The Pearl stayed in Port Royale for four more days, just enough time for Will to finish the order for Julianne. On the morning of the third day, while they were walking in to town from the ship, Jack turned to Julianne and asked.

"Well, what's on the agenda for a today?"

"Actually, there's someone I'd like to go see, so if you want to spend some time just with Will today, that would be ok", she replied, knowing that he had been wanting a chance to talk with Will about some things.

"And who do you have to see?"

"That, my dear, is none of your business" she answered tapping him underneath the chin.

"I beg to differ", he said, stopping dramatically and putting his hands on his hips.

"What do you mean 'you beg to differ', not every single thing I do concerns you."

"Fine then, and not everything single thing I do concerns you", he growled back irritated.

Julianne shot him a look. "I'm not the one prying here though am I? Besides, I am perfectly aware that there are quite a few things in life you deem as not concerning me, so I don't see why you have a problem with it now", she finished smartly.

"What's that supposed to mean? Like what?"

"Like what? Like just about everything, that's what. Jack Sparrow, you could possibly be one of the biggest bull-shitters I've ever known. You waltz around, throwing yerself anything that moves, then come running back to me giving me all yer crap about 'oh but Juli, only you 'ave me 'eart'. What a crock of fuckin' shit that is."

From where he stood a few feet behind her, Jack stared at Julianne, eyes wide and infuriated. "As if yer some kinda fuckin' saint or something", he seethed.

"Oh please. Do you even want to go down that road? I could fill an entire novel with the shit you've done when I wasn't around, I wouldn't even fill up a fuckin' chapter. No, you know what the problem is? I let you get away with it. Every time, every time you give me that same damned speech, with that ridiculous grin and sweet talk garbage, and I fall for it, every fuckin' time. It's not supposed to be like this you know, this is not how two people are supposed to go on."

"And how is it supposed to be, huh Jules? You got the rule book for relationships between pirate captains hidden away somewhere that you can whip it out tell me. Cause I sure would love to know. Oh wait, that's right, THERE IS NO FUCKIN BOOK. AND D'YE KNOW WHY, CAUSE PIRATES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND YOU KNOW WHY ELSE, CAUSE THERE ARE NO DAMN WOMEN PIRATES TO BE HAVING THEM WITH EXCEPT FOR YOU ANYWAY!"

After a minute, "well, lucky for you, you don't need to be worrying about that problem anymore" she yelled back, and turned on her heel and walked away leaving Jack standing alone.

Julianne was pissed. *For 15 years I put up with that bastard, and this is what I get! I should have just left him before any of this even started, like I was going to. BUT NO! Well fuck him, its not like e's got the only cock in the Caribbean. E's more hassle than e's even worth anyway!*

Fuming, she made her way to the Turner's, taking a minute to regain her composure on the front step before she went, she took a few deep breaths then knocked on the door. After a short wait, Julianne heard the door unlock, and Elizabeth opened it.

"Morning", she greeted Elizabeth, sounding as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"You're late today", the younger woman replied, stepping aside to let her in the house. "Where's Jack?"

"I don't know. He was playing around with something on the ship, I'm sure he'll be along any minute now."

"Oh, you didn't come together", Elizabeth asked skeptically.

"No, he said not to wait and that he'd be up when 'e was finished."

Elizabeth nodded, deciding not to push the matter, "so what are your plans for the day?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you a favor."

"What's that?"

"There's someone I'd like to visit today, however I hardly think my normal attire would be appropriate. I was wondering if you had an extra dress I could borrow, and if I could use your bathroom to get myself half presentable looking."

"Of course, I don't mind at all. I've got a ridiculous number of dresses that I hardly ever wear anymore. In fact, it's really quite lucky that we're about the same exact size. Come on up, you can pick something out."

"Thank you", Julianne responded, following Elizabeth up the stairs.

"Well here you are", Elizabeth announced, throwing open the doors to her wardrobe. "Take your pick, you can have any one you'd like."

Juli looked at her amazed then browsed through the bounty of dresses hanging in front of her. Settling on a light blue and white one, she pulled it out and examined it more thoroughly.

"Good choice" Elizabeth approved, "it will go well with your hair." Julianne looked at her again, this time amused.

"Can't say that I really thought that far into it, just liked the colors", she laughed.

"Well then take my word for it, you'll look perfect in it."

Julianne rolled her eyes and laughed again.

Elizabeth continued, "the bathroom is right over here. Give me a call when you're dressed if you want me to put your hair up for you."

Julianne considered this for a moment. "Ok, thanks", she replied and headed into the bathroom shutting the door behind her. Reexamining the dress that was now hanging on the back of the bathroom door Julianne began to wonder why she had decided to do this in the first place. Begrudgingly, she stripped down and stepped into the bath that Elizabeth had drawn before she went downstairs. As much as she wanted to enjoy the luxury of it all, Julianne wasted no time in scrubbing herself head to toe and washing her unruly mass of tangled hair. Carefully, she took out the few blue beads that hung on the end of some small braids, then un-plaited them so all of her hair hung loose. Getting out and drying off, she then took the dress down and began her attempt to get into it. *Bloody hell! she thought to herself, 17 years as a pirate and this could possibly be one of the 'ardest things I've done yet!* Yanking the thing in ever direction, Julianne struggled to get the dress positioned and looking the way it was supposed to. After carrying on in this fashion for another 15 minutes, she finally gave in and decided to call someone with a little experience.

"Elizabeth", she yelled, opening the bathroom door just a crack.

"Yes, I'm coming", she heard a voice call back from downstairs, followed by the sound of footsteps hurrying up the stairs.

"It would seem that I am a little less equipped for this situation than I thought", Julianne said sheepishly.

Elizabeth smiled knowingly, and stepped inside the bathroom. "I figured you might need some help, this isn't exactly the most accommodating dress." Carefully untangling the drawstring, Elizabeth restrung the dress up the back and tied it rightly, practically cutting off the captain's breathing.

"My god, 'ow do you wear these things?" she asked gasping.

"I don't", Elizabeth retorted with a look. "Now sit", she ordered and Julianne obeyed. Then came the worst part of the process yet. Pulling out a hair brush and some other metal tool that Julianne did not recognize, she put whatever it was in the fire that heated the bath.

"What the hell is that for?" Juli asked slightly disgusted.

"To give you curls", Elizabeth replied, "now be still."

Again Julianne obeyed, and Elizabeth set to work on brushing her hair. Now for being a pirate, Julianne was still conscious of her appearance, and did make an effort to keep her hair in some order, but that didn't stop Elizabeth from finding at least a dozen or more tangles to tackle.

"OW!", Julianne screamed as the brush caught in her hair.

"Sorry, but you better get used to it, it won't be the last one."

"I've been shot and stabbed, and that didn't even hurt as bad as what you just did", Julianne exclaimed at her.

"Oh quit your complaining, it isn't that bad."

"That's easy for you to say."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and sighed. In an attempt to reduce the pain, she held Juli's hair by the top of her head, but still continued to tug as hard as she could. After a few more whelps and whines, Julianne seemed to grow tolerable to the pain in her head and quieted down a bit. She sat in silence, occasionally wiping the tears that were involuntarily forming in the corner of her eyes from the pulling, and allowed Elizabeth to continue her work in relative peace. 15 minutes later, to Julianne's great relief, Elizabeth set down the brush and grabbed a towel. Throwing the towel over Julianne's head, she gave her hair a quick drying and then folded it up and used it to pick up the iron in the fire.

"Now what are you doing?" Juli asked her.

"Now, I am actually going to do something with your hair."

"It's brushed, that's doing something isn't it?"

"Hardly."

Slightly miffed, but still grateful for Elizabeth's help, Julianne again grew silent, but cringed a little as the younger woman took a section of her hair and wound it around the steaming cylinder. She stared in amazement though when the hair unraveled from it and formed into a perfect spiral.

"Hey that's pretty clever."

"I know, and it will look good to if you stop flinching and let me finish."

Taking another section, Elizabeth continued her curling. About half way around Julianne's head, both women heard the stamping of someone running up the stairs, followed by a knock on the door.

"Yes", Elizabeth answered, "you can open the door."

"Sorry", Will said poking his head in the bathroom. "but you wouldn't happen to know where Jack is would you Juli?"

"Hmm?" she mumbled, and again Elizabeth noted the drastic change in her tone.

"He said yesterday that the two of you would be up by 11:00, and it's almost 12:00 and there's still no sign of him."

"Oh who knows where 'e is, prolly stopped off to get himself a drink on the way and drank himself stupid or something", Julianne spat bitterly.

"I see", Will began, slightly unsure of what to say. "Well I'll take that as a no then. Thanks."

Elizabeth waited a minute after Will was gone before continuing with what she was doing. "Juli?"

"Hmm?" the pirate answered, much more pleasant than earlier.

"Is something wrong?"

"With what luv?"

"It's just that I've noticed that every time anyone mentions Jack today, well, you get a little edgy."

"Edgy?"

"Yes."

A look of annoyance flashed across Juli's face, but she chose her words wisely, not wanting to take her anger at Jack out on Elizabeth. Sighing, she raised her eyebrows and said, "If you 'ad to put up with 'im for the last 15 years, you'd be a little edgy too."

Unmoving, Elizabeth just looked at Julianne questioning.

"Look luv, Jack isn't exactly the easiest person to live with sometimes, alright."

Elizabeth nodded and went back to work. She wasn't entirely sure what Julianne meant about Jack not being easy to "live with", but opted against inquiring further. After a few minutes, she was finished curling and began pinning sections of Juli's hair up so that it hung down fashionably.

"So", she began again more cheerfully, "who are you going to see anyway, if you don't mind my asking."

Julianne smiled, grateful for the change of subject to break up the uncomfortable silence left by the previous conversation.

"A relative", she answered elusively.

"Anyone I know."

"Actually, it's someone you know quite well."

"Really? Alright, how do I know him."

"Well, let's see, if I recall correctly from what I've been told, I think at one point you were set to marry him."

Elizabeth gasped, dropping the hairbrush she was holding. "You're related to Commodore Norrington!" she exclaimed in shock.

"That I am, we're cousins."

"I can't believe that. The most anti-pirate man I know, and here he is cousins with a captain. Boy that must really bug him."

"I should say so. Anyway, we didn't exactly hit it off on such good terms when I arrived, so I thought maybe I'd go see him and try and make it up to him. He's pretty much all I've got left, so I guess it's worth it."

Unsure of what to say again, Elizabeth simply nodded. After a few more pins, she looked at Julianne in the mirror. "All finished", she announced proudly.

"Wow, I'm impressed, I hardly even recognize myself."

"You clean up surprisingly well."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Julianne asked defensively.

"Nothing, I was just teasing", Elizabeth laughed.

Examining herself for a minute or two longer, Julianne gathered up her clothes intending to leave the bathroom.

"Oh, you can just go ahead and put all that stuff in one of the guest bedrooms", Elizabeth instructed her, pointing to one of the bedrooms. Walking into the room, Julianne threw the pile onto the bed and began rummaging through her things. Finding her boots, she pulled out a knife and lifted up one of her legs.

"Shit! I forgot about shoes."

"Already taken care of", Elizabeth said behind her holding up a pair of blue shoes.

"You really are on top of things round 'ere aren't you?"

"I try."

"Hmm, guess I won't be sticking this in these", Juli said taking the shoes.

"Whatever would you need a knife for anyway?"

"Never know, it's always good to be prepared."

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth left the room momentarily and returned with something in her hand. "Here", she said throwing it at the other woman. Catching it, Julianne looked at the contents of her hand then looked at Elizabeth. "And why do you 'ave one o' these", she asked dangling the garter from her fingers.

"You know, always good to be prepared."

Julianne laughed, slid the garter up her leg, and placed her knife between it and her leg. "Perfect", she said approvingly.

***

"Well good luck", Elizabeth yelled from the front steps of the house as Julianne headed in the direction of the fort and waved back at her. Coincidentally, Jack, who had been spent his morning in the town pub (just as Juli had guessed earlier), happened to be walking to the Turner's himself while Julianne was leaving. Unaware that it was her, he straightened himself up and began to swagger his way over to her. Half way en route, he remember Juli's harsh words to him earlier about his total lack of commitment, and thought better of it. For her part, Julianne watched the captain as he went through the whole process, and smiled to herself as the change of decision came over his face and he went on his way. *Good, 'bout time you started appreciatin' what you've got, she thought to herself. *Continuing on her way, it was no time at all until she found herself standing outside the entrance to the fort.

"State your business", a guard said stopping her at the entrance.

"I'd like to see the Commodore please", she answered him in her most sickeningly sweet voice, in attempts to cover up her terrible accent.

"The Commodore is quite busy, I'm sorry, but you'll have to come back another time."

Taking into consideration her current appearance, Julianne leaned on the guard, putting her hand to his cheek. "Look luv", she said, pouring it on, "I'm really on quite a tight schedule here, and while I'm sure the Commodore has very important matters at hand to deal with, it really is imperative that I see him."

The guard did answer right away, but instead found himself hard pressed to decline her request. Eventually though, "I'm really very sorry Miss, but the Commodore has specifically asked not to be disturbed, you won't be able to see him."

Smiling sweetly, but really very irritated at the whole situation and everything she had gone through to get there, Julianne ran her left hand down the guard's leg to her own, and carefully removed her knife from where it was held. In a flash, she grabbed him around the neck and held the guard at knife point.

"Now listen 'ere", she began harshly, disregarding all attempts at proper English. "I am a very busy woman, and I 'aven't the time to be coming back at anyone's convenience. Therefore, you, my good man, are going to march yourself to the Commodore and announce me. Savvy?"

Nodding vigorously the guard stammered his reply, "s..s..savyy."

"Good, then let's get on with it", she added, taking his gun before lowering her knife.

The guard did as he was told, turned slowly and made his way into the fort. Setting the gun against the building out of sight, Julianne kept her knife pressed closely into the guard's back. He led her through the fort, making sure to keep to an unoccupied route, until they stood outside Norrington's office.

"Go on", Julianne ordered.

"Umm, who shall I say is visiting?" he asked looking over his shoulder.

"Miss J will be fine."

"Alright", he answered with a nod, the turned, knocked and listened for a response.

"Yes?" came an irritated answer.

"Excuse me sir", the guard began after opening the door and stepping inside.

"I thought I said I didn't want any disturbance soldier", the Commodore cut him off, rising behind his desk.

"Yes, well about that sir, there's a Miss J here to see you."

Norrington did not register at first, then suddenly a flash of understanding appeared on his face. "Very well, see her in", he ordered.

"Gladly sir", the officer replied with great relief.

Opening the door all the way, Julianne stepped inside the room, knife in hand. The guard promptly left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Sorry 'bout that", she began with a slight grin, waving the knife. "I tried to follow the rules an all, but he was really quite difficult."

Norrington still had not spoken, but stared at Julianne both irritated and pleasantly surprised to say the least.

"And how on earth did you manage to pull that outfit off?" he asked with a smile, setting a casual and friendly tone to the visit, much to Julianne's relief. "Or do I even want to know?" he continued with raised eyebrows.

"I didn't steal it, if that's what you mean. I'm borrowing it, from a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yes a friend. Well, more a friend of a friend, but same difference."

"I see", Norrington replied, still staring. "God, I just can't believe that's you under all that. I mean, I haven't seen you in a dress since, well, in a very long time."

"You 'aven't seen me at all in a very long time", she corrected him, moving into the room from the doorway and taking a seat at the desk.

Norrington also took a seat, and an awkward silence fell over the two of them, neither one knowing exactly what to say to the other. Julianne was the first to speak up. "Look, John, the reason I'm 'ere, is that I wanted to apologize for being such a bastard down on the dock the other day. I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of all your men like that, I just didn't expect you to be quite so aggressive about the whole thing."

"Aggressive?" he questioned, sounding slightly appalled at being addressed as such. "Well what do you expect, I mean my god, you don't exactly have the best reputation going for you Jules. And if being known as one of the most ruthless, murderous pirates out there isn't enough, then you go running around with Sparrow who's just as bad if not worse."

"First of all, I thought you of all people were level headed enough not to believe everything you hear. O' course I have a bad reputation, I'm a pirate, its kinda part of the gig. Can't exactly intimidate people if they think you're just going to pull up along side o' them and 'ave afternoon tea, and its worse for me naturally. That's not to say I 'aven't dealt out my share of death and destruction, but I doubt its much more than you've done yourself, just not in the name of the king. And second of all, I'm not 'running around' with anyone as you put it. It's strictly business with Jack and I."

At this Norrington smiled slyly, "And you really expect me to believe that?"

"Believe what?"

"The bit about you and Jack. I might be able to buy the part about your reputation, but you and Sparrow being strictly business, cut me a break."

To this Julianne could only smile coyly.

"Honestly, I almost give you credit for the whole thing. I mean commitment isn't exactly comparable to the lifestyle is it?"

"Ahh", she cut him off holding up a hand. "We are about to enter dangerously uncharted waters. It's a topic best left alone at the present moment."

"And why is that? All is not well in paradise?"

"I mean it John. Drop it! I'm not about to sit 'ere and justify my lifestyle choices to someone who is so stoically against it there's no hope in ever coming to a compromise on the matter. Especially when it concerns certain aspects that are completely inappropriate for discussion anyway."

"Completely inappropriate? Bet you don't have any problem talking about it around your colleagues. Not so proud of our sexual prowess in the company of members of proper society now are we?"

"Is that what you think? That I'm ashamed? Well let me assure you that that is hardly the case."

"Then what is it?"

"The only reason I object to the discussion is for your own comfort and peace of mind. Do you really want to hear about all the less than ladylike things your dear cousin has engaged herself in?"

The Commodore considered this for a minute before answering, "No, I guess not."

"That's what I thought." Another silence. "So, Commodore eh? That's impressive."

"It's work."

"Oh come on, don't gimme that crap, you love it. The power, the recognition, the women." At the mention of her last comment, Julianne noticed a sad change come over her cousin's face. "What?" she asked, genuinely concerned.

"Hmm?" Norrington answered, as though he had been thinking about something. "Oh nothing, nevermind, you were saying."

Julianne looked at him skeptically. "You lie."

"Well then, let's just considered it dangerously uncharted waters."

"Uh uh, there's a difference."

"And what would that be?" he asked defiantly.

"Come on John. You used to be able to tell me anything. I don't want to see you hurting. What about this job could be so terrible."

"Oh Jules, it's not the job. I love the job, and you're right, I love everything that comes with it. It's just that not everything I thought would come with it really did."

"Elizabeth?"

He didn't answer right away, but after avoiding her gaze for a second or two he nodded.

"She's not the only woman out there you know."

"I know that, it's just.oh forget it, you wouldn't understand."

"'ow do you know that? You think I don't understand love? I'm still human after all. I prolly understand better than you think." At this, John's head shot up and as silence once again settled over the room, the two of them stared at each other both trying to read the other's expression.

"So", Norrington finally broke the uncomfortable tension. "How's life on the sea been lately?"

For the rest of the afternoon, the two cousins settled back into the comfort they had once shared, and talked casually about life to date, avoiding any subjects of discomfort. The time passed quickly, as it usually does when one is enjoying themself, and before either of them knew it, it was already 5:30 in the evening.

"Holy shit!" Julianne exclaimed taking notice of the clock hanging on the wall. "Oh sorry", she apologized for the uncivilized outburst, "I just didn't realize it 'ad gotten so late."

"So it is", Norrington agreed looking at the clock himself.

"Well luv, I've 'ad a wonderful time this afternoon, but I've really got to be going", she continued getting up from her seat.

The look of disappointment was apparent on the Commodore's face, but he too rose and walked around the desk to where Julianne stood.

"It has been a lovely visit", he replied.

Awkwardness crept in again as the two stood facing each other.

"Well, not to worry, only a few more days and I'll be out of your hair again and order will be restored to Port Royale", Julianne said with a grin.

"About that. I guess it wouldn't be too terribly bad if you stopped in now and again."

"You aren't going to try and hang me?"

"No", he laughed, "as long as you change your flags like you did this time and promise not to cause any trouble, I think it will be alright."

"Thank you", she said, then stepping forward and giving him a hug, "Bye Johnny."

"Goodbye Jules."

"I'll see you again sometime."

"Well don't wait another 7 years to come home."

"I won't", and with that, she turned and left the office, leaving Commodore Norrington standing there amazed.