Disclaimer: Disney, those #&# rats, owns all of POTC and they are making me suffer while I wait to see what they will do to Norrington in the third movie. Meanwhile I am just playing with him and the other characters for my own amusement.
AN: Thank you to all who wished me a good trip. I had a wonderful time but it's nice to be home and writing again. Sorry about the delay but jet lag caught up and I was too tired to think let alone write a coherent sentence.
The rest of the evening passed in bit of a blur for Katherine. She was so determined to ignore the effect that James Norrington had had on her that she threw herself into flirtations with several young men. Yet in spite of her frantic efforts, here she was several hours later lying in bed still able to feel the firm pressure of his lips and taste his kisses. It was almost as if he had branded her.
It was useless trying to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes his image filled her mind and she felt a strange yearning to be back in his arms. This really was intolerable. Why on earth was she so attracted to the man? He was rigid, insufferable, arrogant, and for goodness sake she didn't even like him; yet her body responded to even the memory of his touch. Well if this was what other women were always carrying on about and reading about in novels, she could happily live without it. Commodore Norrington made her feel out of control and she did not like that feeling one little bit.
An idea occurred to Katherine. She had fibbed when she said that she was considering propositions of a romantic nature from other men but perhaps that was the solution to her problem. Surely her inexplicable reactions to Commodore Norrington were nothing more than her body's way of telling her that it was ready for physical intimacy. After all she was nearly five and twenty and other than a few kisses and the unfortunate incident with Sir Huntley she had never explored the pleasures of the flesh. Perhaps she should consider taking a lover. It was not as if she had a reputation to protect; half of London already thought her a shameless tart. It did not matter that their assumptions were wrong and based on lies for the damage had been done and there was no reversing it.
Katherine smiled feeling pleased with herself for having figured out the solution to her problem. All she needed to do was to find some nice man to engage in a love affair with and then she would regain control of her errant body. It was too bad that Captain Sparrow was not available for he would surely take her up on her offer. As soon as Katherine had this thought, an inconsistency from earlier in the evening flitted to the forefront of her mind. She remembered that when she and the Commodore had stood on the balcony that she could have sworn that she had smelt rum. She had just been about to comment on it when he had distracted her with the question about why she had not married.
Curiosity drove Katherine from her bed. She pulled on a robe and padded barefoot downstairs and out onto the lawn. The moon gave just enough light for her to be able to make out objects. After a few minutes of looking around for anything amiss, she found it. Next to a tree there was a half empty bottle of rum. Katherine would bet that Jack had left it there, for if someone climbed up to the first branch the position of the tree would give them a clear view into the ballroom. Having solved the mystery Katherine was about to go back inside when another thought occurred.
"Jack Sparrow, come on out and show yourself," she whispered into the night. When she received no reply, she tried again. Still, there was no reply. In a somewhat louder voice she nonchalantly said, "Well I guess I might as well dump out the remains of the rum if there is no one here to claim it," and she lifted the bottle.
"Bloody hell, Katherine, don't do that. What is it with women and the wasting of perfectly good rum?" Jack complained as he emerged from behind a bush.
"I had no intention of actually pouring it out," Katherine loftily decreed. "I was just trying to flush you out of your hiding spot."
Eyeing her suspiciously, Jack asked, "How did you know I was out here?"
"I smelt the rum earlier in the evening."
"And you immediately thought of me? Well I can't say I'm not flattered luv but why would you…" and here a smile of remembrance crossed his features, "Ah yes. You said I tasted of rum." Jack looked ridiculously pleased with himself.
Katherine dryly admonished him, "Do not let it go to your head, Captain Sparrow. It is natural that the smell of rum should cause me to think of you. The only time that I have ever imbibed in it was aboard your ship." Seeing his crestfallen expression she added, "However, I will concede that your kiss did indeed taste of rum and that may have played a minor role in my association between the smell of rum and you."
"How did you know that I was still here and not returned to the Diamond?"
She laughed, "Well when I realized that the bottle was half full, I knew that you could not be far away. You would never waste or leave behind good rum."
Jack joined in her laughter, "I do believe that you are a woman after my own heart, Katherine. Now be a grand lady and give me my rum back."
"Only if you will tell me why you are here."
Jack's expression immediately sobered. "I wanted to see for myself."
"See what?"
"See how happy they are together," Jack mumbled and added, "Now give me my rum."
Katherine's heart went out to him and she handed him the bottle. "Jack, why are you torturing yourself?"
"I can't help it. She was the first woman I ever considered giving up pirating for. Now I understand how Davy Jones must have felt."
"You are wallowing in self pity Jack and it is not very becoming on a man like you. Have you ever stopped to think that you would not be happy living a quiet respectable existence? You need to find a woman who wants to share in your life," Katherine scolded him.
Jack took another swig of rum and contemplated her words. She made sense and deep in his heart he knew that things never would have worked between him and Elizabeth. Dreams of living in a small house and raising a family with Elizabeth had been just that: dreams. Settling down was not in his nature but still a man does reach an age where he would like some sense of family and belonging. And she needn't have been so blunt in her assessment of his situation. He decided to pay her back with a little teasing, "Would you be offering to fill the position yourself?"
"Yes."
Stunned it was all could do to squeak out, "Yes?"
"Well, no. I mean, yes. Yes I would like to have an affair with you, but no I do not wish to marry you. Now are you going to hog all the rum or will you be a gentleman and share?"
Wordlessly Jack handed her the bottle of rum and watched as she took a long draught. He continued to stare at her as if she had sprouted a third eye. Disbelievingly he inquired, "You want to have an affair with me?"
Wiping the mouth of the bottle before handing it back to him she said exasperatedly, "Have you gone hard of hearing, Jack? Yes. I am requesting to have an affair with you."
Regaining some of his composure he demanded, "Why?"
Now it was Katherine who was at a loss for words. For goodness sake here she had just offered herself up as a mistress to a pirate and he was concerned with why. She did not think that he would take too kindly to learning that she wanted to erase all memory of James Norrington's kisses and caresses so she claimed only part of the truth. "Well I am soon to be five and twenty years old and I believe that it is well past time that I experience more of life. After all, I have no desire to marry so there reason to go on saving myself."
Jack groaned. Why did he perpetually find himself in these ridiculous situations? "You're a virgin?"
"You needn't say that like I have some fatal disease," Katherine stated coldly and her tone dared him to make fun of her.
Matching her haughty tone, Jack pronounced, "I am afraid, Katherine, that I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request."
"What?" Katherine could not believe that he was turning her down.
Jack threw her words back at her, "Have you gone hard of hearing, Katherine? My answer to your generous offer is no."
Indignant at having her proposal refused Katherine demanded, "Why not? You are a pirate. You are supposed to jump at an opportunity like this. You said that you find me attractive."
Jack considered how to answer her question. Under other circumstances she was correct and he would have gladly taken her up on her offer. But earlier he had witnessed the kisses and interchange between her and the Commodore. He knew that she was more likely reacting to James' inept handling of the situation rather than a true desire to have an illicit tryst. Jack silently cursed the burdensome sense of honor that he had developed over the past few years. Life was so much easier when you followed the pirate code of every man for himself. Unfortunately, bonds of friendship negated the pirate code and he had formed a sort of friendship with James Norrington. Katherine belonged to James, even if she had yet to accept that reality, and Jack was not going to poach. Besides he had tried poaching before and it had only led to heartbreak.
An impatient Katherine interrupted his thoughts, "I am awaiting an answer to my perfectly reasonable question."
Jack realized that telling her the truth would only infuriate her so he improvised, "Well, luv, deflowering innocent maidens is not my style. Too much work. I prefer a woman who knows her way around, if you get my meaning."
"That is ludicrous. How is a woman supposed to learn anything if a man won't teach her?"
He could not think quickly enough to counter this rather logical argument so he merely gave a mysterious smile.
"Fine. Be that way. I will just have to find someone else. Thank you for nothing, Captain Sparrow." A huffy Katherine turned to leave.
"Wait." Jack could see that she was hell bent and determined on this course of action and he was certain that the next man she made her proposal to would likely agree to her suggestion. If he appeared to be going along with her wishes, he might be able to save her from her own folly. Jack just hoped that James would be smart enough to stop pissing around and claim what was his before too much more time passed. "I've changed my mind. But if we do this, we do it my way."
Katherine looked like she was about to argue the issue.
"Are you wanting my assistance or not?" Jack snapped.
She gave him a sunny smile and agreed, "Okay. We shall do it your way. Now kiss me."
Jack laughed, "Katherine, the first thing you need to learn is that a man likes to decide when and where he'll kiss a lady. He does not like to be ordered to do so."
"Really Jack, for a pirate you seem inordinately fond of rules and procedures. I fail to see the problem. We've already kissed once before. I am simply requesting a kiss to seal our bargain."
Because she had a valid point, Jack decided that one little kiss would not be entirely out of order. Besides it was not his fault that James had made such a muck of things. Surely he deserved a little repayment for his noble intentions? Jack took her into his arms and began to kiss her. He had meant to keep the kiss light and superficial but Katherine persisted in deepening the kiss and he followed; after all he was made of flesh and blood not stone and she was a tantalizing young woman.
After several minutes they broke apart. Jack wryly noted that she appeared more vexed than dazed with passion.
Cautiously she offered, "Well…that was pleasant. Wasn't it?"
Wounded male pride fought with amusement at the absurdity of the situation; obviously his kisses had been found wanting. Amusement won but he was careful not to show it to Katherine. "Aye, Katherine. Very pleasant. Now luv it's time you get going inside. I'll let you know next time I'm back and we can explore some more pleasant activities."
An unusually subdued Katherine agreed, "Yes, it is rather late. I look forward to hearing from you." and she headed inside.
Jack stood in the garden for several minutes contemplating the lengths that one was forced to go to assist a friend. James Norrington was going to owe him a rather large debt before this whole situation was resolved. As he headed for the ship, it occurred to him that not once since Katherine had made her offer had he thought of Elizabeth. In fact, even thinking of Elizabeth now did not cause the usual pang in his heart. Perhaps Norrington wasn't going to be so very much in his debt after all.
As Katherine crawled back into bed, she reviewed the events of the past half hour. The kiss had indeed been very pleasant. Jack Sparrow evidently knew what he was doing when it came to kissing. The only problem was that it was still James Norrington's touch that she craved.