Disclaimer: Disney owns all POTC, I own my OCs.

A Sparrow's Shadow on the Sea

Mood Swings

We strolled back to the house to thank Ruby for all her kindness, before returning to the Pearl. We found her kneeling in front of the shrine to Yemaya, surrounded by a haze of incense, chanting in an unfamiliar language.

Jack immediately stopped me in the doorway, putting his finger to his lips. He led me back outside, where we waited.

"She knows we're back, luv, let's allow her to finish," he whispered.

I wanted very much to observe whatever ritual that Ruby was engaged in, but Jack was probably right in allowing her some privacy.

I looked at Jack. The setting sun had bathed him in a golden glow, highlighting the finely chiseled features of his handsome face. The tanned skin of his chest, visible in the open neckline of his shirt, looked warm and inviting.

He'd caught me staring at him and had a smirk on his face as he looked at me. "See anything you like, Eve?" he teased.

"Mmm, indeed I do," I said, reaching my hand into his shirt to caress his chest.

Jack shifted his attention from watching me, to look beyond me, and said, "You see, Ruby, not only did she not forget about me, she positively adores me as well!" He grinned, showing off his gold teeth.

"Cha, Jack! Ya hopeless man," Ruby teased, "Eve, ya come wit mi, star."

I glanced at Jack.

"Go on, luv," he said, smiling.

I followed Ruby into the hazy room, to the corner by the shrine to Yemaya. She regarded me with a penetrating look in her eyes.

"Eve, ya be a child of di sea, ya fell in love an' took di Oat' wit ya man of di sea, an' di two of ya make a child…to be born on di sea. Yemaya, she be di Lady of di Sea. She watch over ya, she watch over ya 'usband, an' she watch over ya babe." Ruby reached for something on the table, her gaze remaining fixed on me. "Ya take dis charm, ya keep it next ta ya skin…" She placed the necklace around my neck. "Yemaya bless an' protect ya," she said, then kissed me on the forehead.

She then held up a bottle of dark amber glass. "Ya take dis, one spoon, when ya feel belly sick. Help ya no trow up," she advised.

"Thank you, Ruby," I said, smiling at her.

We turned to join Jack, who had been leaning in the doorway watching.

"Jack, mi know dat ya know dis work for when ya rum sick too," she told him sternly, "But doncha go wastin' it! Is for ya wo-man!"

"Yes, yes, Ruby," Jack said, holding his hands up in a conciliatory gesture, "No worries."

"An' ya make sure she eat well, Jack," she admonished, shaking her finger at him, "It make mi vex ta see her all winjy like dis."

"Ruby…" Jack drawled charmingly, "I will keep Eve under my most sincere scrutiny and care, rest assured."

"Humph," she said, her hands on her hips, "Ya better!"

I smiled at Ruby, "Thank you so much for everything," I gushed, as I hugged her, "I'm so happy you'll be coming on board the Pearl with us!"

"Di birt' of di child of Jack Sparrow?!" she declared, "Mi no miss dat for di world!" Ruby smiled her mischievous grin at us. "Ya take care of each udda!"

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We left Ruby's and strolled toward the docks.

"Well, you and Ruby certainly seemed to get along well," Jack commented.

"You thought for some reason we wouldn't?" I questioned.

"Well, not every mother-to-be would feel exactly comfortable having a Yoruban priestess as their midwife," he pointed out.

I stopped and stared at him.

"What?" he asked, a mystified expression on his face.

"Jack, I would never think less of someone just because they believed something different than I do," I told him.

"Many people would," he mentioned casually.

"Oh? Like who, Jack?" I asked him irritably, "Hmmm?"

Jack looked nervous as he responded vaguely, "Lots of people."

"I see," I said flatly. "Lots of people…like Elizabeth?" I accused.

Jack's eyes bugged.

"You really need to quit making these assumptions about me," I said angrily.

"But, Eve, darlin'…" he began.

"Save it, Jack," I snapped. "I'm not interested in your excuses." I paused for a moment. "And you should thank your lucky stars you didn't knock up that hoity-toity little priss of a murderess! She'd be busily shackling you to the Governor's mansion at this point, after having retired the Pearl to the drydocks! No, luckily for you, she was way too prude to ever let you lay a finger on her…let alone anything else of yours!"

Jack just stood there, staring, speechless and dumbfounded.

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What the hell is wrong with me? I've turned into "Sybil!" I had no idea where any of that came from. It felt like I was possessed and couldn't stop myself from saying all these crazy, angry things. I hadn't even thought about Elizabeth since Jack had told me about her on the island. And that was such a long time ago, it seemed.

That's it! I'm going insane. Probably some delayed side-effect from the time travel. I stared at Jack, horrified at all I'd just said.

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Ya girl gonna be a bit moody for a time.

Jack remembered what Ruby had told him. A bit moody?! More like she'd taken complete leave of her senses, he thought.

And what the bloody hell was that all about? I haven't thought of Elizabeth in months! And certainly, Eve has never felt threatened by her in any way.

And the images she had conjured up! Shackled to the Governor's mansion…the Pearl in drydock! Jack visibly shuddered as he imagined himself and his beautiful ship imprisoned in such ways.

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I covered my mouth with my hand as I stared at Jack. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me, Jack!" I sputtered.

"Mood swings, luv," he responded knowledgably, "Ruby said it's perfectly normal."

"Well that's a relief!" I exclaimed, "How long will that last?"

"Hopefully, not long," Jack replied, uneasily.

We continued on our way back to the Pearl.

"So, tell me about your dad rescuing Ruby," I suggested.

"Ah, well, my father discovered her on a slave ship they'd raided," Jack began, "She was just a young girl at the time. Had been kidnapped from her home in West Africa. He brought her back to Tortuga, where she lived with my mum and I until she grew up. My father had the house built for her then." He paused, seemingly lost in his memories. "She always helped my mum, and they became very close, not unlike sisters. And she kept a watchful eye on me as well," he said, unable to keep from rolling his eyes. My father always visited with her, as well as us, when he came to town," Jack mentioned.

"Do you think she and your father…" I began, then suddenly hesitated.

Jack looked at me. "Do I think she was his mistress? I don't know. Neither Ruby nor my mother ever let on that might be taking place," he explained. "I have always wondered about that," he added.

"You never asked," I stated.

Jack put his arm around me. "No point in searching for unpleasantness, luv. Seems to come up readily enough of its own accord," he concluded.

We past the Faithful Bride, and I noticed Jack glancing wistfully at it.

"Do you want to stop, Jack?" I offered.

He smirked at me as he answered, "As temptingly entertaining as it would be, to watch you unleash one of those mood swings on you friend Marguerite, luv, I think I'd really rather return to the Pearl."

"My friend? It seems to me, she's more your friend, Jack," I responded.

"Was, darlin', not so anymore," he clarified, holding me closer. His expression became serious, "Eve, does my past bother you?"

I looked at him, surprised. "Your past is past, Jack," I replied, "Why should that bother me?"

"My past seems to confront you whenever we make port," he mentioned.

"We could make port somewhere else," I suggested.

He looked at me sheepishly, "I'm afraid it'd be the same just about everywhere, luv. A pirate port's a pirate port."

"Well, then it's a good thing that I'm boldly imaginative and wickedly talented enough to make you forget all those past experiences, wouldn't you say?" I teased, smirking at him.

"Oh Eve, and then some!" he exclaimed. A smirk began to spread over his lips, before he spoke, "And in what boldly imaginative manner shall we spend the evening tonight?"

I thought for a moment, with Jack watching me with great interest. "Well, I could start by…" I leaned close, whispering the rest into his ear, then kissing his neck. I pulled away to look at him, acting as if I was thinking more. I felt his hands slide around my waist. "And after that, I suppose I could…" I whispered into his other ear, kissing his neck on that side as well. I tried to pull back to look at him, but he held me close.

He gazed at me, his beautiful dark eyes made even darker by the desire I saw reflected in them. When he spoke, his voice was low and tinged with lust, "And then what, luv?"

"And then, my Captain, I think you should…" I began.

"I think I should too," he interrupted, kissing me lustily as he held my body tightly against his. We were breathless as we broke away from the kiss. I could feel the warmth from him, our clothes offering little protection from the heat between us.

I shifted my footing slightly, to brush my hips against him, as if by accident.

He breathed sharply and I smirked at him. He watched me, riveted, as I tipped my head to the side coquettishly, biting my lower lip. I locked eyes with him, saying, "Take me…home, Jack…my Captain." I leaned close, and quickly kissed him.

Pulling away abruptly, I turned and continued down the street, swinging my hips enticingly as I walked. I glanced at him over my shoulder.

He was scurrying after me, fumbling with the buttons of his coat, an attempt to conceal his compromised state from the prying eyes of Tortuga.

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A/N: For those of you unfamiliar with it, "Sybil" was a movie about a woman with multiple personalities, played by Sally Field. This chapter is dedicated to all HOE's out there (that would be, Haters Of Elizabeth), I know how you love the Lizzie bashing! Thanks and much love to all who read and reviewed! Hope you enjoyed!