Once again, thank you so much to the readers, and especially the reviewers – to Peacockgirl, Ping*pong5, Piper, Innuendogirl, Pinkyiolis, Kittee, Bee, Sphinx, Cyrin, Allyrein, and all the other kind people who have stopped by to check out this little tale. My final request is that if you have read the whole thing, please give me an 'exit review', and let me know what you thought. (and if you have the time check out some of my other stories! )

I love this place.

And now, an Epilogue.

Late in the evening of their first day out from Muerta, the Esperance and the Black Pearl found themselves in a bit of a lull. The Pearl could have crept on with more canvas, but since the night was warm and the air was sweet, they dropped anchor near some shoals instead, gathering the company onto one ship for supper.

The huge mahogany table in Jack's cabin was laden with every delicacy the ship had tucked away. Seven people were seated around it, and the wine that Governor Swann had liberated from the Esperance stores was flowing just as freely as the conversation. They had dressed for the occasion - Elizabeth in a rare gown of green silk that had suspiciously appeared in Ana's cabin - and even Gibbs looked positively dapper.

The captain of the Pearl stood when the meal was over, a silver goblet in his hand. "First, to Governor Swann. Long may he reign." They drank among cries of 'hear hear', and Swann nodded his acknowledgement with a small embarrassed grin. "To Captain William of the Esperance, may the wind keep to her back," was also followed by congratulatory cheers. Jack then turned slightly, overshooting only a little before nodding back to target. "And of course, to Will and Lizzie. Let's hope they stay out of trouble for a good while." Good natured laughter and bell-like clinking followed. When Jack sat again, Governor Swann suddenly frowned.

"Captain Sparrow. On that subject, I trust that you can provide proper quarters for the two of them?" Elizabeth blushed while Will looked with sudden fascination into his wine, trying not to smile.

"Father! Honestly."

Jack shrugged. "To tell you the truth, guv, I expected to show 'em later, but let's have a look." He stood, motioning for Will and Elizabeth to follow. They looked at Jack and each other curiously, and stood to follow him. Gibbs glanced at Ana, who was smiling with sly delight as they left the cabin.

"Did ye finish, then?"

"Aye. It's better'n new. And it turns out Duncan's a dab hand with a needle."

Governor Swann looked puzzled. "And what would be finished?"

"Well, yer honor, y'see, Jack had closed off the first mate's cabin when he got the Pearl back. The thought of Barbossa havin' plotted there was still stuck in 'is craw."

"I see. Didn't Barbossa use it for his first mate when he was captain?"

"Ah, ye see ol' Barbossa didn't have much faith in keeping a first mate, if ye get my drift. Somehow he knew it would be terrible bad luck for 'im."

"Ah. Yes, of course." Weatherby shot a look at William, who laughed quietly. Gibbs had a way with a story, if you could follow his language. "I take it that Captain Sparrow is giving that room to Master Turner, then?"

"Well, there's room for Will 'n Lizzie both, I'd imagine." Ana glared at Gibbs, whose eyes widened as he choked on his wine. "I mean, ah –" Governor Swann was out the door before Gibbs could finish his stuttered explanation.

"Well, now you've done 'em in, ye old fool."

"It's not my fault, woman." He lifted the wine and refilled his goblet. "He knows I can't hold me wine. 'E should've served rum."

"Oh, as if you're needin' any excuse for actin' the fool –"

"Friends." Bootstrap lifted a hand and they stopped, looking a bit sheepish. "I'm sure it will work out." He looked toward the door with an amused smile, remembering the quiet chat he'd had with Will when they came aboard. "I'm sure."

"Oh, Jack, it's lovely!" Elizabeth pulled away from Will's arm as she swept into the room. The first mate's cabin was the deck below the captain's at the stern. It was certainly smaller than Jack's, but at the same time, it had nearly a full wall of the thick glass windows. The woodwork had been cleaned and polished, the bed laid with a thick burgundy quilt that matched the heavy drapes. A smaller table was bolted down off to one side, while built in cupboards and a desk were across from them. "It looks so… cozy!"

Will and Jack exchanged a resigned, male look. "Don't blame me. I left it to Anamaria." The captain looked around the carefully arranged room, shook his head. "Didn't think she had it in her."

"It's perfect, Jack." Will smiled at Elizabeth's delighted exploration of the cabin. "Perfect. But there's something I needed to ask you." Jack slapped the younger man on the back as Governor Swann swept into the room.

"Captain. Certainly you're not suggesting that Elizabeth share a room with –"

"Now, guv, I'm not suggesting anything. I'm showing them the room, savvy? What they do with it –"

"I must protest!"

"Father, please! It's not as if-"

"Jack-"

"Hey!"

Captain Sparrow raised his arms and looked at them all with such shocked indignation that they all stopped talking at once. He swept them with a regal glare, then cleared his throat, adjusting his shirt with careful, seemingly inebriated distraction. "Alright, then. Clearly you two - or three, for that matter - have things to discuss." He turned to leave the room.

"Jack, wait-" The pirate continued his pirouette and came to face Will once more.

"What is it, lad." He held up a finger. "Ah, yes, as I recall you had a question. Question away."

"How far are we from Port Royal?"

"How far? A couple days if the wind picks up." Jack frowned in sincere puzzlement. The boy looked positively nervous, and he had seen the lad solid as a rock in situations that would make a hardened pirate shake in his boots. He tilted his head toward him. "Are you in a hurry?"

A faint flush lit the boy's face as he looked over at Elizabeth, then stepped over to take her hand, putting his other arm around her shoulder. "If it's alright with you, Elizabeth," he looked back to Jack, took a deep breath. "I was wondering, Captain Sparrow, if you could marry us." He gulped, his eyes darting briefly over to his future father-in-law and back to Jack.

The smile that crept onto Jack's face would have made the Cheshire cat proud.

Governor Swann, however, looked less pleased. "Oh, Elizabeth, I must say-"

"Father." She looked at him sternly, and he stopped, shook his head.

"So this is how it's going to be, then?"

After smiling at Will, she walked over to her father, put her arm around him as she spoke softly, smiling hopefully at him. "Please, father. It would make me so happy…"

An hour later the dinner party stood solemnly on the deck under the stars, a few shreds of cloud fluttering like veils across the midnight sky. A light breeze rippled the water, carrying the scent of flowers from far away.

Gibbs could be heard pontificating to Ana. "Good thing it's not a full moon, then. Terrible luck to be married under a full moon." Elizabeth turned with a surprisingly concerned expression on her face from where she stood with her father, ready to be given away.

"And what is a good moon to be married under, Mr. Gibbs?" The older pirate looked at her hopeful young face and saw Jack shoot a glance his way. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck and sighed as he looked up at the sky.

"Well, I'd say…" the clouds moved aside, leaving a half moon shining down on the ship. "I'd say yer a lucky lass, Miss Elizabeth. That's the best moon of all to be wed under." She looked up at the sky with a bright smile as her father and the captain nodded thankfully.

After she had been presented by her father, accompanied by the lilting melody of a concertina, the Captain lifted his chin and looked them over critically.

"Lizzie, Will. You know what you're getting into, yes?"

The couple smiled broadly, and looked into each other's eyes. "We do." Governor Swann smiled but shook his head.

"It's not easy, you know. Of course, you've been through a bit together already."

They looked back at him, nodding solemnly.

"Well then. If you're willing to give it a try, then no one's to say you shouldn't." He leaned in toward the groom. "You have a ring?"

Will looked panicked. "Oh… I-"

A deep chuckle from behind made Will turn. "Here, son. I was having it fixed for your mother." William Turner looked at Elizabeth and smiled fondly. "I'm sure she'd be pleased for you to have it, Elizabeth." Her eyes watered as she looked up at William, and she nodded her thanks, speechless, as Will slipped the ring on her finger - a plain band of gold with a tiny edging like the twist of rope.

"But I don't-" Elizabeth stopped as the governor sighed, reached into his pocket and took out a ring. It was a bit worn, but still a handsome man's band. He looked at it fondly.

"Your mother believed in two rings as well. I can't see why she would mind if it stayed in the family." Elizabeth took the ring from her father as a tear spilled down her cheek, and placed it carefully on Will's hand. They looked at each other, and their smiles bubbled over into joyful laughter.

"As Captain of the Black Pearl, I say you're married." He swayed slightly as he pointed his finger around the deck and smiled, gold glinting in the moonlight. "Anyone who disagrees will have to answer to me, savvy?"

Deep in the night, the wind freshened, and the two ships that had been floating peacefully in the warm seas raised anchor. The merchant ship followed the pirate vessel away from the shoals and out into the glimmering open seas.

At the bow of the Black Pearl, a couple stood locked in a tender embrace, until the captain's voice rang out in the darkness.

"Aye. Get below or man the topsails. Your choice, Lizzie."

The couple vanished with subdued giggling, and Captain Jack Sparrow finally had the night and his ship to himself once more. He took a deep breath of the gentle air and began to sing softly.

"hm hm hmmm… and really bad eggs… Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!"

BLACKOUT