Chapter euight: Mrs. Hawkins

Jack picked his way through the streets, trying hard to find someone, without being found himself. It wasn't too hard, being as mostly only the men up at the fort knew what he looked like, not civilians. Of course, the few who attended his hanging a while back knew too, but if they thought he looked familiar, they said nought.

Ah, yes. You could turn anywhere in the Caribbean and find what you were looking for. He started though, not unsurprised to see her with a small toddler, however, there was an infant in her arms as well. When she turned sideways, he got a glimpse of dark brown hair...a boy?

Katerina was talking animatedly to a seedy looking man who was selling melons. He looked familiar too. Her long hair was swept up in a white snood, matching her dress. Being the Turner's nanny must have paid off. Unless...no. He wasn't going to think about the unless part.

Were those sapphires on her ears? Either that or onyx. Nope, sapphires. Jack could tell because they caught the early morning sunlight and sparkled. Matching her eyes, too...he thought. She stopped talking, however, when the babe she was holding started to fuss. She excused herself and started away. Jack followed, more intrigued then ever. She seemed to have grown up almost. True, he had not seen her in little under a year, but she carried herself more proud-like, and as she led the small child up the cobble stone streets, and into the Turner's house, he waited outside.

Sure enough, she emerged again, this time going to a house a few blocks down. After she entered, Jack decided to go back to the Turners and ask about her.

"Jack!" Will opened the door, Lillian clutching his leg. "When did you get in? Are you anchored in the bay?" The younger man ushered his former captain in and when Jack was hugged by Elizabeth and shown the new baby(William), they sat down in the kitchen.

"Tea?" Elizabeth asked, reaching for the kettle. Jack shook his head.

"So? How have ya all been? You know, I thought I spotted Katerina in the market place, does she still work for you?" He said it so smoothly, that the two didn't even register it.

"Oh yes, she's a great hand. However, Matthew has been taking up her time somewhat. I suspect she may be quitting soon," Elizabeth frowned, taking a sip of her own tea.

"Matthew?"

"Her husband. They have known each other since childhood, I think. He used to own her old shop...I think you know the one? Anyways, they got married a few months back." Jack grinned inwardly. Of course! He knew the reason why she did it, and he would be damned if he left Port Royal without taunting her for it.

"Perhaps we should have them over to dinner?" Will suggested, standing up. "Sorry, Jack...but I need to go to the smithy. I have a new apprentice, and he isn't quite...agile yet." He gave his wife a peck on the cheek, and after clouting Jack on his shoulder, left.

"Nice house," Jack commented, eyebrow raised.

"Hey!" Elizabeth set down her tea cup and took it over to the sink. "If you got it, use it." She smiled to herself when Jack roared with laughter.

"Mrs, you have a visitor," Katerina looked up to see Elizabeth being led into her drawing room.

"Did I forget something?" She asked, frowning.

"I can't stay to chat, but would you and Matt come to dinner tonight?" Katerina nodded, and soon the other woman was gone.

"Who was that, Dear?" Matthew Hawkins entered, putting a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"Elizabeth. We have a dinner invitation."

"Well, you must make my excuses. I have to work tonight." Katerina stood up and put her hands on her hips.

"You never join me at the Turner's!"

"Listen, Sugar...I just have to work!" Matthew cried. What happened to the sweet natured woman he married? He had been shocked when she returned to Port Royal, talking about being kidnapped by pirates. She had stayed with the Turners, giving up reason after reason as to how to could afford the things she bought on a nanny's salary. They courted a while, her the demure English Rose he always wanted. But the day after they were offically man and wife, she said brusquely that she wanted to run his shop. He had joined the navy in her absence, vowing to kill the damned pirates that "kidnaped" her, and had risen in rank quickly, leaving his store under the care of his sister, Beatrice.

Katerina knew it was a heavy price to pay, marriage, but it was indeed the only way. Most people were scandalized when she had taken over the command of the shop(Beatrice was actually happy about it, and Katerina had to admit that at least one thing good came out of her marriage, and that was the friendship with her sister-in-law) so soon after being kidnaped. They thought she would be wallowing in her home, and would be quite subdued for a while. No one knew what had happened while she was on bored the pirate ship(she also never mentioned which one, saying she was mostly kept in the captain's cabin) though the more sharp ones wondered how she got the large amethyst she wore on her right ring finger, and the rope of black pearls she wore to social functions(if they asked she simply said that she had found them on her return, and that they used to be her mothers). There were also questions about her usage of the dirt and oil concoction she used to wear, and it took a little needling to get that one cleared over.

"Don't call me Sugar!" Katerina snapped, flicking a bit of dust off of her skirt. Thats another thing she hated. She had been used to trousers and tunics while aboard the Black Pearl, and although she didn't mind corsets and shifts, she hated not having the free reign she used to. And in her deepest of hearts, she knew she missed the large black ship with black sails. She missed it, because it was like her home. She missed Gibbs, and his weezing ways, helping her read the book of Shakespear he had given her(she never exactly learned how to read, and he helped her with that too). She missed Anamaria's bluntness, and the odd friendship they held. She missed the macaw. She missed everything. And only when she felt really down in the pits, did she admit that she missed the captain...somewhat.

"Alright, Kat," Matthew sighed. "Next time I promise I will join you at the Turners. I wish you wouldn't work for them! You know you have enough on your hands with the shop."

The shop! Every time he thought about it, he grimaced. "Besides, it was said that Will Turner used to be a pirate! They are shady people, Kat. And I might have a lead that they were part of the party who kidnaped you!" Another thing; she said she couldn't name crew, because she had only seen but two people. She was suave...she had to admit.

If Katerina liked Matthew, their marriage could have worked. But it was based on lies, and she almost wished everyone knew it. He was handsome, Matthew. Tall, blonde, with green eyes the color of the deep Caribbean sea at mid-afternoon. He had the Roman features, and many girls were disappointed when the brown haired beauty took him for her own.

"Kat!" A little girl with light brown hair attached herself to Katerina's leg as she entered the Turner's manor. She put a hand on the curly haired head, and gently pried her away.

"Uggy man!" Lillian said defiantly, running off. Katerina shook her head, and went into the drawing room.

Jack looked up as he heard Lillian come running in, in turn attaching herself onto him. He let her, taking a liking to the child. His breath caught in his throat, however, when a figure entered the drawing room. She was obviously living nicely on the money she had acquired on the Black Pearl. The sapphire drop earrings in her lobes matched the necklace at her neck. She wore a matching dark blue gown of silk, and he noticed the ring she had taken from the island. There were also the pearls about her neck, roped around three times, and making the sapphires gleam. She looked around, spotted Jack, and her mouth dropped open.

"Katerina, I think you remember Jack..." Will said, a grin on his face. She nodded, regained her composure, and sat down on the settee offered to her.

"I heard that its Mrs. Hawkins now," Jack said, his tone teasing, but his eyes saying he knew something.

"It is," Katerina said rather tersely. "I trust there is no Mrs. Sparrow?"

"The day I marry, love, is the day pigs fly out of me arse." Katerina had to laugh at that.

"So, where is Mr. Hawkins?" Elizabeth asked, hoping that he hadn't come, or wasn't planning on joining later.

"He had to work...again. He said that he found a new lead in the pirates that kidnaped me." She said it slowly, looking at the reactions on Jack's face.

"Ah! Already denouncing me? Pray tell, did I rape you while you were on board?"

"No Sparrow. Nobody knows exactly what happened. Though most are scandalized that I don't show a bit of remorse."

"I thought you wouldn't."