Six months had come and gone with such speed, Ella wasn't sure if time sped up or if everything was just so chaotic it seemed that way. Elizabeth was due to give birth at any moment and Will was a nervous wreck most of the time. Jack and Ella were now settled into their house, though the sea and the Pearl would always be home. Elizabeth and Will continued to reside with the Governor, who, was tickled to death that his grandchild would be raised at his own home. Charlotte and James were also preparing for the birth of their child, who would be born in the next two months. James was now General Norrington and though the East India Trading Company still existed, it was nowhere near the threat it had once been.

Jack's father and Mr. Gibbs would care for the ship while he and Ella were at the house. They had reached a compromise where they would stay at the house for two months and at sea for one. However, in three days, Jack would be boarding his ship for a month without Ella and though Ella was saddened, she was also comforted by a secret only she knew. She wasn't able to go because she had promised Charlotte she would stay around for her while she waited to give birth herself. When she woke that morning the house was empty. It was drizzling outside, the after effects of the storm from the night before. She got up and dressed with help from her lady's maid before setting about to finish some knitting for her niece or nephew.

The door didn't open until well after noon when the sun had just begun to peak from behind the clouds. Jack brushed himself off in the doorway, silhouetted by the light from the outside. Ella beamed at him.

"Did you send Elizabeth my love?" She asked, setting aside the knitting to go to him. He kissed her nose and ran a hand through his hair.

"I did...dear old Lizzy's having quite the morning though, love." He said with a smirk. Her eyebrow raised.

"How so?" She asked, settling herself on the arm of the chair he'd sunk into as his arm slunk around her waist.

"She's having a baby." He said with a grin. "Bloody insane that one, before I left, she was screaming at dear William in a rage...I said my piece and got the hell out of there before she chucked something at me head..." He chuckled at the thought.

Rising from her seat, Ella started toward the kitchen before Jack could protest.

"I must send something over...for Will to eat while he waits...the poor dear..." She settled on an apple pie and pulled her cloak on. "Come on dear...you don't think we'd let Will wait alone with Governor Swann now, do you?" Jack winced.

"No...it's just I don't fancy sitting around having tea and crumpets with Governor Swann as it were..."

"Oh come now..." She gently scolded as they set off for the Swann house.

"Relax Ma'am...just relax!"

Elizabeth Turner glared at her midwife, wincing through one of her frequent contractions.

"Don't you tell me to relax! You are not the one attempting to push a child out of yourself! I am and oh!" She began to pant in pain, turning her head to the side and biting the pillow. Her dirty blonde hair was matted to her forehead with sweat, her chemise clinging to her as she gripped the bedsheets.

"You're nearly ready..." The woman assured her, having heard it all before.

"Is that supposed to relieve me?" Elizabeth cracked back. She'd been having contractions since late the night before but she hadn't realized she was in labor until this morning when her water had broken.

"Splendid." The midwife said with a smile. "Are you ready Mrs. Turner?" Liz managed a nod, breathing deeply.

"I'm sure it's fine Will." Ella said soothingly, stealing a glance at her husband and Governor Swann sharing a bottle of whiskey. With a slight roll of her eyes, she poured a glass for the nervous father to be.

"It's been too long, something is wrong..." He said, convinced. It was now near dusk and his eyes were bloodshot.

"These things take time..." Ella said, putting an arm around Will's shoulders.

"It's true son..." The Governor said. "My wife, God rest her soul, was in labor for ten hours with our Elizabeth..." Jack made a noise to indicate he had been imagining that very situation.

"I'm so glad I'm of the male gender..." He muttered, clicking glasses with the Governor. Ella shook her head and snatched the bottle of whiskey.

"No more...I'm sure I'll have to carry you home if you continue this way..." Her voice was firm but her eyes twinkling told him she was amused. The moment was interrupted by the voice of the tired midwife. The Governor stood at the sight of her.

"Well?" He asked, eyeing his son-in-law who looked near ready to faint.

"Mr. Turner has a son. Congratulations...you're wife will see you now." She said, turning and heading back up the stairs, no doubt to gather her things. Will stood quite still for a moment before Ella urged him forward with her hand. He nodded and gulped before dashing up the stairs and leaving them all standing there. Jack with a confused look, Governor Swann with a serene expression and Ella biting her lip.

Governor Swann's cook had made them all dinner and they were just finishing when Will appeared in the doorway of the dining room with a bundle in his arms. Both Eleanore and the Governor rushed to see the baby as Jack discreetly poured the rest of the Governor's wine into his own glass. Not that he particularly enjoyed wine, but it certainly served its purpose.

"Well, what's his name then Will?" Ella asked, peering into the bundle which, looked to Jack, like a blanket with a small pillow stuffed into it.

"He was named after me...and my father."

"How is Elizabeth?" The Governor asked worriedly. Will nodded.

"She's fine...sleeping of course. It took her near ten minutes to convince me to hold him." Will laughed nervously. Jack sighed and got up.

"Alright...let's see 'im then..." Ella moved aside so Jack could get a look at the baby. He studied it for a moment. "Do they always look like that?" He asked Ella. Governor Swann laughed.

"Yes...they do sort of resemble shriveled prunes when they're born don't they?" Jack experimentally touched the baby's hand with one finger, which instantly closed around his finger. Jack looked as if he'd been bitten and tried to pull it back.

"Little bugger has quite a grip...doesn't he?" He quipped when he pulled it out and patted the baby's forehead. Leaning down, he began to whisper as if telling the baby a secret. "Look, your Mum and Dad are a right couple of pains in the arse...especially your Mum...but they're not too bad...don't give them too much trouble aright?" He seemed to listen for a moment as Will gave Ella a look. "Deal then." Jack said and winked at the baby's father who rolled his eyes.

"Could I?" Ella's voice came shyly from beside Will, who nodded at her. Gently, she took the baby from him and laughed. "Well...he's certainly not suffering from being undersized is he?" Indeed the baby was rather large for a newborn with a thick mop of black hair on his head.

"No I suppose not." Will mused with a chuckle. When she offered him to Jack, he declined though she suspected it was out of fear and not disinterest as he would have her believe. When they had done, she handed the baby to his grandfather and yawned.

"Well, we'd better get on with it! I'm exhausted...I get so tired easily these days...must be the colder weather..." She added. Not that the weather was particularly cold since they were in the Caribbean but the storm had settled the temperature to a cooler level.

Sure enough, Ella was asleep by the time they reached their house and Jack had to carry her in. She'd been a bit reserved all night and it worried him a bit. Still, the fact that she was sleeping with a smile on her lips calmed his nerves a bit. He undressed her and put her to bed before slipping out of the room to go and sit for a while in the quiet near the fire to think. He'd nearly gotten through a bottle of rum when she appeared in the doorway wearing her dressing gown.

"Jack?" Her tired voice came as she moved to sit on the sofa across from his chair curling her feet under her. "Are you alright?"

"Never better darling..." He said softly staring into the flames. "Though I should ask you the same...I worry you know...you've been tired and very...quiet...these past few days." He grinned wickedly. "Not that you were ever overly outspoken but you have been unnaturally silent."

"I'm fine..." She said, the surprise in her eyes, which seemed more green tonight that blue. Her eyes always changed when she was keeping something from him. Must be the bloody goddess thing...Jack thought gratefully.

"Ella..." His voice said, warning. She bit her lip and averted her eyes...then, to his utter horror, she burst into tears. Panic coursed through him as he nearly leapt to sit beside her on the couch and was hurt when she wretched away from his touch. "Tell me..." He pleaded. Finally, she looked up at him.

"It's just...you're leaving in two days and I have been wracking my brain, trying to figure out how to tell you...and I wouldn't want you to stay for my sake...in fact, I do want you to go...you love the sea and..."

"Ellie...you're babbling." He said softly, touching her arm and thankfully, she didn't pull away. She smiled through her tears.

"I know it...I just...it's just...what do you think of Will and Elizabeth's baby?" She said suddenly and he sighed loudly.

"Ella...don't change the subject." He said tiredly. She looked at him intensely.

"I'm not changing the subject." She said seriously staring at him with wide eyes for a moment. Confusion masked his face.

"Well, I don't know what you're on about woman but I think..." He stopped, his mouth dropping open as recognition came to him. "You're not saying...we...you're...I...no." He shook his head. "I mean...you can't be...it's not...are you?" She sniffled but laughed.

"I am." Her reply was short, to the point and nervous. He sat there, pondering her words for what seemed like hours. "Jack?" She finally said, unsure of herself.

"What?" He asked, looking at her.

"Say something...anything, you're scaring me." He nodded.

"I'm scaring meself love...didn't think this would happen fer at least a year. A baby?" He asked again, making sure he'd heard right.

"Yes...are you unhappy?" She asked, her lip beginning to tremble. He looked at her, surprised.

"No...not in the least pet...just...surprised...a bit unsure of myself...but I could never be unhappy 'bout that...nothing that involves you could make me unhappy." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her temple.

"We'll be fine Jack..." Ella said reassuringly. He nodded.

"I know. I just wonder if we can get Pintel and Rigetti to crochet a blanket for it." Despite her best efforts she could not suppress a grin for the two pirates had developed a liking for embroidery and Jack never missed a chance to tease them about it. She smacked him and began to laugh so hard, tears came out of her eyes.

"Be kind..." She said, but her voice wasn't scolding him.