal the truth. Thus it is something she decides to do. Emptying her heart for what is is worth.

"You know, Jack," she swallows as she slowly puts her own signature at the bottom of the paper. "It was always you."

He stops his interaction with the priest and eyes her wonderingly. As he sees her written signature, he takes the paper from her hands and gives it to the priest.

"What do ye say?" he wonders.

She lets it go. Everything.

Everything that it was and everything that there is. Everything that there ever will be.

Just, everything.

"I've always loved you. I've never even doubted it. It was always you."

She knows what she expects. By the ways he has acted lately, perhaps a winning smirk shortened by an odd eye of her craziness is what she waits for from him. Of how awful she is and how much he just cannot wait to get rid of her.

That all he has ever done has been for the Pearl, and she was nothing but useful for him.

The least she waits is the reaction of a genuine grin forming on his face.

And his words...

"Then how very suitable."

Confused. Baffled. Just what? Can he just for once just make sense?

He reaches for her chin again, guiding her look to meet his and somehow ends up standing closer to her. Her face must scream 'confusion' and it grows only graver once he while never tearing his eyes from her, speaks to the priest.

"Now, Father - marry us."

What?

Honestly, what?

She does not understand a thing.

Has he gone mad for real?

And why does he keep smirking like that? Like a victory of a game he has played all along.

She swallows upon his familiar face. Why does it look like he is holding himself from kissing her?

Is he about to..?

The priest clears his throat. "I know these names," he speaks up. "These are the names of pirates. Mr Jack Sparrow and Miss Ang-."

"Captain," Jack corrects and feels his inner victory of finally being able to correct this wrongdoing. "Captain, if ye please."

The priest sighs. "So these are your true identities?"

"Aye."

Now she gets it...

"So, you are at last marrying by your true identities?" the priest goes on asking and Jack keeps on replying.

"Indeed."

Angelica takes a step back, quite taken aback by it actually.

Jack is quick after her. "We'll get her back as Sparrows, love."

She still finds this not happening. Jack would never marry her for real.

Would he?

If he marries her for real, there cannot be any hidden thought anymore? Marrying her does not help him retrieve the Pearl. He already has it. He already has the life he so wants in his future waiting for him.

So why is he doing this?

"Mrs Sparrow," he speaks up to break her bubble of bewilderment. And it works. It is as if something snaps her right back into reality and she finds herself absolutely speechless. The words burning inside of her of what he just called her.

It is a big thing. And something they probably not just could back out of like before. If they did this, it was for real.

Then a question hits her. "You're doing this to help me get Frances."

Jack rolls his eyes discreetly. "I'd have her abducted for ye in a heartbeat if I wanted to."

The priest coughs to make his holy presence known to their scandalous confessions but they keep on ignoring him.

"So what are you saying?" she searches.

Jack clears his throat as he towers over her, leans partly down again to meet her face very close to his. "Now, love. Do I need to threaten ye to make ye marry me?"

She tears her gaze from his as if she still cannot grasp this. Then she decides to challengingly eye him back.

"Are you sure?" she has to know. "We will be banned soon from all churches there are if we keep on marrying and divorcing."

The priest intervenes by for another time clearing this throat, now quite irritated by the two of them. "Indeed, you certainly will!"

This has Angelica at last blushing by what they have done. Dear lord, that priest may live a long life for doing these favors for them. It is a wonder he has not had a heart attack by what he has endured this past hour.

"Aye," Jack replies and eyes her intently again. His eyes dive deep into hers and whenever he does this, she feels out of breath. This time is definitely no exception. "Now marry me, love."

As if trying to savor any sort of dignity left, she retorts. "Well, if you insist..."

"I do."

"Hey!" the priest interferes again and hurries up with his book. He motions to the church worker again to approach them. He hands him the certificate papers of their identities and shakes his head unbelievingly. "These witless children of lord almighty will vow their marriage."

And he eyes them with a twitched nose before adding. "AGAIN!"

The church worker examines Angelica carefully. "Is this the lady that was here for annulment and then to re-marry and..."

At first he looks between them with the oddest and most confused look. So on, Angelica forces a smile to appear. "You must have seen my sister before."

The church worker accepts this and takes the papers at once to do what he is told. "The marriage certificate will be done in a few, my lady."

And once he is gone, the priest lets his shoulders relax. He opens his mouth and is ready to start when he suddenly stops and eyes them warningly again.

"Now, first before I begin this - on your word, the both of you swear by God's presence that this is the last time I or any priest see you in the name of marriage turns?!"

They share a glance to each other before nodding.

"Well, very well then," he mutters and returns to the book. Quite speed-reading the sentences by now.

"Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today in the sight of God to join this man, and this woman in holy matrimony."

"Not to be entered into lightly," the priest puts his finger harshly down in the book to not lose tracking of where he is. "LIGHTLY," he repeats irritatingly again and the both of them at first shoot him a glare, before fighting their embarrassed smiles back. "Holy matrimony should be entered into solemnly and with reverence and honor." He eyes them sternly again. "You hear that? With reverence and honor! Honor, children!" his frustration almost gets the best out of him but he continues whatsoever. "Into this holy agreement these two persons come together to be joined. If any person here can show cause why these two people should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

"I object!"

The three look down the aisle to see Salazar coming back alive. His weak legs barely holds him as he struggles to regain his consciousness.

No, she will not have this! Angelica turns back to the priest.

"Just hurry, will you?!"

And the priest agrees. He has had enough of this. It is almost as if he reads everything in barely one sentence. But he does it.

"Marriage is a sacred union between husband and wife and shall remain unbroken. It is the basis of a stable and loving relationship and is a joining of two hearts, bodies and souls. The husband and wife are there to support one another and provide love and care in times of joy and times of adversity. We are here today to witness the joining in wedded bliss of Mister Jack-."

"Captain!"

Angelica and the priest shoot a glare to Jack. He gives her a sheepish smile back.

"Captain Jack Sparrow and Miss Angelica Teach. This joyous day celebrates the commitment and love with Mister - I mean, Captain Jack Sparrow and Miss Angelica Teach start their lives together. Through God, you are joined together in the most holy of bonds."

Salazar begins to struggle to make his way towards them.

"Do you, Captain Jack Sparrow, take Miss Angelica Teach to be your lawfully wedded wife and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep her. In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you shall live?"

"I do."

So they are doing this for real? It is as if it first now hits her. And the feeling dives deeper once the priest turns to her. But she keeps on looking into the eyes of her... husband? How deeply he eyes her. While at the same time keeping track of Salazar.

"Do you, Miss Angelica Teach take Captain Jack Sparrow to be your lawfully wedded husband and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?"

And when she now lets it out.

"I do."

The priest barely manages the "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," before Jack has pulled her into his arms.

This is a kiss that is the first with both knowing it has nothing to do with an act to play at all. It is a genuine kiss coming from their true selves.

It is a kiss she wishes could have lasted for longer. Feeling his mouth to hers for a first time as husband and wife for real, with her hands holding his face tenderly and his hands buried in her hair, holding her tight to his body.

Daringly she lets him push her lips to make her open her mouth further and deepen the make out. They are so blissfully eating each other up and savoring the taste of one another that their magnetism almost appears painful.

The sounds of running heavy feet must unfortunately break their kiss. The church worker comes out just in time for Angelica to snatch the certificate, and Jack pulls her along with him - in the split second of before Salazar's striking sword would have hit her.

"¡Demonios!" Salazar's voice booms. "You get back here!" And he runs after them as they rush out of the church. Into the rain and she must grab ahold of his wrist in a second she would have slipped on the slippery mud.

A carriage stands outside, which is probably the one Jack has arrived with. It is smaller, probably faster and has fewer horses attached to it.

Angelica stops before jumping up, understanding this open carriage requires one of them to rule.

"You know how to ride?" she questions as Jack jumps up to it and leans to reach out his arm for her.

"I know you do."

He winks to her and she grabs his hand to have him pull her up.

Playfully she pushes his chest as he grabs ahold of the reigns to pull the horses to gallop. In that moment Salazar breaks out of the church and appears as if he is about to implode by rage.

"¡Vos decapitaré, campesinos sucios!" he roars and takes off towards the carriage Angelica and him had arrived with.

There is a shot fired in their direction and Angelica immediately pushes Jack down to dodge the bullet.

"He has gone mad!"

Jack snorts while he does his best in stirring their way straight towards the orphanage.

"Tell me a man you've romantically encountered that hasn't gone mad."

Her view breaks from Salazar's outrage upon a corner they turn around and she now keeps her eyes on Jack.

"He isn't following us," she states. "He's not going to aim for Frances."

"Which means," Jack fills in. "That he's going to Rothley and hell'll break loose, mark my words."

For a moment she examines everything around them that they pass. Houses, Londoners, a muddy ground due the rain, shops closing because of the weather. This is something she will leave behind. She even barely feels the cold rain whipping her face caused by the breeze as result of their fast pace.

Yet she cannot help but feel the smile thug at the corners of her mouth. They are going home. "Then we just need to hurry."

"Aye."

As they pull up to the orphanage, they both jump down before the horses have properly stopped. They waste no time in tying him or anything. They simply hurry inside the building. The nun Angelica has encountered before stands in the hallway, browsing a journal it seems. She jumps by their sudden noisy appearance and is not supportive of their presence.

"Ah, you again."

This time Angelica takes the certificate from Jack and hands it to the nun. Skeptically the nun reads it and cannot seem to understand.

"From what I can recall, your name must have been... Torp, Tenley... or was it-."

"Teague!" Angelica fills in.

Jack points to her. "She's got a sister, Sister."

The nun still takes her time to peer at them musingly, but none of them finds this sufficient in time. They simply got barely any left and has to leave right at once. If Rothley will find out about them in a matter of moments, all of London will close until they are taken down. Armando has always been seen as a noble man. He would always get away with it. They however, as criminals, as pirates - never would.

Taking matters into his own hands, Jack steps forward. "Now, my wife picks the child she wants and you and I can settle this paperwork right at once. What do you say?"

The nun winces but nods at last at his decisive tone. "Alright, Mr Sparrow."

Throwing a thankful look to Jack, Angelica immediately takes off inside the grand dormitory. There are too many beds inside for Angelica's comfort. While she is in a rush, she still manages feeling the knocking sensation of sadness by such a sight. So many fatherless children just waiting to come home to love.

"MOMMY!"

But there she is.

Her princess.

She has never felt this completeness as the one striking her right away once embracing the child. Her daughter. She hugs her tight to her body, having Frances hugging her throat for dear life.

It will remain a mystery to her of how she can have been shot by this force. By this love for this child. She loves her more than life itself.

"My daughter," she understands she never will let go again. "We're going home now, Frances," she speaks soothingly. "We're going home..."

And she reenters the hallway to find Jack finishing the last signature before he reclaims the certificate. The nun also hands him another one.

"And this one, if you'd change your mind," the nun eventually hands him another paper. With this, Jack meets Angelica's gaze only to tear the paper into pieces.

"We wouldn't need that, Sister."

Now this action makes the nun partly shocked, but when she understands she hands them a rather warm eye. "Good luck, Mr and Mrs Sparrow. Take care of the girl. She has been through a lot."

Angelica passes the nun and walks fast towards the door, ready to leave. Jack holds the door open for them and helps her up the carriage as they need to make it down to the harbor.

The ride is bumpy due their fast pace and Angelica's protective hold on Frances is necessary. Suddenly the sound of a shot is heard and while Jack barely makes a face of it, Angelica gasps.

"Jack?!"

With Frances in her hold, she still manages to grab his arm tenderly.

"You're hurt..."

But he does not as much as flinch. Not even when they pull up to the pier with shouting lancers in the distant. Instead he keeps on assisting Angelica down the carriage. For the briefest moment in their hurry along the pier, Angelica stops tracks. She opens her mouth, worried for him when he rolls his eyes to her.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not!"

The angry shouting increases and Jack understands the lancers are coming. He pulls her free wrist to make her hurry to the last steps towards the boarding plank. He has her board the ship beforehand before they are hit by a cannonball. Shaking the ship.

A panik breaks out among all crew and a captain at the helm tries to sort out commands among them. "We're under attack!"

And the word 'Rothley' spreads among them like a silent whisper.

Wasting no time whatsoever, Angelica hands Frances to a panicking sailor, swiftly snatches his sword and lounges for the ropes to cut the ship loose. For the shortest moment, Jack freezes and watches her with greatest pride. Then he is quite pulled into the world to assist the captain without having received the order to do it.

Born to this role, it brings Jack barely a second until he has taken the role over whether the true captain liked it or not.

"Anchor up and set sail!" he shouts and opens a trapdoor to below deck, shouting a command to the sailors there. "All cannons to the stern!"

When Angelica among running crewmen in their whereabouts, she grabs Frances back and holds her tight to her. Returning as from hell itself, appears Hans from his retreat-quarters. It is as if she barely sees the panic among all crewmen, hears the cannonballs fire and the booming sound of this inferno as it is pushed to a subconscious mind of hers. All her focus is would be on Hans, and by his caught eyes on her, it would mean the same for him.

She does not even seem to be bothered by the still icy rain pouring down as if the sky opened to let it all out. Thunder boom in the horizon and if cannonballs do not bring the ship down, the thunderstorm awaiting them on open waters may do.

She would be in denial if she claims anything but admitting her fear of this man. While she truly has the upper hand if she meets his ship with her very own, filled with crew, of course she naturally is confident enough to realize she brings him down. But this is his territory, and he has at many points declared and given her this hint of what power he has. What power he enjoys and threatened her enough of what he is able to do.

Without thinking, she is hugging Frances closer to her body and while they keep a distance as he approaches, she keeps wincing.

"Miss Teach," he greets, fortunate hell of a man that by accident dodges a bullet flying his way.

It brings Angelica to awaken and understand she should not be out on deck with the girl.

"Mister Hans," she swallows.

He nods to Frances and stops a few meters away from her. His hands clasp behind his back and looks awfully calm in such a panic-stricken event as they happen to be in right now.

"How, if I may ask?"

Again her embrace around Frances grows tighter, more protective as the mother instinct flows in her.

"I married her," Jack interrupts.

Hans's mouth could have hung agape in shock but he seems aware of it as it closes. "I see..," he fakes a cough and seems to be fighting to buy this fact. Then he gives up and nods to Jack. "Impressive. I never thought you would."

As if no history of death treats, manipulation and him pushing the Sparrows to their utter edges, he seems to not be bothered at all by the battle going on. Ships have set sail towards them and there are cannons along the shorelines firing off against them.

He stands by the railing and once he turns to the couple, he nods with his gesture to the horizon. "The Black Pearl awaits on open waters, Mr Sparrow. If we come out alive from this, everything according to our deal will be done beyond that thunderstorm."

Angelica exchanges a glance with Jack but suddenly a booming sound breaks the air. She is pulled aside to a mast, having Jack covering her body to push her against it, sandwiching Frances in between them as the cannonball hits their ship. It shakes and together they struggle to not trip over.

"Get inside, love."

In his motion of turning around, she refrains him by grabbing his hand to prevent him.

Jack does not understand her intention. "I've got to go to the helm. That captain doesn't know what he be doin'."

She is not pleased at this and shakes her head. "No, you're not. You are hurt Jack."

"I be fine!"

Her jaw clenches in her anger as it builds up in coverage of her true inner worry for him. She is about to open her mouth when again the ship rocks and he reaches out for her. By the heavy shaking they land onto deck, Frances smoothly landing on top of her. When Jack stands and helps her up, she can see him flinching in pain.

"You just married me!" she bursts out. "Are you going to get out of this by making me a widow?!"

He smiles to her sense of humor.

"Sparrow!"

They turn to see Hans standing by them.

"This ship needs you," and he eyes Angelica. "Probably would have needed you as well, Miss... us. But since..," and he gestures to Frances. "I suppose that's not an option for you."

She looks around for a crewman seemingly terrified of fighting and that can possibly babysit Frances. But she gets no chance as Jack declines this offer.

"She's not going to be out here," he announces to Hans. She begins to bite away right at once, declaring her unwillingness of only watching instead of helping to the cost that at last Jack understands there is only one way to make her into safe quarters. "Hans, bring her inside Captain's quarters."

And no matter how much she so disagrees to this, she still ends up just precisely there.

It will give Jack an opportunity to actually in fact do his job that he does the very best. Captaining a ship. He needs to get the feel of her, the ship. Understand her. Her strengths and her weaknesses, in order to handle her well. In order to have them escape the English waters and safely have their passage through a thunderstorm.

Even the other captain had taken a backseat and felt rather relieved of having a captain commanding the ship. Even so if he happens to be a pirate.

It is an endless night that seems to never end when Jack at last sees the dark spot in the horizon. Waters beginning to calm and a sunset also threatening at the horizon, letting him know a new day is beginning. It surely lives up to its name.

The Black Pearl.

Perhaps it is about this specific moment when he understands he has won, that he lets go and feels the wound in him break him down. He has had a few scratches here and there throughout the years, but this hurts and weakens his posture to bring him down.

A sailor notices and immediately rushes for Hans's aid, and the bony man is there fast. A few of them help him inside captain's quarters and Angelica is at his side right at once.

During the encounter with The Black Pearl, it is Angelica that has to make a decision. With having crewmen of the Pearl carrying the passed out Jack to his quarters, she is the one signing papers with Hans.

"Actually, it is Mr Sparrow that has to sign these."

She gives him the dull eye. "Captain, if you please."

Hans smirks to her and continues. "But I suppose since you are married now, legal documents like these can be signed by the missus as well."

She snatches the papers to her.

Mister Hans clears his throat and gestures to men carrying chests of gold over the railing to The Black Pearl.

"There are the chests with gold and you have the documents representing your freedom. You are a free woman and he is a free man. Your names are cleared in the Caribbean and you no longer are criminals."

It brings a content expression across Angelica's face.

"And please, Mrs Sparrow," she still jerks upon hearing anybody call her that. "Stay out of trouble. You do not want a child ending up in trouble because of your urge of mischief."

Coming from a monster, his words are actually sincere.

So when she for a last time jumps up on the railing and down onto deck of the Pearl, she only looks over her shoulder once to see Hans disappear from her vision - for good.

A crewmember of the Pearl nudges Joshamee Gibbs, both men coming out of from below deck. They get a glimpse of Jack and the doctor of the Pearl returns to Angelica, something the men overhear.

"Your husband will be fine."

"Oh dear?" Gibbs lets out. He shares a glance with the crewmember.

"So the captain of The Black Pearl is finally back?" he eagerly speaks to Gibbs.

"That be true."

"Hope he recovers fast."

Now Gibbs frowns and rolls his eyes at the crewman's stupidity. "While I hope so too, aye. But that," and Gibbs nods to the doctor closing Jack's cabin door. "Is not our captain."

The crewman seems confused. "Captain Jack Sparrow is not our captain?"

"Now you're getting it," and Gibbs pats his back harshly. "He's not."

"I thought Captain Jack Sparrow was our captain. He has always been."

"Oh, he has, and he will claim once awake that he be our captain," Gibbs agrees but nods towards Angelica. "But mark my words when I tell ye that she, is the real captain 'round 'ere."

"Why?" the crewman frowns. "How come? A woman?! He'd never let a woman do that!"

Gibbs folds his arms and has to agree to this. "Aye, but ye 'ave not seen him 'round her, have ye?"

"No..."

And now the first mate sighs. "Exactly..." until he hears the female tone.

"Gibbs!"

At once he straightens his back and points to the crewman as if he should be blamed and punished for something. Ignoring it, Angelica approaches them.

"It has a been a long time," she goes on greeting.

Gibbs nods. "Aye, Miss Angelica... I mean, Mrs Sparrow, 'eard ye married..?"

"Yes," she smiles. "Since he's out for a while, I'm captaining the ship."

"'Course ye are."

She gives him a sly eye and he respectfully bows for her.

"Mommy!"

All three look into the direction of an approaching pirate holding this one year old.

"Mommy?" Gibbs questions Angelica.

Angelica lets the pirate hand her over and embraces Frances. "She is ours. Now she is."

Understanding, Gibbs only nods. Quite provocatively and funnily rather mesmerized by the girl. She is holding out a doll for Gibbs and smiles toothily to him. And Angelica can barely believe what she sees. Senior chubby Gibbs, enjoying the play with a toddler.

"Do you want to hold her, Mister Gibbs?" she wonders.

At first a terrified expression shoots his grimace face to turn into a straight face, but then he softens equally fast and gestures for her to hand the girl over already.

"I would need to have a word with Jack," she announces and leaves him with Frances.

She is lurking by his door, outside by the helm and finds it oddly strange so suddenly. Sharing bedroom which for months has felt natural now even as properly married appears different. It is probably because they are married for real. There is no act underneath that pushes her to do things she cannot blame on the play for.

It is her and purely her.

When she at last has decided that she needs this conversation with him, the doctor is leaving the cabin and stops as he almost knocks into her.

"Mrs Sparrow."

"Doctor," she replies. "Is he alright?"

"Very much," the doctor seems hopeful and optimistic. "He is indeed hurt but he will recover. The bullet is out and he just needs to rest."

And when he continues his way down to deck, she finds her feet as glued to the wooden floor. It seems just impossible for her to bring herself inside this cabin. To face Jack.

While worry grows in her and she most of all feels this urge of sitting by his side all the time, she also reckons her fear of losing him yet for another time.

She knows she will.

Because she realized one thing that previous night in their escape. That she really, cannot have Frances live like this. In fear of getting hurt. Piracy is dangerous. Hans was right. This is no life for a baby girl. Thus, it also affects Angelica.

With a bit of hint of fright of facing the true matter, Angelica never headed inside his cabin that day. And she did not for the following days to come either. More than a week passed by, and further down the road, even more days added to it. She simply never managed to pull herself together to be able to have this word with Jack.

However she did see him. Mostly he spent his time resting, but she would use that opportunity into taking better care of him. Sitting by his side at the bed and having Frances talk to him in the few words she could say. She would serve him dinner and gently stroke his temple as she kindly spoke to him.

But she never opened up about the topic of what was in the future for them. Meanwhile he was unconscious, she supposes, that she was not ready to announce it even for herself.

Perhaps their marriage was never for the long run. Maybe, they were not just meant for each other. Although she will have to tell him. Sooner or later.

When the day at last brings her to perhaps turn page, or honestly, enter a whole new chapter is once they have reached this coastal town, a somewhat bigger Caribbean island. They have sailed for so long and with tired Frances in her arms, she stands by the railing to see the approaching island. Everything thugs in her and she honestly debates on the matter if she only will make things easier by simply asking Gibbs to drop them off before Jack awakes. He would anyhow take over the role of captain as soon as he woke up, and Gibbs handled it well until then. That way she escaped the event of having to live through Jack turning her down and so on feeling unwanted.

Even if she quite cannot expect anything less.

Unfortunately for her though, it must have been an inner calling in Jack. With his health back, hearing him commanding a pirate on his return, she wonders if she wants to let out a gasp in relief or a curse in frustration.

After updates of what has happened during his recovery and him being able to re-command whatever Angelica has directed and he does approve of, he at last lands on the destination of this costal town, and also has to encounter her.

By that time they have already set anchor in the harbor and with her firm tongue, she has made some of the crewmen to carry her chests of gold to the pier. A discreet order for them to deliver every article to a nearby inn where they reserve her a room until further notice. Where she can stay until she has bought a new home for them.

While Jack seems busy doing something, she gives him her last glance over her shoulder.

She has cared for him highly these past weeks during their passage over the Atlantic Sea. Lovingly she has stood by his side and equally caring has she been through their months together. But nothing lasts forever, and her time has come. So has his. And this is where they need to head into different directions in life.

The image of him with the hat on his head, the true Captain Jack Sparrow back in his essence. His flamboyant and confident steps as he moves around. Expressions of cockiness covered by his charming yet lucrative eye. He gets his way any time of any day, and he seems to enjoy every part of it alongside local Caribbean rum.

It is fine memory to save. And she will cherish the time they have shared together forever. Their adventures and this one in London must have topped them all. How it changed her, and she knows it changed him too.

Before he will be able to notice her staring in his business, she decides to leave The Pearl. The boarding plank feels short and she is too soon down on the pier leading her towards the harbor of the costal town. A passing crewmember of The Pearl hands her papers with her inn reservation where her material fortune awaits her.

"Angelica?"

She freezes and feels her hands clenching into the fabrics of Frances's clothes. The pain stings in her and she understands she never managed escaping. Now she is forced to face the brutal reality of having Jack telling her precisely what she in her mind has already dealt with.

But he is going to give it to her for real, and she will have to endure the grief and sadness of being abandoned. Now she will not be able to at least live by the lie of the possible outcome of him not wanting to leave her.

She refuses to turn around and waits for him to walk up to her, place himself in front of her. Which he does. At first he seems to take in the details of a colorful coastal town.

"Ye think there'd be a gentlemen's club 'round here, love?" he amusingly thinks aloud. "Or perhaps I should open one."

She challenges him. "If you'd have me open a ladies's club."

His face falls. And that is when he examines every piece of her, and Frances in her embrace. He is suddenly looking at her puzzled.

"What be ye doin'?"

She takes a deep breath and avoids his eyes. "The Black Pearl, Jack... was home for me a long time ago," she begins. "But it's not a home for Frances. It's not safe and I won't be able to sail for at least ten years."

He listens very carefully to her words. "So, what are ye implying?"

She shrugs. Not really anything, is she? She just knows what she has to do, and understands she cannot expect anything from him. "You have your Pearl back, and I got mine."

He is silent for a while and just lets the airy Caribbean breeze fill his lungs as the wind at points catches Angelica's hair. At last he agrees. "Aye."

He will leave her there, which she really would not blame him for either. She may have wished for something else, truly and deeply from her heart. But she will not blame him. Although she has to ask.

"Are you going to divorce me?"

The words strike him heavily and he peers to her as response. "Come again?"

She breathes calmly. "It would make things easier for me if you didn't. That way I'd keep a better reputation," she speaks and lets out the rest under her breath. "Which's importance I've learned a lot about lately," and she looks up to meet his gaze again, adjusting Frances in her embrace. "But more importantly it'd help Frances have a better start in life with at least an existing father. A mother that's at least married to her father, compared to a... loose woman."

Jack is hearing her every word while he has been gesturing something to crewmen behind her. Once she is finished, he decides to spill.

"Dearest Angelica," he opens. "If one Captain Jack Sparrow so miserably ever marries, then be sure that if I so divorced in a lifetime, it never ought to be you."

She swallows and has to break their stare down. Looking anywhere but to at him. The words he has spoken dive right through her and inwardly tear her to pieces, in a heartwarming yet torn way. So what is he saying?

She wonders. "You're not going to divorce me?"

"Never."

Indeed she feels this inner tremble upon hearing his words. "Why?"

He seems to swallow and debate on how to answer her. Then he motions to Gibbs aboard The Pearl, and Angelica for the first time spins around to see the last pirate boarding the ship, leaving chests on the pier.

"Oi, Gibbs!"

"Capt'n!"

"Ten years!" Jack shouts.

Angelica's confusion grows and she tries to read what happens.

Gibbs almost falls over the railing in shock. "TEN YEARS?!"

"Aye!"

"Are ye sure?!" Gibbs cannot believe it as he brings the captain hat on top of his head. "What has the bloody woman done to ye?!"

Now she gets it.

"Pick me up in ten years, Master Gibbs!" Jack shouts. "And take extraordinary well care of my beloved until then."

"Aye, aye, Captain!"

Angelica turns to Jack and shakes her head. "No, Jack. I could never ask that of you."

He would do that for her?

The overwhelming waves in her begin to shake her world and she simply cannot let him do this for her. He cannot and should not. He has always loved The Black Pearl more than anything. It is his life and he belongs to it. How can he ever consider this?

She continues to shake her head in denial.

"You're mad, Jack. I won't have you give up the Pearl."

"I'm not. It's for ten years and then we'll together board her," Jack tries but Angelica begins to walk away from him, hurrying her steps towards the harbor. Clearly she cannot accept the fact of him choosing her. "I won't have me give up on you."

She still walks with Frances in her arms, feeling the event just highly unbelievable. It just cannot be. Jack would never do that. He cannot do that, can he?

He is Captain Jack Sparrow for God's sake.

But once he calls for her, she feels the shivers travel through her like a magnet pulling her to a stop.

"Mrs Sparrow."

The words to his tone warm her from inside and out. They feel hot and she understands she must be burning inside by the magnetism of them. Of him.

Slowly, she turns around and has her breath almost hitching by the sight of the Pearl embarking. Leaving. Pulling up the anchor as it already sails out of the harbor.

Does the crazy man know that his ship is leaving?

As if one cue, Jack looks over his shoulder and then turns back to her. He wears that wry grin as if he has just won the greatest game there is. Partly he may just have.

She finds herself speechless but still fights on her words. "You're missing..," but she silences as he again has his presence just a breath away from her. His hand moving her chin tenderly to look at him, but in the most gentle manner.

"Truth or dare, love."

At first she looks at him incredulously.

When he winks to her she swallows the chuckle but lets her forming smile remain. When she understands he is serious, she answers. "Truth."

Challenging her on every level, he directly asks her. "Do ye want me to stay?"

This brings her to pull in her breath and break their eye contact. "I do..."

He leans in further for her to able to kiss him as he tells her. "Your turn."

It takes her a while to reply. "Truth or dare, Mr Sparrow?"

"Always dare, sweetness."

She lets a moment pass before she asks him. As if they booth seek the very same question, and the very same answer. It is the one he is waiting for, and this time, she will meet him halfway.

Because he wants her to, and he wants her to say it.

So she does.

"I dare you to play house."

THE END

As Times Goes By

MARRIED

A/N: ... Finished! What did you think of this story? :-) Thanks for reading this! I hope this story; MARRIED gave you something.

A bit of a note, I'd just like to say that if you have a "request" or "suggestion," something you'd like to read, to have me write, please share and I can see if I can fix it. :-) Specifically now as I have wrapped up this story passing 100 000 words.

Another additional wish for my part, as I always want to grow as a writer, if you happen to read this like hundreds of years after I posted this - I would really appreciate very much to hear your opinion :-) Thank you! Until next time!