It was a fine day for sailing; sunny and warm with a stiff breeze to push the ship onward. Jack had the students gathered round, lecturing on navigation when out of the corner of his eye, he spied his wife coming up the stairs from below deck. Fresh from her shower after their morning swim, her skin glowed and he paused briefly to admire her. She smiled in greeting and joined the group to listen to him teach.

But Natalie was distracted. She loved the sea and could hear it calling to her. She never thought she could love anything as much as she loved flying, but sailing on the open ocean far surpassed that. It was more than hearing the wind snap the sails, more than the smell of the salt water, more than the exhilaration that flowed through her system when she felt the ship slip through the waves powered by a strong, brisk wind. Oh, it was much more than that. It was the students, the instructors, and the camaraderie everyone felt. It was the nights on deck when the crew would gather to sing old sailing songs and tell tall tales. It was the night sky; brilliant with more stars than she'd ever seen in her life. And, most of all, it was Jack.

Jack. She found herself at the railing thinking of him. He really was a different man at sea; larger than life itself. Sure, there were elements of the man she married, but he was more 'Jack' than before, if that made any sense. Commanding, yet kind. Stern, yet patient. He was the CAPTAIN in capital letters. And, she loved him more than ever.

Staring out at sea, she heard his booming voice as he finished up his morning lecture. She could hear him creep up behind her, and she let him think he surprised her when she felt his arms snake around her.

"What are you thinking, my dear?" he whispered in her ear. "Do you still like the ship now that you've been at sea for two weeks?"

"I love the ship, Jack." She leaned back against his chest as his hands played at her waist. "But, you know what I'd like?"

"What's that, my dear?"

She turned to him and pointed up. "I'd like to see the sea from up there. Can we climb the rigging, Jack? Will you teach me?"

Jack smiled. There was no other place he loved more on the ship than the top. Well, there was one other place, but it wouldn't do to go there with her at the moment. "Yes, love, I'll take you up."

It was slow going. Natalie didn't have the upper arm strength that Jack had, and there were a couple of times she wasn't sure she was going to make it. Once, about halfway up, her hand slipped and Jack caught her arm and helped her to grip the rope. But, it was all worth it when they got to the top - 130 feet in the air. The day was so clear and she could see for miles. The sea was gorgeous; wave after white-topped wave and Jack's strong arm around her, holding her fast. She could barely catch her breath and felt like she was soaring over the deck far below.

"Jack, this is wonderful!" She laughed and Jack laughed with her, a hearty, roaring laugh that vibrated through her and down to her toes.

Going down was much easier than climbing up. Jack showed her how to slide down the rigging as he and Pullings did on the original Surprise. They raced to the deck, and she giggled when she won, knowing that he let her win. But her giddiness didn't last long.

The ship's doctor, Dr. Mark Moore, strode up to her and begin yelling. "Mrs. Aubrey! I didn't want you on this cruise, but you insisted." Natalie cringed as the doctor harangued her. "You promised to be careful. You promised to not take risks. I'm not an OB-GYN. If something should happen - "

"My good sir…" Jack began.

But the doctor was red-faced and on a roll. "If you fell from that height," he pointed abruptly, "not only would you be injured, which I could do something about, but you could have lost the baby; an event this ship is not equipped to deal with."

Natalie's eyes grew big and she started shaking her head. "Doctor, Doctor, no…I haven't…"

But the doctor wasn't listening. "If you insist on behaving so irresponsibly, then I cannot be held accountable for your or the baby's safety!"

"Baby?" Jack croaked. Blinked. "What baby?" He looked from Dr. Moore to his wife and back again.

"I think your wife has something to tell you, Captain," Dr. Moore snapped and strode off.

Natalie looked at Jack. His face was red and his eyes narrowed. "Baby?" he bellowed.

"Um, Jack, I was trying to find the right time…" she started.

Jack swung a glare at the crew who suddenly found other, more interesting things to look at. Looking back at her, he commanded coldly, "You … Natalie … meet me in our quarters. Now!"

Jack was already at the wide cabin windows when she entered. His back was toward her, and now she knew how Hollom felt. Her chest tightened and perspiration grew on her brow. Oh shit, her mind screamed.

He slowly turned. "You have something to tell me? Are you with child?"

She bowed her head and couldn't look at him.

"Are you with child?" he repeated with gritted teeth.

"Yes," she answered. "Almost eight weeks along."

"And you didn't see fit to tell me?" His voice was getting louder. "I would never have taken the risk, never have taken you up."

"Jack, I've been planning to tell you. I just wanted to find the right time. I just didn't think…" she pleaded. "Besides, I knew everything would be alright. I was with you."

"Didn't think? That's our child you're carrying. My child. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't caught you."

"But you did, Jack," she argued.

"But what if I didn't!" he shouted. "To think you'd be so careless…so thoughtless…" Jack turned in frustration. "You risked our child," he said quietly.

She tried to hold the tears back, but several slipped down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to, Jack. Honestly. I'm so sorry." She stepped to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Please, Jack. It was a stupid thing to do. I am sorry."

He turned to her, breathed deeply, released it and sighed calmly. "I do understand, my love. But, you must be more careful. If something should happen to you…happen to our child…I, well I don't know what I'd do."

She wrapped her arms around him. "I will, Jack. I will be careful."

He held her close as she tucked her head under his chin. "So, my dear, we are to be parents?"

She looked up and nodded. "Yes, is that okay with you? I mean, it's so soon and all. We just married. We haven't had time to - "

"It's wonderful news, my dear. To think, I'm to be a father again!" He laughed aloud, swooped her up and tenderly twirled her around the cabin until she laughed along with him.

"I am to be a father again," he whispered into a kiss.