Okay so…..LAST CHAPTER! WOOT! Alright, so I was having a really crummy suckish day (still am) so I decided to be wonderful to you guys and go ahead and give you the final chapter. Some nice closing reviews would do me wonders today, trust me.

I have, so far, about seven chapters of the sequel, and I'm trying to get a few more before I publish. You can expect the first chapter out Monday of next week. In the mean time, feel free to go read Branded, my supernatural story, and let me know how my edits are going. ^.^

I love you guys!

Annabelle stood demurely beside James, her fingers twisting behind her back. She shifted, trying to find an easy pocket to breathe in the tight corset. She didn't particularly understand why people found this attractive. She did have to admit, however, that the dress itself was beautiful. A light blue with embroidered patterns of some type of flower. She liked the front. The blue separated from a point at her waist outward to the top, leaving a cream color. That was criss-crossed over with a white silk ribbon and tied in a bow at the waist.

She frowned at James, who was trying his best to look unaffected. She knew he could feel her disapproval, which was quickly turning to a biting glare as Jack was lead out in chains. When she turned to look at Jack, it was with earnest. He seemed to be looking for someone, but couldn't find them in the crowd. The man began to speak.

"Jack Sparrow, be it known that you…"

"Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow. Could they not afford him the respect this once," she growled at no one in particular. She thought she saw James flinch from the corner of her eye.

"Impersonating a cleric of the Church of England." Annabelle couldn't hold back a snort at that one. She received a few glares, but didn't pay them mind. Jack seemed to have enjoyed that one too.

She grinned unabashedly as she saw Will's outrageous hat weaving through the crowd. When he approached, she looked to the right and grinned again. Cotton's blue parrot sat atop a flag, ruffling its feathers.

"Pri- Annabelle, I mean," he amended at her sharp look. "Governor Swann, Commodore, Elizabeth." The last name was just a whisper through the air that caused the woman to look at him. "I should have told you everyday from the moment I met you. I love you."

He turned swiftly and began weaving through the crowd. Two stares moved to Elizabeth and Annabelle took the opportunity to move closer to the wooden platform.

"Move!" she heard Will's shout and watched in fascination as the lever was pulled and Jack dropped through the trap. Her heart leapt into her throat as the sword embedded itself in the wood. She let out a relieved breath when she saw that he could still breathe. She was suddenly pushed to the back of the crowd violently by the many Marines that were afraid to bring harm to her. She scowled and began pushing her way back through the crowd, ducking away from any Marines that could see her.

By the time she breached the circle of Marines, the fight was over. She huffed impatiently and began pushing her way to the center.

"And a good man!" she heard Will shout.

"Oh, now he uses my line," she whispered to herself.

"If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear."

"Make that three!" Annabelle spoke up. "Get out of the way!" She finally stumbled into the slightly uneven pocket of space and stood confidently next to Jack. Immediately the weapons were lowered, but no one moved.

"Princess, you forget your place," James said tersely, motioning for her to move.

"It's right here, between you," she glared at James and the Marines surrounding them, "and Jack," she replied, linking her fingers with the pirates'. In her peripheral she could see the slightly mocking smile Jack wore and felt herself smiling too.

"As is mine," Elizabeth said, moving to Will's side. Swann blustered and James stood stock still. Annabelle felt her gaze soften and she wanted to comfort him. As if sensing it, Jack's hand tightened on hers and he looked at him. There was calm in his gaze that made her listen. She missed whatever it was that James and Elizabeth were saying, too intent on calming her raging emotions. His gaze flickered to behind her and her smile grew. He'd seen the parrot.

"Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this," he informed everyone. He moved to Swann, still gripping Anna's hand. "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually? Ecumenically? Grammatically?" He dragged her along to Norrington. "I was rooting for you mate, know that."

She started to panic. Jack wouldn't get away if she went with him. He turned to Elizabeth, a rather sad look on his face. "It never would've worked between us, darling. I'm sorry. Will?" He paused for a moment, unable to decide on what to say. He could say many things about the whelp, but nearly all would ruin his reputation. Instead he sent a glance at the feathers. "Nice hat." Will seemed to understand.

"Jack?" Anna called quietly. He turned expectantly and tilted his head at the look of grief on her face. "Jack, I can't go with you."

"Why not?" he asked incredulously. He'd had it all planned out. From the moment he figured out Will was rescuing him. It was only reinforced when he'd finally seen her.

"My father knows I'm here, Jack," she whispered. "If I go with you, you'll never get away. It won't matter if you have the Pearl, he'll bring down the whole armada on you. I need you to get away, Jack. Go have an adventure for me."

He looked at her carefully and was sharply aware of all the people watching. Will looked distraught and Norrington and Swann just looked shell shocked. "No one's ever done nothin' like that for me," he informed her.

"S'what you get for having me as a best friend," she answered, shrugging. He grinned suddenly and pulled her to him. Their mouths crashed together and she was too stunned to move. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registered that he tasted like salt water, like he was made of the sea itself. Just when she regained enough sense to start kissing him back, he pulled away, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Something to remember me by."

"I'd never forget you, birdie," she said, hugging him tightly. "Fly away, now."

He kissed her cheek and waved to the audience. "Friends! This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost-" he was cut off as he tripped over the edge and plummeted to the water. Annabelle rushed to it, a breathless laugh escaping her as she spotted him swimming away.

"Idiot. He has no where to go but back to the noose," Gillette exclaimed. She ignored him, waving from the stone with all her might as the Black Pearl rounded the corner. She didn't really hear what happened after that, and only moved from her spot watching the ship sail away when Will offered to take her home, his face looking kinder for her loss. The lingering hurt was still behind his gaze, but he was trying to bury it for now.

"Yes! I need to get this bloody corset off before I faint!" She exclaimed. She caught Elizabeth's teasing glare and returned it, as she walked down the familiar streets of Port Royal. She savored her last reminders of freedom, and felt a smile work its way onto her still tingling lips. The day was clear and the ocean air was wafting through the town. And Jack was free.

She linked arms with Will and walked casually back to the smithy, ignoring the incredulous looks from the people around them.

xx

That night, she stood on the docks. The stars reflected in her eyes and her feet swished in the water as she kicked her legs. A hand absentmindedly fingered the sparrow charm around her neck. Jack's kissed still lingered in her mind, but she decided to forget it. He was her best friend, whether he cared or not. Whether he was around or not. Whether or not they ever met again.

She would not forget Captain Jack Sparrow.

I'm working terribly hard to make the sequel on par with the first. For all you out there that will be on the prowl next week, it's called The Price of Freedom.

This is Han, signing off.