Everything was fuzzy and blurry. Elizabeth blinked a few times, rubbing her eyes. Her vision started to clear after a few moments. She heard boots hurry across the floor, then Jack's breath was on her ear, "You alright, Lizzie?" With one last blink, she opened she opened her eyes and saw everything sharply again. The ceiling of the cabin was dripping water. Had it rained recently? She turned to face her right and saw Jack. His head was cocked to the side as he eyed her curiously.

Elizabeth tried to sit up, but realized that it was more difficult than she remembered. Something was in the way of her being able to rise normally. She looked at the spot in question. Her stomach. It was twice as big as when she'd last seen it. She didn't know why, but she screamed, "Blimey!"

Having to use a lot more strength than she was used to, Elizabeth forcefully pushed herself up. Jack stood over her now, rubbing his ear, saying sarcastically, "Thanks for nearly blowing my ears off with your little outburst," he wagged his head, "you okay?" She cleared her throat and replied, "Well, my head is pounding, the light is piercing my eyes, and the room is spinning. Other than that, I'm just dandy."
"Sounds like you've got what we rum-lovers call a 'hangover'."
"Don't be ridiculous!" She leaned back against the headboard.
"I'll stop being ridiculous when you stop being so bloody difficult!"

Elizabeth started becoming more aware of her surroundings. It was late at night. There was a chilly breeze creeping through the windows. She was in Jack's bed. She let out a sigh of relief, seeing that the other half of the mattress appeared to be undisturbed. Now, she was in a man's shirt and she could tell that she was in breeches of some sort. But, wait, the last thing she remembered wearing was that wench-like dress. "Jack," she asked, "How did I get into these clothes?" His expression went from curious, to flustered. He stepped back, exclaiming, "I didn't do it!"
"Well, who DID?" She threw off the sheets, angry, and stepped towards him.
"Not me."
"Who?" She pursued him, glaring. The cold, hard floor on her bare feet sent a shiver up her legs.
"We hired a doctor to take care of you. They said that you should change clothes so that your tummy could expand comfortably." He flashed an assuring smile. continuing to step back, hoping to escape her rage.
"A real doctor?"
"Of course!" His eyes were all over the place, showing his uncertainty.
"Male or female?"
"Female... er, male! His name's Andrew." He was cornered now. He had no chance of escaping. Gibbs chuckled.
"Did you ask for a resume? A letter of recommendation? How did you know he was a real doctor? Did you just take his word for it?"
"Is that not good?"
"Jack Sparrow, I will kill you again... " She clenched her fist and brought it up to his face, threatening him.
"Look, I ran all around the docks, asking for a doctor. He said he was one, so I offered him free passage to the Fountain of Youth if he took care of you. Savvy?" He cringed.

Lowering her fist, Elizabeth sighed and relaxed. She turned and walked back towards the bed. She sat down and put on her boots that were sitting at the end of the bed. Grabbing her hat off the bed post, she placed it on her head and stood back up. She could tell she was going to have to get used to the difficulty of getting up and sitting down while she was pregnant. "So," she placed a hand on her hip as she asked Jack, "What now?"

After Jack finished explaining their situation, Elizabeth felt like she needed to sit down. She slumped onto the mattress behind her. Jack followed, seating himself next to the expecting mother. He asked, "Do you understand everything, darling? I mean, I know that you spent a lot of time with the whelp, which might have slowed down your thought-processing skills. but I really don't want to have to explain it all again."
"Someone in the Company poisoned me... they're now on the Pearl, working with Barbossa... we have to find them... and we're about to enter the sirens' islands. I already know all about the sirens."
"Great. I'll get your vest, and we'll go find the Company bilge rat."

Elizabeth started to push herself up. Gibbs rushed over and helped her stand. "Thank you, Mister Gibbs," she told him. "No problem, lass," he smiled at her and backed away. Jack came over with Elizabeth's vest. He held it out behind her, so she put her hands through the arm holes. As he began to button it for her, she uttered, "I can't believe Barbossa would do this, after all we've been through together. How could he betray his friends for his own selfish reasons. He's nothing but a barbaric-"
"So, the pot's calling the kettle black, it is, Lizzie?"
"What?" She narrowed her eyes.
"After all WE'D been though, you still betrayed ME. You're hating Barbossa for something you once did YOURSELF. By the way, this vest won't button."

Indeed, Elizabeth's stomach was now too big for the vest. Jack's hands were still holding the sides, however. She stared at the rings on his fingers, then slowly raised her eyes to meet his. His brown eyes were the most beautiful she'd ever seen. She wandered in them, searching for the man she knew him to truly be. She heard Gibbs say, "I'll be on deck," and walk out the door. Jack didn't seem to notice.

Elizabeth moved closer to Jack. Their faces were centimeters apart. She wanted to kiss him so badly. He'd taken such good care of her while she was asleep. He'd hired, well, bribed a doctor to tend to her. He'd stayed by her side the entire time. He'd even read to her. Now, he was going to find the man who had tried to kill her. But why? Why was he doing all of this? Because he really was a good man? No, it couldn't be that simple. She didn't really cared. Her eyes lingered now on the smirk that his mouth was curved in to.

"Jack," she whispered his name. She moved a little closer. When she placed a hand on his chest, he spoke, "Don't do it, Lizzie." "Do what?" she asked.
"What you're about to do. You'll regret it, just like you did last time."
"I don't know what you're talking about." She took her hand off of his chest and stepped back, removing her vest.
"Yes you do."
"You're the one who wanted to pretend like nothing happened." She pointed an accusatory finger at him.
"Aye, that I did. But you're the one who just tried to repeat said something we never did."
"I did not!"
"Your hat's on sideways." He reached up and adjusted it for her.
She tried to find an imperfection with his ensemble. "Oh yeah? Well, your..."
"What?" He stepped back so that she might examine him.
"Your bloody coin is missing!" She gestured to his now plain bandanna.
"Yes, well, I assume Barbossa burned it when he released Calypso, did he not?"
"Yes. What was the deal with that coin anyways?"
"Got it in Siam. Twas the first thing I ever pirated. Not it is but a tiny pile of ash somewhere."
"Oh."

"Drop anchor! Stop this vessel from going another league!" Gibbs ordered the crew of the Black Pearl. "Step lively!" The pirates hustled about the deck. Not much later, the anchor dropped into the sea with a giant splash. Gibbs searched for Barbossa. He found him standing on the starboard side of the deck, talking to a man with a long scar on his left cheek. The first mate walked over to them. "Barbossa," he asked, "did you hear? Miss Elizabeth's awakened." "Has she now?" the old sea dog replied. The scarred man beside him made an unusual expression, asking, "Is she...well?"
"Yes. Perfectly healthy. Just a little startled by the size of her growing belly."
The stranger said nothing. Barbossa turned to him, "Master Hoag, I be believing y e have some sails to tend to.
"Aye." Hoag replied.

Gibbs watched Hoag swagger away. Barbossa shot him an evil smile. Gibbs turned and walked back towards Jack's cabin. As soon as he was about to grab the knob, the door opened and Jack emerged, followed by Elizabeth. "Master Gibbs," Jack asked, "have we dropped anchor?"
"Aye, Cap'n."
"Anything to report?"
The first mate now spoke in a whisper. "I just met this one buccaneer, Hoag. He and Barbossa were discussing something before I arrived. When they saw me, all was silent. I didn't like the way Hoag looked at me or acted when I spoke of Miss Elizabeth's well-being."
"Tis probably the cod beast who poisoned Lizzie."
"Aye."

Elizabeth stepped forward, growling, "Where is he? I'll wipe up the deck with his dead body!" She began to grab her sword, but Jack held onto her arm, stopping her. He spoke softly, "Wait for the opportune moment." She took a deep breath, nodding and taking her hand off her sword. Gibbs grunted, "Only question is, when will that be?"

Will gripped the helm of the Flying Dutchman, waiting for his father to return and take over. All Will had been thinking about for the last few months was the fact that Elizabeth was expecting his child. If she was with Jack, Jack had better be taking good care of her. "Will," the father of the captain interrupted his thoughts, asking, "would you like me to relieve you?" "Thank you, father," Will replied, stepping away from the helm.

As he walked along the deck, Will watched the souls go by in their longboats. He leaned on the railing, watching, he looked upon their pale, sunken faces. His worst, reoccurring nightmare was to see Elizabeth pass by in one of those cursed boats one day. He shuddered as he thought of it. A familiar face stood out in the crowd of unfortunate souls. It was his old blacksmith master, Mr. Brown. Will called out to him, "Master Brown! Look here!" The man turned his head to face his old apprentice, "William? William Turner!"
"Sir, I regret to see you here in this God forsaken place."
"I've a feeling I brought it upon meself, me boy."
"Might I ask what happened?"
"It was not long after I saw 'Lizabeth."
"Elizabeth? Turner? I mean, Swann?"
"Aye. She and that Sparrow fellow stopped by me shop a while back."
"Jack?" As Mr. Brown's boat sailed along, Will followed on deck.
"Aye. They stayed the night on some cots. The ones ye used to sleep on."
"Oh. Was Elizabeth alright?"
"She seemed... scared. I came back the next morning to see them, and they were gone. Later that day, soldiers of the East India Trading Company showed up on me doorstep, asking bout 'Lizabeth and Sparrow. I saw the shackles in their hands, guns ready. I knew 'Lizabeth was in trouble. When I refused to give those uniformed monsters any information, they shot me..."

Mr. Brown's boat was slowly floating away. Will reached the stern of the Dutchman and watched his old master fade into the black oblivion. "Farewell, Master Brown!" "Say, William, what are ye doing here anyways?" Will didn't bother to answer, for the former blacksmith's boat disappeared into the darkness. The cursed pirate mumbled to himself, "Jack better know what he's doing."