"Here I go." Grace muttered in to the salty wind. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her. Her long, curly red hair blew in the wind. She looked at the mainland, which her people called England.

"Princess Grace," A sailor approached her. "You must be dreadfully cold. As princess of England, you must stay warm and healthy." He said.

"I can do as I please." Grace said stiffly. The sailor bowed in apology. "I'm already headed to my doom." She sighed loudly. "Why not die today and get it over with." Grace shook her head and gazed over the English waters.

"My lady, is something bothering you?"

"You know what is bothering me." Grace snapped. I don't want to marry a selfish little prince! I want to be free and live an adventurous life. I'm going to marry who I please and when I please." She said triumphantly. The sailor nodded. "Is that all you do, bow and nod? You are dismissed from my presence." The sailor was about to bow, but stopped.

"As you wish, my lady. If I were you, I wouldn't wish for death so soon. It might be right around the corner." The sailor left. Grace shook her head and looked back out of the ship.

___________________________________________________

The ship tossed and turned in the ocean waves. Grace felt sick and she awoke suddenly. Cries were heard overhead. The air smelled of blood. Grace jumped up out of her bed (really a stack of hay on top of a bed frame) and rushed up to the main deck. She gasped in horror. The captains of the boat, servants, and cooks were tied up and gagged, some lay on the ground, dead. Grace stepped back, scared. But to her surprise, no sailors were tied up or dead.

"Well, well." A male voice said behind her. Grace spun around. It was a sailor.

"Sir, you must help. What has happened here?" The sailor laughed wickedly.

"Young lady, this boat's been conquered by pirates, The Raiders of the Sea." He smiled.

"Well, do something about it!" Grace yelled. The sailor quickly pulled out a gun and had it against Grace's neck.

"You ain't t gonna talk to me that way, missy. You're just the lady this bunch of pirates was looking for."

"You're not a sailor, you're a pirate."

"Dang right I am." He growled. "Us sailors are pirates now. We were lookin' for you all along, princess. You're gonna make us some money."

"Unhand me, you traitor!" Grace screeched.

"Shut up!" the pirate yelled and knocked the handle of his gun against Grace's head.

___________________________________________

Grace awoke in a musty, dark room. Her head pained as she lifted it. The room creaked and swayed. She was on a ship. The room had wooden walls and two hay piles. Other than that it was empty, so she thought. Grace hugged her knees to her chest and sobbed silently.

"My lady," a familiar voice said. "Why the long face? You know you've been asleep for about twenty hours." Grace looked up. It was that sailor! The one she had talked to the first day she went aboard her father's ship. He was not wearing the white uniform he had had on before. He was in brown breeches and an old, off-white shirt. He wore a tattered red bandana on top of his messy, black hair. His eyes were a deep brown. It gave comfort to Grace for some odd reason.

"You're a pirate too?" she sniffed. He nodded.

"Not any old pirate but the caption of our ship, the Majestic, and leader to my group, The Raiders of the Sea. The name's Jack." He said. Jack extended his leather-gloved hand. Grace didn't rise to shake it.

"I won't shake hands with my captor, even if he's just a self-centered, foolish little boy." Grace said and looked away.

"I would watch you're mouth if I were you. I'm not going to do anything to you, but one of my men will. They could behead you, even if you are hostage, and we don't usually do that. Second, I'm twenty-one, and I believe you are only eighteen. I wouldn't call me a little boy." Grace looked up at Jack, surprised.

"You're not going to kill me?" Grace asked, relieved.

"No, but we are going to use you." Jack said. "You're up for ransom. It's money we want, not lives. Besides, how could I kill such a beautiful lady?" Jack wore an impish smile on his face. His eyes seemed to dance around Grace. The look sent shivers down her spine.

"I thought I was just a girl to an elder like yourself." Grace said sarcastically. Jack laughed. Grace smiled. For some reason she felt more comfortable. She looked up at Jack and he met her gaze. It seemed locked there for too long. There was a knock on the door.

"Jack, it's dinner." Someone called. Jack broke the gaze and looked at the door. Grace still stared at him, realizing he was very handsome.

"Coming, Cook." He called. He extended his hand to Grace. "Would you join me for dinner?" he asked. Grace cautiously took it and Jack pulled her to her feet. Fear filled her eyes. Jack read them thoughtfully. "You are probably not hungry, but you must eat. The pirates are under my command and I promise you that they won't hurt you." Grace nodded feebly.

"Okay." She gulped. Jack released her hand and they went out the door. They went up a set of wooden stairs and on to the first deck. Grace heard rough voices talking. When they reached the top of the stairs. Everyone was silent. Tough looking men were sitting at a large, wooden table. Grace stared at the burley men and they stared at her. Jack led her to the head of the table and they both took a seat. One man with a curly red beard stood up. He was old and had hatred in his eyes.

"Caption Jack, I want her out of my sight!" he growled. "I want her dead!" He pulled out his gun and aimed it at Grace. Jack stood up and stepped in front of Grace.

"Ned, get a hold of yourself." He said. "We need this money, we need her alive."

"I can't stand the sight of the daughter of that wretched king. Get her out of here!" Ned yelled.

"Ned, if you can't stand the sight of her then go and deliver this." Jack said, pulling a piece of parchment out of his pocket. "It's her ransom note. It will get her out of here faster." Ned grumbled something and grabbed the note out of Jack's hand.

"Yes, Caption." He said and turned away. Ned walked to the side of the ship and released a smaller boat. Grace watched him go, deeply alarmed and breathing quickly. Jack placed a hand on her arm as he sat down.

"Don't worry. Ned is one of the only ones on this ship to really hate the king. The rest are in for the money." Jack shrugged. The rest of the men continued to talk as normal. Jack passed Grace some biscuits and gravy, which she ate hungrily.

"Jack," said Grace. "what did happen to my father?" Jack put down his biscuit.

"You're father is on that boat, tied and gagged as everyone else. He is quite safe." Grace nodded.

"When will I see him again?"

"In two weeks. That way he can think about our money negotiations. He is to meet us in Coral Cove with a request of four million dollars." Grace yelped.

"We don't have that much! We need that money! What happens if he doesn't pay?" she meekly asked. Jack shrugged.

"The crew decides." He answered calmly. Grace gulped and finished her biscuit.

_________________________________________________________

After dinner Jack walked Grace to the room she had been in before. It was late at night. Grace had fun hearing the pirate's stories of 'the high seas.' Grace had almost forgotten that she was a hostage. Jack lit the way by candlelight so she could find the room. She looked in to the room and immediately turned away to face Jack.

"I don't want to go in there." She complained. Jack looked in as well.

"You are a hostage, don't expect royal treatment. Besides, I have a reputation to keep. Jack winked at Grace and she blushed.

"Jack," Grace said, blushing a royal shade of red. "Where do I use the bathroom?"

"You know the two piles of hay?" Grace nodded. "Choose one." Grace's mouth dropped and looked at him, disgusted. Jack laughed. "Not really, my lady. Follow me." He lead Grace down the hall and in to a room. He pointed at a toilet on one side of the room. "Do you need some privacy?" Grace shook her head.

"Just wanted to know." She said. They walked to her room again. Jack lit a lamp and handed it to Grace.

"Goodnight, princess." He said. "I'm right next door. Just knock a couple times if you need me. Your door won't be locked." Jack said. Grace sat down in one of the haystacks.

"Why would I need your help, you little boy?" she said, joking. Jack smiled warmly.

"I'll always be there, whether you want me or not." He said mischievously and left the room.

________________________________________________________

Grace arose stiffly to the sound of shouting on the main deck and to the pounding of a hard rain. She ran to her door, wanting out. It was locked.

"Jack, you liar!" she yelled. "Let me out!" Grace waited for a pirate to come. No one did. Grace sat on one of the haystacks, putting her hands in her head. She ran her fingers through her curly red hair. Her hand struck something hard; a bobby pin. Grace jumped up and ran to the door. She put the pin through the lock and moved it around, trying to open it. Finally she heard a satisfying 'click' and ventured outside. She cautiously walked up the creaking, wooden stairs that she and Jack had been before. When she reached the top deck she saw pirates running around fixing the sails and the masts. The boat wavered and shook. Waves slammed against the ship. Lightning streaked across the sky. The wind blew through Grace's hair and pressed her dress against her. She looked up at the sails. They were a dark purple with a large green 'M' in the center. Grace guessed it was for 'Majestic.' They were torn awfully. Pirates climbed the masts, trying to fix them. Some one grabbed her by the arm.

"Well, well. The hostage princess has escaped her prison." A rough voice growled. It was Ned. He smiled evilly. "The punishment is death." He laughed. Ned dragged her to the side of the ship. Grace called to Jack for help, but Jack was nowhere in sight. "Goodbye, princess." Ned said and tossed Grace overboard. She hit the water screaming. The waves washed her under and for a while she couldn't breath. Water filled her lungs. Blindly she tried to surface. After what seemed like ages, she reached the top and gasped for breath.

"Help!" she yelled and was rushed underwater. A pirate heard the cry and saw her go under.

"Man-woman-overboard!" Jack heard the cry and ran to the side of the boat. Fearfully, he saw Grace surface and cry for help.

"I'm going in." he said. Ned watched Jack dive in after her.

"No." he whispered. "What have I done?" Grace again reached the top. The water numbed her and she felt weak. She took a breath as a wave washed her under. She was under deep and couldn't reach the top again. She gave up hope and stopped struggling.

________________________________________

"Grace, Grace." Jack called worriedly. Grace opened her eyes to see Jack hovering over her. She coughed and a mixture of seawater and vomit spurted out of her. Grace closed her eyes again and fell in to a deep sleep.

_____________________________________________________

Grace awoke again and feebly opened her eyes. She was wrapped in a blanket and lay on the haystack in her room. Jack was sitting beside her.

"Grace, we thought you were dead. You stopped breathing a couple times." He said. "Do you feel any better?" Grace didn't respond. Jack shook his head and offered her some tea.

"I-I-can't eat." She mumbled weakly.

"You have to." Jack said and brought the tin cup to her lips. Grace drank it gingerly. Warmth spread through her body instantly. Jack grabbed her shoulders and carefully sat her up against the wall behind them. He made Grace take another drink. "What happened? Did you fall in? How did you escape?" Jack asked.

"I picked the lock with a bobby pin." Grace said weekly. "I went on the deck. Ned grabbed me. He threw me off the side." Grace coughed. Jack put a hand on her shoulder.

"Ned did this?" Grace nodded and closed her eyes. Jack lifted her and laid her down in the straw. Jack then jumped to his feet. "I'll be back." He said reassuringly and walked out the door. He ran down the hall and to the bunkhouse where Ned slept. It was day, but the pirates usually spent part of their day in bunkhouse. Jack kicked the door open and walked inside. Ned sat on his bed. Jack pulled him up and slammed him against the wall.

"Whoa, Jack. What is this all about?" Ned asked.

"You know what this is about." Jack said and turned the other pirates in the room. "Out." He ordered. The pirates left the room and Jack turned to face Ned. The old man look scared.

"What is it, Jack?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Ned. I know you threw the princess overboard. You want her dead. She is not going to die, not in my presence. One more attempt and you die, Ned. You'll be beheaded. I need the princess alive; I need the money." Jack said and turned to leave the room.

"Jack, you've never been this protective of a hostage before. Grace means something to you, doesn't she? You more than like her." Jack turned around, shaking with anger.

"Don't push it, Ned. I can kill you and you know it."

"I PRACTICALLY RAISED YOU!" Ned roared. Jack spun around and had his hand on Ned's neck.

"My father raised me to be the man I am now. You had nothing to do with it." He growled and left the room.

______________________________________________

Grace awoke again, feeling refreshed. This time she felt almost normal, just a little week. Jack was propped up against the wall, breathing softly. Grace shook him awake.

"Huh." He retorted. He looked over at Grace and smiled. "I see you're awake, princess."

"Yes I am. I feel much better too. I'm just happy to be alive. What happened?"

"Well," said Jack. "one of my men heard you call. I was alerted. I didn't want any of my men to die, so I jumped in myself. You were getting sucked under. I was trained to swim against currents, so I pulled you up. The crew flung a rope over and I climbed up, with you on my shoulder. When you got up on deck, you weren't breathing so I--" Jack cut off.

"I know what you mean." Said Grace. She looked over at Jack fondly. "If you hadn't saved me, I would have been dead. Thank you very much for the trouble." Grace said. "I wish I had a way to repay you." Jack suddenly burst out laughing.

"Repay me? Princess, I'm a pirate! My men captured you!" Grace just stared at him. Jack met her gaze. The two held it there for a while. Jack looked down guiltily. He shook his head. "Why must you be the princess; why did we have to capture someone like you?" he muttered. Grace shook her head.

"This experience will last me a lifetime." She said. Jack looked at her for a moment and then stood up. He silently crossed the room.

"Get to sleep, princess." He left and shut the door behind him.

_______________________________________________

The next time Grace woke up it was about midnight. Jack had returned to his room because Grace had rejuvenated her health. Grace awoke to the creaking of her door. She saw the shadow of someone enter. Scared, Grace muttered a faint hello. A voice answered. It was Ned's.

"You've made me suffer. Now is the time you can die once and for all." He drew a dagger.

"Jack!" Grace called in the darkness. Ned approached her with the dagger at hand. Footsteps echoed through the hall and Grace's door swung open. A light shone through. It was Jack. Ned twisted around to face Jack. Jack saw the dagger in Ned's hand and leaped towards him. Ned dug the dagger across Jack's arm and he yelped in pain. Some other pirates must have heard and came rushing in to the room. They saw Ned with a dagger and quickly were on him. They disarmed him, tied him up, and gagged him. They threw him in down with a satisfying thump. Jack gripped his arm in pain. He fell next to Grace. The pirates were soon at his side, bandaging the wound. Jack said his thanks and told them that he wanted to talk to Grace. The pirates nodded and heaved Ned away. When they were all out Jack turned to Grace, who was breathing heavily from fear.

"I wanted to say that I was sorry." Jack said. He looked down in shame. "I am a pirate, but I swear I have a good heart. And so does Ned. His family was just hurt by the king. He just isn't fond of your family. It's not you." Jack hung his head. "I hate to see you suffer." Grace lifted his chin and looked in to his eyes. There was a deep sadness replacing the usual happiness. He was telling the truth.

"I've never met a sweeter gentleman than you." She said. She gently kissed him on the lips. Jack looked surprised. A smile filled his face.

"I'm sweet, but I'm not a gentleman." He said then winked. "Remember, I'm just a little boy." Grace blushed. Jack stood up. "I better leave now. I have a full day ahead of me. We're going to sail to Coral Cove and give you back to your old life." With that Jack left, closing the door behind him. Grace stared at the door along time. She settled herself in, feeling safer, and closed her eyes. Before she drifted off she realized that she had a strange passion for Jack. Other people might call it love.

__________________________________________________

The next day everyone was called up extra early. The pirates filed to the main deck, with a confused Grace. Each took a seat at the long, wooden table that they ate upon each night. At the top of one side was Jack, on the other sat Ned, tied and gagged. Grace watched him with fear as she sat down next to Jack. Jack stood up and cleared his throat.

"Raiders of the Sea," he began. "It has come to my attention that one of us has been disobeying me." He shot a glance at Ned. "He has threatened the princess more than once and even tries to kill her. Now we should decide his punishment." One of the pirates stood up.

"I say we through in the ocean and watch him die slowly." Another pirate stood up as well.

"No!" he yelled. "Ned never meant no harm-let's give him another chance." A third pirate stood up.

"I think we should behead him. He always was a little sea rat searching for trouble." A fourth pirate jumped up.

"I think we should chop 'im up in to little pieces and feed him to the ship rats!" You could hear Ned scream through the gag. Grace could barely stand it. These men certainly weren't gentleman. Jack stood up quickly.

"SILENCE!" he hollered. "Let us sit down like civilized people!" The pirates instantly obeyed. "Look, let's just behead the poor man like we always do. That way it is over and done. All agree?" The pirates whooped and nodded their heads. Grace couldn't stand it. Jack had said that Ned had a good heart himself. Why the sudden change of mind? There must be something she could do! "It is settl-"

"Wait!" Grace cried, standing up. "I don't want Ned to die." She said firmly. The pirates looked at her, surprised. Jack had his mouth hanging open. So did Ned, so wide that the gag almost fell out. One of the pirates stood up, the one that had suggested that Ned should be fed to the ship rats.

"But Ned tried to kill you." He protested. Grace shook her head.

"Everyone should have a fair chance. Ned just messed up. I hope he sees that the royal family isn't as bad as he thinks." The pirates murmured to each other. Jack just stared at Grace with admiration. "So, boys, what do you think?" The pirates just stared at Grace. Cautiously a pirate stood up.

"The princess is right; Ned deserves another chance. We should let him live." Another pirate stood up.

"I second that." The rest of the pirates looked at each other and then at Ned. They stood up one by one, each agreeing with Grace. Jack looked at them in surprise then cleared his throat.

"Ned's sentence has been broken, he lives!" The pirates cheered. "Sorry, guys, but you have to get to work." Moans came from the pirates and slowly they all walked away. Jack untied Ned's bindings. Ned pulled the gag out of his mouth and threw it down on the floor. He walked to Grace and bowed.

"I'm in your debt, princess." He said. "You saved me." Grace just smiled.

"Do you forgive the royal family now?" she asked. Ned blushed under his shaggy beard.

"Yes. They aren't as bad as I thought." Grace almost exploded with relief.

"Ned, why did you hate my father?"

"Well, little missy, it was not your father I hated. It was your grandfather. I was born in a poor family during his reign. When I got to be about seventeen, he sent my father to war. He died soon after. My mother was not really educated. She couldn't get a job. I was the oldest of six and had to make money, along with my four brothers, Joe, Tom, Riley, and Miles. Joe was the second oldest. He traveled around selling vegetables to people in the market. One day he was caught stealing some money. The punishment was death. It was your grandfather who gave him the sentence. Tom, the third oldest, decided to make money by delivering mail. He was out one day delivering to some rich baron. He got lost and no one ever heard from him again. Riley decided to work for the king on the ships. He ended up getting a death sentence for having a fight with a richer sailor. Miles and me were the smartest. We became pirates and sent lots of money to my mom. He was only eight at the time too. Well, a couple years passed and Miles and I went back to the house to deliver some goods. We found my Mom crying. It turns out that my sister, Carrie, had died of a fever. The king had refused to send medicine to the village doctor because he couldn't pay for it. Miles and I returned to the pirate ship. We worked a few more months then went to check on my mom. It turns out that she had died from the same fever. Miles and I returned with the ship with heavy hearts. That night the king's men attacked us. They burned the ship. Both Miles and I jumped in the water. The king captured Miles, and I never saw him again. I made it to shore. From the day I crawled on to that beach I swore I would hurt the king. He killed all my brothers, my sister, and my parents, and he captured Miles. He didn't kill them all directly, but he sent my dad off to war and that's what started it." Ned looked down sorrowfully. "I miss Miles. He was my friend." Grace smiled at Ned.

"Don't worry, maybe Miles is still alive." At that moment Jack joined them.

"Ned, enough talking, now get to work." Ned left and went to the bottom deck. Jack turned to Grace. "You gained his trust." Grace smiled brightly.

"That will make my stay much better."

"Two more weeks, Grace, two more weeks."

____________________________________________________________________

Two weeks later, the Majestic sailed in to Coral Cove. There they met Grace's father. Grace stayed out of sight in her room, waiting for the time when she could go home. She missed her family. She had enjoyed the life of freedom, her time with Jack. Her and Jack had stayed up late each night about their lives, their views, and of other important matters. Grace sighed. She would miss him. Grace waited for an hour until she heard gunfire. Grace shot up and tried to open her door. It was locked. She felt the Majestic take off. Grace pounded on the door until her knuckles were raw. Finally she collapsed on to one of the haystacks.

"I'm not going home." She whispered hoarsely. Grace put her face in her hands and sobbed violently. She cried for four hours, alone and scared. The pirates had never left her in here this long. Finally, around eight, Jack opened the door. He walked next to her and sat down weakly. Grace looked at him, her eyes swollen and red from crying. "Am I going home?" Jack shook his head. Grace cried in to her hands.

"Your dad didn't have enough money. We offered him to give up his rule, but he didn't do that either. He fired at us instead. We fled and escaped him. When we were safe, the pirates had a meeting. They decided-"

"What?" Grace asked, suddenly scared.

"You are to be killed tomorrow." Grace let out a stifled scream. Jack looked down. Grace sobbed some more. "I will see you in the morning." Jack said and stood up. Grace spoke as Jack started to leave.

"You said that you had a good heart. I know that it isn't true." Jack stopped at the doorway. "You aren't anything but a barbarian and a thief. I hate you, Jack. I hate everything about you. I wish you were dead." Jack left and silently closed the door behind him.

****

That night Grace couldn't sleep; all she could do was cry. At about midnight she heard a door creak open. She heard footsteps coming down the hall. They stopped at her door. Grace shuddered in fear as the door opened. It was Jack.

"Grace, follow me. You can escape, you can live." Grace looked up at him, surprised. She stood and walked to him.

"I'm going home?" Jack nodded. He motioned for her to follow him and they made their way to the main deck. They snuck to a rowboat and got in. Jack had them away from the Majestic in an instant. Jack rowed the boat quickly and soon Grace could see England approaching. "We were close." Jack nodded. In about six hours if riding in silence, they reached a dock. Jack jumped up, helping Grace too.

"Well, here you are." He said. Grace looked over the land happily. "I'm going to miss you." Jack said.

"I'll miss you too, Jack."

"Grace, I have to tell you something. I-I-love you." Grace looked at him in surprise.

"Jack, I love you too. I have since you saved me from Ned." Jack smiled and rubbed his arm.

"I know pirates are known as insensitive, but I do love you with all my heart." A tear rolled down Grace's cheek. She kissed Jack on the cheek. Jack pulled away and kissed her on the lips. Finally they pulled away. "Someday we can be together again. Pirate and princess." Grace nodded.

"Someday." A boat's bell rang in the distance. Jack jumped in the boat and rowed in to the distance. Grace waved sadly and returned to the castle.

****

Grace stood on an old, wooden boat, shivering from the cold. It was winter and three years later. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered Jack and the 'Raiders of the Sea' crew. It was night and the ship was far off from the main land. About six hours. Grace frowned just remembering where she was going. She was going to meet a royal, who she had to marry. Grace gritted her teeth in anger.

"Nobody understands me. I don't want royalty. I want to be free." She muttered bitterly in to the wind. Grace turned to go down to her sleeping quarters and stopped. In the distance by an island, there was a light. It seemed to be coming from a very large ship. "Father!" Grace cried. The king, who was talking with his royal advisor, came to Grace's side.

"Grace, what is wrong?" he said in concern.

"Father, there is a light in the distance." Grace said. She pointed to it. "It's coming from a ship." The king saw the light and took a fearful step back.

"Pirates." He whispered. A larger light went off on the pirate ship. There it showed a dark purple sails with a something large and green in the center. "Grace, go to your room." The king turned to the rest of the crew. "Turn off the lights! Pirates ahead! Let's give them what they deserve! We get close and then fire a cannon!" the sailors started working as Grace headed down to her sleeping quarters down on the bottom deck. She sat on a barrel, feeling sorry for the pirates, if they were anything like Jack. She remembered how he had saved her from drowning. 'Wait.' Grace thought. 'I looked up as it was raining and saw the tattered sails. They were the same sails as that ship!" Grace stood up suddenly.

"They are going to shoot Jack." Grace whispered, horrified. "I have to give them a warning." Grace hurried up the stairs to the main deck. It was pitch black and they were slowly approaching the Majestic. "Don't fire!" she yelled. "These are the pirates that captured me." The king obviously didn't know about Grace's love for Jack, so he filled with anger.

"Faster! Get the biggest cannon!" Grace just stared at him as he pulled out his gun angrily.

"No, Father, I don't want them dead."

"Well I do." Grace just shook her head in frustration. She saw her father's gun and had an idea. Yelling wouldn't alert the pirates, but maybe a gunshot would. Quickly she grabbed the gun from her father's hand.

"You can't do this." She said, shaking. "This will alert them." Grace pointed the gun to the sky. Two sailors that were close enough to see in the darkness and the king grabbed Grace and twisted her hand behind her back. She struggled to be free, but failed. But a miracle happened; she didn't drop the gun. The gun was forced against her back painfully.

"Are you mad?" her father asked angrily.

"No." Grace's eyes filled with tears. "My true love is on that boat. I don't care if he is a pirate. I'd rather marry him than some old royal pain in the neck. I want to be free. I need to let him live." The king narrowed his eyes in disgust.

"I don't care if you are my daughter, if you shoot that gun, you will be a nothing." "No I won't." said Grace, both her voice and hand shaking. "I'll be free." Her finger extended over the trigger of the gun.

"Grace, knock some sense in you're head. You are my daughter, the princess. You and this pirate are not meant to be. You are only a disgrace to me now." Grace took a shaky breath.

"Then I guess I am only a pirate's love." Grace whispered and pulled the trigger; she fell against the sailors heavily, with a bullet lodged in her brain.

________________________________________________________________________

The pirates heard the gunshot and saw a ship light up in the distance. They yelled a battle cry and charged toward it. Jack breathed heavily, worried. They were raided by enemy pirates a week earlier and had no guns or ammunition to fight with. The two ships pulled together and Jack recognized it as a royal ship. The sailors and the king fought against the pirates bravely for about an hour. Many fell, both pirates and sailors. But the sailors were no match with the pirates, who had quick hands with blades. Each sailor fell, the pirates gave them no mercy this time. Finally the last fell, the king. The pirates let out a victory cry. Jack, looking triumphant, hollered the pirates' name in to the darkness. Ned came up to him sadly.

"Jack, come with me." He said warily. Jack followed, confused. Ned led him to Grace. Blood seeped from her head and in her hair. Jack fell to his knees next to her. Tears of anguish rolled down his cheeks.

"Who? How did this happen?" Jack asked miserably.

"Jack, we had no guns. Put the pieces together. The only reason we were alerted was because of a mysterious shot." Jack nodded in understanding.

"I didn't deserve someone like her. I don't deserve to live. I have no reason to live." Jack said, his heart heavy. He grabbed the gun that lay next to Grace and put it against his head. Ned saw what he was doing and snatched the gun away.

"Jack," he said soothingly, as Jack buried his face in his hands. "Grace wanted you to live. She wouldn't have done this if she hadn't. You have a reason to live for. Live in memory of her. She'll be in heaven, watchin' over you until your day comes. She will always be with you." Jack nodded his head and stood up.

"You're right, Ned. Someday I will see her again. And when I do, I'll thank her for making my life the best it could possibly be."

"You're the strongest person I've ever met, Jack." Ned said, standing up. Together they walked back to the Majestic.