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

Author's Note: Very quick like… this chapter is still part of chapter 6, it's the second half of the ending. This was originally going to be just one chapter (and the final) but by the time I was done writing it, it was too much! So I broke them down and now my two parts has gone to three! Yikes! Oh well….

Eight Months, Part Two

A gentle breeze wafted through the open curtains, the pale moonlight streaming across the wooden floor of the room as a shadowed figure leaned against the open window. Allowing the thin fabric to slip back into place, the person craned their neck slightly to peer behind them, their dark eyes adjusting to the darkness.

A wistful sigh broke the silence as Ana ran her slender fingers through her hair. She tilted her head back to rest against the wall, her mind fluttering with so many thoughts.

A week; a week was how long it had been since Jack and Ana had come to Port Royal, though it seemed to be forever and a day ago to the dark-skinned woman. In that short amount of time, Elizabeth had completely taken over Ana's daily schedule: fitting her into dresses, taking her to tea or shopping. It was almost too much for the female pirate and carrying around what felt like dead weight made it that much more miserable.

Will had offered Jack a temporary partnership in the forge and the pirate captain had hesitantly agreed. Ana couldn't blame him much; like Jack, she too was just looking for a way out of the house. But she had young Miles to keep her company during the day when Elizabeth was out, the lad still continuing his studies while helping out the staff during his free time.

Gill had also come ashore in frequent visits, the older Brady sometimes helping Will and Jack along. Ana briefly smiled. Things had certainly taken a different course in just a week.

"Ana."

The restless woman glanced up at the soft whisper of her name, her eyes catching the movement of a shadow on the other side of the room. She watched as Jack pushed himself up on one elbow as he attempted to gaze at her across the darkness.

"It's late," he pointed out. "Come back to bed."

Ana cast another look out the window before nodding, her thin lips twisting into a sad smile as she padded across the floor to the bed.

---

There was a slight shift beside her followed by the rustle of bed-sheets and Ana opened her eyes wearily, blinking several times to focus her gaze on Jack. It was way too early, she noted from the still darkened room; the sun hadn't even risen yet. He was sitting up, his legs hanging over the edge of the bed as he sat there silently, thinking. Reaching over, she rested a cool hand on his back causing him to jump to his feet.

"Jesus, Ana!" he exclaimed staring at her. "Your hands are bloody cold."

The dark skinned woman frowned at him through tired eyes, a brief expression of pain flickering across her face before she said, "I can't help it." Jack shook his head in response as he lifted a thin shirt from the bedpost and slipping it over his shoulders.

Ana sighed, "Do you have to go?"

Jack cast a sideways glance at her, the feigned shock on his tanned face. "Ye know I do."

"But can't you stay here?" she prodded. "With me. I'm sure Will would understand, Jack."

The pirate captain leaned over with his hands steadying his weight as he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Aye love, I do. I promised the whelp I'd help him, and you know I don't make promises I don't intend to keep."

Ana's brow furrowed as she pulled back slightly, her dark eyes pleading with his. "Jack."

Jack frowned this time at her insistence, a feeling of guilt embedding itself in the pit of his stomach. The tone she whispered with seemed so distant to him, so fragile. There was definitely something wrong with the way she had voiced her plea this morning and the melancholy sound echoed in his mind.

"Ana, I won't be gone long," he explained. "But Will has this rather large order and I said I'd help him. I'll be back before you know it and I'll spend the afternoon with ye, how does that sound?"

Ana shifted slightly to a more comfortable position as she nodded in defeat. Jack squeezed her hand tenderly before crawling from the bed and setting about to finish getting dressed before quietly slipping out of the room.

She wasn't sure how long she had laid there, but one thing she did know was that she was hurting. She turned several times only to be met with disappointment, her back protesting with every action. Ana finally gave up and stared up at the ceiling, tears stinging her eyes as they slid down her cheeks. This is not going to be a good day.

---

Jack chuckled as he watched Will struggle to free the iron from it's mold, the metal taking on the shape of a thin sword. "It's not funny Jack," the young blacksmith seethed through gritted teeth as he yanked at the bare metal. "I'd like to see you try to get it unstuck."

The pirate captain stopped laughing as his grin fell, one eyebrow arched as he strode forward casually pushing Will to the side as he took the handle end into his hand, his grip tightening as he gave one good yank. His callused hands slipped from metal and he stumbled back, tripping until he found himself staring blankly at the roof of the small shop.

Will stifled his laughter at this, his dirty hand covering his mouth. From the doorway, a chuckle sounded and both the blacksmith and pirate looked up to see Gilbert, the young man leaning against the thresh-hold, his arms crossed lazily over his chest. Jack tilted his head at him and gave a curt nod as he rose to his feet dusting himself off.

"Never thought I'd see the day that the most feared pirate and well acclaimed blacksmith would be bested by a simple piece of metal," Gill taunted as he moved inside.

Jack pulled a face before stepping aside and pointing to the mold. "Well Mr. I'm So Perfect, if ye think ye can do any better…" he trailed off, nodding his head in the direction he gestured.

Gill stood silently staring at the pirate awkwardly. "We're waiting," Jack pressed on, forcing Gill to move forward and grasp the iron handle in one hand, his other applying pressure on the mold as he lifted up.

Will grinned and Jack snickered momentarily as they watched the young man give his try at the stubborn sword-in-the-making. They both stared as Gill gently lifted the iron skyward away from the mold, the iron coming off clean with an audible cling. He turned to face the others, the newly forming sword in his hand as he grinned at the two men, both with scowls on their faces.

"Give me that," Jack muttered taking the sword from him and placing it in the flames. Gill looked at Will who just shrugged and turned back to finish molding another sword, his brown eyes casting a weary glance in the pirate's direction.

Gill peered over the blacksmith's shoulder to watch, a finger tapping his chin idly. "So Will, tell me," he started. "How long does one usually apprentice before being the real thing?"

Will glanced up thoughtfully. "Depends on fast you learn I 'spose. Why?"

"No reason."

Jack stopped to stare at the two for a moment, his concentration being broken as the forge door swung open suddenly.

"Why Commodore Norrington," Will greeted. "So nice to see you again."

---

"Jamaica was visited by Columbus in 1494, and ruled by Spain until seized by the British in 1655."

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose as she stared at the boy across the kitchen. Miles sat at the table, a book opened and in front of him as he read from it. She studied him a moment longer before nodding. "And what of our industries? Can you name those?" she asked as she patiently sat feeding her daughter, her hand paused in midair, the spoon grasped firmly in her fingers.

Miles stole a quick glance at her before turning his eyes back to the book. "Without looking at the book," Elizabeth suddenly added not facing him.

The young boy frowned but pushed the book away and looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face. Elizabeth turned her head and stared back, "What? I thought you and Ana had been reviewing this for a while now."

"We were," Miles stated nervously. "But I haven't completely learned all of Jamaica's history yet."

"Well give it your best shot," Elizabeth coaxed. "You're not being graded silly. Just brushing up."

Miles nodded before saying, "Let's see… the industries are, um… molasses, cement," he paused, counting each industry on his fingers as he went. "Paper and rum."

"Very good."

The young boy smiled in reply as he nodded in return. "Can you tell me our chief crops?" Elizabeth questioned as she wiped her hands and set her daughter down. She watched the boy in amusement as he furrowed his brow in thought.

"Coffee," he turned his eyes upward staring at the ceiling in concentration. "Sugar, coconuts and um...," he shook his absently. "Gypsum?"

Elizabeth chuckled as she stood up and crossed the room, peering over his shoulder as she moved the book where they both could see. "You named most of them," she corrected. "We also have bananas and citrus fruits. Gypsum is a mineral," she skimmed the book before placing a finger on one page, "See, right here."

Miles scratched his head, a blush rising on his face. "I'll be sure to remember that."

From the corner of her eye, Elizabeth watched her daughter pull herself to her feet, her tiny hands using a chair leg for support. The young woman ruffled Miles' hair before walking to the small girl and picking her up.

"Mrs. Turner, lunch is ready ma'am."

Elizabeth and Miles turned to see an older woman standing in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. "Thank you Trudy. I'm going to lay LeeAnn down for a nap and I'll be right there," she announced.

Trudy gave her a kind smile. "Would you like me to rouse Mrs. Sparrow?"

"Is she still in bed? At this hour?"

Trudy nodded. Elizabeth sighed and shook her head, her lips twisting in a grin. "No, no. I'll wake her. Why don't you take Miles here and let him wash up."

The maid nodded and motioned for Miles to follow her as she shuffled from the room, the young boy scurrying after her. Elizabeth had laid her daughter down and then quickly ascended the stairs to the spare room that had housed Jack and Ana for the past week.

She knocked softly on the door and cracked it open, sticking her head inside to see if Ana was awake. She rolled her eyes when she saw Ana still in bed hidden under the mound of covers and quietly stepped inside to rouse the woman. Elizabeth suddenly stopped as a chill traveled down her spine, the tingling leaving goose bumps along her arms.

A hand went to her mouth as she crouched beside the bed, her worried eyes narrowing. "Oh Ana," she whispered, her fingers gently brushing dampened strands of dark hair from the woman's face. "Why didn't you call for me?"

Ana's tired eyes fluttered open as she glanced up. "I wasn't expecting it. It started at daybreak and has gotten worse. I feel like I'm on fire from the inside out," she mumbled. She felt Elizabeth's cool hand rest gently on her forehead and closed her eyes. "It's too early."

Elizabeth jumped up and hurried from the room, leaning over the railing as she called for Trudy, her voice quivering with concern. The old woman soon appeared drying her hands with a towel, a look of alarm on her face as she saw the young woman. "Land sakes child, what is it?"

"Put some water on to boil," Elizabeth instructed. "Bring me some towels and the scissors too."

Trudy offered her a confused expression but did as she was asked and soon disappeared back into the kitchen. Elizabeth turned to return to Ana when she saw Miles peeking up at her, his eyes wide with fear. "Miles," she watched as he came from the shadows of the door where she could see him clearly. "Run to the forge and get Will and Jack; hurry now."

The young boy didn't have to be told twice as he rushed from the room, leaving Elizabeth behind him.

---

Gill had just sat down, his face wrinkled with laughter as he watched Jack try his luck at molding a sword on his own. Nearby Will and Norrington stood, both men looking on at the pirate captain as he suddenly jerked back and uttered a string of curses. Will shook his head and started over to help him when a quick shout interrupted his trek.

"Father!"

The young voice rang out again as Miles stumbled into the forge out of breath. Gill leapt from his seat and seized the boy by his shoulders, crouching to see him eye level. "Miles, what's the matter lad?"

Miles took a second to catch his breath as he mumbled, "Mrs. Elizabeth-"

"Elizabeth?!" Will stepped forward, the worry etched in young face. "What's wron-" he trailed off as Miles shook his head no and answered, "Not Mrs. Elizabeth."

Gill frowned at his son. "Miles, what are you talking about?"

"Not Mrs. Elizabeth," the boy repeated, his hands using his knees to steady himself as he filled his lungs with air.

There was the clatter of a sword hitting the ground followed by, "Anamaria," as Jack raced past them and out of the forge as Miles gave a brief nod and turned to follow the pirate captain, Gill several feet behind him with Will and Norrington at his heels.

---

A/N: Part Two of three. Should have three up by tomorrow at least. Until then, Happy Writing/Reading.

-J