I do not own Pirates of Penzance, okay! Gosh…
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One year later
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I waddled about the deck with the water bucket in hand giving drinks to the thirsty pirates. It was harder for me to get around these days, between my swollen belly, the scorching heat, and Charity's little girl Rose crying and laughing to distract me.

I came up to Cecil and tapped the bucket with the ladle to get his attention and he turned around. His face was attractive even now when it was coated in sweat and red with sunburn. I scooped up some water and handed it to him, and he drank gratefully. I put the ladle back into the bucket and he crouched down so he was looking at my large belly.

Pushing up my shirt, he put his hands on me to feel the baby's little kicks. Smiling, he stood up and kissed me, putting my shirt back to right.

"How long, now?"

"Ruth said in the next couple of days, so we should be ready." He smiled nervously.

"Are you ready?" he asked. I nodded.

"I am, and I should be. It's been in me for the past nine months!" he laughed slightly.

"I'm not quite sure if I'm ready yet," I kissed him.

"You'll be a great father, like you are a great husband. Just look at how Aloysius has done!" I turned around to glance at Aloysius who was holding Rose and singing a little song, and Rose's little face lit up with laughter. I turned back to Cecil and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze.

I started to walk away when Cecil said something.

"You dropped quite a lot of water, there. Be more careful," I turned to look, and sure enough, there was puddle of water on the floor.

"I didn't drop any water," he looked down at the water, and up at me with panic in his face. I realized what the water was. I dropped the bucket and clutched my belly.

"Ruth!" he yelled and scooped me up in his arms, walking as quickly as he could down the stairs. I started breathing like Charity had told me to, and pain shot through my stomach. Ruth rushed into the room with a jug of water and a stack of towels. Charity rushed down the stairs and took my hand.

She had gone through it all before, so she had a big idea what I was going through.

"Cecil, I am sorry, but I am going to have to ask you to leave,"

"What?" Ruth nodded and pushed him out of the room without another word.

Cecil's POV

I sat in the bunk room with Aloysius. After Ruth had kicked me out I couldn't go any farther, needing to be with Iris. The Pirate King had ordered everyone to stay on the top deck, and not to go down below under any circumstances. Only my closest friend was allowed down.

We sat in silence between us. I cringed at every scream that came from the room, clenching my fists and pulling on my long hair out of tension. I had sat with Aloysius when Charity had Rose, who was now safely snuggled into Aloysius' arms.

Another scream erupted from the room, and I punched the wall.

"Cecil!" Aloysius jumped up, and put Rose down in her cradle. I punched the wall again, not wanting such a pain to happen to Iris. I punched the wall again and again, my knuckles bled and the wood started to splinter. Aloysius shoved me against the wall, stopping me. I pushed him away from me and pushed the hair out of my face.

I heard a fait cry, and Iris stopped screaming.

"You can come in now, Cecil," Ruth called. I ran into the room. The sight of Iris holding my child and the joy that came with it was unbelievable. Women are definitely stronger than men. Her hair was damp with sweat and her face was pale, but an exhausted smile told me that she was okay.

"You have a son," she said faintly.

"I have a son," I walked over and knelt by them. He was crying and his chubby face was still purple.

"Any name ideas?" Charity brought up. I opened my mouth to speak but Ruth gave me a glare and I shut my mouth. Apparently naming is the woman's job. Iris stared at him, pondering. He had stopped crying now, and silence clung to the room, waiting for an answer.

"I will name him after the man that saved the love of my life. If it were not for him, Cecil would not be here today. I will name him Ladimer." And so it was.

This chapter makes me smile.

Review! Tell me what you liked and didn't.

~~ M. Gemma