Chapter 10

Jack stood gallantly at the mast of the Black Pearl, gazing off into the sunny blue sky ahead. A few more days had passed since their meeting with Tia Dalma, and Jack was confident that they were very close to the Bermuda Triangle. Jack pulled out his brand-new compass to confirm his feelings; they were indeed sailing in the right direction, as the compass was now pointing north. Next, Jack fished out the treasure map from his inside pocket and carefully examined the markings scrawled upon it. He recognized the symbols around them as different islands and such, which meant that in less than thirty minutes, they should finally arrive at the Bermuda Triangle.

"So where are we," came a voice from behind Jack. He jumped slightly and turned around to see who it was while folding up the map. Will and Elizabeth had come up behind him.

"If my intuitive sense of direction is correct, then we should nearly be there," Jack replied.

"Good," Elizabeth answered. "It's about time considering we've been at sea for just over a week."

"You know, patience is a virtue, luv. We can't simply sprout wings and fly into the Bermuda Triangle, now can we?"

Will stepped forward. "Jack, one thing's been bothering me."

"And what would that be, my young blacksmith?"

"Why won't you let anyone else onboard read the map? What've you got to hide about it?"

"I think every man is entitled to at least some bit of secrecy, don't you? Anyway, I'm planning on letting you see the map just as soon as we enter the Triangle."

Will sighed. "So, once we arrive, all we have to do is dig up the treasure and return home before Blackbeard and his crew manage to run us in?"

"Yep. Doesn't sound so hard, does it?"

"Might I point out that it's only how you hope this will go, not how it will, exactly," Elizabeth pointed out.

"Must you two always look on the logical side? But you're both trained properly with a sword, so some dueling shouldn't be a problem."

"Just like defeating Barbossa and Davy Jones wasn't a problem?"

Jack shrugged. "If that's how you look at it. Now, if you two don't mind, I'd like to navigate my vessel in privacy." Jack then turned and placed both hands on the navigation wheel, staring straight ahead at the open sea with pride.

"That's okay," said Elizabeth. "Will and I need to talk anyway."

Will turned to her in slight confusion. "About what?"

Instead of answering, Elizabeth simply laced her fingers through his as she led him downstairs toward their room.

Once inside, Elizabeth closed the door behind them. Will and Elizabeth's room was one of two normal bedrooms located above the usual crew quarters, where the rest of the crew slumbered away in hammocks at night. In addition, they had the bigger of the two beds, since a married couple slept beside each other. Currently, rays of sunshine were peeking in through the solitary window on the far wall, lighting the room in a very peaceful manner. Elizabeth guided her husband to the bed, and they both sat down on it while Elizabeth took both Will's hands in hers and gazed deep into his eyes.

"Will, there's something important I need to tell you."

"What is it, luv?" He used that same truthful tone that made Elizabeth melt every time she heard it.

"Well, um...," she hesitated slightly, "over the past few days, I've begun to notice certain things, uh, happening with me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you see, I've been displaying certain...symptoms that only women get when they're...," she didn't know why, but she was hesitating yet again.

But Will was able to pick up on the message without much trouble. "Elizabeth, are you saying that you're...pregnant?"

Elizabeth smiled widely and nodded slowly, her eyes shining with happiness. Will couldn't help but smile either as he pulled Elizabeth as close as possible and kissed her as hard as he could. When they were finished, they tightly embraced each other.

"I'm so happy about this," Will breathed into Elizabeth's ear.

"Me too, Will," Elizabeth whispered back.

They stayed like that for a few more moments before the voice of Captain Jack Sparrow ruined their moment. The shout was coming from the main deck above.

"All hands on deck! Get your bloody asses up here and see this for yourself!"

Will and Elizabeth both groaned in complaint as they pulled away from each other.

"Do we have to go see what he's yelling about," Elizabeth asked.

"I guess so," Will sighed. He kissed Elizabeth lightly. "Come on, or he'll just keep yelling."

Elizabeth giggled lightly and offered her hand to Will, who pulled her up and kept her close as they made their way upstairs. Upon arriving up on deck, Will and Elizabeth gazed out in the direction that Jack was. What they saw completely stunned them.

Only a few miles away, the bright, cheerful blue sky abruptly stopped, giving way to a dark, gloomy gray one that had lightning streaking across its different clouds. The sight seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, causing a chill to run down everyone's spine. Will shook his head and went up to Jack.

"I take it that's the Bermuda Triangle?"

"That's a painstakingly obvious assumption."

"So, what should we do?"

"Prepare to sail through a momentary storm, no doubt. Spread the word."

Will did what he was told without question and within the course of about fifteen minutes, the Black Pearl had come precariously close to the threshold. Everyone watched with bated breath as the tip of the ship broke through the ominous barrier, followed by the rest of it.

The crew was met with the arresting sound of strong, howling wind and the torrent of relentless rain. Along with those came the flash of lightning bolts streaking across the darkened sky around them. Within seconds, everyone onboard was soaked to the skin and the Pearl was rocking violently.

"Is this normal," Will called out to Jack.

"No need to fret, just help steady the ship and keep us on course. This should only last another minute or two," Jack shouted in response. Despite the situation, Jack suppressed a devilish grin and nudged Will. "I wonder if Elizabeth's clothes are so wet, you can see right through them?"

Will glared at Jack and kicked him hard.

"Ouch, just kidding!"

"What did you say about me," came Elizabeth's voice as she joined the two of them.

"Nothing," Jack answered quickly.

But indeed, despite the darkness of some of the fabric of her outfit, certain sections of Elizabeth's upper female anatomy were visible. However, if Elizabeth knew, she didn't really seem to care. Jack noticed, but received another sharp jab from Will and he immediately busied himself with navigating the ship through the small storm, spinning the wheel back and forth.

After a few more moments, the storm finally subsided and the rain and wind abruptly ceased. As if by magic, the sunny sky reappeared and a vast spread of islands met the crew's eyes.

Jack turned to Will. "See, how easy was that?"

Both Will and Elizabeth gave Jack a look.

As the ship sailed on however, no one seemed to notice another vessel floating to the side. This was a more ominous frigate, and the captain of it currently had his sights trained on it.

Blackbeard peered through his scope and scanned the decks of the Black Pearl. As he did so, he couldn't help but grin to himself in glee.

"Should we prepare the cannons, sir," his first mate asked.

Just then, the scope came across Elizabeth and paused. "No, wait," Blackbeard growled. "There's a woman onboard. I can't touch them til they step foot on land." Blackbeard turned toward his first mate. "But once they do, be prepared to attack. Show no mercy."