Warning! With both relief and sadness I have found the end of Barbossa and Miranda's weary travels. This is the last chapter.

Chapter Thirty

Returned

Miranda's eyes flickered open. She was lying on her side in the sand. His body lie beside her. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to remember. A bullet burning, his lifeless body, the sea of starlight, and years and years of blackness.

Almost afraid at what she might find, she reached to his hand, and gently held it. Warmth. Her eyes snapped open and she tightened her grip. A deep breath expanded his chest, and she watched his eyes slowly open.

Barbossa looked up at the gray sky of dawn above him. The memory returned to him. He rolled his head to the side to see her form. Her face was the perfection he'd remembered of so long ago. Her tangled hair had never looked more lovely. Her parted lips captured his gaze momentarily until he raised his eyes to meet her shining gray ones.

Miranda smiled, her dry lips cracking. "You're alive," she barely whispered.

"Aye," Barbossa breathed. "And you've returned t'me, Miss Farthin'."

A half-laugh, half-sob broke in her throat as her eyes filled. She pressed her palms to her eyes and rolled on her back, a shudder wracking her frame. She felt his presence draw closer.

"Ain't nothin' t'be sad 'bout." He rose into a kneeling position and removed her hands from her face.

"I never thought I'd-" Miranda began, her voice tremulous, but Barbossa wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. His lips found hers before she could finish.

He'd never felt the warmth of her touch before, never known the true feeling of her mouth to his. Every other sensation he'd felt since the curse was lifted paled to the taste of her skin and feel of her body pressed against his. Ten years. He'd have waited a hundred if he had to. Her warmth brought him everything he'd ever searched for.

Miranda wrapped her arms around him as she deepened the kiss, feeling his hold tighten around her waist before sliding up her back to cradle her head in his hands.

Barbossa felt he couldn't pull her close enough to him. He wanted to draw her into his very being as he tasted her tears on her lips. Warmth surrounded him as he realized there was nothing he wouldn't do for this lovely creature that clung to him.

They at last parted, beholding at each other in silence. When Miranda looked into his eyes she saw justified all the pain and trials she'd gone through to bring him back. She wondered what he'd done to save her from the darkness.

"How did-" but Barbossa shook his head.

"Some other time," he insisted. "I reckon yer story be just as int'restin' as mine."

Miranda smiled through her tears. She looked into his face and saw the man who'd imprisoned her, the man who'd kissed her through the bars of the cell in the brig, the man who'd saved her from the fire, the man who'd killed so many just to feel her touch, the man she'd turned her back on, and the man whose body she'd dragged across the world to bring back.

There was no fear, no doubt, no worry in her mind that he was the only man she would ever love, the only man she could live her life with. He seemed to sense her sentiment and stood, whirling her to her feet. He spun her in his arms before drawing her close again.

"I stole a wedding from you once, Miss Farthin'. I b'lieve I be owin' you one now."

Miranda froze, her eyes wide and her mouth in an "o" shape. She cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brows. "Was that a proposal, Captain?"

He pulled her into brief kiss and grinned ruefully. "As close ta one as ye'll be gettin' from me. I'm not but a lowly pirate, an' eloquent tradition be above me ways."

Miranda laughed, her face sore from smiling so broadly. She covered her mouth with her fingertips for a moment and looked at him, eyes shining. "And whatever will we do with ourselves? Pirates aren't known for being traditional breadwinners."

"Steal a ship, sail the world," Barbossa waved his arms extravagantly. "I know a cave full o' more gold an' jewels than could last a lifetime. Minus 882 coins that we won' be needin', o' course."

"That sounds perfect." Miranda turned to the ocean, the waves grey from the dawning sky overhead. The tide rolled in and out, casting a tangy breeze over her face, pushing back her hair and delighting her sense. This was completeness. She felt Barbossa join her side as they both looked out to the great, vast sea before them.

"Aye, Miss Farthin'." he agreed, "That it does."

The End

Final Note:I didn't realize until about a week ago that I started this fanfiction in July of 2006. Almost five years to finish. Crazy! I've loved writing it though, and I truly hope that you've enjoyed it. A special shout out to reviewers Nydt, Luminous Faith, Eleuteria, Countcresent, pendras corniellius, Orchidya, Green Eyed Faerie, Suzanne, and Tozi-all of your reviews in particular inspired me to write (as I've already mentioned) even when I had no clue how to keep going.

If you're interested in my music inspirations (and music I played on continuous loop as I wrote):

Believer, by Goldfrapp

Starlight and Guiding Light, by Muse

Tango Ole Gaupa, by Andre Rieu (mainly in chapter sixteen as Barbossa and Miranda dance)

Music from the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack including (but not limited to): Jack Sparrow, The Kraken, Davy Jones (Especially so-I'm a sucker for music box melodies), Swords Crossed, Moonlight Serenade, Drink Up Me Hearties, Up is Down, At Wit's End, What Shall We Die For, and One Day

I put a lot of myself into the story, and to have it received so well- well, it's such a wonderful feeling! Thank you all so much for reading a story that has become such a part of me. Much love!