Title: Distant Relative
Disclaimers: I don't own any pirate/ship and I don't wish to.
Genre: AU romance/vignette

Rating: nothing you should hide from.
Summary/Set: two years after AWE Elizabeth suddenly hitches a ride on the Pearl.

Pairing: Sparrabeth.

Now I know something like this has been written before, but it's just must be every writer's dream to be able to come up with an own version of this scene.

Note: English is still not my first language and it will never be, no matter how long I stay in Scotland for.

Jack was standing at the helm, carefully following Gibbs instructions from next to the railing as not to crush the little boat that seemed to be lost in the middle of oceanic nowhere, but the one soul in it was rowing energetically towards them. It was so that he didn't see the person climb up and take Gibbs' hand. It was only when he gave the wheel over to Ragetti that he could go down the stairs to meet the visitor. He walked briskly towards the person to question him of his intentions, only to jump backwards in surprise. It was Elizabeth! With child! And not just with child, but...

"Is it coming soon?" He voiced his fears, panicked. He was gonna deliver no baby!

"Yes," Elizabeth shrugged apologetically. "I'd been trying to catch you for months, but always just missed you in every port. I thought it'd be safest for the baby to be born on the Pearl."

There was a dead silence, everybody dismayed, looking at her, then at each other. Jack was clutching the railing with one hand, staring at the phenomenon before him. He couldn't even take his eyes off her when he gave his orders, "Mr. Gibbs!"

"Aye captain!" Mr. Gibbs answered wrinkling his forehead.

"There's a change a heading. We're going to Shipwreck Cove, right now. That's what's safe, Lizzie, there'll be help there and no one to ask difficult questions!" He shouted at Elizabeth, hoping she would agree with him for once, angry she had put him in unforeseen circumstances again.

"Captain! It's about a week to reach Shipwreck Cove!" Mr. Gibbs eyed Elizabeth's large bump suspiciously. "Captain!" He repeated as Jack seemed deep in thought while still totally distracted by the sight.

"Aye, aye, she'll make it!" He nodded, taking a couple of steps forwards towards her along the railing. He didn't dare to touch her just yet. "My calculations are right, but I'm not so sure about these wenchy things."

"You're calculations are right," Elizabeth assured him.

"Port Royal?" He asked again, just to be certain. That week they spent together with him hiding in regular clothes to be with her. With Gibbs passing him by on the street when thinking his captain was missing and not recognizing him for not imagining he would ever look like that.

She nodded, sheepishly. Did she make a big mistake coming here? "Is that all you have to say Jack?"

"I say..." He started, "what should I say? You were the one who disappeared one morning!"

"It would've never worked between us."

Jack looked at her, aggravated, "you said that before. And yet yer her'."

Elizabeth turned towards the sea, tears in her eyes, "a father has the right to know about his child."

The crew made several sounds, altogether resembling hissing. "Oh my!" Gibbs raised his eyebrows. He was shocked. His Jack will never be the same now.

"A father has the right to be with his family too?" Jack closed in, taking Elizabeth's hand. "I can still marry us right here right now."

"But why would you want to?" She choked. After all she had done to him, betrayed him, told him terrible things and left him...

"Do you think I'd jump to the bottom of the harbor in front of dozens of navy officers to save just any woman from drowning? Don't be so naïve darlin." He cupped her face for a tender touch of their lips. Then, not disturbed by the aghast mumbling of the crew to this he put a hand on her belly and smiled.

The End.