Supper began as a nightmare. Our cook, Marie was a flustered mess at having so many unexpected guests, and the maids ran to-and-fro trying in equal measures to calm her and attend to us.

Once we were all seated and had just begun the first course, Norrington asked, "Miss Sparrow, please, how was your journey from London?"

She smiled sweetly, "It was lovely. Nary a pirate nor a slave ship in sight, thank you for asking."

"Why would you expect pirates, dear girl?" my father asked. The subject never sat very well with the poor man.

"Well, in London where I grew up, all we hear of the Caribbean is how it's populated with pirates, rogues, and ruffians. And, of course," she tossed a look at Will, "my dear cousin never writes us to tell of his adventures. So, we all believe what we hear."

"And, your stay so far in Mister Turner's humble abode?" Norrington pressed. I glared at him and then looked at Will, who was red to the tips of his ears. I wanted to reach across and pat his hand, but I didn't want to call undue attention to him.

"Quite lovely, sir. Though, no where near as nice as your likely used to," Rachel answered cordially.

"Yes, former Commodore, do regale us with the night you spent with the pigs in Tortuga," I spat through a sweet smile.

"Elizabeth Swann!" my father gasped, "Mind your manners! You'll not speak to anyone in such a way as that again, do I make myself clear?"

Norrington smiled at me but addressed my father, "Don't worry, sir, she's perfectly right to think what I was doing in Tortuga was scandalous. But, she knows better, now. Right, Miss Swann?"

"Right, I didn't realize, of course, that Mister Norrington was in Tortuga to, er, spy," I glanced at him once more and he smiled before tucking into a venison stew.

"Spying, were you?" my father asked.

"Yes, sir. You know me better than to believe that I'd socialize freely with pirates for any other purpose than to serve the Crown, surely," came his answer.

"Right, and when you brought Cutler Beckett the, er, little gift from Davy Jones, then? Was that in service to the Crown, as well?" my father answered. Though I was afraid Norrington might yet out me, I was proud of my father for that little dig. It was Will who came to his defense.

"Well, sir, if I may?" he asked, by way of entering the conversation. My father bowed his head for Will to continue. "Mister Norrington told me personally that he'd been planning to turn Beckett in all along, but just needed the, er, gift as the proper leverage to have him proven a fraud against the Crown."

"Ah, very clever, James. Frame the man by putting the damning evidence in his lap? Clever indeed," came the Governor's reply. Norrington grinned.

"So, father, don't you think you'd ought to help Norrington out of his current place? You can do that, can't you?" I cooed.

"Of course, Elizabeth. I am Governor, am I not?" he boasted, straightening his wig out of habit. "First Lieutenant under Gillette, Norrington. I'll sign the papers directly after supper," he proclaimed as the second course was brought in.

Will and I shared a smile across the table.

"Can you do anything you want, Governor Swann, if it's not too forward," Rachel asked. I glared at her, fearful of what she might say next.

"Well, most anything. Many things require a trial, and those decisions are normally beyond my rule. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. I just find your job fascinating," she lied. Her charm worked on my father, however. She pressed on, "Could you sign papers that said a criminal was pardoned if you wanted to?"

"Normally, no. But, in certain cases I can. For example, I could make a pirate into a privateer if I felt he could be reformed. And, some petty case I can stop prosecution if I feel that there is no chance the party is guilty," he paused, "But, I trust the law, Miss Spereau. I trust it implicitly. And, she has a better way of judging things that I."

"Thank you, sir, for the insight," she replied, just a sweet as she could. She remained thankfully quiet as the meal progressed. And we made it through, unscathed.

XxXxXxX

The next two weeks passed in a flurry of last minute wedding detail. I rarely got to see Will, and when I did, he was busy trying to keep Rachel occupied. Three days before the wedding, Will and I were able to escape the flurry of activity of Port-Royal. With Rachel regrettably in tow, we made our way back to the little stretch of beach were Will and I had first made love.

I knew we were going to have no respite from the intolerable little wench, so, I made it the best we could under the circumstances. I packed a picnic and brought extra blankets and we three were quite content to sit in silence as we watched the sun travel across the sky and ships sail to and from the harbor.

Apparently, I dozed off there in Will's arms for I awoke when a familiar voice intruded on a pleasant dream, "Hello, lovebirds."

Jack Sparrow stood over us, effectively blocking the sun. When I moved, Will started and also woke up. Rachel was standing above us, beside her father.

I smiled up at Jack, "Oh, good, you've come back for her!"

"Oh, well, I really thought we might to stay for the wedding. I do love weddings, you know," came his reply. He offered his hand, but I ignored it and stood on my own. Will followed suit.

"Well, it's a shame you're not invited then, isn't it?" Will put in.

"Well, I already got to see the honeymoon, kids, hadn't I ought to at least witness the ceremony?"

"No!" came our answer in unison. "And, besides," I continued, "Isn't it a little bit dangerous for you to be here?"

Jack grinned and withdrew a leather bound sheet of parchment. I recognized it immediately as a Letter of Marque.

I smiled back at him, "Well, since Cutler Beckett has since been tried and executed for crimes against the Crown, those are no longer worth anything."

"Aye, but it isn't signed by Beckett is it?" Jack unfolded the parchment to reveal my father's own seal.

"H-how did you get that? M-my father would never-" I sputtered.

"No, you're probably right. But, I have my daughter here to thank. Forgery seems to be a skill she inherited from my side of the family," Jack had the audacity to smile once more.

"It will not be recognized," Will ventured.

"Oh, young William, but it will. Now, where is the blesséd occasion to be held, eh?"

"As if we'd tell you," came my retort.

"It's in the mansion, Father. They've spoken of nothing for more the whole time I've been here," Rachel interjected with a sweet smile.

"We'll have you clapped in irons if you show up, mark my words," I threatened.

"On what charges, love? I'm as free as a bird. And, besides, I want nothing more than to celebrate the love of my two favorite people, eh?" Jack said, wrapping his arms around both Will and myself. Will backed away and snared me around the waist to remove me as well. "Oh, that hurts," the pirate pretended a wounded tone. "But, never mind, I'll still bring a present, all right?" With that, he took Rachel by the arm and led her to the longboat. "I'll see you on Saturday, then!" he called as he rowed.

I faced Will once more, "We really need to stay off of this beach."

He grinned down at me and kissed the back of my hand, "Oh, it's not all bad, is it? We're finally free of that hellion!" Will whooped and lifted me and spun me in the air. I couldn't help but laugh.

I moved in to kiss him, but he stayed me by placing his finger on my lips, "Not here. While this beach has it's own memories, I'd rather not be interrupted by Jack again." Will paused and thought while I frowned up at him. Then he smiled deviously down at me, "Come to the forge late tonight if you can. We'll celebrate our wedding a little early, as well as the fact that I will be able to sleep in my own bed once more."

"Won't Dolly miss you?" I teased. He pulled me close and whispered against my ear, "Not half as much as I've missed you."

I smiled and nodded up at him. "I'll be there."