A/N: I UPDATED! My muse for this story returned, and just in time!I am on a roll here! Some of my other stories that haven't been updated are finally updated, check them out! I told you I hadn't given up on this one. PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 2

"I'm sorry Captain, but there was something I needed to tell you."

Captain, Jack mused, she still calls me Captain.

"Alyssa, for God's sake, call me Jack." He insisted. "You've known me too long, and you know me too well to call me Captain."

"You're right, I do," Alyssa answered, "Jack… I need to tell you…I'm with child."

"You stowed away to tell me that?" Jack was indignant. "Alyssa, I don't think you realize how you could have endangered your own life! These men can be brutal, regardless whether or not they know you. The ship's doctor won't even do near them with a ten foot pole unless someone is there to supervise."

"I expected you to keep better care, Jack," she shot back; "I thought you ran your ships with an iron fist."

"If I ran a ship like that I'd have a mutiny on my hands…"

"So you'd have a mutiny on your hands and you don't want to deal with it."

"No man wants to."

"Ho ho, did you see the knockers on that broad? Holy shite, man!"

"Geez, whoever the hell she's fucking… I wanna piece!"

"If I could jus'…"

"Captain on deck!" someone shouted, snapping the men from their foul-mouthed banter to full and proper attention.

"Gentlemen…" Jack paced along the ranks of men little by little. "The display of… I wouldn't even call it immaturity, but the complete lack of respect shown toward that young woman, to myself, and to His Majesty's Navy! It's disgraceful!" There was a vain throbbing in his temple. "But… I'm being merciful. Your grog is cut off for the rest of the voyage, until we reach Portsmouth… and I shall give you another reason why I am choosing to be compassionate in these circumstances."

No one said anything.

"Normally I would flog you all until your backs were lashed open and bleeding," he turned on his heel and walked, observing a few twitches in the young men's faces. "But… I shall not." He continued his pacing. "Would anyone like to venture a guess why?"

One young powder monkey snickered.

"Do you mean to scoff at me?"

"No sir," the youngster stifled his laugh.

"Do not mock me, sir, for the next time you do, you shall receive a far rasher punishment than the one bestowed upon you now."

The whole rank was quiet.

"No one else, hmm?" Jack stopped pacing. "Well then, I shall tell you why…" he paused, sucking in his breath. "One… that young woman is with child, and two… that young woman is carrying my child!" he shouted. "Yes, that young woman is my wife!" he drew his breath in again. "Once more, gentlemen, once more, and I promise you… I will see you all lashed within an inch of your lives… job and ship be damned."