Thank you, you lovely people who reviewed my story, it really did make my day. Once more thank you Katrina, without you this story would be.well.non- existent. I don't own the film, the characters etc. etc.

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A Hard Man To Predict

It is three months since Maggie left Tortuga, and in some ways she wishes she was still there. At least she didn't have to hide away like a fugitive. She has been forced to stay in Susie's room all day, and is only able come out at night. She helps Susie with as much of the mending as she can - she has to feel like she's pulling her weight. But, she thinks, if she had stayed in Tortuga, Scarlet might have sent her away anyway. The suspicion that had been in Maggie's mind when she arrived in Port Royal became an anxiety, a fear, and finally a certainty. Maggie is pregnant.

Now more than ever she feels trapped, because how could she go out like this without a wedding ring on her finger? How could she stand the stares of the townspeople? Susie is the only person she has even spoken to in all this time, and she thinks it is strange that she misses people who are under the same roof as her. She wishes she could just speak to Miss Elizabeth, just once, before the baby is born and she has to leave and go - where? She can't stay here, that's for sure.

It is lunchtime now, and Susie usually slips away from the kitchen to bring her some bread and cheese, and a jug of water. She listens, and lets the shirt she is mending fall from her fingers into her lap for a moment. She can hear footsteps coming up the hallway, and about time too - she's hungry. She stands up carefully on her tired feet, putting the embroidery down on the table next to her. She crosses the room, and opens the door to Susie, carrying the usual lunch tray.

'Be quick, I have to get back.'

'Alright, alright, calm down.'

This is the sister's usual exchange, Susie is always in a hurry so Maggie always bolts down her lunch, but before she is halfway through, there are more footsteps, this time pounding along the corridor, and a voice calling Susie's name. The door bursts open before either sister can react, to reveal Elizabeth, red-faced and out of breath.

'Susie'- she sees Maggie, and stops, confusion reigning in her mind. Maggie was lost on that island where the ship had to dock.

Maggie gets up, and curtseys to her former employer, clearly showing her current condition. Elizabeth's shock is written all over her face. Susie steps smartly up to Elizabeth and pulls her inside, closing the door behind her.

'Miss Elizabeth,' she begins 'now is not the time for awkward questions. Just accept that Maggie is here, and don't tell a soul about it.'

'But she's.but you're.' Maggie forces a smile. 'Yes Miss Elizabeth, I am with child, but I beg you, please, don't let anyone know I'm here. Do you understand?'

Elizabeth looks slightly insulted. 'Of course I understand. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, ever.'

Maggie can't contain herself. She dashes forward and hugs Elizabeth tightly and to her surprise, the girl returns her embrace just as warmly.

'Careful now', Susie breaks in, 'don't squash the little one.'

Elizabeth and Maggie let go of each other, and Susie turns to Elizabeth and asks why she needed her in the first place.

'Father wanted you to know that Lieutenant Norrington is coming to dinner, and he wants you to be in charge of preparations.'

'Well why didn't he send one of the servants to tell me then? Surely you have more important things to do than worry about who's coming to dinner!'

Elizabeth looks slightly guilty. 'I just wanted to see you. I haven't seen you in days. I miss you doing my hair and dressing me every morning.'

Maggie smiles at this, as she returns to her mending. She tires so easily, now.

'I only did that on board ship because there were no other women except Maggie and she had other chores to do. Now run along, and be polite to the Lieutenant.'

Elizabeth sticks out her bottom lip, in a self-conscious parody of a childhood pout.

'I don't like him. He looks at me in a funny way.'

'Don't be ridiculous. Go and play with that little friend of yours at the smithy why don't you, but try not to get all dirty before your dinner guest arrives.'

'Will is boring, he just goes on about swords all the time. I think he should have stayed here and never gone to be an apprentice at all.'

Maggie looks up from her mending. 'Swords can come in useful my dear, one day you might need to know about them.'

Susie gives Maggie a Look. 'Don't encourage her with those pirate ideas of hers.'

A big grin splits Elizabeth's face. 'Oh I think it would be so exciting to meet a pirate!'

Susie can't bear to look at Maggie as she suddenly becomes very absorbed in her mending.

'I've read about them all you know. Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Jack Sparrow'-

Susie hears Maggie's sharp intake of breath at that last name, and stops Elizabeth before she can say any more.

'Yes dear, go and tell your father I'll be happy to organise dinner for tonight, will you?'

'Yes Susie, and then I think I'll go and see Will. Bye!'

Elizabeth almost bounces out of the door, and down the corridor, her head full of pirates. Susie shuts the door quietly, and returns to her sister's side, where one again Maggie is staring out across the bay.

'You never told me his name,' she says quietly.

Maggie looks down at her hands, and remembers how Jack would hold them and kiss them when they were together.

'His name was - is - Captain Jack Sparrow. This,' she says, running her hands over her stomach 'is his child.'

*** Not such a cliff-hanger this time. Hope you enjoyed it, I promise I'll start on the next chapter soon! Please review - constructive criticism always welcomed (so is outright praise by the way, but I don't expect a lot of that)!