Disclaimer: Man this place is bigger than I thought! No wonder they charge so much to get in. And all these characters running around in costumes, I have been fooled by them a few times but not anymore! I have developed a new strategy, I poke them first before I attack. If they feel squishy I move on. Now where would I be if I were that Bloody Cat or Mouse?

Inaccuracies historical or otherwise will have a machete lent to their intellectual thickets

Chapter 49

She woke up to the sound of a baby crying. It took her a moment to think where she was,

and the baby crying was hers. She fed and changed him and laid him back down beside her, snuggled in her arm.

She must have fallen asleep. She had been dreaming about the past, and was consumed with a wistful feeling of wanting to go back and relive those days. The days when she met Teague, and all that followed. Up to the point where he left her that is.

As she lay there contemplating her dream, the wind picked up suddenly, the ship began to rock wildly, and she could hear torrential rain beating on the deck. The storm had strengthened again. Rebecca was scared, for her and her babe. As she looked down at him she thought to herself, he doesn't appear scared. He lay there with what Rebecca could only describe as a smile on his sleeping face. Not bothered a bit by the howling winds and beating rain, or the wild rocking of the ship. In fact if Rebecca were to judge his feelings by the look on his newborn face, she would have to say he was enjoying said storm, as he lay there sleeping peacefully.

"Are you alright dear?" the woman who had helped deliver her babe asked as she approached Rebecca's bunk, rocking from side to side with the movement of the ship.

"Yes, just a little concerned about the storm." Rebecca replied.

Taking a seat beside the bunk she said, "Captain Kain says we should be alright, the ship and crew can handle the storm as long as it doesn't strengthen too much more. He said just stay below and hold on." She said with a uncertain smile.

"I guess we have no choice in the matter do we?" Rebecca said in return, and then, "You know I don't even know your name. After all the help you have been to my baby and me I would like to know how I should address you. I am Rebecca Sparrow by the way."

"Yes Dear, I guess introductions are called for. I am Mrs. Mary Barbossa. My Husband Charles and I were in Diego Garcia on business. I am on my way back to England to be with my daughter who is soon to give birth to my fifth grandchild. Now that we have been properly introduced Dear, I have a feeling you have things on your mind you need to talk to someone with an understanding disposition about. I am a very good listener."

Rebecca looked at Mrs. Barbossa questioningly.

Mrs. Barbossa smiled and said, "You talk in your sleep Dear, and by what you were saying, have had shall we say, troubles in your life recently."

Feeling Mrs. Barbossa's sincerity and compassion Rebecca said, " I would like to have someone to talk to, that is true. My life has been upturned, and I am at a loss as to what to do. I don't know what to say, I don't know where to start."

"Start anywhere Dear, it will all get itself out eventually." Mrs. Barbossa said kindly.

It all came tumbling out then, Rebecca told her about her life before Teague and her life after Teague. She rambled on for quite awhile, and when she finally stopped she noticed the ship had calmed, and the wind and rain had abated.

"That is a woeful story no doubt about it." Mrs. Barbossa said when Rebecca stopped.

"Wipe the tears Dear," handing Rebecca a cloth. "You must go on with your life. Not only for those who care about you now," and looking at the babe lying there in slumber, "but those who will come to care about you. Life and death go on every day dear, and all we can do is make the best of what we are given."

Rebecca dried her tears, and knew Mrs. Barbossa was right; she had more to think about now than just herself.

"You need to rest now dear. That babe will wake soon and will need your attention. I will leave you alone, but remember if you need to talk I am always willing to listen." Mrs. Barbossa said with a smile and walked away.

Rebecca spent the next few days learning to be a mother, with the help of Mrs. Barbossa.

As they were sitting on deck one morning Mrs. Barbossa asked Rebecca if she had chosen a name for the wee one yet.

Rebecca thought about it a moment and said, "His name is Jack. For his Father."

"I thought you said your Husband's name was Teague?" Mrs. Barbossa replied.

"He said one time he wanted his first born son to be named Jack, so Jack it will be." Rebecca said, and then more to herself than Mrs. Barbossa, "Jack…Jack Sparrow." She had to admit it did have a certain ring to it.

They were in the galley eating that evening when they heard the alarm. The first mate came running past the entryway, stopped long enough to tell everyone to stay put and under no circumstances was anyone to come on deck, and ran off.

The whole galley was instantly in an uproar, everyone out of their seats, everyone talking at once. What could be happening? Why did they all have to stay below deck?

Rebecca had to get back to her room! Mrs. Barbossa was watching little Jack while she had come to eat. She had to get back to her baby!

She jumped up and tried to fight her way through the people. "Please let me through! You have to let me through! I must get to my cabin! My baby! My baby!" Rebecca shouted. But no one was paying any attention. They were busy milling about and listening to the noise and shouts coming from above, and being scared out of their wits.

Rebecca finally managed to make her way out of the galley and to her room. Mrs. Barbossa had little Jack in her arms and was pacing back and forth.

"What is going on?" she asked in an unsettled voice.

"I don't know, we were told to stay below. I just had to get back here to my son. I didn't stop to talk to anyone on my way." Rebecca replied.

"Here," Mrs Barbossa said handing Jack to Rebecca, "I will go see if I can find anything out."

"Do be careful please Mrs. Barbossa." Rebecca called to her as the older lady left.

She was back in a few minutes, white as a ghost, and with bad news.

Trembling so hard she could hardly speak, the only word she could get out was, "Pirates!"

Terror filled Rebecca in a flash. She sat down heavily on the bunk unable to stand on shaking legs. What would they do? What would happen to them now? Would they all be killed? And her poor son, would he ever have the chance to grow up and make a life for himself? Or be butchered at sea by pirates!

She could hear Mrs. Barbossa praying, and thought that might not be a bad idea.

There was noise in the hallway. She could hear doors being banged open, sailors or pirates? shouting "Up on deck ye worthless rabble!" "Move along there scurvy!" "Move smartly there or ye'll be sorry!" and the sounds of people being herded up on deck.

Then the door to her room came crashing open, and they were grabbed and shoved out in the hall and headed to the deck with everyone else.

She was trying her best to protect Jack from being bumped and jostled in the crowd and keeping her own balance at the same time. They were on deck then, crushed together in one small area. She wound up near the middle of the throng of people and could not see over them. The men in the crowd were mumbling to each other and some of the women were crying. Rebecca could feel her own tears start. She had never been this scared in her life!

She heard Captain Kain speaking. "We are not carrying anything of value. We are a transport ship. We don't carry cargo, we carry people."

"We'll be seein bout that now won't we." Someone, pirate? answered him.

Jack started to cry, he started softly, but the more she tried to hush him the louder he became until he was down right wailing.

"Ye'll shut that babe up ifin ye knows what be good fer ye!" one of the sailor pirates? hollered in the general direction of the crying.

Rebecca did her best but Jack was not going to stop. The sailor who had done the hollering started shoving people aside to find the noise and shut it up himself. No one was willing to stand in his way, and as the people parted she found herself looking at the scruffiest sailor, no he had to be a pirate, she had ever seen.

She stood there petrified, unable to move.

"I'll hush that babe fer ye." He said and tried to grab Jack from her arms.

Rebecca fought back as best she could while trying to keep from dropping Jack.

"Belay that scurvy!" someone shouted in a loud voice. The pirate stopped at the command and stepped away from Rebecca.

Rebecca nearly fainted, for there standing in front of her was Teague. She had to be dreaming! It couldn't be! He was dead!

Before Rebecca could get her wits about her and speak, Teague turned to the pirate she had just scuffled with and said, "Bring that wench and her brat to me cabin." And strode off.

With a big smile on his face the pirate taunted Rebecca all the way to the other ship tied up along side. "Aye ye'll be gettin yers now wench, that be fer sure. Ye'll be lucky ifin the Cap'n slits yer throat afore he slits that squallin brat o yers. Mahaps he'll just slit the brats and keep ye round fer his pleasure."

Now sometime during this walk Jack had stopped his crying. He was looking around wide-eyed as if he could focus on what was happening around him

They reached the cabin, and the pirate shoved her roughly through the door, slammed it and still laughing walked off down the hall.

Rebecca started to fall, but was suddenly wrapped in a pair of strong arms.

"By God Rebecca, are ye really here?" Teague said in wonder.

All that had happened in the last little bit was just too much for Rebecca. She jerked away from Teague and began shouting, "Am I really here? I am really here! Why are you here? You are suppose to be dead! I was told you died! And I'm not a wench! What are you doing here? With a bunch of Pirates? Pirates! And why didn't you come back for me? You said you would come back! And you didn't! I was left alone! And now pirates have attacked me! Pirates talking about hurting my baby! Our baby! Who is not a brat! Why didn't you come back? And how did you know I was here? And why aren't you dead?" stopping only when she ran out of breath.

Teague stood there smiling as she ranted on, knowing it would do him no good to try and interrupt.

"Are ye done yet darling?" Teague asked still smiling.

"Not until you answer my questions!" Rebecca said as she glared at him.

"In good time luv, first I need to be meetin me babe." Teague said looking at Jack.

"Oh yes," Rebecca said contritely, walking over and putting Jack in Teague's arms.

He looked down and Rebecca had never seen him look so tender. "Be a girl r boy luv?"

Teague spoke in a hushed tone.

"A boy" Rebecca replied smiling.

"An his name?" Teague said almost holding his breath.

"Jack, his name is Jack. Jack Sparrow." She said proudly. "And you were right." Rebecca added.

"Right? Right bout what luv?" Teague said looking at her.

"It does have a nice sound to it coming off your tongue."

To Be Continued

Reviews are always appreciated