Honor Among Thieves || Book Two

~21~

"A baby!" Sera exclaimed in a hushed voice for the fiftieth time, tangling her fingers in her hair as she paced her cabin like a madwoman. "I'm having a baby! I'm. . ."

She stopped in her tracks.

"Jack. Jack and I are having a baby." She whispered, tears stinging her eyes as she slowly lowered a hand to her rounded stomach. "Jack and I are having a baby. Jack and I. . ." She  closed her eyes and allowed long-suppressed tears to flow, slowly lowering herself onto her bed.

After several moments, she allowed herself to look at her reflection in the mirror. Her dark hair was in a state of total disarray; she had not put forth the effort to brush it or redo the small braids and other trinkets she usually wore after washing it several weeks ago. Her face was pale, even more so than usual, and her eyes looked naked without kohl. She was a mess.

With a disheartened sigh, she let her gaze fall to her stomach. Slowly, ever so slowly, she raised her shirt for a good look at her bump. It was not too large and not too small either; she could manage to hide it a while longer.

An unexpected smile tugged at her lips as she touched it, a surge of warmth, pride, and calm buzzed throughout her body as she rubbed her calloused hands over the mound.

She was having a baby.

She was going to give her late father a grandson. Or grandaughter. .  .

She could name it after him!

Shocked by the sudden, overwhelming flood of "motherly instincts", she laid back on the bed with both hands on her stomach and wondered what Jack would say when she told him.

If she was ever able to. . .

[] [] []

One Week Later, Singapore. . .

"You'll be perfectly fine, Wolfie." Sera stated as she holstered her pistols. "It will be no different than last time."

He snorted. "'Cept ye'll be gone for God knows how long."

"If I didn't think you were capable of overseeing my ship in my absence, I would not have chosen you as my first mate." She put on her hat and adjusted the collar of her overcoat. "Perhaps I made a mistake."

"No, ye didn't make a mistake." He grumbled. "I just don't want t' face the consequences if somethin' were t' happen t' the Destiny."

She smirked. "I'm flattered that you have such a healthy fear of me, Wolfie, but--"

"Healthy respect's more like it."

"Either way," She continued. "Nothing will happen to the Destiny, not as long as you act within the parameters of your duties." A crease formed on her brow as she looked at the rest of her crew. "Where's Jeremy?"

Wolfie shrugged. "Haven't seen him. Must be below deck."

She nodded slowly and glanced at Rook, who, even with his two broke legs, managed to make it up to see her off. "Well," She shook the odd feeling creeping over her. "I suppose I'll be on my way. Remember my rules?"

"No gambling." They droned in unison. "An' no whores."

"Good!" She laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She felt like her old self again; the mixture Tia Dalma made had instantly dissolved her "sickness" and thus allowed her to take the time to make herself up. "May the winds be favorable to you!"

º º º

Singapore was eerily quiet as Elizabeth paddled along a waterway singing in a hushed voice, her delicate face shadowed by the hat on her head.