Well, this is the final chapter now! Thank you so much for all the positive reviews and responses we've gotten for the story. I loved and appreciated all of them. Enjoy the conclusion!

Chapter 7

"Ooh, Jake, I cannot believe all of that just happened!" Becky exclaimed as she hugged him. "Do you think that he'll keep quiet?"

"He should. Nelson signed the agreement. He may have been a thief and a liar, but he has always kept his word." Jake shifted his hat so he could see her better. "Becky, there was something I was going to mention to you today. I guess now would be good to bring it up. There may be a slight uprising from the crew about your wanting to join my crew. You see, it was hard enough to get the crew to accept Nora, and I fear that they will be even worse when you join. At least I had the excuse that Nora was blood, but for you…well, all I can say is that you are my childhood friend. However, there is a way to solve this problem."

"That definitely is a problem. What are you going to do?"

"Well, you see, I have a rule that any woman who marries one of my crew has the choice of becoming a pirate or staying on Jakeston."

"What's that supposed to mean, Jake Cardinal?" Becky asked, pretending to not know what he was saying.

"If you were to marry me," Jake pulled out a large diamond ring from his coat pocket, "you could automatically become a pirate. I have loved you for years, Becky, and it would be great if you married me."

"I've loved you too, Jake!" Becky wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I certainly would love to marry you! And that ring; it's so beautiful!" She eagerly put the ring on and admired it. "How long have you really loved me?"

"Probably ever since we were twelve. But I loved you even more when you accepted my first proposal."

"'First proposal'? What do you mean?"

"When you accepted the locket I gave you when we were sixteen. Didn't you realize that it was a promise of engagement?"

"Why, you sly dog, you!" Becky nudged him in the arm and smiled.

Jake merely raised his eyebrows and tittered slyly. "Hey, by the way, you had promised me something a few days ago."

Becky furrowed her brow. "What would that have been?"

"A certain female told a certain pirate captain that he would get something to remember her by once she saw that he was still good."

"Oh that. Well, I suppose I could give it to you now." Becky slid right up in front of Jake and gave him a kiss.

"That's it?" Jake asked, a little disappointed.

"What do you mean!? Is a kiss from me not good enough?"

"Kisses are great and all, but I'll be getting those from you for the rest of my life now that we're engaged. I was kinda expecting something a little more concrete."

Becky thought about it for a moment and pulled out her dagger. "Alright, Cardinal, you want something more concrete. Well, I'll give you something more concrete." She took out her dagger and pulled out a strand of her hair from the back of her head. And with a quick slash of her blade, the hair was severed from her head. "Here," she said as she gave him the strand she cut.

Jake's eyes were giant saucers as he watched this happen before his eyes. Her took the hair from her and said, "I guess this'll work. Maybe I can tie it to a piece of cord and keep it as a good luck charm."

"I'm glad that it's good enough for your high standards," Becky rolled her eyes as she started putting her hair back up.

The Scarlett Ruby arrived at her destination a day later, but there was hardly anything worth taking in the sunken ship. Since they didn't have any more destinations to search, they turned around and headed back to Jakeston.

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Matthew Mimosa had no idea where he was; all he did know was that his ship had sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic, he had only a handful of men left along with a sulking woman, and his dinghy was now leaking. Two of his men were using their fingers to try to plug up the small holes in the bottom of the boat.

"We haven't had a decent meal in four days! All we have is this nasty hardtack!" one of Mimosa's men bemoaned.

"Pull yourself together, man!" Mimosa ordered sullenly. "Here are your food rations for the day." He handed out two dry crackers to every person.

"I'm not hungry," Allison claimed as she pushed Mimosa's hand away.

"Surely you are!" Mimosa protested. "You haven't eaten for two days! I demand you to eat!"

"I am not hungry."

Matthew's cheeks began to turn red with irritation. "Why must you always manage to be so difficult?! Can't you just once be cooperative?"

"Perhaps if you weren't so demanding and rude, I might treat you better. You're always bossing everybody around, and I am sick of it!"

"Oooh, why do I even bother with you?" Mimosa slumped back down into his seat.

"Then why don't you just throw me overboard like you threaten your crew if they misbehave?"

"Because I-"

"Sir, it's a ship!" someone interrupted, nearly tipping the boat over with his jumping.

"You," Mimosa ordered, "quick, give me your shirt!" He snatched the white shirt and began waving it. "Ahoy! Please help!" His expression changed to horror as the ship turned and came towards them. "Of all ships for us to run into!" he blustered.

"Of all dinghies for us to run into!" Jake laughed heartily as the ship came closer to the dinghy. "Well, I suppose we should see what he wants. Help Mimosa get onto the ship!"

"Thank you," Mimosa mumbled under his breath after he was on board. "Could we…go into your office to speak privately?"

"After you are searched for weapons. I wouldn't want to get killed on my own ship."

"I would like to negotiate a peace agreement with you," Mimosa declared once they were in Jake's office. "I am tired of always going after you every time I see your ship, and I would like to actually enjoy my pirating life."

"Well, that is quite a surprise to hear! I never could understand why you've been trying to ruin my life ever since you mutinied," Jake said as he began pulling out a blank parchment. "What were you thinking for this agreement?"

"I don't want you to blow up my next ship. I suppose in return for you not bringing harm to my ship, I could promise not to harm yours. And I would like to stay as far away from you as possible after this."

"That's sounds fair enough so far. Maybe we should chart out on a map what waters the two of us will run."

"I frequent the southern half of the Atlantic, but I would need a safe route to be able to journey to England and the rest of Europe."

"And I usually stay in the northern half of the Atlantic. It sounds like we'll be able to stay out of each other's paths pretty well. Oh, there's one more thing I would like to get out of this agreement: I want back that engraved wooden chest you took when you mutinied. I would be willing to give you something in return."

"Erm, that is back on land in one of my hiding spots. Perhaps I can get that for you another day? I would like my cutlass you took right before you sunk my vessel and perhaps a non-leaky rowboat so that I can get to land, please."

"Alright, I'll give the cutlass back once you give me the chest, and I'll give you the rowboat now. But first let's write up this peace agreement."

Allison and the rest of Mimosa's men were brought aboard the Scarlett Ruby while Captain Cardinal and Captain Mimosa were still discussing matters because their dinghy began taking on too much water. Allison explained her situation to Becky, and Becky promised to make sure that Mimosa would let her go and that they would take her home. Mimosa and Cardinal came out soon after and explained the terms they came to. Pugwash, the cook, prepared a quick meal for Mimosa and his men while Jake chose the boat to give to Matthew.

Before Becky could even mention Allison to Jake, Mimosa addressed the matter. "Allison," he started off gruffly, "I am letting you go."

"What?" she said startled. "Do you mean it? Are you really going to let me go?"

"Yes, I am. I talked it over with Captain Cardinal, and he said that he would make sure you would find your way home."

"I-I don't know what to say…Th-thank you very much!"

"You're welcome. I…hope that perhaps one day we might run into each other, only under better circumstances than before." He bowed slightly then quickly turned on his heel and walked away. He and his men loaded into the rowboat soon after, and they rowed away in the opposite direction from the route the Scarlett Ruby was taking.

"Welcome back aboard the Scarlett Ruby, Allison," Captain Cardinal greeted. "We aren't going to be able to take you home right away since we were already on our own way home, but you are more than welcome to stay with us until we can. You should be with us no longer than two weeks."

"Plus, you might be able to witness a marriage if you stay long enough. Jake and I are going to be preparing to get married as soon as we get home," Becky eagerly added.

"Oh, congratulations! That sounds just fine to me. It would be nice to be able to witness something good for once. Thank you so much for everything you have done."

"Only too happy to help out a damsel in distress!" Jake responded proudly. Then, turning to his crew, he shouted, "Full speed ahead for home, boys!"

Alvin started awake at the sound of his alarm clock. "Boy! That was some dream I had! It was as if I stepped into a movie. Hey, that gives me an idea! Simon! Theodore! Come listen to the dream I had! I bet it can make us millions!"

What? That's it? Allison and Mimosa aren't together? And there was barely even any Theodore and Eleanor love. That's why we couldn't stop at just this story. There's more that needs to be told. Tune in for episode two soon!