Knowing Sparrow for about a decade, despite him not being around much within those years until lately, the occasions where she truly required his immediate vicinity were fairly scarce.

Yet if an occasion as such arose, he was sure not to be around, nor within reach. Least so early in the morning, after a night that made her heart glow.

Teague, on the other hand, was predictable. She sat down next to him, right at the massive table in the Brethren Court where she'd expected to find him.

"Have you seen your son, by any chance? And his children, maybe?"

Teague even looked up from the heavy, and frankly dusty, Pirata Codex he was the infamous Keeper of. "My dear, I'm neither young nor beautiful, so he isn't particularly fond of seeing me. Quite in contrast to you, so your chances of actually seeing him before me are rather –"

"You always claim Jack got the babbling from his Mamá." Her mouth twitched, she couldn't bite her lip enough to remain silent. "But Edward –"

"Hell, no – I have not seen him."

"The birdies?"

"Neither. Yet chances are high the three of them got lost together, aye? They'll be fine. He's not drinking like a fish as he used to, after all."

And with that, he already tried to shoo her away – whenever he was looking up lines in his sacred Code, he was quite easy to irritate.

"Sobriety is no guarantee that man won't do something daring, and you know it. But it's not even about that, I need –"

"Tara." Teague took another moment out of his so very busy schedule for her. "I know you'll always hate him a bit. But you also love him, and with that comes trust. It's not easy, given it's Jack, I sure know, but you should lay back and –"

"It's not about trust either. I do trust him, he's turned out to be … a bloody good father, actually."

Neither of them could quite believe that those words had just come out of her mouth, yet Teague smiled while she shrugged. Both oddly proud.

"No, Edward, see – I need him. I need help."

Teague gave her a highly doubtful glance, falling right back into his usual pattern regarding his son. "In what kind of endeavor could the walking chaos ever be of true help, pray tell?" Thinking about that for a further second, and the way he'd recently heard muffled voices behind closed doors – which truly worried he'd checked up on – he was swift to add, "Ah, I would rather not envision it again, let's forget about it, shall we?"

"Edward!" She sighed. "As though I'd –"

"I can never know these days", he was quick to justify himself, "you two lovebirds are unpredictable."

"But you do know that knocking before entering rooms, especially at night, is said to significantly reduce situations like that, aye?"

"I'm older than Hades himself, Tara, Jackie was away for three decades – at times I still forget he's even around!"

She nodded. "Yeah, it's strange, isn't it …"

"You know …" He was reluctant to proceed, but he did so anyway, gravely explaining, "After Tia and Jay were born … You poor thing. I thought, if something were to happen to you, if the grim reaper took you and left me alone with the two of them … I was overwhelmed with Jackie when he was a kid, imagine how I would've been just that and more with two little ones of his in my day and age. I was genuinely worried about you …"

She knew what he was getting at – of course she did. "You'd sometimes open the door to look whether I was still breathing. I remember that."

He hated to be that sentimental, still he nodded.

"You took such good care of us. And I will eternally be grateful for that."

"I'm not saying it so you thank me, dear, I just want you to know that I'd never voluntarily walk in on –"

"I know, I do know. I do! And even if it's quite a sudden change of subject – your dog urgently needs a bath." She gestured at her ever-growing belly, impossible to hide by now. "I'm not bathing him. But Jack will."

Teague blinked. "You want Jackie to bathe the dog? The dog never got a bath."

"Trust me, dear Poochie is in dire need of one."

"All of a sudden? Why now?"

She bit her lip. "He might've rolled in dead fish and rotting garbage Jack was supposed to get properly rid of …"

"Bloody hell, yeah, make that bilge rat bathe the mutt – but still I have no idea where he's at." Clearing his throat, he added, "That is to say, I can't be of help to you. So if you'd let me look for the passage in the Code I'm trying to find again now, I'd be much –"

"Sure – read on, Edward. I didn't mean to disturb you in your noble work, and I'm sure Poochie doesn't mind rolling further on your bed until I find Jack either. It's his favorite spot in the world, after all."

Teague gulped, disgust flashing across his features. "All with that stinky dead fish fur?"

Tara shrugged, and she really tried not to laugh. "That dog is bigger than I currently am despite being with child – I'm not telling him to get off and fight about it, but … I can ask nicely for you."

"That won't do a thing."

She shrugged yet again.

"He be cursed …" Teague closed the Code with a growl and nodded to Tara. "I'll teach that dog a lesson."

"Which one? Poochie or Jack?"

A raspy laugh announced his answer, "Both of them."

One lesson had to wait, unfortunately, for the sheer lack of presence of Jack.

Poochie, however, was sleeping peacefully coiled on Teague's bed – and it smelled just like it when they entered.

"Oi, you mangy cur!" Teague shouted, awaking Poochie with quite the boast. "Get off the bed, you skunk, and better quickly so!"

Out of all of them, Poochie was most obedient with Teague – usually. But the bed was seemingly too good to give up right now.

"Do I speak Spanish?"

"You wish," Tara whispered.

"Come here! Right now!" Teague shouted, all while the dog wouldn't move an inch.

"Not sure you've ever practiced a reliable recall with him …"

Now it was Teague who asked, "Well, with which one?"

"Also both, I guess."

"Jackie's recall is your part now, dear, I wash my hands of that."

"Can't recall you washing your hands of anything ever," they suddenly heard Jack mumble while strolling towards them with Tia sitting on his shoulders and followed by James holding on to his father's hand. The kids had mud painted all over their faces and arms, and by the first look of it, that was most likely their father's idea of art. "But dashing to claim such actions," Jack added once they stood next to them. "In the face of the smell in here, old man."

While James hugged himself to Tara – she ruffled his hair with a big smile – she almost sang to Jack, "Father of my children, love of my life. Where the hell have you –"

"Been?" Jack gave her a rather amused glance before stealing a quick kiss. "We travelled all over the Seven Seas and through Purgatory in the meantime. That being those three hours since you last cussed me out, my lovely siren. Isn't that something?"

"I did not cuss you out, I told you to make yourself useful, that's a difference."

He patted her belly, proud and euphoric, despite claiming, "Not when yelled, darling."

She had to stop herself from grinding her teeth. "I'll show you some yelling, you know damn well –"

"Oi, it really smells in here," James found, not minding his parents' eye rolling about each other any more than ever. "What is that?"

"That, son," Jack already began to answer, "is what happens when you only claim to wash your hands of something, while actually not truly doing so –"

"You were supposed to get rid of the garbage with the dead fish, weren't you?" Teague glowered, and it already dawned on Jack. "That's what she asked you to be useful with. Is that not correct?"

"Quite correct, now that I reflect on it." The very man nodded, quite complacently at that. "And well – so I was, I'd claim."

"But Papá," Tia began, still sitting on his shoulders, "earlier you said you weren't sure whether it would do –"

"Tia! Tia …" Jack interrupted his daughter, giving her mother the most innocent smile he'd ever worked up. "Princess of the oceans, I can't recall even thinking such a –"

"Enough!" Teague barked. "Jackie, the dog found it all and decided to roll in it just to come here and –"

"Ah! There you go." Jack nodded in all seriousness. "Clear as day. An obvious lack of proper handling of the dog! Because wasn't a good boy taught to leave it by the Keeper of the Code?" Jack glanced at Poochie. "Huh? And would a good boy really do such things as to give away how I didn't dispose of the garbage in the recommended but more convenient way?"

"Jack!"

"Tara?" He knew exactly how to tease with minimum effort and maximum outcome. He knew this was his fault. But by acting as though it wasn't so, he was clearly pushing it. And usually, he'd merrily have kept going, but in her current state … It was surely better not to enrage his twin's Mamá. "You know what? Both of you? It's not even worth the words. I simply suggest forgetting –"

"You don't sleep in here!" Teague shouted.

All while Tara snapped, "You don't wash those sheets, nor your clothes all stiff with dirt! If Purgatory spat the three of you out like that, maybe you should've stayed a tad longer there."

"We wanted to have tattoos like Papá," Tia proudly told her mother, pointing at her forearm from above where she was still sitting on Jack's shoulders. "It's a bit blurry, but see? It's a sparrow!"

"Here, I have a sun!" James was eager to add as well, showing his right cheek. "And a skull on my back!"

"It's all mud, hence not permanent," Jack was quick to say. "Isn't that brilliant?"

He seemed so proud of it that she couldn't help but chuckle.

"It's creative, I'll give you that."

"Creative?" His contagious grin was worth a ton of dirt. "Brilliant, that's the word! Say it."

"Later maybe, since I still wonder … Are you going to make sure the mud is off by the evening, and the dog is bathed?"

"Sure. Good thing we're surrounded by water." Patting her belly, he assured, "Won't have you bothered one bit, love."

"You always bother – anyways … What about the sheets, Jack?"

"The sheets?"

She only blinked, but even that was emphasizing her expectations.

He audibly gasped, still he'd nod. "Never have I wished to do anything more. No worries."

"Brilliant," she almost whispered. "Please proceed, then, sail with the tide."

"But certainly you wish to motivate me for such brilliant acts?"

She looked up at him, holding his glance. "We'll find a way to reward you for addressing the problems you've created."

"I need to find me another home," Teague sighed, regretting having ears in the first place.

"Noticed that, though, birdies? Proper negotiation is key, always remember to take what you can."

With that, he twice slapped a hand to his upper leg while already turning around to leave. "Now come, come, doggy, we'll also find some rewards for you."

Poochie immediately jumped from the bed to end up walking out right by Jack's side.

"What? How did he get him off without even …" Teague was rarely ever visibly confused, given he'd seen almost every curse and blessing the earth could offer throughout his adventurous life – but Jack had always been the person for all sorts of impossibilities.

"He's just a good boy," Tia said, still on Jack's shoulders as they already left Teague and Tara behind again.

"Which one …" Teague growled when they were no longer within earshot, giving Tara a glance that was a testament to their shared misery caused by Sparrow's frequent mischief.

Tara only shook her head in exasperation as well. "Neither of them, Edward."

"You somewhat chose him, though." He shrugged, raising his hands in defense when he noticed her look. "I'm just saying –"

"Maddening as it is, I wouldn't have it any other way. Did you see how happy the kids were?" She couldn't help but smile at Teague. "Dirt can be washed off. But not the regret of not sailing into trouble with a brazen Sparrow."

Teague didn't respond a thing. The babbling Jack had gotten from his mother, or so he liked to tell himself. Yet he had a faint sensation of pride in his heart yet again, knowing that Tara loved his son dearly, and his son being his son, the lad at least tried … his best …

"Wait for me!"

Sparrow, the kids and even Poochie, turned around in surprise when Tara tried to catch up. Down the hill to the harbour was not the problem, the way up would be. But they had all the time in the world, for once.

"Shall I bathe you as well?" As selfless as ever, Jack paused for her to reach them.

She only rolled her eyes in feigned impatience and took Tia's outstretched hand into hers when she approached them. "Your Papá is so generous with his offers of service as of lately."

"He said he'd make sure you and our little brother feel as calm as possible."

"Brother?" Tara beamed. "How can he be so sure it's not a sister of yours?"

"I told him," Tia said ever so casually. "I have a feeling it's a brother. Papá believes me by now."

"She's convinced us both," James confirmed. "You can trust her, too."

"Oh sure, then," Tara said, smiling at her daughter. Like her brother, the cheekbones and those mysterious black eyes she'd gotten from Jack undoubtedly, the rich colour of umber in her skin and the waves in her hair, however, sure was all of herself. "You know you were named after a remarkable woman that had a fine intuition for destiny and its unique ways for a reason."

"They also came up with a name." Jack's eyebrows shot up. "Guess."

"Josh? Oh, wait! Edward?"

"Good Lord," Jack moaned, "no. Even worse. Should've hardly been possible, yet here we are."

Tara couldn't help but cackle at her twin's expectant faces.

"Maybe Robert? Your father's flashy middle name?"

"Robert?" Tia screwed up her face before both her and James collapsed into a fit of laughter. "That's his –"

"No, it is not," Jack protested, swiftly walking on in glorious pride. "Or at least not certainly. Depends on who you ask, really. Let's not discuss this much longer than need be. Just tell your Mamá what name you came up with, will ya?"

"We thought we might name him …" James shrugged, and with his sister in unison he said, "Theo."

Tara immediately covered her mouth with a hand to catch her muffled laugh. "Are you trying to drive your father crazy?"

James made big eyes. "Why does no one appreciate the suggestion?"

"I don't get it either," Tia sighed – while their mother was utterly amused, and their father went on ferociously shaking his head.

"Oh, don't you sulk, Sparrow, given your daughter's name is Tia," Tara called over to Jack. It made him turn around and clearly try to keep obscene words from falling from his lips, but she didn't care one bit and simply went on, "And see, if it was a girl, in addition to that I'd also be absolutely open to naming her … let's say, Anamaria. Or Scarlett. Or Esmeralda, or Giselle –"

"Well, birdies," Jack decided to quickly interrupt her, "see, my true middle name is, in fact, 'popular with the ladies'."

Tara went on nevertheless. "Or Angelica, or Lian, or Park – I can't seem to remember which one you –"

"Both, if you feel better knowing," he immediately taunted in mock support.

"Wonderful, yet another name to choose from, aye?" She blew him a kiss, then said, "So don't you dare be offended when one Theo's being mentioned."

"Bloody Theo's very much out of the question."

"I still don't understand why, though," Tia admitted to him. "It's a nice name, and Theo's a nice person to be named after."

"Tiny Calypso, I'd rather name my kid Poochie, savvy?"

The dog went into a heel walk after hearing his name, in hopes of a treat as they kept approaching a bay right beside the harbour.

A pet Poochie got, despite his stinky fur. "Good boy." Sniffing his hand afterwards, and subsequently coughing in disgust, Jack eventually nodded. "Aye, you do need a bath. And quickly so …"

"Then let's see who first arrives at the beach!" James cried, his sister running after him at once – followed by the dog already.

But with the sun gleaming golden in the sky, Jack couldn't bring himself to move any faster than necessary, and Tara shouldn't anyway. He offered a hand to her with a tired smile, yet warm it was.

Ten years ago, her teasing would most likely have made him ignore her for hours to come. Now he didn't even think about it anymore.

She took his hand, gladly so, but then she remembered.

"Is that the hand you pet Poochie with?"

"No. Well – yeah. But again, I can bathe you, too."

"Damn you." She said it, yet she smiled. He loved her for it.

She kept her arm looped through his as they followed the kids down to the beach, and still, she wouldn't have it any other way.

"While we're at it, love, how are you?" he eventually asked, with that unusual concern in his tone of voice that kept coming up rather frequently these days. "You two, I mean?"

"We're fine." She nodded as his gaze kept questioning her. "We really are, you don't need to worry."

It didn't seem to reassure him that much.

"I'll let you know once you can or should," she vowed. "Alright? You can bet on it."

"Good. Don't be shy."

"I certainly won't start to be now."

He smirked, then, from afar, he could swear he knew those two. "Is that Lizzy and her little know-it-all?"

"He's called Henry, and yes – perfect," Tara rejoiced, already waving over to Elizabeth and her son. "They can play, and we need to talk."

He meekly sighed. "It's never good when you say that."

"Not about us," she chuckled, patting his chest to console him immediately. "It's about Ching, we need to come up with a tactic."

"Ah." Jack nodded. "Had a feeling we might discuss her soon, I just wasn't sure whether you'd trust me enough to involve me."

"You tested me?"

Like insolence personified, he shook his head. "I'd never do that, darling. Now let me make the kids bathe the dog –"

"No, Jack, the dog has teeth, the kids have little hands, you will –"

"Fine then, let me do it," he corrected himself, with plenty of audacity in his grin before gently placing a kiss on her forehead. "And you catch your breath for a moment and then make Lizzy watch out for the rebels so we can take a little stroll around town and scheme, aye?"

Thanks a ton for last chapter's kind comment again, I was so thrilled to see you liked it :)