Disclaimer: PotC will sadly never be mine.

A/N: Well, this is it! The story's finally complete. Hope you all like the ending, after all it's the most important part!

Epilogue:

"Will that be all, Mum?"

"Yes, thank you, Sarah," Ana said standing on her balcony and idly turning her husband's old leather tri-corner in her hands.

Only a few days ago, a pirate had entered her garden and completely turned her world upside down. Just three nights ago, she had stood in the shadows on this balcony with the pirate, after shooting a Spanish soldier to protect that pirate. They had been watching Don Cornado and praying that no one would discover their hiding place. The pirate had stared at the commandant, a man who had been his torment for over a year, with no expression on his face. Ana had let her heart go out to the pirate in that moment. She had held his hand and hoped against hope that he would find comfort in her small gesture.

In the past few days, Ana had alienated the woman she used to be and found the woman she wanted to be. For those few sweet days, she did not have to worry about proper ladylike behavior or afternoon tea with the other well to do women of Kingston. For those short days, she had lived the life of a pirate. But this morning her foray into a fantasy world had ended.

At dawn the tyrannical commandant had fallen and the pirate had walked out of her life. She had spent the remainder of the day hiring a cook, a butler, and stable hands, and grappling with the realization that she had to return to her real life.

"Miss, if I may?" her maid had come to stand beside her on the balcony.

"Yes, Sarah. What is it?"

"Will Mr. Smith be coming tonight?"

"Mr. Who – Oh right, Mr. Smith. No. I don't think we'll be seeing Mr. Smith anymore."

"Did you have a falling out, Miss?"

"Not exactly."

Sarah sighed. "That's too bad, if you don't mind my saying so."

"I don't mind."

"I haven't seen you so happy since Mr. Laffley passed on."

Ana smiled. Sarah was right. The day that she had been told that Christopher was lost at sea, she had felt like her heart was ripped from her chest. She went through life always hoping that Chris would come back to her, that by some miracle he had been rescued by a passing ship or washed up on some deserted island. She had managed to move on, but she was empty inside. The only way she could feel was angry or sad, so she just stopped feeling.

These past few days had been entirely different. She had stopped dwelling in the sadness of her past. She had not been Chris Laffley's widow. She had been Anamaria Tarret. She had been alive. She had been happy.

But, that was over now.

"Where was Mr. Smith from?" her maid was asking.

"I don't actually know."

"Oh. No way to find him, then?"

"No."

"A shame, Miss. I think he might have been right for you, if it's not too bold to say."

"Oh, it's probably too bold, but I'm not sure I really care anymore."

"You miss him. Don't you?"

Ana stared out at the moonlit sea, wondering if Jack was at the harbor stealing a ship or if he was already gone. "Yes, I suppose I do."

"How 'bout I fix you a toddy, Mum. Little whiskey'll help you relax."

"Thank you. That would be nice," Ana said. "Oh, Sarah?"

"Yes, Mum?"

"Use rum instead."

"Ah, I knew you were a pirate at heart, luv."

Ana jumped, dropped Chris' hat, and barely stifled a cry of surprise at the sudden intrusion. Squinting she peered into the darkness. "Jack?"

"Expecting someone else on your balcony in the middle of the night?"

The pirate stepped out from the shadows and Ana saw the moonlight dancing in his dark eyes. Sparrow was wearing a brand new red shirt, that matched his bandana, brown trousers and knee high brown leather boots, all of which were probably "donated" to him. All traces of the brutal beatings he had endured seemed to be gone and the thick black kohl once again lined his eyes. He was smiling as he swaggered over to her side.

"Actually, Mr. Sparrow, I've sort of made it a habit to expect no one else to be on my balcony in the middle of the night."

"What's the fun in that?"

"How long have you been out here?"

"Long enough to hear that you missed ol' Jack."

"Flattered are you? I don't suppose you miss any of the women that walk through your life," Ana said. She lowered her head, suddenly very self conscious.

Jack stepped closer to her. "I'm here, aren't I?"

Ana raised her face so that she was looking into to the pirate's eyes. He placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her. Ana closed her eyes and let her hand wander up the pirate's back and entangle itself in his long hair. Her heart was hammering so hard that Jack could probably feel it pounding against his own chest. Maybe Ana should of expected this or maybe Jack Sparrow only knew one way to kiss, but she was still surprised when she felt the pirate's tongue in her mouth.

"What was that for?" Ana asked, after the kiss had ended all too soon.

"That was to thank you."

"Thank me? For what? You were the one who saved my life today."

The pirate let his hands fall to Ana's shoulders. He closed his eyes momentarily. When they re-opened, she felt like she could see into the man's soul. "What were the words to that prayer?"

"Courage Captain, do not stumble, though thy path be dark as night. There is a star to guide you. Let the road be dark and dreary and its end far out of sight. Face it bravely, strong or weary. Trust in God, and do the right."

"I would have never made it through prison without those words," Sparrow's voice was soft so that Ana had to strain to hear him. How hard it must be for him to admit that to her. "You saved me, Anamaria."

"Well, I couldn't let the indomitable Captain Sparrow go out that way, now could I?"

Jack smiled. "You're a rare woman, luv."

Ana swallowed. Something had changed in Jack's eyes. "You have to go, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Will I ever see you again, Jack?"

The Cheshire grin reappeared on the pirate's face. "Of course."

"How? It's not safe in Kingston. They'd arrest you in a heartbeat."

"Nonsense. No one would even know I was here" he said swinging one leg over the side of the balcony.

"How do you figure?"

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"

"Wait," Ana said suddenly. She picked up the leather hat and walked over to the pirate. "I noticed you didn't have one of these," she said placing it on his head. "No captain should be without one."

"Thank you." The pirate stole one last kiss before dropping out of sight.

The Next Morning

Ana was just finishing her first decent breakfast in days, when Sarah showed her brother into the dining room.

"Good morning, Prescott."

"Morning, Annie," he said, kissing her cheek, before taking a seat across the table.

"So, how did it go at Admiralty?" Ana asked tentatively. "What did you tell them?"

He shrugged. "I told Admiral Fornin the truth, that Sparrow escaped, Cornado threatened your life, and that I had to kill him."

Ana raised an eyebrow. "James went along with that?"

"He did."

"Why?"

"I simply explained things to him and he saw it my way," Prescott said, mischief gleaming in his blue eyes.

"Ah."

"He put in for a transfer, though."

"Where to?"

"Port Royal, I think. The governor there believes that James walks on water, so I'm sure he'll do well."

Ana laughed. "What did Admiral Fornin say about Jack?"

"Oh, he has men all over the island searching for Captain Sparrow. Won't find him, though. He's long gone."

"How can you be sure?"

"His things are gone from the fort."

"What things?"

"His sword, a pistol and that silly compass."

"That silly compass?"

"Bloody thing doesn't even work," Prescott said shaking his head.

"Still, he could've taken those back anytime. Doesn't mean he's gone."

"That's not all that's missing."

"What else?"

"The Loyalty."

A loud laugh escaped Ana's lips before she could do anything to prevent it.

"I'm glad you find it so amusing," her brother said, faking a hurt expression.

"I can't believe he stole your ship!" Ana exclaimed.

"I can."

"You know what else I can't believe? I cannot believe that my brother helped a pirate escape."

Prescott's eyes suddenly were very serious. "I didn't," he said. "I helped a man my little sister cared for."

Ana sighed, and let her eyes drop. "Pres, I can't believe he's gone."

Her brother reached across the table and took hold of Ana's hand. "He'll be back."

The End.

Of course he'll be back! He's Captain Jack Sparrow, Savvy! Well, I'm finally finished with this. It's been quite a bit longer than I originally expected, but where the muses go we must all follow. I have to say so many thank yous to all of you that stuck with me through the whole story and reviewed each and every chapter. The time you guys devoted to my story is amazing and I cannot thank you enough. Also, thank you to everyone who dropped me feedback anywhere along the road. I truly appreciate all of the feedback. Now, fear not. I already have ideas for a sequel to this story, so I hope to start it very soon. Until then, I have a little one shot called "A Blacksmith's Broken Heart," out there and an original story on fictionpress.com, if anyone's interested. So, thank you all once again, and I hope to be hearing from you again.

Ariana/Holliday1081