Chapter 11- Meeting up with an unexpected ally

The next morning came faster than expected. They all left the swamp and boarded the ship. Tia Dalma was to Jack's annoyance, given Jack's bed to sleep in. He finally gave in when he found they could share the bed. Life turned back to normal at least, as normal as it could get. Two months passed peacefully Elizabeth was now three months pregnant and looking more and more pregnant every day. Unfortunately the signs of pregnancy continued as well. Elizabeth still had morning sickness and cravings. Her mood swings continued and the crew along with Barbossa, Jack, and Will were scared to even approach her. Tia was the only one who could approach her without getting so much as a tongue lashing of comments. Two more months followed without problems. She was now most definitely showing her pregnancy and rarely left the Captain's cabin. Barbossa spent more and more time with her until she finally told him off for being a hovering idiot. This caused Barbossa to order Tia to stay with her constantly and to order Ragetti to run errands for Tia when needed. The only exceptions were at night when Tia went to her room. They were unaware that they would soon come across the worst problem they could face. Commodore Norrington and the Dauntless were within days of reaching them. Norrington himself had no idea what would become of the idea. Governor Swann was on the ship hoping he would finally see his adoptive daughter again. No one knew how they would react if they found out about Elizabeth, her husband and most importantly her child. The day the Dauntless came into view would be a day to remember for the crews of both ships and especially Elizabeth, Barbossa, Will, Jack, Norrington and Governor Swann. It all started with Gibbs who was on sentry duty spotted the Dauntless and started screaming out at the top of his lungs warning to everyone that the enemy was in sight.

Elizabeth awoke to the sound of Barbossa throwing his clothes on quickly. He didn't notice she was awake until she asked, "What's all the hurry?"

"The Dauntless is coming into range! Lizzie, I need you to stay here. I can't be worried for your safety and our unborn child's safety. I can't afford to lose you. I love you more than anything else in the world. Promise me you'll stay here where it's safe."

Elizabeth nodded and said, "I promise Hector. Just promise me you will not go out and try to be the hero. I don't want to raise this child alone."

"I promise!" With that he gave her a long and passionate kiss before putting his boots on, grabbing his sword and pistol and running out to join the fighting.

The fighting raged on for what seemed like hours when Elizabeth heard a familiar voice shout, "Drop your weapon Captain! We want the girl you kidnapped. Bring Elizabeth Swann forth." It was Norrington's voice.

Elizabeth had dressed during the fighting and rushed out of the door to see Norrington pointing a pistol at Barbossa's head. All the crew had dropped their weapons and put their hands up in surrender. Norrington must have heard her because he turned in her direction, gave her a relieved smile and asked, "Are you okay Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth looked at her husband and back at Norrington before retorting, "I will be a whole lot better if you stopped pointing your pistol at my husband."

Norrington's face was full of confusion and shock. He asked, "What did you call this pirate?"

"He's my husband and I would appreciate you to drop the pistol you have pointed at his head."

"You married this evil being who kidnapped you? Why?"

"I love him and I'm also expecting his child." At that she walked over to Barbossa, pushed the pistol away from his face, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss. Barbossa willingly gave in to the kiss. The kiss lasted a couple of minutes before Norrington coughed to get their attention. Even though they ended the kiss and Elizabeth turned to face Norrington, Barbossa kept his arms around her waist holding her close to him protectively. Unfortunately Governor Swann had come aboard and witnessed the kiss and embrace his daughter gave Barbossa.

He about fainted when he saw Barbossa holding her close to him. He turned to Elizabeth and asked, "What is going on Elizabeth? Why are you in that pirate's embrace?"

"Father, he's your son in-law and the father of your unborn grandchild."

At that Governor Swann fainted. It took about five minutes to get him to awake and when he did he asked Elizabeth, "Why did you do this? He can't possibly love you!"

Elizabeth was about to respond when Barbossa silenced her. He turned to Governor Swann and said, "I beg to differ but I love Elizabeth. Why would I surrender if I didn't love her? If I didn't have any form of love or attachment to her I wouldn't have given up so easily. I'd rather die at sea then by a hangman's noose."

He looked down at Elizabeth's bulging belly and gently rubbed it before continuing, "I have an unborn child that I need to live to help raise. Lizzie, do you wish to say anything to me before they take me prisoner so they can execute me back at Port Royal?"

"Yes, Norrington let them go freely!"

"I not inclined to do so Miss Swann. I'm not about to let them go when I'm a Naval Commodore in the British Navy. I'm the scourge of piracy in the Caribbean."

"There is a way around ultimately executing them. You could petition they become privateers of England. What do you say? Don't ask me to have to watch the man I love face the gallows! If you do so I'll be forced as soon as he's dead, I'll kill myself and my unborn child. Do you want my death on your conscience as well as my unborn child's? What'll it be James? Doing what's right or being a cold blooded killer? Take your pick!"

Norrington took a few moments to think before taking a deep breath, looking towards Elizabeth and said softly, "I'll do anything you want!"