۞

Her skin was the colour of dark, warm, melted caramel, deep and rich... the beautiful dark colour of her father's Roma skin, only made more warm by her soft, shiny copper penny curls that were her mother's. As she had opened her wide, round, indignant eyes to take in this new world around her, Meg Gibbs proclaimed that they were already warm, deep brown orbs. She was the very image of her father... delicate and tiny... with wavering hands that were long and slender, with tapered artist's fingers...

She was born just past midnight, as her family cheered, and her mother and father experienced this most profound emotional moment in their long lives... her proud pirate father was unashamed to let silent tears fall down his chiseled cheeks before the others in the room, as his woman had held her arms out for her crying baby, as they all knew that these were well deserved tears of pure, indulgent happiness that had been just out of his grasp so many times. Many of the bedchamber's occupants were swallowing hard at the utter beauty of this moment, wrested from the grasp of a raging storm of life that had nothing upon the very spirit and strength of the Irish wind that was beating it back.

Janie laid in Jack's arms, incoherent and unable to speak as she held this miracle, bundled in towels, warm against her breast... she was tearful and completely overwhelmed... Elizabeth gently stroked her face and hair with the Waters as Janie's sparkling blue eyes took in every feature of her little girl. Tiny, pink bow shaped mouth... fine, perfect little ears... "Saints above..." was all that Janie could choke out, as the two long, strong, slender dark hands of her man were stroking hers... long, be-ringed fingers ever so softly touching the baby's curls, wondrously running over her pink cheeks as she laid in her mother's arms.

Janie looked up at Jack as she laid against him in the mound of pillows, and for once, he was completely speechless as he gazed at this wonder of life that was before him. His woman and his daughter... glowing in the soft candlelight as everyone bustled about them, excitedly placing cell phone calls to Dr. Flynn, writing down times and weights as best as could be determined, going for bottles of liquor with which to toast, and peat to warm those who had been out in the elements and who were now feeling the effects of the cold March rains.

Jack Sparrow could not say a word... and he wrapped himself around his Janie and their baby, hugging them both to himself tightly, murmuring, "... mine...".

Janie thought that her heart could not beat any faster with love, as they pressed their lips together, softly, and Jack's slender arms went around them both, like a loving, protective vine... and as his arms that were wrapping around Janie, with elegant, bruised and bleeding hands meeting at this tiny symbol of their love, nestled in her own arms, their new family presented, for all of the world to view and admire, the loving arms and hands encircled around each other and their own wee newborn heart, like a living, breathing ring of Claddagh...

۞

Meg was merrily pouring mugs of strong, hot coffee, as Joshamee was on the cell phone with Dr. Flynn, shouting above the wind and thunder, reporting details and statistics of the birth, and that mother and baby... and father... were doing just fine. James and Kathleen were in the kitchen, getting ready to take over the skillets with some breakfast for all, and Wills was busily stoking every peat fire, as his father might have been if not for enjoying every moment of this event. Katie was at the computer, furiously working at something of her own... she had been busy during the birth of Wills' brand new little cousin, and she had a surprise of her own...

William brought a mug of coffee into the bedchamber for his exhausted captain, who had now carefully moved himself to Janie's side in their large feather bed... Janie was serenely resting as Jack was patiently letting Elizabeth administer to his poor bruised hands, only wincing now and then as she applied first aid cream and some bandaids. "A good strong lass, my Janie... " was his only remark about his roughly treated hands, with a wink to the woman who was alternately gazing at him, and then down to the bundle in her arms.

William grinned, as he pulled the bath towel away from the little one's face, and he said, "You have no idea how long I have waited for this moment... "

He chuckled, as he traced his own finger along the baby's high cheekbone, and her hand wavered a bit peevishly, trying to figure out what this new sensation was. "Look at you! A little brown peanut, you are!" William was cooing, affectionately, "... Its about time that I got to say it... 'Bugger, but yer th' spittin' image o' yer father!'" William slurred, with a slight sway, round eyes and quirked mustache.

Janie began to giggle, as Jack swiveled his head around, his eyes large and owlish. "Damn, William, ye do a good impression o' me!" William glanced up, and chuckled, "And I finally get to say that I have a cousin besides you! It's about time I got to be selfish!"

Looking up at Janie, his handsome face breaking into a grin, William leaned over and kissed Janie's forehead... "Good work, Pirate Lass of Connemara... for you have presented us with a brand new pirate princess...since you don't have a name for her, I may have to call her Pirate Princess Peanut!"

Elizabeth finally dipped the washcloth in the last of the magical Waters, and she dabbed at Jack's hands, as he gave a little shiver all over and chuckled a little, "Tingly!"

Placing the bowl aside, she went over to the other side of the bed, and sat down next to Janie, who had not said a word for several moments... as William had praised her, Janie's cheeks blushed deeply, and she turned her eyes down to her new innion as the tiny one's hand seemed to reach for hers. Lovingly, she took her baby's searching hand into her own as the baby nursed, and leaned into Jack's arm... the room was warm and glowing, but she was finding herself filling with some guilt.

Elizabeth could sense this, and she said, lightly, as she sipped her own creamy coffee... "She is so pretty, Janie... a beautiful baby... in spite of the fact that she looks just like Jack!" She winked up at Jack, who merely stuck his tongue out at her. Elizabeth paused, and then asked, with one eyebrow raised, "What's wrong?"

Janie looked up at all of them, and said, her voice almost in a whisper, as the thunder rumbled softly, "All of you were right when I was filled with such doubts... I was wrong, and yet ye all respected my wishes to not buy anything for our baby until after she was born... she came early, here at home, with all of her family's love around her, and no baby could ask for anything better than that, but now, here we are, with nothing for her... my baby has nothing but a bath towel!"

Janie's eyes threatened to fill with tears, again, as Jack began to grin, forgetting his exhaustion. He smirked with proud pleasure, and William grinned back, rubbing his hands together, mischievously.

Jack clambered to his feet with only a peck to Janie's freckled, flushed cheek, and he wickedly chortled, "We didn't respect yer wishes at all, love!"

"What?" Janie was thoroughly surprised, as Jack leaned down and softly kissed his daughter's soft auburn curls. "Nuffin' but th' best fer MY baby!"

Janie turned and looked accusingly at Elizabeth, who hopped up to join William and Jack, who were already out into the great room, heads together with whispers of conspiracy and arms around each other's shoulders... she turned around in the doorway, and looked at Janie, as she hurried to catch up with them, and chirped, "Pirates!"

As they disappeared, Janie could hear Jack's voice saying, "Everyone back t' th' birthin' room, mates! Come on, we'll fry up some eggs in a few... gather 'round! We'll be back t' makin' breakfas' in a minute... oops..." and she chuckled as she could hear him trip up the stairs. He never could talk with those lovely hands and climb the stairs at the same time.

In those minutes that she was completely alone with her baby, Janie could not help but cuddle her, and inhale deeply... so new... so soft... so sweet, this dark epitome of perfection and beauty in her arms... she could not believe that this was happening to her, at last, she breathed, as she felt those soft, silky curls brush against her cheek... her ears were met with a soft coo, and she gazed into the eyes of her baby as the little one's gaze met hers... Janie felt such warmth come over her as she kissed her baby's cheek, her forehead, her tiny hand... Jackie's hand... oh, how very blessed she was...

And in the stillness of this bedchamber where this very little life had been created, she felt the wonderful contentment that she knew that Jack had felt so strongly at the moment of their baby's birth... turning her eyes out toward the great room, her eyes caught a lone figure at the window... a lone figure illuminated by the glow of the large candle in the window, encased in it's large, heavy glass and brass lantern that was meant for a sailing ship. That candle was lit every night, and had been for three hundred years, to guide Janie's loved ones home.

As Captain Teague turned and looked back at her from the great room window, Janie could see a look in his black eyes that she had never seen before... the tiny, dancing blue flames had faded in the bedchamber, and was now burning brightly and strongly at the wick of that one candle, casting a lovely glow over Teague's entire visage, making his dark eyes sparkle. As his hands rested upon the warmth of the glass lantern, he smiled at it, and it seemed to flicker back at him in a happy little gypsy dance.

And as the bedchamber suddenly filled with warmth and the soft fragrances of the forest, Janie looked around at the shadows that were softly blanketing her and this beloved newborn in her arms, she closed her eyes, and said, "I love you, Mama...you guided us all, tonight... I love you so much..."

It was at that very moment, a cheer went up from the other parts of the Inn, as the electricity flickered suddenly, and the lights all came back on with a bright vengeance... the power was restored... and Janie smiled down at her infant and said, "Ohhh, the stories that we have to tell you about your family... I have been so selfish, my baibin, that your papa and I didn't even choose a name... but we will choose a name as soon as he comes back downstairs... for there is only one name that I want for ye...and its one that you will wear proudly, and with love..."

Janie's thoughts were interrupted by Jack's husky voice, laughing as he was backing into the room... Janie's mouth literally dropped open, as he was followed by William... they were both carrying a large object between them, covered roughly in paper and tape, with a huge pale green bow upon it. Elizabeth was following, with arms full of wrapped packages, and Meg and Joshamee lingered in the great room until Jack, William and Elizabeth could manage all of their accoutrements into the small room.

"What on earth!" Janie found exclaimed, as they were joined by the Gibbs' and the Norringtons, each with their own gifts and smiles... the thunder rumbled amiably, outside, no longer the pounding, fearful cracking of only an hour ago.

"Jackie... what... "

Jack spread his arms out and threw his braided head to one side so that the beads jingled like wind chimes, "Gifts, love! We've been hidin' em fer months!" He almost looked as if he were going to hug himself, he was so pleased, and William added with a wink, "NOW I can start shoving my boots under my own bed, again!"

He threw a glance out into the great room, as Wills and Katie had not joined them, nor had Captain Teague... he was about to go find them, when they finally appeared in the bedchamber doorway, smiling... Wills and Katie had their arms about each other.

Janie found herself nearly overwhelmed, once again, as gifts were opened... baby blankets, packages of newborn nappies, bath needs, many tiny wee booties and garments, bottles, and the things that Jack delighted in the most... bows and fripperies that a wee baby girl would need to look her pretty best. He dangled tiny ribbons and bows before Janie with such smiles that it seemed that he sparkled all over, she laughed to herself.

"But... why did ye bring all pink?" Janie asked, genuinely puzzled, and it was Elizabeth who answered, looking fondly over at Jack, who was happily throwing wrapping paper hither and yon around the bedroom, looking for more presents to be opened...

"It was that one, there, that insisted on buying things for a baby girl. He was determined that he was going to have a daughter! But...," Elizabeth leaned in and winked, "... unbeknownst to Jack, we also got everything in blue, just in case. We can return them to the stores in Clifden!"

William looked over at Joshamee and Meg, then over at the smiling Norringtons, as he said, "We have some special gifts that we would like both of you to open..." Jack paused, as he knew not what the large, wrapped object was that he had helped to carry in... he glanced over at Janie, and from the astonished look upon her freckled face, he thought it best to sit down next to her...

James spoke first... as he looked down at Kathleen, she looked up at him, only briefly, until she lowered her eyes to the small, wrapped gift in her tiny hands... James leaned down and picked up another gift that had been sitting beside him, lovingly caressing Kathleen's hand with his own as he did so. She did not look up for a moment... and Katie felt tears prickling her own eyes as she and Wills looked at each other.

As Jack unwrapped the gift that was presented by James, his mustache pulled at the corners as he found within a fine, leatherbound book, gilded upon the edges and smelling of new ink... "Tis a children's book... 'The Legends of the Sea - a Collection of Tales True and Imagined'..."

"This is the first edition in a children's collection that is just being published... "James said, "...written by..." he paused and waited...

Jack ran his hand over the fine leather, with it's gold lettering, "Authored by Captain James Norrington, Joshamee Gibbs, Captain William Turner, and Captain Elizabath Swann Turner. Cat Mara Publishing."

As he and Janie opened the volume, Janie's breath caught in her throat as Jack softly read the dedication, "To the Family Teague... and Captain Jack Sparrow... a legend of the sea for all time, and not just in his own mind... May there always be fair winds in his sails..."

Jack's face turned red, and he turned the pages... the faceplate was a lovely pen and ink drawing of the Wicked Wench, and he felt his heart take a turn and he had to look away. Janie reached for his hand, and she pulled it over to join hers as she held their sleeping wee one, who was now oblivious to all around her, with her long black eyelashes brushing her own dark cheeks.

The next gift was silently handed over by Kathleen... her own azure eyes brimmed a little, as Janie opened a beautiful crystal jar of tiny glowing shells the likes of which none of them had ever seen... they all marveled at them, shining like pearls, in pinks and greens, shades of blue and gold...

"They are of the places that no human eyes see," James explained. "Only those of the sea's secret side have seen them. It is a tradition among the merpeople that these treasures be gathered and given in times of joy and sorrow."

Kathleen finally found her voice, as she said, in her sweet musical tones, "... they were given to us in our own joys and sorrows, and now we wish to give treasures to you to celebrate your new joy... they were gathered just last night... by my sisters' hands."

Janie looked at Kathleen and James with such sympathy that she almost felt their pain... some of the shining shells within this lovely vessel were given when they had lost their own babies, and had celebrated the birth of healthy, happy little baby Katie.

"We shall treasure them." Janie said, quietly. Jack was silent, his dark eyes meeting James' with gratitude. They nodded to each other, and smiled with a congenial fellowship that only fathers can share.

Meg stepped forward, with a simple package, her round face red with such mixed emotions that she didn't know whether to cry or to smile. As it was opened, Janie's face broke into a wide grin, for it was a traditional, hand knitted baby blanket in all colours, from the brightest reds to the most muted grays.

"How lovely! A wee lovely warm little blanket of scrap wools! The best kind for cold days!"

"Made by my own lassie's talented hands!" Joshamee exclaimed, as he squeezed Meg around the waist, and she giggled like a schoolgirl,"Tell them where ye got th' wools, pet!"

"Well," Meg said, lightening the mood considerably by putting her hands on her hips, "These wools have seen plenty of adventures! They are old wools from the old days, taken from this baby's papa's own worn out socks, and reknitted into a soft blanket for herself!"

"MY socks?" Jack stared at the blanket, "I hope ye boiled th' wool."

"Captain Sparrow, ye have two o' the most compulsively scrubbed feet in history!" Meg snorted, "I never saw th' like of ye! Such a little fusspot ye are, always washing your hands, and such... a clean one for a sailor, I'll be bound!" Jack merely looked down his nose at her until she threatened to pinch his cheeks for him.

Turning back to Janie, Meg said, fondly, "Some of the wools are some that I purchased from Sinead Kennedy, and from our old friends, the Kerrigans..." Janie was running her hands over the blanket, and then wrapping it around her slumbering little girl... and two objects fell out of the folds as she did so... everyone laughed as Jack laughed, "Look, from my feet t' hers! Booties... an' a fine hat! We know how important a fine hat is!"

William proudly slid their gift over, and said, quietly, "This is from all of us... Jack, you don't even know about this. We can't have a baby in the house without this..." As the wrapping was removed, it revealed a large cushioned rocking chair... a heavy, sturdy rocking chair, intricately carved and highly polished. Janie felt herself getting emotional again, as she whispered, "It's dark walnut..."

"From the Black Pearl." William said simply. "We had spare timbers down in the hold, from when the engines were installed. It's original wood from the mighty Black Pearl, harvested from an Irish forest centuries ago, and built into the Wicked Wench in an Irish shipyard... we built it in Josh's wood shop, and Wills did the carving."

Jack's mouth dropped open in utter shock as Wills beamed at him proudly. Jack had been a skilled woodcarver, and still was, and as ran his hands over the fine dark walnut, he found his eyes resting upon a perfect copy of that which he had carved into a wee baby's cradle... a rendering of a little lamb, resting in a bed of flowers, so intricately carved so as to almost feel the lamb's soft wool... "Ye never told yer ol' Cousin Jack tha' ye could carve, boy." Jack said with a rough edge to his voice, looking up at his young cousin with some pride in his eyes that the lad would inherit something from his bloodline besides his hands.

Wills shrugged, "I took art classes at University."

Shuffling from one foot to the other, in a bit of embarrassment, he said,"I didn't think it turned out half bad."

Katie hugged him proudly, as she chirped, "You'll have to wait for our gift!" Everyone looked at her, as she said, with great ceremony, "These shall be put into a scrapbook for this little one... goodness, she needs a name!" And she proudly handed Jack and Janie a photo portfolio.

"Oh! MY! These were taken as I..." Janie stammered, and Katie finished, "... as you were giving birth just tonight! Look, there is Joshamee and Meg, coaching, and William hanging onto Cousin Jack as you are both pushing! And look, here's Mummy and Daddy looking at the clock, and one of Uncle Jonathan rubbing Cousin Jack's shoulders, and Izzy as she is hurrying for more bottles of the Waters... and... Oh, look, there is one of you, Cousin Janie, as you were getting a foot rub back last fall, and ..." Katie was bubbling with such excitement as everyone laughed, until they came to the last photo...

It was a candid photo of a brand new baby, only moments old, being held raptly to her weeping mother's chest... Janie's emotional face was streaked with tears, her hair plastered to her sweating face as it was pressed to Jack's tired, haggard, relieved one... both pairs of eyes were locked with those of their newborn, as she was struggling to look at her mother and father, her tiny fists waving...

Katie was undaunted, "Izzy has promised to help me put together a lovely scrapbook for you," she said, to the wakeful baby, who was fussing a little, "We shall call it 'My Family', and I even took photos of Jack's hens, and Clancy the Cat!"

Janie began to laugh, as Clancy, the black and white cat that had always wandered over from the milk maid's home across the road back in the 1700s, had survived the ages with them, having accidentally discovering the Waters and taking up residence in the shed with Scarlett, Giselle and Penny Hen for the last three centuries!

Finally, all eyes turned to Captain Teague... he was standing in the doorway of the bedchamber, his dark eyes taking in all that was going on before him, and they could all tell that his own thoughts were going back to a time that was now long past. When his granddaughter had been born only a few hours ago, he had been in the room, his mere presence giving strength until Jack began to falter, mentally... he tended to do so under stress, and it was then that a nod from William had immediately brought Teague to his son's side, touching his face and making Jack focus his eyes upon his own. It was in this small moment of his son's frailty that Teague had stepped forward... and it was strength given to him by another that had made him forget the heartache that had followed when his own baby son was born... all of the heartache would be put behind him upon this night, as he sat down next to Janie.

Teague was silent for a moment, regarding the box that was in one one hand, and the pouch that was in the other. He decided that his own straightforward way was the best.

"When my son was born, I was th' proudest man on earth or sea. Things did not work out th' way tha' I wanted, but things are made right now," he said, roughly. Pausing for a moment, he finally handed over the pouch to Jack, first.

Jack looked long and hard at his father, and wished at that very moment that there had never been those circumstances that had torn them all apart all of those years ago. Misunderstanding, feelings of abandonment, distance, fearfulness and unworthiness... but those feelings had been overcome long ago, and now they were moving onward. He smiled at his father, with Janie happily wedged in between them, curiously eyeing both packages.

Jack opened the velvet pouch, and from its depths came two shining silver lockets, engraved ornately of old silver... on long Spanish silver chains. Jack's eyes met his father's again, as he knew that Teague always wore one, but had never been made privy as to why.

Teague pulled his own locket from under his open shirt, and he nested it tenderly in the palm of his hand. "The day tha' we parted, yer mother gave me this." He opened the locket very carefully, and within was nestled the tiniest curl of shining, coal black hair... from the head of a tiny, dark skinned baby boy. Jack's mouth dropped open a little, and Janie whispered, "Whist..."

"I've never taken it off, Jackie...ye were always here, by my heart. My little bird... " he said, softly, his gnarled finger touching the curl of hair like it was gold.

Suddenly snapping the locket shut, he said, "Looks like this one has plenty o' curls t' spare fer three lockets!"

Changing the subject for fear of making Janie cry, again, Teague turned to the baby in her arms and his eyes crinkled in the corners, "This, my wee lassie, is for you, an' no one else... 'tis from your grandmother an' meself..."

Jack stared at his father for a moment, as it was unusual for Teague to make such a statement, and he and Janie proceeded to open the remaining package... within was a small silver box, inlaid with mother of pearl, with a hinged lid engraved with a rose... they both knew that it had been a long ago gift to Teague from Maggie's own hands, always sitting in a place of honour next to his own bed in Madagascar...

Slowly opening it, Jack and Janie pulled from its deep velvet lining the tiniest of bracelets, made of purest of gold and set with a deep red heart shaped garnet, set in a the claddagh design that was so dear to her parents. "'Twas made from a gold piece, taken long ago from the Lisbona... the stone is from my home of Madagascar...'twill be made into a ring for her, when she is old enough, to proudly show her heritage of bein' a wee little Irish gypsy lass, out of pirate gold."

"Had it made... " Teague said, "for the granddaughter that I knew was on th' way... " Looking at his son, he said, "Ye taught me to listen to th' wind, boy... an' th' wind told me tha' 'twould be a girl... I'll bet th' wind didn't tell you that!"

Teague smirked a little, as he reached a finger out to the baby... "I knew all along... " he thought to himself..."My Maggie told me...even then, she was reaching out to me, and I didn't even know it..."

Janie finally looked up at all of their family in this tiny room, and she leaned into Jack, all of the wonderful gifts gathered around. Meg was now saying, "Breakfast is about to be served! Come on, everyone, let's all get a plate, as I'm scrambling eggs and frying bacon in short order. Let's let these two be alone with their new baby!"

Janie suddenly blurted out, "I just thought of something... she has no place to sleep! Jackie! We have no cradle!"

"Oh, yes you do!" Elizabeth chimed in, as she was struggling to pull another object into the room... it was the cradle that Jack and Joshamee had made for Wills when he was born, designed to bolt to the deck boards of a rocking tall ship, "Built by loving hands and ready to receive a new member of the family!'

Janie finally had to burst out laughing, exhausted but happy, sore, but holding the dark little result of their efforts close to her... "Look at all of ye... a dancin' step ahead of me all of the way! Alright then, let's put a nappy on this poor little thing, and some decent warm jammies! And a bow for her hair! And oh, such booties, and...Whist, did no one notice that our baibin was born on Saint Patrick's Day?"

Jack finally got up and plucked one last box from the pile of discarded gift wrapping that was strewn about the floor... "Wait. There's one more..."

It was wrapped in pink paper, with a huge pink bow, and he placed it upon the edge of the bed as they all watched, his high cheekbones colouring a bit, once again, "'Tisn't much."

Inside was a simple gift... the soft, fleecy pink blanket that Jack and Elizabeth had seen upon the day that they were choosing pregnancy tests, with a print of frolicking lambs, light as a cloud and warm as the fire that was burning so strongly in the cast iron stove in the corner. Janie's blue eyes went as soft as the blanket felt to her touch, as her sweetly addled baby's papa had picked out a present that would keep his baby warm at night... soft and secure... safe against all of those things that were scary and frightening...

Wrapping the tiny one up in this simple gift, Janie handed their child to her father... and as the others all looked on, Jack Sparrow fought a trembling lip and the tears that were now falling freely down his dark cheeks... she did look exactly like him, all wrapped up in her lambie blanket... she looked exactly like his mother before him, and all that he could say was, "Its only a blanket, but th' arms around it will do their damnedest t' protect ye, an' love ye... fer tha's th' best gift tha' I can offer t' you an' yer mama, lassie... love... an' there were some at one time wot thought I couldn't provide tha' much..."

Smoothing away his tears with her loving hand, Janie whispered, "... we can offer her a name, as well, me darlin'..." As she and Jack looked at each other, and then down at the sleeping, curly haired, caramel skinned cherub in Jack's arms, her father kissed her, and said, "Céad míle fáilte, mo thaisce...a hundred thousand welcomes, my treasure... my own little lamb..."

And wiping his nose with a handkerchief smilingly offered by Elizabeth, he sniffled, attempted to compose himself with great ceremony, and said, "Welcome aboard, Magdalena Jane O'Madden-Sparrow... thank ye kindly fer th' hankie, Izzy..."

To be continued...with the final chapter of "The Pirate Lass of Connemara, Books I & II"!...