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.

Something felt wrong. Down in my bones, I could feel it. I rubbed my belly nervously, and looked at the pocket watch James had forgotten to take with him. It was almost dinner time. James was due any minute.

What could be wrong? Trouble brewing at a relative's house? A terrible storm on its way? I was distracted by the sound of the door being opened. I turned, and found James standing there, seemingly dumb-struck.

'You look beautiful.' his eyes seemed to say.

I smiled at him, and walked the short distance to his arms. "Thank you."

He furrowed his brows. "For what?"

I chuckled. "For the complement."

He continued to look at me in confusion, so I picked up where I'd been forced to stop.

"How was your day?" I asked innocently as I once again fingered the lapels of his jacket, and stroked his booted shin with my foot.

"Alright." he stammered, not realizing his hands had found their way to my lower back. "Darling, I..." he started.

"Shh..." I interrupted. "Remember what you said earlier, at the top of the stairs?"

Again, he only furrowed his brows.

I rolled my eyes, and pulled him into a kiss by his jacket lapels. With a little more coaxing, I easily slipped my tongue in his mouth, and greeted his. A deep groan emitted from the base of his throat, and he leaned into the kiss as my fingers slid under his wig, and into his hair. Without breaking the kiss, I maneuvered us to the dresser, where I removed his wig and hat, and drove my fingers farther into his short hair.

"Darling," he tried again, breaking the kiss.

"Hmm?" I replied with my eyes closed.

"I...need to tell you something." he stammered as I removed his jacket.

"What is it?" I sighed, rubbing his shoulders.

"I...I have...I have to..." his eyes closed, and another groan escaped his lips.

I smirked, and removed his pistol and sword belt, also placing them on the dresser. I then resumed rubbing his shoulders. "Yes..?" I cooed.

He opened his eyes again, looked me with determination, and led me to the bed, where he tried to speak again. His jaw moved, but he couldn't seem to say anything. With a sigh, he began rubbing my shoulders instead.

"I've gotten the impression that something is wrong." I said quietly, though I leaned into his strong hands.

"Perhaps." he sighed.

I turned as quickly as I could, and looked him right in the eyes. "Has something happened?"

"Perhaps." he repeated softer.

"I thought so." I said to myself.

"Pardon?" he asked, furrowing his brows once again.

I took his hands in my own. "For the past two hours, before you came home, I've had this feeling that something wasn't right. You just confirmed it."

He sighed again. "There have been pirate sightings very close to this port." he mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yes?" I pressed. "James, what is it?"

He closed his eyes briefly before reluctantly dragging his gaze to mine again. "The Admiralty, thinking there no better an admiral than me, want to send me after these pirates...as head of the fleet."

My heart sank. "For how long?" I asked quietly.

His eyes searched mine for a long moment as pain filled them. "Two months...maybe three."

I got to my feet quickly. "What?!" I cried. "How could you?!"

"Darling, please..." he started shakily, getting to his feet as well.

"Don't give me that!" I shrieked. "The baby! The baby could be born in two or three months!"

"Please calm down, dear!" he begged sadly.

No longer able to suppress it any longer, I bald up my fists and began striking his chest. "Why are you doing this?! You can't do this! It's not fair! I can't believe you're just going to leave me here to have your heir! Why are you doing this to me?!" I screamed.

The most peculiar thing happened when I tried to draw a breath. A sharp pain shot between my legs, and up into my belly. My breath came in short spurts, and I had grip James's shoulders to keep from falling over. I'd done it. I'd worked myself into labor.

"Chrissy, are you alright?" James asked, easing me on the bed.

I'd heard the panic in his voice, and it didn't help the fear that suddenly struck me from all angles. "I'm...going into labor." I breathed.

"N-no...you can't!" he cried. "It's only been seven and a half months, it's too early! Can...can you stop?" Even as he asked, he got me into position against the pillows of our bed.

"I can't just stop!" I shouted. "I need a midwife, James! The baby is coming!"

With every bit of strength he could muster, James leapt from the bed, and out of the bedroom.

I paced...and paced...and paced.

"Please sit down, James. Everything will be fine."

Even though the sentence was meant for comfort, I could hear the doubt in Isabella's voice.

I shook my head, and continued pacing. "They've been up there far too long. Something is wrong, and I can't enter my own bedroom...our bedroom." I corrected myself absentmindedly.

"James," Philip started. "Perhaps you should sit down."

I stopped, and turned a cold gaze on the young count's face. "What is the point of keeping me down here, pacing like a caged animal?" I bit out. "I'm a grown man, who not only witnessed child birth, but delivered our first baby on the island! Why am I not allowed to be with her?!"

I began to pace again, when the screams started. I turned on my heal, and made for the door, when Theodore and Philip grabbed me by the arms.

"Let me go!" I shouted. "She needs me!"

"JAMES!!" I heard Chrissy scream.

I tugged harder, but to no avail. I pulled harder, and harder, and almost got away, only to be stopped by Alexander's body in front of me, and his arms around my waist, keeping me from moving. He knew I would do nothing to hurt him, and to try to get away would most likely do just that to his old body. Theodore's hands gripped my arms, and Philip grabbed my legs, and I soon found myself being pinned to the settee in front of the fire. Again, I almost got away, until Isabella decided to sit herself firmly atop my stomach. I would do nothing to harm a woman, either, and therefore couldn't move...especially when Oliver sat down atop my legs. Philip and Theodore gripped my shoulders, keeping me from being able to thrash.

"JAMES!!" My wife cried again.

Everyone tightened their grip on me. I huffed. Chrissy screamed again. But then, the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard filled the air. It was another cry, but this one was fresh, and new. It was the cry of my baby.

I looked to Isabella, who was grinning at me. I looked up at Theodore and Philip, who did the same. "Baby..." I breathed. "A baby...My baby!"

Isabella and Oliver jumped off of me quickly, and before Theodore and Philip had completely let go, I was on my feet. I ran from the room, and bounded up the stairs, only to almost bump against one of the maids.

"Master Norrington!" she breathed when I had to put my arms around her to keep from knocking her down.

"Apologies, Jane!" I nearly shouted as I let go of her and ran around her.

I reached our bedroom, only to find it empty. I turned around in panic, only to almost run into Jane again.

"Master Norrington, please!" she exclaimed. "I was trying to tell you..."

"Where is she?!" I said as I gripped her shoulders.

She winced. "You're hurting me, sir!"

I released her, and bent over so that I was eyelevel with her. "Where is she?!"

"Master Norrington, please calm yourself!"

I growled. "Stop fooling around! Where is she?!"

"I've been trying to tell you! We changed her to a different night gown, and moved her to her quarters, where she would have clean bed sheets..."

I made for Chrissy's quarters with all haste, not even hesitating to listen to the rest of what Jane had to say. I made it all the way to Chrissy's bed, before I couldn't move anymore. She was sitting on the bed with the sheets pulled to her waist, and a small, crying bundle in her arms.

I thought I'd heard the midwife say something, but I couldn't make sense of it. I couldn't move my eyes from the crying bundle.

"James, she just congratulated you." Chrissy smiled.

"Th-th-th..." Was all I could manage to say.

"Well, come look!" My wife said excitedly.

I somehow managed to will my feet to move, and ease myself on the bed without falling. I peered over the soft, light green blanket, and looked down into the face of my crying baby.

"It's a girl." Chrissy breathed. "Isn't she beautiful, James?"

I couldn't answer. My voice had left me. I reached out to my baby, and brushed her cheeks with the tips of my fingers. She reached up and wrapped her tiny fingers around my index finger, and stopped crying as she stared intently into my eyes. Oh, her eyes! They were the same shade of green as mine, and seemed to hold the same sort of awe and curiosity that mine held. Was she as amazed to see me as I was to see her?

"What shall we name her?" Chrissy asked.

"W-w-w-what were the names you had suggested?" I whispered.

"I had been thinking about Melody, or Grace. Don't you remember?"

"Melody." I breathed. "I want her to be named Melody."

"Alright." My wife chuckled. "We'll name her Melody. What about a middle name?"

"You decide." I whispered.

I was so taken away by her. Lord, she was beautiful! Her hair was a light shade of brown...a mixture of mine and her mother's. Her eyebrows, nose, and lips looked just like mine as well, but she had her mother's hands...I could feel it in the way she was holding my finger.

"What about Bridget?" My wife suggested.

"Melody Bridget Norrington." I whispered. "Beautiful." I leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on my baby's forehead, and another on her little nose. "Welcome to the world, Melody."

A knock on the door reminded me of where I was.

"Come in." I heard Chrissy call.

"Let me hold her, please." I whispered.

The warmth that had welled up in my chest spread throughout my entire body when Chrissy eased Melody into my arms. Melody smiled up at me, a mirror image of my own smile. I smiled a gentle, open-mouthed smile at her, and cradled her against my chest so I could touch my nose to hers.

"Oh, James!" A soft voice said.

I looked up to find Isabella, Philip, Alexander, Theodore, and Oliver in the room, all keeping their distance, but still close enough to see my baby.

"She's beautiful!" Isabella cooed. "What is her name?"

I smiled at all of them as pride welled up inside me. "Melody Bridget Norrington." I looked down at my baby again. She was looking at all of the people in the room, seemingly nervous. "It is alright, little one." I murmured in one of her ears. Ears that looked just like her mother's. "I've got you."

"Master Norrington."

I reluctantly looked to the doorway, and found Jane standing there. "Yes, Jane?" I mumbled.

"You have a guest, sir. He's from the fort."

Yeah! A baby! A baby girl! (Nudges BirdieInABox16) Please review lovely reviewers! Thanks!