Disclaimer: Nope. They're not mine. Life is a bitch and then you die.

AN: To those who faithfully review, bless you. To those who never review, just click on the damn button and do so. You will make my life ever so much better.

As she absent mindedly opened and examined her mail, Katherine mentally reviewed the past few weeks. She smiled to herself as she realized that she and James had gone sailing on three occasions and that, with the exception of one minor verbal skirmish, they had gotten along rather well. The tension that had gripped her every time that she was near him seemed to have diminished somewhat. Maybe they could develop a friendship based on their mutual joy of sailing and reading?

She had also met with Jack for two more assignations. A frown creased her brow as she recalled those memories; things hadn't progressed any further than kisses and the occasional light caress. While this was most pleasurable, it was also all rather tame. It really was rather disappointing. Katherine had expected things to move along more quickly than they had been doing. She would have to speak to Jack about their lack of progress when she met him tonight; after all she wasn't getting any younger. Her line of thought was interrupted when she read the letter from her father:

Katherine,

I shall set sail in two weeks for Port Royal. It is time that I check on Cuthbert's estate and the changes that you have undertaken to make. Please do not view this as a lack of faith in your abilities. I am certain that you have everything well in hand but there are formalities to be followed and documents to sign before the estate will fully pass into your hands. If everything is in order, as I suspect it shall be, then I can relinquish guardianship and allow you to take full reign.

It will have the extra benefit of placing me with you for the holidays. I am certain that you will find it comforting to have some family with you during the season. We also have some personal matters to discuss that are better addressed face to face.

Regards,

Your Father

P.S. I really have missed you my dear.

Impatiently she brushed the tears from her eyes. This was the first indication that her father had given that he was ready to put the past events firmly into the past. She missed her family and in particular her father with whom she had always been very close. It was his rejection that had hurt the most and, until this one, all of his letters had been impersonal in nature. She found that she was suddenly anticipating the holidays with a great deal more enthusiasm. It had been difficult to get into the spirit when everything had remained sunny and warm for she was used to snow marking the beginning of the celebrations. Katherine gave a light laugh as it occurred to her that she would be seeing her father in just a little over a fortnight.

There was so much for her to accomplish not the least of all being a chat with Mr. Jenkins who was overseeing the renovations. Work on the house was stalled and despite her prodding not much progress had been made. She found it difficult to comprehend why all of the craftsmen and laborers should be so busy that they could not squeeze time out to finish the work on her home. It would only take a few weeks' worth of solid work to make it habitable. The refurbishment would still not be complete by the time her father arrived but there could be enough progress to make a good impression.

Perhaps she should offer a bonus? A little extra money this time of year would surely not go wanting.

That evening as they reclined on a blanket contemplating the stars, she happily shared her news with Jack. Jack smiled and voiced all the right sentiments but she could see that her mention of spending Christmas with a family member brought a wistful expression to his face. This led her to make a daring suggestion.

"Jack, on Christmas Eve Governor Swann will be hosting a ball."

His mood not lifting he replied, "Yes, I know. He does so every year. However for some reason my invitation never seems to find its way to me."

Grinning mischievously Katherine revealed, "Well be that as it may, I have a feeling that this year you may just find that you receive one. After all, I just happen to be assisting his secretary with the arrangements and one of my tasks is to send the invitations."

"Ah yes, that could make a small difference," and he gave her an appreciative smile but it soon faded. "What would be the point, dear lady? I could hardly go parading through a party full of military men and politicians. I don't fancy spending Christmas in the gaol with only a mangy mutt to keep me company."

"That would indeed be unpleasant, but what you do not know, Jack, is that this year the ball is going to be different."

"How so?" he asked suspiciously.

"It's going to be a masquerade." Seeing his surprise, she added, "It is unusual and unconventional, I know. Elizabeth came up with the idea and insisted upon it. Her father, rather like Will, finds it more difficult every day that passes to deny her anything." Katherine could practically see the wheels turning in Jack's head.

"Well now, that is interesting. What would one have to do to get one of these said invitations?"

"It would be my pleasure to direct one your way. After all we are on intimate terms. But I do have one request. Actually it's more in the line of a complaint."

"Yes?"

"Things are moving too slowly. This is the fourth time we have been alone and we have done little more than kiss," she complained.

Jack was torn between being offended and being amused. It was a state that he often found himself in when he was with her. "Katherine, as I have said before, I believe that it is customary to let the man decide these things."

"Jack, I am looking to have an affair and a few kisses hardly qualify as an affair. Now are you going to ravish me or do I have to find someone else?"

Jack considered her question and then a smile that made him worthy of the title Pirate formed on his lips, "Katherine?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"Stop talking so much and come closer." He lowered his head and his lips covered hers.

Her eyes drifted close and she let her mind wander giving herself over to the sensations that he evoked. As on the last three occasions, she found his kisses to be pleasant and oddly reassuring. Then the tone of the kiss changed and it became more enticing, more demanding, more thrilling. His fingers drifted down and lightly caressed her through the barrier of her gown. But this time they did not stop there. He slowly unfastened her bodice and then pushed it down to her waist so that only her silk chemise was covering her. The cool air met her thinly veiled breasts and his questing fingers grew more insistent and teased and prodded her already tight nipples. Katherine felt a thrill of excitement course through her and she arched up to meet him. It felt delicious. When his mouth replaced his fingers on the tip of one aching breast Katherine thought that she might die from the sheer wonderfulness of it. He lathed the delicate peak through the thin barrier of silk and Katherine was unable to prevent a desperate low moan, "James."

The word had the same effect on Jack as it had had on James. Jack was suddenly reminded of where he was and who he was with. He had only meant to scare her into some sort of retreat but things had gotten out of control. Reluctantly he pulled back and ignored Katherine's discontented protest at the loss of his lips. His fingers quickly and somewhat roughly repaired her bodice to its rightful state.

Katherine, with her eyes now wide open, demanded, "Whatever is the matter? Why did you stop?"

With a touch of asperity Jack told her, "Luv, I have on occasion had a woman who lay beneath me doing her duty and thinking of England. I, however, draw the line at having a woman lay beneath me thinking of an English Commodore." At her confused expression he elaborated, "My name is Jack not James as you so enticingly murmured a few short moments ago."

Katherine's' face reflected a range of emotions from stunned to embarrassed to chagrined. "Jack, I did not mean to …. I was not…" She could not finish the denial because she had in truth been thinking of James and imagining his hands on her. In a small voice she offered, "I'm sorry Jack."

"Apology accepted, Katherine. I was foolish to do what I did. I will not apologize because it's what's in my blood but I knew the risk. I knew of your liking for your Commodore before I entered this bargain."

"He is not my Commodore," Katherine protested. "We only just barely get along. This makes no sense at all," she finished on an almost petulant note.

"Desire rarely does. Why don't you try kissing him again and see what happens? You two seemed cozy enough when I saw you on the balcony."

"He was just trying to scare me into not living alone."

Jack smiled to himself. It appeared as if he and James were more alike than he had thought. They had both sought to frighten the lady and he would wager that he was not the only one who had found himself losing control of his passions. Jack had seen their kiss and he had also seen James take an unusually long time on the balcony after she had gone inside. James had had the look of a man trying valiantly to leash his ardor. "Are you sure that was his only reason?"

"Quite. He has not even so much as touched me since that night." Katherine was unaware of the wistful note in her voice.

God, he forgot what an innocent she was. It had been a long time since he had spoken with a lady so naïve in matters of the flesh. "Katherine, for the foreseeable future I will not be touching you either. Not because I do not wish to but because I would not be able to stop at a mere touch. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Katherine's eyes widened and her mouth formed a small 'oh'. "Jack, do you think that he? Hhmmmnnn." She pondered Jack's words for a while. "Well then, I shall just have to put my request for an affair to him," she announced with a decided air.

Jack was thankful that she was so preoccupied with her discovery that she failed to see the devilish grin that spread across his face. This was going to be priceless and he did not want to miss the entertainment. "Aye, Katherine, that is a good idea. Why don't you wait until the ball? It will add a thrilling touch of mystery to your suggestion. He will not able to resist."

The ache in Jack's groin only allowed for approximately three seconds worth of guilt over his manipulation; seeing the good Commodore's reaction would be worth a fair amount of gold. Surely he was entitled to a little more payment for his efforts to keep Katherine out of trouble? If it was not to be collected in kisses then he would collect it another way. Norrington was going to hit the roof when she made him her offer to engage in an illicit dalliance. Jack found that he was suddenly anticipating the holidays with a great deal more enthusiasm.