The Fine Line Between Legends And Lies

Chapter 31:

A/N: Okay sorry it took so long for me to update but here it is! And again, thank you to those of you who have left reviews!

The wind that had been steadily pushing them along their way to Port Royal had considerably weakened from the strong gusts they had been blessed with. Now the once strong wind had dwindled to a barely noticeable lick not even capable of completely filling the sails of the Pearl. The crew was exhausted and the longer it took for them to reach their destination the more likely it was going to become that their water would run out. Jack’s dark eyes swept across the deck of his beloved ship not really taking notice of the crew as he did. He was actually looking for his wife. As of late he had noticed that she was becoming increasingly hard to keep an eye on. Suddenly Gibb’s voice cut through his thoughts and brought him back to their conversation they had been having. From the expectant look on his first mate’s face he had been asked a question.

“Captain?”

“Oh…..uh….sorry Gibbs, I wasn’t exactly listening.”

“Something’s got ye right unsettled Captain…..nothing bad I hope?”

“Bad? Oh….uh no….nothing bad. Ye haven’t by any chance seem Elizabeth have ye Gibbs?”

“Miss Elizabeth? Well….now that ye mention it Jack……I don’t recall seeing her at breakfast. Or at lunch.”

Jack’s brow wrinkled as he continued to look out over the deck in search of his wayward wife. The fact that Elizabeth was once again pregnant made him want to keep her close by at all times. This was something that she objected to every chance she got. But naturally as captain of the ship he made the rules. However that didn’t seem to deter his stubborn little wife from trying to disobey him. Handing the wheel to Gibbs Jack strode towards the stairway leading back down onto the main deck.

“Take the wheel for a bit Gibbs, m’ going t’ find me wife.”

“Aye Captain.”

Jack strode down the stairs and headed towards their cabin. Swinging the door open quickly he glanced around the cabin. Little Jacob was tucked away in his crib for his mid afternoon nap but there was no sign of Elizabeth. Shutting the door quietly he turned and headed for the stairs that led down into the bowels of the ship. Jack trotted quickly down the steps until he came to the galley. He poked his head around the corner to look into the galley. Finding it empty he frowned and then continued on his way. Descending a second set of stairs he headed towards the crew’s quarters. Walking down the long narrow walkway until he reached the small storage closet that had served as Elizabeth’s sleeping quarters what now seemed like ages ago. That was before she and Jack had become intimate and she was still trying to convince herself that she was in love with the whelp and that becoming a blacksmith’s wife was the life she really wanted.

Jack opened the door to the storage closet turned sleeping quarters and found Elizabeth curled up on the small bunk that was in the room. Stepping into the tiny quarters Jack approached the bed and sat down on the edge of it. Feeling the mattress shift when Jack sat down on it Elizabeth sat up and rubbed her eyes quickly. He could see that her cheeks were wet and her eyes were red and puffy. She had been crying. But why?

“Izzy?”

“Oh…Jack, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Apparently not love. What’s the matter?”

“Oh…it’s nothing.”

“Izzy ye’ve been crying darling.”

She sighed deeply before reaching out to grasp his hand softly.

“Oh I’m just tired of feeling so queasy is all.”

“An’ that’s why yer crying?”

“Oh Jack….it’s just that Jacob is still so young. And I’m already pregnant again!”

Jack scooted up beside her on the bed and pulled her into a tight embrace making her lay her head on his chest.

“Yer sorry that yer pregnant again love?”

“No….I…I don’t know. It’s just that I’ve only been a mother for two months and now I’m starting all over again.”

“Do ye…..want t’ not be pregnant right now Izzy?”

“What are you asking me Jack?”

“If I told ye there was a way….would ye want t’ end the pregnancy?”

“You mean get rid of our baby?”

“Yea….if that’s what ye want love?”

“Jack…..I…..it’s not that I don’t want this baby. It’s just so soon after having Jacob. I’m not sure that I’m ready.”

“So then ye want t’ end the pregnancy Izzy?”

“No…..maybe….I just….I need time to think Jack.”

“Course love. Whatever ye want…ye know I’ll give it t’ ye. I love ye Elizabeth.”

“I love you too Jack.”

“Now then…c’mon let’s get out of this closet.”

Elizabeth giggled a little as Jack helped her out of the bed and towards the door. He guided her out of the small room ahead of him and closed the door before following her down the narrow walkway. Tears pricked the back of his eyes and he blinked them away quickly. It would do no good to cry about this. At least not in front of her. Besides it wasn’t as if she had made a decision about the situation yet anyway. But the very idea that Elizabeth might even be considering ending this pregnancy hurt like nothing he’d ever felt in this world. How could she even be thinking about not wanting to be pregnant? Of course it hadn’t been planned…but then again neither had Jacob. Jack frowned as he walked behind his wife towards the upper decks of the Pearl. What had started as hurt was quickly turning into anger. How dare she even think to want to get rid of his child? No….he wasn’t going to let her do it! He would make her see that she just couldn’t want to get rid of their child. Jack chewed on his bottom lip as they walked up onto the main deck of the Pearl. Gibbs called out to him from the wheel deck.

“Captain!”

“Aye?”

“There’s been a slight change in the winds sir!”

Tilting his head up towards the sky he could feel the breeze that began lapping at his face gently. It was faint but it was there and slightly stronger than it had been before. Off in the distance he could see dark grayish green looking clouds beginning to manifest and the low rumbling of thunder from somewhere in the not too far off distance caught his attention. With any luck the storm that was brewing on the horizon would give them the boost they needed to get back on track to Port Royal. Turning back to Gibbs Jack shouted.

“M’ thinking that we’re in for quite a storm Gibbs!”

“Aye Captain…it looks that way!”

Looking down at Elizabeth the frown reappeared on his face. Reaching down he placed his hand on her still flat stomach making her look up at him.

“Be a good little wife an’ take shelter in the cabin while I tend t’ me ship during the storm. Savvy?”

“But Jack…”

“No buts Izzy….I’ll not have ye on deck in yer condition during the storm.”

“And that’s an order?”

“Aye….that’s an order. Now get yer bottom into the cabin love. I’ll be in shortly an’ jus’ maybe we can make the most of the storm. If ye follow?”

She smiled at the way he wiggled his dark eyebrows at her. Leaning up to place a sweet kiss on his weathered lips she headed for their cabin. Jack’s dark eyes followed her as she walked into their cabin and shut the door. Yes he had every intention of going in there and making love to her and making her see that she just couldn’t get rid of this baby. Turning his attention back to the crew he began barking out orders and headed towards the helm to keep watch with Gibbs. The storm would be upon them shortly and he wanted to be sure that they sailed through it with as little difficulty as possible. And then once his captainly duties were done he would head into his cabin and make love to his beautiful pregnant wife. A smile crept onto Jack’s face as he titled his head towards the sky and felt the first drops of rain pelt his cheeks. The storm was here and he was ready to embrace it.

A/N: Okay short chapter I know…but don’t worry I will update much sooner this time! Had to create a little bit of drama between Jack and Elizabeth just to keep the story interesting. Hope you enjoy it! Please read and review!