CHAPTER SIX: ADJUSTMENTS

"Jack, you're starin' again," Sunni pointed out as she sipped her soup.

"This is amazin'," he said, not taking his eyes from her.

"I guess I've had more time to adjust."

"'Ow long 'ave ye known?"

"'Bout a month."

"How much longer until we 'ave this lil' tyke?"

Sunni smiled. "Six months or so, I think."

"Well, bloody 'ell," Jack grinned.

"Jack," Sunni continued, seriously, "This complicates this considerably."

Jack sighed. "I know, luv."

"We have ta tell Will an' Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth'll skin me alive."

Sunni smiled at the thought. "I won't let her. We'll tell her together."

"Have ye been checked, lass? By a real doctor?"

"I saw Rita."

"Ye saw Rita? The psychic?"

"Psychic slash widwife," Sunni corrected.

He sighed. "Well, what did she say?"

"She tol' me ta take a ride on th' high seas an' find my husband ta tell him a healthy baby was on th' way."

"Rita didn't know we got married," Jack said with narrowed eyes.

"Psychic," Sunni said, shrugging.

"Did she know if the baby was a boy or a girl?"

Sunni smiled wickedly. "If she did, I wouldn't tell ye. It'll be a surprise."

"You're an evil woman." He looked at her plate. "Ye need ta eat more."

"Jack, I'm pregnant, not turning into a cow."

"I want ye healthy, savvy?"

"Ye really want this baby, Jack?" she asked, giving him a sidelong glance.

Jack smiled at her. "No worries, luv."

"But, seriously, Jack-"

"Luv, we're havin' a baby." He smiled again. Every time he said, it got better. Suddenly, his smile turned mischievous. "C'mere." Before she could object, Jack scooped her up in his arms and strode out the cabin.

"Jack! What are you doin'? Jack, put me down! Where are we goin?" All of her objections, however, were futile, as Jack continued to march downward, into the bowels of the ship.

The men in the eating galley could hear Sunni giggling and shouting as they approached.

"Sunni must've forgiven 'im," Gibbs muttered to Anamaria.

"I can't believe Jack's actually MARRIED," Perch said, taking a bite of salted beef. "It won't last, I can almost guarantee it."

"There ain't no way," Anamaria agreed. "Not with th' way he shot off his mouth last night. She may 'ave forgiven this time, but next time. . . can't imagine what I'd do ta a man who announced I was pregnant when I wasn't."

"Would ye know what ta do with a man, period?" Perch teased her.

Mr. Cotton's parrot squawked in agreement.

"Shut up, ye stupid bird," Ana threw a piece of dry bread at it.

Suddenly, the door to the galley flew open. It hit the back wall with a bang and the entire crew fell silent upon seeing their captain with his "wife" at his side.

"Listen up, ye scabbardous dogs!" he thundered, his voice carrying a frightening amount of authority. It was a tone that the crew knew to listen to or else. "Sunni Sparrow is not ta be touched by any of yas, at any time, savvy? Tha's rule number one! Rule number two, she'll be stayin' on this ship for a few weeks, an' she ain't yer personal maid, understand? She ain't ta be forced ta do any hard labor." He glared around at the surprised faces of his crewmen with narrow eyes. Finally, his face broke out in a slow grin. "She ain't ta do too much work, cause she's pregnant. An' I ain't had a spot of rum, today." The shocked faces around him continued to stare. "Did ye hear me, mates? I'm ta be a father! Pour me a rum!"

Suddenly, a raucous broke out as men cheered, yelled, hooted and hollered. Sunni laughed as a rum was shoved into Jack's hand and men continually approached the captain to shake his hand and pat him on the back. Some men even lifted Sunni in a celebratory hug.

The couple returned to their cabin after a few hours of celebrating with the crew. Inside, there were still many things that needed to be resolved.

"What are we goin' ta do, Jack?" Sunni asked, collapsing on the bed, her dress billowing out around her. "My father will be missin' me, soon. I'll be expected ta go home to th' mansion. I'm tired of seein' my husband once every month or two and our child is goin' ta need a father. Not an everyday father, not a once-a-month one."

Jack swallowed hard. He knew what she meant. And she was right. He nodded for a second. "Let. . . let me go drop anchor for the night," he murmured before leaving the quarters.

Out in the cool, clear, Caribbean air, Jack tried to clear his head and force the dread away that was rising in his throat. She wanted him to give up his Pearl. To be a full-time father. He took a deep breath. That would be the only fair thing to do- for Sunni and for their child. But. . . Jack ran a hand along the railing of his ship. The smooth, polished wood caressed his calloused hands. He could hear the black sails over his head whipping in the wind. This was the greatest ship in the Caribbean. He had, literally, gone to hell and back for this ship. It was like a part of him.

While these thoughts were running through his head, Sunni snuck out of the cabin and found her husband standing at the railing, no where near the anchor.

"What are ye thinkin', my great pirate captain?" Sunni asked, leaning on the railing next to him.

Jack jumped slightly. "Luv, I didn't know you were out here."

"Ye got that look in yer eye, Captain," she said.

After a moment, Jack finally said it. "I'll have ta give up me Pearl, won't I?"

Sunni started. "What? No!" she exclaimed forcefully. "Jack, I could never ask ye ta do that! I would never LET you do that. The Pearl is a part of you. It would be like takin' a fish outta water. You're home is the sea. You're alive here."

"So what're ye sayin?" he asked, giving her a sidelong glance.

"Jack, ye said that if I wanted ta stay on the Pearl, you'd let me. Well, that's what I want. I want ta stay with you, here. I don't feel at home in Port Royal like I do here."

"Sunni, a pirate's ship is a dangerous place for a woman-"

"Anamaria's done it all her life."

"Anamaria's not pregnant-"

"But if she were, she'd stay on. Please, Jack. Just imagine what will happen when father finds out. I'll never see you again-"

"Sunni!" Jack held up his hands. "You're gettin' too worked up. I don't want ye overexertin' yourself- what?" he stopped upon seeing her sly smile.

"Gettin' overprotective of the pregnant wife, already, Cap'n?" she asked, dancing back toward their cabin.

"My pregnant wife," Jack repeated, savoring the sound, then following her. "Sunni," he finally sighed, once they were inside. "I'll think about it. Keepin' ye aboard, I mean."

"Really?"

"I just said I'd think about it. No promises."

"Wouldn't it be great to be together all the time?"

"Sunni, I said I'd think about it.'

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. "Okay."

Jack sighed and studied her. A shy smile crossed his lips. "Let me feel your belly."

Sunni threw her hands across her stomach. "Jack, I'm ticklish!"

"I know."

"Cap'n!" Gibbs exclaimed as Jack came from below deck the next morning. "Miss Sunni. . ."

"What's wrong?" Jack demanded.

Gibbs led him to the open air and pointed up the mast to the crow's nest. Sunni's long blond locks were billowing out like a flag as she peered out over the crow's nest into the distance.

"Sunni!" Jack thundered.

"Jack!" she waved down. "I think I see Isla de Muerta!"

"Sunni, get down from there!"

"No! It's too beautiful."

By now, the crew had gathered around to watch.

"Caitlyn Marie Sparrow, get your narrow ass down from there this instant!" Jack bellowed.

The entire boat fell silent. Sunni, however, just rolled her eyes and continue to peer out of the crow's nest.

Jack growled and began climbing the rigging. Gibbs just shook his head.

"She's stubborn as he is," Anamaria sighed, heading back to work.

"Sunni," Jack growled, hauling himself over the crow's nest.

"Sweetheart, look at this," Sunni grabbed Jack's hand and pulled him close.

Jack looked out at the horizon that he had seen over a hundred times. Somehow, it was different looking at it with his wife. This was one of the first times she was seeing this.

Jack sighed, unable to stay mad at the small woman next to him. "C'mon, luv. Ye need ta get down from here. I don't want ye hurtin' yerself."

Jack lifted her down from the last rung once they reached the ship. "Just what in th' 'ell did ye think ye were doin'?"

"I thought I saw the island."

"Ye coulda hurt yerself."

"Jack," Sunni gave him that carefree smile that she was famous for. Her eyes were dancing with excitement. "I'm not made of glass."

"I don't care, ye should go to th' cabin an' lie down until we get to de Muerta-"

Sunni threw her head back and laughed. "C'mon, Cap'n Sparrow. You're gonna show me how ta steer this ship." She took off for the upper deck.

"Sunni!" Jack charged after her. "You're insufferable!"

Anamaria shook her head as watched them. "I'm scared to say it, but I think Jack has finally met his match."

"'Bout bloody time," Gibbs muttered as he took a swig from his flask.