Disclaimer: POTC still isn't mine.
Well, we've finally arrived here after so long. This is indeed the final chapter and I'm really sorry it was so long in coming. I just want to thank you all so much for reviewing and reading. I hope very much that this is to your liking. So then, all that's left to say is: Enjoy. :)
Jack sailed the Pearl as though he were a man on fire. The ship had, according to the crew, never sailed so quickly.
"I've never seen Jack so determined in all my years of knowing him," AnaMaria said trying to hide her astonishment.
"I would like to think it's because Jack fears this Triangle just like any other smart sailor - I know we in the Navy even try to avoid this area if we have to. Now I have more reason to add for the future," James said.
"Just goes to show," Will added, "Jack really is one of the most brilliant sailors to ever sail a ship in the Caribbean."
Everyone, including Norrington, grudgingly agreed to this and from his position Jack turned to look at them while smirking.
"So you lot," Jack asked, "where to next then? Port Royal?"
"Actually," Elizabeth said, a tad hesitant, "we were sort of wondering if you could, maybe, drop us off at the nearest nice spot of land."
"If that's alright with you Jack," Will added.
Jack looked to James who simply shrugged his shoulders.
"We were heading out of Port Royal right before capture anyway. We were heading towards the colonies as it were so perhaps-"
"I might be obliged to take you the rest of the way myself; is that what you're asking?" Jack asked.
"Aye sir," Will said.
Everyone held their breaths as Jack mulled it over in his head. He raised his chin and said, "Fine."
"What; really?" Elizabeth asked, still a bit unsure.
"Of course. Anything for you lot." Jack then turned to Norrington and sauntered over to him. "You going with them or should I just pitch you off this ship right now?"
"Oh I think I can board another ship once we get there thank you." James' eyes shone and Jack nodded his head and went back to steering.
"I just hope I can still lay claim to that shop your father found for me. We are a bit late in arriving," Will said while Elizabeth played with a strand of his hair.
"Oh I think things will be just fine. Once I remind them of course about my father and the gracious amount of money he paid in assisting us on this endeavor. So, how should we set up the house…" was the last thing James heard before he walked off, leaving this to the two love birds to settle.
The Pearl dropped anchor several days later and was moored just off the coast of the tip of La Florida. Elizabeth was the first to make any sort of movement.
"Jack how can we ever thank you enough," Elizabeth tearfully asked while giving a reluctant Jack a much deserved hug.
"Twas nothing lass. Now let me go before you give the whelp the wrong idea about us two."
Elizabeth laughed lightly and slowly let go as Will stepped forward extending a hand for Jack to shake. Instead the pirate grabbed the hand and pulled Will in for a hug as well.
"You keep a close watch on that girl. Wild one, that one. Did I tell you about the time she burned my-?"
"Yes, we all know about Elizabeth burning your rum," Will said in exasperation.
"Aye," the entire crew and Norrington said back.
"Aright, aright. Oi, get away from that barrel. It's m'private stash." Jack walked forward only to be stopped by James who also had a hand held out. Jack took it and shook. "Another head start?" Jack asked with an unsure smirk.
"Oh I prefer to see it as the start of a long avoidance. Particularly ..," he said with particular emphasis on the last few words.
"We'll see," Jack said pulling his hand away.
The rest of the crew shouted their good-byes as the three of them climbed into the waiting longboat along with one of Jack's lesser crewmen who was given the task of taking them ashore.
"You going to miss them?"
Jack turned to AnaMaria, opened his mouth for a few seconds and closed it again, lost for words.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said, giving him a pat on the shoulder and then calling out to the crew telling them they were leaving as soon as Smith returned.
Jack looked back one last time to see the small boat arrive at land. It was a bit odd not being in the general vicinity of the three of them anymore. It felt like the four of them had been together for ages now. From trying to escape from the slave ship and then trying to escape from that bloody island and finally from that bloody Triangle... It was a very unique experience though, one that no amount of rum was sure to obliterate completely.
A shipwreck is not something many people have the will-power to survive; shipmen…or women. Something in the universe though brought the four of them together but for what purpose or for what end?
"Perhaps our story isn't complete yet," Jack murmured to himself, looking down at the P scarred onto the back of his hand. He then balled his hand into a fist, sighed and looked back once more. The longboat was on its way back and Jack nodded.
"Time and tide. Now men, one last question - is the monkey still on board? I feel a slightly itching need for target practice."