Epilogue

“Is that story true Grandpa Will?” asked a young boy no more than twelve. “Did that all really happen?”

“Of course not Lee sweetheart,” answered Amy, Lee’s mother. “He just tells us those stories to scare us- right Grandpa?”

Will- an older Will laughed and the lines around his eyes wrinkled and his snow white hair fell into his face. “Of course my little Jacqueline, they are just stories.”

“My how you forget so quickly William,” Elizabeth- a much older Elizabeth answered with spectacles in front of her eyes and her snowy-white hair done up in a soft bun. “Amy those stories are true.”

“Are they mum?” asked a seven year old little girl, Jacqueline her brown eyes wide with amazement. “Are the stories about pirates true? I’ve always wanted to meet a pirate.”

“Now where do I remember hearing that before?” asked a very aged Gibbs as he sat in a rocking chair by the fire. He smiled and looked to Elizabeth and winked. Even all these years later Gibbs was still Gibbs.

“Uncle Gibbs,” Amy began with a chastising tone. “Tell them that it’s all just stories and make believe and-”

“-and they all be true luv,” answered a voice from the doorway.

Six pairs of eyes went to the door and little Lee and even littler Jacqueline both ran to the door. “Papa!” they cried flinging themselves at their father Liam. “Papa you’re home.”

“Yes little ones,” answered the mysterious voice. “Your father be home and he has brought me with him.”

“Jack.” Gibbs remarked as he stiffly looked up. “It is good to see you again. These last ten years have felt like twenty.”

With a hearty laugh Jack came into the light allowing Amy to see the famed Pirate Lord and Captain of the Flying Dutchman the mythic ship that took the souls to the Farther Shores. “That is has been my old friend, that is has been.”

“Papa?” asked Lee as he looked up at his father. “Is that the Captain Jack Sparrow? The good pirate?”

“Good pirate?” asked Jack as he turned to look at Liam. “What tales have you been telling this young lad?”

“You- you mean it’ is true?” asked Amy too shocked to say anything else. “You’re really-?”

“Captain Jack Sparrow luv,” Jack answered reaching out and taking the frighten woman’s hand. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance...” he laughed and took little Jacqueline up into his arms and whirled her around. “...now tell me children, what do you know of sea turtles?”

-END-