Alright. First I want to apologize for taking so long to update! I'm really sorry! It's just that I'm writing another story called 'Washed Up', so I've been working on it instead of this one.

Thankyou everyone who reviewed! I appreciate it!

I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney does. I only own the characters who weren't in the movies. You know, the ones I made up. Anyway.


"Samuel." I mumbled.

I was still sitting in the sand, holding him. I don't know how long we've been here, but I'm certain it's been long enough for my guests to start missing me.

He lazily brought his gaze to mine, his eye-lids drooping. I smiled. He was becoming tired. Perhaps he wouldn't put up such a fuss now.

"We need to head back to the party, people are probably already missing us."

He sighed and continued sitting.

"Come along, Samuel! I'm sure your father has calmed down and is willing to talk to you."

He still didn't move.

Now I was the one sighing. He may be tired, but he's still just as stubborn. I got to my feet and grabbed him beneath the arms, hauling him to his feet as well.

"Do we have to?" He whined.

"Of coarse we have to! We can't just sit here in the sand all the time, what good would that do?"

Hesitantly, he began to pull on his stockings and shoes and waistcoat. His cravat and coat were sticky and stained, so I didn't allow him to put those back on, which, he didn't want to anyway. We began our walk back home and I picked up my shoes along the way.

After a few minutes, we'd arrived at my estate and I snuck Samuel in the back way, so no one would see us, and took him to the kitchen where I could help him to clean himself up. I pulled up a chair and instructed him to sit.

"You know I'll have to clean you up before I can let you run about the party again?" I told him, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"I know." He mumbled.

I left to fetch some water and rags, to try to get some of the sticky remainders of icing from his face. When I returned I found that James was in the kitchen, with Samuel. Samuel was still sitting in the chair, his head hanging in shame as his father stood before him; his hands clasped behind his back, as he studied his son.

I did notice, however, that James's gaze wasn't a harsh one. His eyes held...sadness, dissapointment and a bit of annoyance all at once. I had taken my time in finding the supplies needed to clean Samuel up, so perhaps Samuel had told James what was going on. I decided to make my presants known by walking a bit further into the room.

James's gaze snapped up from Samuel to me, and he offered me a small smile. "Thankyou for finding him." He said, his voice low.

I offered a small smile as well. "It was no trouble at all, James." I set the bucket of water on the floor next to Samuel's chair and continued to hold the rags in my left hand. "I was just going to clean him up a bit. He's still a bit sticky." I added softly.

He held his right hand out. "I'll handle this. You go ahead...Theodore is looking for you." He said quietly.

The look in his eyes left no room for excuses or further conversation. I handed him the rags and began to make my way out of the kitchen. I stoped and turned once I was right outside the door to watch their interaction.

Nothing.

James was knelt down infront of Samuel, wet rag in hand as he gently stoked Samuel's face with it. They didn't speak. They didn't look each other in the eyes. James only remained silent as he continued to clean his son. Samuel kept quiet and sat still for James.

I sighed and began walking to the party area. They were growing so distant, it seemed. They had been so close when I came, and the fact that they're drifting apart saddened me.

I sighed again as I viewed my guests from a distance. it was growing late, and yet, people were still drinking and dance, laughing and conversing. I chuckled. I believe a few people have had more than their fair share of wine and shampaign; including some of the Navy officers I knew.

The fact that some people had had too much to drink was proven almost the moment I stepped into the room, for a marine I knew as Murtogg walked up to me in a slightly drunken state. He was only mildly durnk, for he could walk pretty well without stumbling too much, and when he spoke, his words weren't badly slurred.

He smiled. "Mrs. Groves!" He gave me a sloppy salute. "May I-I h-have this dance?" He stuttered as he offered his arm.

I laughed as I rested my arm atop his. "Certainly, Mr. Murtogg!"

He clumsily led me to the dance floor and we both moved our feet at a quick pace, dancing in...almost perfect rythem to the music. Not long after he had led me to the dance floor, someone else tapped on my shoulder and I switched to that person. This kept happening until I...surprisingly, was flung against Theodore's back.

He only stumbled forward a step or two before he turned around, his brows furrowed. "There you are!" He scolded. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

I offered him an innocent grin, which made him chuckle. "I went off to find Samuel, who I found and brought him back against his will, cleaned him up a bit before James took over, then came out here where I was sloppily flung across the dance floor to several different people as I was trying to find you."

He scowled. "My marines? Who were they? I'll make sure to give them punishment for so sloppily flinging my wife across the room!" He hissed in a whisper.

I laughed. "You needn't worry, they've all just a bit too much to drink. No harm was done. Oh, and I believe someone owes me a dance?" I questioned him with a smug smile.

His scowle softened to a small smile. "Ah, yes. I haven't gotten a chance to dance with my very own wife! How rude of me, not to ask you for a dance. Come, shall we have this one?" He held his left hand out to me.

I smiled softly at him. "Certainly." I put my hand in his, and he led me to the dance floor as a slower piece of music began to play.

He put his hand down on the small of my back as he continued to hold my other, and we began to dance to the slow waltz. I chuckled as he gently pulled me a bit closer and wrapped his arm around my waist. With a sigh I rested my head on his chest and we continued to dance. I didn't care if people frowned upon me dancing this close with my husband infront of all these people. This was my birthday party after all, I'll dance how I want to! This way, of coarse, was close to him.

I felt his warm breath against the left side of my neck, before he placed a kiss on one of the tender areas of my neck where he knew I liked to be kissed. My eyes widened and I had to bite my tongue to keep from moaning. I looked up at him, a smirk firmly on his lips.

"Theodore! Not here! Wait until after the party!" I hissed in a whisper.

He chuckled as he began stroking a small section of my side, where his hand rested as he led me through the dance. Again, I had to bite my tongue to keep from moaning. He chuckled, low in his throat so that no one could hear. I gave him a smirk as well. His faultered at the sudden spark in my eyes.

I looked around, scanning the dancing couples around us. I soon found James and Sarah dancing not very far away, then looked back to my husband with an even larger smirk.

"If you simply can't contain yourself until after the party, it looks like I'll have to help you by dancing with someone else." I said smugly as I quickly released himself of his hold and made my way to James and Sarah, Theodore hot on my heels.

I tapped James on the shoulder from behind, and he turned, his brows furrowed. "Is something the matter? Has Samuel gotten in trouble...again?"

I chuckled. "No, no James. I only wish to discuss something with you. But, I prefer to dance with you as we have a little discussion. So, may I?"

James released Sarah and she made her way to Theodore and began to dance with him. I accepted James's hand and he placed his other on the small of my back as we began to dance.

"So, what is this all about?" He asked, a truely confused expression on his face.

I laughed. "Nothing at all. I'm just giving my husband a bit of punishment for something he was doing while we were dancing. Nothing to worry about, dear cousin." I smiled.

He chuckled. "I've never known Theodore to be up to no good."

"Don't worry about it! Come along, just enjoy yourself." I paused. "Where's Samuel?"

"I hope you don't mind, but I requested one of your maids to dress him in some of the extra cloths that we leave here for when you look after him when we're doing buisness in town."

I shook my head. "No. No problem at all. You weren't too hard on him...were you? When I found him, he was scared out of his mind at what you would do to him!" I asked, not trying to hide the concern in my voice at all.

"No. I simply banned him from the remainder of the party, and told him I would discuss punishment with his mother."

I nodded. "I just wonder what the problem could be! He's been like this for a year?"

"I'm afraid so."

I was going to ask him some more questions, but the dance stopped, and Theodore and Sarah were making their way back to us. I turned to him as we released our holds on each other.

"Thank you for the dance." I smiled.

He returned my smile. "It was no trouble."


"I believe we'll begin making our way home." James said.

It was very late. Later than I had intended for the party to go on. All of the guests were gone except for James and his family, and the maids were already beginning to clean the mess everyone had left.

"Be safe." I told him.

We all said our goodbyes and they were almost out the door when James stopped. "Theodore. I have something I must tell you. Come outside for a moment, please."

Theodore and James stepped outside the doors and walked to the side, out of our view. I looked to Sarah.

"Do you know what they could possibly be talking about?"

She shook her head. "No idea. He's been acting a bit strange lately. He's yet to tell me why."

In a matter of moments, the two men returned. We bid the family good night once again, and began making our way up the staircase once the doors were shut behind them. Theodore seemed happy. A nice recovery from his tired state just a few minutes ago. He put his arm around my waist as we made our way up the stairs, but didn't speak a word.

Once we reached our room and the door was shut, he lifted me, causing a sort of squeaking sound to come from my throat as he did. He laughed and twirled me around, then laid me on our bed and crawled on top of me, laughing all the while.

I stared at him with wide eyes. "Have you gone mad?!"

He didn't say anything. He only grinned as he reached into his coat and pulled out a letter, and handed it to me.

"Just read it. You'll see what my sudden change in behavior is about."

I raised my eyebrows as I opened the letter, then grinned myself once I finished reading it. "You've been promoted!" I squealed.

"To Captain!" He shouted happily. "Captain of my own ship, Misty! Captain Groves! Doesn't that sound grand?!"

I smiled at his happiness. "It does indeed." I lightly kissed his lips.

His grin turned to a smirk. "You said after the party I could enjoy myself."

I nodded.

The letter was quickly put aside as wrapped me in his arms and kissed my lips. He then began trailing kisses down my neck where he reached that sensitive place again, and I moaned in delight. Our tiredness was forgotten as I began caressing his body, removing his hat, wig, coat and cravat in the process...


I hope you didn't find this chapter too boring! The next one will be better, I promise! Again, I apologize for taking so long to update! Please review! Thanks!