A/N: To all my loyal readers and reviewers who are still out there, I appreciate you more than you will ever know. I know this story has been an on and off thing for a while, but I am trying desperately hard to pick it back up again. I have no plans to stop writing so have faith that at some point, I will complete it. I won't abandon you. I know I have promised many times in the past, but with the deluge of J/E happenings lately, I felt it important to remind everyone that this point in the story line is necessary and only temporary to get our characters where they need to go. Jack and Anamaria will come together and again and it will be well worth the wait when they do. Don't lose hope! To quote Jack, "Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?" ;o) To further illustrate, I give you an entire chapter on the lovely lass....

Chapter Forty Seven

It was a little over two months since Anamaria had sailed off on her own, leaving Jack behind. From the way she was feeling this afternoon, she still felt as if she was being punished for it. She realized now that leaving at this time of year without a full crew had been a foolish mistake. Even as captain, Anamaria had worked hard, but with only half the men, she found herself doing the jobs of three, sometimes four sailors. It was hard work for everyone, but Anamaria still wasn't feeling well, although she had yet to visit Decker. Starling had spoken to her on several occasions, but she had refused to listen to him.

They were expecting another storm today and the crew was trying to get the ship prepared to face the weather. Anamaria was hauling lines to set the sails with several other crewmembers as Starling watched from a distance, worrying. He looked on as she quietly excused herself and moved to a deserted area of the ship. Taking a quick glance around her, she leaned over the edge and vomited.

He approached her quickly, placing a hand on her back. "Captain," he said softly, "perhaps you should rest for a while."

"There's no time for that," she insisted. "I'm fine."

"I'm worried about you. You've been pushing yourself too hard today."

"Maybe if you spent less time worrying and more time working then I wouldn't have to push so hard," she shot him a smart glance and stepped off to complete another task.

As she turned, her head swam and she paused, putting her hand to her eyes to try and correct her vision. For a fleeting moment, she thought she might pass out and then…blackness.

"Captain!" Starling shouted, running to her side. He dropped to his knees and began to shake her, but received no response. Realizing he was causing a scene, he shouted to his crewmembers, "Get back to work!" before scooping her into his arms and carrying her to Decker's cabin.

Almost an hour later she woke up, rubbing her head. She was immediately confused by her surroundings.

"What?" she started softly, "What happened?"

Decker moved to her side to try and convince her to lie back down. "You passed out on deck. Starling brought you down here."

She tried hard to stand, but was still a little shaky.

"Not yet," Decker said, handing her a bottle. "You gotta get your strength back up first."

"I'm fine," she argued, trying to stand up and then sitting back down and taking the bottle.

"How long have you known?" he asked calmly.

Anamaria gave him a confused look.

"You passed out cold for almost an hour. I had to do a partial exam. Starling knows as well. He wouldn't leave until we found out what was wrong. Now, I'm not the speculating type, but he cares a lot about you."

"Don't," she said firmly.

Decker paused for a moment and then sat down beside her, "Anyway, it makes sense now…why you requested I come along." He fiddled with some of his instruments on a nearby table. "I wondered at the time why you specifically asked Jack for me. You said it was for your arm, but that never made much sense. Your arm's been healed for a long time. Not much I can do for it now, but this…this makes sense."

Anamaria took deep breaths, continuing to drink from the bottle.

"I kind of suspected it, to be honest. You keep gaining weight, but you work harder than anyone, even Starling. The only thing I don't understand is why you haven't come to see me," he looked her in the eyes.

Anamaria remained silent, quickly looking away.

"Picked out a name yet?" he asked.

She shook her head slowly.

"Well," he sighed, "your body already knows what it needs to do. It's just trying to get the message through to that thick head of yours. You have to slow down, eat more, drink more. Fortunately, you're the captain, you get the best share." He smiled.

Anamaria met his eyes, "I eat what my crew eats."

"That's all fine and good in theory, but you've got to feed two of you now. Ye best remember that."

Anamaria said softly, "Thank you Decker."

"No problem, Captain. You let me know if you need anything. I expect you'll come and visit me the next time you start to feel bad."

She nodded slowly and then stood. As Anamaria exited Decker's cabin, she made a decision to go to her own. She knew she was probably needed up top, but she was exhausted and craved some time alone. She had known she couldn't keep her secret forever, but she had hoped it would be on her own terms when everyone found out. Starling could handle the crew for now, she decided. She was going to take a nap.

She had hardly closed the door when her first mate entered the room behind her. "Captain," he greeted.

"Starling," she responded. "Don't you knock anymore?"

"I'm sorry," he apologized quickly. "I just wanted to see if you were alright."

"I'm fine," she responded.

"That's good to hear. The crew was worried," he paused. "I was worried."

"Did you tell them?" she asked.

He shook his head, "No."

She nodded.

"What I can't understand for the life of me, Anamaria, is why you didn't tell me what was going on. All those times I asked you about being sick. If you knew what was wrong, why didn't you just tell me?" he asked.

"I couldn't," she said.

"You can tell me anything Captain," he offered. "I'm your first mate. If you can't trust me, who can you trust?"

"I didn't want you to look at me differently," she found herself unable to meet his eyes.

"You were never going to be able to hide it forever," he stated.

Anamaria nodded silently.

"Is this why you were so anxious to sail away from Jack?" Starling questioned.

Anamaria feigned confusion.

"It's not my business Captain, but you and Sparrow were close."

"You're right; it's not your business," she responded harshly.

Starling sighed.

"Look, I don't know whose it is if that's what you're asking," she said quietly.

Starling gave her a questioning glance.

"It could be anybody's. I'm no different than any other pirate who comes to a port town looking for pleasure and fun. There have been a lot of men in a lot of different cities. I don't even remember them all. It's not as if it matters, I've already accepted the fact that my child will grow up without a father."

"And are you planning on having this baby onboard this ship?" Starling asked.

Anamaria shrugged, "Decker was right. It's why I asked Jack if he could come along."

"Does Jack know?" he asked tentatively, afraid she might get mad again.

"Of course not," she answered. "Jack would have been much happier to see us sail away if he had any idea that I was with child. We wouldn't have been able to leave fast enough."

"So that is why we left early," he assumed.

"So Jack wouldn't see me as weak?" Anamaria sighed heavily and sat down at the large table that adorned her cabin. "Partly. I was embarrassed."

"You're going to have a baby," Starling stated. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You're a woman and you're far from weak."

"Do you really think Jack would have wanted to continue sailing with us if he had known I was pregnant? He would have embarrassed me in front of the crew and demanded we split up. Jack would see a baby as a huge weakness."

Starling joined her at the table, "Jack is always looking out for Jack."

Anamaria put her hand on her cheek, rubbing upwards towards her eye. "I know," she said softly.

"But he may have been onto something if he wouldn't have wanted you to remain a captain," Starling suggested.

Anamaria jerked her head up, "What are you talking about?"

Starling shook his head, gesturing at their surroundings, "This is no place for a child to be brought up, much less born."

"It's not as if I've been given a lot of options, Starling," she raised her voice. "What else am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know Captain," Starling said quietly. "Maybe go inland for a while. Have the baby. Maybe you won't desire this life at sea anymore."

"This is my life Starling! Do you know how hard I've worked to get where I am? I won't give this up for a stupid baby!" she shouted, growing furious.

"I understand why you're angry Captain," Starling started.

"No, you don't," she shouted, interrupting him. She stood from the table to pace her cabin. "You have no idea what this is like for me. I have struggled my whole life to get here. I lost my family. I lost my arm. I finally get to a point where I'm successful. I finally get a ship that's mine, a crew that respects me and now," she hesitated. "Now this. It's as if someone thinks this is a cruel joke."

She was angry, but a wave of sadness overcame her. She fought hard to hold on to the anger.

Starling rose from the table and crossed the room. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "I promise I will help you as much as I can."

"The crew will think it's yours if that's the case," she stated.

"We don't have a history like that together Captain. Let them think whatever they want."

"I just wish this had never happened," she said softly. "If I could take it all back…"

"This is the hand you've been dealt. It's best if you accept it and move on," Starling put his arm around her. "You're the strongest woman…hell, the strongest captain I've ever known…you'll get through it."

Anamaria sighed, shaking her head. "I just wish I knew what to do."

"You'll know when the time comes," Starling said.

The two pirates stared out at the open sea from the windows of her cabin and the silence built between them. Starling held her close and she tried her hardest not to dissolve into a crying mess on his shoulder. She tried not to think of Jack, not to think of the baby, to focus on the ocean, on her plans for the Indian Ocean and she managed to collect herself.

Breaking the silence, she made the hardest statement of all, "When the time comes that I can no longer serve in my duties as Captain, you will be responsible for The Sea Wench. You're a trustworthy first mate. I know you'll do just fine until she can be under my command again."

"It is my duty to do as you ask Captain," he said, turning to her. "You have my backing one hundred percent, but you need to let your crew know what is going on," Starling suggested, squeezing her shoulder.

"Not yet," Anamaria disagreed. "They will know soon enough. Until then, I don't need anyone planning a mutiny because they think I'm weaker than I really am."

"I understand," he agreed. "Just please, take care of yourself. You can't keep pushing as hard as you have been or you'll lose the baby and make yourself sick. I don't want to see that happen."

"I'll try to take things a little easier and I'll work on drinking more fluids. Decker said that would help."

"I could talk to Anderson," Starling offered. If he could at least convince her to let their cook know what was going on, it would be a step in the right direction. "Perhaps he could switch your meals around some, make sure you're getting proper nutrition. I'll make sure he doesn't share the specifics with anyone though."

"That will be fine," she said. Taking a deep breath, she added, "I'm glad you're here Starling. If I had to deal with Braden as my first mate during all of this, there's a good chance I might have lost The Wench. I trust you as much as myself and I know you'll do a good job of looking out for me."

"I'll try my best Captain. I am completely loyal to you," Starling said. "Is there anything else you need right now other than some rest?"

Anamaria smiled, "No, that's all."

"Tuck yourself into bed and get a good nap. I'll take care of things on the ship until you're back up and feeling better."

"I won't sleep for long, but thanks," she offered.

"Take all the time you need. I'll keep the crew's suspicions at bay."

"Thank you Starling," she said, beginning to cross the room to her bed.

"Of course, Captain."

Starling left her cabin and headed for the helm. The storm on the horizon looked as if it might be a bad one and he hoped that he could get the crew through it safely without too many people asking where the Captain was.

As the first raindrops started to fall, he ordered that the hatches be battened down. He was hoping desperately that Anamaria would be exhausted enough to sleep through the storm. The last thing he needed was to have to worry about her up here on deck during bad weather.