Embracing Katrina

(Sequel to With Katrina… Three-quel to Including 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. Please be sure to read and review!

Author's Note: I know that this is not as long… but I hope it'll do… especially for clearing up a little about ol' Norry. Please let me know what you think of this added chapter… along with any suggestions or thoughts to make things better. THANK YOU to all my magnificent reviewers!!! Could not have written any of this without you!!!!

Chapter 45

The Night Before

"So you've come to join us, eh?" Jack approached Norrington as the pirate lords and their crew left the meeting room, "What brought the change o' heart? Elizabeth?"

"Only what Elizabeth said to me when I found her among the captives of Sao Feng's ship," Norrington said plainly, "about Beckett having murdered her father… I helped her and her men escape. At the last minute I joined them, leaving the Dutchman behind."

"Uh-huh," Jack said in thought not quite sure what to think of Norrington changing sides, "Well, welcome back, mate."

"Thank you… Sparrow," Norrington replied awkwardly.

"Jacky," Teague called out as he, followed by a talkative Katrina and Elizabeth, came up to the two men, "You be joinin' us for a late dinner?"

"Oh, I don't know, Dad, perhaps Katrina and I should-"

"Oh, come on Jack!" Katrina cut him off, having stopped talking with Elizabeth, "I'm absolutely starving! And it would be nice since it's been so long since we've seen your father."

Jack looked from his wife to his father who was standing before him with a know-it-all grin.

"If that's what you'd like to do, love, aye, we shall join me dad."

"James," Katrina turned to Norrington, "Elizabeth is coming with us so you should come, too."

"No, that's alright, Katrina," Norrington said shyly, "I'd hate to be in the way…"

"Nonsense!" Teague laughed as he gestured for the admiral to follow.

"Yes, James," Elizabeth added, "Do come and join us."

"Very well," Norrington gave in.

Jack forced half a smile as Teague began to lead the way out the meeting room and down a corridor.

"Couldn't resist, could ye, love?" Jack whispered to Katrina as they followed the others.

"Jack," Katrina whispered back, "he's a good man."

Jack sighed, "Fine. But he's not as good a man as me."

Katrina couldn't help but to laugh a little bit at Jack's jealousy as she held on tighter to his hand, "Yes, Jack. I know that you are a greater man."

Though Jack did not say anything more, Katrina did catch his downcast face lit up with a smug look.

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"My goodness, Elizabeth," Katrina said as the group finished their meals at a table in the comforts of what was more or less Teague's 'home' within the town of Shipwreck, "It's a miracle you survived that attack!"

"I know," Elizabeth breathed, having recounted all that happened while she was aboard the Empress.

"Well, I'm most thankful that I was aboard the Dutchman at the time," James acknowledged, "so that I could help you escape."

"Yes, yes," Jack spoke up, "You were a wonderful hero. Now, save that energy for when it really matters… for when you see dear William."

"Jack!" Katrina looked to her right at her husband.

"Speaking of Will," Elizabeth addressed Jack, "Where is he?"

Norrington smirked as Teague choked on his rum with a laugh.

"Originally," Jack began nonchalant, "in the brig of the Pearl."

"You locked him up in the brig?" Elizabeth cried out, "Why? How could you?"

Jack narrowed his eyes on Elizabeth, "You don't recall him betrayin' us all? How he didn't help me when Beckett's soldiers came onto me ship?"

Elizabeth lowered eyes a bit.

"And how after you left, it was because o' him that Katrina and our child nearly… how Katrina and our… how Katrina…" Jack stopped and swallowed down the bitter emotions of the memory of what had happened that day, "With all that he did, I sent him to the brig. Then, naturally being a blacksmith, he got out. He then began laying out a trail for Beckett t' follow us, and so… I naturally left him behind for Beckett to find."

"What do you mean you left Turner behind?" Norrington asked Jack

"I pushed him overboard."

Elizabeth timidly looked up at Jack in surprise.

Jack rolled his eyes at her, "It's alright, Lizzie. His trail consisted of dead bodies tied to a barrel. I pushed him overboard with one o' those things… and me compass. Told him t' think like me. He'll appear… I've no doubt o' it."

Norrington gave Jack a look that seemed to say, "That's true… he's good at appearing."

"But," Elizabeth began softly as her eyes darted between Jack and Katrina, "what happened to-"

"Nothin'," Jack answered coldly, "All that matters is that all is better now. Savvy?"

"Jacky," Teague turned to his son, "There's no reason t'-"

"To what?" Jack looked to his father, "To get upset? Of course there's no reason… none whatsoever."

Teague's opened mouth silently closed.

"Come, Katrina," Jack said to his wife as he stood up at the table, "I think it's time we returned to the Pearl."

Katrina, having recognized her husband being upset from the moment he tried to explain to Elizabeth why Will was in the brig, didn't say a word as she, too, rose from her seat. With a small smile of thanks to her father-in-law, Katrina took up Jack's hand as he escorted her out.

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"Jack?" Katrina asked quietly, small tears sliding down her cheeks, when they had entered their cabin, "Are you alright?"

For the long walk back to the Black Pearl, Jack hadn't spoken a word. Katrina's mind raced about with worry.

"Let's just get t' bed, love," Jack said with a choked voice, "Got a long day ahead o' us."

Katrina didn't know what to say to this, her tears now increasing.

"Promise me tomorrow," Jack began in a hushed voice as he walked away from the locked doors to his side of the bed, "that you will remain in our cabin… at all times."

Katrina swallowed a sob, "And what about you? Are you to be fighting all day long while I wait in hopes of your safe return?"

"Aye."

"That's not fair, Jack."

"I know, love," Jack finally looked across the room at Katrina, "but I am captain o' this ship."

"Is the battle to begin immediately at dawn?" Katrina asked as the tears continued down her face.

"Most likely not," Jack answered, "We'll probably meet up with Beckett first t' try t' negotiate. If that fails, then we'll fight."

Katrina's vision blurred with a new wave of tears upon hearing this. "Are you one of those that will go to negotiate?"

Jack merely nodded, finding it suddenly too hard to give a verbal reply to this question for he knew what she was thinking.

Katrina looked down at the floor as an overflow of tears poured from her eyes. She then backed away until she found the rocking chair, and took a seat in it.

"I… I can't do this, Jack," Katrina exhaled with a shaky voice as her head remained bowed down.

"And ye think that I can, love?" Jack replied in a strangled voice.

Katrina looked up at Jack, her vision still blurry. "I don't want to lose you again, Jack," she said gently, "What if Beckett takes you away? Or Jones? Or what if they kill…"

Unable to finish that thought out loud, Katrina broke down into the palms of her hands. Jack, not liking the depressing situation, ran quickly to the other side of the room and knelt down before her.

"Shh," Jack said with a soothing voice, "Nothin' is goin' t' happen t' me, love. Nothin'."

Katrina shook her head, still crying her heart out, "How do you know?"

"Ye just have t' trust me, love," Jack breathed, "Do ye trust me?"

Katrina looked up from her hands and gave a small nod as she looked at her husband.

Jack reached up a hand to one of her cheeks, and then with his thumb attempted to wipe away some of her tears.

"Now, while I'm negotiatin'," Jack tried to speak, "I want ye to stay in 'ere."

"But Jack-" Katrina sobbed.

"No, Katrina," Jack unintentionally snapped before swiftly calming down, "No, Katrina. I need you t' remain 'ere, love. I need ye t' be safe."

As Katrina was about to protest again, Jack moved his hand from her cheek to her lips.

"Darlin', please," Jack began before blinking away unwanted tears, "listen t' me and do as I ask o' you." Jack's hand then slid down to Katrina's swollen belly, "I need ye to stay in 'ere tomorrow so that you and our child may remain safe. I don't want anything t' happen t' either o' you… I won't let anything happen t' either o' you… I can't let anything happen t' either o' you."

Katrina nodded slowly for a moment before collapsing forward onto Jack. With her arms wrapped around his neck, Katrina cried heavily into his shoulder.

"Shh, love," Jack whispered as he carefully stood up and helped Katrina to stand as well, "Everything will work out… trust me, love."

Katrina looked up at Jack, "Please don't leave me in the morning without saying good-bye."

Jack forced himself to blink away more unwanted tears, "Of course, love." He then gave Katrina a loving kiss. "I would ne'er leave ye without sayin' good-bye."