Disclaimer: POTC is Disney's, my OCs are mine.

A Sparrow's Shadow on the Sea

Red Legs Greaves

I had half expected Jack to try to weasel out of our bargain, but surprisingly, he did apologize to Mr. Cotton without any further prompting from me. And he truly sounded sincere as well. I couldn't help being impressed.

I watched Jack as he slept beside me. He was truly an amazing man! I remembered how commanding his presence was as we pursued a prize, in sharp contrast to the childlike hysteria he displayed during that incident with the parrot. There was never a dull moment with this man, I thought, smiling.

Snuggling closer to him, I rested my head on his chest. He embraced me in his sleep, weaving his fingers through my hair.

"Mmmm…You have the softest hair I've ever felt, luv," he murmured dreamily.

And just then, I had the strangest sensation in the pit of my belly. More butterflies, I thought sleepily. But they weren't the usual, fleeting variety. No, they persisted. And I realized what I felt wasn't in the right place to be butterflies.

"Jack," I said hesitantly, afraid that any noise or movement would cause the sensation to stop.

"Mmmm," he mumbled in his sleep.

"Jack," I said louder, "It's the baby!"

I watched him as his eyes snapped open instantly. "What?" he asked, blinking and trying to focus.

"I think I just felt the baby," I told him.

He propped himself up on his elbow. "What?!" he asked urgently.

"I think I just felt the baby…moving," I said, "It felt very strange." I wasn't entirely sure I liked being able to feel another person squirming around inside me. It was a rather odd and somewhat creepy feeling due to its unfamiliarity.

"I want to feel the baby, luv!" Jack said excitedly, a huge grin on his face, "Can I?"

"You can try," I replied, "But I'm not certain you can feel it on the outside yet."

He slid his warm, slightly calloused hand over my belly. I moved his hand to the area where I'd felt the sensation, and we waited. And waited.

Then, suddenly, I felt it again, the same strange fluttery movement!

"It just moved again, Jack, did you feel it?" I asked him excitedly.

"I didn't feel a thing," he answered, looking disappointed.

"It's probably too soon," I reasoned, "You will, when the baby's a bit bigger!"

He frowned slightly. "I feel jealous of you, Eve," he confessed, "You're a mum now. I have to wait to be a father." The poor pirate! He was never very good in dealing with delayed gratification of any kind.

"It won't be too much longer, Jack," I told him, trying to cheer him up, "We're half way there already. Soon it'll be time for Ruby to join us, and before you know it, the baby will be born."

He didn't look convinced.

"You know, Jack, we don't have very much more time to be alone together," I reminded him. "Let's go some place and hide away, just you and me. Like we did on the island, only this time without the weapons training. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"Bit of a honeymoon, eh?" he said, with a slight smirk.

"Exactly! Do you know pf some place, where the crew would have some activities to keep themselves entertained as well," I suggested. I suddenly had a funny image in my mind of an "all-inclusive" resort for pirates. Yes, that's it! "Spring Break" for pirates!

"Hmm…we could set sail for Nevis," Jack mused aloud, "Go see Greaves…the crew always has plenty to do there. And there would be plenty of opportunities for us to be alone as well."

"Who's Greaves?" I asked him, wondering if I'd seen this person in Jack's sketchbook.

"Who's Greaves?" he repeated with a disbelieving tone, "Only the greatest pirate to ever sail the Caribbean, luv, besides me, of course!"

"He's a friend of yours?" I persisted.

"Aye, darlin', and he taught me all about pirating," he explained, "I sailed under his command for a time, before striking out on my own." Jack paused, lost in his memories. "Greaves was the closest thing I ever had to a real father."

I watched as Jack thought about this pirate, a wistful smile on his face.

"He's retired now. Made his fortune and chose to settle down and enjoy himself. Set himself up a sugar plantation, and makes the finest rum in all the Caribbean," he explained with enthusiasm. "And the island is the most beautiful place on this earth, luv! If you thought Ruby's little garden was pretty, just wait 'til you see Nevis! I swear, Eve, if I were ever to consider giving up life at sea, I'd want to go live there!"

"It sounds perfect, Jack," I told him, smiling. I couldn't help being intrigued about meeting a man who was obviously such a huge influence on him.

Jack was smirking at me with a sparkle in his eyes. "Greaves is going to be amazed when he meets you, darlin', he mentioned, chuckling, "Always said there wasn't a woman born who could tame me…Guess he was right, since you would be born about three hundred years from now!"

"I certainly hope I haven't tamed you," I commented, "A tame pirate's just no fun!"

He smirked, saying, "Perhaps I've just been lucky enough to finally find a woman capable of living life with the same…lust for adventure."

"I think I prefer that point of view," I said, smiling, as I looked up at him.

"And I think I prefer this point of view," he said, leaning over me to kiss me, "Aye, my beautiful woman, gazing up at me adoringly, all nestled in my bed!"

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In three days time, the island of Nevis became visible on the horizon, an emerald speck with a peak almost exactly in the middle.

The closer we sailed, the more it became apparent how perfectly Jack had described it. Translucent turquoise waters. Stunning white, sandy beaches that gave way to lush, green rainforest. The clearest, bluest sky I'd ever seen, punctuated by the occasional fluffy, white cloud. And the lone mountain, its peak shrouded in a veil of clouds. The Garden of Eden itself would pale in comparison! If Jack ever wanted to retire here, he would certainly get no argument from me!

We sailed along the perimeter of the island, before turning the Pearl into a narrow bay, which would've gone unnoticed to all but those who knew it was there. I gazed over the side of the ship, watching as the turquoise water became more and more clear, as we neared the shallows of the bay.

"Fire a hailing shot when ready!" Jack ordered.

The crew was already busily preparing a cannon. The hailing shot was fired to announce our presence, its booming sound echoing back to us from the lush hills of the island, and the Pearl dropped anchor in the crystalline water of the bay.

The afternoon sun was oppressively warm, and I was suddenly aware of feeling rather wilted, as my hair and clothes clung to my perspiring skin. I glanced to the beach to see a group of island women, appropriately dressed for the heat in short skirts and sleeveless tops, emerge from the jungle to greet us. Yes, it would seem that the crew will have plenty to keep themselves occupied!

Jack approached me, reaching up to brush a strand of hair off my cheek. "No worries, luv, you'll be more radiantly beautiful than any one of them, once we get you out of this sweltering sun and into a bath," he mentioned, "And Kate will fuss over you to no end, making you look quite 'girlie' again."

"Kate?" I asked.

"Aye, Greaves wife," he replied, "Wonderful woman! Finest cook on the island, and she can hold her rum better than just about any of the men!"

"I think I'd rather be dressed like those girls on the beach," I commented, "than dragging around yards and yards of gown!"

"What an intriguing idea," Jack mentioned, as his gaze swept over me.

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As we approached the shore in the longboats, I saw a large, stout man emerge from the thick jungle. He was tall and bear-like, wearing a white linen shirt with a kilt, and he had a thick mane of strawberry blonde hair that made him resemble a lion. He strolled confidently, barefoot, to the edge of the water.

Jack leapt from the boat, pausing to assist me as I stepped onto the crunching white sand of the beach.

"Well, well! Who be this ragamuffin, tossed from the sea onto me shore?" the man exclaimed to Jack, his voice booming and boisterous, and a broad grin on his sun burnt face.

"Red Legs! You've gone soft from your docile life on the plantation," Jack greeted the man teasingly, as he approached.

The large man heartily embraced Jack. And for a moment, I feared he would snap Jack in two like a twig.

"And who be this fetching, raven-haired wench ye brought with ye, Jack?" the man asked, as he eyed me curiously.

Jack grinned broadly. "Captain Seamus 'Red Legs' Greaves, meet Eve Sparrow, my wife," he introduced, draping his arm over my shoulder possessively.

Greaves stared at Jack and me, obviously perplexed. He suddenly burst out laughing thunderously. "Saints A'mighty, Jack, ye had me goin' for a moment! I'd near forgotten 'bout that wily sense of humour ye have!"

Jack rolled his eyes. "She is my wife, Greaves. And I'll have you know, that I'm going to be a father, as well," Jack declared, all puffed up and proud.

Greaves instantly sobered. "Lord have mercy, Jack, you are serious!" he exclaimed, then turned to me, "My sincerest apologies, lass, but I'm sure you're well-acquainted with Jack's impish humour! 'Tis an enchanting pleasure to meet ye, m'lady." He grasped my hand and kissed it.

"It's very nice to meet you, Captain," I responded politely.

"Bah! Ye call me either Seamus or 'Red Legs,' lass. No need to stand on such formality here. Ye be family," he said decidedly, with a jovial twinkle in his eyes.

Greaves then turned to Gibbs. "Joshamee! It seems watchin' over the young Cap'n's given ye a few more grey hairs!" he said, slapping Gibbs on the back.

"Aye, Seamus, ye've no idea!" Gibbs responded, smiling.

"An' did I hear ye say ye were goin' to be a father, Jack?" Greaves asked.

"Aye, you did indeed," Jack answered, smiling.

"Will wonders never cease," he exclaimed, "Kate's goin' to be beside herself!"

We walked a trail from the beach through the jungle. The cool, humid rainforest was a welcome relief from the relentless heat of the beach. And, like Ruby's garden, the jungle was lush, dense, and almost primordial. I saw the vibrant orange, pink, and red blossoms of bougainvilleas and hibiscus as we walked. Bright tropical birds made explosions of colour as they flew by, within the endless varieties of green foliage. And monkeys darted about in the canopy of the tallest trees overhead, making skittering sounds as they called to one another. Everything on this island reverberated intensely with life. I felt like I was seeing colours for the very first time. I smiled, thinking this must be how Dorothy felt when she first arrived in Oz.

The jungle gave way to an open space of manicured lawn, surrounding a grand two story home, which was flanked by palms, flowering pink bougainvilleas, and broad-leafed banana plants. There was a large veranda on the first floor and a wrap-around balcony on the second. The home was painted the soft, blue-grey colour of clouds, accented with white trim.

As we entered the large, double front doors, a short, sturdy woman with frizzy blonde hair and a ruddy complexion rushed forward to greet us.

"I thought Seamus was pulling me leg when he said the Black Pearl had anchored in the bay!" she said in surprise.

"Kate! I swear you get prettier and prettier every time I see you," Jack exclaimed as he hugged her.

The woman giggled girlishly. "Jack Sparrow, still the charming rogue!" she said, then glanced at me, smiling, "And who's this ye brought with ya?"

"Kate, this is Eve, my wife," Jack said, "Eve, this is Kate Greaves."

Kate appeared as if she were about to swoon, then giggled at her own teasing gesture. "Well, I never would've thought Jack would find a girl courageous enough to put up with him," she said, as she pounced to hug me. "Come on along with me," she said, grasping my hand and leading me toward the curving staircase, "The men are going to want to drink and talk. Let's go see 'bout changin' ya from a pirate back into a girl, me dear!"

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A/N: If you'd like to have a look at the island of Nevis, go to www dot nevisisland dot com, (fanfic tends to omit the listing of websites unless spelled out) then click on the photo gallery. It's truly gorgeous! The character of "Red Legs" Greaves is based on a real pirate, however I could not find his real first name. I made up Seamus, since he was Scottish. His wife Kate, is my OC, loosely based on my college chemistry teacher. My thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing! Hope you enjoyed!