Author Notes -
Well, its time again for another chapter. I hope that everyone's having a good week and holiday, provided you're on it, of course. Not too much to tell, so, on with the chapter!
-A-
Author's Note
RMB - Thanks! Sorry you got teary, mate. I know, though, it was hard to see him go. I think I'd prefer the Pearl to the Turner house any day too. I hope that my email cleared up the thing about the Commodore, I'm really sorry about the mistake...typing too fast, I guess. I didn't know that POTC got the MTV awards, but, then again, I don't have cable, so... Anywho, enjoy the chapter!
Trinity144 - Thanks! No flying monkeys attacking me, please! I like my life without bothersome monkeys, lol. Enjoy!
TriGemini - Thanks! It definitely fits in with the Commodore's personality to want a girl who isn't interested in him. I hope that my email cleared up the confusion from my mistake. I really felt stupid, but thanks for letting me know so I could fix it. Enjoy!
Piper8188 - Thansk, mate! Christy doesn't have a thing for Norrington although he does have something for her. But as she said to him, she doesn't want a relationship, and although she meant another relationship with anyone other than Jack, she wouldn't fall for Norry. shudder... Enjoy!
Moulin-Rouge-Pirate - Thanks! Enjoy the chapter!
Jeeves Swineford - Thanks! Jack will come back soon. cough, cough Trust me! Don't have a cow, there are enough of them here, I don't want any more. lol. Its okay, I'm like that with Alias, I wait with baited breath for the next episode. Enjoy!
RK9 - Thanks! Enjoy!
Depprulz - Thanks! Yeah, the end of POTC shows that he, Norrington, isn't actually a villian, he's a good guy, I don't like him very much all the time, but he's still a good guy, nonetheless. Enjoy!
damning-child - Thanks! Frontal labotamy, eh? Don't do that, it sounds terribly painful. Thanks, I'm glad and honoured that my story is one of your favourites! Its okay, I'm a bit obsessive, too! Its all good. Enjoy!!
Brianne - Thanks! Started it today and are already on the end, congrats! Very impressive. Thanks, though, I'm touched that you like my story so much! Enjoy!
ortain - Thanks, mate! Enjoy!
-A-
Last Time:
I shook my head frustrated with the whole business of men and went back inside, feeling slightly low.
-A-
What's in a Name?
Chapter 28: What the Morning Brings
As the days passed and we drew further into winter, I came to discover that Port Royale was seldom cold. The winds picked up and there were slightly more storms as the end of December approached but overall, the weather was exceptionally tolerable. Compared to London, it was EXCEPTIONALLY TOLERABLE. London winters were cold, blustery and not much fun...except to children, perhaps.
This was the first Christmas that I had celebrated with people that I did not know so, I was in uncharted territory as far as what to get Will and Elizabeth. I settled on small trinkets but felt odd giving them. But I worked through my hesitation and they greatly appreciated it.
For the New Year, the three of us went to a ball that Elizabeth's father was hosting and I watched as the couples danced they're way around the hall. I danced a bit myself but sat more than anything ... my very round belly made it very difficult to dance and thus, my only partner was Will.
And in the blink of an eye, it was the end of January. The women in the clothing shops told me that my time would be coming soon ... probably. I was glad that someone knew or knew enough about how a woman who's about to give birth looked, because I had no idea when I would be due. All I knew was that I was pregnant, it was a nine month process, and that I was ready to have the bloody baby and get it over with. (Needless to say, the pregnancy was making me exceptionally moody...more so as the amount of moving I could do without sitting down dwindled.)
My feet were swollen and I felt like I was as big as a whale. I found myself comparing myself to King Kamehameha .... of course whenever I did that, I would laugh at myself heartily. My patience for almost everything and anyone was on a fine cord and Will and Elizabeth were basically the only ones who risked being around me. Even Elizabeth had made several hasty retreats from my sharp tongue. But I think I knew why she was sometimes the brunt of my frustrations...she was thin, beautiful and happy while I was fat, ugly and temperamental.
So, obviously, the entire household looked forward anxiously to the day when I would give birth.
Except me.
Well, most of the time...
The truth of the matter was that I was afraid to give birth. Not that I had much choice in the matter but the idea of dying frightened me.
I still loved my child and I talked to it often...especially at night, when I was the loneliest. And I still daydreamed about the future...but there was a cloud of uncertainty hanging over me.
On the morning of January 31st, I woke early and had some feeling in the pit of my stomach that something big would happen today. I didn't exactly know what but I did know that SOMETHING important would happen. It was a hard emotion to describe, in all actuality, but...I just knew.
So, feeling that I may as well just get up and meet the new day, take what I could get and then get on with the rest of my life, I rose from bed and donned the loose robes that I had been wearing. I placed my hands on my stomach and spoke to my child. "Listen, little one, you need to hurry up and come out. Mummy's getting too big to even move too much, so you need to hurry along down there, savvy?" I felt a faint kick and a sharp pain and it was almost as if my child had heard me. Even though I had an idea of what the 'pang' meant or might mean, I chose to ignore it, hoping that it wouldn't repeat itself...and really give me a reason to worry.
I smiled to myself and left the room without another word. I toddled down the stairs and when I entered the dining room, I saw that Will and Elizabeth were still a-bed. Not that it mattered too much, but it was odd that I would be up before them...I had been sleeping a great deal of late...and when I say a great deal, I mean a great deal...I would fall asleep shortly after dinner and wake long after mid-morning.
But today...
Today was different and I was intent on finding out why...but fate didn't seem to want to drop the answer into my lap just yet it seemed.
I took a small breakfast from the kitchens and went out the back door. I walked to the cliff overlooking the ocean and stared out into the horizon.
And then I saw it.
A sight that I could recognize even from a great distance.
A tiny spot drawing steadily closer to Port Royale.
A black ship.
Jack's ship.
The Black Pearl.
"Finally," I murmured to myself before turning to hurry as fast as my pregnant body would allow back to the house.
Once inside, I made my way upstairs and pounded on Will and Elizabeth's door. "Jack's coming! I can see the Pearl! He'll be here within the hour!" I cried merrily before going back to my room and trying to make myself as presentable as possible.
I had just finished brushing my hair when I felt a sharp stabbing pain and a warm wetness trickle down my legs.
I dropped the brush and went over to the bed to sit. 'The baby's coming!' I thought, my mind whirring into action as my body started to panic. My breathing had become difficult suddenly and I heaved sharp, short breaths.
"Elizabeth!!!!" I screamed as loud as I could manage...but it only came out not too much louder than my normal voice.
I waited a long moment.
"Elizabeth!!!!" I tried again.
I drew a sharp breath as I tried to calm myself.
I had no knowledge of pregnancy... 'Am I loosing the baby?' I wondered to myself.
"Elizabeth! Help!!!!!!!!" I screamed again, glad that my voice had restored itself to its intended volume.
I continued to draw sharp, uneasy breaths as I heard two sets of running feet coming towards my room.
"Christy? What's wrong?" Elizabeth called from down the hall as she came hurrying towards me.
The door burst open and she and Will entered, both looking worried.
"Baby...baby..." I said, my voice betraying panicked state.
Elizabeth rushed over to me while Will gazed at the fluid on the floor. "Tell some of the servants to get a room ready for her and tell them that we'll be down when she's ready to move. Have someone boil water and get some cloth ready. Then go down to the beach and wait for Jack. Bring him as soon as possible."
Will nodded and left.
Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed my back soothingly. "Don't worry, it'll be fine."
I could feel my eyes go wide. "Try it yourself...It doesn't feel fine. It bloody well feels like someone's taking a knife to me...and not a sharp one, either!"
"Good, you still have you're sense of humour..." Elizabeth joked.
"Yeah, well, sense of humour my arse. This hurts!"
"Suit yourself...but you're in for the long haul now..."
"Long haul?" I asked in a pained voice.
"Haven't you ever heard that the first pregnancy takes a long time to deliver?"
I whipped my head around to stare at her. "Elizabeth, that's not the type of thing to joke about..."
"Christy, I'm not joking. Ask anyone..."
I frowned but breathed easier...with someone by me, I wasn't as scared as I was just a few moments ago.
The pain eased up for a while. I relaxed slightly on the bed and Elizabeth moved behind me.
"I'm going to braid your hair...otherwise it'll be sticking to you in no time."
I nodded. I didn't really care at the moment if she chopped it all off. But it was a nice gesture
It was nearly half an hour before the next bout of pain hit. Elizabeth and I had been having a tense conversation when...
"AHHHHH!!!!!!" I screamed, clutching at my stomach.
Elizabeth grabbed my shoulders to keep me from pitching myself off the bed.
I rocked back and forth as my stomach throbbed angrily with something that I didn't quite understand. It felt like someone was stabbing me with a dull knife.
"Looks like I arrived in good time," a voice said leisurely from the doorway.
I looked up and saw Jack standing leisurely in the doorway. "Don't look so calm, Sparrow, this bloody hurts!"
Elizabeth looked over at him and smiled broadly. "Its good to see you again, Jack. Christy thinks so too...she's just..."
"In a helluva lot of pain!" I cried from my seat at the bed.
"That and...well, you know what they say about labour...don't take anything that she says seriously. But we need to get her into the room. Where's Will?"
Jack watched me, his eyes sparkling with mirth even though I could hear the anticipation in his voice. "Yes, I know that she's in pain, Lizzie. I rather picked up on that by the screams and the beautiful language that she coloured that with. Dear William is down helping the servants get the room ready. Shall we move her, then?" Jack asked merrily.
"May as well," Elizabeth conceded.
And with that, Jack moved over to me and gently pulled me to my feet.
That last contraction had passed and all of a sudden, I was exceptionally happy to see Jack. I managed some shadow of a smile at him and gratefully accepted his help down to the bedroom, Elizabeth following behind, ready to help catch me, should I fall.
The room had been basically cleared. Most of the furniture had been pushed out of the way and I could see the vat of water resting near enough to the fire to continue to boil and the cloths lying nearby. A low couch was also in the room, no doubt for me to rest on until the time came. I assumed.
I clutched tightly at Jack's hand, my fear starting to boil up again. "Jack...I'm scared," I whispered.
Elizabeth was at the other side of the room, talking in low voices to Will so, fortunately, we wouldn't be overheard easily.
"I know, love," he said, calmly. "But it will be okay, I promise."
I grinned slightly. "I'll hold you to that, Sparrow."
"I wouldn't expect anything less, darlin'. Now let's get you sitting down."
"I've never heard a better suggestion in my life," I said gratefully.
Jack led me over to the couch and helped me to sit down before Elizabeth hailed him. He made sure that I was settled before striding over towards her.
She met him half-way across the room and said in an intended whisper that traveled in the stiff silence of the room, "Do you know how to deliver a baby?".
Jack glanced over at me. "Aye," he said in a terse whisper. "But I've only done it twice..."
I knew that I wasn't supposed to hear this but I did anyway and the fact that none of them knew very well what they were doing did nothing to reassure me...the fact that I didn't know what I was doing did not help either, though.
"You can't be telling me that you got me into this and now none of you know how to finish this?" I called out, my sarcasm masking the fear in my voice...almost.
"Send Will down to the Pearl and get Colin. He knows far more about such things than I do," Jack said seriously.
Will nodded and left.
Jack came back over to sit beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Looks like it'll be a right crew party, don't it, love?"
I grinned up at Jack. "Now all we need is rum, huh?"
"Ahh, lass, you're finally starting to learn!" Jack said merrily, clapping his hands together.
Elizabeth smiled over at me.
I was immensely glad at that moment that Jack was there...with him telling jokes and making comments, I could forget about the pain that...
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" I cried as another wave of pain interrupted my thoughts. I sat bolt upright as it rippled through me and clutched at my pained stomach.
Jack redid his grasp of my hand and with his other, held onto my shoulders, to keep me from falling off.
I squeezed it tightly, assuming that that was what he had offered it for.
Well...
You know what they say about assume...
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" came another cry, but not from my mouth this time.
It was Jack that was howling in pain.
Apparantly, I had squeezed a might to tightly.
I hit him with my free hand and laughed, my mind temporarily away from the contraction. "You big baby, I'm the one having the baby...If anyone's got the right to raise a fuss, its me!"
Jack laughed lowly. "Just trying to distract ye, lovie."
I managed a feeble grin. "I'm sure."
Elizabeth had left the room and soon enough there were the sounds of three sets of feet making their way to the room.
Colin entered the room, followed closely by Will and Elizabeth. He looked just as I remembered him and smiled broadly at me. But beneath his calm and pleasant exterior, I could detect just a hint of his own nerves about the situation.
"'Lo Christy. Cap'n," Colin said before he squatted down in front of me. "Cap'n, I need ye ta help 'er lay back like and I'm gonna to see how far she is along."
It took a moment for what he said to register in both my mind and in Jack's. "Wait a moment, mate. You're going to be lookin' ... there?" Jack asked, pointing to my skirts.
"Aye, sir. I need ta see how big she is, so we knows when that babe up yonder be makin' an appearance."
I blushed at the thought of Colin seeing my ... my ... moving on ... but I leaned back on the couch with Jack's help and tried to keep my mind off of where Colin was at the moment by staring intently at Jack. This was a friend of mine! A male friend for that matter! I managed to smile at the thought of how 'improper' everyone I knew would consider it.
But soon, Colin was...out of my skirts and he extended his hand to pull me up. "Ye got a long ways to go, lass. Ye best start walking."
"Huh?"
"Walking helps the baby come, Christy," Elizabeth piped in before pushing Will out of the room gently. "He doesn't handle pregnancy well..."
"Oh. If he get's to leave, can I?" I asked hopefully.
Elizabeth tutted her tongue and shook her head. "Nice try, escape artist."
"Almost rum-worthy, love," Jack joked.
Colin pushed his hand down closer to me and reminded, "Up ye get, Christy, otherwise that babe's gonna jes' stay in there."
Well that settled it. Since the only other option was to keep the child in me and keep the pain reoccurring as well, I rose and started walking around the room in a big circle, Jack at my side, ready to help me, should I need it and Colin at the other.
The three traded off as the day wore on and whenever a contraction hit, I would dig my nails into each one's arms as Colin coached me in the fine art of pushing.
The hours started to add up and I grew tired. Colin let me sit down for little breaks as Jack wiped the sweat off my brow and kept me feeling strong. When we started to walk again, Jack told me funny stories, mainly about run-ins he had had while drunk and I clutched onto his arm to keep myself up straight.
"So, I be walkin' down this street with dear William mindin' me own business when Scarlet comes up to me and slaps me right across the face. And to add insult to injury, Gizelle follows right behind her and slaps me once again. Will makes some comment and I feel sore and completely annoyed with the git ... so what do I do, we find Gibbs and get completly and utterly smashed ... you know eunuch boy is quite funny drunk."
I giggled in spite of the pain and exhaustion I was feeling.
"Now Lizzie over there," Jack continued. "Is quite the sight when smashed, love. You should have seen her. 'Jack! Jack! There's a ship! Drink up! There's a ship!' Only there was a ship and she burnt the rum...She burnt me rum! Do you know how bad of a thing that is to do, love? That's sacrilege if I ever saw it!"
I laughed slightly.
"AHHH!" I cried suddenly. "Colin! This one's worse!!!"
Jack nodded intently...but that was no doubt because I was digging my nails into the flesh of his elbow.
Colin hurried over and unceremoniously stuck his head under my skirts.
Withdrawing after a moment, he said, "Not too much longer Christy. You're getting really big...er...dilated. It won't be too much longer."
Jack reached over with his free hand and smacked Colin lightly on the head. "Watch it, mate. She's my girl."
Colin blushed and I knew that he meant no offense...in spite of what I was feeling right now. "PUSH!"
"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" I screamed at Jack as the pain intensified and my grip tightened.
Jack merely laughed. "I knew it would get to this."
I slackened as the pain started to fade and leaned into Jack.
He put his arm around my waist and kept me moving, doing almost all of the walking for me. We kept going for about two minutes...in spite of my extreme tiredness.
"This hurts so much," I whispered.
But before he could comment again, another contraction rolled over me...they were far closer now. I moaned as the sheer intensity hit me. Tears streamed down my face and I clawed at both Jack and Colin. "Make it stop," I wailed. "MUM! Where are you!? I need you! Why aren't you here?"
Jack shot Colin a glance, I could feel them looking at each other over my head.
"Push hard, Christy. You're almost there," Colin said in a soothing voice.
My knees felt like they were going to give out and Jack had to tighten his grip on me to keep me upright at all.
"Almost done, love," Jack reminded. "You're doing great, darling, you just need to keep up the work."
The pain subsided and I felt like I could walk a bit better. We got several steps and then another one hit. This was the worst one so far. I went rigid for a minute before the entirety of the pain flooded my senses. "OH GOD! MOTHER! OH GOD, MAKE ME BE DONE WITH THIS CHILD! GET IT OUT OF ME!"
Colin had ducked beneath again and when he righted himself, announced, "Christy I can see the head. I need you to give me a couple more hard pushes when the next contraction hits. Jack, hold onto both her arms."
Quickly, Jack complied and as the next bout hit I pushed as hard as I could, pain completely flooding my senses. My head was thrown back as I screamed wretchedly. The pain faded and I leaned into Jack's chest.
He ran one hand soothingly along my cheek and hairline as he whispered in my ear, "You're so close, love. You just gotta keep going, savvy? Then you can rest. I promise."
I nodded into his chest, tears dripping down my face onto his shirt.
"One more push, Christy, then it'll be over. Just one more big push," Colin said from under my skirt.
The next contraction hit and I stared into Jack's eyes for one brief second before sending all my strength into pushing. My eyes were shut and all my being was focused on this one task...I sent all my body weight into this and...
After what seemed an eternity...
There was a victory cry from Colin.
I collapsed into Jack's arms and let him hold me up.
In the silence, I heard a faint cry that quickly grew louder.
My baby ...
Colin reappeared from my skirts, holding a small, squirming baby in his arms. "Ye 'ave a girl, Christy, Cap'n. It's a girl."
I twisted my head and looked up at Jack. "A girl...We have a girl!"
Jack smiled down at me, his eyes gleaming brightly. My heart was floating and I could tell that his was too. He leaned down and kissed me gently. "Ye did it, love."
Colin took the baby over to Elizabeth to wash and wrap up. I got one glimpse of my child before she was handed off and saw her bloody and slightly blue looking.
"Wait, give her back. I want my baby," I said weakly. "Is she all right? Let me have her."
"Let her get washed up, lass. 'Sides, you have to get rid of the rest still ... but its the easy part."
"There's more?" I asked in horror. I didn't know how much I could take ...
Colin nodded and let me rest in Jack's arms while he got some of the remaining cloth. He placed it under me and said, "It should be one more push and then you should be fine, lass."
"That's what you said last time," I muttered.
Colin smiled at me. "Trust me."
Knowing that he had more skill in this area than I did, I nodded, trusting in him once again.
I grabbed onto Jack's arms, trying to get my strength up before it happened again.
"You're doing just fine, Christy," he said, staring straight into my eyes.
I meant to comment but...
The next contraction hit too suddenly. It wasn't as bad as some of the most recent ones, but it took a great deal of strength to push down. Soon enough it was over and I relaxed into Jack's arms. We sunk down to the floor and Jack traced my face lovingly as I melted into his grasp.
"Do you want to hold her?" Elizabeth asked from overhead.
I nodded silently and held out my arms to receive my baby. She had been cleaned up and wrapped in a small blanket.
My first thought after looking at my little girl was that she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
As I sat admiring her, Colin had come over and handed a knife to Jack. "Do ye wan' ta cut the cord, Cap'n?"
Jack took the knife and I moved the cloth around her belly back. Carefully, Jack cut right above the knot that Colin had tied before handing the knife back to him.
"She's beautiful, love," Jack said in my ear.
"She's ours..." I whispered back, awed at the concept that this was MY child.
"What do you want to name her?"
"Umm...Rhiannon...I always liked that name...umm...Colin, what was your wife's name?"
Colin looked over at me, somewhat taken aback at my forwardness. "Isabella."
"Rhiannon Isabella?" I asked, watching Jack's expression carefully.
"That about fits."
"Rhiannon Isabella," I said again, testing my tongue on it. "Rhiannon Isabella Delcot-Sparrow...that's a big name for someone so small..."
"Well, love, we'll just call her Rhia, savvy?"
I nodded.
Our daughter squirmed in my arms, her tiny fists clenched and waving in the air. She had very big eyes, they were blue, of course, but all babies eyes are blue at first...I did know that much. There was a thin dusting of dark hair on the top of her head.
Even though I was still in pain from the delivery, my mind was instantly distracted from it as I gazed at Rhia.
Everything about her seemed perfect. Her little hands with tiny nails, her kicking legs and flailing arms, her tiny mouth, open, but not crying...all perfect.
"Jack," I whispered.
"Aye, love?"
"I love you..."
"I love you too, darling."
And before any further conversation could be made, I fell asleep as the sun peaked out from the horizon, myself in Jack's arms, my daughter in my arms.
-A-
Author's Notes -
And baby makes three! Rhiannon Isabella Delcot-Sparrow. Hope that the chapter was up to scratch! I must admit that it wasn't easy to write about childbirth, I've never had a child myself, so I know absolutely nothing about the pangs of birth. Although I was forced to watch a video in my 8th grade Health Class that was absolutely mortifying and made me want to adopt....Hope it didn't disappoint!
Well, that's it for now, new chapter soon...don't know exactly when, it'll depend on some things, but I think that it'll be up around Thursday.
So...review!
Check out Pirates of the Caribbean: The Aftermath by The Quidditch Gals. It needs love.
Mange Klemmar
CrazyCanoeingGIT
Well, its time again for another chapter. I hope that everyone's having a good week and holiday, provided you're on it, of course. Not too much to tell, so, on with the chapter!
-A-
Author's Note
RMB - Thanks! Sorry you got teary, mate. I know, though, it was hard to see him go. I think I'd prefer the Pearl to the Turner house any day too. I hope that my email cleared up the thing about the Commodore, I'm really sorry about the mistake...typing too fast, I guess. I didn't know that POTC got the MTV awards, but, then again, I don't have cable, so... Anywho, enjoy the chapter!
Trinity144 - Thanks! No flying monkeys attacking me, please! I like my life without bothersome monkeys, lol. Enjoy!
TriGemini - Thanks! It definitely fits in with the Commodore's personality to want a girl who isn't interested in him. I hope that my email cleared up the confusion from my mistake. I really felt stupid, but thanks for letting me know so I could fix it. Enjoy!
Piper8188 - Thansk, mate! Christy doesn't have a thing for Norrington although he does have something for her. But as she said to him, she doesn't want a relationship, and although she meant another relationship with anyone other than Jack, she wouldn't fall for Norry. shudder... Enjoy!
Moulin-Rouge-Pirate - Thanks! Enjoy the chapter!
Jeeves Swineford - Thanks! Jack will come back soon. cough, cough Trust me! Don't have a cow, there are enough of them here, I don't want any more. lol. Its okay, I'm like that with Alias, I wait with baited breath for the next episode. Enjoy!
RK9 - Thanks! Enjoy!
Depprulz - Thanks! Yeah, the end of POTC shows that he, Norrington, isn't actually a villian, he's a good guy, I don't like him very much all the time, but he's still a good guy, nonetheless. Enjoy!
damning-child - Thanks! Frontal labotamy, eh? Don't do that, it sounds terribly painful. Thanks, I'm glad and honoured that my story is one of your favourites! Its okay, I'm a bit obsessive, too! Its all good. Enjoy!!
Brianne - Thanks! Started it today and are already on the end, congrats! Very impressive. Thanks, though, I'm touched that you like my story so much! Enjoy!
ortain - Thanks, mate! Enjoy!
-A-
Last Time:
I shook my head frustrated with the whole business of men and went back inside, feeling slightly low.
-A-
What's in a Name?
Chapter 28: What the Morning Brings
As the days passed and we drew further into winter, I came to discover that Port Royale was seldom cold. The winds picked up and there were slightly more storms as the end of December approached but overall, the weather was exceptionally tolerable. Compared to London, it was EXCEPTIONALLY TOLERABLE. London winters were cold, blustery and not much fun...except to children, perhaps.
This was the first Christmas that I had celebrated with people that I did not know so, I was in uncharted territory as far as what to get Will and Elizabeth. I settled on small trinkets but felt odd giving them. But I worked through my hesitation and they greatly appreciated it.
For the New Year, the three of us went to a ball that Elizabeth's father was hosting and I watched as the couples danced they're way around the hall. I danced a bit myself but sat more than anything ... my very round belly made it very difficult to dance and thus, my only partner was Will.
And in the blink of an eye, it was the end of January. The women in the clothing shops told me that my time would be coming soon ... probably. I was glad that someone knew or knew enough about how a woman who's about to give birth looked, because I had no idea when I would be due. All I knew was that I was pregnant, it was a nine month process, and that I was ready to have the bloody baby and get it over with. (Needless to say, the pregnancy was making me exceptionally moody...more so as the amount of moving I could do without sitting down dwindled.)
My feet were swollen and I felt like I was as big as a whale. I found myself comparing myself to King Kamehameha .... of course whenever I did that, I would laugh at myself heartily. My patience for almost everything and anyone was on a fine cord and Will and Elizabeth were basically the only ones who risked being around me. Even Elizabeth had made several hasty retreats from my sharp tongue. But I think I knew why she was sometimes the brunt of my frustrations...she was thin, beautiful and happy while I was fat, ugly and temperamental.
So, obviously, the entire household looked forward anxiously to the day when I would give birth.
Except me.
Well, most of the time...
The truth of the matter was that I was afraid to give birth. Not that I had much choice in the matter but the idea of dying frightened me.
I still loved my child and I talked to it often...especially at night, when I was the loneliest. And I still daydreamed about the future...but there was a cloud of uncertainty hanging over me.
On the morning of January 31st, I woke early and had some feeling in the pit of my stomach that something big would happen today. I didn't exactly know what but I did know that SOMETHING important would happen. It was a hard emotion to describe, in all actuality, but...I just knew.
So, feeling that I may as well just get up and meet the new day, take what I could get and then get on with the rest of my life, I rose from bed and donned the loose robes that I had been wearing. I placed my hands on my stomach and spoke to my child. "Listen, little one, you need to hurry up and come out. Mummy's getting too big to even move too much, so you need to hurry along down there, savvy?" I felt a faint kick and a sharp pain and it was almost as if my child had heard me. Even though I had an idea of what the 'pang' meant or might mean, I chose to ignore it, hoping that it wouldn't repeat itself...and really give me a reason to worry.
I smiled to myself and left the room without another word. I toddled down the stairs and when I entered the dining room, I saw that Will and Elizabeth were still a-bed. Not that it mattered too much, but it was odd that I would be up before them...I had been sleeping a great deal of late...and when I say a great deal, I mean a great deal...I would fall asleep shortly after dinner and wake long after mid-morning.
But today...
Today was different and I was intent on finding out why...but fate didn't seem to want to drop the answer into my lap just yet it seemed.
I took a small breakfast from the kitchens and went out the back door. I walked to the cliff overlooking the ocean and stared out into the horizon.
And then I saw it.
A sight that I could recognize even from a great distance.
A tiny spot drawing steadily closer to Port Royale.
A black ship.
Jack's ship.
The Black Pearl.
"Finally," I murmured to myself before turning to hurry as fast as my pregnant body would allow back to the house.
Once inside, I made my way upstairs and pounded on Will and Elizabeth's door. "Jack's coming! I can see the Pearl! He'll be here within the hour!" I cried merrily before going back to my room and trying to make myself as presentable as possible.
I had just finished brushing my hair when I felt a sharp stabbing pain and a warm wetness trickle down my legs.
I dropped the brush and went over to the bed to sit. 'The baby's coming!' I thought, my mind whirring into action as my body started to panic. My breathing had become difficult suddenly and I heaved sharp, short breaths.
"Elizabeth!!!!" I screamed as loud as I could manage...but it only came out not too much louder than my normal voice.
I waited a long moment.
"Elizabeth!!!!" I tried again.
I drew a sharp breath as I tried to calm myself.
I had no knowledge of pregnancy... 'Am I loosing the baby?' I wondered to myself.
"Elizabeth! Help!!!!!!!!" I screamed again, glad that my voice had restored itself to its intended volume.
I continued to draw sharp, uneasy breaths as I heard two sets of running feet coming towards my room.
"Christy? What's wrong?" Elizabeth called from down the hall as she came hurrying towards me.
The door burst open and she and Will entered, both looking worried.
"Baby...baby..." I said, my voice betraying panicked state.
Elizabeth rushed over to me while Will gazed at the fluid on the floor. "Tell some of the servants to get a room ready for her and tell them that we'll be down when she's ready to move. Have someone boil water and get some cloth ready. Then go down to the beach and wait for Jack. Bring him as soon as possible."
Will nodded and left.
Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed my back soothingly. "Don't worry, it'll be fine."
I could feel my eyes go wide. "Try it yourself...It doesn't feel fine. It bloody well feels like someone's taking a knife to me...and not a sharp one, either!"
"Good, you still have you're sense of humour..." Elizabeth joked.
"Yeah, well, sense of humour my arse. This hurts!"
"Suit yourself...but you're in for the long haul now..."
"Long haul?" I asked in a pained voice.
"Haven't you ever heard that the first pregnancy takes a long time to deliver?"
I whipped my head around to stare at her. "Elizabeth, that's not the type of thing to joke about..."
"Christy, I'm not joking. Ask anyone..."
I frowned but breathed easier...with someone by me, I wasn't as scared as I was just a few moments ago.
The pain eased up for a while. I relaxed slightly on the bed and Elizabeth moved behind me.
"I'm going to braid your hair...otherwise it'll be sticking to you in no time."
I nodded. I didn't really care at the moment if she chopped it all off. But it was a nice gesture
It was nearly half an hour before the next bout of pain hit. Elizabeth and I had been having a tense conversation when...
"AHHHHH!!!!!!" I screamed, clutching at my stomach.
Elizabeth grabbed my shoulders to keep me from pitching myself off the bed.
I rocked back and forth as my stomach throbbed angrily with something that I didn't quite understand. It felt like someone was stabbing me with a dull knife.
"Looks like I arrived in good time," a voice said leisurely from the doorway.
I looked up and saw Jack standing leisurely in the doorway. "Don't look so calm, Sparrow, this bloody hurts!"
Elizabeth looked over at him and smiled broadly. "Its good to see you again, Jack. Christy thinks so too...she's just..."
"In a helluva lot of pain!" I cried from my seat at the bed.
"That and...well, you know what they say about labour...don't take anything that she says seriously. But we need to get her into the room. Where's Will?"
Jack watched me, his eyes sparkling with mirth even though I could hear the anticipation in his voice. "Yes, I know that she's in pain, Lizzie. I rather picked up on that by the screams and the beautiful language that she coloured that with. Dear William is down helping the servants get the room ready. Shall we move her, then?" Jack asked merrily.
"May as well," Elizabeth conceded.
And with that, Jack moved over to me and gently pulled me to my feet.
That last contraction had passed and all of a sudden, I was exceptionally happy to see Jack. I managed some shadow of a smile at him and gratefully accepted his help down to the bedroom, Elizabeth following behind, ready to help catch me, should I fall.
The room had been basically cleared. Most of the furniture had been pushed out of the way and I could see the vat of water resting near enough to the fire to continue to boil and the cloths lying nearby. A low couch was also in the room, no doubt for me to rest on until the time came. I assumed.
I clutched tightly at Jack's hand, my fear starting to boil up again. "Jack...I'm scared," I whispered.
Elizabeth was at the other side of the room, talking in low voices to Will so, fortunately, we wouldn't be overheard easily.
"I know, love," he said, calmly. "But it will be okay, I promise."
I grinned slightly. "I'll hold you to that, Sparrow."
"I wouldn't expect anything less, darlin'. Now let's get you sitting down."
"I've never heard a better suggestion in my life," I said gratefully.
Jack led me over to the couch and helped me to sit down before Elizabeth hailed him. He made sure that I was settled before striding over towards her.
She met him half-way across the room and said in an intended whisper that traveled in the stiff silence of the room, "Do you know how to deliver a baby?".
Jack glanced over at me. "Aye," he said in a terse whisper. "But I've only done it twice..."
I knew that I wasn't supposed to hear this but I did anyway and the fact that none of them knew very well what they were doing did nothing to reassure me...the fact that I didn't know what I was doing did not help either, though.
"You can't be telling me that you got me into this and now none of you know how to finish this?" I called out, my sarcasm masking the fear in my voice...almost.
"Send Will down to the Pearl and get Colin. He knows far more about such things than I do," Jack said seriously.
Will nodded and left.
Jack came back over to sit beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Looks like it'll be a right crew party, don't it, love?"
I grinned up at Jack. "Now all we need is rum, huh?"
"Ahh, lass, you're finally starting to learn!" Jack said merrily, clapping his hands together.
Elizabeth smiled over at me.
I was immensely glad at that moment that Jack was there...with him telling jokes and making comments, I could forget about the pain that...
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" I cried as another wave of pain interrupted my thoughts. I sat bolt upright as it rippled through me and clutched at my pained stomach.
Jack redid his grasp of my hand and with his other, held onto my shoulders, to keep me from falling off.
I squeezed it tightly, assuming that that was what he had offered it for.
Well...
You know what they say about assume...
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" came another cry, but not from my mouth this time.
It was Jack that was howling in pain.
Apparantly, I had squeezed a might to tightly.
I hit him with my free hand and laughed, my mind temporarily away from the contraction. "You big baby, I'm the one having the baby...If anyone's got the right to raise a fuss, its me!"
Jack laughed lowly. "Just trying to distract ye, lovie."
I managed a feeble grin. "I'm sure."
Elizabeth had left the room and soon enough there were the sounds of three sets of feet making their way to the room.
Colin entered the room, followed closely by Will and Elizabeth. He looked just as I remembered him and smiled broadly at me. But beneath his calm and pleasant exterior, I could detect just a hint of his own nerves about the situation.
"'Lo Christy. Cap'n," Colin said before he squatted down in front of me. "Cap'n, I need ye ta help 'er lay back like and I'm gonna to see how far she is along."
It took a moment for what he said to register in both my mind and in Jack's. "Wait a moment, mate. You're going to be lookin' ... there?" Jack asked, pointing to my skirts.
"Aye, sir. I need ta see how big she is, so we knows when that babe up yonder be makin' an appearance."
I blushed at the thought of Colin seeing my ... my ... moving on ... but I leaned back on the couch with Jack's help and tried to keep my mind off of where Colin was at the moment by staring intently at Jack. This was a friend of mine! A male friend for that matter! I managed to smile at the thought of how 'improper' everyone I knew would consider it.
But soon, Colin was...out of my skirts and he extended his hand to pull me up. "Ye got a long ways to go, lass. Ye best start walking."
"Huh?"
"Walking helps the baby come, Christy," Elizabeth piped in before pushing Will out of the room gently. "He doesn't handle pregnancy well..."
"Oh. If he get's to leave, can I?" I asked hopefully.
Elizabeth tutted her tongue and shook her head. "Nice try, escape artist."
"Almost rum-worthy, love," Jack joked.
Colin pushed his hand down closer to me and reminded, "Up ye get, Christy, otherwise that babe's gonna jes' stay in there."
Well that settled it. Since the only other option was to keep the child in me and keep the pain reoccurring as well, I rose and started walking around the room in a big circle, Jack at my side, ready to help me, should I need it and Colin at the other.
The three traded off as the day wore on and whenever a contraction hit, I would dig my nails into each one's arms as Colin coached me in the fine art of pushing.
The hours started to add up and I grew tired. Colin let me sit down for little breaks as Jack wiped the sweat off my brow and kept me feeling strong. When we started to walk again, Jack told me funny stories, mainly about run-ins he had had while drunk and I clutched onto his arm to keep myself up straight.
"So, I be walkin' down this street with dear William mindin' me own business when Scarlet comes up to me and slaps me right across the face. And to add insult to injury, Gizelle follows right behind her and slaps me once again. Will makes some comment and I feel sore and completely annoyed with the git ... so what do I do, we find Gibbs and get completly and utterly smashed ... you know eunuch boy is quite funny drunk."
I giggled in spite of the pain and exhaustion I was feeling.
"Now Lizzie over there," Jack continued. "Is quite the sight when smashed, love. You should have seen her. 'Jack! Jack! There's a ship! Drink up! There's a ship!' Only there was a ship and she burnt the rum...She burnt me rum! Do you know how bad of a thing that is to do, love? That's sacrilege if I ever saw it!"
I laughed slightly.
"AHHH!" I cried suddenly. "Colin! This one's worse!!!"
Jack nodded intently...but that was no doubt because I was digging my nails into the flesh of his elbow.
Colin hurried over and unceremoniously stuck his head under my skirts.
Withdrawing after a moment, he said, "Not too much longer Christy. You're getting really big...er...dilated. It won't be too much longer."
Jack reached over with his free hand and smacked Colin lightly on the head. "Watch it, mate. She's my girl."
Colin blushed and I knew that he meant no offense...in spite of what I was feeling right now. "PUSH!"
"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" I screamed at Jack as the pain intensified and my grip tightened.
Jack merely laughed. "I knew it would get to this."
I slackened as the pain started to fade and leaned into Jack.
He put his arm around my waist and kept me moving, doing almost all of the walking for me. We kept going for about two minutes...in spite of my extreme tiredness.
"This hurts so much," I whispered.
But before he could comment again, another contraction rolled over me...they were far closer now. I moaned as the sheer intensity hit me. Tears streamed down my face and I clawed at both Jack and Colin. "Make it stop," I wailed. "MUM! Where are you!? I need you! Why aren't you here?"
Jack shot Colin a glance, I could feel them looking at each other over my head.
"Push hard, Christy. You're almost there," Colin said in a soothing voice.
My knees felt like they were going to give out and Jack had to tighten his grip on me to keep me upright at all.
"Almost done, love," Jack reminded. "You're doing great, darling, you just need to keep up the work."
The pain subsided and I felt like I could walk a bit better. We got several steps and then another one hit. This was the worst one so far. I went rigid for a minute before the entirety of the pain flooded my senses. "OH GOD! MOTHER! OH GOD, MAKE ME BE DONE WITH THIS CHILD! GET IT OUT OF ME!"
Colin had ducked beneath again and when he righted himself, announced, "Christy I can see the head. I need you to give me a couple more hard pushes when the next contraction hits. Jack, hold onto both her arms."
Quickly, Jack complied and as the next bout hit I pushed as hard as I could, pain completely flooding my senses. My head was thrown back as I screamed wretchedly. The pain faded and I leaned into Jack's chest.
He ran one hand soothingly along my cheek and hairline as he whispered in my ear, "You're so close, love. You just gotta keep going, savvy? Then you can rest. I promise."
I nodded into his chest, tears dripping down my face onto his shirt.
"One more push, Christy, then it'll be over. Just one more big push," Colin said from under my skirt.
The next contraction hit and I stared into Jack's eyes for one brief second before sending all my strength into pushing. My eyes were shut and all my being was focused on this one task...I sent all my body weight into this and...
After what seemed an eternity...
There was a victory cry from Colin.
I collapsed into Jack's arms and let him hold me up.
In the silence, I heard a faint cry that quickly grew louder.
My baby ...
Colin reappeared from my skirts, holding a small, squirming baby in his arms. "Ye 'ave a girl, Christy, Cap'n. It's a girl."
I twisted my head and looked up at Jack. "A girl...We have a girl!"
Jack smiled down at me, his eyes gleaming brightly. My heart was floating and I could tell that his was too. He leaned down and kissed me gently. "Ye did it, love."
Colin took the baby over to Elizabeth to wash and wrap up. I got one glimpse of my child before she was handed off and saw her bloody and slightly blue looking.
"Wait, give her back. I want my baby," I said weakly. "Is she all right? Let me have her."
"Let her get washed up, lass. 'Sides, you have to get rid of the rest still ... but its the easy part."
"There's more?" I asked in horror. I didn't know how much I could take ...
Colin nodded and let me rest in Jack's arms while he got some of the remaining cloth. He placed it under me and said, "It should be one more push and then you should be fine, lass."
"That's what you said last time," I muttered.
Colin smiled at me. "Trust me."
Knowing that he had more skill in this area than I did, I nodded, trusting in him once again.
I grabbed onto Jack's arms, trying to get my strength up before it happened again.
"You're doing just fine, Christy," he said, staring straight into my eyes.
I meant to comment but...
The next contraction hit too suddenly. It wasn't as bad as some of the most recent ones, but it took a great deal of strength to push down. Soon enough it was over and I relaxed into Jack's arms. We sunk down to the floor and Jack traced my face lovingly as I melted into his grasp.
"Do you want to hold her?" Elizabeth asked from overhead.
I nodded silently and held out my arms to receive my baby. She had been cleaned up and wrapped in a small blanket.
My first thought after looking at my little girl was that she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
As I sat admiring her, Colin had come over and handed a knife to Jack. "Do ye wan' ta cut the cord, Cap'n?"
Jack took the knife and I moved the cloth around her belly back. Carefully, Jack cut right above the knot that Colin had tied before handing the knife back to him.
"She's beautiful, love," Jack said in my ear.
"She's ours..." I whispered back, awed at the concept that this was MY child.
"What do you want to name her?"
"Umm...Rhiannon...I always liked that name...umm...Colin, what was your wife's name?"
Colin looked over at me, somewhat taken aback at my forwardness. "Isabella."
"Rhiannon Isabella?" I asked, watching Jack's expression carefully.
"That about fits."
"Rhiannon Isabella," I said again, testing my tongue on it. "Rhiannon Isabella Delcot-Sparrow...that's a big name for someone so small..."
"Well, love, we'll just call her Rhia, savvy?"
I nodded.
Our daughter squirmed in my arms, her tiny fists clenched and waving in the air. She had very big eyes, they were blue, of course, but all babies eyes are blue at first...I did know that much. There was a thin dusting of dark hair on the top of her head.
Even though I was still in pain from the delivery, my mind was instantly distracted from it as I gazed at Rhia.
Everything about her seemed perfect. Her little hands with tiny nails, her kicking legs and flailing arms, her tiny mouth, open, but not crying...all perfect.
"Jack," I whispered.
"Aye, love?"
"I love you..."
"I love you too, darling."
And before any further conversation could be made, I fell asleep as the sun peaked out from the horizon, myself in Jack's arms, my daughter in my arms.
-A-
Author's Notes -
And baby makes three! Rhiannon Isabella Delcot-Sparrow. Hope that the chapter was up to scratch! I must admit that it wasn't easy to write about childbirth, I've never had a child myself, so I know absolutely nothing about the pangs of birth. Although I was forced to watch a video in my 8th grade Health Class that was absolutely mortifying and made me want to adopt....Hope it didn't disappoint!
Well, that's it for now, new chapter soon...don't know exactly when, it'll depend on some things, but I think that it'll be up around Thursday.
So...review!
Check out Pirates of the Caribbean: The Aftermath by The Quidditch Gals. It needs love.
Mange Klemmar
CrazyCanoeingGIT