CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: AN OLD VISITOR AND TRO-OUBLE

At the fort back at Port Royal, Governor Swann was being briefed on the Navy's latest plan to go after his daughters.

"We have set up spies in Tortuga and Jenga, two ports Sparrow is known to dock at," Norrington was saying. "They're picking up any information they can at the moment. We also have all available ships patrolling the waters, day and night. We will find them, sir, I have no question about it."

The days wore on, with Sunni growing larger and Jack growing stronger. He soon returned to the title of Captain. His shoulder was sore as hell, but he wouldn't admit it. Sunni massaged his shoulder every night. The massages mostly led to other things as well.

"We're headin' ta Tortuga," Jack informed his wife upon entering the cabin. "We can make some trades there for supplies."

Sunni frowned and stopped knitting the baby blanket. "Jack, is there any place else we could go besides Tortuga?"

The captain frowned. "Whatsa matter, luv?"

Sunni chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't know, I just have a strange feelin' that we shouldn't go back ta Tortuga fer awhile."

"Intuition?" Jack lifted an eyebrow.

She nodded.

"It'll be fine, luv. Tortuga's th' greatest, safest place in th' world. Fer a pirate, a least. 'Sides, I want ye checked by that doc again."

"Ye kinda like that lad, dontcha?"

"He's a bleedin' crook, but he'll make sure you an' our son are healthy."

"Daughter."

"Son."

"Daughter."

"Did th' psychic tell ye that?"

"No."

"Liar."

"Jack, I 'ave no idea what gender th' baby is-"

"Ship ho!" someone outside on the deck called.

"What th'-?" Jack asked and hurried for the deck. Sunni followed.

"Are we gonna attack, Cap'n?" Anamaria asked, a mischievous glimmer in her eye.

Jack frowned as he looked through the spyglass. "Hold yer fire. . . someone on th' ship's tryin' ta tell us somethin'."

Sunni took the spyglass. "Jack!" she gasped. "That's George."

"Nah," he grabbed the looking glass again.

"Yes it is!"

"Who be George?" Gibbs asked, straining his eyes toward the other ship.

"Bloody 'ell, woman, yer right," Jack exclaimed. "Make way fer th' approachin' ship! Lift th' white flag!"

"George is th' old man we met in th' tavern th' night after we got married," Sunni told Gibbs. "He's th' one who tol' us we should just stay married an' stop him-hawin' around. Said he could see we loved each other, jest by lookin' in our eyes."

"He was drunker'n a bloody frog," Jack interjected.

"But he was right, was he not?"

"Sometimes I wonder," Jack teased, earning him a light smack from his wife. He quickly smiled down at her before setting off to captain the ship.

Within minutes, the two ships were only yards apart with the Pearl's crew tossing ropes to the new ship belonging to "George."

George stood by the railing, surprisingly sober, and waved an arm to them. "Swing on over mate! Bring th' lass with ye!"

"We're gonna haul up th' plank, ol' man," Jack called back to them. "We'll be there in a second!"

The crew placed the plank off the Pearl and onto the railing of the other ship. Jack gave Sunni a hand up onto the wooden makeshift bridge and then turned back to the crew. "Ye let this ship move even one inch while milady's on th' plank, an' it'll be yer heads, ye mangy dogs," he called, severely to the crew as they clutched the ropes.

"What kind of pirate are ye, Jack Sparrow?" George demanded, hurrying to the other end of the plank, "Ye walk across a bridge like a lady instead of swingin' across like a man."

"Aw, go easy on him, George," Sunni commanded. "He's been healin' from a gunshot in th' shoulder."

Jack jumped onto the other deck and turned for his wife.

"That true, lad? Ye all right?" George asked with concern.

"Aye, I'm better'n all right," Jack lifted Sunni down using his one good arm.

"Still married, then, I take it." George scratched his head. "Th' rumor in Tortuga's part true, then."

"An' look at me radiant wife," Jack smiled proudly, placing a rough calloused hand gently on Sunni's swollen belly.

"Great God in heaven," George gasped. He seemed speechless.

"Stop standin' there with ye mouth hangin' open, an' congratulate us," Sunni prodded teasingly.

George wallowed and ran a hand through his thin grey hair. "No, Ms. Sunni. Ye don't understand. Th' rumor in Tortuga is that Jack kidnapped ye an' used ye as his own wench. They think you're pregnant by rape. I thought once I could prove ye weren't pregnant, I could lessen th' price on Jack's head."

"What is it up to by now?" Jack asked, totally unconcerned with the news.

"Jack," Sunni cried, "every mercenary from here ta Asia'll be after ye."

"Luv, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow-"

"An' I'm yer wife, pregnant with your child, who can't do this without ye!"

Jack was somewhat startled by the force and desperation in her eyes. "Darlin', deep breaths," he told her. "It ain't that bad-"

"They think ye raped me! You'll be hung-"

"If I'm caught, which I won't be."

"Then ye might want ta stop headin' toward Tortuga," George warned. "Norrington has a good number of spies stationed all over th' city, waitin' fer th' Pearl ta sail into port."

Jack frowned. "But we need rum."

George sighed. "Why don't ye two come ta th' banquet room? We'll have some vittles an' discuss this lil' problem."

"When did ye get your own ship?" Sunni asked as they traveled off of the deck.

"I used th' money Jack gave me fer th' rings," George answered.

"Wha-? What money? I thought you nicked those rings." Sunni fingered the gold band on the chain about her neck.

"Nah," Jack winked at her. "I bought 'em that night we met George."

"I love ye, Jack."

He smiled down at her again, but didn't respond.

"Go on, lad, don't hold back on my account," George hastened.

"Wha-?"

"Ye can answer 'er. I won't object," George smiled.

"He don't say th' three-worded phrase in front of others," Sunni explained. "Makes 'im uncomfortable, I think."

"What are ye talkin' about?" Jack asked.

"Nevermind," Sunni waved it off. "What are we gonna do about our current problem?"

"We'll go ta Jenga ta sell our swag," Jack said.

George shook his head. "Th' Governorr is ordered men at Jenga as well."

Jack took a deep breath. "Wonderful. We're gonna have ta backtrack ta go ta Marcellus. Don't tell me they got men there, too."

George shook his head. "Nah, they been goin' mostly south. Never thought ye'd go north."

Jack nodded. "We'll head north, then."

"Jack," Sunni interrupted. "I'm gonna write my father an' tell him we're married. Ye can't be charged with rape, then." She stood to go back to the Pearl and write the letter immediately.

"No, no! Not good," Jack's arms flailed and he took off after her. "Luv, you write that letter an' you'll be punished fer bein' a pirate's wife."

"I don't, an' your face'll be up in every harbormaster's office from Jamaica ta Maine."

Jack rubbed his temple, feeling a migraine that only Sunni's stubborn streak brought on. "George, why don't you come aboard our Pearl an' have some supper later on? I need ta talk to me wife."

George nodded. "Do ye mind if I dig through your swag an' look fer a few items ta trade?"

"Nah, c'mon over," Jack motioned, keeping an eye on Sunni's jaw.

Outside the door of Sunni and Jack's room, Gibbs, Ana, Liz, Will, George and Perch listened intently to the argument taking place inside. Occasionally, a dull thud would reverberate through the walls when Sunni would throw a book.

"This is a good one," Gibbs murmured as he chewed on a biscuit from supper.

"Aye," Anamaria nodded, leaning against the door.

"That Sunni has spirit," George commented, hearing a word screamed he had never heard from a lady's mouth before.

A bird squawked in agreement and the four turned to see Mr. Cotton behind them listening as well.

"I'm goin' ta supper," Jack growled from inside.

The crew scrambled away from the door, but not in time. Jack saw each of them, but humphed and stormed away to the mess hall.

Gibbs hesitantly made his way to the cabin door and knocked gently, "Go to hell!" came the immediate reply.

"Maybe we should just give 'em some time ta cool off," Will sighed.

Liz shook her head and knocked. "Sweety, it's me, can I-"

"Bugger off!"

"I didn't mean ta cause so much hubbub around here," George mentioned as he sat at a table with members of the crew. Jack leaned against a wall, eating standing up. He was throwing daggerous looks to anyone who approached him.

"Naw," Perch waved a piece of celery in the air. "Was bound ta happen sooner or later. Was a good thing ye brought it up now."

"Sunni's too much of a firecracker to not have some kind of huge drama erupting," Elizabeth interjected as she took a bite of cornbread.

"An' Jack's mouth runs away with him," Will pointed out.

"Aw, don't worry 'bout it," Ana smirked. "Look at how anxious he is. He'll be up in that cabin afore we're done eatin'. An' later on tonight, we'll hear 'em makin' up."

"That's my sister you're talking about!" Liz cried, as the rest of the table erupted in laughter.

Jack glared at the good-natured group smiling and carrying on at the table across the room. They weren't allowed to be happy while he was miserable. He continued to stab at the vegetable soup ferociously attacking each chunk, but not tasting anything anything as he put them to his lips. Sunni was probably hungry. . . she loved vegetable soup.

Blast! That woman occupied his entire mind. If she weren't so stubborn, the entire mess would have never happened. If she would just see that writing her father would harm her, although help. . . she just wanted to help him, she never saw the danger to herself. . .

Jack sighed and looked up around the mess hall. The only women in sight were Ana and Liz. Sunni was still upstairs. He chewed on his lip before heaving a breath and heading to the kitchen.

"Where's he goin'?" George asked as they finished supper. The table turned to watch Jack disappear into the kitchen. Moments later, he emerged carrying another bowl of soup and cornbread. The crew smirked down at the table as to not let their captain see as he passed by and made his way upstairs to his cabin.

Sunni was quietly cleaning the cabin when Jack silently entered. She was re-stacking books with her back to him. Her shoulders moved up and down, taking deep breaths to keep herself from crying. Something inside of Jack's chest clenched.

He moved behind her and reached around to set the bowl on the desk. "Hungry?"

Sunni jumped, startled, spilling a few drops of soup. She gasped and hurried for a towel. She turned her back to him again as she wiped up the mess.

Jack removed his tricorner captain hat and bowed his head. Sunni whipped around, not realizing Jack was still there and started at his humble stature. He studied his feet as if they were the most interesting specimens he'd ever set eyes on. His tricorn hat was clenched in his hands in front of him.

Sunni watched him for several seconds before drawing nearer to him. With one finger under his chin, she tipped his head up so he was forced to look in her eyes. She studied his brown, kolh-rimmed eyes for a moment that looked sincerely remorseful, and drew her lips into a small smile.

"C'mere, ye big lug."

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the scent of her hair. "I'm sorry, darlin'," he whispererd.

"Me too, luv," she whispered back.

Jack leaned down and pressed his lips to Sunni's, drinking in his wife. Their mutual tension eased from their bodies. The light, airy ended, but Jack did not release Sunni, not wanting the heel of her body against his to leave.

He gazed down at her. "You are th' most beautiful woman in th' world."

"An' th' luckiest," she replied.

"We square?" he asked.

Sunni smiled. "We're square."

Hours later, Sunni and Jack still lay entangled in each other's arms in bed. Jack was lightly tracing a finger over Sunni's bare stomach. He was enjoying the feeling of her bare skin against his as she lay in the crook of his arm, with her head resting on his shoulder.

"How much longer is th' bun gonna be in th' oven?" Jack asked, breaking the silence.

Sunni let out a laugh at his choice of words. "About four more months, why?"

"Well," Jack said. "I've been thinking. When was th' last time you were in England?"

"Oh, Jack, the last time I was there was when I was four. Father was doing business over there and Liz and I got to come along. She lived there, ye know. For about two or three years."

"I didn't know that," Jack said. "Anyways, I was thinkin' . . . how would ye like ta take another visit? That way, we can shake Norrington's men and get away for a while. Maybe let the fire die down a little."

"We can't run forever, though. I think once th' baby's born, we have ta tell dad," Sunni mumbled.

"I know, luv," Jack sighed, surprising Sunni by agreeing. "It's just th' thought of losin' ye before scared me so much."

Sunni strained her neck to look at Jack having made such an honest comment.

"Ye know, well, what ye said ta George about me not sayin' those three words?" Jack continued. "Well, just cause I don't say 'em, ye know that I still mean it, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Ye know I love ye more than anything in the world, right?"

His voice held a strong conviction that nearly drew a tear to Sunni's eye. She rolled over to face him and nodded. "I know, Jack."

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight until they fell asleep.