A/N: Enjoy this chapter...
I really love and appreciate all your reviews. I feel guilty that I don't reply most the time but I do feel grateful.
The real story kicks off from the next chapter but I always thought the idea of Jack present during childbirth was so entertaining. Couldn't resist mate...
Outside the night was cold and harsh, as cold as any December night but the room was too hot and Elizabeth had beads of sweat on her forehead.
"Captain Swann," Tai Huang said, "anything I can do?"
"Go to the Empress," she said, trying to sound strong, "make sure everything is fine. I'll be all right."
He nodded and left the room, leaving Elizabeth to groan freely and grip her stomach.
The midwife rushed to her side, "just breathe slowly Miss Elizabeth, I'll go get some hot water."
Trying to listen to the woman's advice, Elizabeth took a few steady breaths and tried not to scream as her stomach cramped up again…instinctively she reached out to grab something and found that the night table was the closest thing. Gripping it hard she tried to ignore the pain.
She'd been in the room since early that evening and still…this baby was quite stubborn.
"Here now," the midwife, Rosie, rushed in with a basin, "you should walk for a bit dear. Coaxes the baby…"
"Walk? Are you bloody crazy?" she screamed, brushing away her clumpy hair. Rosie shook her head.
"I understand you're unnerved," the old woman said kindly, "but give me your hand. Hold on the rail and walk just a few steps."
Elizabeth nodded, feeling bad for swearing at the lady, stretched out her hand for Rosie to take and took just a few steps…clinging to the wall and groaning.
And then there was a loud crash from outside and a shattering sound. Elizabeth jumped slightly.
"Don't worry dear," Rosie said, "the cat must've gotten inside again. I'll be right back."
She left Elizabeth clinging to the wall, hoping another wave of pain didn't hit…she limped towards the bed hanging on to the headboards and trying to sit. All the while she heard some noise from outside.
Rosie rush back in as Elizabeth was lowering herself onto the bed. "Miss Elizabeth, I found something in the hall," she said sourly.
"Honestly Rosie, it hardly matters if—"
She stopped mid-sentence as Jack pushed past Rosie and came inside. It would be funny if she wasn't in pain because Jack's dark hair and coat was dusted with snow and he looked like a Christmas angle.
"Jack!" she whispered, "you followed me to England," she cried in what was appreciation but came out as an angry groan because of the contracting in her abdomen.
"What? What? No!" Jack assured her, "I was just passing by and I heard you were here so I thought I'd drop by and say hello."
"Hello," she whispered, still not believing he was there and then she gave out another scream, almost slipping but Jack was beside her in a second and helped her into the bed.
"Jack, now's not the best time," she said, "I'm trying to have a baby. Actually, I've been trying for about ten hours now and the baby doesn't seem to want to come, so if you'd please…"
"It's coming," Rosie announced.
"See what you did now? It's coming," she informed Jack crossly, "What? It's coming!" she realized with a yelp.
Jack matched her yelp. "It's coming!!" he said in a panicky tone.
"This is all your fault!" Elizabeth screamed.
"My fault? It's my fault that you're having a baby? I rather thought that was young William's fault," he retorted angrily.
"It's your fault that it's coming so suddenly…you shocked me, that's not good for my condition," she groaned incoherently.
"Well excuse me for dropping by to see how you're doing—"
"Both of you shut up," Rosie screamed, "this babe's coming whether you want it or not. Now you get out and let Miss Elizabeth have her baby in peace."
Her expression softened. "Don't leave," she ordered softly.
"Wasn't going to," Jack glared at Rosie with a pout and sat beside the bed.
"That's better," Rosie commented as Elizabeth gave out a cry and grabbed Jack's hand.
"Now I'll need you to push dear," Rosie coaxed and Elizabeth nodded, her face reddening and tightening as she pushed with all her might.
"That's it," Rosie said holding her legs apart under a the blanket that was draped over them, "a bit more."
Elizabeth gave out a loud scream and her head fell back onto the pillow, Jack picked up the wet cloth with his free hand and dabbed her forehead.
Again her head became erect as she pushed with all her might.
"I can see the head," the midwife exclaimed, "push harder now."
Elizabeth gasped for air and squeezed Jack's hand, "I can't! Not anymore…I can't."
"Of course you can love," Jack said, trying to keep his voice steady, "I have faith in you," he winked playfully.
She laughed amidst her pain and pushed again, squeezing Jack's hand so hard that he pulled an almost comical pained expression, one that he tried to disguise with a smile as she looked over at him but came back as she looked away.
"One last push Miss Elizabeth," she said and with one last squeeze on Jack's hand which made him open his mouth in an inaudible scream Elizabeth pushed hard and then fell back onto the pillow, letting go of Jack's hand which he shook, trying to get his sense back.
With panic both Jack and Elizabeth realized that the baby wasn't crying as it should've been. There was only silence and the sound of crackling fire in the room…Elizabeth looked over to Jack with pure horror on her face.
"Oh my god, Jack, oh my god…no, oh my god," she whispered tearfully, over and over as Jack stood up, inching toward the midwife with a grim look on his face.
And then suddenly, it came, a loud squeal and a lot of crying as Rosie held up the little baby with a smile.
Elizabeth sighed with relief and laughed tiredly. "Oh," she said simply.
And then suddenly the door burst open and Gibbs walked in. "Captain, I have the Pearl restocked and—" he stopped mid-sentence as he saw the baby. "Oh," he exclaimed, "perhaps I should…later…I must…go."
He ran out of the room.
Gibbs nodded and took a sip of rum. "I remember that," he laughed.
"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable," Diana teased.
Elizabeth and Jack looked at each other and laughed as Rosie handed her the baby wrapped in a blanket.
"A girl or a boy?" Jack asked before Elizabeth could.
"A healthy baby girl," Rosie said, looking at Elizabeth who was looking at the little baby with a look of pure joy on her face.
"I'll leave you alone," Rosie hurried out of the room.
Jack sat by the bed, watching the mother and child with a smile. "Hello baby," Elizabeth whispered to her.
"She's so beautiful," Elizabeth murmured, "do you want to hold her Jack?" she asked looking over to him, "you were the reason she seemed to decide to come."
"I don't think—"
Before Jack could protest, Elizabeth had shoved her into his arms and he was holding the delicate little girl awkwardly.
He'd been so determined to hate the kid, told himself over and over how it would be the end of the fun adventurous Elizabeth he knew, telling himself he would be reminded of Will every time he saw her and convincing himself that she was going to hold everyone down.
But as soon as he looked at her face, and her dark half-lided eyes he realized he could never hate something so part of Elizabeth, something so pure, so beautiful, so soft…
The baby crooned softly.
"I think she likes you," Elizabeth chuckled.
"How could she not?" Jack said with his usual smirk but never took his eyes off the baby's dark ones, just barely visible under swollen lids. "The kid doesn't have a whelp bone in her body, it's good to know which parent she took after."
Elizabeth took her back into her own arms and smiled.
"What have you decided to name her?" Jack asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Elizabeth shrugged. "Victoria perhaps, I don't know. I'll stay with her for a few more weeks but I can't risk getting caught. I'll have to leave her with my aunt and uncle."
"Victoria," Jack smiled, "good, strong name," he assured her as he got to his feet. "I should go see what Gibbs wanted. I'll see you one way or another love," he put his hat on and headed for the door.
"Jack," she called, "I want to tell you…"
"What?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
She looked down at the baby and then looked into his eyes again. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm glad you were passing by," she smiled.
"The feeling is mutual," he grinned as he closed the door behind him.
Elizabeth studied her little girl's face, the soft fuzzy hair already sprinkled on top of her head was honey colored just like Elizabeth and even though she was barely a few minutes old it was obvious that her face took after her mother's.
"What shall we name you darling?" she whispered, "you're not a Victoria," she observed as the baby closed her eyes completely and then opened them a bit and Elizabeth knew from just looking at her that there was only one thing she could call her baby girl.
"Welcome to the world baby Diana," she smiled, holding her closer and closing her own eyes. Faraway the big clock struck midnight, it's echo reaching their little room and it was already tomorrow, as easy as that!
"You tell the story in such great detail," Diana observed, fiddling with the small green stone on her necklace absent mindedly, "and yet you weren't there unless your name is Rosie and your secret occupation is delivering babies. How do you know this?"
"Everyone, except Jack it seems, needs to talk to someone…Elizabeth used to talk to me," Captain Smith said.
"You knew my mother?" Diana realized, taken aback.
"I knew you mother alright, I was probably one of the only people who knew more than what met they eye," he said mysteriously.
She leaned back in her seat lighting another papelito. "She told me one story every time she visited, none were about her adventures between the time they killed Jones and I was born, I guess now I know what she was doing…trying to avoid that idiot," she scoffed, "but does that mean William Turner is my real father?"
The three men shrugged. "Captain Swann always tell us that it was Mr. Turner!" Tai Huang exclaimed.
"That can't be! She told me…" Diana shook her head, "let's just continue and we'll see."
"Let's," Smith agreed, "but I never heard about how they found the first gem. It was in Romania if I remember correctly?"
Tai Huang nodded, "I read her log that night, very interesting…"
"Bloody nosy first mates, they either mutiny or rub in your business," Diana muttered, "never gonna let one on my ship if I ever have one.
Gibbs waved a hand to stop the tension between the two. "I always say it's better to get some rest when ye'r getting cross! What do you say to a warm bed? And tomorrow we can get to the bottom of this…if they haven't showed up in a year, they won't show up in a day."
They all nodded and rose to their feet.
"I'll show you to your room," the captain told her with a smile, "I took the liberty of getting one before you got here."
"How did you know I was going to come? You didn't even know me."
He shrugged. "I figured an extra room could never hurt. And here it came in handy."
She took his hand and let him lead up the stairs. "Who are you?"
"No one of interest to you," he smiled bitterly.
"You seem to know a lot."
"Comes with the territory."
"The territory being?"
"Nothing of interest to you."
She huffed as they walked down the rows of small doors. "My mother probably told me of you. Just tell me your name."
"Here we are," he said opening the door with a key and standing aside to let her in, "sleep well, Miss Swann."
"Thank you Smithy," she teased, closing the door. Wasting no time she relieved herself of her hat, boots and vest, throwing herself onto the bed without hesitation.
Her head was spinning from her recent victory…she'd spent six months traveling the world in search of her…and him. She'd been to Brazil, Africa and she'd even tried Singapore and tonight she'd finally found a trace.
Of course, she'd lied to them a bit. And it was only natural…they were all pirates.
It was true that she didn't know who her father was. Her mother had told her something different every time she asked. At first it was always William Turner, noble, brave and handsome and then once in front of Fiona and Albert Holland (her relatives and caretakers) she'd said that Jack Sparrow was her father…of course that one was a lie, only told because the Hollands had threatened to stop her mother from visiting her so scandalously in the middle of the night and without a husband and so Elizabeth had produced Jack Sparrow to stand in for the day.
And then when she was old enough, her mother had told her about a man name John Lorillard, a dashing fellow from France who had swept her off her feet.
But on her last visit, just last year she'd said something that sent Diana's whole world into chaos.
"Diana," she whispered hotly as she hugged her, "we haven't got much time. I'm afraid I have to go."
"Take me with you. It's time…I'm ready."
"Not yet Di," she shook her head, "next time. But for now…I have to tell you something, about your father."
"Yes?" she'd said anxiously, "tell me. What is it?"
There were footsteps from the main hall.
"Next time my darling Diana, soon…I'll tell you the truth. No more lies. I'll tell you everything," Elizabeth promised as she slipped out of the window, into the night, without a goodbye. Little did Diana know that it was the last visit she would receive.
Diana knew every other part of the story, that's what she'd lied about. She'd already heard of her birthday and of Venus's treasure…the only thing she didn't know was the end. How did the story end? The only other thing she didn't know was the identity of her father…it didn't make sense…in her mother's stories she always went to France after the big battle, and there she found the first gem and got seduced by her father. And yet in the stories she heard tonight there was no mention of France yet…or the first jewel. She was positive the men wouldn't lie to her.
For now she pushed everything to the side and assured herself that it would be cleared out soon enough.
Instead she tucked her arms under her head and allowed herself to think of the one delicious little secret she'd kept from the men tonight. Why hadn't she shared it? There was no point to tell it. It was only respectful, for her mother's sake to keep that little intimate encounter just as Elizabeth had trusted her to when she'd reluctantly told her.
And that's what really bothered her. When she finally grew old enough, she realized that beneath the legend and adventure, Jack Sparrow was a manipulative cowardly pirate. At one point she was sure her mother knew this too, after all she was the one telling her the stories whether they were negative or positive…
But then there were stories like these that made her doubt her mother's sanity and worst of all, when a woman's sanity comes into question, so does the whereabouts of her heart.
Without thinking, her hand flew up to play with her necklace.
The fire crackled in the fireplace as the cradled swayed softly from side to side with the wind. Elizabeth looked down at Diana with a sad smile, not believing that she would have to leave her baby soon, having only spent a few days with her and hardly believing that the Hollands believed her excuse. That she was sailing with her merchant husband, a ship was no place for a child after all…
Without realizing she'd started to hum as she looked down on the baby's rosy face. "And really bad eggs!" she exclaimed with a soft laugh.
"Drink up me 'earties yo ho!" a voice completed for her, she whirled around her eyes wide at seeing Jack, so out of place in the fancy room with the nice flower curtains and paintings on the wall.
"What are you doing here?" she scolded in a hushed whisper, "I could have you taken away right this instant."
"But you won't," he told her calmly, "and besides, I'm not staying for long and neither are you," he continued, prancing over to the crib to bend over and peek inside it with a smile, "she's all pink!" he exclaimed stupidly.
Elizabeth was bewildered. "What did you mean?"
"I meant her cheeks, they're the most delightful color of rosy pink," Jack exclaimed, "haven't you—"
"That's not what I meant," she huffed, "what did you mean when you said I won't be staying here long."
"Oh," Jack snapped back to the matter at hand, "well if it interests you, there are two Royal Navy ships pulling out of the harbor early at dawn," he explained, "unless we're out of this port before them, you should find yourself a new occupation."
"But I can't leave without telling them," she sighed.
"Leave a note," Jack advised, still looking at the baby. He produced something from his pocket, a round wooden plank with a picture of a bird on one side and a picture of a cage on the other, and if you held it by the strings and twisted it fast enough the two images would combine and the bird would be inside the cage. Diana's already curious eyes stared at it cluelessly. "I think she likes it."
Elizabeth sighed again. "Jack, sometimes you can be so childish. I need you to focus."
"I am focusing," he muttered, "pack your things, write a note. Let us away!"
Hastily she rushed to the desk, grabbing a some ink and parchment and scribbling a note.
"Take off your nightgown," Jack ordered.
"You disgusting—"
"I meant to use as a rope," he smiled, "but I'm open to the other suggestion."
Elizabeth was already behind the screen and had thrown him the gown which he proceeded to rip in half and make a rope out of.
She emerged from the screen with a plain dress of cream taffeta and cloaked herself. And then she picked up a small sack from the closet.
"I'm ready. Let's go," she said bending over the crib, noticing that Jack had left the little toy in the crib. She kissed Diana softly and whispered, "I'll be back soon my love."
Thankfully Diana was already fast asleep.
"After you darling," he indicated with his hands as she walked passed him, using the cloth to slip down.
He landed beside her and without a word they turned into a small alley, walking shoulder to shoulder.
"How did you find the house?" she whispered.
"I just kept climbing up walls until I found you," he joked, "some very angry ladies who'd chosen to undress at that exact time."
She smiled and leaned against his shoulder, "what made you come?"
"If you got caught, who would I race to Transylvania?"
"Oh right, I forgot all about the treasure," she smacked herself on the forehead.
Finally they were close enough to smell the salt and fish, moving closer in the dark and ducking behind some barrels.
"Speaking of the treasure," he whispered, "I have a gift for you."
"Your last gift is sitting at the bottom of my drawer with two inches of dust on it," she said sourly.
"I sincerely hope you'll take better care of this one," he reached into his pocket to pull out a thin silver chain, sparkling with small diamonds. Elizabeth was so taken with the beauty of it that she almost didn't notice the six empty frames dangling from the delicate chain. Each frame was a slightly different looking from the other.
"The necklace!" she exclaimed, "how did you get it?"
"I stumbled across it," he smirked, "hang on to it for me will you?"
She turned around and he fastened it around her neck, her fingers playing across the empty frames that were to hold the gems.
"Why give it to me?"
"I'm bound to lose it. You seem to be capable of hanging on to things," he smirked.
She pulled a face and looked over the barrels to see that the guards were still marching near the dock, she would have to wait a bit longer. "I'll never understand you Jack Sparrow. No guarantee of giving it back now."
"A risk I'm willing to take," he shrugged, "a more desirable option would be to take both you and the necklace. No chance you changed your mind? We could use someone like you on the Pearl."
"Not yet Jack, not yet," she shook her head.
"Yet? Yet? I like the sound of that," he clapped his hands with wide eyes.
"Jack, for all your wooing and your unquestionable knowledge of the female creature, you're quite dim when it comes to female intelligence. A way a woman thinks is a bit more emotional than a man," she explained calmly.
"Would you care to elaborate?" he asked with a frown.
"To get a woman to sail away with you, for romantic purposes or not you've got to…," she whispered against his ear seductively, "woo her, make her feel she'll die without you…and then…you have to…" she struggled with words.
"You've got to catch her," he whispered knowingly.
"So you do know," she agreed, "and I wonder why you don't? You're perfectly capable aren't you?"
"Easier said than done love."
"Indeed," she purred in the same husky tone before pulling away, "but you're Captain Jack Sparrow aren't you?"
"Indeed," he agreed, "I could if I wanted to."
"I guess you've yet to meet the perfect woman," she shrugged and noticed that the night guards were further away now. It was an opening and if she could get herself to a boat before they came back she could disappear into the fog. She nodded her head and sneaked out of the hiding place to run towards the sea.
"Ta darling!" he waved as she ran off, hair and cloak swept into the wind.
"Catch me if you can Jack," she laughed jokingly before disappearing into the fog.
Jack noticed the guards walking back towards the boat she was climbing into, he took his pistol out and fired a shot into the air, causing them to run towards the fort, giving her a clear escape…not that she needed it. He ran before they could see him.
"That I'll do Lizzie, that I'll do," he promised as he jumped over a short fence and made his way to the longboat waiting for him on the other side of the beach.
Elizabeth let the wind carry her towards the Empress that night, once she broke of the fog…and she realized she was leaving a lot behind…literally. But she promised to get it all back one day.
Reviews DO make the writer update faster and improve.
The concept of 'catch me' was born in this chapter and will (sorta) remain the theme. And from next chapter on...I've placed little references to great pieces of work. And here's a little game...should you find one...I will include one plot twist...anything you want as long as it doesn't alter the story completely. You have my word. Keep an eye out. Ta!