A/N Another update here…and I would like to thank damsel-in-stress for her lovely reviews. I enjoyed them. :) I have scored through this chapter and fixing all the spelling mistakes I could. So hopefully there is an improvement on that. Well enjoy!

~Axelrocks~

Chapter 4

"Now don't you mess this up, Isabella!" her mother said and handed her a picnic basket, "I think he might be interested in you."

How could you tell, since you're the one who arranges for us to be together all the time. Was what Isabella wanted to say, but she stuck with, "Yes, Mother."

"Madame, a Mister James Norrington is waiting in the front room." said a servant, bowing submissively.

Isabella's mother gave her a little push, "Go, and greet him. And don't disappoint me!"

Isabella walked out the door, muttering, "A nice little 'Have fun' would have been nice."

They were sitting on a blanket next to a shimmering pond. They had already finished their lunch. And now that just sat and talked. Which it seemed they both liked to do.

But as they sat there it brought memories back to Isabella.

She suddenly said, "My father used to take me out here all the time, sometimes my brother-" then she cut herself, wincing she shouldn't have mentioned him. Maybe James hadn't noticed.

But he did, and he turned to her, "You have a brother?"

"Yes, but we don't talk about him much." she looked down at the blanket, then looked back up at James, "Can you keep a secret?" she couldn't believe she was going to tell him.

"Of course." he said, and Isabella knew he could.

"My mother told you my father died at sea, is that right? You see I was eight years old at the time, and my brother William was thirteen. Once he heard of our father's death, he ran off. Him and my mother didn't see eye to eye and he couldn't stand living there any longer. But once he left my mother decided to change our names, I think, not to have that reminder of her husbands death. My mother has kept it a secret and has told me to also. She said she's afraid it would ruin her. But I haven't seen my brother since." she sighed, but glad she could tell someone else about her past.

"What was your previous last name, if you don't mind me asking?"

She smiled at him, "Not at all. It was Turner."

James world seemed to crash around him at the mention of Turner, he didn't want it to be real, "So are you saying your brother is Will Turner?" he asked her sitting up straight.

Isabella noticed the saddened look on James's face, "Yes. What? Have you seen him? Is he still alive?"

James sighed, "Yes, very much so, actually."

Isabella smiled and grew excited, "Where is he? May we go see him?" she looked at James and saw, for some reason, he seemed to have anger in his eyes.

She peered at him, "James, are you, okay?"

"Fine, fine." he stood and brushed himself off, "But I'm feeling a little under the weather. We may have to cut this outing a little short. I'm terrible sorry." he stood up, Isabella followed, but she grabbed his arm before he could go anywhere.

He turned around, and his breath caught in his throat when he saw how close they were. He immediately looked away from her confused eyes.

"What's wrong, James? I know I haven't known you long, but I can tell something is bothering you. Please, you can tell me." she let go of his hand, "Has it something to do with my brother?"

James didn't say anything.

"James...please."

He finally broke, "Yes I know your brother! He stole away the only woman I've ever loved!" he turned from her. Surprising himself that he would admit it out loud.

"What? He did?" she placed a hand on his shoulder. She was baffled. Her brother? Did he really steal a woman James loved?

James continued talking, "Elizabeth Swann. I was going to marry her. But I guess they knew each other since they were small. We actually found him twelve years ago drifting out at sea."

Isabella gasped, what had her brother been up to since he left home?

"Elizabeth was kidnapped, and Will did everything he could to save her. I, on the other hand, had to think everything out. He just went out on his own instinct and rescued her from blood-thirsty pirates. And she fell in love with him." James sighed, bringing back that memory had hurt.

Isabella clenched her fists angrily, wishing she could wring Elizabeth's neck. How could she have hurt the poor man? But the anger soon went away, if James had married Elizabeth he wouldn't have been with her right now. He wouldn't have been here with her.

She noticed James hunched shoulders and he still didn't turn to look at her. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, and tell him everything was going to be okay, but she didn't. Instead she placed a hand on his shoulder and said somewhat softly.

"Too bad for her, she missed out on a wonderful man."

James turned and faced her, her hand still on his shoulder.

"Your a great friend, James, if you hadn't come along my mother would have probably drove me insane, and not the mention I'd be dead." she laughed softly, remembering when they had first met.

James couldn't help but smile. He looked down at her face, which was so close to his. And suddenly he wanted to kiss her. He began leaning forward, but stopped when he heard an approaching carriage.

Isabella let go of him and he faced the interruption. And was it, to his imagination, that she looked disappointed? Had she wanted him to kiss her? Or was she disappointed that he didn't let go of her quick enough?

"Ah, there you are Commodore." it was Beckett, he had just stepped out of his carriage, "I've been looking for you everywhere." then he saw Isabella, "Oh, who is this? Is this the young lady you rescued, James?"

"Yes." said stiffly, and somewhat uncomfortably.

"I thought you told me you'd probably never see her again. But now seeing her I know why you changed your mind." he walked up to Isabella and grabbed her hand and kissed it, "I am Lord Cutler Beckett, miss. And you are?"

Isabella curtsied, still painfully aware that he still held her hand, she had a bad feeling about the man, "Isabella Dobbs, sir." she managed a smile, but knew it wasn't genuine.

"Very nice to meet you, Isabella." then he turned to James, "I see that you are busy, so I will see you tomorrow." then he turned back to Isabella, smiling, "And I hope I see you very soon." then he got in his carriage and drove off.

James didn't like the attention Beckett had shown Isabella. Not that he was jealous, oh no, it was because he didn't like the man. He seemed sinister under all his gentlemanly manners and that made him uneasy. He didn't want Isabella to get hurt. But why? Because she was a good friend, and he hadn't had very many of those. Well actually none. He sighed and stepped of the carriage at his house after dropping off Isabella.

He turned to a different note. He had seen Isabella everyday since he had rescued her. Was that a good thing? Well it was her mother who had arranged every meeting, so he didn't know if she really wanted to spend time with him. He wondered if she had another suitor? One more daring and adventurous than he?

With those thought he went to sleep.

Isabella had gotten ready for bed and was under her sheet when her mother walked in the room.

"So," she said and sat on the edge of her bed, "When's the wedding?"

That question caused Isabella to bolt up, "Wedding? What are you talking about? We just met!"

"Nonsense I've heard of people getting married, and they've none each other less. They have perfectly normal lives."

"But mother I don't know if love him yet!" Isabella continued to protest.

"Love?" her mother snorted, "Who said you need love for a marriage. Some women are betrothed to men before they are born, and they don't love the person."

Isabella looked down at her hands and said softly, "You loved father, didn't you?" she then dared looked at her mother's face.

First it turned sad, then a little smile came on her face, "Yes, yes I did." but as soon as that weakness showed it was gone. Her mother stood up.

"Isabella you better not let this man slip through your fingers like the others." she opened the door, "I'll give you two weeks, if your not proposed too or even talking about marriage then I will send you off." and with that she shut her door.

Isabella laid flat on her bed. Why couldn't her mother be like other mothers? Let her daughter take time, fall in love, and marry? We was it all about money to her?

She turned to her side and sighed. She would never know.

A/N I hope you guys liked that little twist I put in there. :)