𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐃 up to the pearl, then extended his hand to help bella onboard. she climbed up to join him, and he protectively kept his hand on hers.

"thank goodness, jack. the armada's still out there," gibbs said, coming up to them. "the endeavour's coming up hard to starboard, and i think it's time we embraced that oldest and noblest of pirate traditions!!" he a made a motion to run away.

jack glanced down at bella for a moment. "never actually been one for tradition," he spoke, then walked away from gibbs and started shouting commands to the crew. "close haul her! luff the sails and lay her in irons!"

"belay that, or we'll be a sitting duck," barbossa interrupted.

"belay that 'belay that'!" jack ordered.

"but captain—" gibbs began.

"belay!" jack cut him off.

"the armada—"

"belay!"

"the endeavour—"

"stow!"

"but we—"

"stow. shut it!" jack said forcefully. gibbs finally shut up.

jack let go of bella's hand, and they hurried up to the helm. gibbs ran after them. they stared out at the armada before them. the endeavor neared them, opening its gunports and brandishing its cannons.

"never thought it would end this way," gibbs said, eyes wide and fearful.

"me neither," bella replied, no trace of worry in her voice. she glanced at jack. "i always pictured a jealous barmaid."

jack visualized it for a second. "understandable," he answered, hiding his smile.

but then, crashing through the surface of the deep blue water, came the flying dutchman.

they saw will turn around and place his hand on the wheel confidently. "ready on the guns!" the new captain shouted.

a grin formed on jack's face. "full canvas!" he shouted to the crew of the pearl. he and bella rushed to the other side of the deck for a better view.

"aye, full canvas!" barbossa repeated.

the pearl's black sails billowed strongly in the wind.

barbossa spun the pearl's wheel quickly, making a turn. the dutchman did the same.

the ships sailed in tandem, straight towards the endeavour, one on each side.

"captain?" bella asked, looking up to jack. her heartbeat was quick, and adrenaline pumped through her veins.

"fire!" he spoke, eyes ablaze.

bella turned to gibbs, and gave him a nod.

"fire!!!" gibbs screamed to the eager crew.

the dutchman and pearl shot at the endeavour. smoke and flame billowed from the cannons, blasting the company ship to smithereens. the explosions were shattering and relentless, untamed and intense. the endeavor finally exploded; driven to a blackened chunk of worthless wood. it sunk beneath the surface, destroyed.

the crew of the pearl looked ahead to the armada.

"they're turning away!" marty shouted.

the crew burst into loud, ecstatic cheers. they joyfully threw their hats into the air, whooping and hollering.

"i've never seen a retreat from the other side before," jack said to bella, taking her hand back where it belonged— into his own.

"i don't blame them," she replied, looking up at him happily. "they're terrified to take on the great power of the dutchman . . . not to mention the pearl."

he smiled down at her.

gibbs joined jack and bella at the railing to look down at the thrilled crew.

the entire pirate race, from all ends of the earth, was in a state of celebration. every manner of ship and crew were creating a deafening roar of triumph, audible for miles.

"mr. gibbs?" jack asked.

"captain?" gibbs responded.

"you may throw my hat if you like," jack declared, removing his hat.

gibbs took it. "aye-aye captain!" he tossed it gleefully. "hooray!!"

"now go and get it," said jack.

he glanced at gibbs seriously. gibbs' smile disappeared and he worriedly ran away to find the hat.

jack let go of bella's hand and wrapped his arm around her waist instead. he kissed her on the head, and she leaned into his touch.

"want to get married?" bella murmured to him.

"consider it done!" barbossa said loudly from behind them. jack let go of of bella and they whipped around to see a small grin on barbossa's face. "jack, do you take this worldly woman to be your wife?"

jack looked at him in disbelief, then decided to go for it.

"bella stevens . . ." jack gazed at her devotedly. "i promise to give you the freedom you have craved your whole life, till death do us part — even though we seem to have conquered that obstacle already. i do."

as he spoke, he removed one of his rings, and slipped it onto bella's ring finger. she stared down at it for a moment. it had a silver band, with a row of diamonds circling the jewel in the center — a black pearl. the ring sparkled in the emerging sunlight.

"bella, do you take this charmingly vexing sailor to be your husband?" barbossa continued.

bella laughed before looking at her fiancé. "captain jack sparrow . . . it's you. it's always been you. i will be your partner in piracy forever, and longer still," bella said, her eyes resting on his. "i do."

while she said this, she took off one of her own rings and placed it on jack's ring finger. it was a silver ring encrusted with diamonds and a line of black gemstones — the same ring she had taken from the isla de muerta on the day of their first kiss.

"i now pronounce you husband and wife," barbossa said, looking touched but slightly disgusted. "go ahead and kiss," he turned away. "it's not like we haven't seen it before."

jack and bella threw themselves into each other's arms, lips crashing together in a mix of longing, adoration, and victory. they had kissed plenty of times, but this kiss was the start of a new chapter. it felt different, more powerful, but still gentle and kind.

when they pulled away, a number of crew members were watching them, uplifted and moved.

pintel and ragetti started clapping eagerly. soon, the rest of the ship did too.

jack and bella beamed at each other, fingers interlacing yet again.

* * *

"your chariot awaits," gibbs said to elizabeth as she prepared to leave. "the oars are inside."

she walked down the line of crew members ready to say their farewells.

"mrs. turner," barbossa nodded to her.

"goodbye, poppet," pintel smiled.

elizabeth reached jack. "jack. it would never have worked out between us," she remarked.

jack grinned. "keep telling yourself that, darling," he answered. elizabeth moved to hug him, but he held up his hands to stop her. "i'm a faithful man." he pointed to the ring on his finger.

elizabeth understood. "thank you," she said.

finally, she got to bella. they regarded each other in silence for a second before bella reached into her pocket and pulled out a small dagger — the dagger she had once offered elizabeth at a certain commodore's ceremony. she flipped it around her fingers and offered elizabeth the handle.

"in case you ever need to loosen your corset," bella smiled.

elizabeth slowly took the weapon, then pulled bella into a tight hug. "i'll miss your boldness," she said after letting go.

"it's not going anywhere," bella replied softly. "but i was never meant for a life ashore."

elizabeth returned the smile. "well . . . until we meet again, bella sparrow."

bella chuckled and gave her a nod. "elizabeth turner."

elizabeth turned and climbed into the longboat. the crew of the pearl watched her row away; a bittersweet ending to her heroic journey.

a/n

alsjakjsjshsj my favorite chapter of the whole book :)

so the picture at the top is their rings, if you didn't pick up on that. also i'm smiling so hard as i'm typing this omg—

but on a sadder note, the final chapter comes out on tuesday. it's been such a fun journey and i can't believe it's almost over! thank you for 33K reads now!! insaneeeee

ok i love u more than jack and bella love each other (if that's possible) and i can't wait for you to read the last chapter!

sarah