Chapter 4: Fight of Singapore

"Charge!" screamed the men from the EITC, storming into the bath house.

All pirates turned and saw the men wielding guns. There were puffs of smoke and various bodies of the Chinese men falling dead. More soldiers piled through the other doors and Hector pulled Melinda out of the line of fire to clash with them. Melinda busied herself to fighting the other soldiers that poured through. Will used the bar that kept his hands tied to fight the soldiers and Elizabeth dual-bladed against the men before tossing Will a sword.

Suddenly, Mercer, a big tentacle of the EITC, came in and tried to shoot Elizabeth but Will pulled her out of the way and one of Sao Feng's maids got shot instead. The bullet killed her instantly and the other maid glared at Mercer, swearing revenge.

The five pirates stood together and the men tried to shoot them but then a big explosion killed the ones trying to shoot them. When the dust settled, it was clear that they had to run.

"Sa!" shouted Sao Feng, and everyone began pouring out of the bath house.

Melinda and Hector ganged up to fight the soldiers and they took them down without a hitch. The married pirates choreographed dance-like moves into their fighting and took down various men. Just when Melinda was about to get shot, Hector pulled her down to safety and killed the man who tried to shoot her.

"Boo!" he yelled to an unsuspecting soldier and stabbed him with his sword, cackling madly.

Melinda smiled a little and stabbed some men herself. She noticed that Hector was having trouble with some men but she couldn't help him now because she had her own problem to take care of. After the soldiers got killed, she ran over to help her husband, who was fighting a soldier on the bridge. Before she could reach him, however, a firework zoomed past them and into a house of explosives. The three looked to the house but then Hector stabbed the man because he found an opening.

Suddenly, the whole house exploded and the men near there got killed easily. Hector looked to the other bridge and saw Jack the monkey smiling happily at what he had done.

"Thank ye, Jack," he said to the monkey.

The parrot repeated Hector's words and the monkey hopped happily.

…

As the dust settled down a bit, Hector and Melinda met up with Will, Elizabeth, and the others to leave. Will had a crew with him and the charts in his hands. Hector wrapped an arm around Melinda's waist as he addressed Will.

"Ye have the charts?" he asked.

"And better yet," replied Will, tossing the charts to Hector, who caught it greatly, "a ship and a crew."

"Where's Sao Feng?" asked Elizabeth, finally looking Will in the eyes.

"He'll cover our escape," answered Will, "and meet us at Shipwreck Cove."

"This way," said one of the men behind Will. "Be quick."

Hector and Melinda began to run but a burning cramp caught Melinda in mid-step. She fell to her knees, gasping, as she placed her hand on her stomach. Dizziness made her vision double and her muscles felt sore. Did she overexert herself while fighting? Before she could collapse, Hector scooped her up in his arms and carried her away bridal style. Melinda rested her head on Hector's shoulder as he carried her away from the madness behind.

"What's wrong, lassie?" he asked gently in her ear.

"I don't know," she replied wearily. "It felt as if someone plunged a burning knife into my stomach…and it hurt."

"Hold on, lass," he said, running still. "We're almost to the ship. I'll ask Tia Dalma what's wrong with ye."

"Okay," she mumbled before slipping to sleep in his arms.

…

As soon as the crew got the ship up and running, Hector consulted Tia Dalma about Melinda's condition. Melinda was currently resting in the captain's quarters, complaining about the stomach pain. Tia Dalma went into the captain's quarters and pressed a hand to the girl's brow as if feeling her temperature. A look of comprehension dawned on the voodoo woman's face and she smiled to Hector.

"She's with child," she remarked, touching the woman's stomach. "About two months along now."

Hector's face looked like it was carved from ice. "How…" he breathed, trying to put two and two together.

That night at Tia Dalma's shack occurred three months before going to Singapore. Hector finally figured out that the she got pregnant due to their love-making. At least she was wed to him so it wasn't debauchery or a love child. Hector concluded that he would be the best father he could be for the unborn child, no matter what it took.

"I'm pregnant?" asked Melinda wearily from the bed.

"Yes," replied Tia Dalma softly. "About two months along now, dear. I cannot tell if it is a boy or girl yet, though." She pressed a gentle hand to Melinda's brow, easing the woman into sleep.

"Hecta," she now spoke to the pirate captain severely, "do not let her overexert herself or the baby will die. Do not let her fight, no matter what. You hear me?"

The severity in her tone made Hector nod in response and he said, "I won't, Tia Dalma. I'll make sure she rests even if I have to tie her down to the bed."

Tia Dalma nodded before walking out to join the others on the deck. Hector pressed a tender hand to Melinda's brow and he gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

"I love ye, lass," he whispered in her ear.

"I love you too, Hector," she replied gently before drifting back to sleep.

Hector climbed into bed with her, not bothering to take his jacket or boots off, and wrapped his arms around his wife. He pressed his lips to her forehead, hair, lips, and cheeks tenderly, thanking any god from any religion that he was back to hold his wife again. He didn't think he'd ever come back to life but he was glad that he did otherwise he would never see his wife again.

The last thing Hector smelled before falling asleep was the sweet scent that was Melinda's perfume. It defined her well: soft yet prominent all the same. A place of peace, it was.

A/N: Yay, Mellie's pregnant! Hooray for them! Well, R&R! See you next update!