A/N: Sorry, it took so long!

Drunken Declarations

Josephine hurriedly stuffed two of her favorite garments into a large hat-box. Jack ran into the room.

"Well, almost time to go. You are going to come with me and join my crew, Jo, if you would like, that is."

"Of course I would, John," she said wiping away the left over tears.

Jack smiled warmly at her and his eyes gleamed with affection. As he looked at her he saw again the little sister who wore braids and used to come to him in tears when the boys of the village would not let her play with them.

"You wait here," Jack said, I'll sneak out to the ship and bring it as close to the shore as I can, so you won't have to swim so far."

"Thank 'ee so much, dear brother," Jo said with a lopsided grin.

Jo tiptoed down the stairs. She was planning on grabbing a few things from the kitchen before her and Jack would head off. But, when she passed by the Commodore's study door she stopped short.

The Commodore was stumbling around his red wing-backed chair and moving towards the door. Jo moved to him toward him and immediately saw that it was with liquor and not fatigue that he was drunk with. She stood there staring at him, until him tripping forced her into action. Jo rushed over to Norrington and grabbed him before he hit the floor.

"What have ye done to yerself?" she whispered. Then she said out loud, "come now, let's get your sorry self to bed."

It took a lot of effort to get the Commodore up the stairs and into his own bedroom. "You don't have to reserve it for me any more," Jo muttered,

The Commodore suddenly made an effort and opened his eyes. "Forgive me!" he suddenly blurted out.

"There is nothing to forgive, Commodore," Jo replied. She tried to sound soothing but her tightening throat hindered her progress. "Ye have to do yer duty."

Jo tried to gently push him onto his bed, but the Commodore would not have it.

"No, I cannot do it!"

"Lie down, Commodore!"

"No!" he cried like a petulant child.

"Yes!"

"No! I don't want to!"

"You have to go to bed! You can't be wanderin' around in your condition."

"I do not have a condition!"

"Yes you do! Now go to bed!"

Norrington frowned at her.

"Now!" she yelled.

The Commodore stood there frowning at her for a moment more, but then suddenly, he lunged forward and kissed Jo hard on the lips. Jo was startled to say the least and would have stumbled backward, had not a strong arm slid around her waist.

Once the shock faded away the rest of Jo's senses went on holiday.

His lips were sweet and the warmth of his kiss spread with the speed of flame on a freshly ignited fire-ship. She was shocked back into reality by the cold when he broke the contact, but soon she was engulfed again when he began to kiss her neck. Jo gasped and tried to call out to him, to bring him back and herself as well, to their senses. But, passion flooded her brain and left her voiceless.

"I do not care if I am discharged from his majesty's service, I will not put you back in irons! I would rather hang at the gallows myself, than do such a thing!" James' resolute voice came at her ear. "I will lay down my life for you, if that's what it takes . . . I love you, Josephine."

Jo gasped from the almost overwhelming joy that suddenly bubbled up inside her like the spring appearing in the desert. But, she swiftly pulled herself back to the reality of the situation. "He is drunk," she said to herself. "He is drunk, he is drunk, he . . . is . . . drunk! He knows not what he says!" Though Jo knew that even in an enibriated state, what he was declaring to do, he was completely serious about. She managed to cry outloud. "No! No! Don't say that, James, please!"

Suddenly, Norrington stumbled and fell to the floor.

"Commodore Norrington, are you all right?"

"You . . . called . . . me . . . James . . ." he said then he promptly passed out.

Okay, kids, I got some major writer's block going on here. What should I do about the Commodore's situation? As far as I figure, any actions he might take to protect her could be seen as treasonous, you know, since he was not abiding by law of hanging all pirates . . . What shall happen to this couple, I don't know!! Need feedback please! And I will give credit to the person's whose idea I use! Much obliged!

Ciao!

--Concetta