Claudia's POV

Today Jack is being hanged and I plan on leaving tonight. James isn't happy about it as I am still injured. But my wound is stitched and healing fine. Besides I've had worse injuries. Not that I told him that. Anyway Elizabeth is letting me burrow one of her dresses for the hanging. Just a simple purple one with matching hat and fan. No corset needed, thank god. That'd only hurt my side more.

Anyway, we're all gathered at the fort. Where James had been promoted and Elizabeth had fallen into the ocean. It's hard to believe it's only been just over a week since then. And that Elizabeth & James will be marrying soon. The judge is reading all of Jack's past crimes before he is hung.

"Jack Sparrow! We have learned that you. For your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity, and sinister in nature. The most egregious of these to be cited herewith: Piracy, smuggling..." the judge begins to list.

"This is wrong" Elizabeth mutters beside James.

"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law, as are we all" her father the governor reminds her.

"Impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England" the judge continues to list. Jack looks proud of himself for that particular crime. "Sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes, you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck, until dead. May God have mercy on your soul" the judge finishes and leaves the platform.

As the executioner places the noose around Jack's neck. The drums begin to sound. Once they stop, the trap door will open and that'll be the end of Captain Jack Sparrow. Just then Will appears in front of us.

"Governor Swann. Commodore. Claudia, Elizabeth" Will says in greeting. Nodding to each of us in turn. Before focusing souly on Elizabeth. "I should have told you every day, from the moment I met you. I love you" he tells her before leaving us. I notice him making his way through the crowd towards the platform. While James and the governor look at Elizabeth. I notice a blue yellow bird and curse inside my head.

"I can't breathe" Elizabeth suddenly says and falls to the ground. James and her father immediately crouch beside her in worry. As I jump down into the crowd wishing I had my knife or a pistol. Not that I'd kill Will, but I can't let him free Jack. He'll be signing his own death warrant. Problem is, he is already half through the crowd and I am in a stupid dress.

He draws his sword yelling at the crowd to move as the drums speed up. The crowd part for him. He throws his sword as the drums stop and it wedges below the trap door of the platform Jack is on. So when the trap door opened, he landed on it instead of hanging. Will makes it to the platform as I reach the half way point and battles the execution freeing Jack.

They work together to battle the navy soldiers trying to block their escape from the fort. They are soon trapped next to a pillar, surrounded by the soldiers. At gun point, I approach them with Elizabeth, James and the governor. "I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill conceived escape attempt. But not from you" James sneers at Will.

"On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency. And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate" the governor snaps.

"And a good man" Will states dropping his sword.

"No offense Will, but there is no such thing as a good pirate man" I tell him evenly.

"If all I achieved here is that the hangman will own two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear" he declares head held high.

"You forget your place, Turner" James tells him. Will looks him dead in the eye. Not scared of the sword pointed at his throat.

"It's right here, between you and Jack" he states. Suddenly Elizabeth appears beside him, in front of Jack. She grabs Will's hand.

"As is mine" she declares.

"Elizabeth! Lower your weapons. For goodness sake, put them down!" the governor orders and the men do so.

"So this is where your heart truly lies, then?" James asks her looking heart broken. He is trying to hide it. But a sister always knows.

"It is" she tells him.

"Then may I have our mother's ring back?" I ask her holding out my hand. She nods and takes it off. Handing it to me as Jack spots the bird from earlier as it flies over head.

"Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this. I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Oh. Spiritually. Ecumenically. Grammatically. I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that" Jack tells James. So was I, I add in my head.

"Elizabeth. It would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry" he tells her. Then looks at me. "Claudia, I feel we'll meet again soon. Try to stay out of trouble luv" he tells me with a wink. I roll my eyes, I plan on catching him and turning him in for the reward money next time we meet. "Will! Nice hat" he states and starts to back away from us toward the wall of the cliff. Not paying attention.

"Friends! This the day that you will always remember as the day that..." he suddenly falls over the small wall. We all rush over to see him surface in the water below.

"Idiot! He's nowhere to go but back to the noose!" the lieutenant states.

"Think again lieutenant" I tell him and point to the ship rounding the bend.

"Sail ho!" a distant male voice shouts. Jack swims towards the ship. The lieutenant turns to James.

"What's your plan of action? Sir?" he asks him.

"Perhaps on the rare occasion pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?" the governor suggests.

"Mr Turner!" James calls and Will walks over to him. "This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life" he states sheathing his new sword.

"Thank you" Will says grateful.

"Commodore! What about Sparrow?" the lieutenant asks.

"Oh, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start" James states and leaves. I follow him.

"James, I'm sorry about Elizabeth" I tell him as I link my arm through his.

"Thank you Claudia" he says.

"I know there is a fine woman out there somewhere for you and you will find her one day" I assure him.

"Who knows maybe we'll even find you a descent man to marry also" he tells me. And I laugh.

"Not likely" I tell him. "How about a brother and sister night? We can just relax, catch up on old times, maybe spar a little" I suggest.

"I like the sound of that" he tells me. We go back to his house. Where I string our mother's ring back around my neck. We then made dinner together and just enjoyed a peaceful night in. While James slept, I packed my things and changed into my sailing outfit.

I wrote a letter to James. Apologizing for not saying a proper goodbye and promising to see him again soon. Before leaving the house and going to the dock. I see the ship I had brought earlier waiting for me. I get in and cast off setting sail for the open ocean.

End of the Curse of the Black Pearl, see you all in the next chapter where Claudia enters Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

A/N

Picture above of Claudia's outfit for the hanging.