Author's Note: Okay, so this is it. The final chapter. (Sniffs) I wanted to thank everyone who contributed any piece of review, advice, disagreements, thanks for your support. I couldn't have written this without you. Enjoy until the sequel!
Aoife and Captain Jack Sparrow

Chapter Eighteen --- An Interrupted Hanging

"Edana, darling, it's time to get up," a voice whispered in my ear. I turned over and tried to tune it out. "Edana, please. We have to save Jack," it pleaded annoyingly. I sighed and turned back to the voice. Will was leaning over me, his curls dangling just above my face.

"Fine," I growled. "But remember, you will pay for waking me up."

"Sounds good to me," he winked and released me from his grasp. I stood up and searched for some clothes of Will's that would fit me. I changed after Will turned away reluctantly. I finished and he came over to me. "You really want to wear that?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Well, I thought you might want to wear something nicer," he replied.

"Will, we're going to a hanging and then to The Pearl."

"We should make a good first impression."

"They're pirates, for goodness sakes!"

"So?"

"What are you going to wear?"

"You'll see," he smiled. I turned around to give him privacy to change. When he finished, he slipped his arms around my waist and kissed my temple. I turned back around in his grasp to look at him and grinned.

He was wearing a white shirt with a brown vest tied over it. A belt draped across his shoulder with two swords in the holders and an axe at his side. The only thing missing was the hat. "You should wear a hat with this," I pointed out, my grin only getting bigger.

"Actually, I don't have any," he replied sheepishly.

"Well then we'll just have to get one," I said stubbornly. We left the shop and headed into the center of town. Peddlers and merchants were already out with their carts, persuading people to buy their goods. One particular cart caught my attention. It was covered in hats of all shapes, sizes and colors. I approached the cart and searched for the one hat I had in mind. I found it near the top of the pile and I lifted it off. It was the big gray hat with the bronze buckle in front and the large white feather hanging off the back. "It's perfect," I breathed excitedly. The man who owned the cart was busy fitting a hat on another man. I turned to Will and whispered, "Hide it in your cloak and let's go."

He nodded after a slight hesitation and glance towards the peddler, and slipped it underneath his cloak. We walked away casually, trying not to draw attention to ourselves. Once we were out of the peddler's view, I grabbed the hat from him. "Edana!" he chided me, laughing. "Are you trying to prove that you can be a good pirate?"

"If you wanna live on The Pearl, you've gotta be a good pirate," I replied with a smile. I untied his curls and fixed the hat on his head. "There," I said. "You like a true gentleman about to turn pirate now."

"Thank you, m'lady," he smiled and kissed me right quick. "Let's go, savvy?"

"Savvy," I grinned. We walked to Fort Charles hand in hand, unsuspectingly, talking about the plan in hushed tones. To others it simply looked as though a young couple were walking about, talking about their love for each other. When we arrived, many people were crowding into the square after hearing the news that a pirate had been caught and was to be hanged until dead. I glanced about for Keelin and found her in the shade, on the steps, glancing about for me. She was wearing a peach gown and her hair was piled high on her head. Norrington, Elizabeth and Governor Swann were all standing to her left, standing straight as pins, watching with a feigned interest on the event. She hadn't seen us yet and she was still looking desperately.

Will and I stayed at the back, behind the crowd, hoping to remain invisible until the opportune moment arrived. As I glanced about the fort, I spotted a small group of Marines, surrounding Jack, marching in from a door. They brought him up on the gallows, his hands tied in front of him. A large masked man, the executioner, appeared, an axe in his hands, a small official looking man at his side. The official unrolled the parchment that was in his hands and began to read aloud to the crowd.

"Jack Sparrow, be it known that you have…."

I could've sworn that I heard Jack muttering, "Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow."

The official continued reading, "…for your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith- piracy, smuggling, impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England…."

I could see Jack smile and mouth, "Ah, yes." He glanced at the executioner who was glaring at him furiously. Jack turned back around quickly, the grin gone from his mouth.

"Sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul," he finally finished.

I grabbed Will's hand as the noose was put around Jack's neck. "Let's go," I whispered.

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(Keelin's POV)

After I had been shaken awake by a maid, eaten nothing more than an apple, forced into another corset and a peach gown with peach ribbons on the bodice, white lace lining the bell sleeves, had my hair piled high and make-up put on, we had left. I was incredibly nervous but tried not to show it. We took a carriage to Fort Charles and we were brought to the shady steps outside. Elizabeth and Norrington, who was trying to keep his eyes off of her plunging neckline, stood to my left. Governor Swann was talking to an older couple, who were promptly dressed for a ball, let alone a hanging. My eyes darted around the square for some sign of Edana and Will. Finally, I spotted that obnoxious hat of Will's. They were standing in the shadows of the back of the crowd, out of the way. A small group of Marines came out of the fort, surrounding Jack. They brought him to the gallows and the official read his proclamation. I tuned him out, my eyes for Jack only.

The official stopped reading and the executioner slipped the noose around Jack's neck. I heard squawking and I glanced up to see Cotton's parrot on the post of a flag. It squawked again before taking off and flying away. Elizabeth heard the parrot and glancing towards it, realized what was going to happen. "I can't breath!" she faked and fainted.

"Elizabeth!" Governor Swann exclaimed. He and Norrington hurried to help her and I took the opportunity to sneak away. I lifted the skirt of my peach gown and hurried towards the gallows as the drums rolled.

"Move!" I heard yelled from behind me and a sword flew past my face just as the bottom of the gallows fell out. The sword stuck into the wood as Jack fell down fast. His feet slipped on it for a moment and he tried to regain his balance. Will jumped past me and onto the gallows and fought the executioner. I moved forward as Jack dangled, slipping on the sword. I reached down and pulled a knife from my boot and cut the rope around his hands. Will's sword forced the executioner's axe to hit the rope that was attached around Jack's neck and it loosened so he could fall to the ground.

"Thanks love," he smiled at me as Will flipped off of the gallows. Edana appeared by my side and we exchanged a quick smile. Marines began coming at us from every direction. Jack attacked, pushing their way to the top of the tower of the fort. Edana grabbed my hand and we ran after them, pushing our way through the crowd.

At the top of the fort, even more soldiers surrounded us. I was pulled away from my friends and shoved outside the circle. Eddie, who was in her pirate garb, was left alone inside the circle with the boys. Norrington pushed his way through, sword drawn. "I thought we might have to deal with some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt but not from you two," he spat.

"On our return to Port Royal, I granted you both clemency. And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!" the governor snapped, his eyes shifting between Will and Ed.

"And a good man!" Eddie snapped back. I choked back a giggle, turning it into a delicate cough as Jack pointed at himself proudly and mouthed, "That's me."

"If all we have achieved is that the hangman earns more than one pair of boots, so be it. At least I know my conscious will be clear," Will snarled.

"You forget your place, Turner," Norrington growled.

"It's right here…with Edana, between you and Jack."

I pushed my way back into the circle and grabbed Jack's hand. "As is mine," I said.

"Keelin! Lower your weapons. For goodness sake, put them down!" Governor Swann said frantically.

"Didn't I tell you, Governor?" Norrington gloated blissfully.

"Oh, shove it up your ass," I growled. A collective gasp went around the crowd that had gathered to watch this little scene.

Cotton's parrot squawked from where it watched us. It flew off and I noticed that Jack had seen it as well. "Well! I'm actually feelin' rather good about this," he said. He turned to the governor and using his arms to talk, continued, "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically?" The governor looked away, clearly disgusted by Jack's lack of hygiene. So Jack turned to Norrington instead. "'Ave fun with 'er mate. She's quite the feisty one she is. Oh, an' sorry 'bout what me girl said ta ye." He grabbed my hand and we started backwards. "Friends!" Jack announced. "This is the day that you will always remember as the day that---" But we had gone to far and we both tumbled over the ledge. A scream escaped me as I fell back towards freedom. We hit the water and immediately, my gown began to soak up the water and I couldn't breath because of the damn corset. Jack, seeing my difficulties, swam over to me and ripped the gown off, sliced through the corset and pulled off my petticoats and hoopskirt. They sank to the ocean floor, nothing more than beauty and pain together.

A splash from behind us made us turn around. Edana and Will had jumped from the ledge and landed in the water near us. "Hey!" I cried. "What are you doing?"

"Coming with you, duh!" Eddie replied.

"Come on, let's get back ta me ship," Jack said. We swam over and a rope was thrown into the water from the ship. Will grabbed Eddie in one arm and the rope in the other and they were hoisted onto the ship. The rope was thrown back over once they were on board. Jack took me in his arm, wrapping it securely about my waist and held on tightly to the rope with the other hand. We flew up into the air and landed on the deck of The Pearl, me on Jack's lap. Gibbs stood before us and Jack teased, "I thought ye were suppose ta stick ta the code."

Gibbs merely shrugged and replied, "We figured they was more actual…guidelines." He offered his hand to me and helped me off of Jack. Jack stood up and Cotton, with his parrot now on his shoulder, handed him his hat.

"Thank ye," Jack said, placing it on his head.

Annamaria handed me Jack's coat and I draped it over his shoulders. "Captain Sparrow, The Black Pearl is yours," I quoted.

"It's ours," he whispered in my ear as he pulled me towards the helm. He rubbed his hands lovingly along the handles, and then wrapped an arm about my waist, keeping one hand lightly on the helm.

"Jack, the crew," I whispered, feeling their eyes upon my back.

He glanced at them and yelled, "On deck, ye scabrous dogs! Man the braces! Let down and haul ta run free!" The crew jumped to and scurried about, doing what the captain commanded. Ed and Will joined us at the helm.

"Bring us that horizon, Captain," Ed said, leaning into Will's grasp. He held her close and kissed her hair.

Jack pulled out his compass and sang, "And really bad eggs."

"Drink up me hearties, yo, ho!" Ed and I chorused. We smiled and then she and Will disappeared below the deck. Once they were gone, Jack spun me around and pushed me roughly against the helm. Without warning, he kissed me, hoisting me up the helm, so that he was holding my ass, pressed against him tightly. My hands drifted to his face and I pulled him closer, if it was possible.

"Jack," I muttered against his lips. "Not in front of everyone."

"Yes," he replied, though he set me back down to the deck. "I could only think of ye last night in that lonely cell. Not able ta 'old ye me arms, I nearly died."

"Well, we're together now," I replied softly.

"Aye," he replied, stroking my cheek.

"So what's our heading, Captain?" I questioned.

"We're 'eadin' towards Africa ta meet the friend I told ye 'bout, the one who'll keep ye 'ere wit me, permanently. Savvy?" he replied, planting kisses along my neck.

"Savvy," I replied, returning his kisses.

Jack turned me around to face the helm. He placed his hands over mine on the handles and I felt a sudden burst of pride, bliss, freedom. It was then I knew that those feelings were coming from the ship, from Jack's very soul. We steered of together, into the horizon, and into our next adventure.