Usual disclaimers – bah humbug!

With thanks to PirateAurora, KillerK (your reviews floor me), Caribbean Mama (get new glasses dearie…), Rose Pearl, Le Ames, RandomGal, Rachal Sparrow, beatlechicksteph, A Depp Girl, slytheringurl, sassafras, Pendragginink (your reviews make me cry – with laughter) and Hilary for editing and putting up with me for the past two days XX

For those who think that I work fast, I type way ahead of myself. In fact I'm almost reaching the end of this story, so you need worry that I willl run out of steam halfway through.

…

Chapter two: 'You're not getting it from me so you thought you'd get it from a tart?'

Jenny wiped the sweat from her brow and set back to scrubbing the deck of Jack's cabin with a wad of rags wrapped around a Godstone so as not to bleach the blackened deck, which Joshamee Gibbs had set as her punishment. A wave of nausea rose up and she darted for the side cabin, reaching the head just in time. 'Oh no…' she groaned between bouts of vomiting. This had been the third day in a row she had been sick and hoped she wasn't coming down with anything like she had in Fortaleza. Jenny staggered back to her duty and half-heartedly set to scrubbing the deck once more, fighting down the queasiness in case Jack decided she hadn't done a good enough job and needed to be punished further. He had barely spoken to her since they left Job Bailey and the tavern the day before, busying himself with getting his Pearl shipshape and re-stocked with essentials such as timber, water and food.

'Ya finished Jen?' Jack strode across the floor and sat in his chair, propping his feet up on the table.

'Nearly,' she replied, pushing a strand of hair from her eyes.

He smiled wolfishly at the sight of her moving back and forth then stood and crept up behind her with a practised stealth and knelt down, moaning as her bottom connected with his groin.

'Jack!' she admonished, shuffling forward and glancing back at him, a frown creasing her brow.

'C'mon luv, that's enough, eh?'

'I'm not in the mood,' she snapped, continuing with her chore.

'What's up Jen? Ya've refused me for nigh on a week now.'

'I'm just tired. It's hard to be passionate when your belly is growling and your throat is parched.'

'We all felt like that Jen,' he reminded her, standing once more and looking down at her, his hands on his hips.

'I know, I know… oh hell.' She leapt to her feet and ran to the side cabin once more, leaving a bemused Jack looking at her departing figure then frowning at the sound of retching.

'Jen…? You all right darlin?' He stood and watched her from the doorway of the cabin.

'I've had this sickness for a few days,' she admitted. Probably something I ate or drank.'

'Hmm. Might be…' he replied thoughtfully. 'Come on luv, why don't ya lie down an' I'll rub yer back, eh?'

'Thank you. I'm sorry I haven't been good company just lately.'

'Not to worry luv,' Jack reassured her, straddling her legs when she had lain on the bunk and began massaging her back with his long, flexible fingers.

'Mmm. That is lovely,' she murmured, closing her eyes and revelling in his ministrations until her lids got hot and heavy and she drifted off to sleep.

…

Jenny woke lazily and peered around the empty cabin, wondering how long she had been asleep and where Jack was. She clambered off the bunk, stripped from her dirty work clothes and padded across to the chest where she stored her clothes and pulled out a cream blouse and a full brown skirt with a cream underskirt. She dressed slowly, easing her back which was still aching slightly then bent and pulled her black ankle boots on and made her way to the quiet deck, the only men on board being those on watch and their shift was about to end so they were calling to their mates, making their way back to The Black Pearl by boat, to hurry.

'Where's the captain?' she enquired of Billy Wheeler who was leaning against the capstan.

'Ashore Jen. D'ya want us ter take ya?'

'If you don't mind,' she smiled. 'Is Shay with him?'

'Nah, I think Davy and Pete are showing him the sights, if ya get me meaning,' he laughed, his mates joining in.

'I get your meaning only too well,' Jenny smiled, shaking her head.

The boat was quickly vacated by the men whose turn is was to guard the ship and filled even quicker by those eager to get to shore. Jenny settled back and watched as the young strong men pulled on the oars, taking them to the docks of Tortola effortlessly. She accepted Dan Woods helping hand from the boat and found herself in the middle of an escort who took her to The Stag, holding the door for her as she stepped into the gloomy interior. She blinked a few times in an effort to get used to the dark then sought out Jack, smiling as she saw him talking to someone who was out of sight. She made her way across the room, leaving her escorts to head for the bar and the girls, then she stopped dead as she saw Jack hand coins over to a whore who thanked him by planting a loud, slobbering kiss on his lips.

'Jack Sparrow!' Jenny yelled, ignoring the hush that fell over the inn as she marched towards him. 'Just what the hell do you think you are playing at? You're not getting it from me so you thought you'd get it from a tart?'

Jack's head wheeled round from the blow she gave him and he wriggled his jaw about tentatively, making sure nothing was broken. 'Now wait a min…' He ducked as another blow came swinging round then straightened and grabbed her arms before she could inflict more damage to him, both to his body and his pride. 'Out, now.' He ordered, and with some difficulty, managed to drag the struggling, cursing woman out of the tavern.

'You bastard,' she spat, trying to kick him. 'I thought I meant more to you than that, you whoring bastard.'

'Whoa, whoa, whoa. Will ya let me explain?'

'You were paying a harlot for her services, what is there to explain?'

'I was paying a har… Catalina yes, but not fer her services, savvy? I was askin' her advice on somethin.'

'What?'

'I was askin' what the signs of pregnancy were.'

'Pregnancy…? Wha…?'

'I think yer pregnant, Jen,' he whispered, a smile playing on his lips.

Jenny looked in astonishment at her lover then down at her belly and back again. 'Pregnant?'

'Aye. Ya haven't had a bleed since just before we left Ireland an' yer being sick and yer a bit touchy… well, yer very touchy an' I figured that mebbe one o'the girls would know what the signs were. Plus yer eatin' the stock as fast as we can load it…'

'That could be down to the stress of the last few months, couldn't it?'

'It could yes, but… ya look different. I can't explain it but there's somethin' about ya.'

'Oh…' she paused. She had wondered if she was pregnant and now this seemed to confirm it. 'Oh Jack, I'm sorry. Oh, your poor face, I hurt you,' she whispered, stroking his cheek carefully, the tears starting to flow from her eyes.

'That's all right luv,' he smiled, pulling Jenny to him and holding her while she sobbed into his neck, his hand moving to her belly and caressing it as he crooned soothingly to her. 'C'mon, let's get yer back t'the ship, eh?' He led her down the dusky lane towards the docks.

'Do you mind?'

'What, going back ter th'ship? Nah, of course I don't,' he grinned, deliberately misunderstanding her meaning.

'I mean about my being pregnant.'

Jack stopped and cupped her face in his calloused hands. 'Yer carryin' me babe. Why on earth should I mind about that, eh?' he asked tenderly. But it does mean yer definitely not comin' with us when we attack Valentine.'

'Jack! I told you, I don't want to be parted from you, especially not now,' she pleaded, taking his hands in her own. 'Please.'

'I don't want yer in any danger. Not now I've got two of ya ter look after.'

'Will I be any safer here, with the likes of Richie Page and other pirates? Not all of them has your morality and Shay can't defend me from everyone. It would be unfair to expect him to. In fact, I understand he's rather upset that you're not allowing him to go with you.'

Jack sighed heavily. He and Shay had had words on the very subject a couple of hours ago and Jack had realised the Irish temper was not to be trifled with. In spite of never having sailed any distance and being very seasick on the crossing from Ireland, Shay was proving to be a keen learner and was already competent enough to do various jobs on board. And Jack had also learned that Shay was a dirty fighter, much like himself.

'All right Jen. We'll find Bailey a ship then I'll take yer to a safe haven, savvy? Scurvy Tom can stay wi'ya. He's getting' too old fer battle now but he can still defend yer if necessary.'

'I suppose I don't have any choice.'

'No, you don't,' he agreed, kissing her on the forehead then winding his arm around her waist, his hand on her belly, he started back down the lane.

…

Author's notes:

Damn! You all know me far too well…! ;)

A Godstone was a stone used to bleach the decks, so called by the kneeling position that one had to take in order to clean properly.