Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original POTC characters. I do own Katherine but she's not much fun without James to play with.
"Do stop being difficult, Katherine. It will be fun," an exasperated Elizabeth said cajolingly.
"I have no doubt that I should enjoy the sailing, Elizabeth, but the company would leave much to be desired." Seeing Elizabeth's wounded expression she added, "Don't be absurd, Elizabeth, I am not referring to you and Will. I am referring to your Commodore."
"James is hardly my Commodore, Katherine. But that is just the point. I long to go sailing and James owns the only private sailboat in Port Royal. Given our history it would be rather awkward for James, Will, and I to go on an outing together. If you come along, it will ease the situation."
"Elizabeth, I highly doubt that my presence would ease any tensions. More likely the Commodore and I will end up throwing each other overboard," Katherine wryly contradicted.
Elizabeth laughed, "Well that would have the benefit of eliminating any awkward silences," and here she put on her best pleading puppy look, "However, if you cannot do this one tiny little favor for a friend…"
Katherine knew when she was beaten. "Fine. I shall accompany you but do not expect me to be deferential to the man. It may be his boat but I will not take orders from him."
"Wonderful! We shall go tomorrow. I will have Mrs. Clancy pack us a hamper for lunch."
"Does Commodore Norrington even know that I will be coming?"
Smiling mischievously Elizabeth assured her, "Of course he knows. I believe that he took only slightly more prodding than you to agree. Now what will you wear? I think that we can safely say that breeches are out of the question."
"Elizabeth, if you were not pregnant…"
The next morning found Katherine looking forward to the outing. It had been far too long since she had sailed and she had missed it horribly. The opportunity to crew would more than make up for the fact that she would have to endure Commodore Norrington's company for a few hours. Last night she had modified one of her day dresses into a sailing costume like she had worn aboard the ship during her journey. Katherine refused to dwell on why she did not simply wear the drab brown dress that had already been converted but had instead chosen one of her more flatteringly colored outfits to refit.
When she joined Will in the parlor, Will gallantly commented to her, "You look lovely, Miss Thompson. I see that you are all set to sail."
Unable to contain her joy at the prospect of a day of sailing Katherine grinned, "Thank you for the compliment but please do call me Katherine. I believe that it is more than proper since Elizabeth and I have grown to be such good friends."
"Very well then, I'll call you Katherine and you must call me Will. We really are not so terribly formal here in Port Royal anyway. I am grateful to you for agreeing to accompany us on this outing. Ever since she has become with child, Elizabeth has taken to having the oddest whims."
Elizabeth entered the room just in time to hear his last words. "Yes I have indeed developed some strange desires and tastes and I thank you dear husband for doing your best to fulfill them."
Katherine watched as a slow flush crept up Will's neck and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. She supposed that some of the desires had to do with matters of a very personal nature and speculated that this was part of the reason why Will was so unwilling to deny Elizabeth anything. She wondered what it would be like to have a man so obviously and completely in love with you.
"Well we had better be going," Will said in a poorly concealed attempt to redirect the conversation. Elizabeth merely laughed and the three left the house.
When they arrived at the dock, James was busy preparing for sail. Once again he had eschewed his uniform. This time it was in favor of a simple pair of breeches and white shirt. Katherine hated to admit it but he did look rather handsome and actually much younger.
"Good morning, Elizabeth, Will, Miss Thompson," James greeted them while continuing to work. "Will, if you'll help me unfurl this sail we can get under way soon."
"What can I do to assist?" Katherine queried.
James stopped working and considered her for moment. Katherine waited for him to dismiss her help and was ready to take him to task.
"It would help if you could secure the line…," his request was interrupted by a groan from Elizabeth.
The three immediately rushed to her side and Will helped her to sit down. Elizabeth fanned herself and said apologetically, "I am so sorry. It would appear as if my offspring has other plans for today. I fear that I am feeling rather queasy and I doubt that sailing is a good idea."
Katherine immediately sympathized, "Of course, Elizabeth, let's take you home shall we?"
"Oh no, Katherine. Will can see me home. You and James must continue with the outing. I should so hate to see all this planning and work go to waste."
"Nonsense. We shall do it another day," Katherine firmly declared.
Elizabeth adopted a stubborn set to her jaw. "I insist, Katherine. Please do not make me feel worse about this than I already do."
"Will?" Katherine appealed for help.
Will felt Elizabeth squeeze his hand and understanding dawned. Not once during her pregnancy had Elizabeth felt any sort of queasiness. In fact it was a joke between them how she had a stomach of cast iron. It was a little much to believe that at this precise moment that should change. He noticed James looked decidedly unconcerned which wasn't like James at all. The two of them were up to something. Well, he wasn't going to spoil their plotting. "I agree with Elizabeth. No use in everyone staying behind. I am sure that you and James are capable of sailing without my assistance."
Over Katherine's head, James shot Will a look of gratitude. James picked up the hamper and stowed it onboard. "Yes, well that is settled. Shall we get under way, Miss Thompson?"
Katherine stood on the dock and looked in vain for some sort of divine intervention that would prevent her from having to accompany the Commodore alone. When there was none forthcoming, she shrugged her shoulders and sighed, "Yes, Commodore Norrington, we might as well set sail. I shall see you two later. I hope that you feel better, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth gave a beaming smile, "Thank you, Katherine. I am certain that everything will be much better in a little while. Have fun. Will, can you help me to my feet?" The pair made their way down the dock with Will whispering into Elizabeth's ear and Elizabeth emitting a low giggle.
"Miss Thompson?" James prompted.
Katherine boarded the boat. She supposed that she might as well enjoy what she could from this farce. The sailing would be pleasurable even if the company was not and the Commodore was surely no more thrilled with the arrangement than she. It would be unbelievably rude to sulk about the situation.
An hour later found them peacefully enjoying the feel of the wind and the smell of the sea. Neither had said much to each other beyond the occasional request for assistance. Katherine was surprised at how well they worked together with each seeming to instinctively know what the other was about to do. Now that they were under full sail there was little to do but sit back and relax.
James began to unpack the hamper of food. "Would you care for something to eat or drink?'
"Thank you, Commodore Norrington. The sea air does give one an appetite doesn't it?'
"James."
"What?"
"Call me James."
"But that wouldn't be proper," Katherine protested.
"I thought you were the one who did not give a fig for social conventions," James teased her and added, "You call Will by his first name. This is scarcely any different."
It was highly disconcerting to have James quote her own words back at her but he was correct; she did not care much about the proprieties. That was not what she found objectionable about calling him by his first name. What she found objectionable was the level of intimacy that it fostered but she could not very well tell him that. "Fine. James."
"Good. Now, what would you like to eat, Katherine?"
Katherine was about to take him to task for using her given name without permission when she saw the smile on his face; that rat. He was baiting her. He was just waiting for her to object. "Well, James, I think that I shall have one of those delicious looking pieces of chicken."
The two ate in companionable silence for a while before James queried, "Why did you move to Port Royal?"
"I… I would rather not discuss that. Suffice to say that I was essentially running from my problems and my family was more than willing to assist me." After a few more minutes of silence she offered, "I would like to apologize for tricking you into escorting me. It was not fair of us to do so but I really did need to leave London and you were the quickest way for me to do so."
James gave her a considering look. "Apology accepted. Your instincts were correct. I would not have escorted you if I had known that you were … well that does not matter. No lasting harm was done. Besides, you provided my mother with a great deal of entertainment at my expense. I am sure that she owes you a debt of gratitude."
"Your mother?"
James grinned, "Yes. I wondered why she wished me an interesting journey when I told her that I was escorting the unassuming and quiet elder Miss Thompson. Evidently the two of you have crossed paths before and she knew the truth of the matter."
Katherine laughed, "Wait a moment. Your mother is Clarice Norrington? I do not know why that did not occur to me before now. We have occasionally attended the same social functions. I do quite like your mother. She says what she thinks and does not care about others' opinions of her. I can scarcely believe that she is your mother."
"Yes. That is the reaction of most upon learning of our relation," James agreed dryly. "I believe that I take after my father more than her although she does her best to alter that fact."
The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly and quickly. James and Katherine had returned to the easy state of conversation and comradeship that had existed before, when they had discussed literature. The state that had existed before James had firmly put his foot in his mouth by offering to have Elizabeth teach Katherine how to attract a husband.
Upon their return to shore James was happy with the progress that he had made in repairing and furthering their relationship. Not only had he and Katherine spent several hours in each other's company without once resorting to bickering, but he had also secured a promise from her to join him again for sailing on the following Sunday.
That evening an extremely optimistic and smug James wrote a letter to his mother:
Mother,
At our last meeting you expressed a wish to come visit. I believe that the time is now appropriate. Perhaps you would care to join me for the Christmas holidays?
You should plan on spending at least a few months as I have hopes of presenting you with the Christmas gift for which , as you constantly remind me, you have long awaited.
Your loving son,
James
P.S. A friendly warning would not have been unwelcome