Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. Pirates of the Caribbean, its story and characters, is owned by Walt Disney Pictures.
Warning: Slash (Jack/Will), mentions of mpreg, a bit of OOC, and lots of original characters
A/N: Sequel to "The Blessed Curse." If you haven't read it, it's recommended that you do, otherwise you may be a bit lost. This is basically the story of Jack and Will's youngest child getting married. Consist mostly of flashbacks and takes place a few years after the events of "The Blessed Curse." Remember, this is an AU, especially since the movie sequels that will be coming out in the next few years will be nothing like this.
Prologue
Will sighed as he rocked slowly back and forth in his chair, gazing outside the window. He held his son in the crock of his right arm as his left hand propped the bottle into his tiny mouth. The babe suckled hungrily on the bottle as Will continued to stare out at the night sky. There was no moon out tonight, and the stars where obscured by the thick gray clouds. Inside the small room that had been made just for the baby, a few small candles flickered, lighting up the room just enough to see the surroundings. The baby's crib rested in the corner, just under the sole window and the night stand (and part time changing table) lay just a few inches to the right of it. In the other corner was Will, in the rocking chair, the very image of parental love and affection as he held his child in a loving, protective embrace almost out of fear that he would disappear into thin air and be nothing more then a dream.
Jack stood leaning against the door frame, gazing with love and affection at both Will and their child. He chewed longingly at his bottom lip, noticing the distant look on young man's face.
"You don't have to stay, Jack," he said, breaking the uneasy silence. His tone was calm and even, but Jack knew that he was hurting inside. "I know you want to go..."
Jack shifted uncomfortably at the blacksmith's words. He shook his head lightly, but even with the slight movement, the trinkets in his hair seemed to make the slightest noise. "'S not right," he began sadly. "Can't just leave ye an' the baby 'ere by yerselves."
"But you and I both know that you need to go," Will said, still not bothering to look at him. "You love the sea. It's your home."
Jack licked his lips struggling to find the right words. He hated how Will was so noble and selfless. He was always willing to give up his happiness for the sake of others. It was a quality that he himself lacked and found both endearing and frustrating about the boy. No, not a boy. Not anymore. He was a man now. You don't go through a painful labor and still retained the title of a child. Despite his age and youthful looks he was an adult and deserved to be treated as such, whether Jack liked it or not.
"Me home's with ye and the baby, luv," he said firmly, but knowing in his heart everything Will was saying was true. He was out of place here on the land. He needed the constant motion of the sea, the freedom that it offered and most importantly, he needed the Pearl. He loved Will and their baby with his heart and soul (what was left of his soul as he often joked bitterly), but the Black Pearl was his first love, and one never could forget or let go of their first love.
Will turned to him then, and Jack was taken aback by the unshed tears in his chocolate brown eyes. He smiled brokenly at him, his bottom lip quivering slightly. Since his pregnancy, Will had become even more sensitive, a side effect that the doctors had said would pass in time. Still, Jack hated to see him cry and hated even more when he was the reason why he cried. He just wanted to take him in his arms and kiss away the tears, making sure he never cried again. "I know you love us, Jack," he managed to choke out. "But it's been two long months since you've stepped foot on the Black Pearl. I know how much you love her. I know you call to her sometimes in your sleep. I can't bare to see you like this anymore.
"I've gotten most of my strength back and I'm certain that I can manage to take care of the baby all by myself if I had to. You don't have to leave forever. You can always come and go as you please. We'll be fine..." At these last words Will burst into tears, unable to hold back the emotion.
Jack immediately rushed over to his side, cupping his tear stained cheeks in his hands and proceeding to kiss the younger man softly on the lips. Will continued to sob and clutched the baby closer to his body. "I love ye, Will," Jack said quitely, as he parted from the soft, pink lips of his young love. "I couldn't live without the two o' ye."
"You don't have to," he said, fighting to hold back the tears a little longer. "I know you'll come back to us. It's alright." He leaned into the pirate's soft grasp. "You can go."
He leaned in to kiss him again. "I'll come back for ye'," he promised. "I swear I will."
Captain Jack Sparrow was a man of his word. He would always make good on his promise to Will, always returning to him and Gabe in the fall and staying until the first sign of spring. Their good byes were always teary and reluctant. He would feel his heart breaking as he gazed into both Will's and Gabe's sad eyes. However, his good byes with the Pearl were nearly the same. Granted the Pearl couldn't physically shed tears, Jack could still feel the ships sorrow at being parted with him.
His heart was torn in half. The sea was his home. He always felt naked and exposed on dry land, only tolerating the frustrating steadiness for the necessary shore leaves that he'd allow his crew. He couldn't live without it, he would begin to feel sick, listless, even depressed when parted from his home for too long a period.
Then there was his family. The only real family he'd ever known. His man and his babe lived on land and he knew that he couldn't convince Will to leave with him again, not until the blacksmith could be certain that Gabe would be able to handle the harsh sea. Still, he couldn't stomach being away from the two of them. He'd often find himself crying in his sleep when away from them too long. No amount of rum could dull the pain of being away from those he loved most.
And that's how it was for him. Pained on land and pained while at sea. At least, that's how it was until Will announced that he was pregnant with their second child.
Will smirked at the older man happily, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "I'm pregnant," he said.
Jack stared at him, in shock and surprise. He tried to work his mouth and form words, but for the first time in his life, Jack was speechless. "P... pr... pregnant?" Jack managed to choke out, still finding his throat thick and his mind muddled.
Will's brown eyes began to water a little as he stared at the older man. His smirk faded and his bottom lip began to quiver. "You're... you're not happy..." he sobbed.
Jack fumbled with his words, still not completely able to think of what to say. "No! 'S not that, luv. It's just..." he grunted and sat up, hunching over in bed. "Just wasn't expectin' this."
Will's face began to crumple and he quickly turned over in bed, facing the wall and avoiding Jack's gaze. "I thought you'd be happy," he whimpered brokenly. "What's wrong with having another baby? I want more children!"
"But we never talked about havin' more kids before," he added quickly. Seeing that his words weren't helping to sooth Will he reached over and rubbed the young man's shoulders. "'S not that I'm not happy, luv. I love ye an' I love Gabe an' I'll love this baby, 's just... I don't know what to do! I can't leave ye alone 'ere an' I can't just up an' leave the Pearl for nine months!"
"Six."
"What?" Jack said, not quite understanding Will's muffled words.
He turned his head over slightly so that his mouth wasn't covered by the pillow as much. "I said 'six.' I'm three months pregnant."
Jack groaned, resting his head in the palm of his hands. "When were ye planin' on tellin' me this? If I hadn't come back early, I mean?" Will sniffed and stayed silent. Jack sighed again, falling back onto the mattress, causing the bed to squeak. "What are we gonna do, luv? Can't leave ye alone."
"I'll manage," Will protested stubbornly.
"Really?" Jack asked turning to face Will's back and raising a dubious eyebrow. "What about when yer eight months along an' havin' trouble bendin' down ta tie yer shoes let alone raisin' a child, tendin' to housework, an' keepin' the forge runnin'?"
"Gabe's too young to go to sea, Jack," Will put in, knowing just where Jack was going with this. "He's only three years old, and is likely to get hurt or sick or... or worse."
"But I'll be there to protect ye! All o' ye! Just stay with me Will. I promise I'll protect ye, ye know I will. I can't stand livin' like this anymore. Half dead no matter where I am, sick and lonely at sea, depressed and tired on land. I've been faithful, ye know that." He caressed Will's thigh, causing the younger man to shiver with pleasure. He bit down on his lower lip as he watched the blacksmith squirm. "Gets so cold at night in that big, empty cabin. No body there to warm me bed at night." He bent down to kiss Will's neck and was rewarded with a soft sigh of pleasure.
"I know that you're miserable Jack, but this isn't easy for me either. I'm here all alone having to tend to everything all by myself, and I miss you at night as well." He turned over and gazed at Jack with sad red eyes, his cheeks stained with tears and his bottom lip still quivering. "But this isn't about what's best for us, it's about what's best for the children. It's what being a parent is all about. I remember how miserable things were for my mother. I remember hearing her cry herself to sleep some nights longing for my father. She did what she had to, to keep me safe and alive and that's what parents do, they give up the things they love to make their children happy. That's what we must do now."
"But don't ye think it'll make Gabe happy to be with me on the Pearl. Ye saw the way 'is lil' face lit up when he saw me 'ere."
"I know but-"
"Will," Jack cut in, scooping up Will's left cheek in the palm of his right hand, rubbing his tears away with his thumb. "Please. Come away with me. I need ye, an' ye need me, too."
"Bu-" Will was cut off as Jack pressed his chapped lips against his. He moaned and leaned into the warmth of Jack's mouth. When they parted he panted a little bit and stared into Jack's serious dark eyes. There was so much love and sadness in them that they seemed to crush Will with their intensity. Will sighed and chewed on his lower lip for a moment. "You'll have to tell him we're going then."
And so Will and Gabe became permanent members of the Black Pearl crew. Just as Jack had originally offered the first time that Will was taken aboard the Pearl while with child, Jack had set up a forge below deck just for him. They went back to sharing the Captain's quarters and Gabe was given his own private room.
Six months later, they welcomed the arrival of their baby girl, whom Jack had lovingly named Wilhelmina, after Will of course. At first Will had been flattered that Jack decided to name the child after him, until he realized that he was calling him a girl (at least, that was what he had concluded)! He then decided to give her the nickname of Mina for then on.
Time went on, and the four of them lived as a happy (although strange) little family. As the children grew up they began to take after their parents in certain areas. Gabe began to resemble a younger Jack with less scars and curly hair. He was realistic, hardworking, and was very good with a sword. Not to mention noble. So noble in fact that he ended up impregnating and then marrying one of his first girlfriends. Will had been crushed to say the least at the idea of his baby boy getting married, but managed to pull threw and, with much effort, let him go.
If Gabe was the spitting image of Jack, then Mina was the mirror image of Will, if of course Will were a girl. She looked just like her father, from the chocolate brown eyes to the curly brown hair, but she was nothing like him in personality. She was a wild child and a free sprite. Always drinking, cursing, and acting very much like a lady version of Jack, except in the bedroom. Any man who so much as glanced at the girl was met with three very protective men. However, that didn't keep the girl from finding love in the form of a young Lieutenant Graham Norrington.
Admiral James Norrington (retired) and Elizabeth Norrington's young son had managed to catch the young girl's fancy and sweep her off her feet. Now she was getting ready to wed and the two families were preparing to become one in the coming days.
Jack sighed slightly as he gazed out over the horizon at the dark clouds forming up ahead. A storm was fast approaching.