I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney does. I only own the characters that weren't in the movies. You know, the ones I made up. I also do not own Ambassador Alexander Swann, Isabella Swann, or Count Philip Rochester, who belong to Vilofied.

Winter brought on colder weather. Not much colder than the usual Jamaican weather, but enough to notice a colder breeze. It also brought me seven and a half months of pregnancy, and a repaired marriage.

Things have settled down since "those weeks", as we referred to them now. James's navy career has been moving slowly, so he's been able to spend more time at home with me, and Oliver.

Oliver's health improved, as well. The swollen, purple bumps where he'd been bitten finally healed, leaving only a few as flat, reddish scars on his back. The effects of the venom in his eyes only cleared from his right eye, leaving him with the reddish tint, and blind, in the left. He was finally able to walk, and enjoy being outside, just as he was doing now.

I watched him quietly from the veranda just outside of our bedroom, smiling at his fluid movements. From being bedridden for so long, Oliver hadn't been able to work on his swordsman skills. Philip, feeling for the lad, promised him that when he was well, he would work with him, and help to improve his skills. He seemed a good tutor, for Oliver was doing very well, parrying most of Philip's attacks. I smirked as Oliver made a lunge for Philip, who barely dodged the action. A smile tugged at my lips, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of pride in my breast for my young son.

"You're cheating!" Philip panted, jumping back from Oliver's sword point.

"I thought we were using pirate tactics?" Oliver laughed.

I chuckled. They had agreed on that style, and it appeared Philip didn't care for that idea anymore.

"What has you giggling so?" A deep, warm voice said from behind me.

I closed my eyes, and leaned back against the strong figure as his arms wrapped lightly around me, and my pregnant belly. "Do you see what is happening just behind our home?" I smiled, not bothering to open my eyes.

"Are they at it again?" he chuckled.

"It would appear so." I sighed.

James chuckled again, though a bit softer this time. "Are we tired this morning?" he whispered, nuzzling my nape.

"The baby kept me up for quite some time last night." I said softly, placing his hands where the baby was kicking.

"I still think that is a bit rough." he mumbled.

I laughed, and turned around to face him. "There isn't much we can do about that, dear."

His eyes were soft as they swept over my body, and he smiled as he stroked my belly lovingly. "I regret that I must go to the fort today."

My smile softened, and I tugged lightly at his gold and navy-blue officer's jacket while placing a quick kiss on his lips. "Port Royal needs you."

He only continued to stare at me with that soft gaze, but I knew what he was thinking. 'But, you need me.'

I fingered the lapels of his jacket, and then tickled his chin with a single finger. "I can make it. I'll be waiting for you when you get back."

He sighed softly through his nose, and dipped his head down to tenderly claim my upper lip. As we kissed he stroked my face with the backs of his fingers, and tried to move as closely to me as my belly would allow. "I look forward to it." he murmured against my hair.

"Help me put my robe on, and I'll walk you to the carriage."

He nodded, and draped an arm about my waist as he walked me back into the bedroom.

I slightly put my arms back, allowing him to slip the robe up and onto my shoulders. I tied the dark blue cloth loosely at the front, and grabbed a ribbon for my hair as well. Before I could make a move, James took the ribbon, and completed the task for me. I noticed that his fingers lingered at my nape longer than necessary, and smiled. He really didn't want to leave the house…or the room, for that matter. He put his arm across the small of my back and took my hand, and began to walk me down the hallway. We stayed in companionable silence, allowing our bodies and movement to speak for us.

'I'd rather stay.' his slow footsteps told me.

'It is alright, dear. You have a duty.' I replied by walking closer.

He sighed. 'Yes, I know.'

I squeezed his hand, trying to ask, 'You regret your duty?'

A snort escaped his lips, telling me, 'No. I would just like to stay here, with you, rather than do paperwork.'

I threw a playful glare his way. 'You're using me for an excuse, then, to not do paperwork?'

Though his face was calm, and composed, his eyes shined with slight surprise. 'No! I'm just saying…'

'Relax, darling.' I smiled. 'I know what you mean.'

We stopped briefly at the top of the staircase.

His arm drooped slightly lower on my waist. 'Why do you toy with me so?'

I smirked at him, and stroked his booted shin with my bare foot. 'I like to watch you lose your composure, and I know you like it when I toy with you.'

He slightly fidgeted. 'We have guests, dear.

I laid my arm between his shoulder-blades, and tickled the back of his neck. 'Is that of any significance?'

"Chrissy, please!" Came the strangled reply under his breath.

"Later, then?" I whispered.

He nodded, flustered. "Later would be better than now, in plain sight of everyone in the manor." he hissed as I continued tickling the back of his neck.

He gently seized my hand and placed it firmly at my side, then lightly gripped my upper arms as he helped me descend the staircase.

"When will you return?" I asked quietly when we reached the front doors of the manor.

"I'll be back in time for dinner." he replied, cupping my cheeks. "Please, don't do anything rash while I'm away." he pleaded. "I'll come as quickly as I can."

"Fine." I grumbled playfully. "Be safe, please.

He smiled. "Will do." he leaned down and captured my upper lip again, and allowed the kiss to linger long, and tenderly.

His thumbs stroked my cheeks as he gently pulled my face closer, and I thought I heard him sigh. 'I have to go.' his actions seemed to say. 'Apologies.'

"I love you." he said softly, nuzzling my jaw.

"I love you, too." I whispered.

With one more loving glance, he was gone. I sighed, and walked to the dining room, where breakfast awaited me.

"Good morning, Mrs. Norrington." Our butler, Albert, smiled as he poured me a cup of tea. "Are we feeling well?"

"Yes, thank you, Albert. Won't you dine with me?"

"I don't think…" he started.

"Rubbish. Please, eat with me, Albert." I smiled.

Slowly, a smile tugged at his lips. "Yes, Mrs. Norrington." he said as he took a seat across from me.

"Mum! I conquered him!" Oliver laughed as he ran into the room.

I couldn't help but smile. Oliver looked just like a school boy. His hair and clothing was completely soaked with sweat, and clung to his body. His good eye sparkled with excitement, and enthusiasm, and he was grinning widely.

"You…defeat him?" I chuckled. "You were victorious over Philip?"

"Only because he was cheating!" Philip claimed with a scowl, also coming loudly into the room.

"Oh, no, no, Philip! You agreed on pirate tactics!" Oliver smirked.

"Actually, Philip, I did hear you agree on those tactics." I smiled as I took a bite of ham.

Oliver smirked. Philip scowled. Albert covered his laugh by taking a large bite of a scone.

"Would you like to dine with us, Philip?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"No thank you, Chrissy. I've already eaten, and I have a meeting in thirty minutes to the hour. I'm in dire need of a bath, and fresh clothing. I don't believe it would be very appropriate for me to arrive like this." he chuckled. "I must be off now. Chrissy, Albert." he nodded. "Oliver." he scowled. "Good day."

"I haven't eaten yet." Oliver said cheerfully. "I'll dine with you."

"No you won't!" I said sternly. "You'll take a bath first. You're dripping with sweat, and you smell."

It appeared that he was going to say something, but he stopped, and nodded. "Yes, Mum."

"Thank you, Albert. It was delightful." I told the elder butler as I wiped my mouth with my cloth napkin. "I enjoyed it."

The old butler nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Norrington."

I sighed. "How many times have I told you, Albert? James is Mr. Norrington. I'm just Oliver."

He smiled. "And that is why I call him James, or Master Norrington, instead of mister."

I rolled my eyes. It was no use. The old butler would never change. I stood and left the room, searching for Chrissy. She's been a good mother to me, and I felt it was time to tell her the truth.

"Mum?" I said quietly as I entered the study, where I found her reading a book.

"Yes, Oliver?" her soft, deep blue eyes were on me.

I shuffled my feet. "I feel...I haven't been…completely honest with you…in the past." I mumbled.

She furrowed her brows. I had her full attention. "What do you mean? What is troubling you? Come here, sit with me."

I walked slowly to the settee and sat down next to her, folding my hands nervously in my lap.

"What is it?" she asked quietly, putting her arm around me.

"When I told you about my mum and father, I left a few important details out."

I reluctantly brought my gaze to hers. She nodded for me to continue.

"Cutler Beckett was, indeed, my father. He was very wealthy, as I suppose you found out, so they didn't marry because their families were poor, and needed money. Beckett thought he loved my mother, a poor lower class woman. But, his family strongly disapproved of him marrying her. He did so anyway, without his father's blessing, and moved to Tortuga, where he knew his family wouldn't dare follow him. What he didn't know, however, was…" I faltered.

"Go on, you can tell me." Chrissy pressed gently.

I took a deep breath. "My mother was already pregnant with me several weeks before they married. A child was in Beckett's plans, of course, because he would need an heir. Though he knew Tortuga was hardly the place to raise a child, he thought his 'love' for my mother would endure, no matter the hardship of living in such a dangerous place, trying to protect his young wife and properly raising a child. He later found that his love wasn't love for my mother at all, but lust. The hardship was just too much for him, which is what revealed his true feelings. He became bitter, and greedy, and used my mother when he pleased, which is how my sister came along."

"There's more." she said quietly.

I nodded. "I also told you that despite where we lived, and how we were treated, my mother taught me to be a gentleman. That wasn't entirely true, either. I learned from the other children, and some of the pirates that came to the island how to cheat people out of their money, and how to save my neck with lies, and how to steal. I was a complete gentleman around my mother, but at night, I was a completely different person. Though she told me not to, I hated my father. I would go to different bars at night and steal money for her, but told her I'd been begging, or doing small jobs for people.

"The pirates came a few years later. That was years after Beckett left us. They did, as I've told you, murder my mother, and they did pressgang me into their crew. But I went more willingly than others. I was still grieving for my dear mother, and didn't care what happened to me. I tried to remember the things she'd taught me. I enjoyed the pillage and plunder when I got the chance, but I was a much more merciful pirate than any on the crew.

I smiled. "You and James came a few years after. 'Admiral Norrington, and his wife', I'd thought. When I first saw you, I thought I could get profit out of helping you. I thought I could charge you for the extra food. I'd even come up with a plan! I would act kind at first, and just take the food to you for no charge the first time, make you think I was on your side. Then, I would demand money."

I looked at her again, feeling very ashamed. "But, then I saw that you had no money. I thought I could threaten you with anything you had…But you two had nothing but each other, and a baby on the way. I shamefully admit that I hated James at the time. He's the scourge of piracy, and piracy was all I knew then. I was going to torture him, out of hatred, but then I saw how kind a man he really is! Before I knew it, I was bringing you food, doing you favors. I'd seen how much you two loved each other. You'd shown me that there was still good in the world." I leaned closer to her, and whispered. "You'd shown me a kindness that only my mother had shown me, and you showed me love…I truly began to care about you two when I heard news of what Davis planned to do on the island."

I looked her right in the eyes. She was observing me with a soft gaze, and I realized she was stroking my hair.

"I understand if you don't want me anywhere near your household any longer." I whispered.

I was surprised when she pulled me to her, cradled me against her like a child. "I would never do such a thing. You're my child now. James and I have adopted you as such, legally, papers and all."

"Why do you still want me, after everything I've just told you?" I asked in confusion. "I don't deserve the home, and family you've provided me with."

She placed a kiss on my brow. "You're not the same person that you used to be, and we love you, Oliver. Me, James, the household staff! You're cared about more than you think. You're my child, and I'll always treat you as such." she smiled. She paused for a moment, and her eyes sparkled as she took my hand, and placed it on her belly. "Can you feel her moving?"

My eyes widened in amazement. "Doesn't that hurt you? Isn't she kicking a bit hard?"

She rolled her eyes. "You sound just like James."

I guess that's when you know your son has spent too much time with your husband! Lol! Please review! Thanks!