Disclaimer: We all know the drill. The characters you don't recognize are mine, all the others wish they were. Happy Holidays!

A/N: Okay, Part II of a Caribbean Christmas. I know I"m cutting it close, but there's another Christmas chapter on the way, and after that we'll have all the hilarious convos between Jack and Mari...example: No one ever gave Mari "The Talk." That in itself should be enough to draw you back....LOL.

Elizabeth and Will finally made their way back into the parlor, after the impromptu delay of calming a hysterical maid. Not that either Turner could blame the poor child; Elise was sixteen and very new in the household. Understandably, finding two pirates in the kitchen, and then being instructed by Estrella to prepare rooms for those pirates had caused a major offense to her genteel nature.

"Honestly," Elizabeth murmured, "as if Jack Sparrow would harm a single person residing in our home."

"She'd no idea who it was," Will answered, "and neither Jack nor Mari is exactly a comforting figure."

Elizabeth sighed a little and shook her head. "She was told about them, wasn't she? I could understand her being caught off-guard –that happens to us more oft than not- but to be hysterical…" The young woman shook her head. "Poor girl."

The two entered the parlor, then, to find a rather harried-looking Jack replacing the piano bench from its sprawl on the floor. Close by, Isobel knelt beside a smug Sparrowhawk, who cleaned her paws with zeal.

"Bloody feline," Jack muttered, his back to the approaching couple.

"Jack," Elizabeth said with an admonishing tone, "please, no rough talk with Isobel in the room."

Will chuckled. "Indeed, if she repeats any of it, you can be sure I'll be blamed for teaching it to her." He hoisted his daughter in the air as he spoke. Isobel laughed in delight; Sparrowhawk looked relieved.

"As if she'd listen t' anything I'd have to say," Jack said, slightly nervous. Will blew a raspberry on Isobel's neck; she squealed and poked his nose.

"You'd be surprised at what they pick up," the blacksmith said. His expression showed he'd learned that lesson all too well.

"Indeed," his wife murmured, and kissed him on the cheek. "Tell me, darling," Elizabeth said to her daughter, "what have you and Great-Uncle Jack been doing all this time?"

Jack made a swift motion as if to intervene in Isobel's response; unfortunately, this caused the fractious bells in his hair to chime. Sparrowhawk flew from her new perch atop the grandfather clock and tackled him directly in the face. Jack stumbled backwards –keeping his invective to himself- attempting to remove the creature from his person without hurting it. The three Turners watched the scene in ill-concealed amusement; Isobel clapped.

"Bloody hell!" she said cheerfully. Elizabeth's eyes darkened; Jack froze with the cat held at arm's length, she clinging to his sleeve.

"Jaaaack…." Elizabeth began warningly. The pirate very carefully put Sparrowhawk on the ground, and put on his most charming smile.

"Now, Liz, darling, you can understand, 'twas a mere slip of the tongue…"

"Jack Sparrow," the woman continued. The charming smile froze and slipped just a little.

"Mari said it?" he tried. Elizabeth moved toward him, poised for a verbal strike as Will moved away with Isobel, a grin tugging at his mouth. Just then, Mari and Norrington reentered the parlor, carrying fragrant trays of cookies. They halted just inside the door as they caught sight of Captain Sparrow being backed into a corner by a very irate Mrs. Turner. Jack eyed the couple wildly, and saw his chance out of a good talking-to.

"I believe," he said, pointing with a flourish, "you two are under the mistletoe!"

The pair looked up in mild confusion, confirming Jack's observation. Norrington stiffened; Mari's cheeks turned pink. However, the two moved to put their burdens down so as to satisfy tradition.

As the moment of danger passed, Jack suddenly realized what he had done.

"O-of course," he went on, "you could forgo tradition, just this once. I don't want anyone to do something they'll regret…Right, Commodore?"

This last was said with a bit of warning tingeing the sea-roughened voice. Norrington eyed the pirate coolly, realizing suddenly that this man was to be his father-in-law. If Jack let him live. God, help me.

"On the contrary, sir," James remarked bravely, "I don't think it a mistake for a man to show affection to his intended wife, do you Mari, darling?"

The whole room stilled.

Elizabeth roused first, and came forward to congratulate her friends.

"How wonderful!" she said, hugging Mari tightly. "Will, isn't this wonderful?"

The blacksmith snapped back to himself and smiled.

"Yes of course!" He shook Norrington's hand, grinning and kissed Mari on the cheek. "The two of you will make a fine pair, I'm sure."

Jack was the last to react, his face puckered in disbelieving confusion. He put a be-ringed hand to his lips, gesturing lightly with the other as he made some mental calculations. Murmuring to himself, he came forward, chin pressed firmly in hand.

"My lass," he said finally, "I don't know what to say."

"Bloody hell!" Isobel put in. Jack nodded in approval.

"Thank you, darling, I couldn't find the right words. Tell me, James," Jack said, leaning toward the officer, "isn't it done to ask the father's permission before any suit is put toward the lady? I'm absolutely shocked that you of all people put aside propriety where such a jewel as my daughter is concerned!"

"Jack-" Mari began, and was duly ignored.

"Thus, because of your lack of decorum, and the sheer and simple fact that I don't like you, I say that while young Mari has accepted your proposal, I have not. And, until such time as I do, no wedding can commence!" Jack threw up his arms in triumph, smiled lightly at the Commodore, and murmured, "Ta."

Thunderclouds rolled into Norrington's expression; Mari was downright livid. Her eyes narrowed as she stepped in front of her intended, fully intending to tell her father what for. It was a rather dangerous moment, indeed, for this event could break the newly growing relationship between the Sparrows. Will –knowing he was taking his life in his hands- handed Isobel to Elizabeth and stepped between father and daughter.

"Move, lad," Jack muttered.

"No, Jack, I don't think I will," Will told him firmly. Jack's eyebrows reached for his bandana.

"Dear Will, I wasn't aware that you had taken up the occupation of becoming entangled in business not your own," Jack said pleasantly. Will smiled a little.

"On the contrary, Jack, as long as we're quibbling semantics, I'd like to remind you that Mari was my father's goddaughter, correct? Therefore, she and I are…" Will frowned a bit, "god-siblings, and I have the right to intervene for her."

Jack grinned, enjoying the banter about to ensue. "A'right, then, what say you about the matter?"

Will paused for a moment and thought about all the things he could say, all the things that might buy Jack's acquiescence, until he hit upon the fact that would surely gain the pirate's approval.

"How often does a pirate get the chance to make an officer of the Navy his son-in-law?"

Jack gave Will a look of pure admiration before stepping around him to wrap an arm about his daughter's shoulders.

"Best of luck to ye both," he said happily, clapping Norrington on the back. Norrington started a bit, then offered Jack a tight smile.

"Drinks…all around?" he said hesitantly.

"James, ye've read me mind! Oh, are those rum cookies?" The captain swaggered forward to confirm his query while Elizabeth called for egg nog. Mari and Norrington looked as if they were in a mild daze, hardly daring to believe the events of the night.

"God be praised for Christmas miracles," Mari murmured.

"Indeed," James agreed.

A/N: Happy Christmas, Merry New Year, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Merry Yuletide!!!! AND A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THOSE WISHING FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS (etc...) WHO LOVE SNOW AS MUCH AS I DO!!! WHOOT!