A/n: Well, as I promised, here is chapter 12. ^-~ Enjoy! And Happy Thanksgiving All!
Chapter 12: Welcome bac- You're Not Staying!
Kat turned to Jack with her eyes huge and her temper just about as big, "Jack!"
"Why so upset, luv?" Jack asked calmly looking around the quiet harbor. Kat grabbed his arm and dragged him toward one of the allies near the edge of the water.
"Just what are we doing here!?!" Kat growled at him, "I told you not to bring me back!"
"I couldn' help meself, luv," Jack gave a puppy dog pout and stared into her eyes, "Ye wanted to come back, and ye knew it. Besides, I 'ave friends of me own 'ere in Port Royal."
"Oh really?" Kat crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him with an unbelieving glance, "Name one."
"Come with me," Jack grabbed her hand and looked around the corner to walk on the next street. He shrugged his shoulders and started to stroll down the rough road.
"Huh," he grunted looking over his shoulder.
"What?"
"The security ain't as locked as it used to be," Jack started to whistle and sauntered toward the better-looking part of town.
"Well, in this neck of the woods, it wouldn't be," Kat looked at the street that they were turning on and pushed Jack back against the wall before he took a step on the next road, "But the next street over is a much different story."
Before Jack could say anything a few guards walked by the corner, with their rifles tucked over their shoulders. They talked and mumbled to each other about their new duties and where they would be watching tonight. Kat looked at Jack when they were out of sight and gave him one of her all knowing smiles.
"How did ye know?"
"I came to this port off and on since I was six. The watch doesn't really pay near enough attention to the rough and tumble part of town as much as they do to the rich part. That's the mistake I made, I went where they barely even look. Then I ended up in a huge mess."
"It wasn't tha' big of a mistake, was it, luv?" Jack said being a little offended.
"Well, I guess there are a few things that happened that I wouldn't trade for the world," she gave him a shy smile and turned back to the road, "Now, just where are we heading?"
"There," jack came right beside her and pointed to a huge cream colored mansion across the street from them, "We're 'eading over there."
"You can't be serious," Jack made a dash across the city street and made it to the bushes. They got over the fence and made it to the side of the house, "You know the people who live here?"
"O' course," Jack said glancing back at her, "I've known the Turners fer a few years now."
"The Turners!"
"Shush!" Jack quieted her down and looked out the side of their hiding place hopeful that the watch didn't hear her. He didn't see anything and looked in one of the windows. Kat soon joined him and they watched as a younger looking woman sat by the fire with a little bundle in her arms, rocking in a large rocking chair. Jack ducked back down into the shrubbery followed closely by Kat. He gave a small snort, "Now look at tha'. They 'ave a little one, and they don' even try and contact their 'ol friend Jack."
"Shame, shame," Kat said in a type of a mock tone and turned to Jack, "Maybe we should give them a little greeting, then?"
She saw a smile on Jack's face grow, "Now there's the Kat I love."
She lowered her eyes and tried to contain her glee, 'It was a joke. It's was a joke, he was just complimenting you. Calm, calm.'
"Aye, Kat, ye comin'?" Jack called from the stairs leading to the back of the house.
"Oh! Coming," she stood behind Jack making sure that there was no one watching them as he began to knock on one of the old windows.
The young woman's head popped up and looked over at the window. Jack smiled and waved at the young woman. Her face went to confusion and then to happiness with a huge smile on her face. Kat heard her voice call down the hall, more than likely to alert her husband of their visitor. She began to tug on Jack's long jacket in urgency.
"Jack . . . Jack is this such a good idea?" Kat asked.
"Wha' are ye talkin' about?" Jack scoffed, "As I said, the Turners know me."
Suddenly the window above them opened to show a young man about twenty-five years old. He looked down at them with kind, light brown eyes (A/N: I can't remember, does Will have brown eyes?) and dark blond hair tied back in a small pony tail. His stern face turned soft and happy as he saw Jack.
"I should have known it was you, Jack," the man shook Jack's hand and gave him a grin, "Come around to the side door and I'll let you in. Elizabeth thought it was you. The story of our adventure has detoured any other pirates from coming on to our doorstep."
"Is tha' so?" Jack walked around to the side of the mansion and walked through the door into the mansion with Kat connected at the hand.
Jack walked into the living room where the fireplace was as the man began to close the curtains. The young woman that was by the fire before came back into the room from the dinning area, still with the bundle in her arms.
"Jack, I thought as much," she hurried over with an arm open and hugged Jack, "I told Will that it was you at the window. What brings you to Port Royal?"
"Well, I wanted to check on ye two. Wha' 'as it been . . . five years?" he looked down at the bundle in Elizabeth's arms and saw a sleeping little girl, "And it looks as if I came jus' in time. Don' even tell your 'ol friend Jack when ye 'ave a little one."
"Well, we have been quite busy as well," Will said coming back over from the curtains.
"I can tell," Jack said stroking the baby's cheek.
Kat stood behind the three of them, trying to make sense of the scene in front of her. She had heard of the Turners. Mrs. Turner had married a young blacksmith, even though she was the governor's daughter. They had prospered from his blacksmith's trade. He was known to make some of the most beautiful swords in the Caribbean. She raked her brain trying her best to figure out how Jack was connected to the family.
Kat watched as Elizabeth handed the little baby into Jack's arms. He was a little surprised, but accepted the little one in his arms. Kat watched Jack as he cooed to the baby and made it laugh a bit. He was enjoying the company of the little one, and as far as Kat saw, he was a great role model of a father. Elizabeth adjusted his arms so that it would cushion the baby's head. Once making the last adjustments she looked up and saw Kat standing alone near the door.
Jack saw her looking at Kat and smiled, "Aye, where are me manners. Kat, come on over, luv."
Kat came over as she was told and stood by Jack. He held her by this free arms while still holding the baby with the other, "This 'ere is Kat. She is the newest member of me crew aboard the Pearl. And part of the reason tha' we came to Port Royal tonight."
"Jack . . ." Kat warned through clenched teeth.
"Oh really?" Will asked walking closer and extending his hand for a handshake, "Well, welcome to my home. Are you here to see some family?"
"You could say that," Kat said politely taking his hand.
"Wait . . . I know you," Elizabeth looked closer at her and wiped some of the dirt off Kat's face, "Oh my, you're Katerina Benikins."
Kat looked at Jack with a worried look and then back at the Turners. Elizabeth continued, "You have been missing for quite a while. I knew that you talked too proper to be another crazy crew member of Jack's."
"I take tha' as an insult, Liz," Jack said lifting his head from the baby in his arms.
"Did you take her, Jack?" Will asked, worry growing in his face.
"No!" Kat walked between Will and Jack, "I ran away from my father's carriage. I was knocked out and shipped by accident to Tortuga where Jack saved me from some very awful pirates. He is not at fault for my missing."
"Calm down, Miss," Will reassured her putting a hand on her shoulder, "We are probably the only people on this block who wouldn't dream of turning Jack in."
Kat let her face go into a relaxed smile and looked up at Jack. He gave her a smile and then jumped in surprise as the little baby in his arms began to yell and scream.
"Oh my," Elizabeth started to come over, "Not again, quiet now Emily."
"May I?" Kat asked stopped Elizabeth before she got over to her daughter. Elizabeth stopped, looked at her and then nodded her head. Kat took the little girl from Jack's arms and began to rock her.
" I have to warn you, she can be hard to get quiet again. At least I didn't have that hard of a time with Jessie," Elizabeth said to Kat.
"It's all right, I'm used to it," Kat sat down with Emily on the rocking chair and began to sing to the little one. She sang nearly every song she knew including Jack's favorite, "A pirate's life for me." After the first verse of the first song Emily had stopped crying and started to fall into a sleep in Kat's arms. Elizabeth watched in amazement as the little Emily fell asleep.
Kat smiled down at the little one and then up at Will and Elizabeth, "That's better."
"How did you learn to do that?" Elizabeth asked sitting next to her husband on one of the other larger chairs as Jack stood near Kat.
"I would like to know tha' too," Jack added.
"I helped to raise my cousin's little girl," Kat explained, "I would sing to her often when she was cranky."
"Ah, tha's righ'. Little Olivia," Jack said stroking his chin, "So who was Jessie?"
"Oh, that's our three year old little boy. He should still be asleep up stairs," Will said.
"So, ye've been busier than I though'," Jack said sitting on the arm of the rocking chair. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and turned her head toward Kat.
"Katerina, are you here to stay? Are you going to go home?"
"The Black Pearl is my home," Kat said softly looking down at Emily, then looked up at Elizabeth after a few moments of silence, "Jack took me here, although he didn't tell me what port until we got off the ship. I wanted to see my cousin and her family, but didn't want to rise to come back."
"What about your father?" Will asked.
"My father wouldn't care less if I went back home."
"Well, a hundred pounds would say different."
"A hundred pounds? Huh, I wouldn't think that he would even spend ten for me," she looked at them straight in the eyes, "You have to understand, my father is a very harsh man. I do not wish to go back; not now, not ever. Ever since I've been on the Black Pearl, it's been my home. Believe it or not, that crew is my family."
Jack looked down at her, pride swelling in his chest. Will noticed Jack's expression and got up from beside his wife.
"Jack, may I have a word in the dinning room?"
"Aye," Jack said getting up from the rocking chair, "Be righ' back, luv."
"Am I to understand you and Jack are something of an item, Katerina?"
"Oh, no," Kat blushed, "Jack is the captain, therefore I must go where he goes. It is the only way to pay him back for saving me all those times."
"All those times?" Elizabeth questioned. Kat smiled and began to tell her about the adventures that she has been on since she was rescued from the Tortuga Port.
////
"Jack, what do you think you are doing?" Will watched Jack look over his shoulder at Kat as they both walked into the dinning area.
"Now, wha' are ye goin' on 'bout?" Jack asked putting his hands on his hips.
"What are you doing with a girl that is supposed kidnapped?"
"I saved 'er, didn't ye hear?"
"Yes, you saved her, but the watch will not see it that way. I mean, bringing her back her was daring enough. What are still doing with her?"
Jack was stuck with the answer. He didn't know how to answer the question. Other than Anamaria, he had never had a lady on his ship for this long. His eyes darted back and forth trying to find an answer.
"You love her," Will said making Jack's head turn toward him.
"Wha'?"
"You love her, Jack. I can see it. I used to think and look the same way you did when I thought about Elizabeth," he paused letting the captain think it over, "You need to think what is best for her. And if you don't want to lose her or your life, I would get her out of here as soon as possible. Or give her back to her family."
"Even if I wanted her to stay 'ere, she wouldn'," Jack said pacing a bit, "She's stubborn as she can be. It was hard enough' to trick her into getting off the Pearl."
"What is best for her?"
"Whatever she wants," Jack said walking back over to Will, "I never realized it until now. This feelin' inside when I see her. Not until ye said those words. Ye say it is luv . . . and I think tha' ye may be righ'."
"And you realize what you must do?"
"I want to keep 'er safe, but she will never listen," Jack grabbed his arms, "She wants to be a pirate, Will . . . but, sooner or later she'll get hurt, and I don' want tha' fer her. Never."
"Jack it is a hard choice. Then you have to ask your self, 'How far will you go for her?'"
Jack turned to him, "I would die fer her."
"Then you should be with her," Will patted Jack's back, "It's as easy as that."
"But how?"
"That . . . I'll leave up to you," Will led Jack back into the living room where the two women were laughing, never a good sign.
"Well, we should be goin', luv," Jack said picking up the pace.
Kat nodded and handed Emily back over to Elizabeth. They gave each other a kiss on the cheek. Kat gave Will a hug and thanked them both for their hospitality. Will gave Jack a hard handshake to remind him about their talk. Jack nodded and they left after Jack gave Elizabeth a light kiss on her cheek.
"What was that talk all about, William?"
"He loves her," he turned to his wife.
"Really? Who would have thought that Jack above all people."
"He just has a lot to learn."
"He better learn it fast," she leaned to her husband and gave him a kiss on his cheek, "I'm going to put Emily to bed.
"All right, I'll be up in a moment," Elizabeth sauntered up the stairs as Will stood by the window, reflecting on the many new events.
As they exited the Turner mansion, Kat looked out for the watch that were still out. Kat looked over the port and saw a large ship on the sea and realized it was the Pearl.
"Jack! The Pearl!"
Jack turned his head and watched the ship start to sway from one way to the other, "There 'as to be trouble if they be sailing out," he paused for a moment, "They'll be back in a few days."
"How do you know?" Kat asked concerned.
"They way they be sailing off. It be a code to me tha' they be back in a few days. Now stop worryin' and show me the way to yer cousin's."
"Jack, this is a bad idea. If with me here with you, I don't know what my cousin will think. She may call the watch without a second thought."
"Then it's a risk, not a mistake," he rubbed the side of her arm.
Kat took a deep breath and started to look down each side of the street, grateful that Harriet actually resided in Port Royal, "This way."
***
Harriet stood wide-awake, sipping some tea from the fine porcelain cup in her right hand. Olivia was sent to bed hours ago and Robert could no longer stay awake with the day that he had. Harriet didn't care for any of the help to stay up with her and let them retire to bed. She was the only one up in the house. She couldn't stop worrying. Her best cousin was stuck out on the sea somewhere, possibly dead . . . and all her deadbeat uncle can do is sit in his home and read the new property listings.
She slammed the tea cup down on the soft material of the plush chair to the side of her, "Damn that man!"
She turned and took the cup into the kitchen, hoping that no one heard her outburst. Before she could begin to rinse the cup the front door began to knock loudly. Harriet brushed away her tears and walked to the front of her home, making sure that her dress was tied in the front all the way.
"Hello?" she opened the door slightly, not even daring to take a good look at the people standing behind the heavy piece of wood. Her eyes were starting to tear again and her blurring vision with the night's cover the people in front of her were looking like two dark blobs.
"Harriet?"
Harriet's blurred vision was quickly pushed aside as she frantically tried to dry the extra moister from around her eyes. IT couldn't be. That voice couldn't be one of her . . . of her . . .
"Harriet, it's me, Kat," Katerina stepped into the light of the hallway and swiped some of the hair away from her face.
"Katerina," Harriet let out an amazed sigh and took her cousin in a huge hug. She gripped at her cousin making sure it wasn't a midnight mind trick. She was really there, really at home, "Where have you been? We have been so worried. We thought that you were taken by . . . pirates . . ."
Harriet's voice started to fade as she looked behind Kat to see Jack standing behind her. She began to open hr mouth to scream, until Kat gripped her over the mouth to shut her up.
"Harriet! Stop, calm down," Harriet looked at her cousin as if she were mad. The clothes she was wearing were absolutely atrocious and she stunk to high heaven. The fend that was more than likely responsible was standing right in front of her, and Kat didn't want her to scream? She struggled with her cousin, amazed that her cousin had become very strong.
"Jack isn't going to hurt you nor me. He never would," Kat looked up at him and told him to close the door, "I'm letting go now, Harriet."
"What are you thinking bringing a pirate into my home, Kat?"
"Calm down, Harriet. I can explain."
"Then do. And quickly," Harriet crossed her arms in front of her and looked at both of them expectant of an explanation.
"Jack saved me," Kat said simply, "and decided to bring me back."
"Bring you back?"
"Aye, she wanted to see ye," Jack spoke up.
"I would shut your disgusting mouth if I were you, pirate!" Harriet snapped at him.
"Harriet!" Kat slapped her lightly on the face as a warning, "Do not talk to Jack that way!"
"Jack?" Harriet gripped her face, "You are in a first name basis with this ruffian?"
"Yes, is that a problem?" Kat crossed her arms across her chest and looked at the fuming and confused Harriet, "I think that we should sit down and talk."
"I think that that is a good idea," Harriet agreed as all three of them went into the living quarters and sat by the fire that Harriet already had going.
"Look Harriet all you need to know is that I am all right."
"All right?!? Look at you, Kat! You are atrocious! Your clothes are for nothing but work labor and you stink to you know where! How can you say you are all right?"
"Am I not healthy? And happy?" she smiled at her cousin.
"I don't know, are you happy?" Harriet hinted at Jack by moving her eyes in his direction.
Kat got the hint and turned to Jack, "Would you mind going into another room, Jack?"
"No problem, luv," he gave a short salute and walked into the next room.
"And don't steal anything!" Harriet added after he turned the corner.
"Harriet!" Kat scorned her cousin.
"Kat, what has happened to you?" Harriet cupped her cousin's face in her hands and looked her in the eyes. Kat took Harriet's hands down from her face and began to explain what had happened to her that day she went missing and why she was now in the company of Jack Sparrow.
"That still doesn't explain what happened to you," Harriet said reaching for some of the little cookies she had sitting on the small table in front of them.
"What are you talking about, Harriet? It explains what has happened to me the past few months."
"I'm talking about your view on his kind."
"His kind? Harriet, Jack has saved me more times than I can count. I owe him a great deal of debt, and much more. He brought me back to see you, although, I'm not so sure we should have come back."
"What are you thinking, Kat? Of course you should have come back. And now you can stay."
"Stay? Stay! I'm not willing to spend one more moment than I need to. I'm leaving with Jack as soon as the Pearl comes back to dock."
"What? You want to go back . . . with him?!" Harriet stood up surprised.
"I do," Kat looked down at her cupped hands.
"But what about your life here?"
"What about it? You know as well as I that I have no life here. My life is a great plan that my father has planned out for me until I am dead. I am to marry someone I don't even love, some one who hasn't even asked me," Kat got off the chair and began to walk or prance around the room, "Out on the ocean . . . I can be myself, I don't have to be some one else. Do you know what that feels like Harriet? I have the freedom to feel what ever I want."
"Feel whatever you want, is it? Does that mean you love him?" Harriet crossed her arms.
"Who?" Kat asked innocently stopping her dance in the room.
"Jack, of course," Harriet said walking over to her and dragged her over for both of them to sit down once again.
"I can't answer that," Kat said lowering her head.
"And why not?"
"Because Jack is standing right outside the doorway listening to our conversation," Kat looked at the doorway and saw Jack peek inside and wave his hand.
"Just wanted to say, tha' if we need to find a place to stay, we need to be off. We can ask Will."
"Just one more minute, Jack," Kat said sweetly. He nodded his head and went into the far room.
"So? HE is far enough away now. Do you?"
Kat couldn't raise her head to meet her cousin's eyes. Harriet let out a huff of air and took Kat's chin in her hand and looked at her in the eyes. Then . . . she knew.
"You do . . ."
Kat softly nodded, "I'm sorry if you think it wicked of me. But it is true, and I am not going to change what my heart has decided. I am no longer a part of the Benikins' family as far as I'm concerned," Kat stood up and looked down at her cousin, "I am going to leave. I'm not staying. And I wanted to see you and Robert and Olivia once more."
"I'm glad you did," Harriet stood up and hugged her cousin, "I should be the one saying that I'm sorry."
"Harriet?"
"I can see now . . . it doesn't matter what I see in him. It only matters what you tow may share. And what you two feel for one another. Let me tell you something. No matter what other people may think, including me, remember one thing: Nothing on this earth or beyond could stop or end true love. So if your love is true, than nothing can or will stand in your way. I just hope you know what you are doing."
"Don't worry, I am very confident."
"I never had a doubt about your confidence, I was talking about your sanity," Harriet giggled. Kat gave her an annoyed glance and they both began to walk to the other room where Jack was waiting for Kat.
As they stepped into the room both women jumped as they saw Jack held back by two guards holding both arms. Another solider had a rifle pointed at his throat.
"Jack!" Kat stepped forward, but held back by Harriet's grip.
"Kat, no!" Jack stopped her from coming closer. He looked at her from his restricted placement. Kat looked at Harriet thinking that maybe somehow she alerted the watch.
Harriet shook her head, "I didn't . . ."
"No, I did Miss," one of Harriet's help stepped up.
"Lina . . ." Harriet sighed, unable to bring herself to scold the young girl.
"Let him go!" Kat barked at the soldiers.
"Now, now," a voice from the other side of the room came out along with a body of a royal navy captain, "Katerina . . . I never thought I'd see you ever again. I'm glad that we can finally be together, once again."
"Timothy . . ."