Disclaimer: Whatever it is, I didn't do it.
A Sparrow's Shadow on the Sea
A Secret Revealed
It had been weeks since our skirmish with the merchant ship. The other storm ravaged ships we encountered had, fortunately, surrendered without incident. The cargo holds were near to bursting with plundered goods and supplies, including five trunks of gold doubloons. We'd had almost picture perfect weather the whole time, save for the occasional overnight rain, which provided us with plenty of fresh water. A good thing too, since I was unable to indulge in any rum! Everyone had settled into an easy routine of tending to chores, maintaining the ship, manning the watches, and enjoying a bit of leisure time in between.
My wound had healed well, although it appeared that I would have a thin, dainty scar on my arm to remind me of my first real swordfight.
As expected, Jack had been practically giddy with delight over the "blossoming" of "the Girls." I felt like such a silly fool for ever worrying that his desire for me would wane! In fact, his wonder and amazement at the changes my body had begun to display, served only to fan the fires of his lustful flirtations with me.
And I had finally, with extreme reluctance, been forced to succumb to wearing the voluminous breeches we'd purchased in Tortuga. I had also taken to the habit of wearing my shirts untucked and loose, hoping the soft draping of fabric would prove to be slimming. Somehow, I doubted that was actually the case. Yes, I was now showing my impending motherhood. And so, the day finally came, when Jack and I were inadvertently put in the position of telling the crew of the Black Pearl our increasingly difficult to conceal secret.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gibbs burst through the doors of the cabin without warning. "Beggin' yer pardon, Cap'n…Miss," he began, flustered and out of breath, "Ye best come quickly, Cap'n, there be trouble brewin' with the crew."
Jack stared at his first mate with raised eyebrows, "What sort of trouble?"
"The kind best nipped in the bud quickly by the Cap'n," Gibbs replied as he was urgently hustling Jack out of the cabin.
I got up off the bed and went to follow, but Gibbs blocked the doorway.
"Ye best be stayin' here, lass, let Jack handle it," he warned.
"What's wrong, Gibbs?" I asked in confusion.
"Dissension," he said simply, giving me a gravely serious look.
"Over what?" I questioned, mystified. It had seemed to me that everyone was quite content.
Gibbs stared at me for a moment. "Dissension over ye, lass."
"Me? What'd I do?" I asked in disbelief.
"Ye hush now, lass, and don't leave this cabin," Gibbs said sternly, as he left me to go join Jack.
I lingered in the doorway, fully intending on eavesdropping. This was ridiculous! If the crew has some sort of "issue" with me, I should be up there talking it out too, not relying on Jack and Gibbs to handle my problems. But then, this is the 17th century, and while Jack has been very accommodating of my modern ideas and outspokenness, the rest of these men may not. Perhaps it is best to let them handle it. I may just end up creating even more problems. And Jack is the Captain. I suppose it would make him appear rather…what is the old term?...henpecked, if I went and barged in.
"Oh, bloody hell!" I said out loud, kicking the door.
"Yer coddlin' that bloody wench o'yours, while we all suffer!" I heard the voice of a disgruntled crew member say.
"And how is it that you're suffering?" Jack asked pointedly.
"We have eyes, Cap'n, we can all see that she's grown fat and lazy from eatin' fine food while we're forced to eat meager rations!" another crew man responded.
My jaw dropped to the floor upon hearing that. And my blood began to boil! Fat and lazy! How dare that man? Oh, was I pissed!
"Mr. Gibbs, are we in any way lacking insofar as supplies or foodstuffs?" Jack asked.
"No, Cap'n, the Pearl's galley and holds be brimmin' with plenty of food and rum," Gibbs answered with certainty.
"And would there be any reason why these fine gentlemen would not receive their fair share?" Jack further questioned.
"Absolutely not, Cap'n," Gibbs replied.
There was a long pause. The ceiling above the cabin made a creaking sound. Jack was pacing the quarterdeck. I stood as still as a statue and barely breathed, waiting to hear what was said next. And desperately fighting the urge to give those disgruntled crew men a piece of my mind. What a couple of idiots! Have they truly been at sea so long that they are unable to discern a pregnant woman when they see one? I felt flabbergasted as well as outraged!
"Gents, you are all aware of, and have agreed willingly, to abide by the policies that have been established by all of us on the Black Pearl, have you not?" Jack said loudly.
Mumblings from the crew drifted to where I stood.
"And so, I remind each of you now, that if you feel you cannot abide by said policies, at any time, you are all free to leave this crew when we next make port," Jack told them. "I remind you also that no member of the crew of the Black Pearl has ever or will ever be treated in a manner that could be construed as unfair!" The anger in Jack's voice as he addressed them men was unmistakably apparent. "And, may I also remind you each of you, that making false accusations against a fellow member of the crew will not be tolerated, nor will any behaviour that is designed to instill dissension among the crew." Jack paused to let his words sink in. "Remind me, Mr. Gibbs, what is the punishment for that?"
"Thirty-nine lashes, Cap'n," Gibbs stated loudly and with clarity.
"Ah, yes, Moses' Law," Jack responded, "Do I make myself clear?"
I heard mumblings of "Aye, Cap'n," from the crew.
I was positively seething! And it took every ounce of will I had to fight the urge to defend myself. It was a battle I had lost. I walked onto the deck, and all eyes were upon me. Standing up straight and tossing my hair angrily, I said to Jack, "Have you finished addressing your crew, Captain?"
Jack stared at me, a look of apprehension in his eyes, as he reluctantly answered, "I have."
"Good, because I have a few words to say as well," I responded, ignoring the groan I heard from Jack. I turned to face the crew, regarding them for several minutes with the angriest, withering glare I could muster. I took a deep breath, and sighed exasperatedly before beginning. "I am aware that many of you possess the antiquated notion that women do not belong on a ship," I said in my most commanding voice, "However, since I have been on this ship, I have gone out of my way to help out where I can, to learn what any of you choose to teach me, and to treat every one of you with kindness and respect." I paused to reign in my temper and try to remain calm. "Long ago, the Captain requested I join this crew, not to warm his bed mind you, but because I have medical training and would be able to piece all of you back together after you'd been wounded. Thankfully, your excellent fighting skills have not made it necessary for me to do that. But, when it does become necessary, and it will at some point, I suspect most of you will suddenly find you're quite happy that I am here," I paused to glance at Jack. "Well, I think that addresses the accusation of laziness," I mentioned, "So, that just leaves that other little issue…Is that something that you'd like to address, Captain?"
Jack's eyes widened with panic for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and sauntered down the steps from the quarterdeck to join me. He draped his arm over my shoulder and pulled me close for a quick kiss.
"Well, go on then, tell them," I urged, smiling.
Jack looked at the group of men gathered on deck. They all had varying expressions of bewilderment. Jack fidgeted with the braids on his chin nervously, as he eyed the men who stared at him expectantly.
With a deep breath, Jack began, "Men!" He paused and glanced at me. A grin spread over his face that made his eyes twinkle nearly as brightly as his gold teeth. "What can I say? I'm going to be a father!" he announced proudly.
Stunned silence hung in the air long enough to become uncomfortable. Just then someone shouted, "Sure took you long enough!" Cheers and racy comments then erupted from the crew.
"I don't think I like what you're implying, sir," Jack teased back as he smiled. "So, what say you to a bit of celebrating? Drinks all around!"
Jack's suggestion was met with an even greater enthusiastic response from his crew. Several barrels of rum were brought up from the hold. The crew gathered around them, eager to indulge in an evening of drinking themselves into oblivion.
"That went well," Jack mentioned, looking greatly relieved.
"Yes, and this time you were at least able to utter the entire word, not just the first syllable," I teased, reminding him of how flustered he'd been upon first hearing the news.
"I was a bit shocked at the time, luv," he reminded me.
"Shocked?" I said, unable to resist teasing him further, "Surely at some point during your illustrious career of wooing and bedding women, Captain Jack Sparrow, you must've had some inkling that's how babies are made!"
Jack shot me an irritated glare, obviously irked by my comment, but the glint in his eyes was unmistakably devilish as he said, "I must warn you, luv, that the punishment for disrespecting your Captain is severe."
I put my hand on my hip, and met his gaze determinedly. "Oh, is it now?" I replied sarcastically.
His eyes smouldered as he spoke. "Aye, darlin', I'm thinking I should take you back to the cabin, turn you over my knee, and give you a thorough spanking!"
I gasped. "Kinky little freak," I blurted out.
Jack and I both turned to notice Mr. Cotton standing there with us. He congratulated Jack by patting him on the shoulder. He then laid his calloused and wrinkled hand softly on my cheek, and smiled his grandfatherly smile. It was such a touching gesture that my eyes began to well up. I stood, blinking, as Mr. Cotton left us and ambled over to the rum.
"He seems quite fond of you, luv," Jack mentioned.
"Mr. Cotton's been teaching me how to tie all those fancy knots you use on the Pearl," I told him, "I'm getting pretty good at them too."
"Cotton's teaching you to tie knots?" Jack repeated, more like a statement.
"Yes, he is," I said perkily, "Perhaps, one day, I'll demonstrate my knot-tying skills for you, Captain," I smirked at him.
"And who's the kinky little freak now, darlin'? Hmmm?" he asked, smirking triumphantly.
I reached up to lightly caress my hand over his cheek. "Go celebrate your manly accomplishment of siring a child, Captain Sparrow," I told him smiling, "I'm tired, so I'll be in the cabin."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I lay down on the bed with Jack's sketchbook. The pictures he'd drawn to chronicle the interesting things he'd seen were captivating. And I'd felt so touched that he'd chosen to share something so personal with me. It was almost like taking a peek into someone's journal.
I gazed at the sketches, wishing so much I had the talent to draw. I'd fill an entire sketchbook with drawings of Jack's endlessly expressive eyes! Maybe I should encourage him to do a self-portrait, I thought. Yes, that would be a wonderful idea!
Just then, Jack burst through the doors. He turned to lock them, usually an ominous sign that he had some carnal yearnings he needed satisfied. He leaned back against the doors, watching me. "Are you mooning over that sketchbook again, luv?" he asked with a smirk.
"I wouldn't say I was 'mooning' over it," I replied, "More admiring it." I closed the book and sat up. "I had an idea, Jack. I think you should draw a self-portrait," I suggested.
"Hmmm," he said with a thoughtful expression, as he came over and took the book from me. "I have a better idea, Eve," he said, placing the sketchbook on the table, "I think you should allow me to do a series of sketches of you."
"Haven't you already done enough of me?" I asked, feeling somewhat self-conscious.
"Not in the least," he answered, as he came to sit by me and began to turn on the pirate charm. "It occurred to me," he said as he brushed my cheek softly with the back of his hand, "that I would love to do some sketches of you…" He leaned close to kiss me, sweetly and tenderly. "…as you…blossom…into motherhood, as it were."
I looked at him in surprise.
"I can't help myself, darlin', you're just so beautiful," he continued to persuade, "You're positively glowing, Eve, in fact, you look like a goddess." He kissed me again, seductively. "I would like to try to capture your radiance…your splendour, if I may."
He was pouring it on a bit thick, I thought, as I listened to him, smiling. "And would I be wrong to assume, dear Jack, from the amount of charm you're employing, that you would prefer me to be nude for these sketches?" I asked, as I held his gaze.
His eyes lit with mischief as he began to smirk, "That's precisely what I'm suggesting, luv," he admitted, adding, "Is that so wrong?" He caressed my cheek again, a pleading expression on his face. "I just want to remember how beautiful you are."
I smiled at him. His methods of persuasion were so enchanting to experience. I never had the heart to tell him he'd get the same answer if he just asked outright. Much better to let him think he'd achieved some victory by using all his charm. Far be it for me to confess how much I loved to be persuaded by him.
"I guess there's no harm in indulging you, Jack," I finally responded.
"Oh good!" he exclaimed, his eyes lit up with excitement, as he leapt off the bed to get the sketchbook and his drawing pencils.
"No time like the present, eh, luv?" he said, as he laid out his drawing implements and sat down at the table.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N: Well, a few tense moments there! Seems like Jack will make a skilled disciplinarian when the child gets into trouble! Haha! And the crew has finally been told. That Captain Sparrow's a shrewd one too, always placating the crew with lots of rum, just in case! As always, many thanks to all who read and reviewed! I love you guys! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!