There is not pain like that of child birth. I lied there, with the midwife and Elizabeth down by my legs, screaming and writhing as sweat poured down my face.
"Come on darlin'." The midwife said, looking up at me, "Almost there." I could see Doctor Gravel standing beside me, and feel Jack's hand soothingly on my forehead. I did not care about what they were seeing; I just wanted the pain to end.
I pushed with all my might, obeying the midwife, tears running out of my eyes. I knew that the crew was outside the door and every once in a while I could hear one of them yell something encouraging. I forced a smile that only turned into a grimace as my body threw itself into contractions again.
The seconds turned to minutes, and the minutes turned to hours as I screamed until I could no longer, only ending up in whimpering because my throat was too sore. My eyes kept filling up with tears and emptying themselves, and I could feel my body emptying itself of all its water out my forehead. It was horrible.
In the back of my head, though, I knew that I was giving life to another, I was bringing Jack and I another member to the family. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe as instructed, pushing again. It was worth it.
"Just a few more, Christina." The midwife was stern looking, but kind on the inside through her mannerisms. I sobbed again. My energy was next to gone and I felt that if I pushed one more time, I would lose my life.
"I can't!" I sobbed, trying to push. I was not strong enough. Jack dabbed my forehead with a cloth, kissing me on my forehead. "I can't..."
I stopped for a moment, stopped this insane chaotic thinking and forced myself to think straight ahead. I was strong again. Christina Ricci...
"You are strong, belle. You can be all you want to be."
"All done!" I let out one last push, yelling with my teeth gritted, and all my strength I had and suddenly heard the midwife laugh in relief. A baby's cry reached my ears.
I lied there, the last of the sweat being wiped off my face and wiping the tears out of my eyes. I had been changed out of my bed and the sheets had been changed, all the while I was lying in Jack's arms, waiting impatiently as they finished their recordings to see my child. The Doctor had not even told me what sex the baby was.
Jack seemed too choked to speak, but he held me close and kissed me. That was all I really needed.
Now I lied in bed, watching with nervous eyes as the midwife came to stand next to my bed, holding a small figure in a blanket. I saw a small hand reach out and I knew that my baby had made it.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Sparrow, for your beautiful baby girl." I exchanged ecstatic looks with Jack and took my child into my arms, tears falling out the sides of my eyes. Jack kneeled down by the bed, looking at the little girl in my arms. His little girl. I looked up at him.
"What's 'er name?!" Sam asked as the crew came in the room. I smiled at all of them. I looked over at Jack and he nodded his head toward our daughter, indicating that I name her.
"Jacqueline," I sad after a pause, "Jacqueline Gina Sparrow." I swore for a moment Jack was going to cry as he smiled at his little girl, named after him. The crew erupted into cheers and I looked down at Jacqueline who was looking around her new world with wide eyes. I smiled at Jack.
"She has her father's eyes." I said quietly. He looked down at Jacqueline for a long time.
"She has her mother's strength." He said. It was the first thing he had said and Jacqueline turned her eyes to her father, reaching out one of her hands. Jack put his finger in her hand, lifting her up away from me and into his own arms with my nod of consent.
"It was truly a miracle that she lived." Doctor Gravel said. I looked up at Jack and Jacqueline.
They were my miracles.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Yo ho o ho a pirate's life for me!"
"Jacqueline Gina Sparrow!" There was a smile on my face, "Isn't it high time you got yourself to bed?" There was a giggle as I looked up at the helm.
"I'm not Jacqueline, Mama." My five year old daughter looked at me from under her father's hat. I smiled when I saw that she was propped on his chest, one of Jack's arms holding her up, the other holding the wheel, that she had both of her tiny hands on, steady. "I'm Captain Sparrow!" I rolled my eyes, rolling up my white sleeves and adjusting my black vest and pants. I could hear my boots mockingly stomping up the stairs to the helm. I walked past most of the crew members, who smiled at the scene in front of them.
"Well, Captain," I said, putting one of my hands on my head, where a black bandana sat. I looked nothing less than a pirate, as the brand on my arm gleamed in the setting sunlight. "It's time to get ready for bed, belle." I heard Jacqueline make a mock scream and scramble around in her father's arms. Jack laughed, tilting his hat on Jacqueline's head so that he could see her face.
"Listen to your mother, Jackie, luv." He said, using Jacqueline's nickname. Jacqueline sighed.
"Is the crew going to bed too?" she asked, looking up at Jack with wide, chocolate brown eyes. Jack smiled and ruffled her somewhat long, curly, black hair.
"Aye," Jack said. Jacqueline smiled and turned to the crew, pulling a mature face.
"Oi! You scurvy dogs!" I held back a giggle and the entire crew looked up, smiling at Jacqueline.
"Aye, Captain Sparrow, ma'am?" Gibbs called. William laughed heartily.
"It be high time you go to bed!" Jacqueline cried out, putting a rugged edge to her voice. I shook my head, taking Jacqueline from Jack, kissing her forehead and watching as her eyes widened in joy as the crew did what she told. Jack stood with me, my back to the wheel and Jacqueline in between us.
"We'll make a pirate out of you, yet." Jack said, kissing his daughter, "G'night, luv."
"Good night, father." Jacqueline said, jumping from my arms and wrapping her arms around Jack's neck. She took the hat off her head, placing it on her father's. I smiled, taking her back and kissing Jack on the lips, promising to be back.
"Sing me my song." Jacqueline said, lying down on her bed, her hair brushed and her small, red nightgown on. I sat down on the side of her bed, my bandana off and sitting in my lap as I tucked her into bed.
"Alright." I said, pulling my violin from the spot next to her bed. It spent so much time in her room it had almost taken a permanent residing there. I pulled the bow across the string.
"Nighttime sharpens
Heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs
And wakes imagination
Silently the senses
Abandon their defenses.
Slowly gently
Night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it
Tremulous and tender
Turn your face away
From the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night."
Images of my father ran through my mind as he sang this song to me before I fell sleep. Jacqueline would never meet her grandfather. I thought about the brother that she could have had... and wondered when we would tell her about him.
"Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before."
Edmund Ricci had loved her when he met her, and it had taken Jacqueline a matter of moments to learn how to use a gun, as Eva Shapiro taught her. I remembered that night in Tortuga, when Jacqueline met the rest of her "family", playing in the corner with Eva's son...
"Softly, deftly
Music shall caress you." I ran my hand through Jacqueline's hair as she turned her head to the side, closing her eyes.
"Hear it, feel it
Secretly possess you
Open up your mind
Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness that you know you cannot find
The darkness of the music of the night..."
Jacqueline was asleep but I did not stop.
"Let your mind start to journey through a strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me..."
Tears stung in my eyes as I looked upon my daughter. I loved her so much.
"Floating, falling
Sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me
Savor each sensation
Let the dreams begin
Let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night."
I played my violin for a few moments as a music break.
"You alone can make my song take flight
And help me make the music of...the...night."
The sun was setting gently as I stood at the bow of the ship, my back against Jack's chest and his arms around my thin waist. I was suddenly turned around quickly and Jack's lips were pressed to mine. I fell apart in his kiss that still, after near seven years, brought me to my knees. I put my hands on his shoulders, running them up to his neck and onto his cheeks. I kissed him for a long time.
Pulling away from him I could still feel his energy running into my body, sending tingles up my spine. I touched his face.
"We're so free... I whispered, kissing him deeply. He smiled down at me and I turned in his embrace, touching the two necklaces around my neck. One of a bottleneck dolphin, the other of a ship. My fingers rested on this one, the one that, a lifetime ago, had brought me to Jack. I remembered pulling it from James's cold hand. I smiled.
"Bring us that horizon." Jack said softly, kissing the back of my head.
At that moment, looking out into the sunset with Jack, the last man I ever thought I'd be with, I knew that, even if you live a beautiful lie...
There is always a chance to find a beautiful truth somewhere on the horizon.
THE END