The chamber was quiet, unusually quiet, which made Jack Sparrow be more vigilant of his surroundings .
Jack stood near the doorway this time, entering like a guest rather than a burglar. This time he didn't enter through the balcony, nor was he being chased by guards. He considered this personal growth.
The crib stood at the center of the room.
Inside it lay a very small, very loud human being.
Vivi kicked her tiny feet beneath silken covers, blue hair catching the lantern light. Cobra stood close by, arms folded tightly, his posture stiff with exhaustion and pride in equal measure. Titi sat beside the crib, one hand resting on its edge, her eyes never leaving her daughter.
Jack leaned forward, squinting.
"…That's a tiny person."
Cobra exhaled slowly. "Yes."
"Remarkably small," Jack added. "I've seen a parrot bigger than that. It was a blue parrot and it could talk in full sentences."
Titi shot him a look sharp enough to cut rope. Jack raised his hands placatingly. "Observation. Not judgment."
After a moment's hesitation, Titi carefully lifted Vivi and held her out. "Do you… want to hold her?"
Jack froze.
Every instinct he had screamed no. Memories flashed unbidden—screaming children, tiny hands grabbing his beard, the look baby Kuina had given him once, like Jack was an omen of impending disaster.
But pride was a dangerous thing.
"Yes," Jack said bravely. "Of course. I am very… good with babies."
The moment Vivi was in his arms, the universe punished him.
Her face scrunched. Her lips trembled.
Then she screamed.
It was shrill. Personal. Accusatory.
Jack stiffened. "Ah."
The cry echoed off the walls, growing louder by the second. Jack winced. "Now see, this has happened before."
The screaming intensified.
Jack leaned closer, whispering urgently. "Listen, we can discuss this like adults—"
Vivi howled.
Jack thrust her back toward Titi with the reflexes of a man tossing a live bomb. The moment she was returned, the crying softened into a disgruntled whimper.
Jack stepped back three paces, hands raised. "I accept defeat."
Crocodile—Lily—had watched the entire exchange in silence, arms crossed. When Vivi reached out instinctively, grabbing at her sleeve, Lily stiffened.
Slowly, carefully, she took her niece into her arms.
Something in her posture changed.
The sharp tension she carried like armor loosened just enough to breathe. Vivi quieted almost immediately, blinking up at Lily with curious eyes.
Jack stared. "Well I'll be—"
"Don't," Lily said without looking at him.
Cobra watched his sister with a complicated expression. After a long moment, he took a breath that seemed to scrape his lungs raw.
"Lily," he said quietly. "There's something I need to ask."
She already knew.
"Was it because of the throne?" Cobra asked. "If you felt cast aside—if that's why you left—I can give it to you now."
Jack's head snapped up. "Absolutely not."
Three heads turned toward him.
Jack cleared his throat. "If anyone is taking a throne, it should be me. I have experience with chairs. And ruling. In spirit. Besides, I am her captain now. Captain's privilege, you may say."
The silence was immediate and deeply hostile.
Jack raised a finger. "…I withdraw my claim. Carry on."
He wandered toward a family portrait instead, studying it far too intently.
Lily sighed, eyes on Vivi. "I didn't leave because of the throne."
Cobra stiffened. Titi looked up sharply.
"The moment I turned eighteen," Lily continued, "they came for me."
"Who?" Cobra asked.
"Cipher Pol," she said. "World Government agents."
Jack's fingers stilled on the portrait frame.
"They wanted to take me away," Lily went on. "Quietly. Permanently."
Cobra's voice dropped. "Why?"
"They fear something," Lily replied. "Something tied to Arabasta's bloodline. To its women. Something that manifests when we come of age."
Titi clutched Vivi closer.
"I escaped," Lily said. "And I knew if I stayed, they'd return. For all of you."
"So you faked your death," Cobra whispered.
"Yes."
"And became a pirate," Jack added mildly.
Lily shot him a look. "That was… the best choice I had."
Titi swallowed. "Then.....they'll come for Vivi too?"
Cobra straightened instantly. "They won't touch her."
Lily met his gaze, unyielding. "You couldn't protect Arabasta from pirates. How will you protect her from the World Government?"
The words landed hard.
Cobra said nothing.
"I'm safer dead," Lily said quietly. "And I won't let any harm befall on Vivi."
Vivi laughed suddenly, small and bright, utterly unaware of the weight hanging over her future.
Titi smiled through her fear. Cobra reached out, holding his daughter's tiny hand.
"I'll make the army stronger," he said. "Worthy."
"I know," Lily replied.
She handed Vivi back and stepped away.
"It's time I leave."
Titi embraced her tightly. "Stay alive."
Lily hesitated, then returned the embrace. "You too."
She turned—and caught Jack sliding a porcelain vase into his coat.
"…What are you doing?"
Jack froze. "Taking a.... souvenir?"
The vase slipped, shattered loudly against the floor.
"Must be the wind"
There was no wind.
Cobra's eye twitched. "That was an anniversary gift."
Jack straightened. "Tragic loss."
Vivi fussed at the noise. Lily cursed under her breath and grabbed Jack by the sleeve.
"We're leaving," she snapped.
Jack barely had time to wave before being dragged out.
Cobra watched his sister go, heart heavy but relieved.
She was alive.
That would have to be enough.
---
Hours later, the Black Pearl cut through moonlit waters.
One more soul aboard.
Pintel and Ragetti tried—briefly—to dump deck duties on Lily.
One glare later, they were back to mopping.
Augur worked quietly in the crow's nest, repairing Senriku with meticulous care.
Lily approached the helm where Jack stood humming off-key.
"So," she said. "Where are we going?"
Jack looked at her and then grinned. "Funny you ask....."
He waved Gibbs over and whispered, "Is the sand on the deck going to be permanent?"
Gibbs considered. "Deck'll need cleaning all the time."
Jack nodded thoughtfully. "Pintel and Ragetti."
Gibbs nodded, "I agree."
"I can hear you," Croco said flatly.
Jack and Gibbs smiled innocently.
Jack pulled out his compass. The needle spun wildly—then settled.
He smiled. "We have a heading."
Croco frowned. "There's no Log Pose."
Jack tucked the compass away. "Who said anything about following the world's rules?"
"I will start to make preparations" Gibbs said excusing himself.