Disclaimer: I do not own any of Disney's delicious creations.

Author's Note: I'm back and ready to cook up a big finale! Well, not yet anyway. Big thanks go out to the reviewers of Chapter 22: arrabellasmith, literate-angel, kellyann, XShadowCatX, Pirate Gyrl, Black Wolf-Dog, sparrow's strumpet, Princess-Maiden, Triple V, Ambersky, ilovejacksparrow121, myheartswiththecaptain, Smithy, Lady Anarane, CaptainDuckula, Kristin, Aratelinwen, Deathly Nightshade, Saralonde, sharnalicious, Vixter, Anastasia Walker, alonefreehearted and Cicci Green!

You guys rock. Just in case you didn't know.

Enjoy Chapter 23!

PineAppleLint

Terrence firmly held the door open as both crews filed in. Before everyone retired for the night, she had summoned a mandatory meeting to discuss the details with those she trusted. The men (and Anamaria) packed her tiny inn room to full capacity. Jack leaned against the wall in the back, twiddling with the shiny trinkets and small beads entwined in his hair. Every once in a while, he'd glance up at her and grin cockily.

The crews were chatting and laughing uproariously. Some were a bit tipsy…others knocked a few back as they tried to reach tipsy status.

Sitting cross-legged on the desk at the front of the room, Terrence cleared her throat. When no one paid any attention, she said calmly, "Gentlemen."

Everyone stilled at the urgency lacing her voice. Glancing an apologetic look at Anamaria, she began, "I no longer wish to keep secrets from any of you. I know now that the information I have gathered is, in fact, true. If we are preparing to wage a war, we must be equally knowledgeable."

Sucking in a breath, Terrence leaned forward a little. "By now, you all must know that the key in my possession is extremely valuable. I have been declared the Protector of our generation. You know my power is growing. You have seen what it can do that day in Kettle Bay."

"We almost pissed our pants, we did," Jacobs said with a shake of his head.

"I can control it now." She turned to her own crew and smiled warmly. "There's no reason to fear me. Even you, Pete, with your superstitious terrors."

Pete blushed deeply and began fingering the cross around his neck.

"The man we are fighting three days from now is Captain Everett Malvado. He is cruel, very harsh. He will kill and mutilate without provocation. His family has tried to unlock the gates of hell for years. And this key will open them."

She paused, and then admitted, "I ran into Malvado tonight."

A low murmur broke out amongst the crew. Jack's head shot up. She had yet to tell him of her run-in with the enemy. He looked less than pleased with her.

"Yes, they are already here. Malvado's crew is a brutal bunch. That's why I advise each and every one of you to be on your guard. Now's not the time for frivolity. Now's the time for preparation."

"And how do you suppose we do that? He has powers of his own, no doubt!" Anamaria huffed.

"That he does," Terrence agreed. "But he will be my problem, and mine alone. None of you will go near him, and that's an order. No matter what happens." She paused again. "Not even you, Captain Sparrow."

"I bloody don't think so, Captain Gallagher," Jack argued, straightening out. "You watch our backs, we'll watch yours."

"We must fight fire with fire," Terrence pointed out. "And I'm the only one who possesses the powers to fight Malvado." She turned back to the silent crew. "I trust you all to practice your swordplay. Prepare your weapons. Your concern will be with Malvado's crew. Keep them distracted while I kill Malvado."

"And this big onslaught is three nights from now?" Mister Gibbs inquired.

"Yes. In a cave up in the hills."

"Trapped in the bilges?" Mister Cotton's parrot questioned.

"I highly doubt that they'd set a trap, Mister Cotton. But we must be ready for any situation."

Brookes stood up amongst the crowd and stared at her for a moment. "Do you know what you're riskin', Terrence? Fighting Malvado all alone?"

She immediately knew that he was referring to her unborn child. Fighting the instinct to lay a hand across her stomach, she murmured, "Yes. But it's a risk I'm willing to take."

Terrence was particularly troubled by Malvado's knowledge of her baby. For some reason, the fact that she was with child made Malvado act threatened. Could it possibly…could the baby possibly be the next generation Protector?

"All right. I'm sure that's enough you want to hear out of me for now. Go get some rest. You're going to need it." Everyone nodded and exchanged their "good evenings". When Brookes passed her, she laid a hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing it, and smiled. He leaned in to her and whispered, "Tell him before it's too late" before he slipped out the door.

When the door closed, she was left alone with Jack Sparrow.

"Well now, Captain," Jack began, staring at his compass in perplexed concentration, "How might we spend our last few nights before battle? Shall I go ahead and pleasure you senseless? Shall I let your lithe form drift soundly asleep while I lay restless beside it?"

"I haven't been honest with you," Terrence blurted out, then covered her mouth.

"Don't look so ashamed by it, darling," Jack said with a furrowed brow, "You've let us all know about Malvado being in close proximity. I respect that. I wish you would have told me sooner, but that's not important right now, is it?"

He stared out their window for a few moments before he said gently, "I know you haven't been sick wit' the flu."

"No, it's not the flu," she whispered.

"Well? Fallen out o' love with me yet?" Jack asked soberly.

"Quite the opposite, really…"

"Your love for me sickens you?"

"I'm with child, Jack."

It escaped her lips so quickly, she didn't even know if she really said them aloud or not. By the confused look on Jack's face, she had. Oh merciful gods…

"What?" he yelped in a high-pitched tone. His compass fell from his slack fingers.

"I'm going to have a…" she stopped. She couldn't repeat it. This was torture. Jack looked absolutely horrified. His mouth was agape, his eyes wide.

"That's not possible," he whispered, fighting to keep a hold onto ignorance.

Terrence couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "Jack…you have been inside me almost every night for the past few months."

Jack stared out the window again, still. "I'm not…fathering material."

"I know," she said softly. "Think how I felt. I didn't even know until Brookes examined me after I fainted a few days ago…"

Jack turned on her. He was absolutely murderous. "You've known and haven't told me!"

"I didn't want to complicate things!"

"It was damn sure going to complicate things sooner or later!" he shouted.

"Don't you fucking shout at me, Jack!" she cried, jumping off the desk. "It is not like I did this on purpose!"

He grabbed her by the arm. "Brookes got you to tell me, didn't he? You would have left and said nothing. Not a word."

"What would it matter?! You just said you aren't fathering material. It would not matter."

"It does matter because now I have to take care of you!" he roared. The fact that she was struggling made him even angrier. His grip on her tightened.

"You can piss off, Jack. I'm not some fragile little thing that needs protecting. And now you feel obligated to stay. You feel trapped. You have wanted to run since the words left my mouth. You're a pitiful excuse of a man and a bastardly coward, Sparrow!"

Jack's anger reached its peak, and he immediately saw red. Before he came to his senses, he felt himself shove Terrence against the far wall with all of his strength.

He could only watch as she stumbled back, lost her footing, and fell against it. Her skull connected to the hard wood with a thud and she let out a cry. Terrence sunk to the floor, both hands instinctively cradling her stomach.

"Christ," Jack whispered, rushing over to her. "Terrence…Terrence, darling…" He grabbed her and cradled her in his arms as she began to cry. "I'm sorry…please, Terrence…I'm so sorry…" he desperately pleaded.

She rested against his heaving chest, trying to get a grip on her wracking sobs. Jack rocked her back and forth, holding her tight where they both sat on the floor. His face was shoved into her hair, and he was breathing heavily.

"I'm not…I won't make a good mother…" she said brokenly, hiccupping into his vest. "I'm too selfish."

"You're nothin' of the sort," Jack stammered, smoothing her hair. He was never one to know how to properly deal with an emotionally-wrecked woman.

"But I am, don't you see?" She stared up at him, her eyes puffy, her face streaked with salty tears. "I'm not willin' to give any of this up. I'm not willin' to give a part of me up for a child. Not now."

Jack picked his sniffling woman up and laid her gently onto the mattress. Edging up close to her, he said, "It certainly will take some time to get used to the idea."

"You want to know the scariest part? Malvado knew." Terrence stopped sniffling and rolled over to face him. "He knew this thing was growin' inside o' me."

Jack's mouth set in a grim line. "How did he know that?"

"We're connected, him and I. Somehow. I think it's our evolving power. It's attracted to each other."

"As long as you don't stick your tongues down each other's throats, I'll be fine wit' it," Jack said with a grin, attempting to lighten the mood. Terrence smiled back, and was about to add something when she realized Jack's hand cautiously made its way up her shirt, resting on her abdomen. The gesture was extremely intimate, and it touched Terrence…she half-expected him to have run out the door at her less-than-desired news.

Jack, on the other hand, was concentrating on Terrence's flesh. His hands had explored these same curves various times before, and he immediately noticed something different about them. In a subtle way, her curves were fuller. She was carrying his child. It scared him half to death. He didn't want this. Not now, just as Terrence had said.

He thought back to the day he found Terrence cradling little Michael Turner in her arms. The scene was so out-of-place, so out-of-character for her. It was peculiar seeing her out of her rough-edged element, yet somehow it managed to warm his veins…it had painted such a domestic picture for him. Jack had given up any hope for domesticity. He could never have what the Turners had.

Jack Sparrow had made his choice a long time ago.

Noticing that she was watching his face closely, he said pointedly, "You thought I would run."

"Admit that you wanted to."

"Yes." He let out a breath he had been keeping pent up inside his lungs.

"At least you're honest. Most of the time," she said, smiling prettily.

He leaned over her and pressed his lips to hers, taking sweet sips of her mouth. Running a callused hand up and down her side, he pressed her more solidly into his body.

"Terrence…" he murmured, suckling briefly on her bottom lip. Terrence's eyelids fluttered shut when she felt him casually undo the buttons of her breeches. She lifted her hips, allowing him to fully peel them down her legs until she kicked them off.

"Really?" she whispered, "After all that? You want to?"

Jack grabbed her by the chin and pressed gentle kisses down her neck. "Will I…hurt it?" he asked huskily, his voice strained.

"I do not think so. Jack, you don't have to…"

"I want to. You're mine, luv. I rightly take what is mine, savvy?" He slipped his shirt over his head and threw it across the room. When he divulged himself in her mouth again, she could barely find her voice to reply. He entwined his fingers into hers as he carefully maneuvered his body over her.

"I'll be careful," he vowed.

"Don't be," she replied, enveloping him in her arms while pressing her mouth to his pulsing throat. "Please."

Jack grinned, his toes curling in pleasure. "Whatever milady commands, she shall receive."

That was the last she heard out of him for quite a while.

Malvado closed his eyes, his lips curling into a small half-smile when he felt the sudden rush of body heat envelop him, holding him captive. His hands tightly gripped the armrests of his chair when he felt the beginning of something bigger take toll on his body. The swells of passion stirred within him, lapping at every fiber of his being until sweat dripped from his brow.

The peak suddenly threw his world off of its axis, causing him to roar with release.

After he came back down to earth, his body tingling, he wiped his forehead with a shaky hand and let out a small laugh.

This connection with Terrence was proving to be highly satisfying, indeed.

Oh boy! Please review and tell me what you think. There are about two more chapters to go, dearies.