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I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney does. I only own the characters who weren't in the movies. You know, the ones I made up.
"I said get up!"
I was startled awake by the loud voice, and instantly sat up. I found James right beside me, his wrists tied with rope, Davis holding the excess like it was a leash.
"Good morning." he said pleasantly, seemingly mocking me with the two words.
"What's going on?" I whispered to my husband.
"What they've been waiting for." he said, dejectedly.
Those five words. In those five words, I found out that my husband had given up…he knew he was about to die. He knew he would have to watch me die before him…and I would be taking part of him with me.
His will to live.
With all of his might, Davis jerked James to his feet with the rope, causing James to groan in pain as the ropes gnawed at his skin. With a motion of his hand, Davis had one of the crew help me up.
"Alright, then, lads. Let's go!" Davis shouted happily, dragging my husband to the front of the group, and away from me. I was kept at the back of the line.
I studied my surroundings as we walked through the brush. Everything looked the same, as though I'd never left the island. The brush had grown a bit more, making it a bit more difficult than usual to walk. Though you could barely tell, we were on a path…a path I feared we would take ever since Oliver told us of the captain's plans on the ship.
The very trail we walked lead to a cliff.
Well, not exactly a cliff. A steep hill, is a better way to describe it. Very steep, with about an eighty-five degree slope, and nearly fifty feet from the top to the base. In our conditions, we weren't likely to survive that kind of fall.
I came to a realization. I was taking my soon-death way too calmly. I briefly looked down at my swollen belly, then up at my husband, at the head of the group with Davis. I suddenly grew very angry…and determined. I was not going to die, and neither was my husband. Davis would pay, even if I had to go at him with nothing but my hands.
"This is it!" Davis yelled, his crew cheering once we reached the spot.
I saw James turn, and gaze at me with saddened eyes.
"Bring her up here! We don't want the dear Admiral to miss this!" Davis mocked.
I felt someone gently take hold of my upper right arm, so I began walking forward without putting up a fuss.
"Any last words, Mrs. Norrington?"
I looked Davis right in the eyes, and glared. He smirked. "Well? Any last words?"
I took a deep breath. "BASTARD!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, and lunged at him.
I ripped the rope from his hands, and wrapped my long, slender fingers about his neck, and squeezed as hard as I could. The captain stumbled back, gagging. My eyes lit up at his shocked expression, and I could feel him weakening. As he fell to his knees, I felt multiple hands grab me, and soon, I felt my body flying through the air.
I swear my heart stopped as I watched my wife fly over the edge of the cliff, hitting the ground hard as she began to roll the rest of the way down. Davis was still on the ground, his breath having not come back to him yet. With most of the crew concerned with their captain, I decided I wouldn't have any other chances.
I grabbed the excess rope and jumped over the edge of the cliff, landing heavily on my feet on the steep slope. I ran as best as I could, trying not fall forward. I was running a speed I never thought possible, my wife the only thing in my sight, the sound I could hear. She was shouting, calling for me, hugging her belly with her arms and legs, trying to protect our child. I leapt forward, narrowly catching her in my arms. She pressed her large belly to my stomach, and I tried to curl around it, and wrap my arms and legs about my wife as well, trying desperately to protect the two things most precious to me.
"Don't move. Don't even breathe." I whispered in her ear, once we'd reached the bottom.
I felt her go completely limp in my arms as she took a deep breath, not daring to move anymore than that. I did the same, and waited.
"Well?!" I heard Davis bellow. "Are my hostages alive, or not?"
"I…I don't think they made it, Sir." One of the crew spoke up, uncertainly as he gazed down at us.
"Get down there and scout them out!" he screamed, shoving the man over the side of the cliff by the neck.
The man landed with a sickening crack on his head, and was dead by the time he came to a stop just feet away from us.
"Anyone else?!" he paused. "Get back to the shore!"
We laid there, twenty minutes after they left. I didn't want to let Chrissy out of my arms, and by the way her hands were clasping my upper arms, I don't think she wanted to let go of me, either.
"A-are you…are you alright?" I whispered shakily, stroking the back of her head.
She nodded wordlessly, and tucked her head beneath my chin.
"We're free." I whispered into her hair. "We're free from him, at last. We can hide, and nurse each other back to health."
"Yes." she breathed.
"Come along. You know this place better than I do. You know where we can hide." I said gently, sitting up.
"Need a hand?"
My head snapped in the direction of the voice, and I found Oliver standing not too far away. He studied us uncertainly, and then offered a small smile.
"Yes, I could use some help." I whispered.
Together, we helped Chrissy get to her feet. Once she was standing steadily, I draped my right arm about her waist to help support her.
"I've already found a place we can hide…a good one, at that. It's quite a distance from here." he said as he walked away, and started examining the dead pirate.
He pulled a pistol from within the man's cloth vest, and found a knife shoved in his boot. He also found a leathery bag containing gunpowder and additional shots…even a flask of water hidden beneath the vest. When he finished inspecting for anything else of use, he took the man's vest and faded bandana.
"We'll need all of the cloth we can get, for bandages." he explained, at Chrissy's confused expression. "Let's go, shall we?"
"Are we nearly there, Oliver?" James asked wearily.
"Just about, Sir. I told you, it's a distance away from the shore, farther than the pirates would think to look. They won't find us here, and you'll see why." he bragged, proudly.
"Where are we, darling?" I whispered, peering up at him from within his arms.
"I've no idea." he replied quietly. "You never brought me this far."
I raised my head a bit, trying to get a better look. "James, we're completely on the other side of the island! Look, there's the shore, several yards away! I know where we're going now!" I whispered giddily.
"Are we far from it?"
I shook my head. "Not very far at all. Are you sure you don't want to put me down? Aren't you tired?"
He smiled. "Painfully tired. No, I'm not going to put you down, you've used to much strength already."
"Here we are, Sir!" Oliver said proudly.
James furrowed his brows. "It…it looks like the side of a sheer cliff, Oliver."
"Ah, precisely! That's why I've brought you here! You see these trees, and these vines, crawling up the side of said sheer cliff?"
"What are you getting at?" he asked irritably.
"Look." he grinned.
Oliver, with a bit of difficulty, parted some of the vines and trees, revealing a small opening in the cliff.
James furrowed his brows, and walked forward a few steps. "A cave?"
Oliver's grin widened. "Yes!"
"But what about bats? They're disease infested, you know?" he said worriedly.
"There aren't any bats, Sir. Because of the vines and trees, they've been kept out. There are a few bugs here and there, but otherwise, it's safe. Come along, now." he said stepping to the side while still holding the small trees and vines, allowing us passage.
"Where did you get all of this?" James asked, confusion filling his voice as he eyed all of the supplies Oliver had in the long, tunnel-like cave.
"I did a bit of sneaking, and pick-pocketing, while the drunken crew and captain were asleep."
I smiled. The lad really did know how to get around, and get what was needed. Several muskets were leaned up against the wall, and a small pile of pistols and daggers weren't far from them. In a different pile, there were blankets and a few nice coats.
"When did you have time to get all of this?" James wondered aloud.
"Like I said, I stole some of it from the crew last night. I got up before the sun this morning, too, so I could make more than just one trip, and got everything else we would need. We even have rum, and fresh water!" he said excitedly. "I even picked some fruit!"
James looked at me, and shook his head. I only smiled. "Perhaps you should hire him as a spy for the Royal Navy." I joked.
I began to chuckle, and Oliver joined me, when I felt that pain between my legs and in my belly again. It was much worse this time, and hit me at full force. I hissed, and allowed a cry to escape my lips.
"Darling, are you alright?" James asked, the panic in his voice again.
I rubbed my belly a few times, and rocked back and forth, but the pain increased. "The baby's coming!" I breathed.
In a heartbeat, Oliver was kneeling at my left side, and James in front of me.
"Are you certain?" Yes, he was sounding very panicked.
"Yes, I'm certain!" I snapped.
"Get one of those blankets, and put it under her head, like a pillow." James ordered.
I heard running footsteps, and then felt something soft being placed beneath my head. I then felt Oliver at my side again, his hand gripping mine in silent support. I squeezed his hand both in appreciation and pain, just as James gently parted my legs, pushing my nightgown and robe back just a little bit.
"Start pushing, Mrs. Norrington." Oliver coached.
"How do you…" James started.
"I'll tell you how I know all of this later, Admiral. Right now, I need you to focus. Do you see anything yet?" he asked sternly.
"No, not yet." There was a quiver in his voice.
I let out a sharp cry of pain, and squeezed Oliver's hand tighter.
"Breathe, Mrs. Norrington. That's it, now push. Good, push again. Do you see anything, Admiral?"
"Yes, I…I think it's the top of its head." Now there was a little more panic, and possibly some fear in James's voice.
I let out a cry, and felt tears streaming down my face at the pain, and continued trying to breathe.
"Keep pushing, Mrs. Norrington. Breathe, now push again. That's it." he soothed. "What can you see now, Admiral?"
"The shoulders are out!"
"Good! You're almost done, Mrs. Norrington. Just a few more pushes."
I screamed at the top of my lungs, probably breaking Oliver's hand as I gave one last hard push.
"He's out!" I heard James exclaim, before I passed out.
"She's passed out, Admiral." I said quietly, releasing Mrs. Norrington's hand. "Admiral?"
He was just sitting there, staring at the little thing. Something was wrong. There were no cries coming from the baby…no movement. The Admiral stared at the baby in disbelief, his eyes becoming glassy.
"Sir?" I asked, a bit of dread in my voice.
"He…he isn't breathing." he said, before going into panic. "Why isn't he breathing?!"
I watched helplessly as he gently set the baby on the ground, and began to lightly push on his chest with one finger. There was no reaction. The Admiral was becoming frantic, and he covered the baby's lips with his mouth, and blew a shallow breath. Still, no reaction.
The Admiral sat back on his haunches, a sob escaping his lips. I crawled quickly over to the baby, and did the same actions. The baby didn't move. I felt for a pulse, and sat back on my haunches as well.
"I'm sorry, Sir. Look there," I said, pointing to the baby's head. "There's a small dent. I think that's what did it."
"My son…" he sobbed. "I would have had a son! Those bastards murdered him!"
"I'll bury him, Sir." I offered quietly.
He shook his head. "No…I'll take care of it. Stay with Mrs. Norrington."
I turned away sadly, focusing on the pained, unconscious face of Mrs. Norrington. As the Admiral walked away, his feet dragging, I took Mrs. Norrington's hand in mine again, and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, before my own tears began streaming down my face.
HEY!! DING DING DING DING!! PLEASE READ!! Please, please don't hate me! It upset me when I wrote this, but it is necessary for later chapters. I had to do it. Things will get better, I promise! Please don't hate me, please! I'll have the next chapter out as soon as I can! Please review! Thanks!