Author's Note: Sorry about not releasing last week. I hadn't finished typing by Monday so I assumed I'd finish up Tuesday, but that plan failed. I had way too much homework and extra chores so I didn't get much of anything fun done. Here's chapter ten which I hope you'll enjoy. And if we're all lucky I'll get the next one out on schedule. (I feel so bad for saying that when it keeps not happening.) Please review!

The next day Kat awoke to the sun glaring in her eyes. She blinked the sleep away as something shifted on her left. James still lay with closed eyes beside her and she noticed his arm was wrapped around her waist. Almost as a second thought the teen realized her hand was firmly entangled in his shirt.

"I can feel his heartbeat," thought Kat in her partially awakened state. This fascinated her since her brain wasn't completely working yet. She scooted closer to Norrington and placed her other hand against his chest as well. James's hand slid a little farther down her back so it was resting against the base of her spine. She meanwhile had also pressed her nose into his shirt. He smelled like the sea, dirt, sweat, and something decidedly masculine that was so very unique.

"Well hello there," said Norrington as he opened his eyes. "I can't say I mind waking up to a pretty girl by my side." Kat blushed furiously at his comment and only buried her face further into the fabric.

"Come now. Don't be shy. You certainly weren't while you thought I was still asleep," he said with a satisfied smirk.

"Ooh err ahake?" asked Kat in embarrassment though her words were muffled by his shirt.

"Yes, I was awake and that's perfectly fine." He placed a hand on either side of her face and made her look up. "It's not a problem."

"I was half-asleep just so you know," she said in her defense.

"Alright. Fine. You keep thinking that's why."

"You are far too full of yourself, James."

"That only applies if I was wrong."

"Is he?" Kat asked herself mentally. Their relationship was on the borderline between friends and potential lovers. Most of the time they just teased each other and acted like close pals, but then he'd kiss her or make some comment like the one about her being pretty. She was so confused. What did she want? And what did James want? Kat sighed and forced herself back to reality. They did have work to do after all.

"What is it Kat?" James asked with concern. She'd been rather quiet for the last couple of minutes and he wondered if he'd done something wrong.

"Oh I'm fine," she replied adding a bright smile after a few seconds, but her eyes revealed the turmoil she was holding within.

"You sure?" he asked with a step towards her.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about the future." This was basically the truth. A couple coconuts landed near Norrington from Kat's throws. He cracked both open as they had before and they drank. Then, they snapped the drupes in half and ate the coconut jelly within. The young coconuts were great for water, but their meat wasn't completely mature yet so it's consistency was more jelly-like, hence the name.

After this meal Kat and James began to collect large branches and those odd vines. It took them a good while to procure enough of these materials and building the raft itself was no easy matter. Conversations started up sporadically, but none lasted too long. Both were just too preoccupied. Their wounds were a source of constant distraction. Norrington was also thinking about Beckett, his career, and what was up with Kat. She was wrestling with her feelings for James and his for her. Besides that her fate in Port Royal also bothered her.

"James, where are we going?" she asked although she actually already knew.

"Port Royal if our luck is good," he replied as he tied off a couple of vines.

"Never been there," she replied. "Any particular reason?" Kat was also tying some of the rope-like plants. Her knots had certainly improved since that day on the Pearl.

"Cutler Beckett, head of the East India Trading Company, is there. He's the one who issued those Letters of Marque so I have to head back there to be pardoned. It's also where I worked as a navy man until my run in with Jack. Hopefully I'll get a decent post and things will work out. I hope you don't mind coming along. It is rather important to me."

"It's no problem. I don't have any other pressing engagements anyway." Kat gave him a grin and dusted her hands off as she completed the last knot. "To the mud?' she asked.

"To the mud," James confirmed and they lifted the raft to carry it away. A convenient mud pool revealed itself and the pair settled their masterpiece nearby. Kat tore some of the grass up and mixed it with a handful of mud as they'd planned. Norrington did the same and soon both were filling the holes in the raft at top speed. After they'd completed this task they took a break for lunch which was, of course, coconuts again. Kat was getting a bit sick of them, but they were better than nothing.

"Yum," she muttered as she drank. "I don't think I'll ever be able to look at coconuts the same way after this."

"I know what you mean," said Norrington. He laid back in the grass and stared at the bright blue sky. Kat had no idea what he was thinking about, but he looked so peaceful like that. She just sat nearby watching him for what seemed like hours, but was probably more like minutes. Then, James sat up ate the rest of his coconut and threw the pieces away. "You alright?" he asked for the second time today. Kat had been zoning out a lot lately, but he thought she was okay. At least he hoped so.

"You can quit worrying about me," she replied with a smirk. "It's sweet and all, but I really am fine. Anyway there are more important things to think about."

"I think my traveling companion is rather important," replied James.

"As do I, but if that companion isn't going to get off the island without you worrying about other things I'd suggest you worry about other things. Perhaps we can think about food instead? Won't we need some when we're drifting aimlessly?" Kat had placed her hands on her hips sometime during her little tirade, but it didn't look very threatening since she was sitting with her hair and clothes all mussed up.

"I suppose we ought to," replied James though he had a sneaking suspicion that Kat did have something bothering her. He didn't want to force it out of her though.

"I'd assume we're bringing coconuts," said Kat as she tried to keep the conversation going. Norrington thought she was the one with the problem, but he was zoning out as well. "But we need something to keep them in."

"Yeah," replied James as his voice trailed off thoughtfully. He snapped his fingers and began pulling off his coat.

"What are you doing?" asked Kat utterly confused. When he started to pull off his shirt she blushed wildly and buried her face in her hands, but soon enough she just had to take a glance. "Oh my God," she thought as she stared blatantly at Norrington's chest and abs. He wasn't overly muscular, but he wasn't flabby either. The lean muscles covering his body were lightly defined just enough to be appealing, but not overly obnoxious.

"Like what you see?" said James with a smirk. He had definitely noticed where her eyes had gone. It was actually a bit odd. He never would've done something like this to a girl, but, as he'd thought before, Kat was different. It was almost like it was okay. Like around Kat he didn't have to adhere to social norms. Instead he could just be himself.

Meanwhile Kat had blushed even more which she'd thought was impossible. "Damn. Why does he have to be so hot?" she asked herself before answering him. "Yeah, but I have a feeling you already noticed."

"I did, but I wanted to hear you say it," he replied.

Kat rolled her eyes and muttered, "Men." She picked his coat up and pushed it at him so he'd have some form of covering. A half-naked Norrington was way too distracting. James complied with her wishes and pulled on the jacket. "Now why did you have to do that?" she asked. He'd been acting like he'd had a great idea before pulling off his shirt.

"We can put coconuts in this," replied James as he held up his shirt. "I assumed you wouldn't want to take yours off."

"Um, yeah. Good idea." Kat still felt a bit uncomfortable with the situation. She'd rarely been around shirtless guys except at the public pool and they hadn't been sexy fallen Englishmen who she shouldn't even be able to speak to. "And I just keep making this worse for myself," she thought as she climbed up one of the palms nearby. A few coconuts landed at the base of the tree before Kat moved on to another. They ended up collecting a decent amount, but they both realized that these wouldn't last them too long.

"There's got to be a ship out there right?" asked Kat. She knew one of Beckett's ships would pick them up, but she had no idea how long it'd take. Perhaps just having her there would cause them to die because James only had enough food and water for himself. Or the raft would break because of her extra weight. Kat stopped her thoughts right there since worrying would do her no good, but in the back of her mind a constant nagging voice reminded her of what just might happen.

"I certainly hope so," replied James. "There's always the chance that someone else was following Jack."

"That's true," said Kat as she picked up one end of the raft. "Well shall we head to the beach?"

"I think so." Norrington picked up his end and they trekked to the beach. When they'd reached the shore the Sun's was just beginning to set. They agreed to wait until tomorrow before setting out partially because it would be easier for someone to spot them and also because it would be better to sleep on land and get a good last meal in before they left. They ate once more and then made sure the raft was far enough away from the ocean that the tide wouldn't carry it off in the night.

"Well, goodnight James," Kat said with a yawn.

"Mhmm," he replied with just a sleepy nod. They were both exhausted after a day of work so they laid on the still warm sand. Then, side-by-side, they dropped off into the dream world.