I heard a loud bang and woke with a start. Jack was just waking up. I smelled smoke and turned around to see a huge fire and Elizabeth fueling it with rum. "No! Not good!" Jack shouted. "Stop! Not good! What are you doing? You burned all the food the shade. The rum!"

"Yes, the rum is gone!"

"Why is the rum gone?" I rolled my eyes and walked over.

Elizabeth answered, "One, because it is a vile drink that turns even the most respectable men into complete scoundrels. Two, that signal is over a thousand feet high. The entire Royal Navy is out looking for me. Do you really think there is even the slightest chance they won't see it?"

"But why is the rum gone?"

"Just wait, Captain Sparrow," she sat down, "You give it one hour, maybe two, keep a weather eye open and you will see white sails on that horizon."

Jack pulled out his pistol in frustration and pointed it at the back of her head, but put it away again. He walked away and I walked after him. "Must've been terrible for you to be trapped here, Jack," he imitated, "Must've been terrible—well, it bloody is now!"

I caught up with him and said, "Come on, Jack. She did it for good reason. I know you don't want to die here, Jack, I know I don't."

"No, I don't want to die here. But the rum is gone! Why is the rum gone?"

"Look, I guess she just didn't think of burning the trees only. It does make the signal higher with rum, but it can get quite high without it. Besides, she doesn't think drinking rum all the time is fun because she's never done it before."

"But the rum!"

"Jack! It is possible to be happy without it. I'm sure you can pull out some good memories of times you weren't drinking."

"You're probably right."

"Just stop and listen to the birds every once in a while."

"I admit, I don't spend much time just listening to things or just sitting there watching something. I noticed you do. I've seen you sit on the beach watching the waves go in and out, or listening to music. Or singing to it."

"With it."

"Right. I don't remember when this was, but I do remember seeing you sitting on a beach singing. I don't remember the song, either, but I think you told me it was your favorite." He came closer to me and put his hands around my waist.

"You remember that? That was 'How Can I Keep From Singing,' and yes, it is my favorite song. A Celtic hymn I learned as a child."

"Do you still remember it?"

"Of course I do. I sing it to myself all the time."

"Can you sing it now? For me, just this once."

I put my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder. I love to sing, so I could hardly refuse. I began, "My life flows on in endless song, above Earth's lamentation. I hear the real though far off hymn, that hails a new creation. Above the tumult and the strife, I hear it's music ringing. It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?"

"That's such a lovely song."

"That's why it's my favorite, isn't it?" I said.

"Mm-hmm." I picked up my head and looked in his eyes. Then he said, "Have I ever told you that you have beautiful eyes?"

"Aye."

"They're the exact same color as your hair, did you know?"

"So you've told me."

"Mm-hmm." He leaned forward a little and kissed me gently on the lips. I closed my eyes and he didn't stop for a while.

A crisp voice behind me woke me from the trance, "I must admit I hadn't suspected you and Mr. Sparrow." I let go of him and turned around to see the commodore walking toward us with his hands behind his back. Behind him was a rowboat and some soldiers on the beach, and behind that was the Dauntless anchored offshore. "The last time I saw you two together you were quite a bickering couple. Might I ask did you fall in love before or after engaging in piracy?"

I scowled at him. "Before. Six years before, in fact."

He scowled back, "Six years ago you were a Port Royal sailor; I doubt you had the chance to…"

"I said it was six years before engaging in piracy, not six years ago."

"Oh, so you were a pirate before you came to Port Royal?"

"Aye. And I proudly admit it. I feel happy to flaunt in your face all the freedom I've had and proven through piracy. It's quite fun, actually. You get to do whatever you want, go wherever you want, and you get profit for it!"

"Where is Elizabeth?"

"Over there, tending to her little fire." I pointed at the huge column of smoke rising from the other part of the island.

"It'll be hangings for both of you as soon as we get back." To his sailors he ordered, "Follow me! This way!"

As the Commodore walked away Jack said, "That was awkward."

"He's always getting into people's personal lives."

"So I've noticed. I'm gonna go get me boots."

"Aye, me too." We walked back down the beach and got our remaining things.

Two sailors approached us and one said, "We're to accompany you two back to the ship, Commodore's orders."

"Fine," I said. I walked next to Jack toward the Dauntless, one soldier walked in front, one walked behind. I recognized them as the guards at the dock that had argued enough to at first unknowingly let Jack onto the Interceptor, but I didn't say anything.

We were taken to the rowboat and we waited there a moment for Elizabeth, the Commodore, and the remaining soldiers. Then, we all got into the boat and rowed over to the Dauntless. When we climbed on board the Governor immediately came up to Elizabeth and gave her a big father's hug. I remembered that kind of hug. Back in England before my father died, he would give me a nice big one every day when I got back from school.

Then Elizabeth said, "Father, Will's in trouble!"

"I'm sorry about that, daughter, but we're going home now."

"But we've got to save Will!"

"No! You're safe now. We will return to Port Royal immediately, not go gallivanting after pirates."

"Then we condemn him to death," she argued.

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

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

Jack added, "If I may be so bold as to inject my professional opinion. The Pearl was listing near the scuppers after the battle. It's very unlikely she'll be able to make good time. Think about it. The Black Pearl. The last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, mate. How can you pass that up?"

"By remembering that I serve others, Mr. Sparrow. Not only myself," the commodore answered.

Elizabeth pleaded, "Commodore, I beg you, please do this. For me. As a wedding gift."

"Elizabeth," Governor Swann asked, "Are you accepting the commodore's proposal?"

"I am," she answered.

Jack got excited, "A wedding! I love weddings! Drinks all around!" The commodore looked as serious and foul as ever. "I know. 'Clap him in irons,' right?" he put his wrists together in front of him.

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

"Inescapably clear."

"Miss Meurig, I must say I'm not surprised you were a pirate all along. Right under my nose."

"Yes but you can't see what's right under your nose, can you? It's what I do in your face that you notice. However, most people can feel what right under their nose, which you say you did, but you didn't do anything about it. And some things I did do right in your face that you didn't see. So thank you for being so oblivious. Did you ever find out who stole that fifty shillings? Or that really expensive coat? Or the hat?"

"I can't believe it."

"Couldn't help myself, mate. When I get chances like that I can feel my blood stirring. I've been a lawbreaker since the age of ten when my father died and I had to start stealing food to stay alive. I was born to be a pirate. Too bad I didn't realize how much I loved it until I found employment. Come to think of it, in my point of view, employment is a lot like slavery."

"So you confess. I never trusted you."

"So I noticed."

The governor was shocked, "I can't believe I trusted you."

"I'm terribly sorry, Governor. You're a good man and a good father. You've raised your daughter well, I'll give you that. I never meant to harm you or anyone in Port Royal except him," I pointed at the commodore then continued, "I admit, irritating those that are out to stop piracy is one of my favorite pastimes."

"Well, lucky you, I'm irritated," the commodore replied.

"It's good to hear that. I can rest easy now, thanks to you."

"You, too, will be quiet and make yourself unnoticeable for the rest of this voyage. Is that clear?"

"Aye." I admit that, having not been allowed to do anything, that trip was pretty boring. It was the first boring sea voyage I'd ever made.