Author's Note: Well, readers, it's been along time. But summer is here, and with it a very long chapter. Hope you like it.

By the way, there's more mangled languages in here. I know a small amount of Spanish, but I still don't know enough to say what I wanted to say, so I used a translator again. Sorry if it's messed up.

I should also mention I don't have a beta for this fic, so all the mangled grammar in this is entirely 100 organic anotherblastedromantic mistakes. Buy them half-off now!

"Leave this one be, mates." Jack commanded, "There are plenty of other inns to plunder, and there's not much in this one anyways."

"You ain't our captain," one pirate of the Fair Annie remarked insolently.

"On the contrary. According to the Code of the brethren, set down by the pirates Morgan and Bartholomew, article number…" he paused, squinting, "seven hundred sixty… four? Four. Article number seven hundred sixty-four states that when two pirate captains make a pact to sail under one flag in order to increase the overall plunder, each of their respective crews must-"

"Must obey the other crew's captain as if it were their own until said plunder is at a satisfactory amount for both crews to sail independently and the pact is broken." Finished the other pirate, "We know the code."

"Then you'll do your best not to disobey it, then, eh?" Jack wheeled around towards Fantine, who was struggling with what appeared to be a musket. Regimental Matchlock, he thought. He wasn't as knowledgeable about guns as he was about swords, but he had encountered many a musket in his dealings with the British troops. But young innkeepers didn't usually go sporting these sorts of muskets for protection, least of all Fantine, who looked to be jamming something dangerously into the barrel. Jack took a step back. She definitely shouldn't have one of those. Where did she get that?

"Besides," the other pirate continued, interrupting Jack's thoughts, "We think of the code as… guidelines." He peered past Jack at Fantine, still wielding the oversized rifle nervously. He began to advance, but at that moment Fantine pulled the trigger. Jack jumped out of the way, yelping a bit, but something had gone terribly wrong with the musket, so that the bullet didn't shoot out of the barrel in the direction that Fantine had intended for it to go. Instead, it sort of went backwards, exploding out of the musket and ricocheting off the bar behind Fantine, hitting a mirror with a frightful ping. All the commotion caused the girls hiding near Fantine to shriek and run around madly (similar to chickens), Fantine to fall backwards on her rump in a blur of skirts, the two pirates to dash out quickly, one shouting that he thought he had been shot in the arse, and Jack to hear distant voices of children crying upstairs.

Jack looked around. "What the bloody devil happened?!"

"I… I don't know," Fantine remarked, staring up at him confusedly, as if she didn't know who he was. She looked down at her shoulder. "I shot myself." She remarked, rather amusedly.

Jack knelt down to see. "No, it's just a cut. See? Practically no blood at all."

"Blood," Fantine remembered the last time Jack had talked to her about blood, except he had been delusional. Now was she the delusional one? "I… I feel a bit shaken."

"Most people do after firing a musket. Especially when firing it backwards. I should have known that ye'd be the one to bloody shoot a musket backwards." He helped her to her feet. "Can ye walk?"

"I… I think so," Fantine looked to her left shoulder, noticing his rough hand upon it. She pulled away. "I am fine."

"You're wobbling." Jack said pointedly.

"Don't touch me, I said I'm fine." He would be the one to talk about wobbling. His walk had gotten worse; he practically sashayed into the room like an exotic dancer when he burst in. Meanwhile, the inn girls were still squawking about madly; Fantine tried to get their attention.

"Ladies, please! Everything is alright now; you do not need to panic. Ladies!" Fantine fell silent, and made to load her musket again, wielding it above her head like a savage warlord, aiming at the ceiling. Jack caught her and pulled the musket away just in time.

"Ye don't need to be using that again," he shook her off of it. "Oy!" he bellowed. "Wenches! Lend an ear!"

The mob of girls stopped for a moment to look up, frightened.

"We aren't in any danger," Fantine said, unsure if what she was saying was true, "But we do need to clean up this mess before anything else happens. Cora, fetch a broom. Sarah, Rebekah, clean up those shards of glass and be careful not to cut yourself. Paul," she beckoned, and an older looking man came forward. She whispered something in his ear, casting a glance towards Jack. Paul nodded and exited the room. "Katherine, please tend to the guests and tell them to come out of hiding."

"And take this," Jack handed her the gun. The girl nearly buckled under its weight, hauling it off with shaking arms.

Fantine turned towards Jack. "You must go right now."

Jack gave her a mischievous half-grin. "Why? I've only just arrived. Besides, I 'aven't seen my kids yet, which is why I came in the first place."

"Robert won't remember you." Fantine said, blocking his way upstairs.

"Sure 'e will," Jack said, trying to get around her. He turned left, and she took a step to the left. Jack sighed, and tried the other way. She took a step to the right, stopping him with her hand on his lapel.

"He was devastated when you went away. He didn't… he didn't understand why you had gone."

Jack paused. He couldn't have said goodbye, he had been too angry. What was he supposed to do now? Apologize? For what? For wanting sex? Jack never apologized for wanting sex. What man did?

"I'm going to see them, Fantine." He said, taking her by the shoulders, gingerly lifting her up, and placing her down behind him. When he stepped onto the first stair, Fantine spoke up in a casual voice.

"Oh by the way, Jack, I almost forgot to tell you. There was a lovely young lady that came through here a few months ago. She had long brown hair with beautiful eyes of topaz and skin like coffee."

Jack stopped, grasping the walls beside him with both hands. He didn't turn around. "Her name. What was her name."

"Let me see... it began with an L, I think. Laurel? Laura… no… Laurelina! Laurelina-"

"Starsgard." Jack finished grimly. "Laurelina Starsgard."

"Oui, I remember it was an odd name."

"She made it up for 'erself, that's why it's a silly name."

"Oh, and she was also, hmm, what is word, she was you know," Fantine rubbed her stomach, trying to make it look round. "How do you say… with child?"

Jack groaned, and turned around wearily. "She's pregnant?"

"Oui. Her belly was small then, but when I saw her in the market a few days ago, she was more like…" Fantine turned so that Jack could see her profile, and she made a big swooping movement around her belly, puffing out her cheeks so that she looked rather like a chipmunk.

"She's still here?!" Jack cried, glancing out the window at the buildings the crew had set afire. He imagined Laurelina coming out the flames with a high-pitched shriek, like some fat-cheeked, round-bellied, moody Lucifer.

"Oh, oui. But I imagine she will be coming round here soon, now that the pirates are plundering the town. She's bound to ask one of them if they know the famed Jack Sparrow."

"Captain Jack Sparrow." Jack hid behind the stairwell. "Of all the islands in the Caribbean, she 'ad to choose this one to stay on, at the same time I came? The whole world is filled with bloody coincidences!"

"God has a sense of humor," Fantine remarked piously.

"A sick sense of humor."

"That's blasphemy."

"At this point, Miss Pascal, one blasphemous remark on top of my giant pile of sins won't get me any further into Hell than I already am. Now please, let me see my children so I can leave this God-forsaken island." He made his way up the stairs and opened the door to the nursery. Robert was hiding behind a chair, and Erin was crying in her bed. She was about two now, and had a curly head of red hair. She was beginning to look like her mum. Robert was whimpering.

"S'alright now, lad," Jack said, stepping forward. "Ye can come out now. No one's going to 'arm you."

"Who… who are you?" Robert sniffled.

"Why, don't you remember me?" Jack knelt down.

"I remember you," came a voice from behind him. Jack tensed up, slowly standing and turned. A beautiful woman with a large belly stood blocking the door with a fearsome look in her eyes of topaz. It was Laurelina. And Fantine was right behind her, arms crossed; grinning like the saints had just come marching in.

Jack mumbled something about bloody coincidences.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Jack?" Laurelina stepped forward, "What's going on? How do you know that child?"

Jack looked from her to Fantine desperately. Fantine beckoned towards the window, pointing at the pirate ships. Jack looked at Robert, then at the boat.

"F-Fantine… ship… goodbye… blasphemy." He managed to gurgle.

"What Mr. Sparrow means-" Fantine started.

"What Captain Sparrow means." Jack interrupted.

"What Captain Sparrow means is that he has visited this island once before several months ago, when it was… safe. Two pirates were terrorizing my inn when he stopped by to call them off, before coming upstairs to say hello to my little boy Robert. And weren't you just leaving, Captain?" she smiled.

"Father!" Robert cried, opening his arms up to Jack, who stared down at him unsurely.

"Father?!" Laurelina repeated.

"Father… of all things on this earth be praised, Laurelina, it's good to see you! What a pity, though, if I don't leave this inn now, I might quite literally miss my boat. So, being as the only people in the inn are women and children, not ruthless pirates, with the exception of myself, and I'm not the one in the inn terrorizing at the moment, I should just-"

"Jack!" Laurelina cried, eyes welling up wit tears. Oh God, here come the tear-welling eyes. How did women get themselves to cry on such short notice? "Wait! You left me, after that amazing night in Singapore-"

Fantine covered Robert's ears.

"And you left without saying a word! How could you, Jack? I thought you loved me! I thought our relationship meant something to you! You told me that I was the one for you, you said you were going to give all the other women up for me! What happened to Singapore?"

"Probably still floating around somewhere in Southeast Asia, I'm sure," Jack said, trying to saunter past, "now if you'll excuse me, I really must-"

Laurelina pushed past him, and stood at the edge of the staircase. She said, determinedly, "I'm having a baby, Jack, and you know it's yours. There hasn't been anyone else but you. And you will be around to help me have it, now that I know where you are. You will or… or I'll throw myself down these stairs!" She looked behind her, grasping the rail with one hand and her belly with another.

"You don't want to be doing that, lass."

"Oui, Miss Starsgard, you do not want to be doing that."

"I told you Jack," Laurelina said, eyes misty, "I would die for you. That's what love does to a girl. It kills them… slowly."

"Really, Laurelina, now isn't the time for dramatics. I'm a pirate, I already lead a life full of drama. Now, why don't you just take a step forward and-"

Laurelina smiled sadly, and let go of the rail. Fantine shrieked, and held Robert to her bosom, hiding his eyes. Jack gasped, and tried to catch her, but it was too late. With a terrible clamber, Laurelina lay at the foot of the stairs, her beautiful brown locks hiding her face, turned to the side. Fantine put Robert, who had started to cry, in his room with Erin as Jack hurried down the stairs, ripping off his hat.

"Oh God," Fantine came down the stairs, her hands to her mouth, "Oh God, is she-?"

"No," Jack felt her pulse and listened to her breathing, "no, she's still alive. But she needs a doctor. Quickly!" The girl named Katharine ran out as fast as she could. Jack put his hand to his head, his dirty curls falling down to hide his face. "Stupid, silly girl… I… I didn't…"

Fantine stood over him, saying nothing for a while. Katharine returned presently, huffing and puffing. "The doctor's left town," she pointed, out of breath, "ever since the pirate raid."

Jack groaned. Ironic. Why did these coincidences come at such short intervals, all clumped up in one day?

"Alright," Fantine said presently, kneeling down, "I'm going to have to do the best I can on her. I am not a doctor, but I do know enough. Sarah, clean off that table. Captain Sparrow, Paul, pick her up carefully and lay her down over there."

Jack stared down at Laurelina's unmoving body and shuddered. He never liked the look of a woman's unmoving body. The way they always flitted about, it was unnatural- gruesome- to see them lifeless. It was enough to give any scallywag the Davies. But no sane pirate captain ever let something out like that without getting at least a punch in the face. Or, in Jack's case, no insane pirate captain ever let something out like that without getting at least a punch in the face.

"I… I should go get… help…" Jack stumbled over his words. He needed to get out of here.

"Help?" Fantine said incredulously, turning around, "What on earth could a pirate do for this girl? You've done enough of her already," she added under her breath, touching Laurelina's stomach.

Jack rolled his eyes. Always the same. "You're just in a tizzy because you found out about one of my mistresses. All you wenches are alike."

"Really, Jack," Fantine said as she felt Laurelina's pulse, "I don't care about you and your… what is word… amorous affairs, but if you are going to bring one of your mistresses to me, would you mind picking one that isn't so silly?"

"I didn't bring 'er 'ere, she came on 'er own accord." Jack retorted. He paused, grinning to himself. "Besides, the silly ones are just drawn to me. If I chose smart lasses instead of silly ones, why, they wouldn't have me and I'd be all by me onesies, wouldn't I?"

Fantine said nothing, putting an ear to Laurelina's belly. "This is useless," she looked at Jack. "You do not have any business here any more. Leave, before she wakes up."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Jack grabbed his hat.

"If she wakes up." Fantine added, "And take those Spaniard pirates with you!"

"Say hullo to the children for me." Jack called from the door.

Jack meandered down the streets of New Antoine, picking up stray plunder that a pirate may have dropped and putting them in a handy potato sack he found. He discovered a jewelry store that had been raided of almost everything, but hidden underneath a rug was a door to a secret rum cash that hadn't been touched.

"What a lovely coincidence!" he cried, taking a very long swig.

Once he had two full potato sacks, and several boxes of rum under his arm, he sauntered down to the boat, where he found all of the crew standing around, shouting.

"Oy! There's a rum storage down on Wimbleton Avenue, under the jewelry store… what's going on?"

"Someone has sabotaged our ship while we were plundering!" a pirate cried angrily.

"Oh." Jack looked at all of them. "Bad luck, mates. Well, 'ave a lovely time 'ere-"

"It's not so bad," the pirate continued, "They just blew a couple holes in our ship, which can be fixed. They set fire to yours." He pointed at Jack's sloop; something exploded on the deck. The crew of the Fair Annie laughed.

"Eres un mal capitan!" cried one of the Spanish pirates named Ricky.

"That's not very nice," Jack remarked, "I'm just as good of a captain as theirs is." He gestured to the crew of the Fair Annie. "Now, let me just think..." he sighed, and tugged on a string of beads braided into his hair. "We'll 'ave to stay 'ere until the ship can get back into… ship shape."

"Donde podemos permanecer?" Ricky asked.

"I don't know where we can stay!" Jack looked at all the buildings set afire. "There aren't any buildings that all of you haven't set fire to in this town-"

"There's an inn a few blocks down, it's not deserted, so we can be served, if we use death threats!"

Oh no. They were talking about Fantine's inn. Bloody coincidence.

"We can take prisoners!"

"And eat continental breakfast!"

Aye, have a fun time with that one. "I really do think that's a bad idea." Jack ventured forward.

"No cuidamos lo que piensas." Ricky sneered.

"Well… you should care what I think, Mr. Martin, because… because I'm the captain!"

"You are not our captain anymore," another Spaniard laughed, "We joined the crew of the Fair Annie, and now all you have is a blown-up sloop!"

Everyone laughed heartily, and ran down the street.

Jack stared after them. "Nobody listened to me when I was a real captain, either."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jack knew New Antoine better than he thought. For instance, the crew of the Fair Annie didn't know the back alleyways like he did when he was sneaking with Bootstraps with a baby to the inn. Jack's sneaking skills were an advantage he was grateful for; it may have been one of the only piratey skills he knew he still had. Therefore, he arrived first to the inn. Jack went through the stables, and arrived on the back side of the inn. When he strolled into the from, he heard wailing and the sound of people rushing around. Laurelina was on the table, holding her stomach and crying. Fantine ran up to him.

"She woke up," she said frantically, "She woke up and she went into labor!"

"Well that can't be good."

"I don't know what to do," she grabbed his lapels, "I don't know what to do! I've never delivered a baby before! I don't know what to do!"

"I've got worse news," Jack said, glancing out the window, "My crew betrayed me, and joined the Fair Annie. They're coming here right now, and they want continental breakfast and prisoners."

Fantine started talking to herself in French, and Jack glanced out the window. There was a lovely view of the harbor, and through the broken glass he could see a straight shot of the Fair Annie and a load of rum on the deck. Maybe someone raided the jewelry store rum cash after all. If once could aim right, one could hit the rum store and do serious damage to the ship.

"What a coincidence." Jack remarked as the crew of the Fair Annie burst in at that moment.

"We're going to stay here at your inn until our ship can be fixed, and we're going to kill anyone who doesn't serve us!"

"We want prisoners!"

"And continental breakfast!"

"We don't serve continental breakfast at this time of day, especially to pirates." Paul spat, and was shot in the head. The women around Laurelina screamed, and resumed their activities this morning, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Laurelina moaned in pain.

"We'll serve you," Fantine stepped forward, "on one condition."

"Don't do anything stupid, lass-" Jack stopped talking when Ricky aimed at his head.

"And what is that?"

"There is a woman having a baby here, and she needs a doctor. We cannot do anything until the baby comes out."

"We can cut it out of 'er, and then you can serve us." A pirate guffawed.

"No, you will not." Fantine said bravely, stepping in front of Laurelina.

Ricky pushed Jack aside and aimed at Fantine. "No es sabio decir no a un pirata, especialmente debajo de un arma."

"Vous n'êtes aucun pirate, vous êtes une morue." She replied.

"Oh, what a coincidence- Spanish and French sound remarkably similar. Thank goodness for Latin-based languages, eh? Well, now that we've switched from English, I think I'll just be…" Jack started to sashay to the door, but another large pirate named Pete grabbed him by the collar and picked him up, carrying him over to the bar with the shattered mirror. There was a deer's head next to the musket that Fantine used, and Pete hung him by the deer's antlers.

"I really don't like to be man-handled." Jack mumbled.

Once everyone had finished laughing at him, they directed their attentions to Fantine once more. Jack took this time to take the musket out of the rack and make sure Fantine had reloaded it correctly when she was going to fire it again. Yes, thank goodness.

"Right, lassie, continental breakfast first, baby later- or we'll burn the whole inn down with all of you's inside."

"Don't do anything stupid." Jack called from the antlers, holding the musket. Everyone turned.

"You only have one shot, Sparrow, and it's going to take more than that to stop us."

"Then I'll just have to put it where it will do the most damage, then, won't I?" Jack pointed the musket at the hole in the window, and fired.

Pete laughed. "Damage my arse! The only thing you did was hit our rum, and that was a lucky shot! You mad buffoon!"

"If I wasn't mad, it would never work." Jack pointed out the window. "It'd be most unfortunate if some of that rum got near my exploded boat, now, wouldn't it?"

There was a loud fwooooooom, and the Fair Annie turned into a column of fire and smoke. Jack smiled. And that when he was only half drunk.

"Captain Jack Sparrow blew up an entire ship all the way from across town with a single shot!"

"And with Admiral Henry Norrington's gun too," remarked Fantine, "What a coincidence."

The captain of the Fair Annie turned back to Jack. "You blew up my ship," he snarled, "Now I'm really going to kill you." He drew his sword.

Suddenly, one of the pirates who had been keeping watch ran inside. "There are three ships approaching, and they're flying under the royal navy's flag!"

"Bloody coincidence," grumbled the captain of the Fair Annie, "that they would arrive right at this moment! It's alright, lads, we can make it to Vierge Harbor if we go now and take the back roads. They'll never catch us. Hurry!"

All the pirates rushed out of the room, the captain following, who turned back and shouted, "Good luck with the royal navy, Captain Sparrow, I'm sure you'll have a lot to catch up on with them! Be seeing you," he paused, "Or maybe I won't!"

Fantine grabbed a chair and stood on it, helping Jack down. "Blast. I need to get out of here, and quick. If the royal navy finds me-"

"Hullo!" a young soldier hurried into the room. He was smartly dressed; his uniform indicated he was high of rank. "If there are any pirates here, come out in the name of the law!"

Jack clapped a hand over Fantine's mouth. "Oh, thank goodness you've arrived!" He said quickly. "The name's Smith. I'm a poor merchant, and I was visiting my sister here," he indicated Fantine, "who works at this inn, when my wife went into labor. There she is, over on that table. We were about to get a doctor when vicious pirates attacked us. They went off in that direction, by the backroads. They were hoping to get to Vierge Harbor. If you hurry, you can still catch them!"

"Thank you, friend. We are indebted to your service." A large group of uniformed men hurried past him; they outnumbered the crew of the Fair Annie two to one. The young man was about to follow, when he stopped at the door. "Is there anything you need?"

"We need a doctor!" Fantine cried.

"Of course. Corporal, send for Doctor Jameson, and tell him it's urgent!"

"Thank you, monsieur."

"My pleasure, miss. If you need anything else, do not hesitate to ask."

"May I have a name to ask for?"

"Commander Cutler Beckett, at you service." The young man bowed. "If there is nothing more, I must go." He ran to catch up with the others.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Several hours passed. Jack was nervously fidgeting with random articles of clothing on his person; Fantine could see he was not at home when the royal navy was near. But he couldn't leave now; it would be too conspicuous, and the navy would catch up with him in a minute and find out about his true identity. And then he would be in the same position as he was with the crew of the Fair Annie: on a rack of antlers, about to be stabbed. So Fantine and he sat in her room, with the children, away from the soldiers.

"Father," Robert said, playing with a little toy top, "What was all that noise down there?"

"We were all… playing a game." Jack said, looking out the window.

"What game?"

"Checkers."

"Oh," Robert said, disinterested. He went back to playing with his top.

Fantine was thoughtful. "What is her real name?"

"I can't remember. Polly, or Prudence, or something like that."

"How did you two meet?"

Jack sighed, trying to remember. It seemed like such a long time ago. "She was some rich sheriff's daughter, or something, and she had ran away, and within minutes of reaching the docks she had been snatched up by a group of pirates looking for some… booty."

"Booty?" Fantine said, "I do not know this word."

"Swag. Treasure. Breasts. I mean chests. Treasure chests. You know, things to trade with."

"Ah." she said, picking up a handkerchief and mending it.

"Anyway, I was looking for a ship to commandeer, and theirs looked awfully nice, and once I had gotten well on my way I heard shouting from the brig and saw her, all tied up. And, things just… went where they went."

"I see." Erin had been sitting in a corner, when she got up and toddled over to Jack, reaching out for him. He picked her up, and bounced her on his knee. She gurgled with laughter.

"She can walk now?"

"Oui." Fantine smiled, "She is learning her first words as well. She is not as quick as Robert to learn things, but not many children are. I love her hair, it is… it is like fire. Her mother must have been very beautiful."

"She was. She had a fiery temper, as well."

"As does Erin. She has a… what is word… it like a temper, but it can be good, or it can be bad."

"Mood?"

"No, it is with an a-"

"Attitude?"

"Oui. She has an attitude." Fantine smiled. "English is so hard to learn. You have so many different words for one thing. For example, in French, when we want to say quick, we say vite. But in English, you can say swift, snappy, prompt-"

"Expeditious, nimble, hurried, timely, rapid, fleet, rushing-" Jack continued.

"Fast." Fantine grinned.

"Aye. So… I didn't see that portly old woman 'ere, what was 'er name…"

"Madame Stew?"

"Aye. Mrs. Stew. Where's she? She's certainly give the crew of the Fair Annie a run for their money."

Fantine looked down. "She died. Not long after you left. The winter proved too strong for her, and she had… what is word… it is the sickness, and you cough up blood."

"Tuberculosis?"

"I think so. Oui, it was tuberculosis. She died, and she left this inn to me."

"Oh… congratulations."

Fantine nodded gravely.

Robert got up and ran to Jack. "Father, did you use to tell me stories?"

"That I did, boy, that I did."

"Will you tell me one now?"

"Aye. Would you like to hear about Bluebeard and the Forty Cutthroats?"

"Captain-" Fantine warned.

"I want to hear about Bluebeard!" Robert cried excitedly. Suddenly, the man who they had met before, Commander Beckett, burst in.

"Mr. Smith, excuse the interruption. It seems your wife is suffering from hemorrhages, and most of the workers in this inn have deserted. The doctor needs your sister to help deliver the baby."

Fantine looked at Jack, and got up quickly to leave with Beckett, who shut the door. Jack looked at his son, who was staring expectantly up at him, and heard screams from downstairs. He sighed.

"I first met Captain Bluebeard on an island called Tiki-Picki. I had gotten myself into a bit of a jam, you see, involving three large Hungarians and a little dog named Fido…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Robert was asleep. After the story of Bluebeard, he wanted to hear the story of Meency-Weency and the Gorgolon cannibals, so Jack tried to remember what he had said- something about carrots- and retold the story. Even if it wasn't like the original, Robert didn't seem to mind. He had only told two stories, and already the strength had gone from him, as if he had battled the whole crew of the Fair Annie twice over. He never wanted a nap so much in his entire life. There was something to be respected in Fantine's line of work- she had to do this twenty-four hours every day. And now there was a third baby on the way, so she had even more work to do. If, that is, she would take the baby. She was in a bad mood, now.

At that moment, Fantine stuck her head in the door. She had taken her cap off, and her mousy hair was sticking out all over the place. "Captain." She said softly. He got up, and went outside the room, closing the door behind him. He saw why she had only poked her head in the room, instead of entering in front of the children. Her arms and apron were covered in blood. Even her face and hair was speckled with it. Jack grimaced.

"What on earth have you been doing down there?"

"The doctor is not a woman's doctor. He's only there to mend the wounds of the soldiers on the ships, but he knows very little about delivering a baby. He wanted me for a woman's touch on things, but he has no idea of what he is doing." She looked down the stairs. "I think he made it worse."

"So… the baby?"

"Babies." She corrected him. He turned pale. "She had twins. Two healthy little boys. But, Captain, I think because she did not have proper medical care, and she worked hard instead of rested while she was pregnant, and she fell down the stairs, the… how you say… the strain of it all has made her ill." She sighed. "I am not sure, but I think she is dying."

Jack sighed, and put a hand to his head.

"She wants you."

"She wants me?"

"Oui. When she was having the babies, instead of cursing you to Hell like I've heard women usually do when having children, she begged for your presence. Now is a good time to see her."

Jack felt a knot in his stomach.

"You must." She grabbed his by the arm with her bloody hand and pulled him down the stairs, pushing him towards Laurelina.

Laurelina held the two infants in both arms. Her pretty brown hair was plastered to her coffee-colored face, and her topaz eyes were weary. Laurelina smiled at him, and grabbed his hand.

"Jack, please stay with me." She begged.

"But… I…."

"If I'm going to die, I want to be by your side." She groaned, then in strained breaths said, "Remember? You taught me how to swordfight, and we were battling side-by-side at that brawl on the deck of the Pristine, and I told you this was the best way for a girl to die- by the side of the man she loves."

"Oh, yes, I do remember that…" Jack said. He didn't remember it; when he was fighting he never listened to girls, it broke his concentration. Besides, it was usually silly rubbish about dying by someone's side that wasn't really important to listen to anyway. But it would make Laurelina feel better.

"Look, Jack," she held the babies out to him, "look at our children!"

Jack hesitantly took the wailing boys. God, they made a din! Their eyes were pretty, though. Like topaz. Like their mum's. Why was it that all of his kids inherited their mum's eyes? His eyes were alright, weren't they? They had his hair, though. And his jawbones. Was he this loud when he was a kid? He smiled. Probably.

"Mr. Smith," the doctor beckoned. He was in bloody apron as well. "I must speak with you."

Jack handed his boys back to Laurelina, and walked with the doctor outside. Laurelina turned to Fantine. "They like him."

"I think the feeling is mutual." Fantine replied.

"Miss Pascal, I know something's going on between you two. You and Jack know each other, don't you? And he's so close to that little boy… I think I've heard him call him father. Please, tell me- what's going on?"

Fantine looked at her. Should she tell her the truth? "Do you want the truth?"

"Yes."

Fantine glanced at Jack. "The truth is… the truth is… they are his children."

"Are they your children, too?" Laurelina's eyes were pleading.

Fantine sighed. "No. They aren't my children. I take care of them for him, because I'm better at it than him. They call me mother, because I don't want anyone to suspect in this town. People like to talk here."

"They are children of past lovers of his?"

"Oui, mademoiselle."

"And… was there another one after me?" Laurelina's eyes filled with tears. She was prone to do that. Fantine swallowed.

"No. He told me. He's in love with you. The youngest is two years old. Last… last time he visited he told me he had fallen in love with a beautiful young lady, and that he… he wanted to raise a family with you."

"Oh!" Laurelina gasped. "Really? He wants to be with me?"

"Oui, mademoiselle."

"That is good news. I thought… I thought he didn't want these children." She smiled at Jack, who was talking with the grim-faced doctor outside. "He's talking about my death. I'm going to die; I can feel it- already my eyes are growing dark. It doesn't matter, though, just as long as I know my sons are taken care of. You will take good care of them, won't you?"

"Oui, mademoiselle."

Laurelina clasped her hand. "That is good. What a wonderful way to end my life. I never thought I would love a pirate so dearly. But there is a wildness in him that makes me want to be by his side forever. How funny that he should be so attached to children!"

"Not just children, mademoiselle, his children."

"Why do you think he- a pirate captain, supposedly a calloused creature- loves them so much?"

Fantine crossed her arms, thoughtful. "I think… I think it is because he is a pirate. Pirates lead lives of thieves: they take the prized possessions of others, the things they have worked hard to earn and make in this world. Pirates take no part in making anything. And, for a man as odd as Captain Jack Sparrow, a child of his is something he helped to make. For once in his life, he put something of himself into the life of another human being. And that is why he loves it so dearly."

Laurelina smiled at Fantine. "For such a homely little girl, you possess such wisdom!"

"Thanks. I get that a lot."

Jack approached Laurelina warily. He knew she was about to die, he just didn't know how to say it.

"What shall we name them?" Laurelina smiled, cradling the two boys. "I thought we could name one James, after my father, and Teague, after your father."

Cutler Beckett was talking to someone, and stopped. He stared quizzically at Jack. Jack nervously looked back.

"No, no, my father's name isn't Teague. It's… Harry."

"No, I seem to recall overhearing a conversation between you and a fat man with strange sideburns, and he was talking about a man named Teague."

"It must have been another man. What's your name?" Jack turned to the doctor.

"Doctor Jameson. Doctor James Jameson."

"Your name is James too?" Laurelina smiled.

"What a bloody coincidence," Jack mumbled. "Fine. If you're set on the name Teague so much, we'll call him Teague. Although I'm sure Teague isn't my father's name," he glanced at Beckett, "Because when my father was born Teague was a very popular name, almost everyone had it, so even if my father's name was Teague, he wouldn't be anybody important."

"Wonderful. James and Teague. I'm sure you're going to be very happy with your father," she smiled at the two wailing boys, handing them to Fantine. She took Jack's hand. "Don't forget me, Jack," she whispered. Then, she leaned her head back on the table, and the twinkle left from her eyes. Jack let go of her hand, and it dropped. She didn't move anymore.

All the soldiers removed their hats, as did Doctor Jameson and Jack. Cutler Beckett approached.

"I am sorry, sir. If you would like help with the funeral arrangements-"

"No, no," Jack thought quickly, "You men have your work, and… and I think a quiet funeral is best. We'll take her out to the cemetery today and bury her… alone."

"Very well. We will send for a priest. Corporal Thomas," he gestured.

"Thank you so much for your concern, Commander," Fantine said.

"It is all that we can do. Thank you for letting us reside at your inn for this sort period of time, Miss Smith. Now that the crew of the Fair Annie has been apprehended, we will be leaving soon, and you will have your pay." He paused. "Teague. That's an interesting name. There's a well-known pirate named Teague."

"It's a popular name." said Jack. "It means… poet… in Gaelic."

"How interesting," he said, "There may be one or two raiders still about; we'll give you one of our men to escort you… just to keep away any… mischief." Cutler Beckett continued to stare at him. Jack smiled nervously back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

There was a carriage in the stables that they used to carry Laurelina's coffin inn. The advantage of living in a city that had been previously raided by pirates is that one could drop by any deserted store and "borrow" anything that hadn't been taken already. Jack handled that. He told Fantine to get all the money she could and meet him in the carriage with all the children. They rode to the cemetery, near the forest where the crew of the Fair Annie tried to escape. Jack and the soldier dug a hole, while Fantine watched over the children. She handed him the handkerchief she was mending to wipe his face with, and after he was done he ticked it in his pocket. Might be needing that. They buried her silently, and since they didn't have a gravestone, Jack carved her name into a wooden cross Robert had found and stuck it in the ground. The priest said a prayer for Laurelina, and they had a moment of silence. Fantine laid a flower of the ground for her, and ushered the children into the carriage.

The priest turned to Jack. "Mr. Smith, if you are ready, we'll head back to the inn."

"Right," Jack said. "Corporal, would you mind picking up that shovel for me?"

"Yes, sir." The corporal bent over to pick it up. When he wasn't looking, Jack pulled out his sword and hit the soldier on the back of his head with the handle of his sword. The boy fell over, unconscious. Then he picked up the shovel and turned toward the priest.

"Bad luck, mate." He hit the old man on the back of the head, who fell down unconscious. "Sleep well, Father."

Fantine got out of the carriage quickly. "You hit a priest with a shovel!" she said incredulously.

"At least I didn't kill 'im." Jack shrugged.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Listen, lass," Jack pulled her to the carriage. "Do you know how to drive one of these things?"

"Y-yes, but why-"

"Good. I need you to take the children and drive yerselves down to Vierge Harbor. Once ye get there, 'op the fastest ship off this island and don't come back. Then get on a ship to the Americas- in the Orleans territory, there is a town called Grand Isle. It's French, so you won't have a lot of trouble from the navy, and it's relatively safe. I'm sending the payments there, so you can go back to France if you want to, but don't expect anything from me, understand?"

"But... I'm not nearly prepared! I didn't bring the children's clothes, my clothes, any food-"

"I know, I know, but I 'ad told ye what the plan was before, ye would've attracted too much attention to yerself, and the navy would be onto me."

"But my inn!"

"Someone else will take over. I'm sorry, lass, but that Beckett fellow is onto me, and if 'e finds out that I'm Captain Sparrow, 'e'll send ye to prison with me. Guilty by association, savvy? And there'll be no one to take care of me kids like you can."

Fantine stared coldly at him. "What will you do?"

"I'm going back to distract them, don't you worry about me, lass. I'll escape jus' fine. If you go now and hide in Vierge Harbor, they won't catch up with you." He helped her up to the driver's seat.

"Why don't you come with me?"

Jack took a step back. "You know I can't, lass. A pirate's got to be free. Besides, they'd suspect things and catch us if one of us doesn't provide a diversion."

She nodded. "Say goodbye to your children."

Jack stuck his head into the carriage. "Well, goodbye kids. I won't be seeing you for some time."

"Father! Where are you going? Can I come?"

"No, I'm afraid not this time, Robert, maybe when yer older. But when I come back, I'll have more stories to tell you, savvy?"

"I love stories! I want to be a pirate, so I can meet Bluebeard!"

"Let's hope not," Jack gave Erin a kiss, who tugged on a braid and giggled. "Be good to yer new brothers, alright?"

"Father, where do babies come from?"

Jack waved and shut the door quickly. "Goodbye, lass."

"Goodbye, Captain." She said gravely.

"I know it hurts, but-"

"You can't hurt me anymore than you already have, Captain Sparrow. The payment's doubled. For two. Have a good journey." She cracked the reins, and the carriage pulled on down the road and out of sight. Jack crossed his arms. Lord, she was a fickle creature. He was going to put his life at risk for hers, and she was mad at him? He supposed she would thank him later. Much, much later. At that, he sashayed down the road.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cutler Beckett was waiting for him at the door. "Mr. Smith! Where are your children? Your sister?"

"Er… she wanted some more time to… say goodbye… to me wife. The guard stayed behind to guard 'er, being as women need more guarding than men, especially my sister, and the priest was busy saying an 'Ail Mary."

"A Hail Mary?"

Jack paused. "Yes. An 'Ail Mary. So I told 'em I'd scurry down the road by me onesies, and they could use the carriage to get 'ome. Now, Commander, if ye'll excuse me…"

"You take the death of your wife surprisingly well." He called after him. Jack turned. "I'd expect you to show a bit more… grief."

"Ah yes," Jack removed his hat. "Well, I'm one who takes things like this very well. As a… poor merchant who has to endure treacherous waters filled with pirates, I've lost many a good man in my life. I've come to expect it," he finished with a dramatic sadness, and lifted his arm to put on his cap. Beckett grabbed his arm and forcefully lifted up his sleeve. Blast. It was his right arm, and it revealed the "P" tattoo that was a blatant indicator of his real profession.

"Pirate!" Beckett cried victoriously. "I might have known." He lifted his sleeve up further. "Captain Jack Sparrow. Well, well, well. The navy's been looking for your father for quite some time, now. Maybe you could help us out."

Jack winced. "What makes you think I could give any information to you on my father? If you haven't found out any info, I certainly don't know anything. You see, he owes me money, so he-"

"That's enough of your excuses," Beckett pulled him towards the direction of the inn. "Once Admiral Wadsworth finds out I've apprehended Captain Jack Sparrow and the crew of the Fair Annie in little under 48 hours, I'll surely be promoted."

Jack pushed Beckett off of him. "I really don't like to be man-handled," he said, pulling out his sword. Beckett pulled out his sword as well, and lunged at him. Jack stepped back, and took another swing, but Beckett dodged and took a slash at him from the left, which Jack blocked. Beck took a low swing with his sword, but Jack jumped over the blade and stepped on it, making Beckett drop the sword. Jack took a knife from his boot and grabbed Beckett's arm, carving a serrated "J" into his right arm. Beckett screamed in anguish.

"A little something to remember me by." Jack grinned, swiftly putting the blade back. It would leave a scar. Beckett took this time to grab a pistol he had in his belt and shoot Jack in the chest. Luckily, however, he shot it left-handed, as his right arm was injured, and he missed Jack's heart, hitting him in the ribs. Jack clutched his side in pain.

"A little something to remember me by." Beckett gritted his teeth. Jack turned round, and looked up. There was a cord connecting two poles, one here, and one at the docks, and Beckett had slashed at the rope that was holding the weight that kept the cord tight.

"Oh, what a coincidence! Be seeing ye, mate." Jack grabbed the rope as it went up when the weight came down, and up Jack went. Then, once he was up next to the cord, he took out the handkerchief Fantine had handed to him before and used it to slide down the cord with, Cutler firing left-handed shots at him the entire way. When he was at the bottom, Jack slid down another rope that was attached to a rope, instantly regretting it when he burned his hands.

"Ow, hot hot hot hot hot…" he continued to run on until he approached a ship, The Margaret, and walked casually up to the crew.

"Hullo."

"Good morning, sir."

"I'm afraid there was a bit of a brawl back at the inn you all are staying at. One of the corporals, Thomas I think it was, got a bit tipsy and knocked over a few chairs, and somehow it grew into a full-blown soldier's fight. Commander Beckett sent me to tell you all he wants you to help him break up the fight. It seems Corporal Thomas is a mean drunk."

"I always knew he was," one seaman shouted.

The man in charge sighed. "Very well. Lancaster, watch over the ship while we're gone." They all exited the ship, one of the cabin boys excitedly calling the other crew members of the other two ships to come and see the fight. They left as well.

Once they were all out of sight, Jack sauntered over to the young boy named Lancaster, who watched his every move like a hawk.

"Tell me, young lad, 'ave you ever wanted to be…" he paused dramatically, "a pirate?"

"Why, no." Lancaster replied.

"Oh. Sorry." Jack pushed him overboard. Singing to himself, he swiftly got the ship in ship shape, and set off.

"What shall we do with a drunken sailor, what shall we do with a drunken sailor, what shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning…."

Author's Note: Good points to you if you finished the whole thing! pause Even better points to you if you review!