As the wench came flying out directly behind Gibbs, Jack grinned. "It appears not," Letting go of Norrington; he grabbed the wench about the waist and pulled her to him. "Hullo, luv. Knew you were missing me, but you could have waited until I got the commodore here inside to greet me properly," Giving her a wink, he whispered. "You know that rum that was delivered earlier, luv? Could you go grab a bottle of it here for the commodore?"

As the girl smiled and returned to the house, Gibbs looked to Jack. "How do you do that?"

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?" A few moments later the wench returned outside with one of the bottles with
a confused look on her face, "Did ya mean one of these bottles?" she asked
as he held out the bottle for Jack to inspect.

Looking closely at it, "Aye, darlin'," Jack took the bottle from her. "Thank you most kindly," Holding the bottle up, he winked at her. "Fine champagne, from France. If you could ensure that everyone, and I mean everyone, has a glass of this fine wine inside, I would certainly appreciate it. The commodore here has a toast to the New Year planned in conjunction with this lovely brew." Taking Norrington by the hand, he started to lead
him in.

She nodded at Jack, "Aye, Jack. Ev'ryone will have a glass fer the midnight toast." She said with a smile to Jack. She shook her head she stared at the bottle. "Odd name fer champagne if ye be askin' m," she mumbled as she headed back inside.

Norrington looked over as he walked with Jack stepping on Jack's foot from his stumbling, "I'm terribly shorry," He belched as he looked down at Jack's booted foot. He then thought for a moment and gave Jack a curious look, "Will yoush be joining us sh'evening?"

"Most definitely, wouldn't miss it for the world!" Jack helped him into the kitchen and led him towards the door that opened into the hallway heading towards the ballroom.

Norrington nodded with a smile, "S'good. We are pleashed to has yoush."

Gibbs was following behind Jack trying to maintain his laughter but staying back enough to avoid the smell of the commodore.

As the trio reached the servant's entrance to the ballroom, Jack stopped. "Gibbs, check to see that everyone is ready. It should be almost time for the toast."

Gibbs nodded, "On my way Captain." He went to find the wench. "Has the champagne been distributed?" he asked.

She nodded, "They be workin' on it now."

Entering the mansion, Will looked around for Elizabeth and her father. Seeing them near the doorway to the ballroom greeting everyone, he headed directly for them. "Governor Swann," bowing, then facing Elizabeth with a huge smile, "Miss Swann, I mean, Elizabeth," Taking her hand and raising it to his lips, he gently kissed it.

Elizabeth smiled as Will took her hand and kissed it. She then curtsied to him. "Good evening." she said to him softly as she waited for him to offer to escort her further into the ball.

"Governor, if you'll excuse us? I do believe the first dance was promised to me, correct?" Will began to lead Elizabeth towards the ballroom.

Elizabeth smiled as she watched her father nod his approval.

Will led Elizabeth into the ballroom. As they entered, a maid greeted them and handed each a glass of clear champagne. "For the toast," She indicated and headed off to continue to see everyone had a glass.

Elizabeth nodded as she took a glass, "Thank you." she said. She then turned to Will, "Almost time."

The musicians arrived and sat down, tuning their instruments as they prepared for the dancing to begin immediately after midnight.

Gibbs quickly made his way back to Jack, "Yes they are working on it now." he informed Jack.

Norrington looked at Jack confused, "What'sh we waiting for?"

"Midnight, remember? You're to do the toast, welcoming in the New Year!" Jack smiled at Norrington and moved him closer to the door. "Almost time."

Norrington nodded now with understanding, "Oh right." he then paused a moment and looked at Jack, "A shpeech do I havesh one? I can'tsh have tea for a toast. Where'sh the champagne?" Norrington asked Jack as he took a step sideways and nearly fell into Gibbs.

Gibbs pushed him up, "Whoa steady boy."

A maid passed by, Jack snagged a glass of champagne for Norrington. "Here you go, mate. Fine French champagne. Imported just for this special day. Remember you ordered it? Don't forget to mention that in your speech."

Norrington handed Jack the bottle of tea, "Will ya holdsh my tea fer me?" Norrington belched again as he took the glass of champagne. "Fresh champagne?" He looked confused.

"French, French champagne," Jack corrected him.

"I ordered it?"

Jack simply nodded.

"Oh, yesh, right," Norrington said with a nod. "Shank you."

Will looked around and saw that almost everyone had their champagne ready in anticipation of the toast. "I wonder where Commodore Norrington is? Jack did say he'd get him here in time."

Elizabeth looked at Will questioningly, "Jack? Please tell me you don't mean Jack Sparrow? Why would Jack be responsible for getting Norrington here on time?"

Jack took the bottle of rum from Norrington and took a drink. "Ah, much more to my liking," Glancing into the room, he saw almost everything was set for the midnight toast. "Almost time, commodore. Ready?"

Norrington nodded at Jack, "I think I am if my feet will work properly." He said to Jack.

Seeing everyone starting to look around, Jack prodded the commodore into the doorway. "Showtime!"

"Why Jack came here expressly to," Stopping mid-sentence, Will saw Norrington in the doorway. "There he is. Must be time for the midnight toast, and our dance!"

Elizabeth was staring at Will waiting for an answer until she saw his gaze turn. She darted her eyes to behold a quite dishelved Norrington in the doorway.

Norrington nodded at Jack, "Shee yous later." he said as he stumbled through the door not able to walk on his own two feet he knocked over a few fine china vases in the process. After knocking over several objects, he found a wall to lean up on, "I wanteds to shtell ev'ryone to has a shwonderful New Year and I hope you enjoy this fine fwrench champaysh, uh, champasanga, champagne, yes shthat's it, chasmpange that I pershon'ly 'ported from Frwance." Norrington said as he raised his glass, "To the New Year."

Will raised his glass, "To the New Year," He looked down into Elizabeth's eyes.

Elizabeth glared at Will with a hint of anger in her eyes at the scene that Norrington was causing, but she reluctantly raised her glass. "To the New Year." she spoke.

Will frowned at her anger, but lifted his glass and tapped hers lightly.

Jack raised his bottle, "Aye, to the New Year!"

Gibbs raised his own bottle of rum, "To the New Year!"

Norrington took a sip of his glass of champagne and wrinkled his nose with a funny look as he smacked his lips. "Tastesh odd." he muttered to himself as he shrugged, "Must be from all the tea." He then downed the rest of the glass of Champagne.

Elizabeth took sip as she watched Norrington drink from his and she spat it out. "Will!" she screeched.

Just taking a drink of his, he stopped as the foul liquid hit his tongue. "Ewww! What is this stuff?" Suddenly comprehension of what was going on hit him. "Jack!"

Seeing Will's look, Jack looked at Norrington first. Laughing, he turned to Gibbs. "Time to leave!"

Gibbs nodded between his fits of laughter, "I do believe you are right." He said as he turned to head out the back door.

Following after Gibbs, Jack stopped in the kitchen. Grabbing another bottle of rum, the real stuff this time, he winked at the wench. "Care to join us, luv?"

The wench shrugged, "Better than bein' here." she said as she turned to follow Jack out.

Norrington slowly stumbled over to Will, "Yes, Jack was quite helpful today." Norrington stuttered out as he placed an arm around Will's neck.

Staggering under the weight of a drunk Norrington, Will handed his glass to Elizabeth. "Here, do something with this stuff, but do not water the plants with it. Bound to kill them. Let's get you to a bed commodore. You look a bit out on your feet. Glad Jack was so helpful," Moving him through the crowded room, Will smiled and nodded to everyone. "No, he's fine. Just had a bit too much champagne tonight. Doesn't agree with him. Goes straight to his head."

Getting Norrington settled in, Will noticed the sounds of the musicians as they started their first number. He turned back towards Elizabeth, motioning towards the open doorway onto the patio. "I do believe you still owe me a dance."

Elizabeth took the glasses and set them on a nearby table. She was fuming. How could Will have been so stupid to let Jack cause such a disaster? How had he gotten to Norrington anyway and the champagne? Elizabeth glared at Will when he asked about a dance, "I think an explanation is more like it." She said as she walked out onto the patio.

Laughing, Will led her onto the patio, "Well, it all started..."

Gibbs headed out the back door and once he was out of the house he stopped to catch his breath and broke into a fit of laughter. "I think that was the most fun I've had in ages."His arm wrapped around the girl's waist, Jack caught up to him. "It was. What an excellent way to end the year. Meeting up with old friends and all."

Gibbs nodded, "To the Pearl then?" he inquired as he took a drink of his rum, "Much better than the Vinegar they had." Gibbs said with a laugh.

Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at Will's explanation as they danced on the patio.

"To the Black Pearl!" Lifting up his bottle of rum in mock salute, Jack began to sing... "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? …" He stopped singing, grinned and started up with a slightly different tune, "…. And really bad eggs, drink up me hearties, Yo Ho!"