Disclaimer: Disney owns POTC. I don't. Hey, maybe they'll let me write a fourth installment that focuses on Norrington! Nah, I guess that is not very likely.

The next morning found James in an exceedingly good mood. He attributed it to relief that many of the crew were back in good health and hard at work. The sickness had apparently run its course and with only a few exceptions most were able to return to their duties. He was not surprised to find no sign of Miss Thompson. She had drunk enough rum that she would probably be incapacitated for most if not all of the day. He did not envy her as he had learned the hard way what a night of drinking rum left one feeling like the next morning.

Smiling to himself he recalled the previous evening's events. It had been a stroke of luck that they had run across Sparrow and not another pirate. As exasperating as the man was he did have his own brand of honor; as testified to by the Blue Diamond shadowing them off starboard side. Sparrow would keep his pledge to see them safely to Port Royal. James felt a wave of pity for Jack. The poor man was obviously still very much in love with Elizabeth and he had taken the news of her pregnancy badly. He himself had long since let that dream go. Wryly he acknowledged that it had been much easier than he would have thought to reconcile himself to Elizabeth's rejection. His pride had been stung but his heart had been barely dented; most likely because his heart had not played a large role in his decision to marry her. The match had seemed eminently suitable and he had proceeded on those grounds rather than some absurd idea of grand passion. Given time he would find another equally suitable woman to be his bride.

Meanwhile, he had to fulfill his duty of safely seeing Miss Thompson to her new home; Miss Thompson a most eminently unsuitable young woman. A frown crossed his brow as he remembered her actions. What kind of young lady went around demanding kisses from not just one but two gentlemen in an evening? Her behavior was completely unacceptable and she needed to be taught a lesson before she found herself in a totally compromising position. Given the amount of drink she had, it was likely that she would remember very little of the previous evening and he could use that to illustrate to her just how dangerous her choices had been last night. He had advised her to refrain from the rum but she had ignored him. She should learn to listen to those more experienced and wiser than her. He would drop subtle hints about what had occurred and let her stew and fret. Surely her imagination would come up with enough scenarios to shame her into behaving more appropriately in the future.

Katherine awoke to the smell of breakfast. Opening her eyes she saw Jenny carrying a breakfast tray. Yawning she looked down and was surprised to find herself wearing her chemise and not a nightgown. She frowned in confusion for a moment before the events of last night came rushing back in a jumble of memories. Well she would sort that out later, right now she was famished.

"Jenny, bless you. I am starving. However, it really is unnecessary to spoil me so. I know that you are busy in the galley."

Jenny smiled, "Oh no, miss. Almost all the men are better now and there's no need for me or you to assist anymore. That's why I didn't wake you earlier. Besides you must be tired after last night's adventure?" Jenny's remarks were delivered in a tone that bespoke of hopes for more information.

Tucking into her meal Katherine agreed, "Last night was eventful."

Eyes shining with excitement Jenny asked, "Oh please tell me everything, Miss Katherine. They say you dined with a pirate captain? Was he very wicked?"

A smile curved Katherine's lips, "Yes, he was quite wicked and devilishly handsome," and here she paused thoughtfully before adding, "But he was also nice and gentlemanly."

The maid's face fell as she heard this bit of information. A pirate who was a gentleman? There was nothing exciting about that.

Sensing Jenny's disappointment, Katherine whispered conspiratorially, "Jenny, do you promise not to tell anyone else if I tell you a secret?"

"Oh no, miss. I'd not breathe a word to a living soul," she eagerly assured her mistress.

Katherine leaned forward and whispered, "I kissed him."

Jenny's eyes grew wide. "Really, miss? What was it like?"

"It was very pleasant. He tasted of rum."

Having had her appetite for gossip whetted, Jenny begged for a total accounting of the evening's events and Katherine willingly obliged. She only hesitated when she reached the part of the tale that involved her being returned to her room by the Commodore. Her hesitancy was not due to modesty but rather a lack of information. She could clearly recall everything up to and including Jack's kiss. After that things were a bit fuzzy. It was difficult to determine what was real and what had been a dream. Since she was unsure of the truth, she declined to impart any but the most basic information on that matter. Jenny, who was fairly swooning at the thought of being kissed by a heartbroken pirate, did not notice Katherine's sudden reticence. The two spent the rest of the day below deck catching up on the various and sundry tasks that they had neglected while helping to crew the ship.

Dinner was a jovial affair. Captain Wilson was back to good health and happy to be out of the sick bed as were all of the men. Venison was notably absent from the table. After the last course had been served, Captain Wilson raised his glass, "Miss Thompson. Commodore Norrington. Not only did the two of you ably assist in keeping us afloat but you managed to negotiate our safety. There are few who would have been able to do that. The loss of goods we suffered is nothing when compared to the usual outcome from an encounter with pirates. I have no idea of how you managed it but I shall ever be your grateful servant."

James waited until everyone had sipped the wine and then remarked, "I am afraid that I cannot take the credit, Captain. It was all Miss Thompson's doing. She thoroughly charmed Captain Sparrow. He has become so enthralled that he has offered his protection until we arrive at Port Royal. Her methods of persuasion are indeed formidable."

Only Katherine appeared to notice James' emphasis on the word persuasion. She sharply glanced towards him to find him fixing her with a knowing expression. James was startled to find that she unwaveringly returned his gaze. He had expected blushes as she tried in vain to remember what had happened. Evidently Miss Thompson did not disconcert that easily. He would have to up the ante.

"Miss Thompson, might I request a turn around the deck? I shall have to compile a report for my superiors and it would be best to compare our memories of the encounter before they fade."

Wondering why the dratted man was being so cryptic Katherine acquiesced, "Of course, Commodore Norrington. I am at your service." She suspected that he was going to take her to task for her behavior but she was willing to endure that because she wanted to ask him a question. All day long the suspicion that they had kissed had grown stronger and stronger and she wanted to know the truth of the matter.

They strolled in silence for a few minutes before Katherine queried, "You wanted to compare recollections, Commodore?"

James wanted to laugh. He knew that she would not be able to wait long before taking the opportunity to gain information from him. Eagerly anticipating her flustered expression he said with a superior smile, "Yes, Miss Thompson. Why don't you go first?"

Shrugging, Katherine related all that she could remember of the time spent aboard the Blue Diamond. She did not omit any details and concluded with, "The last really clear thing that I can recall is asking Jack to kiss me." She smiled at the memory. "He tasted like rum, although I suppose given the amount that we had both to drink that is no great surprise." She looked up to find James' staring at her with an annoyed expression.

"I know, Commodore. You needn't bother to say it. Going around kissing pirates is not the done thing in society. Fortunately, I do not care what society thinks."

James was speechless. The damn woman remembered everything. She had effectively put paid to his plans to teach her the error of her ways.

"Now I have a question for you, Commodore."

"Yes?' he answered warily uncertain of this remarkable creature before him.

"Well after kissing Jack things become less clear. I believe that I kept falling in and out of slumber and I cannot untangle fact from dream. I vaguely remember you carrying me back to the ship and my room. Did anything else occur that I should know about?"

Ah so there was a chink in her armor; James fairly crowed with delight. It would not be as effective a lesson as if the whole evening were a blank but it was a start. Maintaining a bland expression he politely asked, "Whatever do you mean, Miss Thompson?"

"Did we engage in anything that might be cause for concern?"

"I am afraid I do not understand your question, Miss Thompson." This time James was unable to keep the smirk from his face.

Frustrated Katherine demanded, "Damn it, James Norrington , stop playing games with me. Did you kiss me?"

James slowly counted to ten and watched her temper rise until he at last answered, "No."

"No?" Katherine let out a sigh of relief but still could not shake the nagging impression that they had kissed. "Well that makes sense. After all, it's not as if we suit in any way and you are hardly the type to be act improperly."

James had intended to spare her from the embarrassing truth but her casual dismissal of the possibility of their kissing pricked and led him to reveal, "You did not give me the opportunity to completely answer your question. No, I did not kiss you. You kissed me, Miss Thompson."

Katherine could offer no opposition to this outrageous statement because as soon as she heard it she knew that it was true. "My apologies, Commodore. My only excuse is that I had far too much to drink. I never would have done such a thing otherwise."

Her apology fanned his irritation into anger. So the only way that she would kiss him is if she was drunk? He noticed that she had not offered that explanation for kissing Sparrow. Evidently Sparrow was a specimen worth kissing, drunk or sober. James did not pause to examine that much of his ire was due to the fact that all day long her soft sigh of 'Your kisses taste like heaven' had echoed in his mind and now here she was claiming that she would never knowingly kiss him. He knew that it was ungentlemanly but he could not stop himself, "Do you not wish to know what you said I tasted like?"

Seeing the smug expression on his face, Katherine immediately went into retreat mode. Whatever she had said would surely be embarrassing or he would not be raising the topic. "Not particularly," she sniffed.

A lift of his eyebrow was James' only response.

An uncomfortable silence stretched for a few moments and then Katherine could no longer contain her curiosity, "Well, what did I say?"

"You said I tasted like heaven."

"I did not. You are making that up. I would never say such a ridiculously fanciful thing," protested a disconcerted Katherine.

"In vino veritas," drawled James who was now hugely enjoying her discomfiture.

"Firstly, it was rum and not wine so that platitude does not apply. Secondly, your kiss could not have been that great if I cannot even recall it. After all, I do remember Jack's kiss., she triumphantly argued.

"Ah but you forget, Miss Thompson. You kissed me. Being the gentleman that I am, I did not take advantage of you and return the favor," James piously informed her. Then once again driven by a force that he did not understand, he leaned over and softly whispered in her ear, "Rest assured, Miss Thompson, when I kiss you, you shall not forget it."

With that statement, he departed and left an open mouthed Katherine standing alone on the deck.