The Worst Curse Of All

Disclaimer: I don't own PotC. Wish I did, but I don't--that's all Disney. Besides, if I owned Capt. Jack, I can think of a tons of things I could be doing instead of sitting around writing fan fiction... ;-)

Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to mi amiga, Christen. Chrissy, thanks for all the input! Love ya!

A/N: All I can say is that this is my first published fic, so REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW people!

Chapter 1: calm before the storm

'Aaachoo!'-- The sneeze resonated off the cabin walls. Wiping his nose, Captain Jack Sparrow turned to glare at his first mate and recently wedded wife, Anna Maria, who was slouched against their headboard.

"What?" she asked, inclining her head so as to playfully glare back at him with glazed over eyes.

"Woman, you've gone and made me ill, also!" Jack said. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow! I can't be getting sick!"

Anna Maria gave a cough that seemed sincere enough, but which may have been concealing a snicker. Either way, all she succeeded in doing was making herself cough even harder.

"Well, I'b sorry Jack. I diddit beand to gettchoo sick." she sniffled, fighting to enunciate, but failing terrifically. "Id's dot as if I cand control deez tings! I jusd hope dat da baby doesend catch a cold, too."

Jack nodded quietly and gazed over at the cradle rocking gently in time with the sway of the boat. Nestled within, lay a tiny figure in a lacy white pinafore. Her eyes were closed as she lazily sucked on her thumb. It created a soft 'smup-smup' sound barely audible over the lull of the waves splashing against the ship's hull.

The captain's harsh features softened a bit, as he stared down at his sleeping daughter. He had been the one to name her-- Victoria Angelitte, or 'victorious angel', had just seemed to apply to the little one right away. Jack Sparrow had only recently discovered that he could value anything above gold and The Black Pearl. To be concise, his bride and baby girl were quite possibly the only things he did love more than having the life of a pirate. He didn't know what he would do if something happened to them. He would personally kill anyone who tried to tear them from him.

A grin spread across Jack's face as Victoria rolled over so that she was facing him. She had his eyes and a mulatto complexion about two shades lighter than her mother's. He turned back to Anna Maria. "She really is an angel, idn't she? Make a damn fine pirate, too, someday."

Anna Maria smiled. "Aye, well, she'll cerdaindly be geddin' 'er practice in, wha' wid being raised up roud here, wod she? Dond laugh at bee, Jack! I cand hardly breathde widbye dose stuffd up like dis!"

Jack drew off his chuckling, and smiled warmly despite the hate glares he was receiving. He was used to them anyway, and he knew that Anna Maria's were the ones he could ignore altogether. "I'm sorry, luvie, it's just that's quite a change from that haughty Haitian accent you've normally got!" He chuckled again as Anna Maria rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at his head. He dodged it expertly, and crossed to the bed, stopping to smooth the ruffles of Victoria's minute dressing gown as he went.