It would be funny if Disney were sued by a fanfac writer for infringement of her story when the film(s) come out! I wonder who would play Jenny…?

With thanks to rowenablue, Marzbar, Chelsey, ducky, Miss Sophia (why, he looks like Jack, of course!), Mrs Depp, AJ-Sparrow and Hils (of course). Let's hope the author alerts are now working on ffnet sigh

Chapter Nineteen: 'Hello, Papa…'

'Did I just hear that?' Jack wondered aloud, as his head spun around at what sounded like cannon fire in the distance.

'Aye, reckon ya did, Cap'n, suh,' Bisis agreed. 'Continue on our bearing?'

'For now,' Jack nodded, a worried frown creasing his brow. 'Keep a sharp eye,' he called to the men on duty. 'First sign of sails, I want ter know, savvy?'

'Might be pirates attackin' a merchant ship,' Pete Symmonds suggested. 'Perhaps that was th'warnin' shot?'

'Maybe,' Jack mused. 'Better be safe than sorry, eh? Especially this close ter home.'

'I wonder if yer a father yet?' Davy chipped in.

'Th'sooner we get home, th'sooner I find out,' he grinned. 'But watch for those sails…'

Nathaniel Davids, captain of the two masted sloop, the Dancing Maid, looked in alarm as the larger schooner fired a warning shot across their bow. He tried desperately to move, to make it to the helm as the helmsman keeled over, clutching his abdomen, but pain ripped through his own body and he doubled up once more. All of his crew had been striken in the same way and now only a few could move and that was to writhe in pain. The silence un-nerved Davids and he tried to speak – to call out an order to his men, but nothing came from his mouth. He looked up at the schooner again, a cold chill replacing the pain temporarily as he saw the Blue Ensign flying proudly from the top of the mast.

'Th'bastard Navy,' he thought to himself. 'They poisoned us,' and he fell to the deck, too weak to even contemplate fighting for his ship or even his life.

'Easy as pie,' Peter Dawson smiled as he surveyed the body-strewn and bloodied deck of the Dancing Maid.

'Indeed it is,' his captain, George Farrier, agreed, wiping his blade on a rag. 'Toss this lot over board,' he sneered, his compunction at killing defenceless men, long since gone.

'You heard the captain, get them over the side,' Dawson ordered, wanting the deck cleared of the bodies of the pirates as quickly as possible. 'I still cannot believe how easy it is when we use that nightshade stuff,' he chuckled.

'Aye, the bastards don't know what's hit them. Take her back to Port Royal quickly – avoiding trouble, of course.'

'Of course, Sir. What if trouble comes looking for us?'

'Deal with it as you see fit, Acting Captain Dawson,' George Farrier smiled.

'T-thank you, Sir,' the young lieutenant stammered, his face colouring with pleasure. 'Thank you very much, I shan't let you down.'

'I know you won't,' his captain smiled kindly. 'God speed.'

'You too, Sir.' Peter Dawson saluted smartly and watched as his captain and designated crew left the Dancing Maid to return to HMS Adventurer, leaving him and his designated crew to sail on to Port Royal to re-fit the ship as a naval vessel.

Two days later

The Black Pearl sailed to her anchorage just off Wickhams Cay, watched by Jenny as she sat in the arbour, feeding her child. She could hear the sound of the anchor chains being loosed as the weights drops into the sea and knew it wouldn't be too long before Jack discovered that he was a father.

'Look,' she whispered, pulling the baby away from her breast and holding him up, facing the ship. 'That's your father's ship and it will be yours when you are older,' she told him. 'You are the future captain of the Black Pearl.' Jenny laughed as the only response she got was a plaintive wail from the still hungry child.

'All right,' she sighed, good naturedly, putting him to her breast once more and nuzzling the dark downy fuzz on his head.

'Afternoon, Joshamee,' Jack called as he strode along the causeway. 'Still enjoying retirement?'

'Very much so,' the older man grinned, determined not to let on the big news. 'Tom an' Fin are out in the boat, fishing.'

'Doin' well?'

'Very well indeed.'

'Excellent see ya later,' Jack waved as he continued up the winding path.

'No doubt to wet the babes head,' Joshamee chuckled quietly.

Jack hummed to himself as he climbed, noting how much better the hillock looked now it was lived on. Someone had obviously been busy tidying up the gardens, although he doubted very much that it had been Jenny, and the houses were repaired and freshly painted.

'Jen?' he called as he pushed open the door of his house. 'Are ya here, luv?'

'She's in the arbour,' Luke smiled as he poked his head around the door of the study.

'Ah,' Jack nodded. 'Everythin' all right?'

'Yes, everything's fine,' the former surgeon assured him, wishing he could follow to see the pirate's reaction when he eventually found his wife.

Jack swaggered along the corridor, arms flinging out to the sides, and through the kitchen, grabbing an apple and biting into it as he went through the door and along the small bridge that lead to the arbour – Jenny's private space, in which only he was allowed. He crept up to the wooden structure, hoping to surprise his wife but instead he dropped the apple and found himself standing stock still as he stared at his newborn son, sitting on his mother's knee whilst she rubbed his back to burp him.

'Hello, Papa,' Jenny chuckled, turning the child around so Jack could get a better look at him.

'Wha…? When…? Are ya all right?' Jack gabbled, not moving an inch as he continued to stare.

'Two days ago, yes we are, and you have a son, Captain Sparrow.'

'Bloody hell, Jen!' he gasped, a wonderous smile spreading across his face. 'My son?'

'Yes,' she smiled. 'Why don't you come closer and get to know him?'

Jack crossed the arbour in one stride and sat besides her, not taking his eyes off the child. 'He's… beautiful,' he whispered.

'Do you want to hold him?'

'What!'

'You won't drop him. Yours are the safest hands I know – apart from Luke's.' Jenny handed the contented child to his father, laughing as Jack looked more nervous than she had ever seen him.

'Are you all right, Jenny Wren?' he asked as he tenderly stroked the baby's cheek with a rough, calloused finger.

'I'm fine, now that you're home,' she sighed happily, leaning against Jack's shoulder. 'What are we going to call him?'

'Joshua. Joshua John Sparrow,' Jack declared.

'Joshua Sparrow,' Jenny murmured, nodding her approval. 'I like that.'

'Good,' Jack grinned, leaning down and kissing her lips. 'Thank you fer my son.'

'It's a pleasure,' she smiled, savouring their first moments as a family. 'Luke is going to stay with Shay and Patience while you're on shore leave.'

'That's good of him,' Jack smiled, cradling Joshua in his arms as he gained confidence. 'I'll have ter take him to meet th'Pearl.'

'I've already shown her to him,' Jenny chuckled. 'When you dropped anchor.'

'I'm goin' ter kill Gibbs!' Jack suddenly stated. 'He never said a bloody word – neither did Luke come ter that!'

'It would have been more than their lives were worth,' she replied. 'I threatened to keelhaul anyone who let the cat out of the bag.'

'You'd make a fearsome captain,' he laughed. 'But you'll make th'best one yet,' he murmured to his son.

'Come on, time he had a sleep and I could do with a lie down as well.'

'Mind if I lie with ya?'

'Only lie for now,' she said, regretfully.

'I know – I won't push it, luv.'

'I know,' she smiled, kissing him once more. 'Thank you.'

'My family,' Jack murmured as he handed his son back to Jenny and wrapped his arm possesively around her waist as they walked slowly back over the bridge to the house.

Jenny lay on her bed watching Jack as he hovered over the cradle containing their son, smiling at the scene.

'You're awake,' he smiled as he glanced up and noticed her watching him. 'Didn't disturb ya, did I?'

'No,' she shook her head. 'I've been sleeping lightly the past couple of days, waiting for his lordship to wake, I suppose.'

'He's perfect,' Jack whispered as he took a last look at his son and re-joined his wife in bed, cuddling up to her.

'He is,' she smiled but with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

'Aye,' Jack nodded. 'John was perfect as well.'

'Thank you for giving him John's name. It means a lot to me.'

'I know, luv.'

'Oh!' Jenny exclaimed. 'I have something to tell you!'

'Oh gawd – what's happened now?'

'I think I can bring Farrier to you.'

'Eh? You what?' Jack sat up and stared down at Jenny. 'How?'

'You remember in San Juan when we met Malster and I thought I recognised his ship?'

'Aye…'

'It was the naval ship that Davy and I saw on the way there – that's why there was no sign of it when we neared San Juan.'

'How do you know an' how can ya deliver Farrier to me?'

'I invited Malster for tea, asked him if he'd be interested in joining the brotherhood. He's, hopefully, coming back here next week. He left the following morning and as the ship turned starboard, I recognised it as the Navy ship – same rigging and lines. He was also following the wake of another ship that had left Tortola not half an hour before.'

'It's not necessarily th'same ship – you saw the Navy ship at a distance with th'sun in yer eyes.'

'Jack…' she pressed. 'I'd stake my life on it.'

'Hmm… he's comin' back here?'

'Hopefully,' she nodded.

'Davy can look properly at th'ship when she berths, see if he recognises her as well,' Jack mused. 'Disguise, eh?'

'It seems that way. You'd never take them for Navy to look at them – but it has to be.'

'Maybe…'

'Have you heard how the attack on Port Royal went?'

'Disasterously, if yer a pirate,' he sighed. 'Although th'Navy are down ter two ships now… why would he come out here then, an' attack pirate ships?' Jack murmured more to himself. 'Surely they're not that stupid… unless…'

'Unless what?'

'Unless he doesn't want to attack a ship, but take it over. What sort of ship left before them, do you know?'

'A two masted sloop,' Jenny informed him.

'Fast one then,' he pondered. 'Have ya told Condent?'

'Luke said not to. He reasoned that Condent would go after Malster and if it really is Farrier then he would be scared off.'

'Good man,' Jack chuckled. 'We'll make a pirate of him yet. All right – we'll see what next week brings. Good girl,' he smiled, leaning back down and kissing her deeply. 'I'm proud of ya,' he murmured between kisses.

Jack walked along the quiet deck of his ship, his son dozing in his arms. Many of the crew were still suffering the effects of wetting the baby's head the previous night, hence the lack of noise amongst the few on board.

'All this will be yours one day,' he murmured as he showed the three-day old child around. 'You'll be Captain Joshua Sparrow.' Jack stood by the helm and took a tiny hand, placing it on a spoke. 'You'll stand here an' guide th'Pearl to new horizons – maybe places even I haven't been before. Th'whole world will be different by then. Who knows, ya might not be a pirate but a respectable seaman,' he sighed. 'Th'golden age of pirates is comin' to an end. We might defeat Beauchamp but it's getting' harder to fight th'Navy an' harder ter find easy targets ter hit, so if you don't want ter be a pirate, that's all right by me, my son.' Jack chuckled as Joshua grizzled and held him closer, jigging him up and down until he settled again then went and leaned against the capstan, staring out to sea with his son in his arms.

'If yer enemies could see ye now, they'd burst their sides laughing,' Shay teased as he climbed aboard and spied his friend.

'I know,' Jack lamented, smiling sheepishly. 'I never knew I would feel this way about my child.'

'Hmm,' the Irishman agreed. 'It's a love like no other.'

'Aye, that is is, young Mr. Connelly. You can have th'ship fer a week. I want to stay with Jen an' this one.'

'Eh?' Shay spluttered. 'Are ye sure?'

'Very,' Jack grinned. 'Ya know enough about captaining her now, an' th'crew will help ya out if needs be.'

'Bloody hell! I think I'll just sail around th'Virgin Isles fer th'next week then.'

'No ya bloody well won't!' Jack warned. 'You're not in any danger from th'Navy – even if Malster really is Farrier. I doubt he'd be foolish enough to attack anyone this close to getting to th'brotherhood.'

'Maybe yer right,' Shay agreed. 'Thank ye for trusting me this much.'

'Who'd have thought it, eh? That day ya tried ter rob me on th'road to Droitwich.'

'Aye,' Shay chuckled. 'I never imagined how much my life would change when I drew my dagger on ye.'

'Good job you were a rubbish footpad,' Jack teased.

'I'm a better pirate,' came Shay's riposte.

'That's true enough, an' you'll make a good caretaker until this one here is old enough ter take over.'

'I take it he'll be joinin' th'crew when he's older?'

'Aye, when he's about nine or ten.'

'An' any other sons ye might have?'

'Yes, them too,' Jack chuckled. 'A ship full o'Sparrers,' he laughed.

'An' Connelly's,' Shay chipped in. 'Gawd help th'seven seas!'

'You reckon yer Erin an' my Josh…?' Jack winked.

'Bleedin' hell, Jack! Yer marryin' them off already?' Shay spluttered. 'Although I have ter say, Patience has said much th'same thing,' he chuckled. 'Then added that it'd be over her dead body…'

'I'm sure that could easily be arranged,' Jack laughed, along with his friend. 'I better get this one back to his mother – she'll be goin' spare.'

'Probably enjoyin' th'peace an' quiet,' the younger man smiled. 'Heaven knows, she's not goin' ter get much now she's got Joshua.'

'She never had much anyway with me around,' Jack laughed as he made his way across the deck to where he had moored the smallest of the ship's boats. 'See ya later, Captain Connelly,' he called as he carefully climbed down, clutching his precious bundle close to him.

'Bloody hell,' Shay swore, thinking he would never get used to the title as he looked around what was now his command, albeit temporarily.

Authors note:

Nightshade, whilst not fatal to adults, makes them very ill and a peculiar symptom in those poisoned by Belladonna or Nightshade is the complete loss of voice, together with frequent bending forward of the body. With thanks to Pendragginink for all her help on the subject…