CHAPTER NINE: THE ISLAND AND TROUBLE

A shiver ran down her spine as Sunni came into the open air. Jack's hidden island was very ominous . . . but there was something breathtaking about it. She followed Jack to the helm, speechlessly.

Gibbs wordlessly gave the helm up to the Jack. He pulled out his infamous compass and began steering his prize ship through the threatening waters.

"Ye ready fer this, luv?" Jack asked as members of the crew lowered the plank to the dock.

"Uh-huh," Sunni nodded vigorously, hoping to keep her sudden bout of nausea hidden.

Down the gang plank and into the cavernous rock, Sunni's senses were assaulted with shimmering treasures. Gold, diamonds, rubies, silver, emeralds, all gems of all colors.

"Ye be shittin' me," she breathed.

"Take anything ye like, luv. There may be even some dresses in some of those trunks," Jack told her.

Jack set off with some of the crew to unload some of the swag they had recently picked up, and to find some other items they wanted to trade for supplies. He left Anamaria to watch over her as she wondered around.

"Them dresses be too big fer ye, Sunni," Ana interrupted her shopping.

"I need some big ones fer when my stomach blows up like a balloon."

There was a somewhat awkward silence as Sunni continued to sift through the clothes and Ana studied her.

"Are ye excited? About becomin' a mother?"

The question was unexpected from Anamaria. Sunni had always thought that Anamaria was pretty indifferent to her. "I'm excited. An' I'm scared ta death."

"Scared? Why?"

"Fer many reasons," she said, examining a dress. "I want ta be a good mum. I want ta stay with Jack on th' Pearl. Even though he said he'd think about it, I'm afraid he won't let me stay. I'm afraid of what will happen when Father and Elizabeth find out. And . . . well, me mum . . . well, she died while birthin' me. That's why I'm the runt of the family, they say. Rough birth made me small. It killed Mum."

"Really?" Ana breathed.

"She had a slight build, kinda like me. . . was young, like me."

"How old ye be, Sunni?"

"Nineteen."

After a moment, Ana said firmly, "Everything'll be fine, lass. Jack'll have nothin' less."

Sunni smiled, "Yeah."

"Don't ye think we got enough, Jack?" Gibbs asked as they continued to load the boat.

"Gibbs, don'tcha know? I'm ta be a father! We need extra supplies ta accommodate me wife," Jack laughed jovially.

"I take it, then," Gibbs said, tossing a trunk aside, "that you plan on keepin' Ms. Sunni on for the duration of her pregnancy."

Jack paused. "Don't know what else I could do. 'Sides, I enjoy waking up with my wife in my bed."

"Jack," Anamaria ran up to the men, breathless. "Come quick. Sunni's sick."

The men took off in a sprint.

"'S just morning sickness, Jack," Sunni protested as Jack carried her up the gangplank to the Pearl.

"I'm sure yer trek up ta th' crow's nest this morning has nothin' ta do with it, either," Jack responded sarcastically.

"I'm sure it didn't," Sunni countered.

Jack settled Sunni into their cabin. Despite his harshness before, he treated her with gentleness. "Go ta sleep, luv," he whispered, smoothing back her hair.

"Jack," Sunni half-whined, "I'm sweatin' bullets in this godforsaken dress."

Jack sighed and pulled a light white cotton shirt from his trunk and then helped his wife out of her heavy dress. While she was still naked, Jack skimmed a calloused hand over her belly.

"You're a little swollen," he teased.

"An' my ankles. An' my breasts. It's a funny thing what happens to a body during pregnancy."

Jack gave her a bright smile. "No worries, luv. You're th' most beautiful mother-ta-be in th' world," he touched her stomach again.

Tears immediately sprang to her eyes.

"That's it!" Jack cried. "I ain' never sayin' another nice word ta ye again!"

"I forgot ta mention that emotions go haywire when a woman is pregnant," Sunni said as Jack put the shirt on her.

"Wonderful," Jack said sarcastically, and then kissed her forehead. "Now get some rest and feel better, eh?"

The crew had the ship loaded up and ready to set sail for Port Royal. Sunni was still asleep at dinnertime, so the crew left her be.

Jack was steering the ship steady for Port Royal when Ana approached him. She stood a step behind him and studied the tips of her nails.

"Ain'tcha got work ta be doin', lass?" Jack mumbled, not taking his eyes from the horizon.

"How's Sunni?" she ignored his question.

"Still asleep."

"Ye gonna make her see a doctor once we're on shore?"

"Been thinkin' about it."

"Ye should."

Jack quirked an eyebrow. "How come ye're concernin' yourself with Sunni? Didn't think ye cared fer her that much."

Anamaria shifted uncomfortably. "She's a good lass, I suppose. Keeps you in line."

Jack actually chuckled at the veiled insult.

"But. . ."

"What is it, lass? Spit it out."

"She tol' me she was kinda scared 'bout havin' this babe."

"Scared?" Jack demanded, taking his eyes from the sea for the first time.

"She tol' me her mum died givin' birth ta her."

Jack felt his stomach drop to his knees. "Bloody 'ell," he breathed.

"Take her to a doctor."