A/N: Thanks to Dragonlady for the Beta-reading. It would be a little more difficult for you to read, if she didn't. J It's Will/OC and Norrington/OC and I think, we – my co-author Jenna and I (or me?) – are not too "mary-sueish". At least, I hope so. Feedback is always welcome. Enjoy! I.
Chapter 1
"Why did you return?" Juliet regarded her cousin sadly through the cell bars. "You knew what would happen if you did, Jack. Why couldn't you just have ignored Port Royal?"
He looked briefly to the ceiling, then again to her. "I just had a little yen for a little adventure, love."
He smiled and his gold teeth glittered. Juliet looked briefly to the two British soldiers, Murtogg and Mullroy, who she had taken with her as an "escort" to take a look at the notorious Captain Jack Sparrow. They were plunged - like always - into a dispute and were hardly listening.
"William Turner, right? You came to visit Will, didn't you? You like him."
"I like you also, Juliet," Jack said seriously. "You've married, hm? The Commodore. A made fortune."
"One which could end rather fast if he learns that I'm your cousin. But perhaps he knows already. James is many things, but he's not stupid."
"James? You call him James?"
Her amber eyes sparkled as she answered: "He is my husband, Jack. How else am I supposed to call him? Flobert of the Vegetable Market?"
"That would be Commodore Flobert of the Vegetable Market, wouldn't it?" Jack asked.
She smiled one moment but then became serious again. "Many things have changed since you've been here last, Jack."
"Yes. You married my deadly enemy..."
"He is not your enemy!"
"...bonny Miss Swann married likewise, went back into the civilized world of Great Britain with spouse and Daddy, and Port Royal has a new governor: Mr. Edward Winter. A ridiculous name, isn't it?"
"Jack!" She grimaced. "Please don't talk so loud. If one of "Winter's" men hears you, then..."
"Winter's men?" Jack lifted his brows.
"Jack, if you would lock away your sarcasm for a little while perhaps you could listen to me a little more attentively. As I already tried to explain to you: Port Royal isn't the place it once was anymore. Governor Swann perhaps was a little stubborn and naive and....not fearless in the face of death– " Jack snorted. "... but all in all he was a good man."
She seized the bars and leaned forward, nose-to-nose with her cousin. Surprised, the Pirate noticed how grown-up his little cousin looked now.
"Governor Winter is more... He's cruel! The taxes are much too high for the people living here, the new laws are ridiculous. Every five minutes he changes them and expects that everybody knows immediately! James does whatever he can do, but..."
"Ah!" Jack said. "Then there are Winter's men and Norrington's men."
"Were you just listening to me at all?" Juliet asked with exasperation.
"What are you doing here?"
Juliet and Jack separated, startled. Three soldiers came down the stairs of the dungeon. Winter's soldiers. Juliet knew only one of them: Lieutenant Finch. Juliet tensed at the sight of him coming straight at her. He was nothing but a vain peacock, but he was Winter's vain peacock. And therefore he was quite capable of harming her – and most of all James. If not by himself than through Winter and his ... ridiculous political subterfuges.
"Mrs. Norrington! What are you doing here?"
Though she felt insecure she smiled as harmlessly as she could.
"Good day, Lieutenant. I heard you had captured Jack Sparrow. And I ... came to see such a feared and ... awful predator."
"Is the Commodore aware of that?"
"Uh... No. I considered it unnecessary to bother him something so trivial. But... I'll go do that right now. If he has the time, that is. – If you so desire."
She was still smiling, though it began gradually to hurt a little in the corners of her mouth. Jack blinked. It was really astonishing how quickly Juliet could transform into the naive, good Commodore's Wife. Blessed with an observant nature and a firm understanding, she had soon discovered what was expected of her… and when it was better to keep her mouth shut.
The Lieutenant smiled in smug superiority and let a glance slide over Juliet's body, obviously pleased with what he saw. Her smile remained unchanged, but she thought with disgust of the fact that Governor Winter looked at her in the same way from time to time. James could do little against men technically his superiors, so men like Governor Winter and Lieutenant Finch were allowed to molest her unpunished. But she locked all these thoughts deeply inside her and granted the young Lieutenant a distracting look at her bust. Normally he wouldn't have wasted an eye on her, at all. She wasn't of such an overwhelming beauty that she turned every head, but... Well, a bust was a bust, no matter whose head was on it's neck, right? Juliet sighed inaudibly.
"Do that, Madame!" Finch finally said. "This really is no place for a young lady like you."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I am sure that your... your caring for me will be very much appreciated by my husband."
She walked past him up the stairs, almost running. It took Murtogg and Mullroy a moment to notice that she had left, and another moment to follow hastily.