EPILOGUE

Months had passed away since the Black Pearl set sail for Singapore, and just as many since they left Singapore. The Pearl had docked near where Tia Dalma resided, in hopes that when Phoenix gave birth there would be no complications. Not to mention, Jack wanted to know if the child was his of not. Along the time passed, they thought of names for the child, boy and girl. Jasmine if it was a girl, after Phoenix's middle name, Jack Jr. if it was a boy, after Jack himself. Then they became more creative with the girl names, such as Ivy Jacqueline Sparrow, Cassiopeia Sparrow, Quinn Sparrow, Serena Storm Sparrow, and Jade Coral Sparrow. For the boys, they could only muster up Damien Teague Sparrow, and Xavier Jonathan Sparrow.

Raven and Romeo were fascinated with their mother's stomach and even more so when they felt the baby on the inside kick. Elizabeth and Will on the other hand were merely fascinated with the fact that Jack was acting like the maternal mother hen once more, watching every one of Phoenix's moves with so much speculation it made her quite violent with him at times. Angela was in complete wonderment in how her Aunt Phoenix got that way. And her parents, being the good people they are, explained to her what sex really was without shame. She never saw her uncle Jack the same way again. Now she saw him as a violator and an all around meanie. This was amusing to watch from everyone else's point of view.

Something in the air didn't feel right to Phoenix however, and she begged jack to let them leave Tia Dalma's area and go back to her parent's house. Jack told her nothing was amiss and she would be perfectly safe. But Jack failed to listen when Phoenix told him it wasn't her safety she feared… it was Raven. Something just wasn't right. At first Phoenix figured Raven might be jealous about the attention the new baby would receive, but then pushed that idea aside. She just looked sorrowful, as if she would be leaving. This made Phoenix nearly petrified. She couldn't live with having her little girl lost. They had already been through that with Romeo, and if it happened again, Phoenix would have no mercy.

Jack sat near the helm with an apple and a bottle of rum while his son sat beside him, eating a banana. Jack watched Raven from a far sitting on a crate, overlooking the ocean. She looked sad, and was not his little girl anymore. She wasn't full of life and spirit, and wanting nothing more than to bug her father. She seemed depressed and withdrawn. He had refused to believe Phoenix before, but now it was evident, something was wrong. Jack excused himself from Romeo as he played with a toy ship, and walked over to Raven. She ignored her father, and continued to look on, into the sunset.

"Darling… why do you look so sad for?", Jack tried. Raven said nothing. He then took out his pocket knife and cut part of his apple off and offered it to her. She took it from him, and began to chomp down. Jack smiled. "Ye know luv… Yer hurtin' yer old father's feelings when ye don't talk to him", Jack said with mock hurt. Raven swallowed the last of the apple piece and looked at her father with eyes welled with water. Jack instantly dropped what he had in his hands and enveloped Raven in his arms.

"Shhh luv, don't cry. Just tell me what's wrong, and you'll be fine, alright?", he tried with her, but instead the tears were flowing more steadily now, and her breathing became much harder and drawn out. Jack did nothing but pat her back and hold her close, right where she belongs. "I luv you daddy", she whispered. Jack held her tighter, and began walking with her to the side of ship so they could look at the fish through the clear water.

Without notice, Elizabeth came running full speed to Jack and nearly shouted in his ear. "Jack! We must go to Tia now! Phoenix is about to have the baby…", she spat. Jack didn't know what to do, but quickly ordered a few people into rowboats so they could get there swiftly.

oooooooooo

On the way there, Jack was in a panic, and yet Phoenix just lay there cool as ever. Raven and Romeo had been easy births, with little or no pain, lucky for her. Extremely lucky actually. This time it felt it would be the case also. It was she Elizabeth, Jack, and Gibbs in one boat, Will the three children and Marty in another, and then Jacobs and Cotton in the last. "Luv, how many fingers am I holding up?", Jack asked. Phoenix rolled her eyes and swatted away Jack's hand. "Jack, I'm having the baby, not waking up from a bloody coma. Not to mention that---", she was interrupted by the sharp pain of contractions, making her grab Jack's shirt by the neck, and drag him down as far as possible. Romeo and Raven saw what their mother was doing to their father, and asked Will why she was doing that.

Will suppressed a giggle, "Your mother's just realizing what your father's done to her", he said. Romeo and Raven looked at each other quizzically, "What did he do to 'er?", Romeo asked, wanting to protect his mother, even if it was from his own father. "Oh, he's making her have your baby brother… or sister", he said as simple as he could. The two nodded, and made a sound of realization at what Uncle Will just said.

When they reached the home of Tia Dalma, everyone exited the boats, except for Cotton and Marty who watched them. When inside, Tia greeted everyone with a friendly smile, and Jack with rolled eyes. Jack rolled his eyes back at her, and went to Phoenix's side. He quickly regretted his decision once she latched onto his hand, and squeezed without mercy. The faces Jack made could make a Shoaling monk burst into tears laughing. Tia merely smiled as she got water and blankets ready.

Phoenix began writhing from the pain, and loathed it quite quickly. The pain was utterly new to her, seeing as how Raven and Romeo felt like nothing more than normal cramps she would receive when her monthlies came. Now, was a whole different story of complete and utter agonizing pain. Jack looked to Tia for help in what to do. Just as Tia opened her mouth to advise him it would be over soon, Phoenix grabbed him by the beard, nearly ripping them out, and seethed menacingly into his ear, yet loud enough for everyone's else to hear clearly.

"You stupid son-of-a-bitch! Ye ARRRGH! did this to me! And I swear I'll bloody ARRRGH! I'll kill ye and ARRRRGH! Rip yer soddin' boons right out from under ye damn--- ARRRRGH!", Phoenix said mixed with moans of pain throat clenched teeth. Jack at this point felt a bit sorry for his wife. He never truly witnessed a birth before… not even a woman in labour. This was all new to him, and it was insane. Everyone else in the home just looked at Phoenix with wonderment.

Elizabeth was surprised actually, when Tia had brought them to the rear of the house, which opened up into a grand room, which one would never expect to be there. Large enough for at least 50 people to stand comfortably.

Tia Dalma shared many looks with Raven, and a smile with Romeo. Somehow, they knew she was their relative, but didn't know exactly where to place her. Raven looked more depressed than ever, though nobody noticed it except Tia. And she merely acknowledged the look with a smile. She knew why Raven was acting this way, and Raven knew Tia knew.

No less than 20 minutes later, of heavy breathing and grand cursing, mainly on Phoenix's part, the baby was born, and regardless of maternity, Jack fell in love. Tia smiled as she brought the child over to a basin and quietly cleaned it, wrapped it in a blanket, and returned back to Jack and Phoenix.

"I know you thought da child was yer broder John's. But wit-out doubt, di child is yers Jack Sparrow, no other man's", Tia said as she handed Jack his new born, beautiful baby girl. When Phoenix and Jack learned it was a baby boy, they were more than thrilled. Jack especially. Two sons was a dream come true. "What are you to name him?", Elizabeth asked excitedly. Phoenix and Jack smiled and looked at each other, and then Jack decided he would take it upon himself to name their son.

His name, is "Jack Sparrow", Jack said and received a deadly look from his wife. "I-- I-- I mean, his name is Xavier Teague Sparrow", he finished with a smile, and received one from Phoenix. The boy was average size for a newborn, and looked to be as healthy as ever. He began to cry shortly after being handed to Jack, and startled his father. Jack handed Xavier to Phoenix gently, and kiss Phoenix on the forehead. "Ye did good luv", he whispered in her ear.

As Phoenix laid in the bed with her new son in her arms, and began drinking the warm tea Tia had given her to drink, while the children climbed onto the bed with her to examine their new companion, except Raven. Raven instead, went off following Tia whom left to put a few things away. Tia smiled inwardly, knowing the little girl would've followed her eventually. Raven exited the room, hoping nobody would realize, and walked right up to Tia, waiting to hear what she had to say.

Tia puts a few things away, and the turned on her heel to face the little girl. Tia inspected Raven from head to toe, lifted up a braid from her hair and then let it fall, lifted her chin to look into her eyes, and even held up her hands to inspect her finger length and palm lines.

"Aren't ye one of di most beautiful little tings eva created", Tia said to Raven. "I am---", she began, "I know who you are", Raven stated. Tia gave her a pondering look. "Yer parents have talked about me den I assume?", she said. Raven shook her head. "I just know. Yer my great-grandmother, and yer a witch", she finished. Ti smiled at the little girl. Obviously Raven had figured this out using her inherited power, and this thrilled Tia to no end.

"Yer smart, I'll give ye dat, but I'm not exactly a witch", she stated, standing up to her full height, somewhat impressing Raven. "I'm what's called Obeah woman. I'm not quite like da witch ye read in yer stories, but I do practice sorcery. On top of dat, I'm a goddess", Tia said rather quietly to Raven, bending down to her height once more. Raven's eyes widened in amazement. "Ye know what dat is? A goddess?", Tia asked. Raven nodded.

"Ye know dat means dat you are part goddess too, don't you know", she said proudly. Raven repeated her words, and felt astounded. "Soon you will be able to use your power… with me help of course", Tia said. Raven said nothing, but then raised her hand towards the door and it shut on its own. Tia's mouth opened with amazement and she looked at Raven with such praise and pride, it made Raven feel special.

"Ye knew ye wouldn't be goin' back with yar parents den?", Tia asked. Raven's eyes watered gently and she nodded. Tia gave her a reassuring caress on her cheek, and smiled sympathetically. "If you want, you can say goodbye to dem now", Tia said softly. Raven looked her in the eyes and nodded. She didn't quite know why she was listening to her great-grand mother, or why she was actually going to say goodbye, instead of telling her father what was happening. She did know however, she would miss her family more than anything. Above everyone else, her father especially. He had been there for her when she need him most in her short lifetime, and now, she could say nothing.

Tia watched Raven go into the other room, and smiled at her new apprentice. When Raven re-entered the room, it was as if she never left at all. Jack felt her at his leg, and picked her up so she could see her new baby brother. "Do ye like him?", Jack asked. Raven nodded and pasted a fake smile on her young face. For her age, she felt she was already older than her parents… wiser.

Jack placed Raven on the bed beside Phoenix and she instantly gave her mother a nice long hug, making sure not to smother Xavier. Phoenix hugged her back, and knew something was amiss. She looked around for Tia, but saw no one. Something just didn't seem right. Raven gave her mother a kiss and told her she loved her. Everyone else was around the room looking at different artefacts and talking amongst themselves, as only Romeo, Jack, Phoenix, and Raven were near the bed.

Phoenix was worried now, but watch carefully as Raven kissed her new brother, then Romeo, and then reached up to her father to lift her up. Jack did what she begged, and held her in his arms. She gave him a long kiss on his cheek, and held onto his neck for as long as she could, before she felt Tia looking at her, bidding her to come. "I love you daddy", Raven said sadly. Jack pulled her away from his body gently and looked her in the eyes, "I love you too darling, I'll never stop", he said with a smile and a quick peck on the lips.

Phoenix looked over, feeling that something was wrong, and saw Tia watching Raven, and soon locked eyes with Phoenix. Phoenix instantly knew what was amiss and panicked. Tia was about to take her daughter! Tia smiled, and Phoenix suddenly felt tired.. completely exhausted. The tea. It was filled with something to make her fall asleep. Tia probably knew that Phoenix would figure her out. Phoenix tried shouting, but nothing came out, and before she knew it, everything went dark.

Jack saw what happened and was none the wiser on the matter. He quickly put Raven on the floor, and picked up Xavier, and handed him to Elizabeth whom saw Phoenix fall asleep. "Poor thing, she's exhausted from the birth", Jack said as he gently rubbed Phoenix's forehead, and kissed her nose gently.

Raven slowly exited the room, with no one any wiser, and began to weep gently. Tia lifted her up into her arms, and held her while she said an incantation, and before Raven knew it, they were gone.

oooooooooo

Hours upon hours had passed since Xavier was born, and Phoenix woke up groggily. When she awoke, she panicked instantly, remembering Raven. No one else was in the room, except her young son, and Phoenix willed herself through the excruciating pain, and got out of the bed, walked to the dresser, and put on one of Jack's shirts, replacing the shift she was wearing, and exited the cabin.

When she looked on deck, almost everyone was gone except Elizabeth and the children. Phoenix saw how distraught even they looked, and couldn't help but begin to cry. Elizabeth saw her friend and quickly ran to her side. "You should be in bed Phoenix!", Elizabeth said worriedly, and quickly ushered Phoenix back into the bed. By that time, all the rowboats had arrived back to the Pearl, and Jack came up upon deck first. He was in time to see Phoenix re-enter their cabin, and quickly ran in to see her.

He gave Elizabeth a look of defeat, and she sighed sadly, and walked out of the cabin. Phoenix looked up at Jack whom looked as if he'd lost everything he'd ever owned, or ever held dear. He went to Phoenix's side, sat down, and held his wife as she cried into his arms. Jack vowed he would find Raven and Tia, and regardless of family tie, or friendship, Tia would die. He wasn't sure how one would go about killing a goddess, but knew someone else who did… Davy Jones. Their only hope for retrieving their daughter, and having their family whole once more. Phoenix stopped her crying rather sudden, and as if she read Jack's thoughts, she nodded, and vowed too, their daughter would be theirs again… un-tainted, unhurt, and un-evil.

THE END

Definitely a third story coming in the series. It will be posted no longer than a week's time, so look out for it. "The Phoenix and the Sparrow: III". This will be that last adventure for the Sparrow family, and not in a god way…