What Is and What Will Never Be
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not and cannot obtain ownership of POTC 1, 2, or 3…
"Jade?" Jack inquired, as he felt her rise, though it was still just dawn. He watched her tie her robe around her.
"I feel that I should see if everything's ok."
"With Elizabeth?"
Jade nodded briefly.
"Ye think, uh…ol' Will'll be…?"
"Oh, I hope he's alright. Perhaps…no—I'll go in, and then maybe, you can diverge him?"
"Aye", Jack answered. "But I've some business to attend to…"
"Jack…", Jade responded warning.
Jack shook his head. "Go on—I'll be there in a tic."
Jade gave Jack a last glance before she started down the cool, quiet hall.
She thought intently of Elizabeth, noting the exhausted state she was in the afternoon and evening before. She remembered Will's anxious face very freshly in her mind. And she hoped that Elizabeth would have strength enough to deliver the baby. She noticed all the time how dans l'amour Will and Elizabeth were. Then she thought of Jack, and suddenly a vivid picture of what happened last night flashed through her mind.
She felt lips against hers, and sighed; in her mind it clicked that it must be Jack, for he always snuck up behind her. Yet the kiss was different…she disregarded the feeling however. Then terrible, disgusted shock hit her, and it felt like ice cubes were going down her back when she realized who it was that had actually done that to her…
She shivered as she remembered these moments. It was kiss—just a kiss. A simple, meaningless, mistaken kiss. Yet she felt injured and betrayed, and especially used by someone she thought could be trusted. He was in the navy, after all. A pompous military man. But she hadn't even known him! Only through association with Belle, her dearest companion. Oh, poor Belle! The unexpected kiss, Jade knew, would hurt Belle more than anything. Jade felt sick to her stomach as all these thoughts swirled through her head.
Continuing on, she suddenly heard someone approaching, and gasped as she saw James.
"Good…" he started, but upon seeing him, Jade visibly shuddered, an alarmed look on her face.
"Miss, again I apologize for last night—"
"Don't!" Jade cried. "Nothing vous can say can excuse all the harm you've caused!"
She hurriedly walked passed him, not slowing down until she reached Will and Elizabeth's quarters. Her delicate hand, now shaking, touched the door handle. She took a deep breath, trying to erase every fear from her mind, as she let herself in.
Will was seated in a chair near the bed, his head in his hands. The midwife was standing over Elizabeth, talking calmly to her.
"Est elle…?
"Oui--très bientôt", she responded to Jade.
Jade turned around, hearing the door, and gave an audible sigh of relief when she saw Jack.
"Jack", she said as she came to him, and whispered, "She'll be going into labor soon." She looked back at Will, still in the same state.
Jack winked reassuringly at her. "I'll handle 'im."
Jack noticed that Jade didn't smile back, and she appeared unsettled.
"Ye alright, love?", he asked concernedly. He took her still shaking hands. "Jade…"
She didn't answer.
"I brought ye some tea; perhaps that'll calm yer nerves…", Jack attempted, but Jade refused.
"Jack, I can't talk right now—s'il vous plait, see to Will", she said vaguely, and went over to Elizabeth.
Jack eyed her for a moment. 'Obviously somethin's amiss…an' I'm damn sure it's to do with that Norrington'
Jack grew furious—he was eager to blast the bejesus out of him! …but how, without anyone noticing?
He reluctantly decided he would have to deal with it later, for he saw poor Will.
"What's the matter, Will, me lad?" Jack asked.
Will looked up exhaustedly at him.
"Jesus, mate, looks like ye haven't slept in days." Jack gasped. "Ye didn't jus' realize you were a eunuch, did ye?"
"Damn you, Jack!" Will cursed, trying to throw a punch at him angrily, yet he couldn't resist a laugh.
"Jack, do you realize what's happening here? Cause I don't!"
Without waiting for an answer, Will went over to the bedside.
Elizabeth let out a pained breath.
"Come on dear, breathe...breathe. There…"
Will clutched her hand. Jade was holding her other hand.
"Will", she said, and bit her lip.
He gently kissed her forehead, and asked the midwife, "How much longer?"
Elizabeth suddenly cried out.
The mademoiselle looked at Will, and said, "Now."
"Will, let's get some fresh air", Jack said, and pulled Will out of the room before he could react. Jade gave Jack an indicative glance.
"Jack—Damn! Let me go!" Will protested as they went on the porch.
"Will, calm down mate!" he said, putting his hands on his shoulders. "Tea?"
Will growled fiercely at him.
"Guess today's not a day fer tea…"
"Jack! She wants me in there--!"
"Just tell me mate…"
"What!"
"Do you undyingly love Elizabeth?"
"Yes! What the--?"
"Do you hate Norrington?"
"Well…"
"Alright, then, off ye go!" Jack said cheerfully, obviously getting the answers he wanted.
Will looked a tad confused, but set off at a quick pace back to his wife.
Jack stood for a moment, pondering, and then he went into the galley, finding Jade.
"Will's in there…" she said, her voice quivering slightly.
"Jade, tell me what the bloody hell's botherin' ye. Ye know I'm goin' to give Norrington a piece of my mind… "
"Jack!" she suddenly cried, running into his arms. He held her quietly as she wept. "Je ne sais pas…what to do."
"It's all Norrington's fault…sshh…" he gently quieted her. "I love you, Jade. I won't see any harm come to ye…especially by someone as mentally bothered as him."
Jack brushed the tears off her cheeks.
"J'adore vous aussi, Jack", she said.
He gently kissed her.
"He's done so much just by….by…" she paused. "Will and Elizabeth can't know!"
"Aye."
"Jack, I bumped into him this morning, and I was a wreck…"
"I could tell, darling", he said, putting his hands around her waist. "I can't believe you had to go through all this, love. Where is he?"
"I…I don't know. I ran away from him…I'm sorry."
"Jade, the only one who should be on his hands an' knees apologizing an' begging fer life is he. I'll find him, an' when I do…"
Jade stayed in his embrace for a few moments, saying, "I feel so safe avec vous, Jack. I don't want to let you go."
He kissed her, then stepped back, and handed her the cup of tea he had offered her before, that was now sitting on the counter.
"I want you to go to our quarters, and drink all of this, and when I return, I'll stay with you."
She smiled faintly, and obliged.
"Elizabeth, darling…" Will murmured reassuringly to her.
"Très bien, mademoiselle. Alright…."
Elizabeth breathed in and out one last time….
As a scream and crying was heard, Jade set down the cup of tea, and ran to where the sound was coming from.
With panting breath, she reached Will and Elizabeth's quarters, running into Jack on the way.
Elizabeth sat up in bed, looking worn out, and Will looked ecstatic, gently placing a kiss on his wife's lips.
The midwife came to Elizabeth, holding a small bundle in her arms, then placed the bundle into Elizabeth's arms.
"Oh, Elizabeth!" Jade exclaimed.
Elizabeth smiled at her. She brushed a strand of her away from her face, and gazed at her baby girl.
"Will", she called softly, and handed him the baby.
"Oh…" he sighed, as he admired the cooing baby in his arms. "You're as beautiful as your mother."
The baby smiled her happy, toothless grin as she looked at her father. Will gave her back to her beaming mother, who beckoned to Jade and Jack.
"Oh, such a beau petite ange…" Jade said, putting her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder.
"Aye", Jack said. "Congratulations, Miss Swann. Eh, Will!"
The two men spoke aside from the women. "Congratulations, mate", Jack said, shaking his hand.
"Well, thank you Jack."
"Guess this means yer not eunuch after all? Blast!"
After a few minutes of relieving chatter, the midwife, after having Elizabeth settled, left after receiving thanks, and Jack and Jade left Will and Elizabeth to have some peace.
"Oh, I'm so happy for them", Jade sighed, as she and Jack walked out onto the balcony, feeling the cool, morning breeze.
"Indeed…", he responded, and glanced at Jade, who was gazing thoughtfully at the horizon.
"Jade."
"Hmm?"
"You're not going to want…uh, any…children…are you?"
"Jack!" she exclaimed, hitting him on the arm playfully.
"Well, love….", Jack urged her on slowly. What if she did want children? She was a woman after all, with maternal instincts…and the way she acted in there…But he, a father? No! He was a scallywag pirate! Yes, he had to admit that Jade had calmed his previous piratical instincts…but…
"Truthfully, Jack?", she interrupted his thoughts. "No."
He felt relief flood through him.
"We still have so many adventures to live through, Jack! Pursuing more ships, like the one we pillaged on the way here…That was terribly amusing…and going to different islands, and…." She paused. "With un bébé, we couldn't do that. At least not right now."
"Well, good", Jack responded as he put his hands on her waist and kissed her.
"Did you find le Commodore?", Jade asked suddenly.
Jack turned stern. "No. I haven't an idea where he is. I went through the bloody house too. He better 'ave thought correctly an' high-tailed it outta here…or he'll have to face death."
Elizabeth stroked the little girl's slight hair. She was sleeping now.
"Such a perfect angel, isn't she, Will?"
"Yes, darling", he said.
"She's so peaceful", Elizabeth laughed as Will sat on the bed next to her. She yawned. "That makes me want a nap."
"You deserve one, love", Will murmured. "Would you like me to put her…?"
"No, we'll sleep together", Elizabeth smiled.
"Alright."
"No—Will, don't leave!"
"Oh, darling, I shan't; I'll be right back", he said, giving her a swift kiss.
She watched him slyly, wondering where he was off to, then began to rock her baby, who was starting to wake.
James closed the door silently behind him, and started to continue on, but froze when he heard voices. He looked around the corner.
'That pirate and Miss Rochet…' He started to feel horribly again, but brushed away these thoughts as he made his way quietly passed their turned backs.
'Knock, knock, knock'
Elizabeth looked at the door in confusion. "You needn't knock; come in!" she called.
Expecting to see her husband, she was surprised to see none other than Commodore Norrington.
"Oh, Commodore", she said, sitting up slightly and adjusting the covers. "What a surprise to see you. I received word from father that you were to come."
She smiled at him, but he didn't answer.
"Would you like to see my baby?" she asked, hugging her gently to her chest.
"Miss Swann", James started slightly nervously, rubbing hid hands together. "Congratulations."
"Thank you. She's so beautiful, isn't she?" Elizabeth beamed.
"Yes", he sighed as he walked closer to her, and broke a smile.
"Will is so happy. We're thinking of a name."
James looked at Elizabeth, happily rocking her baby.
'Lovely Elizabeth…you're so happy. You love your husband; you love your baby…what am I doing here? I love my wife…don't I? I shouldn't cause unneeded trouble...'
To Be Continued….
(Sigh) I think that was my longest chapter yet!
Dans l'amour: in love
Est elle: Is she?
Très bientôt: very soon
Je ne sais pas: I don't know
Aussi: too
Beau petite ange: Beautiful little angel