Usual disclaimers – bah :(

With thanks to ducky, Chelsey, Josette (welcome!), RosePearl, Orli's Hot Chick, x-sparrowmysta-x (welcome!), Mrs Capt Jack Sparrow (welcome!), A Depp Girl, Miss Sophia, JHG, Mrs. Depp, Tgap Oz, and last but not least, Hils.

When's the baby due? You'll have to wait and see:-p

Chapter seventeen: 'I can just see ya scootin' up th'mast with th'babe in your arm,'

'Good luck, George,' Elias Beauchamp smiled. 'I hope that you find a suitable ship, and quickly. We can't afford to lose any more time in this war.'

'I expect to, Sir,' the captain of HMS Adventurer informed him. 'And I hope to return within the month.'

'Sooner than that, I pray,' the Commodore fretted. 'I don't like the idea of just one ship guarding Port Royal.'

'Goodbye, Sir.'

'Goodbye, George. God speed.'

Governor James Norrington stood at a window in his office and watched as the Adventurer raised anchor and started off on her quest to find an appropriate pirate ship to be converted into a ship for the King's Navy.

'Folly,' he thought to himself, shaking his head. 'I cannot believe that we are in this position – one ship between us and the pirates! One damned ship!' He walked to his desk and sat heavily, looking at the letter which he had composed to the Admiralty in London, telling them of events in the Caribbean and recommending that Elias Beauchamp be relieved of his position. 'Again!' he frowned, this having been the second occasion in a year that he had cause to write such a letter. James picked the paper up, regarding it intently before tearing it into small pieces and throwing it into a bin. 'What is the point? I'd only have to await yet another successor,' he reasoned to himself resignedly.

'I'll arrange th'men ter bring th'furniture from th'ship. At least we'll be able to anchor closer an' bring it in that way,' Jack informed his wife as they made their way back down to Patience and Shay's house.

'Well?' Jenny asked as she spotted her friends waiting outside the house with Sive and Finan.

'It's wonderful!' Patience grinned. 'Bloody wonderful - dunno how we're goin' ter fill it though.'

'I'm sure Jack can loan you some of Shay's bounty so you can buy furniture,' Jenny smiled, blithely ignoring the glare from her husband.

'It'd help,' Shay nodded, looking hopefully at Jack. 'Then Fin can pay me back his share when he starts earnin' a crust.'

'Would I owe ye for th'boat?' Fin asked Jack, wondering if he'd earn enough to support his family after paying back his dues, especially now that Sive suspected she was with child again.

'Nah. Th'boat will double up as en escape route, just in case,' Jack replied. 'Therefore it's goin' ter be a bit bigger than yer usual fishin' dory, savvy?'

'That's fine,' Fin nodded, feeling more relieved. 'It's not as if there won't be enough men to sail her,' he grinned.

'Or women,' Jenny reminded him with a wink.

'I can just see ya scootin' up th'mast with th'babe in your arm,' Jack laughed. 'Come on, let's go an' see Condent an' make this rock ours, eh?' He put his arm around Jenny's waist and led the merry band back down the winding path, well pleased with the way things were turning out.

Late June

George Farrier sat at his desk in the main cabin of HMS Adventurer silently cursing to himself. He had missed a meeting of the remaining four members of the brotherhood in San Juan by a mere day and there weren't any ships in the port worth chasing and capturing anyway. He had set a course for Tortola in the hope that there would be some pirate ships there, reasoning that now Tortuga had been all but destroyed by him and his colleagues, the pirates would be more likely to make for that town instead. Captain Farrier looked up at a knock on the door and beckoned the man in, smiling as his First Lieutenant entered the cabin.

'Sorry to interrupt, Sir,' he nodded. 'We are approaching Jost Van Dyke Island – shall we make ready the ship again?'

'Yes, Dawson – we don't want to be caught with our breeches down as it were,' Farrier agreed, his ship having sailed under her naval colours since leaving the pirate town.

'Aye, Sir.' Peter Dawson saluted smartly and marched from the cabin, leaving his captain alone once more.

'Hello to Henry Malster again,' Farrier sighed, going to a trunk and pulling out the pirate clothes of his pseudonym, placing them on his chest of drawers as he started to strip out of his naval uniform.

Jenny Sparrow looked contently out of her bedroom window at the azure sea, contemplating if Jack would be home in time for the baby's birth, which she felt was imminent. She idly watched as a ship came into view, frowning as she recognised it but couldn't think where from until she remembered that it had been in San Juan when she and Davy had come to warn Jack about the increased troops in Charlestown.

'What was his name?' she mused aloud. 'Ah yes, Malster – Henry Malster. I wonder if he'd be interested in joining the brotherhood?' Jenny pondered, swinging her legs out of bed and easing herself to a standing position. She pulled on a shift dress and padded barefoot down the stairs, panting slightly at the exertion and heat.

'Eh! What're you doin' up?' Pateince frowned as she came from the kitchen, wiping her floury hands down her apron.

'I've just seen a ship and believe the captain might be interested in joining the brotherhood. I'll send Tom or Joshamee to town to meet him.'

'What makes ya think that then?'

'Me and Davy met him in San Juan, seems a likeable enough man. He and Jack got on well.'

'I'll go down an' tell them – you stay right where ya are.'

'You tell her, Patience,' Luke grinned as he came from the study. 'You're in no fit state to be traipsing down the path, especially in this heat.'

'For goodness sake! I'm pregnant not an invalid!' Jenny protested, throwing her hands up.

'Look at you,' Luke admonished. 'You're out of breath just walking down the stairs. Now, into the sitting room with you.'

'You're worse than a nursemaid,' she pouted, stomping off as best she could out of the front door.

'I'm coming with you then,' Luke called, rolling his eyes at Patience then following the woman he regarded as a sister.

'I thought you might be,' Jenny retorted, looking sideways at him when he caught up, then slipping her hand through his offered arm. 'I'm nearly going as mad as Jack with boredom,' she complained.

'Make the most of it – your peace will be well and truly over before long.'

'I just hope the baby is as good as Erin is. Although being Jack's child, I doubt that very much,' she chuckled.

'It might take after you,' Luke suggested with a grin.

'Am I to take that as a compliment?' she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

'Yes please,' he laughed. 'I don't want to be getting on the wrong side of you when you're this big!'

'You're as bad as Jack,' she sighed, shaking her head at him. 'All men are the same.'

'I'm afraid so,' Luke smiled. 'Better get used to it.'

'I hope he's home soon,' Jenny said wistfully. 'I do miss him.'

'At least you have more company now, and someone to help you out with the baby.'

'Yes,' she smiled. 'I'm glad we all seem to be settling well, and Fin's doing well with his fishing trade already.'

'Much to the consternation of some of the others,' Luke replied.

'There won't be trouble, will there?' she asked, a little fearfully. She already loved life in Tortola and did not want to move again.

'I doubt it – Condent is keeping an eye on things from what Joshamee has told me,' he smiled reassuringly.

'Jenny, pet!' the former quartermaster of the Black Pearl beamed from the rooftop of his and Tom's house, where he was replacing roof tiles. 'What brings you down here in this heat?'

'There's a ship coming into the harbour, the Voyager, captained by a Henry Malster. Do you remember in San Juan when Davy and I came to warn you all?'

'Aye, I do,' Gibbs nodded, climbing down the ladder. 'What's so important?'

'He might be interested in joining the brotherhood – I seem to recall Jack saying his ship looked fast and he would probably jump at the chance of integrating with other pirates from around this area,' she suggested. 'Would you or Tom perhaps go into town later and invite him back here for tea?'

'Of course,' he nodded. 'I've got to go into town anyway, so it would be a pleasure.'

'Thanks, Joshamee,' Jenny smiled, reaching to kiss his cheek. 'Back up we go,' she grinned at Luke who rolled his eyes at her.

'I could have come down and passed the message on, you know,' he sighed.

'I wanted to stretch my legs,' she countered. 'Although I wish we had a pulley and hoist up the hill!'

'It'd probably break under the strain!' Luke laughed, dodging a half blow from his companion.

'Cheeky sod!' she grinned, threading her arm through his as they made their way slowly back up to her house.

'I don't think I could ever tire of this sight,' Shay sighed as he surveyed the treasures of the Isla de Muerta.

'Beautiful, ain't it?' Jack grinned with satisfaction. 'Although, ya realise a lot of this will go when I give up th'captaincy?'

'I know, I'll just have to amass my own hoard,' the Irishman chuckled. 'I will still be able ter use this place though, won't I?'

'Of course, mate,' his captain nodded. 'Best place in th'world ter hide treasure.'

'Are ya ready ter sort Mr. Gibbs' share, Cap'n?' John Williams, the new quartermaster enquired.

'Aye, just comin' Cookie. Come on, Shay. Yer goin' ter need to see what's what.'

'All right,' he nodded. 'Good job I can count better than I can read!'

'But at least ya can read now!' Jack laughed, pleased that both Shay and Patience had picked up reading and writing quickly under Jenny's guidance.

'I wonder if Jenny will have had it by th'time we get back?' Shay wondered. 'Ye won't believe how small they are when they're first born. I was terrified I'd drop Erin.'

'With those hands?' John laughed. 'Ya could practically pick th'Pearl up with those hands!'

'I just hope she's all right,' Jack sighed wistfully. It had been a wrench for him to leave her and go to San Juan for the meeting and then on to the dreaded isle where he hid his wealth. But he also loved being at sea and often wondered how he was going to cope once he gave up his beloved ship. 'Probably fish with Fin!' he thought wryly to himself.

'Captain Sparrow!'

'Eh? Sorry, John,' he shrugged ruefully. 'Miles away.'

'Aye, in Tortola no doubt,' the ship's cook chuckled.

'Don't need ter be a mind reader ter know that,' Jack replied. 'Come on, th'sooner we get this sorted, th'sooner we can head back fer home, eh?'

'I remember a time when you regarded th'ship as home,' John teased.

'It is, but so is wherever Jen is,' Jack reasoned, searching out a key from the many on a large ring and unlocking a chest, throwing it open to reveal masses of coins of all denominations. 'English coins only,' he told the others. 'Makes counting much easier.'

'Aye Cap'n,' John and Shay chorused as they made themselves comfortable on the floor of the cave and started counting out Mr. Gibbs' share of the bounty.

George Farrier did a quick check of the main deck of HMS Adventurer, now disguised as the pirate ship Voyager, hoping that nothing was amiss, either with the ship herself, or with the crew, all dressed as pirates.

'Is all well, Sir?' Peter Dawson, the First Lieutenant asked.

'Aye, all is well,' Farrier nodded. 'Especially with three ships in the harbour,' he grinned wolfishly. 'Let us hope that one of them will be leaving shortly.'

'Aye, Sir,' Dawson agreed. 'It would be even better if it was the sixteen gun schooner, there.'

'It would indeed,' his captain mused. 'Drop anchor,' he ordered. 'We don't want to get too far into the harbour – just in case.'

'Captain Malster?'

George Farrier spun around, wondering who on earth could know his alias in this pirate town. He frowned upon seeing a portly man with muttonchops approach him, hand outstretched.

'Joshamee Gibbs, former quartermaster of the Black Pearl. You met Jack Sparrow in San Juan, I believe?'

'I did,' Farrier nodded, shaking the proffered hand.

'Jenny Sparrow would like to know if you could make tea this afternoon?'

'Bloody hell fire!' the naval captain thought. 'Of course I can,' he smiled charmingly. 'Where shall I go to?'

'Do you know Wickhams Cay? The top house on the outcrop there – say around four o'clock?'

'I'll be there,' Farrier nodded. 'Thank you for passing the message on. Will Captain Sparrow be present?'

'No, he is away on business,' Gibbs informed him. 'See you this afternoon then.'

'Aye, this afternoon,' Farrier echoed, staring after the departing figure in astonishment.

'Cap'n? What was that all about?' Dawson asked as he approached his captain.

'It's strange how things turn out, Peter,' Farrier murmured, shaking his head. 'That was an invitation to tea with Jenny Sparrow…'

'Hell's teeth! They're here?'

'Living here apparently – out on Wickhams Cay, wherever that is.'

'I'll send some men to find out,' Dawson said, turning on his heel then suddenly stopping. 'Will you be going alone?'

'Yes, Sparrow isn't here and she doesn't suspect me,' Farrier grinned. 'Well, well, well,' he chuckled. 'I search for Jack Sparrow and he falls into my lap.'

'Very well, Sir,' Peter Dawson nodded, going about his errand once more.

'Captain Malster,' Jenny smiled warmly as she opened the door. 'Do come in.'

'Goodness, I hope th'midwife is to hand!' he chuckled, looking at her swollen belly. 'Thank you for your kind invitation, but I'm curious as to how you knew I was in town so quickly.'

'Come on through to the sitting room and I shall show you,' she replied as she allowed him entrance into the hallway. 'We have rather good views over the sea, I saw your ship come in and recognised it.'

'Ah,' he nodded, looked at the grand windows in the room as he entered. 'You have a good eye for ships then.'

'Yes, it's surprising how easily I seem to recognise them, considering I haven't spent that long at sea.' Jenny looked around as the door opened and Patience came in, carrying a tray. 'This is my good friend and companion, Patience Connelly. Patience, this is Captain Malster of Voyager.'

'Nice ter meet ya,' the young Tortugan woman nodded as she placed the tray containing a china tea set, on the small table between two chairs, then left the room again.

'Connelly,' Farrier thought to himself. 'Rebecca told me about… Shay Connelly, wasn't it?'

'Did you ever make it to Tortuga before it was flattened?' Jenny enquired, pouring out the tea. 'Help yourself to cake.'

'Thank you. No, I never did see Tortuga in her prime,' he lamented. 'Although I gather many of the pirates come here now.'

'Yes, most of them do,' she confirmed. 'Those who are still alive.'

'Aye, rum do, an' no mistake,' he shrugged. 'Th'damned Commodore has a lot ter answer for.'

'Indeed he does,' she sighed.

'I gather yer husband is th'leader of this brotherhood I keep hearing about?'

'He instigated it, yes. They don't have a leader as such – it's more a democratic process, as they do on the ships.' Jenny paused to take a sip of tea. 'Would you be interested in joining the brotherhood?'

'Me? I haven't been around here long enough to be trusted, surely?'

'I'm not offering you membership,' she chuckled. 'You would need to meet with the captains first – but would you be interested?'

'Of course I would!' he exclaimed. 'This just gets better and better.' 'When would I be able to meet them?'

'How long will you be staying in Tortola?'

'I'm not entirely sure yet. Why?'

'Well, they usually meet every three weeks and there was a conference last week. Maybe if you're not thinking of staying around that long, you could come back in about ten days or so, then Jack could take you to meet the others, all being well?'

'That sounds fine to me,' Farrier smiled, finishing off his slice of cake. 'Will Captain Sparrow be home soon?'

'Hopefully. He promised not to be away for too long.'

'Maybe I'll see him before I leave.'

'Hopefully,' Jenny smiled.

'Well, thank you very much for tea and for considering me.' Farrier got to his feet. 'Good luck with th'bairn an' all.'

'Thank you, Captain. Let me see you out.'

'No, no. Please, stay where you are. Good day, Mrs. Sparrow.'

'Good day, Captain Malster, maybe I'll see you before you leave?'

'I hope so,' he smiled graciously. 'I certainly hope so.'

Before you all squeal at me – I haven't had a cliffie for ages! ;)