A/N: Thank you so much for the all the reviews! Just a heads up you might not be getting a lot of updates this coming week. I will be busy from Thursday to Monday. Thursday, Friday and Saturday is the local fair. The weekend holds open houses AND on Monday, I'm going to the zoo! I'll to get at least to Chapter Ten before that! Thanks!

Chapter Four

Happy Fourth Birthday!

Jack and AnaMaria crept quietly into the captain's quarters, trying hard not to disturb the twins. In their arms were presents from the whole crew for their fourth birthday. Jack also knew that today would be the day when he would tell the twins all about their mother. Ever since Willy and Bella could talk in full sentences, they asked her. It hurt him and AnaMaria when the twins would get hurt and cry for Elizabeth.

On occassion they would even refer to AnaMaria as 'mama' or 'mum'. AnaMaria made sure that she corrected the children as often as possible. She knew she could never replace Elizabeth. It didn't matter if Bella and Willy never even knew her. She was their mother and the one person who loved them more than anything else.

Jack and AnaMaria placed each present carefully around the small beds before shaking the children awake. Both sets of small brown eyes stared at the gifts as if it were Christmas. They each rushed to the gifts, giggling. "Happy Fourth Birthday!" cheered Jack and AnaMaria. The crew were all in the captain's corners and in the hall, watching in amazement at how excited the children were.

There were clothes, dolls and books on pirates for Isabella, who even at the age of four, was showing a large interest in pirates and she could already read. For William, he received clothes, three different types of dice games, and marbles. Willy never showed much interest in pirating but like his true father, he had such a fascination with swords. Jack longed to get Willy and Bella their very own swords but AnaMaria along with Barbossa had convinced them that it was still too early for them to have their first weapon.

AnaMaria glanced at Jack. He nodded to her and smiled as AnaMaria left the chambers to go retrieve one more gift. When the twins were asleep during the night, the pirates stopped in Tortuga to drink and be with women. But not Jack and AnaMaria. The two had other plans and one more present to pick up for the twins.

When AnaMaria returned, Bella had already had her nose barried into a book about the captain of the Flying Dutchman, Will Turner. It was definitely a great book for her everyone thought. This way Bella would get to know her father without actually knowing it's him and everyone knew that the information would be shared with her brother. Willy was playing with his marbles, scowling everytime he messed up. Jack said, "Willy, Bella... Ana and I have one more gift." AnaMaria laughed as she made her way through the crowd of pirates. Jack was more excited than the twins. All three of them were bouncing up and down with excitement.

The twins squealed to see the last gift. In AnaMaria's arms was a small female puppy. The puppy was mainly black with one white spot around her right eye. AnaMaria sat the puppy down to see the children run towards the puppy, hugging her and petting her. The puppy yipped and wagged her tail, eager to play with her brand knew family.

Bella and Willy went to take off with their puppy when Jack stopped them. Bella and Willy glared at him. After all, they didn't understand why he was holding them back. It was their birthday. They should be able to do what they want. Jack turned to the crew who left. Now left in the room was Jack, AnaMaria, Bella, Willy and the puppy, who sat down still wagging her small tail.

"I don't mind if ye two children run off and play with your pet but first things first. I'll tell you about your mother," Jack began. The twins fell to the ground on the bums. They were now all ears. Jack sat, looking at AnaMaria, who nodded her approval. "Four years ago on January 1st, your mother died giving birth to you. Her name was Elizabeth Swann and one of the best people I knew. She was a damn --"

AnaMaria cleared her throat to get Jack's attention. He looked at her and she shook her head at him. He knew what she was refering to. His language. Jack smirked and continued, "She was a great pirate and almost a year before you were born, she was made Pirate King, or Pirate Queen as she came to call herself since she was... indeed a woman." Before he could finish, Bella asked, "Did she know Will Turner? I was reading in my book that he's a wonderful pirate and charters souls to their resting places in the locker. Everyone says he's much better than Davy Jones."

Jack didn't know how to answer without giving the secret away. AnaMaria sensed this and explained, "Yes, she knew Will Turner. They grew up together. Ye see, on the voyage from England to Port Royal, Jamaica, the royal navy rescued a young boy out of the water. He was left in Elizabeth's charge. Will and Jack taught Elizabeth everything they knew. Will was an amazing swordsman which helped your mother in her final adventures. Jack introduced her to the world of pirating."

The twins stared in awe. By this time, the puppy had fallen asleep with her head resting on Jack's foot. "The day you two came into your mother's life, she was so happy but knew that she wouldn't see you grow up to be a young man and young lady," Jack said. "She loved you both very much in just minutes of seeing your faces. I know she's proud of what you two are becoming."

Jack paused, thinking. AnaMaria raised her eyebrow, suspiciously. She was afraid of what Jack might do or say next. "How would ye like to meet Will Turner?" Jack asked. AnaMaria gasped, eyes wide. She couldn't believe Jack. He was practically giving away the secret! She reminded herself to give Jack a talking to before the end of the night. AnaMaria was brought back to reality when Bella asked, "But he's not allowed to set foot on land."

The male pirate nodded after taking a sip from a bottle of rum that was close by. "Yes and no. Ye see, it's ten years on sea. One day at land. Enless the person he leaves here in this world remains faithful to him until his return. If his love remains true to him, the curse will be broken in six years."

"What did Mama look like?" Willy asked, not seeming to care about Captain Will Turner. Jack smiled and reached down, ruffling Willy's curls. "She was quite tall," Jack explained. "Her eyes were brown and her hair was a golden brown with curls. Quite like Isabella. When Elizabeth and I first met, she was more of a lady. Practically always in dresses. But as she spent more of her time aboard the Pearl, she fancied trousers and a man's shirt. She was quite fond of her cutlass too."

Jack stood, moving to his special cabinet. After removing a key from around his neck, he unlocked it pulling out Elizabeth's old and most cherished weapon. He unsheathed it to show the twins. Jack had done his best to keep it in good condition. AnaMaria giggled hearing the 'oohs' and 'awes' from the children.

"Will made this for her," Jack said, sadly. He wanted so badly to mention that he wasn't their father. That Captain Will Turner was. That the cutlass was a wedding present from Will to his Elizabeth. But he couldn't. It'd be against everything he had promised Elizabeth. All documentation on Isabella and William Turner refered to Jack as their father, thus giving them his last name Sparrow.

Jack placed the cutlass back in it's hilt as he thought of Elizabeth and Will. Six more years he told himself. It was true that he loved both Bella and Willy like they were his own but they weren't. They were Will's and he'd do everything humanly possible to protect the children from harm.

He gazed at the twins who were staring at him. Placing the sword back in the cabinet, he told the twins again, "Happy fourth birthday, Bella and Willy."

A/N: There you have it! Chapter Four! I used my dad's dog (who's a he irl and unusually obese lol) as my idea for the puppy. They haven't named her so any ideas? I'd hate to refer to her as puppy or dog! lol And again, PLEASE REVIEW!