Not long after they'd returned to Tortuga, Mary had given Barbossa her ship in exchange for the Black Pearl. Barbossa had accepted, taking his crew with him, save Gibbs, who seemed the most loyal to Jack, and had grown to be like a dear uncle to Mary. Mary had also insisted that Jack keep Cotton and his parrot on their crew. When Barbossa began to argue, Mary merely retorted with an arrogant smile and one word, "King".
Five months into Mary's pregnancy, she was showing, despite whatever attire she wore and Jack couldn't have been prouder. When they were in port, Jack insisted on walking with Mary everywhere. And, if he absolutely had to be elsewhere, Gibbs was ordered to escort her. At mealtimes, Jack sat beside Mary, rubbing her rounded belly gently, frequently announcing the the crewmen that their child would grow to be a masculine child, brave and cunning like the father. 'The most fearsome pirate known in the world', he would say. Mary would giggle, watching his face as he spoke of the future adventures their son would have.
At night, however, was a different story.
Mary slept peacefully, laying on her back in the bed in the captain's cabin, wearing a simple white nightgown. Jack was beside her, in soft, loose slacks, wide awake as he lay on his side. The blankets were pushed down, to rest below Mary's belly, and Jack's face hovered several inches above where his unborn child lay. His fingers stroked the soft material over where his growing offspring slept inside its mother. Jack pressed sweet kisses to her abdomen. He whispered softly to the baby, as to not wake its mother, "Pay no attention to what I say around the crew, darlin'. You're not going to be a strapping young lad like your dear old father. You'll be a beautiful young lady, sweet and fiery like your mother. Yes, you will. My sweet, darling Pearl..."
The End
