Chapter 3

She woke again to his pacing. Even though she'd been married to him for six months she had his habits down pat. He always shook when something worried him, but when he kept pacing about the room he was troubled, and even more so now that he left his own bed and the comfort of her body so that he could pace. He was so predictable.

"James," she said sitting up now agitated. If he was going to sea at the crack of dawn she wanted him to hold until the last possible moment. She was hating these mood swings. Angry at him one moment, positively losing it in his arms the next, she sighed. He ignored her. "James something is wrong, tell me what is it," he stopped and looked at her.

"Isolde, never mind," he tried brushing her off, gently, but she persisted. This is what had James afraid. Her; of having a family, becoming a father, it scared him beyond belief. It was something he wasn't to fond of. Having turned his back on his own family, he was afraid his child would do that, or worse himself. But as Isolde had so bluntly put it, he was in a way.

He recalled the feuding he had done with his own family. The fighting, everything, until his father had, had enough of it and enlisted his son in the navy. To this very day James despised what his father had done to him. The only reason he had stayed, was that by the time he had served his time, sailing was the only thing he knew to do, and better on with the navy, rather than some merchant.

It hadn't taken the other admirals and the governor long to hear of his wife's condition, in fact they were both shocked he was willing to go to sea rather than stay with his wife.

Isolde was having conflicts of her own at the moment. A) She was freaking out about the fact her husband wasn't going to be here when she really needed him. B) She was worried about these mood swings…Jack…her family….everything. As she lay in the warm bed with him, his arm draped over her protectively, she listened to him breathe. A tear slipped from her face. Oh, Jack, poor Jack…

She tossed in his arms all night losing sleep, restless and frightened. She knew they would not let her pregnancy go unnoticed. And her marriage to the Admiral, most indefinitely, the worst part was he was to know nothing about them. But with him gone and Jack here, they might be safe…for a little while longer.

"Jack!" someone hissed cocking back the hammer of the flintlock. Jack started, looking up. His face paled seeing him. This wasn't supposed to happen! What was he doing here! And Isolde! She married a naval officer!

"What do you want you dirty bludger!"

"Shut-up!" the gun was level with the center of his forehead. "We're watching you Jack, don't think we don't know," with that the visitor left. Jack fell against his pillows; they'd been threatening him for years…this was no different. But then again his wife was also married to a naval officer. Jack groaned. Dammit! Why is it she's always the one in trouble? Always the one to rescue her! Jack groaned again watched his visitor leave before he reached for his shirt, they never could threaten a person directly.

Out on the great lawn of the Admiral's estate, a lone archer stood with his long bow drawn back the letter rolled around it. She'd ignore it if a page delivered it. He smiled releasing the arrow. They'll pay; oh they'll pay, dearly….

The unmistakable shatter of glass and the light hiss of the arrow sailed past her landing on the wall opposite. Isolde screamed startled, James on the other hand reached for the flintlock and ran to the balcony. Isolde jumped up for the arrow taking down the shot and ripping from it the scroll of parchment.

Her face paled at the words. James turned back inside the room. Her eyes were as wide as anything he'd seen before, and all the blood had drained form her face. James' brow furrowed un-cocking the flintlock.

Simply written was "Remember your loyalties."

Jack grumbled to himself riding up on the lawn with his horse, Cardinal. The roan chestnut had its own mind and didn't care if he threw his rider. Jack grumbled again. Looking up he saw the balcony door open, so they delivered their threat to her already? Jack scoffed.

"Commodore!" James looked startled; he ducked back out on the balcony, to see a man waving at him from atop a horse. "She wasn't hurt, was she?" James looked at him oddly.

"What the?" Isolde looked up from her screaming long enough to realize who her husband was talking to. She ran past him leaning over the railing she shouted.

"Jack you're a dead man!"

"Isolde! That's good, they didn't hurt either of you did they?"

"Of course not! But you shouldn't have told them!"

"I didn't tell 'em you married James!" Jack shouted back.

"Then how do you explain the broken window? Glass isn't cheap, you know!" she shouted back at him. He laughed then straightened out.

"I only came to see they didn't kill you!"

"Jack, they know, they may as well have!"

"That all said, do they know about your baby?" Jack called back. James getting rather impatient with all this interrupted.

"How do you know about us?" James shouted out to the lawn, Jack grinned.

"Oh, yeah? She told me, and by the way, she'd better hurry up and make her decision," Jack nodded.

"Jack Sparrow!" She shouted out. "You know damn well I can't!"

"It's either that or your child, Isolde, you're lucky they didn't find out for as long as they did," Jack tipped his hat before galloping off after the night wind. Isolde screamed in fury.

"How can he do that!" she cried, yanking the arrow from the wall. "How? Someone's out to kill you, and he's just brushing it off like it's nothing!" She screamed in a pure rage. "HOW?" she looked to James who seemed to look confused. She sat down on the edge of the bed before falling back on her back, muttering curses. "James, get some sleep," she mumbled rubbing her face, shivering in her thin bodice. His face softened; as he stretched out beside her he kissed her cheek gently.

"You're not worried about all this are you?"

"James, I'm scared," she scooted closer to him, his breath against the back of her neck.

"Why are they angry at me being a Naval officer?" he asked, she turned to him, tracing his jaw line.

"They're not angry, justdisgusted," she said, but before he could say anything she diverted his attention with a hot kiss. He might've known why she kissed him, but there were no complaints from either of them as the kiss escalated.

Isolde woke to see him dressing for the sea. She looked up half asleep trying to take in the sight, he looked to her, and he'd yet to put on the wig. And the sun had just barely become visible, it was twilight.

"Go back to sleep,"

"What and possibly miss the last sight of my husband I might possibly have for the next few months?" she laughed. "That's ridiculous!" she yawned getting up throwing the sheets to one side.

"Well I love you just the same," he looked to her; she gave him a quick hug, squeezing him tight in her arms.

"I'm going to miss you," she whispered.

"As will I,"

"I hope, you just remember to keep your head straight, when will you be back?" she smiled kissing him lightly.

"I will, before you know it, about a month or so, maybe longer," he let her go and slipped from the room. She shook her head; he wasn't going to be back for the longest time ever. And she was sure of it.

Okay, here's Chapter 3 for ya'll, any way, I wanted James to be a protagonist in a manner of speaking, and I really haven't elaborated on James' friendship with Jack, Will will not be seen until chapter 4 and even then it'll be brief, it's just really hard to incorporate these guys in a mostly Norrington fic, aye? Any ways please leave some feedback; I'm really enjoying the input. Suggestions are welcomed, and appreciated, so please feel free to leave some. Thanks! I'll try to have 4 up as soon as can be. Please feel free to give me some suggestions.