Disclaimer: Disney owns POTC, OCs are mine.

A Sparrow's Shadow on the Sea

Shifting Priorities

"What's she doing?" Jack asked Ruby, as he watched Eve in her trance. He'd left the helm in Mr. Cotton's capable hands, intrigued by the activities on the deck.

"Di trance will help Eve ta control di pain during di birt'," Ruby explained casually, never once taking her eyes off Eve.

Jack watched for a moment. "Is she supposed to be mumbling like that?" he asked Ruby, as he pointed his finger vaguely toward Eve.

"No, Jack," Ruby answered, "She be havin' di vision."

"Vision?" Jack quipped, "Her eyes aren't even open!"

"Humph!" Ruby snorted, as she glanced at Jack, rolling her eyes at his attempt at humour.

"It looks like she's talking to someone," he observed with an expression of curiosity.

"She is," Ruby confirmed, watching Eve carefully.

"Who?" Jack asked.

"Dinna know," Ruby replied. She was growing tired of Jack's pestering.

Jack watched Eve, frowning skeptically as he considered his thoughts. "Maybe you should make her stop, Ruby," Jack suggested, "Who knows what sort of complications she may be getting us all into, if she's conversing with otherworldly beings."

"Mi no can make her stop, Jack," Ruby told him, "She got ta finish. Den an' only den, mi can bring her out of di trance. If mi bring her out too soon, den she be all mix up in di head."

Jack frowned even more, remembering how mixed up in the head he had felt after his rescue from Davy Jones' Locker. And how long it had taken him to recover from that. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he questioned, "I don't want her harmed in any way, Ruby."

"Jah bless! Of course, mi know what mi do, Jack!" Ruby exclaimed, somewhat insulted, "Ya t'ink mi learn dis yestaday?!"

"No, no, Ruby! I know you grew up learning all about magic and healing," Jack responded hastily.

Noticing Eve was no longer having her vision; Ruby began to gradually bring her out of the trance.

Jack stood watching silently. He'd decided to whisk Eve away from Ruby's clutches the moment she awakened. His past dealings with the supernatural made him instinctively suspicious and distrustful. And, just because he'd been lucky enough to survive unscathed, eventually, didn't mean Eve would.

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I emerged from the trance, opening my eyes to see Ruby and Jack in front of me. I looked at each of them. "Is something wrong?" I asked, wondering why they were both staring at me.

"Jack, go sail ya ship," Ruby said sternly, "Mi want ta talk wit Eve."

Jack opened his mouth to protest, but instead just sighed, "Come to the helm when you're done, luv." He gave Ruby a displeased look as he turned to walk to the helm.

"What ya see in ya vision, star?" Ruby asked me, smiling.

"I met the baby," I told her, smiling, "We had a nice talk. Wait…did you say vision? I thought I'd fallen asleep, and was dreaming." I looked at her in surprise.

"Dis good, ya vision is good. All is well wit di babe, an' now ya feel betta, don't ya?" Ruby commented in approval, "Mi see ya lighten, too, star. Di babe goin' ta come soon."

"I hope so," I confessed, "I'm tired of being pregnant, and I'm tired of waiting." I noticed Ruby looking past me, to watch Jack at the helm.

"Jack look vex, star," she said, "Ya go an' be wit ya man, he look ta be needin' ya."

Ruby headed off toward her temporary lodgings in the crew's quarters, leaving me alone. I turned to look at Jack. His face bore the same furrowed brow as the baby's had.

"What's wrong, Jack?" I asked as I approached him.

"Sea's getting a bit choppy," he commented, evasively, "We may be in for some rough sailing."

"I wasn't asking about the sea," I specified.

Jack cast me a sideways glance. "Don't let yourself get too caught up in Ruby's magic and mysticism, Eve," he cautioned.

"I thought you trusted her," I countered, feeling my own brow beginning to furrow.

Jack held his arm out, inviting me to stand at the wheel with him. "I do trust her," he said quietly, "But Ruby likes to toy with things…not of this world. Savvy?"

"You've done your share of toying with things not of this world too, Jack," I reminded him, "In fact, I recall you telling me that you were not of this world for a time." I felt a shiver pass through Jack's body, as he stood behind me. I stepped away, to look at him.

"Yes, difficult as it may be to believe, luv, that's true," he said. He seemed to be trying to formulate his thoughts as he spoke, slowly and deliberately. "It was not a very pleasant place, either. All your deepest fears are used against you, but it's not just that, Eve. The things you hold most dear in your soul…are also…" he paused, having some difficulty with what he wanted to say. His gaze was fierce, but his eyes darted around nervously. "They're twisted…manipulated…to become…an unbearable, unending torment." He winced and rubbed his hand over his face, trying to banish the memories. "It's a madness from which it's difficult to recover," he said with a morose tone in his voice, "Just, please, be careful, Eve."

"I'll be careful," I told him, as I watched him warily. He seemed so troubled. "I'm sorry you…I wish you hadn't had to endure that," I said softly.

"It has a way of…shifting one's priorities," he commented, "I'm just glad to be back." He tried to shrug off the grim mood that had overshadowed him.

We stood together in silence for a time. The wind was steadily picking up.

"Reef the top gallants!" Jack ordered, loudly.

"It looks like we're in for a storm, Jack," I mentioned, pointing toward a line of clouds on the port side horizon.

"Those weren't there a minute ago," he said, as he watched them, "Looks like we're in for a squall." He glanced at me. "You want to have a bit of fun, darlin'?" he propositioned gruffly, a wicked gleam in his eyes and a grin on his face.

I knew Jack relished sailing through storms with the same passion I used to have for riding the tallest, fastest roller coasters. And I remembered what he'd told me about being born on his father's ship, in the middle of a typhoon.

"We'll be safe on the Pearl, Jack?" I asked him hesitantly.

"Aye, luv, my old girl's sailed through much worse than that little squall," he answered boastfully, "Come on, Eve, what say you?"

I couldn't deny him his fun, seeing the excitement in his eyes. "Aye, let's have some fun, Jack," I answered, smiling with the thrill of anticipation.

"That's my girl!" he exclaimed heartily, "Now, go to the cabin and put on my spare coat." He friskily slapped my bottom as I headed for the stairs.

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Jack looked exhilarated as he stood at the helm, grinning broadly, his hair flying wildly around him in the wind.

I returned to stand at the wheel, in front of Jack, his arms on either side of me, guiding the Pearl through the tempestuous seas.

"Stay close now, luv, let's see what she's got," he growled next to my ear.

Jack stared defiantly at the dark clouds as they loomed closer. Watching the waves closely, he steered the ship precisely over each one.

I closed my eyes, leaning back against him, to better feel the pitching and rolling of the ship as she crested each wave, then dove into the hollow, only to rise and crest another. It gave me the same quivery sensation in my stomach as riding a roller coaster would, but this was so much smoother. I felt Jack's arm slide around my waist.

"You love it too, don't you, Eve?" he asked in a husky voice, holding me tight against him.

I smiled, opening my eyes to look at him. He pressed his lips to mine, kissing me with a passion that matched the depths of the swirling sea around us.

"Cap'n! Are ye mad?" Gibbs' voice interrupted.

Reluctantly, Jack ended the kiss. "Not that I'm aware of," he replied matter-of-factly.

"The lass shouldn't be up here in this god-forsaken gale!" Gibbs scolded.

"Eve's right where she wants to be, aren't you, darlin'?" Jack countered cheerily.

I smiled mischievously, snuggling closer to Jack.

"Ye're both mad!" Gibbs shouted, "A couple of lost causes, the both of ye!"

"Cut from the same cloth, eh, Gibbs?" Jack called after his first mate, chuckling.

Rain began to fall in large, wet drops; as the Pearl continued bucking and rolling over the choppy waves. Every so often, the ship would collide with a larger wave, sending white splashes of seawater high in the air on either side of the bow. It was exciting and heart pounding! I understood why Jack loved it!

"Look at the horizon, luv," Jack said, "We're almost through it."

The horizon was brightly lit by the tropical sun illuminating the sea, making it glow a vivid turquoise. It was remarkably beautiful.

I turned to Jack, disappointment so evident in my expression, that he couldn't help laughing.

"No worries, Eve," he told me, lightheartedly, "It's almost hurricane season. There'll be plenty of storms for us to ride out."

"Hurricanes, I can do without," I commented, shivering involuntarily.

"You'd better go change into some dry clothes, luv," Jack suggested, feeling my body shiver against him.

"You're drenched too, Jack," I pointed out, "Come with me…" I grabbed at his sash as it fluttered in the wind, pulling him with me.

"You've got to be the most insatiable wench I've ever had the good fortune of knowing!" he remarked, smirking, "Glad I had enough sense to marry you!"

I laughed, adding, "You'd best take advantage while you can, then. Ruby has informed me, it can take up to two months to heal after the baby's born."

"Two months!" he nearly yelled. He pulled his pistol from his belt, handing it to me as he said, "You may as well kill me now, luv. I'll never survive that!"

"Come to the cabin with me, Jack," I suggested again, gripping his belt and firmly shoving his pistol back where it belonged, "Unlike your dear Lizzie, I have no desire to see you dead…I'd much rather see you unclothed."

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A/N: Yes, I know, short but sweet. But brace yourselves, Eve will be going into labour very soon! And who knows how Jack will handle that new adventure? Good thing Ruby is there, to keep things under control! Much thanks to all who read and reviewed! You're the best!