Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 17 – The Kiss

Year 1 - Mid December – Just before Christmas

The time to leave came too quickly for Catherine, unwilling to return to the rigid protocol that would be expected of her. She had become accustomed to often irreverent life on the Black Pearl and, in her own way, was very fond of Jack. Her heart wanted to stay, but she knew her duty was to her brother and to the promise that she had made. She was, therefore, quite horrified to overhear Jack tell Joshamee to head for Port Royal.

"I told your brother I would take you there and I meant it," Jack told her. "Th' crew agrees. We'll run up a flag of truce and sit a safe distance outside the harbour until they send a boat."

"But it's too dangerous!" she protested, but neither Jack nor the crew would listen to her.

So there they sat just outside of Port Royal harbour watching a small rowboat approach. Jack had ordered all cannons readied in case the Navy tried to double-cross them, but the ships in the harbour showed no sign of activity. The rowboat came closer and Jack looked at it through his spyglass. As he had expected, Theodore Groves was in the boat which was rowed by a number of red coated marines.

The boat bumped against the side of the Black Pearl and Joshamee Gibbs threw down a line to help the lieutenant board the ship. Two of the other men climbed up behind him, looking decidedly uneasy, clearly outnumbered on the deck of the infamous pirate ship.

"Captain Sparrow!" Theodore Groves climbed over the rail onto the deck. "It is nice to see you are a man of your word".

"I always keep my promises, Lieutenant, especially to beautiful women," he smiled, "and your sister is a very beautiful woman." He glanced across at Catherine who stood to the side with some of the crew and talking animatedly with Zeke.

"Cat, are you ready to leave?" Theodore called to his sister.

She sighed. "Nearly, Theo. I just have a few more goodbyes."

He watched amazed as she too hugged all the pirates before leaving, even kissing a few on the cheek. At last she stood before Jack. "Thank you Jack, for everything." Standing on tiptoe she reached up to kiss him on the lips, her hand stroking his cheek. She smiled sadly. "Keep safe!"

"My promise stands..." he whispered quietly.

"My window's open," she blushed, saddened by the knowledge that any future meetings would be in hurried secrecy. "I shall miss you." She turned and left quickly, unable to say what she wanted to say and unwilling for him to see her tears.

She accepted Theodore's help into the boat, the two greatly relieved marines following him quickly with her small trunk for they were eager to be off the pirate ship. Catherine sat quietly in the bow of the small boat, looking determinedly forwards to Port Royal. She could not bear to look back at the Black Pearl.

The Black Pearl unfurled her sails, opening her gun ports as soon as they had pushed off, an implied threat in case of any double-cross by the Navy. But the lieutenant was true to his word and the Black Pearl was allowed to sail away unhindered. Jack smiled to himself as he saw her safely reach the dockside, wondering how soon he could manage to find an excuse to visit Port Royal.

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"But it is all over the fort Commodore! She kissed him! Sparrow!" Lieutenant Gillette spluttered with indignation.

"My sister is her own woman, Robert. I fail to see why this should concern you," Theodore defended his sister. "And despite experiencing great odds, terrible hardships and near death on two occasions, she nevertheless managed to bring young James Schott safely to this town. I think she should be applauded, not castigated!"

The Commodore looked at his two lieutenants in despair. "What we are here to consider, gentlemen, is the ceremony for Lieutenant Groves' promotion to the rank of captain. Despite your protests, Mister Gillette, his sister must be invited." He paused. "I have delayed the ceremony for several weeks now in the hope she would arrive – so the ceremony will go ahead tomorrow as planned, and this bickering will cease immediately!"

James Norrington watched as his two disgruntled junior officers left his office. Young James had told him some of the adventures that he had had with the Black Pearl and her crew and it galled him that he owed Jack Sparrow for saving the boy's life – twice at that! "Why do I always end up in that man's debt?" he mused, "when all I ever really wanted to do is hang him?"

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Catherine wore her best dress that she had bought in Nassau for the ceremony, a lace parasol shading her from the sun. She felt stifled in the heavy sand-coloured silk brocade, but she stood proudly with the other fort families as her brother was promoted to the rank of captain, the ship HMS Resolute confirmed as his command. The fort was still abuzz with the manner of her arrival two days earlier and she was given many side-ways glances. She smiled quietly to herself, wondering what their reactions would be if they knew she had bought her dress with pirated gold and that her pearl necklace was pirate treasure.

She listened attentively as the Governor spoke the ceremonial words, promoting her brother to the rank of captain, then the musicians started playing, and the pointless small talk she so hated began. Her brother insisted that she take his arm, forcing her into the social conversations until she had spoken with most of those at the ceremony.

"I think you are quite notorious Cat!" he smiled, "I swear some of them nearly died of shock!"

She laughed, stilling the conversation around them. "I think I'll head home, Theo. I'm detracting from what is your day – I do want you to enjoy it! Please, the crowds are too much for me." The closeness of so many men was unsettling her and, despite his protests, she walked back alone to the small house that was to be her home.

It was a smart town house built of a local stone in the modern Georgian style. A high wall surrounded a small garden at the rear. Theodore had purchased it once he knew she would be living with him and had employed a single maid to help her, although as his housekeeper, she would be doing the majority of the work herself and she was looking forward to it.

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