Jack & Katrina

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean (characters, plot, dialogue, etc.). Any other tid-bits of creativity, however, are mine… in which I hope you will enjoy.

Author's Note: Well…. it's definitely long… at least when it comes to what is supposed to be a drabble… anyway, please be sure to review and let me know what you all think of it. By the way, if you haven't yet, please be sure to check out my latest story Sparrow Island and let me know what you think of it!

Questioning

"Katrina!" Jack yelled upon entering his home early that morning after nearly a month at sea, "Katrina, love, I'm home!"

Closing the door behind him, Jack dropped his bag on the ground before searching through the grand house.

"Katri-" Jack began to yell again as he approached the entryway, but was quickly cut off by a shushing sound from the second-floor balcony.

"What?" Jack whispered, looking up to his wife.

"Your son," Katrina whispered back as she carefully made her way down the staircase, her robe tightly wrapped around her, "is still asleep."

"Oh," Jack laughed lightly as he extended a hand to his wife as if to help her down the last few steps, but instead pulled her directly into his arms. He then gave her a loving, passionate kiss. Katrina responded most affectionately, her arms enclosing around the pirate's neck.

"Missed me, did ye?" Jack teased when their long kiss finally came to an end as he gently lowered Katrina back onto the floor.

"Perhaps," Katrina teased back.

Jack grinned before bringing his lips to hers once again, but Katrina soon-after broke the kiss with laughter from Jack's hands tickling her sides.

"Missed me, did you?" Katrina echoed, having stopped Jack's hands with her own, as she looked up into his eyes.

With a crooked smirk on his face, Jack lifted Katrina up in his arms and began carrying her up the staircase and down the hallway toward their room. "Aye, I did, Mrs. Sparrow."

--

Later that afternoon Katrina, as she usually did when Jack returned from one of his voyages, began to sort out the clothes that needed to be washed – including his favorite coat – from his bag while he played with their son.

"Jack, are we still planning on attending James' engagement party?" Katrina called out from the washroom toward the kitchen where her husband and son were rolling and bouncing a ball back and forth to each other.

"O' course, love. Why?"

"Just thought I'd check since last time you came home from a trip you were too tired to attend Colonel Anderson's ball."

"That was different, love. I don't like Colonel Anderson."

Katrina chuckled to herself and decided to say no more, leaving father and son at play. Turning back to sorting Jack's clothes, she took up one of his usual white seafaring shirts. Just as she was about to drop it into the pile of white clothing she caught sight of something.

Near the collar of the shirt looked to what appeared to be smudged powder and the bright shade of color certain kinds of women were known to wear. With her brows coming together, Katrina brought the shirt up to her nose for an examination. Sure enough, even that part of the shirt smelled of cheap perfume.

"No," Katrina whispered to herself. "I'm sure this is nothing. Just the usual attention from those Tortugan women."

Casting off the shirt into the pile, Katrina continued about the rest of Jack's clothing.

--

"Come on, love," Jack called from the entryway, dressed in formal clothing with little Jack in his arms. "Will said Mrs. Westin would be at their house at seven."

"I'm coming," Katrina called back as she appeared at the top of the stairs. "Are you sure this looks alright? It's not too yellow?"

"Ye look gorgeous, love," Jack grinned brightly. "And it's yellow-gold, so no, love, not too yellow at all."

Katrina gave a small smile, though still not fully confident in her new gown, as she carefully made her way down to Jack.

"Now," Jack asked as he snaked an arm around his wife's waist. "Are we ready t' go?"

Katrina gave a soft kiss to Jack's lips. "No, I need to grab my shawl. Then we can go."

"Alright," Jack sighed as he reluctantly let her go. "Oh, come t' think o' it, love, while you're in that closet, could ye grab me favorite coat? Please?"

Katrina smiled and rolled her eyes before following through in taking up her black shawl and Jack's favorite black buccaneer coat that she had cleaned earlier that day from his long voyage.

--

"There they are!" Will laughed upon opening the door to find the Sparrows.

"Apologies, mate," Jack grinned as he and Katrina entered the home. "The missus was running behind."

"Oh, don't complain," Katrina swatted her husband's arm playfully. "You know you'd prefer that I take my time and come out all proper than be in a hurry and come out unpresentable."

"Depends on your definition o' 'unpresentable,' love," Jack teased viciously before stealing a kiss from her.

"Oh, you scallywag!"

Will laughed at his bickering friends. "Well, if it helps at all," he began, "Elizabeth is just now getting dressed."

"And you thought I was so bad!" Katrina pointed out to Jack, with a great temptation to stick out her tongue to him, but didn't.

"She's a cute one, isn't she?"

Will laughed at Jack's comment.

"So, where's little William?" Katrina inquired.

"He's with Mrs. Westin up in the nursery," Will replied. Then turning to Jack added, "Come, you can put little Jack up there with them."

Nodding in agreement, Jack, still holding Jacky, and Katrina, still carrying Jack's coat, followed Will up to his son's nursery.

"Mrs. Westin!" Katrina greeted as the first to enter the room. "So glad you were able to come take care of the children!"

The older woman stood up from the rocking chair with little one-year-old Will in her arms eager to greet Katrina. "Oh, my dear Mrs. Sparrow! How good to see you!"

Allowing the women to embrace, Will took his little son from Mrs. Westin.

"Ready for the ball?" Will turned to Jack as Mrs. Westin and Katrina began chatting away.

"Eh," Jack shrugged. "As ready as I'd ever be for one o' James' balls. Just glad he finally found a girl. He was beginning t' worry me a bit."

Will laughed. "Yes, me, too, actually."

"She seems t' be a good girl. A bit plain, though, even 'er red hair's a bit dull… but perfect for 'im, o' course."

"Yes," Will laughed harder. "Perfect for James."

"Jack," Katrina interrupted.

"Yes, love?"

"Mind if we make a trade?"

"Hmm?" Jack wondered aloud before realizing that she meant to give him the coat in exchange for little Jack. "Oh. No, I don't mind, love. Just know that it's a done deal after we do this. I won't take the boy back."

"Yes, yes, very funny," Katrina said. She then handed over the coat to her husband. However, before she took up little Jack her eye caught something pink sticking out of one of the pockets. Immediately, Katrina brought her hand to grab the mysterious item rather than her son.

"Jack," Katrina began through clenched teeth as she held up a small, pink kerchief with little yellow flowers and the initials ALB embroidered on it. "¿Que es esto?"

"That?" Jack looked at the dangling piece of fabric trying to recollect what it was. "I think… that was Alana's… or Adrina's… or maybe it was what's-her-name with the brown hair… I don't really remem-"

"¿Que hace en tu abrigo?"

What is it doing in your coat?

"Now, Katrina," Jack began sternly, "I know what you're thinkin', love, but nothing 'appened. I honestly can't remember at the moment- Oh, wait! I remember… she let me use it t' wipe off me mouth after eatin' 'alf o' a slow-roasted chicken and potatoes-"

"She?"

"One o' the girls that was at the bar when Will and I-"

"Girls?"

Jack at his wife, standing his ground. "Aye. Girls."

Katrina opened her mouth only to have Jack speak up again. "It was only t' use as a napkin, love. Dinner was kind o' messy wi' the chicken and potatoes and-"

"¡¿Te espera que yo crea esto, Jack Sparrow?!"

You expect me to believe that Jack Sparrow?!

"Katrina," Will tried to intervene, though a bit lost at what Katrina was saying, "it's true… I was there with-"

"¡Quiete, Will!"

Quiet, Will!

"Love, please, if you won't listen t' me, at least listen t' the boy-"

Katrina ignored her husband's plea. "Y este mujer, ¡¿está la misma mujer que dejó su señal en una de tus camisas?!"

And this woman, is she the same woman who left her mark on one of your shirts?!

"What?" Jack asked, confused, his eyebrows raised up.

"¡Uno de tus camisas tiene un olor del perfume y es cubierto en colorete y marcas de los labios de alguien más!"

One of your shirts smells of perfume and is smothered with rouge and markings of someone else's lips!

"I don't 'ave a shirt with all o' that-"

"¡No dígame eso! ¡Estaba clasificando tu ropa y encontré una de tus camisas blancas sucio de otra mujer!"

Don't give me that! I was sorting your clothes and found one of your white shirts dirtied up by another woman!

"Now, Katrina, ye know I'd do no such a thing in cheatin' on ye!" Jack said strongly with a bit of anger.

Before Katrina could speak back, Mrs. Westin jumped in and took little Jack out of Jack's arms. She then took him to the rug and began playing with toy blocks.

"Un tiempo no le pensé," Katrina spat with a tear escaping her eye, "pero ahora con esta camisa y este pañuelo, no estoy tan completamente seguro."

Once upon a time I didn't think you would, but now with this shirt and this kerchief, I'm not quite so sure."

"Katrina, don't do this!"

Katrina shook her head, her gaze having dropped to the floor. "¿Hace que, Jack? Por lo visto ya tu hizo bastante."

Do what, Jack? Apparently you've already done enough.

Katrina then pushed past Jack to where Mrs. Westin sat with their son. "I'll be back later for Jacky," she told the older lady before giving a loving kiss to the boy and whispering, "Te quiero muchisimo." She then excused herself and raced down the stairs.

"Katrina!" Jack yelled as he ran after her. "Talk t' me, love!"

Not paying him any attention, Katrina continued walking briskly through the entryway toward the front door. However, she only made it halfway across the marble floor when Jack grabbed her arm and whirled her around to look at him.

"¡No me tocas!" Katrina lashed out as she jerked herself free of her husband's grasp.

Don't you touch me!

"Then will ye talk t' me?!"

"¿Por que? ¿Que hay a hablar? Las pruebas hablan mucho solo, ¿si?"

Why? What is there to talk about? The evidence speaks a lot on its own, does it not?

"Katrina," Jack said growled as he took hold of her shoulders. "Ye need t' understand-"

"¿Intiende que?" Katrina snapped as she wrenched herself free again of Jack's hands.

Understand what?

"That you're comin' to a wrong conclusion, love!"

"¿Verdad?" Katrina crossed her arms. "Entonces, explicalo."

Truly? Then, explain it.

"Katrina, all that happened was," Jack quickly began with determination only to realize the struggle it would be to tell his wife the truth without it sounding bad. "Let me start again… the Pearl was brought into port at Tortuga for a night. Bein' terribly hungry, I decided t' get a bite o' somethin' t' satisfy… a bite o' food, that is… at me favorite pub… Will and Gibbs went wi' me… and… well, ye know 'ow the women love me at the Faithful Bride… what I mean t' say is that ye know how they like t' pay me a lot o' attention… not that I pay any o' them any attention in return… or let 'em pay me any attention…"

Katrina snorted upon hearing this.

"The point is," Jack said a tad harsher than he meant to, "I went wi' me mates to the Faithful Bride t' have dinner… unwantingly came 'cross some ol' friend….ly ladies who decided t' join us."

"¿Y dónde hace esto pañuelo y tu camisa caben en esta historia?"

And where does that kerchief and your shirt fit into this story?

"It's simple, love," Jack sighed. "One o' the girls, Alexia, I think it was… or was it Arista?... any'ow, one o' the girls merely used the kerchief as a napkin to wipe me face wi' it. And as for the shirt, I'm sure it was simply that one o' the girls got too close and-"

"¿Perdon?" Katrina fumed, her hands now angrily perched upon her hips. "¿Tu le deja este mujer limpiar tu cara?"

Beg pardon? You let this woman clean your face?

Jack's face dropped slightly at realizing the mistake in trying to tell the truth without it sounding bad.

"¿Cuente realmente, mi amor, se sentaba esta mujer en tu regazo?"

Do tell, my love, was this woman sitting upon your lap?

"You say that like it was a bad thing," Jack tried to forcefully laugh off the misunderstanding. "It may 'ave appeared that way, but what really happened was-"

"No te precupelo, Jack," Katrina cut him off. She then stormed out of the front door. "No quiero más de este."

Don't worry about it, Jack. I don't any more of this.

--

"Yes, James," Katrina reassured her friend after a sip of wine from the newly-filled glass she held. "Will and Elizabeth said they'd be here."

"And what of your dear husband?" Norrington's fiancé, Sophia, asked.

"My dear husband?" Katrina fought to keep her smile. "I don't know if he'll make it. Our son was giving him a hard time when we tried to leave… he's very attached to his father."

"What a shame," James sighed. "I was looking forward to hearing about his latest voyage."

"Well, I'm sure Will can give you an account of it."

"Yes, but Jack's account is always much more entertaining."

"Darling," Sophia jumped with an outstretched hand pointing past Katrina. "Isn't that Captain Sparrow?"

"Ah, yes, it is. Oh, and the Turners are just behind him. Well, Katrina, looks like everything worked out alright with your little boy."

Katrina continued to fake her smile as she took another sip of her wine.

"'Ello, Admiral Norrington and soon-to-be Mrs. Admiral Norrington," Jack greeted James and his fiancé.

"So good to see you, Captain Sparrow," Sophia greeted back sweetly.

"Yes, so glad you were able to come," Norrington added as the men shook hands.

"And how's m'lady doin' now?" Jack turned to his wife with a happy grin as he reached out to her.

Katrina, however, didn't reply in such an affectionate manner. Instead she stepped down on Jack's right foot, causing him to retreat his attempt to hold her. She then transferred the rest of her reply through wine as she threw the last half of her drink into his face. Spinning on her heel she walked away in the direction of the dancing crowd in the open drawing room.

"What's gotten into her?" James asked as Will and Elizabeth came to Jack's side.

"Her father's temper," Jack replied bitterly as the group watched Katrina begin dancing with Commodore Groves.

"Here, Jack," Elizabeth offered as she pulled out her kerchief and began cleaning off the wine trickling down his face.

"That's not funny, Lizzie," Jack grumbled as he stopped her hand from further help. "I'm already in trouble 'cause o' somethin' like this."

He then speedily bee-lined his way through the crowd to his dancing wife where he shoved her dance partner to the side in order to take his place.

"¡No quiero bailar contigo!" Katrina cried as Jack took her in his arms, continuing to dance as if nothing had happened.

I don't want to dance with you!

"Pero yo quiero bailar contigo," Jack replied calmly as he tightened his grip.

But I want to dance with you.

"¡Ow, estas doliendo a mí!" Katrina whined as she made a great effort to free herself from Jack.

Ow, you're hurting me!

"Que bueno, entonces tal vez te vas a escucharme finalmente."

How good, then you'll finally listen to me.

Katrina narrowed her eyes angrily at her husband before turning her head to the side, refusing to look at him any more as they danced.

"Fuimos a la Faithful Bride… Will, Gibbs, y yo… para comer algo," Jack began directly into Katrina's ear. "Como de costumbre, las mujeres vinieron para prestarme la atención. Una de ellas, cualquiera, era muy desesperado para mi afecto. Toda la noche ella trató a seducirme… masajear mis hombros, limpiando mi cara mientras comí, la tentative de susurrar cosas dulces en mi oído. Ella puede haber tratado de subrir en mi regazo unas veces, pero ella nunca duró mucho tiempo porque porque seguí apartándola. Siempre aparto a aquellas estos mujeres."

We went to the Faithful Bride… Will, Gibbs, and I… to eat something. As usual, the women came to give me attention. One of them, whichever one, was very desperate for my affection. All night she tried seducing me… massaging my shoulders, cleaning my face as I ate, trying to whisper sweet things into my ear. She tried many times to sit my lap, but she never lasted long because I kept pushing her away. I always push those women away.

Jack paused as a tear slid down his wife's cheek.

"Mira, el pañuelo estoy seguro fue puesto en el bolsillo de mi abrigo como una señal por aquella este mujer desesperada. Y mi camisa estoy seguro que es sucio debido a aquellas mujeres que me juntan demasiado cerca."

Look, the kerchief I'm sure was put in my coat pocket as a token by that desperate woman. And my shirt I'm sure was dirty because of those women gathering too close to me.

Jack paused again and waited for a reply from his wife. Katrina, however, continued to look away in silence. It was obvious that she had heard everything as he watched her swallow another sob, watery trails of fallen tears still on her face.

Looking across the dancing crowd, Jack signaled as best he could with a gesture of his head for Will to come near them.

"I know ye don't want t' listen t' me, love," Jack sighed, a bit tired of this ridiculous fight. "And so… allow me t' bring in someone you'd be more willin' t' listen to."

As Katrina turned to face Jack with a questioning look, he gave her a twirl. When she spun around she found herself in Will's arms.

"Katrina, you have no reason to be angry with Jack. He didn't do anything."

"Don't tell me you're going to follow along in Jack's lies, Will!"

"Katrina, he isn't lying to you," Will said crisply. "The kerchief was given, sadly as a flirtatious offer by… Alana, I think it was… but Jack merely used it more along the lines of a napkin."

"He said she used it to clean his face while he ate."

"Yes, that did happen," Will admitted with a shrug. "But Jack didn't let her have her way in doting upon him. On her third or fourth attempt to dab the kerchief at his mouth he pulled it out of hand and used it in a rough manner to clean his face and hands at the end of the meal.

Will then pulled out the pink kerchief from his coat pocket and opened it as best he could with one hand as they continued to dance. At the opposite corner of the embroidery that she saw earlier, Katrina saw large dirty prints and smears. "Just like Jack said… chicken and potatoes."

"Alright," Katrina partially gave in. "But then what about the shirt?"

"That would be that same girl again."

Katrina narrowed her eyes on Will.

"For whatever reason, she was desperate to make Jack give into her. When he had finished eating she took a seat on his lap and began doing everything in her power to win Jack over."

"That whore!" Katrina cursed under her breath.

Will chuckled. "Yes, but… it didn't work. She tried and fought, but in the end Jack merely pushed her to the side. Nothing happened, Katrina, I promise you, I was there, I saw it all. And after dinner, Jack and I returned to the Pearl to sleep alone in our separate cabins. I promise you, Katrina, Jack did nothing wrong. He may be daft, but he'd never do anything that would cause him to lose you."

Katrina gave a small nod as her eyes revealed she was deep in thought.

"And no woman there tried to seduce you?" she eventually spoke up.

"Well," Will began seriously, "yes, women there are always trying to get my full attention whenever we stop there. And like Jack, I don't let them have their way with me."

Katrina thought to herself quietly for a few more moments before eyeing Will. "You are telling the truth, aren't you, Will?"

"Every word, Katrina."

"You promise me?"

"Yes."

Katrina took another deep breath as a few tiny tears glittered her cheeks again. "Well," she began as she wiped away those few tears. "I guess I had best go clean off my husband."

Will gave Katrina a soft smile before escorting her out of the dancing crowd to Jack.

"She's all yours, Jack," Will said as he handed Katrina off to the pirate.

"Thanks, mate."

After giving a nod of understanding, Will turned his wife in her flowing indigo gown. "Shall we?" The two then left to the dancing crowd.

"So, 'ow are we feelin' now, love?" Jack asked as they walked out of the crowded drawing room.

"Guilty," Katrina managed to say as she choked on an unexpected sob.

Jack chuckled lightly as he wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her close to him. Wiping away her remaining tears and giving a kiss to her forehead he spoke up again in his usual teasing tone, "Not to worry, darlin', for I know a way you can make it up t' me."

Katrina gave a light laugh at hearing this.

"Do you?" she quirked an eyebrow at her husband, knowing what he was getting at.

"Aye, and it doesn't involve this place."

"Well, before I do whatever it takes to make this up to you," Katrina gave a sly grin as she tugged at her husband's wine-soaked shirt. "I think we had better go home first and get you out of these sticky clothes."

"I agree," Jack whispered with a crooked grin.

"I don't think it's good for you to be wearing such filthy attire to this ball… no matter how intoxicating the smell of the wine may be."

Jack responded with his lips taking over hers. "How intoxicating?" he eventually asked when they broke.

"Intoxicating enough."

Taking his wife's hand in his, Jack led them back into the darkening evening.

"Jack?" Katrina spoke up timidly.

"Aye, love?"

"I truly am sorry about this whole situation."

"I know you are, love. Couldn't blame ye for assumin' the worst. Just know that I'd never do such a thing… I love ye too much t' throw it away o'er somethin' stupid like another woman."

"You forgive me?"

"O' course, love, o' course."