Thanks to all my reviewers, i love you! i'm having a lot of trouble with my internet, so i'm trying to update as best as i can. But for all of you who were waiting for this, here it comes---

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: THE BIG DAY

The Pearl was making decent time back to Tortuga. Jack unbelievingly watched Sunni grow bigger and bigger with his child. It got to a point when he was afraid to let her do anymore than sit and read for a fear of her toppling from being top-heavy. It wasn't that their child was so big, just that Sunni, herself, was so small.

Liz and Sunni would often sit and knit or sew clothes for their children, and blankets. Jack found the socks to be the cutest.

They were about two weeks away from Tortuga and Sunni was alone on her hammock. A sudden cramp assaulted her stomach and she bit her lip. "Johnny, will you run and get Mr. Gibbs, please?"

Her nephew stood and ran to do as he was told. The old man with graying hair soon appeared. "Ay, Mrs. Sparrow? How are ye?"

"I-I think I just had a contraction," she whispered.

Gibbs smiled and shook his head. "Nothin' ta worry about, little lady. It's just false labor pains. Happens usually a few weeks before givin' birth. Ye got plenty of time. Just relax and stay off yer feet."

Sunni smiled, reassured, and nodded. Gibbs went back to work.

That night, Jack tied up the wheel and went to his cabin and collapsed into bed. Sunni was already asleep next to him. He rolled onto his side and pushed some hair out of Sunni's face and kissed her on the forehead, before falling into a dreamless sleep.

The peaceful night, however, was interrupted when Sunni shot up in bed, gasping for breath.

"Jack. Jack!" she shook him. "Wake up, Jack."

Jack moaned and rolled over. "It's not time to wake up yet, is it?"

"Jack," she gasped. "I think I'm in labor!"

Jack looked at her, his eyes growing huge before shooting up in bed. "What!"

"Get Mr. Gibbs," she said, holding her stomach with two hands. She squeezed her eyes shut. "An' Elizabeth."

Jack scrambled out of bed, fighting to untangle himself from the sheet and rushed for the door. He was only wearing his trousers, but didn't seem to care. As he made his way down the hall, he banged on doors. "Wake up, ye scabbardous dogs!" he shouted. Men poured out of their room, yawning and rubbing their eyes. "Haul up the anchor! Open sails! Sunni's in labor!"

Upon this piece of information, the men scrambled around to ready the ship for sailing. Jack threw open his first mate's door and hauled him out of bed, not bothering to explain what was going on.

"What in God's name?" the old man shouted, as Jack drug him down the hall toward their cabin. He opened the door and pushed him in. Liz was already there, holding Sunni's hand.

"She's in labor!" Jack shouted.

Gibbs took a breath. "Okay, okay, everybody jes' calm down. Sunni, it's probably just false labor pains like ye had this afternoon."

"This afternoon?" Jack demanded.

"I don't think so, Mr. Gibbs," Sunni said, through clenched teeth. "I think my water just broke."

Gibbs' eyes grew larger. "Okay," he said. "I need a knife, some hot water, an' lots of clean towels and blankets."

"Are ye serious?" Jack demanded. "Yer goin' ta deliver this baby on th' ship?"

"Do ye suggest we throw her overboard?" Liz asked, sarcastically.

Jack threw her a look.

"Go on," Gibbs pushed him out the door to gather the supplies.

Anamaria met him at the door. "What's going on?" she demanded.

"Sunni's in labor. She's havin' th' baby now," Jack explained, heading to the kitchen. Ana followed to help him carry the materials.

"Who's steerin' th' ship?" Jack suddenly demanded before they walked back in the room.

"Will," Ana answered.

"William? Th' whelp?"

"He knows what he's doing," Ana said, moving past him into the room.

Inside, Sunni let out a shrill scream. "It hurt's, Jack!" she cried.

Jack swallowed hard, and moved to her side and took her hand. "I'm right, here, luv. Jes' do what Gibbs tells ye, an' I'll be right outside th' door-"

Sunni grasped Jack's hand hard and grabbed his hair with the other hand, pulling him back beside her.

"Or, I'll stay right here," he murmured, falling back to her side.

Liz wiped the sweat from Sunni's forehead. "Just keep breathing, Sunni. You're doin' fine."

Jack was at a loss. He didn't know what to do or say. Just seeing her in this pain was killing him. And her grip on his hand was also killing him.

"All right, there's going to be another contraction," Gibbs warned. "But then ye'll have a rest. Now remember to keep breathing, okay?"

Sunni nodded, but then tensed as a wave of pain washed over her.

"Breathe, Sunni," Gibbs commanded.

"C'mon, sis, ye have ta breathe!" Liz cried.

Jack looked back and forth and finally leaned down next to Sunni's ear and whispered, "In. . . an' out. In. . .. an' out." He continued chanting until her breathing followed his command and she relaxed when the contraction was over.

"Okay, ye can relax fer a while," Gibbs said, lowering the sheet that was over her legs. "Ye may be uncomfortable as ye open up ta allow the baby through, but there won't be any contractions for a while. Jack, ye can go out and give orders to th' crew."

Jack seized the opportunity to leave the room and gave Sunni a quick kiss before leaving. Gibbs followed him out.

"Ay, Jack," Gibbs whispered in a hushed voice. "This is going to take a while. She's going to be in labor for a long time. Does she have th' strength?"

"Of course," Jack said, faltering only a little.

"She's goin' ta be in pain. I just wanted ta warn ye."

Jack nodded and left for the helm. He continually took deep breaths until his thinking was back to normal. Will was at the wheel, looking at a compass of his own.

Jack checked the coordinates and patted Will on the shoulder for doing a good job.

"How's Sunni?" Will asked, fighting with the wheel for a second before regaining control.

Jack sighed. "Gibbs says it'll take a while, she'll be in pain, an' hopes she 'as th' strength."

Will let out a breath. "That's reassuring," he said sarcastically.

"She'll be fine," Jack said to himself.

"Of course she will be."

"Cap'n," Perch climbed the stairs to the wheel's deck. "Th' main sail ripped."

Jack let out a low curse. "Lower th' anchor and take th' sail down quickly. Th' spare's down in the holds. Fetch it and raise it an' then we make way again."

Perch left to distribute the orders.

Will nudged Jack. "You ought to walk th' decks and give orders. It'll keep your mind occupied and keep the men focused."

Jack nodded and left for the lower decks. Slowly, his mind recovered its normal thinking patterns. He began splitting up the men into three shifts, so that some could sleep, but the ship was always moving. He issued orders, and kept moving, ignoring his exhaustion.

Finally, he worked his courage up and returned to his quarters to check on his wife. "Holy hell, where did all th' blood come from?" he demanded upon entering.

"Me," Sunni answered, weakly.

Jack fell to her side again, stroking her cheek. "How are ye, luv?"

"I'm gettin' tired, Jack," Sunni cried.

"Sunni, another contraction's coming," Gibbs warned.

She took a deep breath and Jack took her hand.

"One, two, three," Gibbs began counting, and Sunni squeezed Jack's hand harder and harder, until finally, it passed.

"How long have I been doin' this?" she panted.

"Goin' on four hours, now," Elizabeth sighed.

"It's almost morning," Jack told her, smoothing her sweaty hair from her face. "An' you're beautiful."

Liz smiled. She had never seen Jack like this.

Sunni laughed. "I'm sure I'm beautiful right now."

"Ye have no idea."

"Well," Gibbs interrupted. "Rest yer eyes, Sunni, ye might have time fer a little nap afore th' next contraction."

Sunni swallowed and nodded. She laid her head back and closed her eyes. Jack kissed her forehead again, and took back off to captain his ship.

"Cap'n," a young man, Jack knew him as Harry, ran up to him. "Some of th' men, well, we were talkin'. We can get ta Mikhale in less than two days if we haul out th' sweeps. It ain't a friendly port, but we can at least find a doctor."

Jack lifted an eyebrow. "Th' men are willin' ta row ta Mikhail?"

"Yes, sir."

Jack took off for the deck. "Listen up, men!" he thundered. All hands turned toward their captain. "Harry has informed me that some of ye have volunteered ta man th' sweeps ta get us to Mikhale." He paused. "Now, I can't order ye ta do this. It goes beyond call of duty."

"We'll do it for Sunni, Cap'n," a voice called out.

"Aye!" the rest responded.

Jack nodded. "It's settled, then. Perch!" he called.

"Aye, Cap'n!"

"Yer group'll start out on th' sweeps. Then ye'll rotate an' take a rest, savvy?"

"Aye, aye!"

"Will!" Jack called to the helm.

He was already awaiting orders.

"Take us thirty degrees to th' west," he ordered.

Jack now split his time between the galley and the deck, thundering orders and even taking on more of the lower duties that the captain didn't perform when necessary. He also had a hard time staying away from his cabin. As much as he hated seeing his wife in pain, he couldn't stay away from her when she needed him.

"How's it goin'?" Jack asked, striding into the cabin for the second time in a half an hour.

"Jack, I said I would get you when it was time," Liz said, trying to shove him out of the room.

"No, Liz, please," Sunni panted. "I want ta see him."

Jack fell to his knees next to Sunni on the bed and took her hand. "How we doin', luv?"

Sunni's hair was soaked with sweat. "I think I've seen hell."

Jack laughed and wiped her forehead.

"How many hours has this child been tryin' ta get outta me?" Sunni cried.

"Seven hours."

Sunni moaned.

"Hey," Jack said, deciding she needed some good news. "Th' men volunteered ta haul out th' sweeps ta get ye ta Mikhale so we can get a doctor."

"But Jack," she said. "Yer wanted in Mikhale, an'-"

"Sh," he hushed her. "It's no matter. All ye need ta worry about right now is you an' our son, savvy?"

Sunni smiled, her eyes betraying her exhaustion. "Daughter."

Again, Jack laughed, keeping her spirits up.

"Jack," Gibbs said, "She has a while before th' next contraction. Let's let her rest, eh?"

Jack nodded and the two men stood up. Outside the door, Jack cornered Gibbs.

"How is she?"

"She's losin' blood an' her womb isn' openin' up very much. It's goin' ta take time. She's just so small. . ."

Jack sighed. "Not exactly what I wanted ta hear, mate."

Gibbs patted Jack on the shoulder. "She's gonna be fine."

The hours wore on, however, and no progress was made. The ship moved steadily to their destination, but they were a day and a half away from land. Sunni was wearing down and Jack wasn't holding up much better, either. He was forcing down a sandwich at lunch (because Anamaria was making him) when Johnny found him.

"Uncle Jack," the boy said, his speech improving by the day. "Mommy wants you in yer room." Johnny took Jack's pinky finger and dragged him away.

Jack exploded into the room, thinking that the baby was finally coming. However, nothing was happening.

"Jack," Gibbs said. "The baby's not moving. In order to get it on it's way, Sunni's gotta move."

"So turn her on her side," Jack commanded, throwing his arms around.

"We already tried that," Elizabeth said. "She needs to stand and walk around."

"Are ye insane!" Jack and Sunni yelled simultaneously.

"She's weak enough already, how is this gonna help?" Jack demanded.

"If she don't walk around, it could take much longer, an' she'd be even weaker ta push."

Jack sighed. "All right, luv," he looked to Sunni. "I'm gonna support ye."

"You always do," she sighed, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. Jack wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to her feet. She was indeed weak, and Jack had to hold her up. He put her arm around his neck and moved forward.

"Keep breathin', darlin'," Jack said, his voice much more confident than he was feeling.

Sunni moaned and clutched her stomach.

"One foot in front of th' other," he encouraged. "Here we go, keep walkin'."

"Oh, God, Jack, this is NOT fun," she cried.

"Luv, if I could do this for ye, I would," Jack told her, rubbing her back.

Liz and Gibbs watched in amazement as Jack cared for his wife. They both knew he loved her very much, but he was always careful not to show it in public. Now, he was here, right before their eyes, giving her love and support, and suffered with her.

"Jack, I think I feel a contraction coming," she warned.

Jack turned her toward him, and held her waist while she clung to his neck, a wave of pain washing over her. Jack could feel her entire body tensing and he clung to her, as well, feeling like if he let her go, she would leave him.

"Okay, I think that's enough," Gibbs decided when the contraction was over. "Let's get you back in bed and see if that lil' guy's comin'."

"It's gotta be a girl," Sunni countered, falling into bed. "Women take much more time to get ready."

Jack laughed, happy to see his wife still had a sense of humor.

"Jack, you can probably go back outside," Liz told him.

Jack sighed. "How long have we been awake?"

"Nineteen hours."

Jack rubbed his eyes. "I need some sleep," he muttered.

"Our room is open," Liz offered.

"Mine, too," Gibbs said.

"So is ours," Sunni mumbled.

Jack looked up at her. His one eyebrow shot up in a question.

Sunni smiled weakly. "Ye know ye can't sleep without me next to ye." She patted the bed next to her.

"Sunni," Liz started, "I don't think-"

"Bugger off, Liz," Sunni shot back.