Disclaimer: I have saved and saved but alas I do not believe that I have enough money to successfully launch a hostile takeover of Disney and gain control of POTC.

AN: Sorry about the delay. I just got a huge promotion at work and have been putting in some rather intense hours. Please review, it makes me so happy when I come home late to find little botfanfictions in my mailbox. I promise to try to update at least once a week.

James instinctively turned and stepped in front of Katherine shielding her from their uninvited guests' view.

At first spying the passionate couple, Governor Swann had assumed that it was one of the many young pairs from the village. "James?" a flummoxed Governor Swann questioned. James Norrington was the last person that he would ever have thought to be found in such an indecorous situation.

James' flustered glance took in the entourage hovering near the door. Not only was the Governor present but he was joined by Mr. Thompson and of all unlikely people the ubiquitous Sparrow. Great, just great. The one time in his life that he allowed himself to get thoroughly carried away by passion and he had to be caught like a young boy with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Well James this is… this is unexpected. I take it that a celebration is on order?"

"That all depends on, Mr. Thompson," and here James addressed Katherine's father, "Sir, shall I call in the morning to make arrangements?"

Katherine who had glimpsed the intruders requested, "Jack, would you be so kind as to lend me your coat?" She had managed to reattach the broach but when James had first embraced her he had been fresh from the fountain and her dress had become soaked through and was indecent.

"Anything for a damsel in distress." Correctly interpreting her dilemma, Jack, lips quirking with amusement, removed his coat and tossed it to James who held it behind his back for Katherine to shrug into.

Having solved her immediate problem, Katherine felt a wave of humiliation sweep over her. To be caught in such a comprising position. How was she ever going to live this down? Fortunately it had not been strangers who stumbled upon them, so the matter could be quickly dealt with and put firmly in the past. Stepping around James, she bravely held her head high and announced, "Excuse me, gentlemen. I believe that I shall retire for the evening."

Just as she was about to exit the room, Katherine heard her father address James. "You are correct, Commodore Norrington. We need go over the terms. But why wait until tomorrow, why not settle the matter tonight?"

Curious, Katherine halted and turned. In her initial embarrassment of the moment she had paid no attention to James' words to the Governor and her father. Now, she did. "Arrangements for what? What terms are you talking about?"

A somewhat perplexed Mr. Thompson answered, "Why for your wedding of course." He could not understand why Katherine seemed so shocked by this answer. He had heartily agreed with Mrs. Norrington's assessment of the situation and had diligently refrained from mentioning his earlier communications with James but surely the two had reached an understanding? Why else would they be so heedless of societal conventions?

At Mr. Thompson's pronouncement Jack chimed in, "A wedding. I love weddings. Drinks all around," and he crossed to the drinks trolley and began pouring.

Katherine felt as if she were going mad or had suddenly been dropped into the midst of a French farce. A quick survey of the room's other occupants revealed three men wearing beaming smiles and a fourth man wearing a look of supreme satisfaction as if he were a cat that had just finished a bowl of cream. The fourth was her supposed intended. This was crazy. There was no way that she was going to marry James Norrington. All she had wanted was a light hearted affair; a chance to explore her more sensual side. "Do not be absurd, Father. Commodore Norrington and I are not marrying. What occurred here was regrettable but certainly not serious enough to require marriage," Katherine testily snapped.

At her words, James felt his satisfaction slip away. He would not have chosen to have things unfold as they had but he had felt relief at having the matter so quickly and decisively resolved. James had not been looking forward to trying to voice the appropriate words to woo Katherine and cajole her into accepting his proposal. Their being caught in flagrante had cut through all of the intervening awkward steps in his proposal. After what had just transpired, she had no sensible choice to but to agree to become his wife. Of course Katherine, yet again behaving as only Katherine did, was refusing to see reason. A hard note creeping into his voice he told her, "Your father and I need to have a discussion. Tomorrow, you and I can set a date and begin planning. Good night." James accepted the proffered drink from Jack and took a long swallow. He needed the fortification.

Dumbfounded at being so casually and thoroughly dismissed, Katherine just stood for a moment gathering her wits. Tightly she informed him, "I assure you, Commodore Norrington, that you and my father have no need to discuss any matters pertaining to a union between you and me, for that event will never occur. Perhaps your overdeveloped sense of propriety compels you to make this ridiculous offer but it is not necessary and most definitely not welcome."

James and Katherine stood glaring at each other. Sensing that this confrontation would only degenerate further Mr. Thompson tactfully intervened, "Katherine, everyone is a little upset at the moment. Why don't you adjourn for the night and we will talk in the morning?"

Katherine saw the wisdom in her father's suggestion. She was overwrought and thoroughly disturbed and angered by how completely and totally she had been willing to surrender to James. If she stayed in this room a moment longer she was likely to say or do something that would both shock and offend Governor Swann. Heck, with the mood she was in, she was capable of behavior that would even shock and offend Jack. A temporary retreat was the best option. Besides now that her father was aware of her feelings on the subject he would never consent to James' offer. As graciously as she could muster she murmured, "Goodnight, Governor Swann, Jack, Father." She left the room closing the door with a decided click.

The four men remained silent for a several minutes after her haughty departure. Finally Jack went to James and refilled his now empty glass. "Well, mate, your life with her will never be dull."

James wryly agreed, "Yes, I doubt that boredom will ever be a problem. On the other hand, resisting the temptation to throttle her may prove to be impossible."

"I am afraid that I have failed to follow tonight's events. If someone could enlighten me?" Governor Swann implored.

"You are not the only one who is a bit confused, Swanny," Mr. Thompson assured his friend. Turning to James he queried, "I take it that you and Katherine had not yet discussed matrimony?"

"No, sir. I had intended to propose this evening but… well let us just say that this night has not gone as I had planned."

"I see. And yet judging from the embrace that we found you two in, some sort of understanding had been reached."

Flushing James explained, "I offer my apologies, sir. We fought about another matter and then she pushed me into the fountain." James ignored Jack's guffaw of laughter at this revelation and continued, "I am afraid that my temper got the better of me and I let things get out of control."

Unsuccessfully trying to hide a small grin, Mr. Thompson conceded, "Yes. I can quite understand how that could happen. I love my daughter dearly but she can be a trifle willful at times. However, all of this nonsense aside, the real question is- do you truly wish to marry Katherine?"

"Yes, sir. Although she is infuriating and tries my patience to the limit, I confess that I love her. "

"And do you believe that she wishes to marry you? I refuse to force her into a marriage with a man she does not care for."

Here James hesitated. Until the events of the last hour, he would have sworn that they had reached a point in their relationship where Katherine would be willing to become his wife. Now he was uncertain. Perhaps she did only want a dalliance?

Reassurance came from an unlikely quarter. "I can answer that question. Katherine is indeed in love with my good friend Commodore Norrington, all evidence to the contrary."

James demanded, "How do you know that, Jack?"

Jack smiled his trademark vague and mysterious smile, "Ah now, that would be tantamount to kissing and telling and Captain Sparrow is much too much a gentlemen to ever do such a disreputable thing." He clasped his palms together, bowed slightly, and solemnly offered to Mr. Thompson, "You have my word that your daughter, although she may strenuously and most certainly vocally object to the idea of marriage to our esteemed colleague, does indeed harbor the tenderest of feelings for said gentleman."

"Well then, that is settled. James, you have my blessing and permission to marry Katherine. She can be a might stubborn so I suppose it's best if we simply take the choice from her and set the date as soon as possible. You do know what you are getting yourself into, my son?"

Ruefully James agreed, "Yes, I realize that she is likely to balk a bit but I think that I can handle her."

A happy Governor Swann was busy rummaging through a cabinet, "Well this is indeed a joyous occasion. I can arrange for a special license and you can be married before the New Year." He pulled a bottle of rum out. "Aha, at last, here it is. This is the bottle that I was telling you gentlemen about. Jack, get me some fresh glasses and we shall drink a celebratory toast to the upcoming nuptials."

Jack gathered four clean glasses and carried them over to the Governor. When all four men had drained their drinks Jack asked, "I just have one question. Who is going to inform Katherine of her forthcoming wedding?" An uncomfortable silence met his query. "Perhaps we should draw straws?"