Each time the drums were hit, my heart jolted. This was wrong. This was so terribly wrong.

"This is wrong," Elizabeth whispered, echoing my thoughts.

"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law," The Governor said. "As are we all."

I shook my head and Elizabeth squeezed my hand.

I was standing with the Swanns and the Commodore, watching Jack's hanging. Elizabeth had insisted I stood with them. Will had politely declined his invitation.

In fact, I hadn't seen Will since we left the blacksmith's earlier today. He had left just before me, looking quite dashing in a plumed hat, but not nearly as handsome as Jack was to me. I had used up all my tears. Now I was just numb.

"Jack Sparrow!" A soldier announced, reading from a ridiculously long scroll. "For crimes committed against the crown and empire, you have been sentenced to be hereby hung by the neck until dead. Such crimes being cruel and devious in nature, including..."

He droned on about Jack. I hadn't known Jack was such a pirate.

Speaking of Jack, he was standing atop the gallows, under his noose, staring glumly at his bonds. His face and stature were calm, but his hands were trembling. I supposed the build up, waiting for your own death, was horrible.

Will pushed through the crowd to stand before us. "Governor. Commodore. Adeena." He addressed us each with a curt nod, although he offered me a small smile. I smiled wanly in return.

"Elizabeth." He said softly. Elizabeth turned her head to him. She was stunning, today, her hair curled beautifully upon her head and boasting a golden gown.

"I should have told you this everyday, since the moment I met you." Will told her, his eyes on hers. To them, they were the only two people in the room. "I love you," He smiled serenely and then turned away, pushing through the crowd, toward Jack. I glanced at Elizabeth. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were slightly parted.

By the way he had just declared his love for Elizabeth, as if he had nothing left to lose, I knew he was about to do something stupid and rash. Bloody men, rushing in to save their fair princesses.

I hopped down, off of the raised platform we stood on, and followed Will. I was glad I had bluntly refused to wear a dress this morning; I was clad in the clothing I had worn on my adventure with Jack, Will, and Elizabeth, and most importantly, my orange sash. I had also taken to outlining my eyes as Jack did; heavy coal brushed across my upper and lower kids.

"Will!" He glanced behind him at my voice and waved me on, drawing his cutlass. I did the same.

Squawk! I glanced upwards, to my left. Cotton's parrot was perched on an English flag, ruffling his green feathers. The Black Pearl is here! I realized. They've come for Jack!

I caught onto what Will was doing. We were going to save Jack.

"...impersonating a cleric of The Church of England..." The officer droned on.

Jack leaned back and chuckled at this, recalling his misdeeds. He glanced at the executioner and his smirk faded.

Elizabeth, I think, caught on as well, because I heard the Governor and Commodore fussing over her 'fainting'.

"...May God have mercy on your soul." The man finished.

The drums began to roll, the executioner placed the noise around Jack's neck. Jack raised his head defiantly, and his gaze swept the area. His chocolate brown eyes met mine and the corner of his mouth lifted.

Will and I made it through the final wall of people. It was disgusting, to see that so many people were gathered to watch a man die. "Move!" Will yelled.

Just as the lever was pulled, Will threw his sword under the gallows.

Jack dropped onto the sword, struggling to keep his feet on the slippery metal, and Will and I charged up the gallows to fight off the executioner and his huge axe.

The executioner tripped and Will pushed him into the crowd as I chopped the rope holding Jack up. He fell down, into the trap door, and I hopped off the side as he ran out from underneath.

Jack tossed Will, who had followed after me, the end of his hanging rope, and they used it to trip the waves of British soldiers that were attempting to stop us. I swung my sword at anything that tried to block us, cursing with glee at the top of my voice.

Will and Jack rolled under a few more soldiers, then forced them into a column holding up the fort. I jumped over the said soldiers' bodies and followed them around another column.

Suddenly, we were surrounded. The three of us spun in a circle, looking for an opening where we could escape, but found none. Jack blew the feather of Will's hat out his face and into mine; I slapped his shoulder and he gave me a smirk.

"Well, well," The Commodore pushed through the redcoats and faced us, looking stern. "I must admit I expected some ill-conceived matter of escape attempt, but certainly not from you, Mr. Turner. Nor you, Miss Cole."

The Governor came up behind him, trembling with fury. "Upon our return to Port Royal I granted you clemency," He said to us, his eyes flashing. "And this is how you repay me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!"

"And a good man!" I snapped at him. Jack smiled innocently at Governor Swann over my shoulder. "If all Will and I have achieved is that the hangman receives three pairs of boots instead of one, fine! At least our consciences are clear."

"You forget your place." Norrington said, his deep baritone threatening.

"It's right here," Will said, standing his ground. "Between you and Jack."

I took Jack's hand and smiled at him. "I belong with Jack." He glanced at our entwined fingers and offered me a hesitant, cocky grin.

They all stared at me, and Elizabeth stepped forward. "And my place is with Will," She said, and slid her arm through his. Will met her eyes and they both smiled softly.

"Elizabeth!" Her father exclaimed. "Lower your weapons! For goodness sake, lower them!" The Navy dropped their array of guns. I smiled; I couldn't be more happy for Will and Elizabeth.

"So...this is where your heart truly lies, then." The Commodore asked her quietly.

Elizabeth tore her eyes from Will's and nodded solemnly at Norrington. He looked saddened; I couldn't blame him. He had really loved her.

Squawk! Jack and I glanced upwards. Cotton's parrot flew off the top of the battlement and out over the ocean. Jack took that as his cue.

He took a deep breath and summoned a cocky grin. "Well," He announced, "I'm actually feeling rather good about this!" He dropped my hand and walked around Will and Elizabeth, who were staring lovingly into each other's eyes, and toward the Governor. "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh?" He asked, getting up in the Governor Swann's face. He recoiled from Jack. "Spiritually? Ecumenically? Grammatically?" He stepped away from the Governor and toward Norrington. Their noses were nearly touching as Jack continued. "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate." He walked backwards, shaking a finger sagely at him. "Know that."

He walked back around Will and Elizabeth. "Elizabeth?" He asked softly, his face softening.

She turned, her brow furrowed. "It would have never worked out between us, darling." I smacked his shoulder. "I'm sorry." He looked away from Elizabeth, who looked confused, and grinned at me. My insides melted.

He took my hand again and pulled me toward the edge of the battlement. "Will," He called, almost as a second thought. Will turned and gazed at him questioningly.

"Nice hat," Jack told him, doing a sort of curtsy. Will grinned.

"Friends!" Jack yelled suddenly, and darted for the edge of the fort, jerking me with him. The Navy jumped forward and watched us expectantly, guns at the ready.

"This is the day you will always remember as the day that you almost caught Captain--" He cut himself off as he tripped backwards and fell off the fort, just as Elizabeth had what seemed like so long ago, taking me with him.

I screamed curses at Jack as we tumbled through the air. He laughed once before crashing into the water.

I fell in after him, and shot up, wiping my hair out of my face and spitting out salt water. "Jack?" I asked frantically. I couldn't see him.

I was pushed under suddenly, and I laughed, bubbles spewing from my nose. I kicked to the surface again, and came face to face with Jack. He grinned and pressed his lips to mine in a messy kiss, us both sinking under again when we forgot to tread.

"What now?" I asked, after resurfacing and pulling my arms away from him reluctantly so we could float easier.

He grinned at me, and then at something over my shoulder. "Look, love!" He said excitedly.

I turned around, and watched as the Black Pearl sailed once again into Port Royal. She was fully repaired, her sails patched up and her hull clean, void of any chipped paint or mold.

Jack smiled and swam forward, playfully poking me once. I giggled, he had found a ticklish spot. I stroked after him, trying to splash him as much as possible.

As I kicked after him, I looked back over my shoulder. I could see Elizabeth and Will, sharing their first kiss, atop the battlement. I smiled at that and then turned before it got anymore graphic.

We drifted up to the Pearl and two ropes were thrown into the water for us. Jack and I latched on; the crew gave a huge heave and we were jerked out of the Caribbean and into the air, landing rather hard on the deck.

Jack shook his head dizzily and looked up, squinting, as Mr. Gibbs appeared above us. "I thought you were supposed to keep to the code," He said accusingly, and I kicked him.

"We figured they were more of guidelines," Gibbs shrugged and helped Jack up with a grin. Jack gave me a hand and a promising smile that made my knees weak.

"Jack Sparrow," Anamaria came up behind Jack, holding his coat and draping it over his shoulders. Jack fingered the worn fabric fondly, as Anamaria placed his hat over his ears. "The Black Pearl is yours." She smiled and gestured to the helm.

Jack glanced around, as if someone would take his Pearl from him, and padded toward the wheel. He took a spoke and caressed the black wood lovingly.

Jack suddenly became aware of all the staring that the crew was providing. "On deck, you dogs!" He yelled, and pulled me to him by the wrist. "Hands to the bases!"

"Hands to the bases! Squawk!" Cotton's parrot agreed.

The crew scattered. Jack stared off, into the sunset, and said, "Now, bring me that horizon..." He hummed a bit, his arm around my waist. "...and really bad eggs..."

I giggled at his usual silliness and fished his compass out of his pocket. "Jack, where does it point?" I asked softly. The arrow swung toward Jack.

He tapped my shoulder and grinned. "It points to the thing you want most in this world."

I stared in awe at the needle. Jack glanced down at it and turned the wheel a bit as the crew readied us for sail. "Why is it pointing to me?" He asked. "I'm all yours, love."

I smiled. "Maybe I want something from you..."

Jack grinned and leaned down. Just before our lips connected, he whispered, "Drink up, me'harties, yoho..."

***