Chapter 12: A Happy Day

"Now I know why you were so worried about the colour of the sails, Will," Elizabeth admitted. "In the situation we are in now, it had to be Jack that came to save us."

"I think it is better that we are off that island and with Jack. Otherwise the chances of us finding our boy would be impossible," Will said.

"True," Elizabeth said thoughtfully. "Yet things are getting more and more complicated. Not only is William missing, but so is Juliet. We can't keep this up, Will. Jack and Guinevere must know what we were planning."

"Perhaps our reunion was luck in disguise," Will said pensively. "Jack is the most cunning pirate ever to sail the seas. If we tell him the truth, perhaps he can help us."

"I have no doubt of that," Elizabeth said confidently.

Just then, Jack raced up to the deck, flailing his arms wildly. "Rose! Will!"

"Easy, Jack," Will said calmly. "What's gotten into you?"

"I'm going to be a father, that's what's gotten into me!" Jack replied hastily. "Where's Rose?"

"She's looking after James," Elizabeth said.

"Rose!" Jack called as he ran to her.

"What's got you in such a mood, Jack?" Rose asked.

"Guin is giving birth to my child. Is that a satisfactory explanation for you?" Jack explained hurriedly.

"I'm on my way!" Rose said as she sped off below decks.

Jack trailed after her and beckoned Will and Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, Will, come with me. You being the godparents is imperative that you watch your godchild be born."

"You didn't need to ask, Jack," Will said as he and Elizabeth followed Jack below decks.

Even before they reached below decks, Guinevere's pain-infused shrieks could be heard. They only got louder and louder as they got closer to Guinevere's room. Once they entered, the screams were their loudest and almost unbearable. Guinevere was drenched in sweat and when she wasn't screaming, she was breathing hard.

"It's all right, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack comforted. "We're all here and you and the little one are going to be fine."

"I'll be fine when I can get this kid out of me!" Guinevere countered in between screams. "Can't I push yet?"

"No, Guin," Rose replied. "You're not dilated enough yet."

"When can I start pushing?" Guinevere asked.

"Very soon," Rose assured her. "It won't be long now."

"I hope it's not!" Guinevere replied before shrieking again.

"Mrs. Sparrow, my love, take my hand and squeeze when you feel something," Jack said gently.

"I don't want to hurt you," Guinevere said hesitantly.

"Darling, I've been to the Locker and back," Jack said reassuringly. "You seem to forget one thing. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

"I hadn't forgotten that part," Guinevere agreed as she squeezed Jack's hand.

"Will, get me a wet washcloth," Rose instructed.

Will was quick to comply. He found a clean white washcloth and immediately wiped the perspiration from Guinevere's brow.

"Everything's all right, Guin," Will said earnestly. "This baby will come before you know it."

"I hope you're right," Guinevere said, smarting from the pain of her contractions.

"Guin, you're ready now," Rose told her.

"Finally!" Guinevere groaned.

"On my count, Guin, then you can push," Rose said. "Ready?"

"What do you think?" Guinevere demanded.

"One, two, three, push!" Rose cried.

With Jack holding her, Guinevere sat up and pushed. In ten years, Guinevere had forgotten the pain of childbirth. She was instantly reminded of that pain as she sat in her hammock and pushed.

"You're doing well, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack reassured her, kissing her head. "Don't give up."

"Come on, Guin," Will said optimistically as he wiped the perspiration from Guinevere's brow. "Keep pushing."

"You can say that and you're not the one pushing!" Guinevere groaned as she fell back to the hammock for a moment.

"You're doing splendidly," Elizabeth said gently. "Your child will be here in no time."

"You speak the same words as your husband!" Guinevere countered.

"Come on, Guin, push!" Rose exclaimed.

Guinevere held Jack's hand as if he were her lifeline. Her cries of anguish came naturally as she continued to push out her baby.

"You are going to be lucky if you can get out of her alive, Jack," Guinevere said warningly.

"Why's that?" Jack asked.

"Because even though I love you, I may have to kill you for doing this to me," Guinevere answered.

"Well, if thinking about killing me is what gets you through, then think about it," Jack said wisely.

"This is it, Guin," Rose reassured her. "One more time!"

"At last," Guinevere groaned in exhaustion.

For one last time, she sat up squeezing Jack's hand and pushed. Guinevere screamed and pushed until she heard a different cry. It was the small cry of a newborn baby. Guinevere collapsed back to her hammock, utterly exhausted.

"Well done, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack said ecstatically, kissing Guinevere's head.

"It's a healthy girl," Rose announced as she cleaned the child and wrapped it in a blanket.

"Give her to me," Guinevere commanded.

Jack then took his new daughter in his arms for the first time. Jack was overjoyed. He had never felt this way since he learned that Guinevere was expecting again. Since he was not present at Juliet's birth, he felt a new pride of fatherhood sweep over him.

"Hello, my darling," he greeted, taking the baby's tiny hand in his.

Jack then placed the girl in Guinevere's arms.

"Oh, my angel," Guinevere sighed. "Hello, my little angel."

"She's perfect," Will praised. "May I hold her?"

"Must you ask?" Guinevere asked in jest as she handed the baby to Will.

"Hello, little one," Will greeted stroking the girl's rosy cheeks.

Suddenly, Guinevere cried out in pain again.

Oh, God, Guinevere thought to herself.

Guinevere then felt the pain of another contraction.

"Jack, what did you do to me?" she asked menacingly.

"I know. I'll be lucky if I make it out of here alive," Jack said sheepishly.

"You bet your rum on that one," Guinevere said firmly. "Rose, what's going on?"

"It's another child," Rose replied.

"Another?" Jack gasped.

"As in twins," Rose said smartly.

"It's enough I suffer through one child, you had to stick two in me?" Guinevere demanded, breathing hard.

"My sincerest apologies, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack said, turning red.

"Guin, you know what to do," Rose said. "Push!"

Once more, Guinevere sat up with Jack's support and began to push out the second baby. After this experience, Guinevere was sure that she would never forget the pain of childbirth.

"You're doing great, Mrs. Sparrow," Jack comforted her.

"I'm going to kill you!" Guinevere shrieked as she pushed.

"Yes, darling, I know that one," Jack said. "Concentrate on that so you can get through this."

Guinevere continued to cry out in pain as she struggled to give birth to her baby. Will continued to sponge away the sweat that poured from Guinevere's head. Guinevere's head was still damp and the rest of it hung limply.

"Come on, Guin, keep going," Rose urged her on.

"I'm going to here that in my sleep tonight," Guinevere groaned as she continued on.

After at least an hour, Guinevere was beyond exhaustion.

"One more push, love," Rose said. "One more. Push!"

"This had better be the last," Guinevere said through gritted teeth.

"One more, darling. One more until we can hold our new baby," Jack said cheerfully. "Or relatively new. Savvy?"

One last time, Guinevere sat up and pushed. The room was filled with one last scream. At long last, Guinevere sank back to her pillow and heard the new cries of her second baby.

"I love you," Jack sighed.

"I know," Guinevere said tiredly. "Sorry for the death threats, but they made me feel better."

"I'm glad," Jack said with a smile.

Rose then presented the new baby to Jack. "It's a strong baby boy."

Jack then showed their new son to Guinevere.

"He's so beautiful," Guinevere breathed, caressing the little one's cheek.

"He gets that from his papa," Jack said in jest. "Only joking. He gets it from you."

"I thought so," Guinevere breathed.

"You three get some sleep. You've had a trying day," Jack whispered comfortingly, kissing Guinevere. "Sleep well, Mrs. Sparrow."

Guinevere, after many long hours, finally gave in to the comfort of sleep with a smile on her face. Jack then took his son and then the girl and laid the two in a basinet.

"Well, this is a double blessing," Jack commented.

"Indeed," Will said, beaming at the dozing babies.

"This is certainly the happiest day of my life," Jack sighed.

Will then made his way out to the deck where he was met by Bootstrap and James.

"What was all the commotion, Will?" Bootstrap wanted to know. "All I saw was Jack being Jack trying to find Rose."

"That's because he's a father again," Will explained.

"Guinevere had the baby?" James asked.

"Babies," Will corrected.

"What do you mean?" Bootstrap asked, baffled.

"Guin was carrying twins," Will told him. "Another girl and a son."

"How is she?" Bootstrap asked in concern.

"She's exhausted, naturally," Will said flatly. "She just needs to rest."

"I shall find Jack to celebrate," Bootstrap said as he and James left to find Jack.

Jack sat on the step of the deck, still beaming as he thought about his new babies. Bootstrap and James sat beside him.

"Congratulations, Captain Jack," Bootstrap complimented, presenting Jack with a bottle of rum.

"Congratulations, Jack," James added. "I'm glad everything went well."

"Thank you both," Jack said gratefully. "I propose a toast to the new Sparrows!"

"Cheers!" Bootstrap and James said.

"Whoever was the fool to say that a pirate's life was not a happy life?" Jack sighed.

By the evening, Guinevere was sitting up in her hammock with Jack at her side. Will, Bootstrap, Elizabeth, and James came down to see the new babies.

"They're too cute!" James exclaimed.

"They're both lovely," Bootstrap said with a smile.

"They are the children of Captain Jack Sparrow and Guin Sparrow. They're bound to be devastatingly beautiful," Jack laughed.

"Have you thought of names yet?" Will asked, picking up the boy.

"We have indeed," Guinevere replied.

"What did you have in mind?" Elizabeth asked as she picked up the girl.

"Will is holding Jack William Edward right now," Guinevere replied with a smile on her face. "Named after his godfather and his grandfather."

"I'm honored. As Jack said, William is a good strong name," Will said smugly.

"We couldn't name him whelp, that's for sure," Jack commented in jest.

"Jack, be nice to whelp-I mean Will," Guinevere giggled.

"When in doubt make fun of Bootstrap's son," Will said, rolling his eyes.

"And what of the lovely girl?" Elizabeth wanted to know.

Jack turned to Guinevere, who nodded. "If you don't mind, we were thinking of naming the baby girl Elizabeth Destiny Rose Sparrow. Savvy?"

"Destiny. That's an unusual name," James commented.

"It came from Will's touch of destiny," Jack said with a devilish smile.

"I'm flattered," Will said as he put the boy back into his basinet with his sister.

"We shall leave you two with your children," Elizabeth said as the group ambled up the stairs.

Jack then took his wife's hand. "How do you feel, Mrs. Sparrow?"

"Very well, Captain Sparrow," Guinevere said contently. "Although I'm feeling quite lonely in this hammock."

Jack then eased onto the hammock next to his wife. "Is this better?"

"Much better," Guinevere said with a smile.

"I'd be more comfortable if I didn't have this shirt on. Savvy?" Jack said with a charming smile.

"Aye, Captain," Guinevere said as she untied the strings that fastened Jack's shirt and lifted the shirt over his head.

"That's better," Jack said contently. "We've been blessed twice over today, you know."

"And it's all thanks to you," Guinevere said with the brightest smile.

"Shall we celebrate with a kiss?" Jack asked.

"We shall," Guinevere replied.

Caressing his wife's cheek, Jack let his lips melt into Guinevere's. Guinevere filled her husband into her arms as she kissed him over and over again.

"This is most certainly the happiest day," Guinevere sighed.

For the rest of the night, Guinevere lay asleep on Jack's chest, comforted by the rhythm of his heartbeat, though a sharp pain, like a thorn in her heart, would have destroyed Guinevere's happiness as she thought of poor Juliet, alone and dying. A tear rolled down her rosy cheek as she pondered this thought.

She should be here, Guinevere thought bitterly to herself. Juliet should be here with her new baby brother and sister. She should be safe with me, Jack, Will, and Elizabeth.

Another tear escaped Guinevere's eye as she promised that no such fate would come to Jack Jr. and Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, that night, Juliet had awakened to find herself drifting closer to civilization. To her joy, she saw a passing ship on the sea.

"I'm saved!" Juliet gasped as she began to wave her arms. "Help, please! Help!"

Almost immediately, to Juliet's relief, the vessel turned about and headed towards her boat.

"Thank you, William," Juliet praised as she watched the boat come closer to her.

Soon enough, Juliet was taken aboard the ship. Two people, whom Juliet presumed to be crewmembers, stepped up to her.

"Welcome aboard, Miss Sparrow," greeted the man.

"How do you know my name?" Juliet asked warily.

"I'm an old friend of your father's," the man replied casually. "Barbossa is my name. Hector Barbossa. You don't remember me at all, do you?"

"No. And who are you?" Juliet wanted to know.

"Lucia Barbossa," replied the woman.

"Forgive me for being so rude," Juliet apologized. "I thank you very greatly for saving me from drifting at sea."

"Ah, and we hope you'll forgive us for being so rude," Barbossa said with a devious grin.

"What do you mean?" Juliet asked, baffled.

Suddenly, a man in a white wig ascended to the boat deck. He wore a tricorn hat and a black suit. Juliet could tell he was a man of the navy.

"Commodore King, we have someone of use to you," Lucia announced.

King stepped up to Lucia. "And who might that be?"

Barbossa brought Juliet forward. "This is Juliet Sparrow. She is the daughter of Captain Jack Sparrow."

"And Guinevere Sparrow," Lucia added. "She's also the goddaughter of Will Turner and Elizabeth. "

"Is she now?" King asked with interest.

"What do you want with my parents and godparents? What do you want with me?" Juliet demanded with fright in her voice.

King knelt down to Juliet's level. "You are an inquisitive little girl."

Juliet spat. "Don't dare call me little girl when you are a little man yourself!"

King smiled condescendingly. "Lieutenant Walker, I want you to put Miss Sparrow in irons and lock her in the brig. The Barbossa family can join her."

"What?" Lucia demanded.

"We had a deal!" Barbossa growled. "If we turn over Sparrow, we go free."

"That deal is off," King told him. "I have his most prized possession. If Jack is truly selfless, he'll come for his little girl. You two have nothing to bargain with now."

Glaring at King, Barbossa and Lucia were led off to the brig. Juliet was locked in irons and she followed behind them.

"You cur! You disgraceful excuse for a creature!" Juliet shouted. "You dare hurt my parents or my godparents I'll feed you to the sharks myself!"

"How wonderful the mind of a child is," King chuckled.

"I'll get you for this, King!" Juliet threatened.

Juliet was taken down to the brig and tossed in with Lucia and Barbossa.

"Is this how you rescue all people?" Juliet demanded. "Let me out of these irons! Commodore!"

"Save your energy, Miss Sparrow," Barbossa advised her.

"And how am I supposed to listen to you when you're the reason I ended up in here?" Juliet snapped.

"We thought we could trust King, but it seems we cannot," Lucia explained.

"I figured that one out for myself," Juliet said freshly.

"It matters not how we got in here, it matters how we get out," Barbossa said wisely.

"There, I can be of use to you," Juliet said with a smile.

"How? You're just a child," Lucia asked, her brow wrinkling.

"Don't call me a child!" Juliet said hotly. "My father taught me a trick he learned from Godfather Will with half-pin barrel hinges. Savvy?"

Suddenly, Juliet coughed and noticed a small drop of blood on her mouth. Then, her coughs became deeper and overpowered her breathing. Juliet was completely consumed by her coughing and she couldn't speak or breathe. More blood was left ebbing from her mouth as sweat poured from her brow and her skin paled. Then, Juliet fell to the floor unconscious.

"What in the name of Davy Jones was that?" Barbossa asked, shocked.

"I know what it is," Lucia told him. "Guinevere was the same way when Juliet was first born."

"What was it?" Barbossa asked.

"Consumption," Lucia replied glumly. "A coughing fit this bad can mean only one thing. Juliet is dying."

Barbossa paled as he heard Juliet's fate. "How much longer do you think she has?"

"Only a few days," Lucia replied. "Unless we get to the Fountain of Youth, it could be over for her."

"Well, we can't just sit here and wait for her to die then, can we?" Barbossa asked determinedly.

Lucia smiled as well as her father, showing his gold teeth.