Alrighty, kids, this is the last chapter of this story!!! I had a ton of fun writing this one! Thank you all for your fine reviews and more importantly, thanks for actually reading my works! I know they aren't always the best, but I try!

Disclaimer: Disney owns all but what I own.

Jack was rudely shoved into Beckett's cabin. As the soldiers shut the doors behind them, Jack looked around, noticing Beckett standing at the window, but he was more interested in the figure that Beckett was holding by the shoulders before him.

"Remarkable," Beckett mused as Jack began looking through various boxes, opening lids. "When last I saw that ship, it was on fire and sinking beneath the waves. I fully expected that to be the last I saw of it. Curious…your friends appear to be quite desperate, Jack. Perhaps they no longer believed that a gathering of squabbling pirates can defeat the Flying Dutchman…and so despair leads to betrayal. But you and I are no strangers to betrayal. Are we?" He turned to Jack, also turning the figure.

"Meg?" Jack said in disbelief. He could not believe that she had managed to stay sane being taken captive that long. Also, what was that? Meg, wearing a dress? "Not the sort of dress I'd put you in…" Jack smirked, but immediately made it disappear. Meg knocked Beckett's hands away and ran to her captain. Jack embraced her. The expression on Beckett's face was that of a very annoyed person.

"It's not here, Jack,"

"What? What isn't? Meg's here, I know that," he replied.

"The Heart of Davy Jones. It's safely aboard the Dutchman and so unavailable to use as leverage to satisfy your debts to the good captain."

"By my reckoning," Jack said, pushing Meg behind him, putting himself between Beckett and her. "that account has been settled." He casually sauntered over to the other side of the room by a large portrait of Beckett, grasping his walking stick.

"By your death? And yet, here you are."

"Close your eyes and pretend it's all a bad dream. That's how I get by." Jack explained, turning to the portrait and trying to mimic Beckett's expression in it.

"And if Davy Jones were to learn of your survival?" he went over to pour a bit of liquor into two tiny glasses. Jack watched him casually, though he started to smirk.

"Best be giving one of those to Meggie over there," Beckett raised his eyebrow. "Oh yes," Jack continued, "she drinks…she's a strong girl who can hold her liquor, can't you, Love?" Meg gave Jack a small smile and Beckett rolled his eyes and poured another small glass for Meg. Jack passed it to her and Meg took it in one gulp. Beckett was astonished. Never had he given her anything like that to drink. Jack sauntered over to Meg. "Darling," he murmured in her ear. "Will you step outside for a bit while I discuss our freedom with Lord Beckett?" Meg nodded and left the cabin, going up on deck, Jack smiling after her. "Now," Jack turned back to Beckett. "What was it you were going to say?"

"Yes…perhaps you would consider an alternative arrangement? One which requires absolutely nothing from you but information." Beckett offered one of the tiny glasses to Jack. He ignored it for a moment, looking to the desk where dozens of little figures stood and, behind them, nine pieces of eight. Looking back to Beckett and the liquor in his hand, Jack took one from him.

"Regarding the Brethren Court, no doubt," suddenly, Jack took Beckett's glass as well. "In exchange for fair compensation—" gulp "—square my debt with Jones—" gulp "—guarantee Meg's and my freedom."

"Of course," Beckett said pouring himself a glass of brandy since Jack had stolen his shot. "It's just good business." Jack picked up one of the figures from the desk that looked remarkably like Beckett and examined it.

"Were I in a divulgitary mood…what then might I divulge?"

"Everything," Beckett whispered. "Where are they meeting? Who are the Pirate Lords? What is the purpose of the nine pieces of eight?" Jack was a bit hesitant, but began bargaining.

--

Meg, on deck, was watching the events taking place on the Black Pearl, not sure she was liking what she saw. Was that Beth in chains along with the rest of the crew? "Beth!" she called, drawing attention to herself…attention…that could be the cause of another kidnapping soon to follow.

Just at that moment Barbossa and Sao Feng had been speaking of Calypso and just after, Meg had called, causing Barbossa to look towards her and Sao Feng, for some odd reason, supposed that Meg was Calypso, trapped in her human form.

--

Jack turned around, waving a fan he had picked up, walking back toward Beckett. "You can keep Barbossa, the belligerent imoculus and his friend with the wooden eye, both. And Turner. Especially Turner. The rest go with me aboard the Pearl and I lead you to Shipwreck Cove where I will hand you the pirates and you will not hand me to Jones. Bloody fair deal, don't you think?"

"And what becomes of Miss Owen?" Beckett inquired.

"What interest is she to you?" Jack asked. The other man smirked. Jack knew that Beckett would not give up Meg easily.

"Jack, I've just recalled, I've got this wonderful compass which points to whatever I want," Beckett walked over to where the solders set Jack's effects when he boarded the ship. "so for what do I need you?"

"It points to the thing you want most and that is not the Brethren Court, is it?"

"Then what is, Jack?"

"Meg…then me! …er…me dead,"

"Damn," Beckett threw Jack the compass and Jack threw Beckett his fan. The lord paused, opening the fan, waving it. "Although, if I kill you, and take back Meg, then I can find Shipwreck Cove (is it?) on my own," he pulled out a very small gun and pointed it at Jack. "Cut out the middle man as it were."

"With me killed, you would arrive at the cove find it a stronghold nigh unimpregnable, able to withstand blockage for years, and then you'd be wishing, 'Oh, if only there was someone I had not killed inside to ensure that the pirates would then come outside,'"

"And you can accomplish all this?"

"You may kill me, but you may never insult me. Who am I?" Jack said with a grin. Beckett looked bewildered for a moment. "I'm…Captain Jack Sparrow!" Jack finished, looking hurt. Suddenly there was an explosion of a cannon and the window to Beckett's cabin shattered, sending bits of glass flying to the floor and upsetting the table with the little ships on it. Beckett shrunk to the floor. Jack shook his hand quickly, shouting, "Done!" and running out the door. Running onto the deck, he grabbed Meg's hand, leading her toward the helm.

"Here," he said, giving her the little figurine of Beckett. "Place that in the cannon, right there on the edge while I fix the rope…"

"What?" Meg looked at him, confused.

"Just do it! We're escaping!" Meg did and Jack pulled her to him and wrapped his arm around her waist with his right arm. "Hang on to the rope, I'll hang onto you, just let me light this…" Meg grasped the rope. Just then Beckett appeared at the top of the stairs.

"You're mad!" he stated, figuring out what Jack had in mind.

"Thank goodness for that, because if I wasn't this would probably never work!"

"Tally ho!" Meg shouted jubilantly as Jack lit the fuse and they were sent soaring through the air and landed on the Black Pearl.

"And that was without a single drop of rum!" Jack said to his crew, Meg at his side.

R&R if you'd like. AWE is on the way!!! Look for the first chapter out in August 2007! (EDIT FROM OCTOBER 2007:) Everyone, I am so sorry that I have not gotten any chapters out. I've had writer's block for a couple months now. However, I'm starting to get my writing skills back and will soon be trying to write again. In the meantime, Bethykins has been writing bits for me (thank goodness!). I'm not sure when I'll get the first chapter out, but I hope it will be soon!!!