Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except Albert, the cook is my personal assistant and bodyguard, so should anyone decide to sue me, just remember who'll you'll have to go through to get to me. Thanks and remember, have a nice day.

Five Months From Now

Previously on Five Months From Now…

From the corner of his eye, he briefly saw Ana poke her head up from the waves spluttering, her arms pedaling to keep her afloat. "J-Jack!" Jack finally turned up, his arms empty as he circled around, his pale face dripping water. "Ana? Ana!" The only answer he got was the sound of the waves lapping against the hull of the ship.

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The crew watched intently as Jack bobbed helplessly in the waves below, his eyes searching the murky water. He called for Ana several more times as he swam out a bit farther from the ship, hoping to see some sign of her. Moments passed and still there was nothing; Jack was beginning to fear the worst. But he wouldn't give up just yet.

As he floated there, he began to chastise himself. If only he had made her come up sooner, none of this would have happened. He knew the waters in this area were heavily infested with sharks and he knew Ana was well aware of this too. So why had she taken the opportunity to have the ship careened here of all places? It was the only logical explanation Jack had of her disappearing.

He slammed a fist into the water. If only he had persisted harder, nagged longer. If only he had gone down after her- made sure she had come up right then. He would have drug her from the water kicking and screaming if he had to just to make sure she'd still be with him. He was supposed to protect her; he had promised himself he wouldn't let anything happen to her or this child. Losing one had already cost her so much. But he hadn't kept his word and now she was missing and it was his fault.

A near silent voice broke his train of thought as Gibbs called down to him, "Jack, best ye be getting' out o' the waters. We'll continue lookin' for 'er on deck."

Jack stayed where he was, his dark eyes stinging with salt water as he looked in the distance hoping to see Anamaria's head appear above the surface; Jack Sparrow wouldn't be so lucky.

He heard the startled murmuring of his crew but refused to turn to watch them raise the anchor for fear that when he turned his back, Ana would reappear and he wouldn't see her. But as he tread the water calmly, his face expressionless and pale, a familiar sound reached his ears.

Diving under the waves had left water in his ears causing his hearing to be slightly distorted. But something about this sound gripped his heart and formed a pit in his stomach. It sounded a bit distant, but it was so close. The type of sound that no matter how you try to forget it, it never leaves your memory. It was sharp and distinct, and he slowly turned around, the sound becoming clear in his mind as he placed the noise; the sound of someone…

Anamaria stood on deck, leaning heavily against the railing, laughing! Small drops of water dripped from her chin and her black hair hung limply covering her bare shoulders. She smirked as she stood watching Jack's face go from shock, to surprise to relief and then anger, her lips curling into a wide grin.

Jack continued to stare at her trying to keep his face emotionless as she laughed at him, her dark eyes twinkling with amusement. He was relived to see her alive and in one piece as well as shocked to find her standing on deck. The surprise settled in soon after as she stood straight, allowing Jack a complete glimpse and his eyes widened. She wore an outfit he had been positive she'd never be caught dead wearing outside their cabin; a loose fitting camisole¹, un-tucked over a pair of his old trousers.

Despite the baggy attire, Jack couldn't help but notice how the wet clothes accentuated her pregnant state, showing her every curve and roundness. He smiled finally, the anger slowly dissipating as the realization of her being okay sunk in. As he swam for the rope swinging in the breeze, he caught a look of mischief in Ana's eyes and stopped, turning his chin upward to catch her gaze.

She still held the dagger in her hand and was currently examining the blade when she pulled her attention back to the pirate captain below. "Since you're down there," she started, the hints of a feral type grin on her face, "why don't you finish careening² your ship. I'm going to lay down, wake me when you're done."

Tilting her head, she gave him a quick wink before turning around and vanishing from the side of the ship.

---

Jack padded across the wooden floor of his cabin bare foot, his hair matted and his clothes dripping. He tossed his soaked boots to the floor and peeled the shirt from his back. Across the room, he saw Ana nestled beneath the covers, the heavy blanket rising and falling with her every breath.

He had later learned from his crew that while he was paddling around like a sinking cat, that Ana had swam underneath the ship and climbed up the other side. She had also watched him for several moments as he searched for her under the pretense that a shark had attacked her. But that wasn't the bad part, oh no- the bad part was, his entire crew had been in on the trick since he stepped foot outside his cabin.

Now as he changed into something considerably dryer, he watched her, thankful that it had been a joke and not reality. He crept over to the bed where Ana lay sleeping, her face serene and at the moment, content. He supposed it was for the best she slept seeing as she had not slept decently last night, but now that the knot of concern in his stomach was gone, a new feeling of getting even replaced it, his eyes lighting up with mirth.

He eased himself under the covers, hovering inches above Ana. He fought hard to keep a straight face as he reached up and gripped his hair at the base of his neck. With one fluid movement his hand ran down the length of the dark strands, squeezing the cold water directly onto Ana's sleeping form.

The young woman shot up quickly, her head connecting with Jack's chin as she jumped from the bed shrieking. The reaction caught him off guard and soon the startled pirate captain found himself lying face up on his back on the floor, the not so amused face of Anamaria glaring at him from above.

"That was not funny, Jack Sparrow," Ana huffed as he hauled himself to his feet rubbing his chin.

"It was a good idea until ye leapt from the bed screaming like a banshee!"

Ana planted her hands on her hips, "I did no such thing!"

Jack ran his tongue over his teeth making sure they were all intact, "Ye did and it was funny," he paused. "At least 'till ye clobbered me."

"You obviously deserved it," she retorted as she climbed back under the covers.

He made a face making her smile, "Ye mean like how I deserved to play the sap in your little escapade this afternoon?"

"Jack, it was a harmless joke. I didn't think you'd actually dive in after me," Ana stated apologetically. "Besides, the crew was suppose to stop you so I could sneak up from behind. You have Gibbs to thank for that not going according to plan."

The pirate captain shook his head. "Ye really had me worried there for a moment," he informed as he crawled next to her. "Next time ye decide to play a trick love, keep it on the ship."

Ana laughed and pulled his face to hers, her lips gently catching his in a reply.

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A/n: Short and cruddy, I know, but this chapter decided to play the difficult subject to write, so please forgive the crude context- we humorists can only do so much with entertainment these days.

¹ A sleeveless undergarment generally worn under a blouse.
² To turn a ship on its side for cleaning, caulking, or repairing.

Thanks to Cal, SpecialEddie, Jackfan2 and Anime-Catdragon, Kyesha, Starrynight265, Blue Wolf 2, Spooky152 and trapped and annoyed. Thanks A LOT!

-J