one month ago
When Jack saw the door close, he closed his eyes let out a deep breath.
Salma and John had just told him and Gibbs about Salma's pregnancy and their plan to stay in Tortuga.
It reminded Jack of something that had been bothering him. Throughout their conversation, he had thought of it. To be quite fair, he had barely heard anything Salma and John had said. He was too distracted.
It suddenly felt so real now that he had heard others speak about it. He didn't know how to feel, what to say, what to do. He just sat there, numb.
Gibbs had done most of the talking, and Angelica, of course. The latter he had sent away under the excuse he needed to discuss some things with Gibbs regarding some ship damages that needed to be repaired. Angelica had offered to steer the wheel instead.
"I'm not 'ere for damages, am I?" Gibbs said.
There were very few people who knew Jack that well. Gibbs was one of them. In fact, Gibbs had seen Jack grow up. He had known Jack since he was a teenager, because he knew his father, Edward Teague, very well.
Jack chuckled, smiling for the first time in hours. "Of course not."
Gibbs opened two new bottles of rum and gave one to Jack. "What be it?"
Jack put his legs on the table and leaned back in his chair, drinking his rum. He thought for a few seconds. He then squinted his eyes and started: "Gibbs…"
"Aye?" Gibbs frowned.
"…'ave ye ever…. impregnated a woman?"
When Gibbs heard the word impregnated his eyes widened and he almost choked on his rum.
"Mother's love, Jack! What scallywag said that?!" Gibbs almost spit out his words.
Jack put his hands in the air. "No, no… I mean, do ye know if ye have?"
Gibbs let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair again now that he understood Jack did not have any information he himself was not aware of."
Not that I know of, no. Why ye ask?"
"Well…" Jack started.
Gibbs raised his eyebrow in suspicion, awaiting whatever Jack was going to tell him now. He knew it wasn't good. Jack would always a certain way when he was in trouble.
"… I think I have, very recently in fact, impregnated a woman. As ye can probably understand, I am in deep trouble now, aye."
Jack spoke with a low voice. He did not want anyone to hear this. This was his deepest secret. Or apparently, Angelica's deepest secret figuring she had not told him yet.
"What? Who? Does Angelica know?" Gibbs whispered back.
"That's the funny part, she is the woman. The impregnated one."
Gibbs rolled his eyes at this. As if Jack needed to add that last sentence to clarify which woman he was talking about.
"That be making things more complicated, aye."
Jack nodded. He didn't need to explain Gibbs why, he already knew. Jack had never wanted children. And if he had impregnated any other woman, he would just leave. It was that easy.
But with Angelica it wasn't. He loved her, she loved him. He had promised himself not to leave her again this time.
Still, it didn't mean he wanted children, even with her. That just was never part of his plan. It didn't fit with his lifestyle. He had never imagined himself as a father.
"But, Jack, are ye sure this be true? Did she tell ye?"
"No, the woman is trying to fool me. But I know her too well, aye." Jack slowly drank his bottle of rum.
"Well, Jack… Ye know there be only two things a man can do…" Gibbs started.
For about half an hour, they had discussed some options. This had been the first of the many conversation Jack had had with Gibbs about the issue. For hours they had talked about it. Every option, every scenario. For weeks.
Present
Angelica looked at the man sitting comfortably in his chair, speaking to her. His eyes were accusing, but at the same time very calm.
She had listened to him intently. He seemed to know her better than she knew herself. She realized that it didn't matter how much she tried to hide things, in the end, he would always find out.
But she was too stubborn. Maybe she could try one more time. She would tell him tonight, maybe tomorrow. But she just wanted some time to think.
"No."
Slowly, Jack got up and walked toward her. Their eyes met but no one said anything.
When Jack was in front her, he suddenly placed his hands on her small but growing belly. His eyes told her enough, he was not buying it. Not at all.
"What are ye gaining with not telling me, luv?" He raised his eyebrows, awaiting her answer.
"Time." She said coldly.
This was a turning-point. The both of them knew from that moment that things could escalate quickly if they would not watch their words – something that was very difficult for two people who were equally passionate and too stubborn. She was provoking him. And Jack was not in the mood for it.
"For what?" He dared her to say it. Now, he was provoking her.
"To see if I can fully trust you." There it was.
He sometimes really couldn't understand this woman. Trust? She was the one hiding things. He was giving her a chance to speak, a chance to tell him the truth, but she refused.
He closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to remain calm. He then turned around and walked inside. He searched around for his blouse and started to get dressed.
When Angelica saw what he was doing, she followed him inside and did the same. He was not leaving before her; she would make sure of that.
"Thing is, sweetness, the more time ye take the less I start to trust you."
Jack spoke without looking at her, while he put his jacket on. It was a serious warning.
He then looked at her sternly, giving her one last chance before he went out on deck to tell him the truth. Or rather, confirm what he had known for weeks now.
If not, and this Angelica realized as well, this would damage their relationship severely, and this time, it would be her fault. She could already see that he was angry and hurt, and the longer she would wait, the worse it would get.
He looked at her for about ten seconds, but she did not say anything. Jack was tired of playing this game – a game he did not even wanted to play in the first place.
When he turned around and walked toward the door, she finally spoke the words he had wanted to hear her say for weeks.
"Vale, Jack. I'm with child."
Jack stopped his tracks and turned around. Their dark, angry, and hurt eyes met.
"What ye say?" He asked again, just so that she would have to say it one more time.
Angelica rolled her eyes slightly, knowing he heard it perfectly fine the first time.
"I'm with child."
"Mine?" Jack squinted his eyes, examining her closely.
"What is that supposed to mean? You were there, Jack. It's all your fault!" Angelica yelled at him.
"What?! You're mad." Jack said with a high pitched voice. He was to blame for this? She had the nerve to say that? Unbelievable.
"You seduced me, and you used me, again!" Angelica pointed her fingertip to him, accusing him.
"Coming from the woman who couldn't wait for me to come to bed last night to do her."
Jack raised his eyebrows at her. Angelica quickly looked the other way, knowing he was right. Since their time after the rings had first lit up, there had been many, many more times – and Jack was not always the first one to initiate it.
When Jack saw he was on the winning hand, he continued.
"Fact is, my dearest Angelica…" Angelica rolled her eyes at this.
"…you and I are equally responsible for this outcome, and you decided not to tell me. Thus, my question remains relevant: is it mine?"
"Yes, I have only engaged in these scandalous activities with you, Sparrow." She said with a thick accent.
"Good." Jack couldn't help but chuckle. Scandalous activities. Indeed, they were.
Jack's eyes traveled to her waist, before looking into her eyes again.
"How long?"
Angelica placed her hands on her belly. "Three months, maybe more."
Jack nodded. "Thought so."
He opened his mouth to speak when someone knocked on the door. "Cap'n!"
"Cap'n!" It was Gibbs, obviously. He kept yelling, waiting for an answer.
"What is it?!" \Jack kept staring sternly at Angelica while he answered. As if he was too afraid that if he would look away, she would be gone.
"There be some sailors 'ere who want to enlist!" Gibbs yelled. It was loud. Apparently, the man was literally yelling through Jack's cabin door.
"Can't ye bloody do it yerself?!" Jack yelled, annoyed. Angelica watched what was happening, while quickly trying to come up with a plan.
"I don't bloody understand them!" Gibbs yelled back. Apparently, they spoke another language.
"Give me five!"
Angelica decided this was the time to leave. To clear her head. She walked past Jack, but he pulled her back.
"Where ye think ye going?" Jack looked at her confused.
This conversation was far from over. It actually was just starting. This was not the time to leave. They had to talk things out.
"I need some air." Jack let go of her arm and watched her leave.
Not much later, Jack walked out on deck. When he saw Gibbs, he angrily approached him.
"I really am doubting whether or not to shoot ye right now."
Gibbs looked at him, wide-eyed. "I'm sorry?" He started, obviously not knowing what he had done to make his captain so angry. But this scared him to death. He was Jack Sparrow, after all: the most unpredictable man he had ever met.
Jack quickly looked around to see if anyone was near who could hear them. There were just some sailors working, and the group of new sailors waiting for Jack, but no one was standing close enough to hear him.
"Here I was, hearing how 'Gelica is having me child, but you found it necessary to interrupt me to enlist three scallywags and now she's bloody gone!"
Before Gibbs had any time to respond, Jack continued with his angry rant.
"Send Scrum and another sailor to keep an eye on her. Don't tell them why. Now go before I shoot ye to pieces." Jack pointed his gun to Gibbs.
Gibbs immediately ran away. It was what you did when captain Jack Sparrow threatened to shoot you. Jack had grown up with a pistol, he never missed.
But Gibbs suddenly stopped running when he heard a gunshot. For a few seconds, he waited. But when he didn't feel anything, he slowly turned around and was relieved to see Jack had not shot Gibbs, but Jack the monkey, still undead.
I'm sorry I wasn't able to update any sooner! But I have another chapter almost ready, so stay tuned. Thanks for your reviews, I love reading them. Stay safe! X