Diclaimer: POTC is owned by the Disney Company and do not even print posters of my Norrington. Of course, I would forgive them if I were allowed to meet Jack Davenport.

Chapter 21: Meet the Parent

The next day proved to be the longest that anyone with the last name of Swann, Turner, Martin, Sills, and Norrington could remember. The Swann household was swamped all morning with visitors. By the time morning had arrived, all of Port Royal had heard of the engagement of Pru Martin and Commodore Norrington, and felt they had to right to know all the juicy details.

Pru stubbornly managed to act politely to all requests for information. Inside, she was a bit of wreck, wanting to scream to all around her that the engagement was a sham, a complete lie. Prying was never something she tolerated well anyway…

Her fiancée wasn't even at her side, something she explained away with the excuse of Navy business. That was true, as he had to get all necessary work done before he came to afternoon tea. That didn't stop Pru from irrationally swinging from wanting him by her side and wanting him to go to perdition. In short, she was a mass of contradictions that was forced to hide behind grace and politeness and she was not happy about it.

In what seemed like years later, the society women of Port Royal left in a mass of brightly colored dresses and often hideous hats. One hat in particular looked like a bird had died on the owner's head. The wearer of the unfortunate headpiece was Mrs. Simms, wife of a nearby plantation owner. Of course, Pru was tired of all the gossipmongers that had invaded her home and she could be just a little too critical today, but in this case, she didn't think so...

Sighing, she slid back in her chair. "Elizabeth, why must I do this again?" Pru asked for the hundredth time today.

"Because the whole society of Port Royal was blindsided last night when Norrington announced your engagement. Surely, you can't condemn them for wanting to dissect the biggest piece of gossip that's hit the town in years?" she asked.

Pru looked away towards the window. "We're not engaged."

Elizabeth, startled, looked at her cousin. "But, last night…"

Pru tried to smile, but only managed a grimace. "Last night was a sham. I asked for his help because I desperately did not want to marry Mr. Sills. Norrington's solution was to announce our engagement…"

"Pru, the Commodore would not do such a thing lightly. He was probably already thinking of asking…"

Pru rolled her eyes. "Yes, he was thinking alright. I asked his reasons for continuing the engagement…"

"He wanted to stay engaged? Well surely that shows…"

"It doesn't. He wanted it to continue for convenience sake. I am after all 'from a high family and intelligent. Marriage would be sensible…'" Pru finished in a rather good imitation of her fiancée's "pompous" tone ofvoice.

"He really is no good with proposals, is he?" Elizabeth mused.

"That's another reason! I know I keep harping on it…"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Endlessly, so you need not do it again…"

Pru sat up with resolution. "We'll find a way to dispatch my other 'suitor'." She grimaced. "and then we shall break off our engagement in a way that neither of us will be laughingstocks to the entire community."

"Do you really not want to marry him? I'd thought you'd be an excellent match with him…"

Pru couldn't hold up under her cousin's relentless gaze. "No, I would love to marry him, but…"

"Yes? But what?"

"He doesn't love me, and I'm not going to trap him in a marriage where he doesn't absolutely love his wife. If we married, I would be miserable because I loved him and he would be miserable because he didn't love me. He deserves someone he loves and who loves him back. I want that for him…"

Pru's upper lip began to tremble. Elizabeth rose from her chair and embraced her cousin. "Pru, I wouldn't give up hope. Norrington is completely closemouthed when it comes to emotions. I wouldn't be surprised if he loves you and can't bring himself to say anything. Be patient. Perhaps you'll have your happy ending after all…"

Pru stepped away. "I'm coming to realize that 'happy endings' happen only in plays or books…but no matter…It shall be time for tea soon and my face must be puffy and red. I'll just nip up to my room and prepare for the next battle of the war…"

Elizabeth gave her cousin a comforting smile. "I suppose I shall have to as well. Will is coming to lend you support. He'd offered the use of a few swords to deal with your father and that Sills person, but I told him that was hardly appropriate…" Her words faded off to the distance as Elizabeth parted ways with Pru…

So it came near to the time for tea, the wonderful English tradition where etiquette practically forced you to choke on your beverage. Personally, Pru never cared much for the drink. She'd have preferred wine or better yet, Rum. Unfortunately, it was hardly ladylike to demand alcohol at this time of day. Only gentleman were allowed to do that when in their hallowed 'clubs,' proving yet again that God had to be male, at least in Pru's opinion.

Norrington arrived first, a full twenty minutes before the assigned time. He found her to be in the garden, alone. She smiled at him in warm greeting.

"You're not mad at me, then?" he asked.

"I've had time to sleep on it. I never said Thank You, you know. You were merely giving aid that I had requested. Your methods leave something to be desired, but…"

"We're friends again, yes?"

"Yes."

"Good, then shall we kiss and make up?" he teased. His face showed his complete shock as soon as the words left his mouth. Really, he hadn't intended to say that. It had just popped into his brain. But, why not? She was his fiancée, if only for the moment. Didn't he have a right to a chaste kiss now and then, for his pains?

She blushed. "Do you really think it proper?" she asked.

He stared at her lips. "No," he said hoarsely, "but then again, I'm quickly finding that being proper isn't always fun…"

His hands surrounded her jaw on both sides as he tilted her head ever so slightly. Pru's eyes widened, desire and curiosity getting the better of her. He leaned in and his lips ever so slightly brushed hers. He'd felt the electric shock instantly and lifted his head back to stare at her eyes in wonder. She'd felt it too, he could see that.

They were still close enough to feel each others' breath. Almost against his will, he came back in for another. And another. And another yet again, until finally no pauses separated his kisses. Until, finally, his lips stayed on hers in mad passionate soul deep kisses. Their tongues parried with each other with the same intense veracity of their verbal fencings. They both quickly became incoherent with the simple pleasure of melding lips, bodies pressing against one another, and the avid exploration of the warm caverns of their mouths.

Eventually, lack of oxygen forced both to part. Gasping for air, Pru stood there with a dazed look on her face. James was no different. His chest heaved in and out in search of air as he stood staring at her. Her lips were bruised a deep pink and were swollen from the pressure of his lips. He felt a ridiculous sense of pride that he'd caused the swelling. Why he felt as he did he had no idea...

He swallowed convulsively. "Right. I think that's repaired any bad feelings…"

Pru said nothing before jolting slightly. "Quite." She said dazedly.

He looked at her lips again. Bad idea James, he thought. She had to get away from him before they did something even more compromising. "Pru," he began.

"Yes?"

"You might want to go inside and dab your lips with cool water before your father arrives. Otherwise, everyone will know…"

She touched her lips and something within James curled deliciously into itself. "Yes. I suppose I shall. I'll see you at tea then…" She picked up her skirts and ran inside. James turned, thought about icebergs, his grandmother, etc., essentially anything that would cool him down so to speakand made his way to the front of the home to properly introduce himself…

Tea was quite strained. Pru's father and Mr. Sills arrived precisely on time and were still quite belligerent. Governor Swann was tense and was very terse, something that had occurred rarely in anyone's memory. Elizabeth and Will sat together and looked quite concerned. Pru had become a good friend over the past few months and they worried excessively on her behalf. Pru's spine was straight as steel and she appeared as if she were a general preparing for the battle to end all battles. Norrington, who had arrived before the other guests, sat with Pru on a settee, much to the annoyance of Martin and Sills. He took a primal satisfaction that he had beaten them to it. Besides, he felt it was his place and he was claiming it.

They had all been served their teabefore the conversation began in earnest. Swann began, "I canabsolutely say that none of my wishes and I'm certain none of Pru's wishes have changed overnight. However, I am a fair man and I will not cheat you of your right to persuade your daughter."

"Oh, Thank You." Mr. Martin sarcastically replied.

"Father," Pru said tightly, "Be grateful that I am even here and not married already or gone completely. I will not tolerate that disrespect. My uncle has been nothing but kind and obliging to me, far more than you have ever done."

"I'll hear none of that from you. I provided a roof over your head, daughter. It's best you remember that. Marry Mr. Sills. As your father, trust in my judgment, girl."

Pru blew out a breath in frustration. "Father, I will not marry him. Furthermore, I am going to stay in Port Royal with the part of my family that actually likes me. I'm sure you'll be happy that I will never ask anything from you again…"

He glared at her. "You'll not get anything. But if it's the last thing I do on this earth, you will obey me and marry Sills here, you ungrateful bi-"

Pru exploded. "ENOUGH! LEAVE NOW BEFORE I HAVE YOU THROWN OUT. LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK! AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I HAVE NO FATHER!"

James had abruptly stood up in anger, ready to pick both men up and forcibly remove them. He almost hoped that they would become violent. He felt like hitting them himself, but couldn't do so without provocation. Instead, he sternly asserted, "My fiancée is correct. Leave now or I'll be ordering a contingent of Marines to arrest you."

Pru's father scoffed. "On what charges, young whelp?"

Norrington, who normally didn't allow emotion to mold his face, felt his visage turn thunderous. "LEAVE BEFORE I PERSONALLY RUN MY SWORD THROUGH YOU!"

He took a step forward in murderous rage, his hand on his sword. Having decided enough was enough, both Sills and Martin quickly rose and dashed out the door. "This isn't over yet, Norrington! My daughter will obey me!" Martin yelled as he scurried away.

When they disappeared out of sight, Norrington's shoulderslumped down as he gradually began to relax. As he turned to the rest of the party, he noted their reactions. Every single one of them wore looks of astonishment on their faces. He suddenly realized what his actions must have looked like. He had lost control for one of the first times in his life and had done so with people around him. His proper mask slipped back into place.

He bowed. "Forgive me. I didn't mean for my actions to go quite that far…"

Pru smoothed it over. "Nonsense. I'm sure we all thank you for your staunch defense of me. Isn't that correct, uncle?"

Swann stirred. "Yes, quite right, Commodore."

"I must be going…I've been reminded of some urgent business…" He trailed off.

Pru stood. "I'll escort you to the door."

With her arm in his, he walked with her to the mansion's entrance. Before going through the door, Pru whispered to him, "Remember, 10 o'clock tonight."

He nodded. "I might be a few minutes late if I'm caught up with my duties, but I will be there. I've got something I want to give you…"

Pru glanced at him with a confused look. "What?"

He smirked. "It's a surprise and I can already tell it's going to kill you until you find out what it is…" He trailed off as he exited. "Until later!"

Her mouth twisted wryly. "You're evil, you know! Absolutely evil! Until then, Commodore!"

Pru loved the garden, which was why she was almost always found in it when she needed some time alone. So it wasn't unusual when she got there thirty minutes before her assigned time with James. She needed a bit of quiet time beneath the stars to think. So many things had happened today. She was pretty much disowned, for one. It didn't pain her much. Later that day, her uncle had come for her and had told her that in light of the circumstances, he would be honored if she were to consider herself his second daughter. Her uncle's offer would be one of her most treasured memories that she would hold on to forever.

Despite what she thought she wanted, "The Kiss" would also have to be added to that list. She burned and blushed every time it replayed in her memory, which it had done an awful lot the whole evening. One brief touch of her lips to his and she lit up like a fireworks display she'd once seen. And it had been more than a brief touch. The memory of her fiancée's chain of kisses would always be in the back of her mind, just lurking there to come back to her when she least expected it. She had the bad feeling that the kiss alone would fuel all manner of dreams for months. Bloody Man, Pru thought, One kiss and I can't coherently think of anything else! It's his fault really…

She heard the crunch of gravel in the distance. Looking to her right for James, she peered in the darkness. Nothing. Odd, she mused. Suddenly, cloth covered her eyes, blocking her vision completely. She jumped but immediately asked, "James? Not going to let on what your surprise is?"

Silence. "James?" She began to get nervous. "Take this blindfold off! James!"

A wet cloth covered her mouth and nostrils. She gagged and tried to get away but rough hands held her still until she was forced to breathe or faint. A noxious scent entered her nostrils and Pru slipped to the ground unconscious.

"Got you, stupid wench." a male voice growled as he wrapped her in a blanket, completely concealing her body. The man hoisted the burden to his arms and quickly made his way to the docks…

Pru felt the waves rolling the ship immediately when she woke up. Her head felt as if it had been stuffed with cotton and she had double vision. She tried sitting up, but was quickly pushed back down. A voice ordered, "Take it easy daughter, I wouldn't want you to be sick when you get married…"

Her eyes shifted to her father. She gasped, "FATHER? Where am I?"

He grinned at her evilly. "The docks. I'm taking you to your wedding…"

"I won't marry him." she said mutinously.

"I believe you will. We'll be going to Tortuga shortly for a 'business deal'…and then to Nassau…You'll be married there very properly and respectfully…as your future husband has wished…"

"Only pirates go to Tortuga."

Sills interrupted. "Yes, we do indeed. I always knew you were a bright one."

She drew in a breath. "You? Why you're too dull to be pirate!"

"I prefer 'Commendeerer of Others' Possessions,' dearest fiancée. Marrying you will give me the respectful façade I need to operate my 'business ventures' without suspicion…and your father will get the help his failing shipping business needs…"

Pru looked at her father with disdain. "That's it then? You've bartered your daughter to a pirate to save your business. I regret that I share your taintedblood…"

"One has to do what one can, daughter…and you will marry him…" her father demanded.

"Don't forget that I'm engaged to James Norrington, Commodore of the Royal Navy. He'll figure out that I'm missing. He knows me too well and will realize that I would have left some sort of message for him as we are engaged. When I don't, he'll know something's amiss. He isn't stupid; he'll know who took me…"

"Yes, he will if I was stupid enough to not arrange things. However, I am not stupid."

"That's to be debated, isn't it?" she shot back.

He took a piece of paper and handed it to her. Write this and I'll have it delivered to Norrington."

She scanned it. "And if I don't?"

She heard the click of a gun as John Sills replied, "I think you will. I have a member of my crew right now prepared to, at my signal, go and murder your precious Commodore…"

She swallowed nervously. She knew when she was cornered and could not, would not allow anything to happen to James. She was just as much his protector as he was hers. Pru would simply have to find another way out when the opportune moment arrived…So she took a pen and wrote:

Commodore Norrington,

My father's presence here has reminded me of my duties as his daughter. Therefore, I regret to inform you that I release you from our engagement. I will be obeying my father's wishes and marrying Mr. Sills.

Do not try to follow me and try to persuade me otherwise. Our relationship is over. I shall soon be married to an entirely sensible man that is worthy of my admiration and devotion. I can only hope that you will accede to my wishes and be happy that I've found the correct path.

Regards,

Prudence Martin

She finished writing and threw the letter at her father. "There. I've written it." Her father and Sills left her in the locked cabin while they sought someone to deliver the letter to the fort. That left Pru time to think of any way she could get herself out of this mess…

AN: Again, thank you kind readers! Pru's gotten herself into a fix, hasn't she?