Chapter Two

Catherine Winston, 19 years of age and a real lady, walked down the dry, soiled, dark brown road that wound from her family's estate and down to the Governor's, and her best friend Elizabeth's, mansion. From here it went straight into the centre of Port Royal, flanked by houses all the way. In the beginning the houses were big and impressive with large gardens and plenty of servants, but by the end of the road they were small and made of wood, had no gardens and no servants. They were the homes of the lower class people, but Catherine rarely went as far as to the wooden houses. Not because she disliked the poor or the working-class, but it wasn't safe for a lady like herself to wander there.

The sun shone brightly and the wind, if there was any, wasn't strong enough to lift the big leaves of the dark, green palm trees even an inch. The air was heavy, kind of electric, and it was one of those days, on which you almost expect something bad, or at least upsetting, to happen. Catherine didn't, though. Her best friend was getting married today, and the weather seemed to cooperate, as the party would be held in the Governor's garden afterwards. It would've been fatal if it had been rainy, because there would be so many guests that even the Governor's home would be too small to house them all.

As Catherine approached the iron gate to the mansion, she decided to walk a little further. She was early, and she knew she'd only make Elizabeth feel that she was late if she showed up already. She was going to be a bride's maid, but she was not expected for at least another thirty minutes.

She walked on, though she knew her father wouldn't appreciate it. He always complained about her walking around on her own. It wasn't suitable for a young lady to walk around the town without a companion. But as her best friend was now getting married, she would have to do a lot of wandering around on her own. Elizabeth wouldn't have much time for her now, she knew that, and though she was happy that she and Will Turner had finally admitted that they loved each other, she was kind of sad to lose her friend. Alright, so she wouldn't lose her for real. And she had got a new friend through her. Will Turner was a sweet and handsome young man, and he was never the slightest bit rude. Though he was a blacksmith, he was one of the few men that Catherine's father didn't mind her seeing. But of course, he was engaged to Elizabeth, and so their connection was of quite another sort than if he hadn't been.

"Good day, Miss Winston!" A male voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw Commodore Norrington giving her a nod and a smile. He stopped.

"Good day, Commodore Norrington." She replied and smiled back at him. "What a nice day it is today." She could think of nothing but the weather to talk to him about.

"Indeed, Miss Winston. It is such a fine day for a wedding, don't you agree?"

"It is." She replied with a smile. The Commodore was always so kind and polite. He was another one of the few men that her father did not mind her talking to. In fact, he wanted the two of them to be acquainted a little too much for Catherine's like.

"Well, I suppose I shall see you again later this afternoon." The Commodore said with a bow. "Till then… Good day, Miss."

"Good day to you too, Commodore." Catherine replied and waited for him to pass before she moved on. She looked at him just long enough to see him turn around and look back at her. What a shame the good man had not yet found a lady to marry. Catherine knew that he had once asked Elizabeth to be his wife, and she had said yes. It was only to save her true love, Will Turner, from being murdered, though, and in the end she had turned down the Commodore's offer of marriage. Catherine felt sorry for the man, but she knew that Elizabeth had done the right thing. She had been in love with Will as long as Catherine remembered. However, Elizabeth had not known her feelings for him until she thought she was losing him.

Catherine passed Will's smithy and heard voices from inside it. It was kind of odd, as Will was not supposed to be there. Was that new worker of his talking to himself? Elizabeth had told her his name, but she didn't remember.

It sounded as if people were quarrelling in there, and though Catherine knew she shouldn't listen, her curiosity made her walk to the door and stand still, trying to listen to the words. As she couldn't hear them properly, she gave the wooden door a very vague push, but it accidentally opened wide. Just like anything Will owned the door was in a perfect condition. It didn't stick at all! He had surely done a lot to the smithy since the old blacksmith, Mr. Brown, had died. Catherine silently cursed Will's perfectionism!

No one had noticed her, though, and undisturbed she quickly recognized one of the men. With his white – and a little dirty – shirt hanging loose under the gray waistcoat on his half-naked chest, and the old, brown boots on the outside of his once black pants, there was no chance of mistaking him. He was Captain Sparrow, Elizabeth and Will's friend. The man who had saved both of their lives when the evil pirate, Barbossa, had kidnapped first Elizabeth and then Will. Of course Catherine was glad that her life had never been in danger, but somehow she couldn't help but slightly envy Elizabeth. At least something happened in her life! And she had been alone on an island with Captain Sparrow! That would have to be any girl's dream, though Elizabeth kept saying Catherine was crazy for thinking so. He was a pirate and no lady's dream!

Catherine had only met him twice before, and each time only very briefly. However, she had not failed to notice the muscles swelling underneath his shirt, nor had she failed to see the twinkle in his eye when he looked at her, kissing her hand and sending shivers through her body.

Okay, so maybe she didn't know him that well, but she knew that he was gorgeous. Life would be so interesting if shared with him. He always seemed to be on some kind of adventure or another. Catherine would so love to go on an adventure!

A yell from the other man in the smithy made her mind concentrate on the scene in front of her.

"He is not my father!" The young man said angrily with a stern look at a woman that Catherine hadn't noticed before. "He's a pirate, mother!"

"Yes, and your father, Jack." The woman replied somewhat annoyed.

Jack? Oh, so he was the new blacksmith Will had employed. He was quite good-looking, actually. Catherine chuckled at her own ability to think about the man's looks at a moment like this, but she did. He was a bit taller than Captain Sparrow, but they were built the same way. His hair was just as dark as the pirate's, but he wore no braids in it. It wasn't long enough for that, but it was long enough to fall into his eyes now and again, and he kept shaking his head slightly once in a while to get the hair out of his eyes. They were dark and handsome and looked a lot like Captain Sparrow's. Catherine suddenly realized just how much the two men resembled each other, though it was obvious to tell which one of them was younger.

"Are you telling me, this kid is my son?" Captain Sparrow asked in a sneer and put up a face that expressed both disbelief and disgust.

"Yes, Jack. I'm telling you that he is your son."

"Jack? His name is Jack?" The young man almost shrieked. "You… You named me…" He didn't finish his sentence.

"You named him after me." Captain Sparrow said thoughtfully. Then he broke into a wide smile. "And I… I have a kid named after me. If that ain't something…!"

The young man was just about to reply as he noticed Catherine standing by the door. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words died before they got out. Captain Sparrow and the woman turned around to see what had caught his attention, and there was nowhere Catherine could possibly hide now. She just looked down, pretending to be minding her own business.

"Ah, Catherine!" Captain Sparrow said with amusement in his voice. She blushed as he spoke her first name. No man ever did that, except for her father and her younger brother.

"How have ye been, luv?" Catherine blushed even more. Captain Sparrow called her 'love'!

He walked towards her with his arms wide open, just as he had done to Belle.

"Don't you dare touch her!" The young Jack warned readying his sword. "She's obviously a lady, so keep your filthy pirate's hands off of her!"

Catherine looked at him with admiration in her eyes. She wasn't afraid of Captain Sparrow, and she did not mind him getting closer, but it was kind of sweet of the young Jack to try to defend her, just because she was a lady.

He returned her look and his face softened a bit. She was really beautiful. Her brown hair was hanging loose, curling slightly. Her eyes were green, Jack could tell even from a distance, and her light pink lips curled into a small and timid smile that would melt even the darkest of hearts, he was sure. Now what was it about her that made him feel so poetic? She hadn't even spoken yet.

"Hello, Captain Sparrow." Catherine said moving her gaze back at the pirate. "I see you've come to join us at the wedding, am I right?"

"'Course you are. I love weddings!"

"And you're not afraid that Commodore Norrington will try to catch you?" Catherine more stated this admiringly than actually asking.

"Captain Jack Sparrow? Afraid of Norrington? Have ye had too much rum?"

"No, Captain…" Catherine said and looked down a bit embarrassed. "I don't drink."

She knew that Captain Sparrow did. A lot. But that fact she ignored in her fascination of him.

"Ah, what a shame." The Captain said and gave a sad pout. Catherine didn't notice as her eyes wandered back to the young Jack. She was waiting for an introduction, but she knew that a pirate probably wouldn't think of that. However, well-behaved as she was, she felt she could hardly speak to the young man that she hadn't been introduced to. Maybe to the woman, but definitely not to the man.

"What's going on in here?" A male voice asked and before turning around, Catherine noticed the displeased expression on Captain Sparrow's face. It could only be…

"Commodore Norrington!" She exclaimed very surprised to see him there as she had just met him walking away from the smithy. Furthermore, she hadn't heard him coming, so she had a mild shock at the sound of the voice right behind her.

"I am sorry if I scared you, Miss Winston, but I see you associate with pirates. I assume, of course, you didn't know he was a pirate."

"You can hardly say she associates with pirates." The young Jack said now getting all eyes on him. "At least not willingly. She did nothing to seek his company."

"Mr. Clarence, you obviously don't know Miss Winston. If you did, you'd know she can speak for herself!" Came the Commodore's dry reply. "Have you not been introduced yet?"

"No, Commodore, we haven't." Catherine said noticing a figure in the corner of her eye trying to back away without being noticed.

"Well, then…" Commodore Norrington began. "Miss Winston…" He stiffened and put a hand to his sword. Catherine followed the dart of his eyes to where Captain Sparrow had just been.

"Don't think you can get away from me this time, Sparrow!" The Commodore yelled drawing his sword. He followed Captain Sparrow cautiously, leaving the others breathless.

Oh God, please let him get away! Catherine prayed silently. She couldn't stand the thought of the pirate being hanged in the morning. Or anytime at all. He just had to get away!

Neither Catherine, Jack nor Belle saw what happened next. Captain Sparrow and the Commodore were obviously fighting with their swords somewhere in another room. A few seconds later they came back, Captain Sparrow with his back first, apparently having a hard time fighting the Commodore.

One quick movement from the latter, and the Captain's head was very close to being cut off.

"Jack!" Catherine and Belle shrieked in fear at the same time. They both cared too much about the pirate to see him get caught.

"Ladies!" Captain Sparrow replied with a big smile. But he said no further as the Commodore pointed his sword at Captain Sparrow's neck. Just like the Captain had done to the young Jack a few moments ago.

"Please, Commodore! Not today! Not on Miss Swann's wedding day!" Catherine exclaimed lifting up her skirts and walking over to the two men. "You know he's a friend of hers and Will Turner's. They'd be devastated if you hanged him. What kind of wedding would that be?"

"They wouldn't have to know until tomorrow, would they?" Commodore Norrington asked with an enquiring look at Catherine.

"Please, Commodore, please. I would still know about it and it would make me feel really unwell."

"But Miss Winston…" The Commodore sighed. He hesitated for a moment. "Very well, then. I shall let him go today. But if he comes anywhere near the wedding, I swear I shall hunt him down and hang him tomorrow morning!"

As he said this he turned to look at Captain Sparrow again to make sure he understood the conditions as well. His eyes didn't find what they were looking for, though. Captain Jack Sparrow had disappeared!