If Will and Elizabeth weren't shocked before, then they were now.  Captain Jack Sparrow not desire piracy?  Feel more comfortable on Port Royal than on the Black Pearl?  What had happened to him?  Elizabeth was about to ask this same question until the front door burst open and a wave of sounds and noise came through the whole house.  Elizabeth sighed and walked out of the room and told all her children to calm down and follow her. 

        One by one, five children came into the room and stood in front of their father who was seated on one of the many couches across from the chair Jack was sitting in.  "Children, I'd like you to meet Jack Sparrow," Elizabeth said, realizing that he never corrected her.  She frowned and then said, "He's going to be staying with us for a few days…so introduce yourself to him."

        Jack looked at each child in detail, each one looking prim and proper, except for the youngest.  Will had mentioned there was a child at a friend's house- maybe that's where she got mud all over herself.  For the most part they all had brown hair, some darker than others and then all of them had deep, dark brown eyes that seemed to take up their whole face.  There were two older ones who looked awfully alike.  Jack figured they were twins. 

        "I'm Sheldon," said the oldest and tallest. 

        "Also, tell him how old you are…so he'll treat you properly."

        "I'm thirteen." Sheldon said lazily.

        "I'm Suzanna and I'm also thirteen…Sheldon and I are twins if you haven't noticed…"  Jack stared at her, she was a bit hyper and overwhelming, but very pretty.

        "I figured as much las-…miss."

        "I'm Cassandra and I'm eleven…"

        "Jeffery…eight years old," said the littlest boy.  Jack's eyes widened as he noticed how much he looked like Will already.

        "And I'm Daphne…" said the little dirty girl. She had a small voice and didn't make eye contact with Jack, but on the floor. 

        Elizabeth smiled, pleased with her children and looked at Jack, he still had a look on his face.  She sighed, looked at Will and motioned for him to talk to Jack some more.  She ushered the children out of the room and closed the door behind her. 

        "Why is he here, mommy?" Daphne asked, walking with the group up stairs to their rooms.  Elizabeth sighed and squeezed her hand.

        "He's a friend of your fathers…and mine.  He's…"

        "Isn't that Captain Jack Sparrow?" Sheldon asked. She looked at her son in the eye and sighed, I remember when I had to look down to meet his gaze.  "Yes…but at the current moment he doesn't have his ship."

        "Does the Commodore know he's here?  Or Captain Briscoe?" Suzanna asked.

        Elizabeth paused, she forgot about Captain Briscoe.  "Uh…the Commodore knows."  She sighed, the kids seemed reasonably content and went into their rooms, except for Daphne who was still at Elizabeth's side.  She needed a bath.  And for right now, that's probably all Elizabeth could handle. 

***

        When Elizabeth shut the door Jack looked at Will, he finally felt free to express his emotions.  But as much as he wanted to…in a way he didn't want to.  Why put his problems on Will?  No…this was something he had to bear alone.  "Quite a brood of kids you have there…"

        Will nodded, "Yes, it's been…interesting.  Elizabeth being pregnant four times…And the first time with twins."  He shook his head, "It was a nightmare."

        Jack laughed, "I couldn't imagine lad."

        Will paused, "Haven't you ever wanted to though?"

        "Huh?"

        "Want to experience what it's like to go through pregnancy with your wife?"

        Jack laughed, "No.  Definitely not…When Beverly had Brenda it was a living hell." He paused, "Well there were some good spots, but most of the time…horrible.  And then the actual pregnancy?  Like the babe coming out?  I had never in my entire life heard so much screaming and noise come from one woman.  I can't imagine what twins did to Lizzie."

        Will smirked, remembering, "I made the mistake of not getting ear plugs.  The times after Sheldon and Suzanna, I wore them."

        "Smart boy."

        Will smiled, still after all this time, and after the transformation of Jack- he still called Will names that implied him to be a man of twenty-three instead of a man of thirty-seven.  "So Jack, I am a little concerned about this Rick character… Daphne is young…"

        "Say no more," he said putting his hand up, "I'll talk to him tonight…speaking of which- where are we going to sleep?"

        Will sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "In the other room there's two large, wide couches…will that do?"

        Jack nodded, "Now that I think about it…Rick must've gone and got our bags from the inn down the road…"

        "You were going to stay in an Inn?"

        "Yea, but I decided you would rather have us stay here.  I think I'm going to go look for him," he said getting up.  Will heard the front door close minutes later.  His shoulders sagged and he let out another sigh.  It was going to be a long stay.

***

        At dinner that night Gwyneth could feel how tense her brother was, which caused Faith to be tense which caused everyone else to be tense.  They ate in silence, Edward looking up everyone in a while to look at Brenda, as did Jonathan and Trevor.  Gwyneth wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind. 

        Unfortunately, something came to Brenda's mind.  "Thanks for lending me the room…it's really…swell…"

        Edward looked up from his plate, "Your welcome.  How long do you think you're going to be staying?"

        Brenda smirked, that's code for: we want you out of the house as soon as possible but won't tell that to your face.  "I'm not sure.  The Pearl don't usually come to Port Royal.  It hasn't in fourteen years.  I'll have to get a letter out to them."

        Mark sighed in adoration, "Dad isn't that so neat that she gets to be on the Black Pearl?!"

        "Mark, calm down- it's just a ship."

        Brenda dropped her silverware at hearing those words, making huge amounts of noise.  She stared at her plate for a minute and then looked directly across her at the person who said it.  "Travis, right?"

        "Trevor." He said with a sneer.

        "Trevor…right…have you ever been on a ship?"

        He didn't answer.

        "I'll take your silence as a no- I would advise you never to say that again.  Being on the ship is better than anything you can imagine, savvy?"

        "It's just a crutch."

        Gwyneth's eyes bulged as she saw how Brenda reacted.  Jumping across the table.  Fortunately she didn't get far before Gwyneth grabbed onto her waist and dragged her back to her seat, and then hauled her away from the dining room. 

        When Gwyneth closed and locked the doors of the parlor, she turned around to see Brenda pacing, a dagger in each hand.  She was mumbling some curse words and other names that were directed at Trevor.  Gwyneth sighed.  "Brenda, I realize he insulted your ship…but you have to understand that my brother-"

        She was cut short when two daggers were suddenly implanted into the wall across from her.  She crossed her arms while Brenda yelled, "I don't care about your bloody brother!  I know he's housing me and stuff but his bloody son…his son…if his son was out in the real world, he would've been dead."

        "I have a feeling that he would've been dead if I didn't get a hold of you."  Gwyneth said walking over and prying the daggers out of the wall.  Edward is going to kill me when he sees those holes.

        Brenda smirked and replaced the daggers, "I'm sorry I over-reacted…but it's understandable, right?"

        Gwyneth sighed and nodded, "Just try to be calm…Trevor and you haven't exactly gotten off to the best start."

        "Aye.  He's a putrid rat."

        Gwyneth ignored the comment, "I hope you're done eating dinner, because I don't think it'll be safe to go back in there."

        Brenda nodded and looked around the room, "Do those windows open?"

        "Yes, why?"

        "I could go ride Pearl…"

        Gwyneth smiled, thinking it would be easier to talk to her brother with Brenda out of the house.  "That's perfect.  Can you feed and brush him?"

        Brenda nodded, went over to a window and opened it and then before leaving said, "Thanks Gwen."

***

        "What are you saying, Edward?"  Gwyneth said, with her hands on her hips.  She had only been talking with her brother for about twenty minutes and already he was going back on his word.  There weren't a lot of things that go Gwyneth mad, but when it came to people she cared for, she went all out.

        He sighed and rubbed his forehead and then crossed his arms.  Wishing his wife was here.  But unfortunately she was keeping the children from eavesdropping.  "She attacked our son, Gwyneth."  He said.

        "Well…she didn't get far…" she offered weakly.  He rolled his eyes, "Don't roll your eyes at me, Eddie.  You may be forty one and I may be thirty nine, but I am still your sister."

        "She can't stay here if she's going to act like that!"

        "Are you telling me that you believe it's all her fault?"

        "Yes!"

        "She was provoked by Trevor!  You cannot look me in the eye and tell me you did not detect some hint of provocation in that comment!"

        "He's a seventeen year old boy, what do you expect?"

        Gwyneth stared at her brother, "And Brenda is a seventeen year old girl…a pirate girl who has been exposed to more things than Trevor will in his whole entire life, yet she didn't provoke you or Faith into an argument.  She's been courteous and nice to you two since she got here!  I won't allow you to kick her out."

        Edward sighed.  "Fine.  I'll talk to Trevor if you talk to Brenda."

        She smiled, knowing that there was a reason why she loved her brother so much, "Of course."  He nodded and opened the door for her.  She walked out and saw Trevor in another room working on his piece of wood that was starting to look like something.

        "Where are the kids?" his father asked.

        "They went out to the stable."

        "How long ago?"

        He shrugged, "An hour?"

        Gwyneth and Edward exchanged a look and then walked out of the house and walked to the stable.  When they were coming through the door they heard someone talking, it sounded like Brenda, but it was deeper.  They got to the doorway and stood in amazement as they saw Brenda sitting on a haystack and four children sitting around her.  Jonathan, who was only a year younger than Brenda looked totally enthralled with her story, he kept adjusting his glasses and had a smile on during the whole thing. 

        Gwyneth sighed happily as she watched Brenda use her hands to talk, distort her voice, and rattle on and on about one person, giving the littlest descriptions to the most inconsequential person.  She captured her audience by everything she did.  Good Lord, you remind me of your father…your father…  Gwyneth bit her lip and stood in silence as Brenda continued with her story.

***

        The next morning obviously came too quickly for Brenda.  Gwyneth had tried to wake her up but it never worked.  That girl sleeps like a rock!  So the plans to go shopping were put off for an hour or so until Gwyneth just decided to go alone.  The children had the weekend off for school but Jonathan and Trevor were both at their jobs.  While she was out, Gwyneth wavered between going to the Commodore's house or to the Turners. 

        Gwyneth knew Will would be working and was wondering if she would need help with the two men and all the children.  Of course she also wanted to see Jack.  But she told herself that if she was going to see Jack, then she should bring Brenda.  Eh, she's asleep.  I tried twice.  Her loss.  So she went to both homes.

        "Is the Commodore home?" She asked the man servant once she got there. 

        "Who is it Ian?" Gwyneth heard and then saw Beverly come into view.  "Gwyneth!  Why come in dear, how are you?"

        Gwyneth stepped in and tried to ignore the funny feeling she got from Beverly's warm welcome.  Some how it seemed fake.  "I'm fine, I was just looking for your husband…is he at the office?"

        She nodded, "I'm afraid so.  Is there a certain reason?"

        "Uh…Just about Jack and his daughter…I've been meaning to talk to him even before Jack's horrible display the other day."

        "So it is indeed Jack…how strange he looks."

        He'll probably say the same thing about you… "Yes, he is going through a hard time…or so we hear…"

        Beverly nodded, "Well then, I'll let you get to James.  I'll see you dear."  Gwyneth nodded and then left.  She shook her head, wondering how that woman was ever wicked.

        When she finally got to the office of the Commodore, she had most of her conversation planned out.  Feeling confident about where this would lead she knocked on his door and entered when told.  "Gwyneth! Come in, sit down." He said standing and motioning to a chair.  She obliged and was about to say something when the Commodore went on. "Am I to assume that you're here on account of Mr. Sparrow?"

        "No…actually I'm here to talk about Brenda."

        He looked up from something he was writing and but his quill in its holder and gave her his full attention.  "That was going to be my second guess."

        "Why didn't you come to me about her?  Why only the Turners?"

        "Actually, I also told my wife…but there's a perfectly good reason why I did not tell you."  She waited.  He cleared his throat and said, "I didn't want to."

        She stared at him, "Because of my history with Jack?  Is that it?  Because the Turners had a longer relationship with him…but you still told them."

        "I remembered your…attachment to both Sparrow and Brenda.  I didn't want to get your hopes up when she could've…"

        She paused, waiting for him to finish his sentence but he never did, "Could've been hung you mean?"

        He nodded.  She sighed, "Commodore, I…trusted you to be able to tell me things like this.  If it had been Jack instead, would you have withheld information?"

        He didn't say anything. "Commodore, do we still have a problem?"

        "No, why would you say that?"

        "Commodore…James…we both know what caused us not to…pursue a deeper relationship.  Are you still…resentful about that?"

        "Gwyneth, I have a wonderful loving wife and four beautiful children.  I resent nothing."

        "Then why lie to me?  You must've known the Turners would come to me, so why not just tell me yourself?"

        He paused, "Like I said, I didn't want to be responsible for causing you pain.  I honestly didn't know what would've happened to the girl.  Briscoe could've gotten the King's men up here just on the basis of her last name.  Anything could've happened."

        She sighed, I suppose that's reasonable.  Captain Briscoe is a rather uptight fellow.  She looked at Norrington and nodded, "Alright.  I forgive and forget Commodore."

------------------

Author Thanks:

          Emma436: Oh no…you're not leaving are you?  I told you to trust me!  Don't worry…Jack's fine…and I'll of course keep my promise to my readers.

          Dawnie-7: I know…I was little hesitant to writing it because I'm pretty sure it's never been done…I mean completely stripping Jack of external features that define him!  But yea…I'm glad you're still here.

          Pipper8188: Yay!  You're back!  I'm glad…I thought you just hated me.  lol.  So you liked 'There's Your Trouble'?  Nice.  I'm glad you like this story so far too.

          Bob-The-Bear: Yay!  New reviewer!  You like my story?  Have you read the first one?  Well I'm glad you're reading!

          Dragonflygirl: Yea, I know I said there wasn't going to be a sequel…but I changed my mind. *smiles* You don't mind, do you?  Did I write she was dead?  Whoops…*smiles sheepishly*