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[try_corsets]

Deep down, Elizabeth has known her time was very near. She isn't entirely certain how she has known, but she has. The thought has been drifting through her mind like a lazily meandering piece of driftwood, buoyant but easily pushed aside time and again, left there until she has the desire and fortitude to reel it back and firmly acknowledge the truth in it. For days Elizabeth has existed in a state of semi-awareness, barking orders and making plans, absently noting changes, all at the same time.

Because she's Captain Elizabeth Turner, Pirate King, and she has a position she is determined to maintain.

Somehow.

When the first pain hits, she thinks, Yes, there it is, and stares at her face in her small, cracked looking glass; so different now than the face she'd seen reflected back at her in Port Royal. Better, she thinks. Lived in. The corner of her mouth curves up, and the full lips in the mirror do the same. The scarlet sash today, she decides with a decisive nod, gingerly getting dressed as she had the day before, and the day before that.

Tai Huang eyes her half an hour later, as he is giving a report. Elizabeth slowly, carefully unclenches her fingers from the starboard rail. "The wind is shifting. Starboard tack." As she moves away she does her best to walk straight and tall, not waddle.

Everyone on board knows where to find the Captain at sunrise (keep a weather eye on the horizon), though she's rarely bothered these days. Still, when she gasps aloud and unbends her stiff shoulders to curl in, to try and stop it, two of the men Tai Huang and Gibbs like to keep in their sights guffaw from the main deck. Straightening takes no small effort of will, but she does it; and as she does, she sets her mouth in a thin line and decides, finally, that it's time to find Gibbs. Ready or not, the baby has had enough of waiting.

Comments

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

Gibbs is doing his morning routine. Checking riggings, looking in on the crew, keeping an eye on things, and fretting. He knows the day is soon, and cannot help but fear that things will end badly. Even with the ninja's aid.

But he tries not to think on that too much. At least the seas are calm so far.

[try_corsets]

Much calmer than Elizabeth, that's for certain. She can feel her eyes widen and cheeks flush, and struggles to contain her reaction as the pain once again releases her from its vise.

There's a moment when she considers turning back, but she decides, ultimately, that her course is set.

She lumbers up to Gibbs' position, stiff and hard to miss as she moves. The element of surprise is lost when one's belly barely seems to squeeze between masts.

"Mr. Gibbs!"

Not panicked or unsteady, but there's a breathy quality to her words that is rather unusual.

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

And that is all it takes to get Gibbs into a state of total readiness.

Not panic. But resolve. He's been through storms before. This is a storm as much as anything he's ever seen.

"Captain." He's at her side pretty darned quick.

[try_corsets]

He is, at that. Her elbow bends and she just barely holds out a hand, palm forward: all is well. It's followed by a slow, meaningful nod.

Elizabeth locks gazes with him for another moment, then faces the horizon once more. At last she remarks, "I would have preferred it be night," and leaves her lips slightly parted, as if she hasn't quite decided whether or not she wishes to add something further.

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

"Your orders, Captain? Should we find a way to make sure the...the visitor to the ship knows?" His voice sinks in a conspiratorial tone.

[mnt_mike]

From behind the nearest drawn curtain comes a rousing whistled rendition of the theme from Mister Roger's Neighborhood.

[try_corsets]

The bed Gibbs helped her on before he left is a little too soft for Elizabeth's taste. That back is raised, but she sinks down until she swears she can feel the metal springs beneath and tries to push herself back up on shaky arms. The cycle repeats itself a few times until she huffs in frustration and rests a hand over her round stomach.

The tune wafts her way and has her absently moving her head from side to side before she realizes what she's doing. Instantly, she frowns.

"Pardon me," she says in a way that suggests the whistler should really be doing the apologizing. When nothing happens to stay the catchy collection of notes, she eyes the table beside the bed, selects a cup made of a shiny red material and throws it at the curtain. "You there. Hello?"

[mnt_mike]

If he hears her, then it doesn't show. The whistling continues, and is soon punctuated by the jaunty sound of a zipper being zipped.

A few seconds later the curtain is drawn back.

Aaaaaand that's about the time when the girly scream appears.

"AHHHHH! How long have you been there?"

[try_corsets]

Elizabeth blinks.

"Hardly any time at all," she replies, gaze dropping to his stomach. Her voice is a tad higher when she asks, "And you?"

[mnt_mike]

Mike scrambles to remove the headphones from his ears. All the while he just keeps smiling in that manic way of his. The way that says, No, I totally knew you were there. You totally didn't just sneak up on a ninja. And by sneak we mean just sit in a hospital bed. I swear!

"Well you know, clean bill of health and all that. You know, with the whole..."

Insert vague hand gesture round abouts his midsection.

"You?"

[wheatencrown]

Demeter almost missed Elizabeth's entrance and movement to the infirmary, but frowned and walked over.

The infirmary wasn't the type of place she tended to spend time, but as soon as she enters she beams at Elizabeth,

"Its time, isn't it?"

[try_corsets]

Whatever relief Elizabeth feels at seeing Demeter is hidden beneath a scowl. Truly, she's glad. It's just that Demeter is smiling rather a lot and Elizabeth thinks she senses another flash of pain coming on.

"So it would seem."

Her eyes glued to Demeter's face, she breathes in and lets it out slowly.

[wheatencrown]

"How long have you been feeling pain? We need to get you out of all this constricting clothing,"

Demeter runs her hand over Elizabeth's forehead, trying to soothe her.

[try_corsets]

At the touch on her forehead, Elizabeth closes her eyes and goes still. Almost unnaturally so. Nearly a full minute passes before she answers.

"Since this morning."

Given the way time flows differently here, that might not be terribly helpful.

"A few hours." She pauses. "Is that as it should be?"

[wheatencrown]

"Yes, you're doing fine. Now do you have a nightgown or shift that you'd rather be in. I want you to be as comfortable as possible,"

She's quiet and that's what Demeter wanted, Elizabeth is normally so tense that it will might make things worse than they need to be.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy gets the message when he gets into the bar, and makes his way straight to the infirmary.

"Hi Elizabeth." he says. "Sorry, I only just got here, how are you doing?"

[try_corsets]

"Good day."

Changed, clean and moderately more comfortable, Elizabeth greets Guppy as if he's just entered her drawing room: with a nod and polite smile.

Ignoring, for the moment, that she's in bed.

"Demeter thinks all is as it should be," she answers.

Elizabeth is not entirely convinced, however.

[guppy_sandhu]

"She's the expert." Guppy says, with a nod. "How far apart are the contractions?"

He goes to the sink to wash his hands.

[try_corsets]

"The what?" Quick, sharp, not entirely steady.

Elizabeth's mouth forms a momentary 'O,' but she did read enough on the matter to make the required leap.

"The pains," she says, eyes flicking away from Guppy's face. "I haven't kept track."

They last too long and occur too often; that probably isn't helpful, Elizabeth admits silently.

"I'm due another soon, I suppose," she brazens at last.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Are they more or less often than every five minutes?" Guppy asks, coming back over.

[try_corsets]

Elizabeth waits.

The pains are coming closer together, but not by much. It leaves her far too much time to think. Demeter is lovely, Mike had been entertaining, and Guppy... well, she's certain he's quite skilled.

"How long can it possibly take to walk to and from the Dutchman?" she wonders aloud at one point. At another she simply barks "James!" and ignores Demeter's amused and yet also concerned expression.

[scourgeofpiracy.livejournal.com]

"Yes, Mrs. Turner?" comes the dryly amused response from the doorway. "Your husband would like to know where things stand."

[wheatencrown]

Demeter squeezes Elizabeth's hand and smiles at Norrington,

"Everything is going as it should. First babies don't like to be rushed."

[try_corsets]

They don't stand.

They sit, bored and restless and in pain, a bit flustered at the prodding, ready to be done with the whole experience.

And her husband is lounging about his ship. Probably enjoying a nice, crisp Scottish breeze.

"Is he well?" Elizabeth asks through slightly clenched teeth, undaunted by Norrington's response. "Is he happy for the news?"

[scourgeofpiracy.livejournal.com]

"He's very well", he assures her. "And of course, he's very happy. I think he wasn't expecting events quite yet. He would have come himself, but circumstances being what they are..."