A/N: This is the end. Not sure if I'll be doing a sequel but now i'm finally ready to move back to the King and Her Men after getting this monster out of the way. lol. Hope you all enjoyed this. Please Review! :)

Disclaimer: You know the drill

Chapter 24- Never

I'm trying to forgive…don't leave me here again…

Elizabeth avoided Jack out of embarrassment for the remainder of the night and the docking process the next morning. Norrington gave up his hammock to her temporarily and slept on the deck below her although grumbling that if she had bedded the captain neither would be in the predicament.

James was already in the longboat waiting on her to say her goodbyes.

She stopped at Barbossa first. He nodded and smiled (even though he'd given Jack a scolding about being a damn fool for not talking to the lass after hearing about the bumbling things she'd said the evening before). "Captain Swann."

"Goodbye, Poppet." Pintel murmured.

The rest stood silently as her sad eyes landed on Jack who was equally sad, staring at his feet forlornly.

"Jack."

He met her gaze.

"It would never have worked out between us." She deadpanned.

"Keep telling yourself that, darling." He attempted to smirk and failed miserably.

The hurt look hiding behind his eyes drove her over the edge. She glanced around at the other people on deck and then back at him. "Oh to bloody hell with all of it, Jack. I want to stay on as part of your crew."

His eyes widened with something akin to hope and the fake smirk disappeared. "You want to what?" He spluttered.

She moved closer. "May I join your crew, Captain Sparrow?"

The rest of the crew looked on with bated breath.

He appeared to ponder it. "Mr. Gibbs?"

"Aye, cap'n?"

"Show this fine little pirate how to mend some sails. I expect she'll be an expert. And as for the rest of you scabrous dogs, start our supply endeavours. We'll be leaving for Tortuga at dawn." He said, making his way to his quarters.

The rest of the crew cheered. A small grin slid across Elizabeth's face. "You won't be showing me, Captain Sparrow?"

He paused mid-stride, and then continued walking.

Gibbs took one look at Elizabeth's disappointed face and chuckled. "Well…ye did say it would never work out."

She sighed. "Yes…"

JEJEJEJE

Elizabeth sauntered into Captain Sparrow's cabin much later. "Here are the last of the inventory lists, Captain."

He glanced up from his map. "Ah yes, thank you."

She watched him go directly back to his map and sighed.

"Was there something else you needed?"

"I think you know."

"If this is about my not doing the inventory lists mys-"

"No it's not about the bloody inventory list!"

He dropped his sextant. "Then what is it?" His tired eyes met hers and she lost all resolve to tell him once again. One look and he had her a jittery little schoolgirl all over again.

"I…I need a bath."

"Well then go find a bathhouse."

"I don't know where they are." She muttered. "And I don't feel safe going alone."

There was no mistaking the snort he made. "The pirate king is scared to take a bath?"

He stared at the pleading look on her face for a long time and then sighed. "I suppose I could use one myself."

Perfect. Get him naked, Elizabeth. Make him want you so bad that he'll admit he loves you.

JEJEJEJE

Elizabeth didn't bother wearing many effects to the bathhouse, just her sword and pistol and boots so it didn't take her long to get out of them. He was still undoing his effects when she removed her shirt, baring her breasts completely.

To her chagrin, he didn't look up…not even when she dropped her pants. Shrugging to herself she climbed into the steaming water and shut her eyes. If he was allowing her modesty she'd allow him some.

Once he was in, she lay back in the gigantic tub and let her breasts and kneecaps surface, tilting her head back to wet her hair. She moaned most improperly at the feel of the soap in her hair when she began to scrub it.

"You really shouldn't be doing that."

"Doing what?"

"You know exactly what."

"And why not?"

"What about Will?"

"What about him? I'm not his anymore and I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm bathing. You're the only pirate lord that won't try to rape me. I trust you. That's why you're here."

"Aye…if I got ahold of you again, it would be far from rape."

A thrill shot down her spine at his words. He didn't touch her though and she didn't dare finish that conversation. She didn't trust him not to leave afterwards just yet. He didn't quite have an incentive to stay and she wasn't quite sure how to broach the subject.

Instead she finished bathing…until she came to her back. When he saw her struggling he chuckled a bit and came to her aid, using his freshly cleaned fingers to lather the soap and began running his hands up and down her back. In no time, she was arching against his hand, then. In her enthusiastic leaning her feet slipped out from under her and she slid most tantalizingly back into him. That was when she realized he was extremely hard…but he wasn't even really touching her…at least until she slid back against him, she leaned her head back against his shoulder and looked at him. His hands were on her sides just below her breasts and his mouth was inches away, his eyes heavy with desire.

She leaned up to him and kissed him tenderly…a soft, tentative kiss…and he returned it with another one and then she deepened it, nipping at his bottom lip and whimpering as his hands slid up and down on her sides. He didn't try more just opened his mouth wider to kiss her as deep as he could. Mmm…he feels so good…They were both panting when he moved his kisses down her jaw and to that spot on her neck he'd found on their first night.

Her moan from it had him sliding his hand low on her hip and groaning a bit into her neck. She could barely breathe…she had meant to come here to actually bathe and to tell him her feelings on the way back…not get molested thoroughly by him…but oh…OHHH… "Mmm…Jack…." Wait a minute…you need to talk. "Jack."

"Hmm?" He murmured, his voice exquisitely low.

"I…we need to finish bathing."

Instantly, she regretted her choice of words. He was back and away from her leaving her cold. They finished in silence and she could feel his anger…but she had to talk to him first. He needed to know she wanted more than to be in his bed. She wanted…everything.

JEJEJEJE

She looked up at him as they reached the deck of the Pearl. He hadn't said a word, and it was worrying her. Perhaps I should have given myself to him first…maybe he would have been more receptive…

"Jack…"

He looked at her, but didn't say a word, his eyes dark and unreachable.

The only way she would get anything out of him is if she tells him how she feels. "There's…something I need to tell you."

He ran a hand over his face. "Come to my cabin."

She followed him without question.

JEJEJEJE

Once inside, before he could even light the lanterns she began to speak. "I've been trying to get your attention for some time."

"My attention? Believe me, darling, you've had that since the day we met."

"Even if that's true…I…I'm so very afraid to tell you…"

He stopped in his tracks. "Tell me what?"

"That night we were together…I said "I can't"….do you remember?"

Did he ever. It cut through his heart like a knife, those words. Fascinating how much she could hurt him with two simple words. "Aye."

"Y-you left before I could finish my sentence and I…I can't let that happen again." Her fear was beginning to dissipate. If he's not interested, he's not interested, but it certainly seemed he was.

He looked down. "M' sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Don't ever be sorry. It was my fault. The first words out of my mouth should have been 'I love you." There it was. She had said it. Now or never, Jack. My heart is on my sleeve and it's wholly yours…what will you do with it?

He didn't comprehend it at first, but when he did…he stepped closer. "What did you say? Elizabeth, if you mean those words…"

She met his gaze, tears in her eyes. "I meant them."

His arms were around her in an instant, his forehead against her nearly knocking their hats askew. "This changes everything…" He was nearly shaking.

"You're not…rejecting me then?" Her voice was so small and scared.

"Never." He whispered. "Elizabeth…" He slanted his mouth against hers in a kiss so tender that she nearly cried. She returned it just as tenderly and then she was kissing his jaw and then right under his ear, clinging to him and crying. He moaned at her ministrations. "Lizzie…darling…I love you…oh I'm so in love with you." He whispered the last, pulling her towards his bed.

I am with you forever, the end.- Breaking Benjamin