A/N : Sorry about the abrupt ending last chapter, but I needed to make sure you were all listening (reading).

I just knew everyone would guess what made Kat faint. It was too obvious for those who knew the movie.

Also, please check out ch7 again. I changed the name of the other ship, and included an explanation in the ending author note.

Jack was the first to reach the foyer, and he found Kat sprawled half face-down near the piano.

Crouching next to her, he turned her over and checked for vital signs. He was quick to notice that she wasn't breathing, and felt a twinge of relief. At least he knew why she had fallen.

Taking his dagger, which had been hidden in his sleeve, he first ripped through the dress unceremoniously, and then slid it, more carefully, along the front of the corset. He then grabbed the top and pulled on opposite sides.

Now free of the bonds, Kat immediately started gasping and Jack pulled her to a sitting position by supporting her back.

"Easy now, luv. It's alright." He turned and gave a small smile to Elizabeth.

"I think she'll be needing another dress for dinner."

"I have a couple left over from when I was younger. They shouldn't be too tight, so I won't be needing to lend her a corset."

Everyone laughed, except for Kat, who was feeling annoyed. This was the second time she had fainted, and it was quite embarrassing.

"I'm glad everyone can get a laugh at my expense." She said, detaching herself from Jack and standing up, a bit uneasy on her feet, but tried not to let it show.

"Kat," said Jack, holding out an arm to help balance her, though Kat didn't take it. "Elizabeth knows what it's like in a corset. She has to wear one very often."

"I fainted when I first wore one, too. And when I was twelve, while most girls my age were practically glued to their beds during things like the flu, I was constantly pacing my room wondering when I'd be able to get out. The only reason I didn't feel embarrassed when I fainted due to the corset, was because I knew that the people around me would expect someone like me to faint from time to time."

Kat, now standing in nothing but a pair of undergarments which Anamaria had found with the corset, felt better about this.

"Of course," she added, looking at Jack. "There were other things happening that kept my mind off embarrassment."

Jack grinned, and Will rolled his eyes.

"What happened?" Kat asked, feeling as though something major had happened during the incident. "Tell me. Please?" she added, remembering that these were good friends of her father's and she'd do best not to be unpleasant just yet.

"I'll tell you later." Jack whispered in her ear.

"Mummy," Jeremy piped up. "Why is Kat standing in her underwear?"

Everyone let out a little laugh or snort, and Elizabeth beckoned Kat towards the staircase.

"Come on, Kat. I'll try to find you something to wear."

Kat followed, and the three boys watched as they went up the stairs.

"So, Jack," said Will, looking lightly amused. "You look rather respectable. I didn't think that was possible."

Jack smirked sarcastically.

"You know perfectly well that these types of clothes make me itch." And he scratched under his collar, though whether it was because it truly itched or if it was emphasis that he didn't like the clothing, only he knew.

"Still," he continued, looking at the staircase where the two women had gone. "I think Kat got worse off."

Will smiled.

"She may have time to get used to it."

"If everything goes my way," Jack said, becoming serious again. "I'll find that ship in less than a week, blast 'em all to Davy Jones' locker, and be back before Kat stops getting blisters from the lady shoes."

"Alright, then." Elizabeth said absent-mindedly as she went through a trunk in her closet. "There should be a dress that's not too fancy in here somewhere. I'm guessing right off that you don't like lace or frills?"

"Hell no."

Elizabeth laughed slightly.

Jack's daughter, alright.

"Here we are."

Elizabeth stood up holding a forest-green dress, that looked rather casual from the other things Kat usually saw women wearing.

"I'll just get the maids to help you dress…" Elizabeth stopped short, seeing the wide-eyed expression on Kat's face.

"On second thought, I'll let you get this on yourself, and if you have trouble lacing anything, you just tell me. I'll be outside the door."

And Elizabeth left, shutting the door behind her.

Well, at least this one doesn't seem as heavy as the one she's wearing.

Kat pulled it over her head, and then noticed that most of the lacing was in the back.

Damn.

"Elizabeth?"

"Yes?"

"All the lacing is in the back. I can't fasten it."

The door opened immediately and Elizabeth walked back in.

"Alright, then. Turn around."

Kat turned and she could feel Elizabeth pulling the dress shut.

"My goodness, you're thin. And you still needed a corset for the other one?"

"Before I found Jack, I was always living in the basement of a tavern, never knowing where my next meal would be coming from. Although, I suppose smaller girl have smaller waists then even me."

"How old are you? Jack never said."

"Fourteen."

"Ah. Well, even for fourteen, you're rather tall. Generally, the taller you get, you start expanding a bit the other way."

Kat remembered something then, due to the mention of the corset.

"Elizabeth, what happened when you fainted because of your corset? Jack seemed to know."

Elizabeth laughed.

"Well, I'm done tying up back here, so we might as well sit on the bed for this. You may or may not fall over laughing. I'm glad I can laugh about it now."

The two sat on the side of the bed, and Kat perked her ears.

Elizabeth began the story, and reached her conclusion about five minutes later.

"Afterward, he said words of parting which could have been wonderful if he had escaped, but they caught up to him in the blacksmith's shop, where Will was apprenticed. Will crossed blades with him, and that kept him busy until the soldiers arrived."

"What had Jack said?"

"Something to the effect of," Jack interrupted as he walked into the room. "You shall always remember this as the day that you almost caught: Captain. Jack. Sparrow."

Kat laughed.

"And then," Elizabeth added. "you threw me into James' arms, effectively slowing him up."

Kat laughed again.

"So how is it that you all became friends?" she asked, wondering how friendship could have brewed with the three.

"I needed his help to find Elizabeth," said Will, who had been in the doorway. "She was captured by vicious pirates who have committed crimes even Jack wouldn't do."

"But that is a story for another time, I believe. We had come up here because Martin-boy announced that dinner is ready. I'm starving."

Kat and Elizabeth rose, and they followed Jack, who was following Will, downstairs, past the parlour, and into the dining room.

A/N: Sorry about the shortness and non-moving of plot here, but I'm in a bit of a writer's block situation with this story.

Jack: Then continue on with the other one, luv!

Christina: Huh? Oh, yeah. Franglish Love is up for those interested. It's rated M, though, and the M stuff starts in the first chapter.