Author's Note: Many thanks for the reviews! I have to admit that this chapter, for some reason, just doesn't feel right to me. I think that chapter 5 will be better. I don't know what's wrong with my writing at the moment. Thanks again!

Chapter 4

Collins was invited to go to his sisters' home for dinner that night. He remembered his sister the day that she married Thomas Edwards. Lillian was the eldest daughter in the Collins family; the look on her face on her wedding day was that of happiness mixed with sadness. She knew that this day would be her last in England and that she was to go live in Port Royal with Thomas. She loved him dearly, but knew instinctively that she would terribly miss her family especially her younger brother Timothy…Timothy Collins.

That was the first time Collins had ever met James Norrington. He was supposed to be Thomas Edwards' brother, it was later that Collins realized that they were indeed brothers; they were half-brothers. They had different last names because Edwards' father died when he was younger and his widow remarried David Norrington.

As Collins came closer to the Edwards home, he realized exactly how much her had truly missed his sister Lillian. He could hear her laughter ring out from the house and he smiled. 'Has it really been that long?' He thought walking ever closer. Finally he arrived at the doorstep and knocked.

"Coming." A soft-spoken voice said full of excitement. A moment later the door opened to reveal the figure of a woman with golden blonde hair and brown eyes.

"Lillian?"

"Timothy?" She smiled her eyes sparkling.

"Has it really been this long since we've last seen each other?" Lillian hugged her younger brother.

"Yes it has, but you are here now. I want you to tell me everything. James should be here soon. How is Mother? Father? I have not heard from them? Is everything well?" She looked at him with eyes full of concern.

"They are fine, you know it takes a while for letters to arrive. I am sure that they shall arrive any day now. If they have not arrived already." Collins looked around, she has done well for herself. Thomas entered the room holding a small child. He nodded to Collins.

"Timothy I would like for you to meet your nephew, Jacob Edwards." Lillian took the baby from Thomas and placed him in Collins' arms.

"He is most precious. Let us hope that he does not turn out to be like his father." Collins joked.

"Ah yes, but he shall not take part of the Royal Navy either. It takes a young life and makes a man old before his time. He shall follow in his father's footsteps, just like I did with my father. He shall one day take over the mill." Thomas said with a gleam in his eyes.

"A good business it is Mr. Thomas Edwards, and a fine business you have made it into as well." Collins stated handing the child back to Lillian who took him back to his nanny.

Another knock sounded at the door and Thomas went to answer it.

"James, how are you?" Thomas asked letting James enter into the home.

"I am well brother, how are you and Lillian doing?" James asked.

"Lillian is right here and she is doing very well, now that her brother is here." She stated standing at the doorway smiling.

"Pardon me Lillian, I didn't realize I was speaking so loudly."

"James you are what you are when you are with family. Loud and annoying, but I would not have you change for anything." She hugged her brother-in-law warmly.

"I see that the family is here now. Let us say prayers and eat." Lillian went into the dining room, and the others followed.

~*~

Jack had come out of hiding holding, yet another, bottle of rum that he did not need. Will took in a sigh of relief that the day was nearly done. The two of them sat talking of everything and of nothing at all.

"I take it that you bonnie lass is coming by to collect you soon?" Jack mocked with playfulness.

"Yes Jack and she is bringing Catherine along with her. Are you quite sure that you can behave as a gentleman or just a scalawag pirate?" Will smirked Jack looked up at him and a mock look of contemplation in his eyes.

"I shall behave, if on one condition William Turner." Jack set the bottle of rum on the table next to Will.

"And what would that be Jack?" Jack came closer still to Will and looked him right in the eyes.

"That you join me on my next undertaking. Somewhere more exotic, a place where it will be worth your time." Jack smiled knowing that the whole idea of treasure would surely peak some sort of intrigue in Will.

"If you mean Tortuga, you are sadly mistaken, for I have been there and I am much too dedicated to Elizabeth to think of leaving her for one of your many strumpets." Will looked at Jack, he never budged an inch.

"You are daft beyond words Will. Take Elizabeth with you, escape this place hell-bent on having rules for the masses. Be free, make life an adventure you live only once. Become the son of your father, Bootstrap Bill." Jack studied Will's face. Will knew that Elizabeth would never go for this idea. He did feel trapped in a world where he was only known for his craftsmanship, belittled by Norrington at any time he deemed worthy, and he knew that his own father would have wanted him to live on and not become trapped in a society where life was not his own.

Jack looked at him again, backing away. Picking up the bottle, forgotten only for a moment, he paused. "Will, wait for the opportune moment to tell Elizabeth. You never know what your lass may say. Remember that." He took a long drink from the bottle before sitting in the stool across from Will.

~*~

Elizabeth and Catherine walked through the town and sometimes as they walked by someone would bow or curtsey to them. Catherine thought that it was a pointless gesture in society and people only did it because it was proper in front of people of wealth or importance. Elizabeth seemed to pay no notice to it and continued on as Catherine would simply nod at least acknowledging their presence as they walked by. Elizabeth stopped suddenly looking out into the bay. Catherine, who was paying too much attention to the items in the window, kept walking on and ran right into Elizabeth.

"What? Why did you stop?" Catherine looked at Elizabeth curious. She looked at her gaze and followed it to a point where the ships were docked. Catherine didn't know what she was looking for and looked back to her cousin, patiently waiting for an answer.

Elizabeth saw the ships' mast and knew quite well who was back in town. When he was in town it really only meant one of two things really, and they were one, an adventure or two, rum and a pretty face. She quickly turned to face Catherine.

"What in bloody hell is the matter with you?" Catherine asked startled by the sudden change in behavior.

"First off you know you should not be using profanities in public, you are supposed to be a lady Catherine. Secondly do you think you can handle seeing a pirate?" Elizabeth sternly said.

"A PIRATE?" Catherine said rather loudly, but was hushed by Elizabeth's hand over her mouth. A man walking by looked at them in confusion. Elizabeth nodded her head a smiled at the man who, perplexed as he was, continued to walk on by.

"Do speak softer for I am sure that Jack Sparrow does not need the entire Royal Navy after his hide right yet. He is, for the most part, quite harmless. He has a lack of mannerisms, obnoxious, and completely and most importantly without social standing. Our Father's would be horrified if they knew we were about to engage with a pirate of Sparrow's standing. I need to know now, if you are up for it." Elizabeth's eyes bore into Catherine's. Elizabeth removed her hand from Catherine's mouth.

In a much softer voice than the shocked one that had spoken before, Catherine asked, "If you do not wish to converse with a man so out of your apparent social standing, why bother being worried about him? It seems as though you are afraid of him. Sparrow is the same man who has saved your hide from many an unfortunate position. You should deem him honorable of your praise. I shall not be shocked when I do see him, for I am sure that he will be on the best behavior that he knows of." Catherine looked away from Elizabeth.

"Fine, you shall meet him and you, my dear, can judge for yourself about him." Elizabeth started off again towards the blacksmith's shop.

Catherine never really could understand why Elizabeth seemed to be afraid of Jack Sparrow. She assumed that in Elizabeth's eyes he was some sort of inebriated monster who only used woman as items of temporary possession. In Catherine's eyes he was only a figment of her imagination. She had no real face to put with the name, just the descriptions of what he was to look like. In her mind she saw no monster, but instead a man who was simply misguided and free at the same time. He was fascinating in her minds eye. Reality did happen to stop and check in on her mind, Sparrow was after all a pirate and any pirate meant a flag of danger.