Chapter 4

Eight months later, his wife heavy with child James returned, less frightened by his wife at home, and rather eager to see her. He'd written letter after letter to her, telling her how much he missed her, and wished to see her soon. She'd written back, telling him pretty much the same thing.

He held one of the letters in his hand now. She'd given him frequent updates on how far along she was, how healthy her brother thought she was, and how he thought she'd be having a girl. As time wore on, James' fear for her turned to worry, and he constantly found himself thinking of her. While he was worried for her welfare, he was still however frightened of the prospect of being a father.

"Admiral, are you still reading that letter?" The captain asked knocking on the open door. James looked up.

"Captain, when you're married you'll understand I'll assume," James nodded. The captain rolled his eyes.

"She should be close to birth, no?"

"Eight months,"

"Ah, in my experience, women that far along, feel incapable of movement, and have more mood swings than they normally have in a lifetime," the captain joked, James raised an eyebrow.

"Did you have a wife?"

"No, but I had a sister,"thecaptain paused for a moment, looking over one of his more closer friends. "Admiral, I await your orders,"

"She craves peppers and fish…" James chuckled to himself, shrugging before looking up. "Captain you may release your men at your convenience," he stood his bag over his shoulders and his letter now folded neatly into his pockets. The captain nodded.

Isolde sat on the foyer having tea with William, Elizabeth and Jack. The late winter Caribbean wind whipped through the willows. She sighed, James wouldn't be home for hours, she expected. Jack laughed with Elizabeth at a joke she had made against William, who seemed infuriated.

"Love, what's on your mind?" Jack asked seeing her staring off into space. She sighed, the summer had past, and she had been sleeping in an empty bed. She missed James…

"Oh, nothing Jack, you know me,"

"You're right I do,"

"Then what am I thinking about?" she asked filling her fifth cup. Jack leaned over the table grinning.

"Why wondering what it'd be like to make love to me again after all these years," he smiled. She gave him an acute look.

"Jack you are so arrogant, how in hell did I marry you?" she asked.

"Why did you marry the Commodore?"

"Admiral," she corrected.

"I don't care what post he is, he'll always be Commodore Norrington to me, and that my love you can take to the bank," he smiled leaning over the table. Isolde rolled her eyes.

"Well, Isolde you still look lovely as ever," William nodded, Elizabeth and Jack giggled.

"I'm glad you think so, James must think me a whale when he returns," she said groaning with annoyance.

"Dammed pretty whale if you ask me," Jack nodded.

"Oh, Isolde they're both right, you do look lovely, there's something to you, you know?" Elizabeth smiled. William jokingly leaned over closely to Isolde.

"Yeah, too bad James got there first!" William was joined in by more laughter from the both of the other's Isolde gave a pouting look. Jack shut up hearing a door open, a second later James dressed in his uniform frock leaned on the French doors looking at the three of them.

"I heard that one Mr. Turner," James sighed exhausted. Isolde gave a caring smile to him. He shook his head. "Mrs. Turner it's good to see you," he nodded. Isolde rolled her eyes at the formalities.

"James this is your own home, are you just going to stand there or would you like some tea?" she asked, motioning to a fourth chair. James sat briskly next to her.

"So, how was your voyage, Commodore?" Jack asked.

"Admiral and it was actually quite lovely around the west Indies this time of year," James added, Isolde rolled her eyes.

"You navy rats, all the same, never different,"

"Beg your pardon,"

"You seem exhausted, mind telling us what really happened?" Isolde asked, James shook his head. Elizabeth getting the message stood.

"Well, thank you for your hospitality, but William and I must be going," she said endearingly shoving William to stand up. He quickly stood now.

"Yes, indeed thank you. Dinner at our house tonight?" he offered.

"Of course William, that is unless James has other arrangements," she looked to her husband. He shook his head. "Then in that case we'd be delighted," she smiled Jack stood and offered her his hand which she used to balance herself as she stood. James somehow hid the shock in seeing his wife's condition for the first time.

"Jack? Would you be willing to join us?" Elizabeth extended her husband's invitation. Jack looked to her and appraised her before breaking into a smile.

"Well there's not that much difference between the ship's cooking and yours my lovely, but I shall honor you tonight with my company!" Elizabeth's jaw dropped and William couldn't help but snigger. Isolde smiled to Elizabeth reassuringly who was thoroughly offended.

"James nearly had a heart attack when he first ate my cooking," she smiled, winking to James. "Needless to say I prefer my husbands above the grave, not below, shall I see you to the door?"

"Oh no, that's not necessary, we can show ourselves out," William nodded before leaving the foyer with Elizabeth. Jack turned to Isolde.

"Will you be alright?" he asked. She smiled before nodding.

"Of course, you go on your merry little way, and I'll see you tonight," she grinned. Jack kissed her forehead, turned to James, swept off his hat and uttered a word of small insult before leaving to catch up with Will and Elizabeth. She smiled after him. James stood when he was sure they had left, she turned to face him, smiling softly.

"Are you alright?"

"If I were any different would I be here?" she asked. Dazed James took her in his arms holding her dearly. He couldn't believe that she was so close to having his child; he couldn't believe he was having a child becoming a father. The feeling was almost overbearing him.

"You look…"

"Like a whale," she groaned.

"Well I had thought sexy, but I guess that'd cover it too," he smiled; she gave him her darkest look. He laughed lightly before kissing her gently. She pulled away tasting him, she quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Oh yes, you've been out to sea so long even the whale is starting to look good," she snapped. James held in a laugh, she didn't look like a whale, she looked damn well sexy. He didn't know how to explain it, but she looked better pregnant than when she wasn't. She stepped from his embrace nodded her head and went inside. James would've followed her but he didn't.

"No, no, I meant what I said," he smiled, she looked at him through the door way.

"I'm sure you did, meanwhile if you would like to adjust to the home setting before we depart for the Turner resident for dinner, you do that," she nodded to him.

"Well I had hoped you would grace me with your company," suddenly she became bright and happy and bright, she pranced onto the foyer and took his hand.

"James," she whispered brightly leaning clear into his face. "Come with me, there's something I want to show you," she allowed him room to stand, but no more for then she took his hand and ran with him to the stairs, well as fast as a pregnant woman could. James slowed her down taking in for account of her health.

They were standing in the second floor landing, he was catching his breath, and she couldn't help but smile in the bright smiling way she did.

"Well what do you want to show me?" he asked. Her smile only went wider.

"You'll see, you alight dear?" she asked him, he nodded before she grabbed his hand again and took off down the hall with him; she stopped before a door only few ones away from their bedroom. James looked at the door. This was just another guest bedroom, what could possibly be in here.

"So what is it?" he asked she smiled resting her head on his shoulder savoring the moment.

"It's not finished, and I've been busy with it for months, and I couldn't wait till you got home so I could show you…" she paused, thinking for a moment. "Promise you'll like it?" she asked. He looked down to her.

"Of course," he grinned. She wrapped his arms around her waist leaning her head on his shoulders hearing his excited breathing as he reached for the door knob and turned.

What was revealed for him was a world of wonderment. He had traveled the seas and never seen a prettier sight. The walls were baby blue and on them murals of unicorns prancing down brick roads over grown with vines and roses and fire-breathing dragons intimidating the knights and Pegasus flying around in baby blue skies with puffy white clouds. That was one wall; to the right opposite was a scene of the ocean and a cliff with jagged rocks. On them the waves crashing 'sea' horses pranced with slivery blue fur and pearl horns. On the rocks mermaids braided their hair with seashells and seaweed. Atop the cliff sirens sang and dance, while dolphins and nymphs shot from the waters. And on the horizon James saw the fleet flagship his, theAudacter Procinctu proudly gracing the horizon. This all took up two walls.

And on the last wall was a night sky filled with diamond stars. With centaurs looking up to the full moon, pointing making notes, a phoenix nestled by them as they stood in a field with billowing green grass, both feathers and manes rustled by a wind. Constellations littered the sky all pointed out.

Furnishing the room was a crib, a very eloquently carved crib with mythical creatures; of them he could see unicorns and centaurs. He looked around in amazement, his eyes landing on the rocking chair; it was plain with large curving legs. There was a table filled with various blankets, a grand wardrobe a mobile of fishes and stars and matching cradle. He smiled at it all taking in the wonderment of the room.

"It took me forever to get an idea, thank god for Jack, or it might not've ever gotten started, let alone done," she said. James was in awe when she pulled him forward into the mystical land she had created. The muralist he could tell was very talented with graceful powerful strokes, and delicate beautiful figures.

"Jack? What does he have to do with this, in fact what is this room?" he asked stunned that she had put out eight months of work into it.

"James this is the nursery," she smiled and pointed to the Audacter Procinctu. "His father's first love," she smiled. "Well I was talking to Jack and he asked me about the nursery if I had any ideas, I told him no and he handed me these sketches of all these creatures." she motioned to the whole room. "And I fell in love with them, they were so beautiful…I had to do it, so drawing off of what I knew about sailor lore and Greek myth, I created these scenes,"

"You painted these?" he asked astonished he reached out to touch the paint.

"Yes,"

"They're beautiful,"

"Thank you," she smiled when he left her in the center of the room to explore the world she had created for his child. He was amazed awestruck, even breathless. She watched him continue around the room touching each and everything. There were shelves with beautiful bookends no doubt place for her many books to go, there were stuffed animals, bears, tigers, lions, and even a cat. James looked into the crib and gave a start. "Yes dear?" she asked.

"Isolde why is there a cat sleeping in our child's crib?" he asked her, looking up. She smiled and came beside him petting the lovely animal.

"That's Storm," she smiled.

"A cat?" he looked at it distastefully. The cat curled itself in a small ball of black and white fluff, with a baby pink nose and a white patch that divided his face in half. It purred heavily shifted to the right spot as Isolde continued to pet it.

"Well I was lonely and I found him in the gardens just a cute little kitten, and I thought wouldn't he be nice for company?"

"What ever happened to me?"

"You're not a cat," she smiled. Then grew serious, she leaned onto him and put his hands over her womb. What James felt was indescribable. He felt the baby move inside of her. The feeling was the most wonderful thing he'd ever experienced. It took him a while before he realized what was happening; the baby was moving inside its mother's womb. Heck up till now he didn't now that they actually did move inside the mother. But he knew right then and there that this baby was his, his and no other man's. He knew then that despite past fears he now wanted this baby, he wanted to be a father, he might not be ready, but he wanted it.

"I can't explain that," he said moving so his chin was over her shoulder his arms still around her. She smiled leaning further on him relaxing in his grasp.

"Amazing isn't it?"

"That doesn't begin to describe it," he answered her.

"What do you think of the nursery?" she asked him. James thought for a moment. What did he think of it?

"I think it's beautiful,"

"I used to stay up late painting these scenes, so late that the slaves would come in and make me go to bed," she smiled. "But I didn't care I wanted to paint, when I sailed with Jack there was no time to paint or what not, so it's been years," she continued on. He moved her to the rocker and sat her on his lap, rocking with her listening to her as she talked of what all he had missed.

He didn't know exactly how to voice his feelings, how to express them what to say, how to say it, when to say it. He had to say them to let her know just how he felt, but he feared he would say the wrong things, or say it wrong and then she'd get offended at him and he'd have hurt her feelings. Instead he settled with a simple saying.

"I love you," he whispered. She didn't say anything, and he feared he had said the wrong thing.

"And for that I'm grateful," she looked up to him and kissed him in that most passionate way he hadn't felt since the first time they'd kissed.

"I want this baby," he added. She looked to him eyebrow cocked.

"I know you do James, otherwise you would've stayed at sea," she touched his face. She stood with a little difficulty groaning a little he looked to her concerned as she stood. "Fine," she nodded. "And unless you want to wear that to dinner to night you'd better go change," he looked down at himself.

"Is this fine?" he asked. She laughed.

"James anything is fine on you as long as it's not that wig! Good Lord it looks so tacky on you!" she added, he stood crossing to her offering her his arm for support, she didn't argue. He led her across the hallway into their bedroom.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

"I'm fine, or…" she sighed. "At least I will be once I get rid of this baby!" he shot her a look. "I meant give birth not really get rid of him," she shook her head at his stupidity, opening her wardrobe she shifted through the plain maternal dresses and the dresses she couldn't wait to fit into again.

"Would you prefer civilian wares? Or is my uniform okay?" he asked as a slave girl walked in. Isolde took down a pretty pink dress and handed it to the slave, and with her help went to behind the dressing screen.

"That's fine, James, just get rid of the dammed wig!" James held in a laugh as he shifted through his own things.
"Is there anything you'd prefer?"

"No," she said from behind the screen. "But if I were you, I'd wear the royal blue jacket with gold trimming and matching breeches, now those look sexy!" James rolled his eyes looking for the set she spoke of.

"These?" he asked.

"They bring out your eyes dear, and go great with your hair, you know you men really don't give yourselves much credit for the hair you already have,"

"If you say so Nydia,"

"I do say so, you finished dressing?"

"No, haven't begun,"

"Well get on it!" James stripped of everything but his under clothes. He replaced his white shirt for a clean one, put on his stockings then onto his vests, sashes finishing with his jackets and shoes. It didn't take him long. In the time it took him to dress she was still having her hair put up when he finally took off the wig. There was a smile on her face.

"Thank you; Sarah just try a simple roll, tuck and braid, that never seems to fail," Isolde was off as her delicate almost honey brown hair was pulled back. James took this time to slip out the room to see to the transportation arrangements. He sighed; she always did look lovely more so now than most other times.

A few long minutes later and they arrived at the Turner household, James' arm wrapped around her protectively, as if daring men to try to do harm to her, and she holding a tray of tarts. She stood just itching to get off her feet, well more like starving.

Elizabeth answered the door and beamed so brightly, Isolde thought she might go blind.

"I brought tarts," she held up the tray. Elizabeth nodded.

"Yes, don't you both look pretty, oh do come in," Elizabeth huddled them in the small lobby. Their home wasn't as grand as the house she lived in with James. It had a few bedrooms, three to be exact, a kitchen, living room and dining room.

"Will, Jack! They're here, now we can eat," Elizabeth shouted. Isolde could hear a finally form Will and a "why are you so in a hurry to die?" from Jack, Isolde could've died laughing. "I searched high and low for a dish with fish that included chilies, just for you Isolde,"

"Did you?" Isolde hugged her friend. "That wasn't necessary, you know,"

"Oh really? Well seeing you eat those habaneras like they were carrots sort of put your sanity in question," Elizabeth laughed lightly.

"You're so mean! The lot of you!" Isolde whined now feeling emotional. Elizabeth led them into the dining room, Isolde sat next to Jack, who smiled, and James took the seat opposite of her. "I mean, if weren't for him I probably wouldn't be this way!" Isolde emphases on the 'him'. Jack and Will rolled their eyes.

"For the last time, Isolde, you look absolutely beautiful," Jack drawled. "And I'm not saying that to be nice, but that Commodore is a lucky man,"

"Admiral,"

"The hell with his rank! He's still Commodore Norrington to me!" Jack laughed, James rolled his eyes. Elizabeth passed them all glasses of apple cider. Jack nodded rolling his eyes. They should be shot for giving him this, but seeing as how the Turners were low on cash right now, he accepted their hospitality.

"So, James, how did your voyage go? I do hope it was nothing to talk about," Elizabeth asked trying to open up polite conversation.

"Nothing short of the usual pirate or so," James nodded.

"Eight months at sea and you couldn't do anything else? My God, James, what other use does the king have for you?" Isolde asked temperamental. James gave her an odd look before leaning to Jack.

"Is she always like this?"

"You've no idea…"

"Oh I see how it is you two care only about yourselves and proving to me, the both of you, just how much better you are, no one cares about me!" Isolde burst into fit of tears.

'Mood Swings' Elizabeth mouthed to James who gave her a pleading expression. Jack nearly laughed at him, and Will would've offered advice if he didn't fear to make the situation worse. Quickly thinking he put his arms around her, and whispered a few pretty words that almost always worked. She did stop her crying but when she looked up, her look was so cold, so icy; James thought he'd freeze from just seeing it. He gave her a reassuring look. Her angry stare became appraising, then she just shrugged.

"Watch this," Jack elbowed James in the side. "Hey, Isolde how are those mood swings coming?" he asked. Isolde shrugged.

"I don't know I haven't really had one yet,"

"Oh for the love of god!" James exclaimed now agitated. There was a loud roar of laughter from everyone. Elizabeth's cooking was actually better than what Jack and William gave her credit for, and Elizabeth was green with envy over how good Isolde's tarts were. And the conversation was kept moving by Jack's insults and tales of the high seas.

When alas attention was given to time, they were all sitting in the sitting room, a fire crackling happily and Isolde was leaning on James his arm over her half asleep. The grandfather clock in the hallways struck 11:00 and James nearly jumped when he heard it. He shook Isolde in a more alert state and smiled at the Turners and Jack.

"I do hate to be rude, but the hour is late, Isolde is tiered and we really must be leaving, for I fear it is unhealthy for her to stay up this late in her condition," there was agreement from everyone else.

"Of course, James, it is late," Elizabeth nodded caringly.

"Good talking with you James," William nodded. Jack smiled toothily.

"Do you need help?" Elizabeth asked Isolde, she didn't argue as James and Elizabeth helped her up.

"I hate being pregnant," Isolde murmured sleepily. "The worst hell I've ever seen," she added her thanks trailing off.

"It's no trouble at all,"

"Thank you Mrs. Turner for your hospitality, would you be interested in tea tomorrow after noon?" James asked Elizabeth. She smiled.

"Of course, take care now James, and don't hesitate to ask us if you ever need anything or help," Elizabeth said. The carriage pulled up, and James helped Isolde inside.

"Thank you again, Mrs. Turner, and good evening to you," James said before entering the carriage.

"Good, night, Mr. Norrington," Elizabeth smiled as she watched them drive away.

During the long ride home, James held Isolde close to him. He really didn't say anything, just left her there leaned against him, and fell sound asleep; it might've been close to midnight when they did arrive home, the carriage pulling within the doorstep.

"Shall I awake the lady?" the slave asked, James shook his head.

"That won't be necessary," he said, carefully slipping out, he turned around and reached for her carrying her into the house, and on up to their room. Tomorrow he might actually take a sick day and spend it with her. He entertained the thought as he carried her up. A year or so of marriage, half of it spent away, he wondered if she still loved him.

"You're shaking James," she mumbled in her sleep, they were a few steps from their door.

"Shhh, no I'm not, go back to sleep," he opened the door. With a slight arrogant mew, Storm ran in ahead of them and sat eyes glowing watching Jamescarry his wife into the room.

"James you're shaking, how can I?" he put her down, she sighed. She reached for her bedclothes and didn't bother to go behind the dressing screen.

"Shall I light a candle?" he asked.

"No," he watched her draw the curtains over the windows, and closed the door to the balcony. She draped her pink gown over the screen, and pulled her bedclothes on, as she listened to James move about, she indulged herself in her hobby, by counting off just how long it took him to either dress or undress. As always he was the first to be finished. She gave a start when he touched her shoulder.

"What are you up to?" she asked. James in a romantic mood? Ha! Must be due to the eight months at sea. She thought mocking him for his career choice. Storm curled around her leg mewing softly, and then grew impatient when she didn't bend down to pet it. "Sorry dear" she coed to the cat. "I can't pet you all the way down there,"

"Absolutely no good," he whispered burying his face in her neck wrapping his arms around her. She laughed pulling from his grip. He looked to her watching her shadow roll into bed.

"Whatever, James, you need to get out more," she laughed before drifting off to a slight doze.

"Oh yeah?" he asked lying next to her. She nodded half-heartedly. "Why would I do a thing like that?" she didn't answer him ending the conversation. "Fine then, I love you,"

"So you tell me, my dark eyed sailor," she moaned now falling to a dead sleep. James couldn't help but smile even more as he wrapped his arms around her once more. Stormjumped up and landed directly ontop of James' neck choking him. Isolde laughed, as the catcame around and laid in front of her purring madly."We do have room forone more, James," James hadn'tknown that cat five minutes and already he hated it. Damn cat!

Okay, here it is. Chapter five, hoping for a few more big events...things should take off real soon. I also realize I don't put up disclaimers...eh he...um...I do not own any of the POTC charaecters nor do I claim to own them. And if any one knows how to own them please don't hesitate to tell me! Any way Chapter 5 should be up soon so check back for that, and uh, remeber I thrive off feedback, so if you like it, tell me! Thanks!