DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything POTC related

NOTE: Well, as promised this chapter was out sooner than the last chapter. I am building up the good parts, hopefully (crossing fingers), there's action in the next chapter when they arrive in Kinsale. ENJOY! PLEASE REVIEW!

CHAPTER 14

An Unexpected Visitor

"I was thinking a slight elaborate ceremony, not too much and not too less," Katie said as she and James talked about their wedding plans on the main deck of the Dauntless.

"Are you sure we need everything so elaborate? We agreed to a medium sized wedding."

"I know, but, your mother is the daughter of the Governor of Port Royal. A good size of the town will be there, that is how it was when your parents were married, wasn't it?"

"Well, yes, but, I would prefer a smaller wedding just our families and friends."

"James, a wedding only comes once and I want it to be perfect, like a fairytale." James sighed.

"Very well. Whatever makes you happy, love." Katie smiled and hugged him.

"Thank you."

SCENE CHANGE

"I think they're still too young to be making this type of commitment," Will said. Hope was sitting on a barrel by the railing sharpening her sword.

"It's not entirely unheard of, Will. Children always seem too young to their parents at that age. They're halfway in between childhood and adulthood. I was only sixteen when Edward and I started courting." Will turned to Hope.

"I can't believe you don't share the same concern as I do."

"It's a common occurrence, Will."

"Are you sure we're both talking about the same thing?"

"We were talking about James and Katie courting weren't we?" Will looked at her in disbelief.

"Katie hasn't told you?"

"Told me what?"

"They're engaged."

"What?"

"They're going to be married in five months. That is why I was saying they're still too young for a commitment like marriage."

"They're getting married?" Will nodded.

"Katie! Would you come here for a second please," Hope said standing up and walking towards Katie and James.

"Hope! Wait! Don't be cross with them. I'm sure she was going to tell you but you lost your memory, it probably left her mind for the time being."

SCENE CHANGE

"Katie!" Hope yelled to her daughter.

"Coming, mother!"

"She doesn't look very happy," James said.

"I'm sure it's nothing. I've done nothing wrong, that I know of anyway." Katie met her mother halfway. "Is something wrong?"

"I wouldn't say wrong, but you can take it that way if you wish." Katie gave her a confused look. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"You know what I'm talking young lady. When were you going to tell me you were to be married?" Katie's eyes widened when she realized she had indeed not told her mother she was to be married.

"I was going to tell you when you came into Port Royal, but, then we heard about Nassau port and it left my mind. I wanted to tell you sooner but you had no memory." Hope sighed and dropped her head. "That is all right isn't it, mother. You do approve and give your blessing don't you?"

"Katie, I do approve of your match but I'm not the one who you need to ask for a blessing from. You know how your father feels about things like this."

"I know he would approve. He likes James, he told me himself."

"When?"

"The day I met Nathaniel for the first time. Father insisted I tell him all about James."

"Are you sure you want to do this. You're still a little too young."

"Mother, I'm turning seventeen in a few months, I am old enough to make my own decisions."

"I know you are. But, don't you think you both might be, I don't know, rushing into this? Why not wait a few more years."

"Because I want to be married now."

"But why? James isn't going anywhere. It wouldn't hurt to wait until you're eighteen."

"I don't want to wait until I'm eighteen. Other girls get married around my age and plus I love James, so much and I want to start a family."

"Katie, I don't think you quite understand how much responsibility it takes to raise a family, let alone, getting married. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get married, I'm just saying that it might be best for you to wait a few more years." Katie looked over at Will.

"You don't agree with her do you?" Will was silent as he contemplated his answer.

"Father? Please tell me you don't agree with her. You and mother were so excited when we told you," James said.

"I know we were. But, I think Hope might be right. Marriage is a big step and starting a family is an even bigger one. Look at yourselves. You're only sixteen and you can't even agree on what size wedding to have, how can you possibly get married now?" James put an arm around Katie.

"We love each other." Will and Hope looked at each other.

"Love isn't everything. Love is the dominant part of a relationship, but, it doesn't solve problems," Hope said

"I thought you'd be happy for us?" Katie said.

"I am, it's just I think you're rushing this."

"Well that's where you're wrong, mother. We're not rushing this. James and I are going to be married in five months whether you approve or not." With that they walked off.

"Well, that didn't go very well at all did it?" Hope said.

"No. It was actually worse than what I figured," Will said as Hope nodded.

SCENE CHANGE

Katie and James walked down to the living quarters deck. Katie was in an outrage. "I can't believe them. I thought they'd be happy for us. Why does it matter how old we are?" Katie asked. "Nothing I say or do makes my mother happy. We were so close when I was younger but now I've argued with her more in a few days than I have in sixteen years."

"Your mother is just as concerned as are my parents. It's true that we're not children, nor adults, but, I think they are just having problems with letting us go. Parents are like that. They want to hold on as long as possible."

"Who told you that?"

"My grandfather. He told me how he felt when my mother was older and how he didn't want to let her go. He eventually accepted that she had her own life and that she loved my father whether he had pirate blood in him or not.

"I understand that, but why can't they be happy for us. It doesn't matter how old we are. I've seen couples getting married at our age in the past," Katie said.

"So have I," James said as Katie sighed and sat down.

"Maybe we should elope."

"Katie. How can you say such things?"

"Why don't we? Our families don't approve."

"They do approve, just not of getting married at our age. They will accept and honor our wishes sooner or later."

"If they don't can we elope then?" Katie asked. James laughed.

"You're daft some times, girl," James said as he kissed her.

SCENE CHANGE

"Since they won't listen to us its best we just let them be. If they think they're old enough then let's see what happens. Let's see how they handle the situation, no interference, even if they ask."

"That's a good idea," Will said.

"I'm just glad Jack isn't here right now, he would not have been so…." Hope was interrupted when the bell rang. Marines ran about the decks loading guns and preparing the ship. Hope and Will ran up to the wheel where Norrington stood looking through his telescope.

"What's happening?" Hope asked Gillette.

"There was a ship spotted. It might be a pirate ship." Hope ran away and began to climb the footropes to the crow's nest.

"Hope! What are doing? Come down from there!" Gillette yelled up to her.

"No, Edward. I want to see if I can get a better look. I'm not causing any harm."

"Now is not the time for her to be stubborn."

"When isn't she?" Will asked. Gillette shrugged his shoulders realizing Will was right.

SCENE CHANGE

Up on the crow's nest, Hope looked to the horizon and saw the ship. It was heading towards them at a fairly high speed. When the ship was closer she saw red sails.

"The Dragon's Eye?" She looked down and saw Norrington give the order to load the cannons. She quickly grabbed a rope and swung back down to the wheel, startling Norrington.

"Hope, what on earth?"

"Let me see the telescope."

"What?"

"Let me see the bloody telescope I think I recognize the ship." Norrington handed the telescope to her and she peered through it. She looked to the hull and saw the dragon figurehead. She couldn't make out any faces as she examined the ship. They didn't appear to be loading any weapon of any kind.

"Why haven't they fired. They're within range," a lieutenant exclaimed. Hope lowered the telescope a bit.

"They're not engaging. No one is loading the cannons."

"On the main deck, yes, but what about on the lower decks."

"If they were a threat they would have fired by now," Will said. When the ship was closer, Hope looked through the telescope again and looked to the wheel. She saw a dark skinned female with a red bandana holding her hair back. Hope smiled wide.

"Call off the gun crews."

"What? Why?" Norrington asked.

"They're friends."

"How do you know?" Hope looked back through the telescope and saw the woman looking through her own telescope. Hope waved and saw the other woman wave back.

"Gibbs! Jacoby! It's Anamaria."

"That stubborn lass?" Gibbs said walking over and looking through the telescope.

"Who is this Anamaria?" Norrington asked.

"She was part of Jack crew's before and after he regained control over the Black Pearl. When I defeated Captain Draco I gave her his ship. Consider it payment for a little issue she had with Jack sixteen years ago." Hope laughed a little remembering how Jack and Anamaria always argued about the littlest thing. "It's an interesting story, actually."

"Do tell."

"Maybe some other time." They all watched as the Dragon's Eye drew closer to the Dauntless. Even though Hope said it was alright the marines were still a little hesitant and untrusting. To them, a pirate is a pirate. When the ships were side by side Hope called out.

"Permission to come aboard, Captain?"

"Get your high society dungbie over here!" Anamaria yelled back. Norrington and a few others looked at her.

"She never has fully accepted the fact that I'm of a high society family and yet I married a pirate."

"I think it's more that she can't believe ye once were one, lass. But, I naught be thinkin' that is what they be meanin'," Gibbs said.

"Oh, the dungbie thing. That is just a term Anamaria uses to mean the bum." The marines grabbed a foot ladder and connected both ships to it.

"No need for that, gentlemen!" Hope called out as Jacoby, Will, Gibbs, and Darien swung over to the Dragon's Eye. "We don't need ropes!" Hope said as she too swung over. She turned and yelled back. "Make sure Katie stays on this ship."

"Swinging on ropes, sword fighting, I'll never get used to it," Norrington said.

Katie and James walked up from below deck and saw the dragon's eye beside them. Katie smiled.

"It's Anamaria! I can't believe it," Katie said running over to the foot ladder. Gillette stopped her.

"Your mother said for you to stay on this ship."

"But, Captain."

"No. I will not disobey your mother." Katie sighed and sat down on some barrels.

"What does she have against me? She doesn't let me do anything. I'm sick of it. She treats me like a child!"

"You are still a child in her eyes."

"That's no excuse," Katie as she walked to the forward hull.

"Maybe one of us should talk to Hope. Katie is right, to an extent," Gillette said.

"You and I both know that it is best to leave them alone. This problem is between mother and daughter. They have to figure it out," Norrington said.

"I'm aware of that, sir. I just want to help."

"As do I, Captain. As do I." Several minutes passed as Hope, Gibbs, Will, Darien, Jacoby, and Anamaria talked. Katie still was standing down at the hull with James.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Katie asked.

"You're guess is as good as mine."

SCENE CHANGE

"You're sure you didn't see anything?" Hope asked

"Aye. We were sailing back from Morocco."

"Then, I guess we're on our own." Hope was silent for a moment before she looked at Anamaria. "What I'm about to ask is something that I wouldn't normally do. I would…."

"We'll go with you," Anamaria interrupted.

"You, you will?" Will asked.

"Aye. Sparrow may be a lyin', stealin', good for nothing cad sometimes but I won't be lettin' him suffer in the hands of the bloody curs."

"Thank you."

"Just be keepin' that Commodore under control."

"Don't worry about him. He actually wanted to come to lend aid."

"That be a little surprisin'."

"Aye," Hope said. "Let me talk with him first." Hope walked over to the foot ladder and crossed back over to the Dauntless and over to Norrington. "Well, she has agreed to follow us and give us help. Are you all right with this?"

"Do I have choice?"

"No." Norrington smiled a little.

"Just keep them under control." Hope smiled.

"That's exactly what Anamaria said about you," Hope said as she walked over to the railing and yelled out. "Everything is set. Weigh anchor!" Anamaria nodded and yelled to the crew.

"Weight anchor, make quick!" Anamaria said as Jacoby and Will crossed back over.

"I take it Gibbs and Darien are staying with Anamaria."

"Aye. Gibbs didn't like the company of marines and neither was Turner."

"Very well," Hope said as she walked over to the hull where Katie and James still stood. Katie glared at her. "Darling, please don't give me that look. What have I done this time?"

"I don't want to be treated like a ten year old anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't let me do anything."

"What things don't I let you do?"

"Well, for one back in Port Royal you made it sound like I couldn't go. Then, I'm not old enough to be married, and you wouldn't even let me say hello to Anamaria. She's my friend too." For once Hope didn't know what to say.

"You're right, Katie."

"Of course, I'm right!"

"You might not realize this, but I've been this way with you since you were five. Only, you didn't notice it until you were older and without your father and I watching you're every move. You're becoming independent. That's good, there's nothing wrong with that. But, maybe, my ways of parenting and opinions aren't what's bothering you."

"What are you talking about? What else could it be?"

"I don't know, Katie. That's for you to figure out on your own. As I said, you're old enough to think for yourself." With that, Hope walked off. Katie lowered her head and closed her eyes.

"You left me in Port Royal." Hope stopped and turned.

"Left you? You wanted to stay in Port Royal."

"I know! I know I wanted to stay in Port Royal but deep down I wanted you and father to say no."

"I don't understand, Katie."

"I was fine, for about year. But then when you would come and visit you only stayed for one night. Even if I hadn't seen you in two months you still left the next morning. I missed you and father so much." Hope walked over to her.

"That's why you've been so angry with me?"

"Well, yes. I guess at one point I thought you didn't care about me. Nathaniel was born and I felt like he replaced me," Katie said as she walked to the railing. Hope sighed and turned to James.

"James, would you excuse us for a few minutes." He nodded and walked away. Hope walked up to Katie and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Katie, look at me." She slowly turned. Hope reached out and took Katie's face in her hands. "No one could ever take your place in your father's and my heart. We thought about you everyday when we were apart. Your father actually said once that he was going to steal you during the night because he missed you so much, as did I. But, we thought you were happier in Port Royal. At one point I did question your behavior. You were always so excited when we visited I just figured that it was normal for a child when they see their parents after an extended period of time to react like you did. Now, I see it might have been more than that." Katie pulled away and walked to the other side of the hull.

"I was happy in Port Royal. I just missed the sea, so much. I never had as many worries at sea as I do on land."

"Why didn't you ever say anything to us?"

"I don't know. I wanted too, but, I guess…I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Father never gave up on anything. I didn't want him, or you for that matter, to look down at me." Hope walked over to her and stood next to her.

"Katie, you were only ten years old. You took a big step and we are proud of you for that. You should never be afraid to tell us anything and we would never look down upon you. We love you."

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about. I'm the one who should be sorry. I never realized how much you going through."

"I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. I've just been worried about father. He seems to have a past that seems to catch up with him wherever he goes."

"Unfortunately, he does. But, you want to know what he told me that day you asked to be left in Port Royal. When I was pleading to have his life spared he said that he wouldn't know what to do if he lost you. He always said you contributed in making him go soft." Katie smiled a little.

"I want him to walk me down the aisle."

"And he will. We will find him. I promise you that, for I won't rest until I find him either." Katie hugged her mother.

"I love you too," Katie said.

SCENE CHANGE

As night fell, Jack lay on a wooden bench in the cell he had been put in. The Scully brothers had taken him to Castle Scully. It was a fortress type castle that had been in the Scully clan since the late 1100s. It survived many attacks and sieges, but still has retained the descendents on the first Scully's. There was nothing he could really do, for he was weak from malnutrition. Surviving off of two hard tack biscuits a day and not a whole lot of water. Jack lay there staring the barred window of the dungeon at the moon. He slowly drifted off to sleep with only a dream to comfort him. In this dream, Hope appeared. She stood at the hull of a ship he didn't recognize, facing the helm. She was dressed in white and her short brown hair was long again. Her hair was being picked up by the gentle sea breezes as the full moon illuminated her figure. She looked over at him a smiled before the image faded and was replaced by a past image. They were in the captain's cabin. On the bed, Jack laid on top of Hope as she ran her fingers through his dreadlocks and fingered some of his beaded strands.

"We could find some beads and match." Hope laughed as they kissed. Once, twice, and then several more times each with a little more emotion. Following this image was another. They were both standing at the hull, once again, in each other's embrace with nothing but the sea in front of them.

"I never could have asked for a better place to be," Hope said.

"With me or on me ship?"

"Both," Hope said turning to face him.

"I have everything I ever wanted and it's all thanks to you for wanting to commandeer a ship of the Royal Navy to find your own ship."

"I'm flattered, love." Hope laughed.

"You should be," she said as she kissed him. "I love you."

"Aye. Me too."

"Embarrassed to say it back, aye?"

"Of course not. If you want I will yell it from the crow's nest and deliver it throughout the entire ship. I love you!" Jack yelled as he started yelling and pretending to walk away. Hope laughed and pulled him back, putting her arms around his neck.

"You like causing trouble, don't you?"

"You just now noticed?"

"No. I knew that from the day I met you, Jack Sparrow."

"Then it's settled. Did I say I love you?"

"I think the entire ocean heard you," Hope said smiling before they kissed.

Jack awoke as the dreams ended and looked back through the bars.

"Wherever you are Hope. You better get here soon. You and I both have a score to settle."

NOTE: Well? What do think? Like? Hate? Are the chapter transition going to slow, let me know. PLEASE REVIEW!

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