I don't own these charcters or anything Walt Disney does...

Chapter 1: When We Were Young

Clash, ching, crash went Kat and Jack's swords.

"Is that the best you can do KitKat?" Jack asked tauntingly.

"I'm just giving you a chance," Kat replied

"Hang on. Fix your grip." Jack said stopping.

"Why, what's wrong with it?" Kat asked trying not to get mad at him.

"Your thumb shouldn't be overlapping your fingers. Also your holding it too tight." he explained.

"Like this?" Kat questioned after adjusting her hand.

"Almost." He stepped in behind he and took hold of her hand and moved her thumb up a bit and loosened her fingers. "Better?" Kat elbowed him in the gut.

"Why do I have to learn to sword fight? I good enough with a gun and I can more match ye with fists. Hang on I already know the answer to that. Ye just want to get close to me."

Kat challenged with good nature.

"You'd like to think that. But you're not really my type." Jack returned.

"Thank God for that."

"Ouch. What was that for?" Jack said in mock pain.

"I'm in love." She drawled out slowly, flicking her hair.

"I know, I'm irresistible, but Kat darling things just won't work out." He said, acting concerned. Kat laughed.

"You are so unbelievably full of yourself." She said.

"And you're not?" He returned.

"I take offence to that." She said and raised her sword. Jack shrugged.

"Have it your way then. It was nice knowing you."

"I know what you mean. Once I kill you, I'll be stuck with nicer people." She said as they started another battle.

"All right, I give up. I would feel much too guilty to kill a beauty such as yourself." Jack said after about 45 minutes of semi-intense fighting. Kat stepped up to him and put her hand in the shape of a gun against his shoulder, in a move they always did at the end of a fight.

"The better fighter has won again." Then Kat curtsied. "Why thank-you Mr. Sparrow." she said pretending to be a lady. Jack gave a shallow bow and held out his arm.

"I would be honoured if you would accompany me to the Faithful Bride for a drink." Jack said acting quite superior and polite. That was enough to make Kat break down in laughter. She couldn't stand up so she reached out and grabbed Jack's arm for support. When she regained her composure she said,

"I would be honoured." And grabbed his hand, together they went running through the streets laughing and joking, running into people and knocking them over. When they got into the Faithful Bride Jack got the rum, (there was no drinking age in Tortuga) and went over to the table that Kat was saving. Before they even had a chance to be mean to each other Barbossa came over.

"There you are Kat. I was looking for you. I thought I was going to teach you how to use a sword today." he said to her, sitting next to her

"Jack beat you to it." She replied, completely aware of the guys' competition.

"You should have seen her today." Jack bragged to Barbossa. "She excels when I work with her."

"That's only because she doesn't know what a real swordsmen could teach her." He returned. Kat grinned and rolled her eyes, draining her drink.

"Who's buying next round?" She asked.

"You done already!" Jack said incredulously, he was only halfway through his. Barbossa looked down at the drink he just bought.

"Looks like I will, then." She got up, squeezing her way past Barbossa to get herself another drink. At the counter as she was ordering someone came up to her and shoved a letter into her hand.

"This is very important you must do exactly what it says." He said and then disappeared into the crowd. She shoved it into her pocket, not bothering to read it, and grabbing her drink headed back over to the table were Jack and Barbossa were in what appeared to be a huge argument over nothing.

"What's up this time?" She asked totally used to them and their arguments.

"Nothing." Jack said a bit too quickly.

"Nothing you need to worry yourself with darling." Barbossa said in a sickly sweet tone after rolling his eyes at Jack.

"Which of you is the better pirate?" She asked, knowing this would get them fired up.

"Well that is obviously me." Jack said.

"There is no place at the top for something like you, that is why I'm the better pirate." Barbossa said.

"That is where you are right. You may be a better pirate but I am the Best pirate."

"That's contradictory." Barbossa replied.

"Boys, calm down." Kat said. "I know a way to tell." They leaned in toward her. "See that girl over there." They nodded. "Whoever can get her to walk them out will be the better pirate…well at least for tonight."

"Easy." They both said and they walked over to the poor girl. Instead of watching their antics as she usually did when she sent them on tasks like this one she opened the letter.

My Dearest Katherine,

As you know I have been thinking lately of getting remarried and find you a better, more appropriate home then that in Tortuga. I have found a wonderful women who lives in Port Royal and is willing to be a mother for you. By the time you get my letter we will already be married. However, I will be sending my men down to get you on the 13th of July. Please make it easy for them and don't make them hunt you down. I told them that you will meet them at the west docks at 2 in the morning. I will meet you in Port Royal. Please do this one thing for me before I'm back at sea. I love you.

Your Father

J. McPhee

"Ha. Like I'll actually do that. What is the date anyways? I think it is the 12th." Kat muttered, drank more rum and shoved the letter back into her pocket. She looked up just in time to see Jack walking out with the girl. Oh that's surprise…not! Barbossa sat down next to her. "Apparently Jack's the better pirate." Kat taunted.

"Or am I?" he asked.

"Okay, you've lost me."

"Maybe I'm the better pirate because I let Jack win, so I could come back and sit with you."

"That almost sounds sincere. But you just don't want Jack to get the better of you so you'll say anything. And besides," she finished her drink, "I'm on my way home."

"Already?" Barbossa asked surprised, this was not like Kat to be ready to go home so soon. "Are you sick?"

"Of course not." she replied. "Just tired. See you tomorrow." She said and walked out.