Obligatory disclaimer: The Mouse owns all, save my own original characters.

The captain was dressed impeccably, much to Julia's relief; she was glad that she went through the angst in getting dressed. Standing by his liquor cabinet, he was selecting a bottle of wine to serve with dinner. He rose to a full standing position when he saw Julia, having been squatting too long in his perusal of his alcohol selection. It was everything he could do to not let out a slow whistle of appreciation. The light from the room tinted her skin with a warm glow, but the shadows from behind accentuated the contours of her carriage, causing Julia to look… radiant. He smiled, wryly, as Julia stood awkwardly in the doorway, taking in the room before her.

The meal was fit for a king – or at least a minor member of the royal family. Rather than oil lanterns illuminating the room, candles were lit, casting the room in a golden splendor. The table they had sat at the night before had been expanded by a leaf or two to accommodate the banquet that had been prepared. A spread of fresh fish, rice, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, soup, and warm bread lay before her.

"Come in. Sit." Captain Norrington's voice was low. Friendly. Seductive.

His words were like silk against her skin, the sensation causing Julia to not only forget how to string a sentence together, but how to formulate a single word. Silently nodding her head, Julia woodenly took the few steps into the room to the table and allowed the captain to seat her, sliding her chair in as she sank into the seat.

"Please, serve yourself. Load up your plate with whatever you wish. I hope the choices are of your satisfaction," Captain Norrington said as he slipped into the chair across from Julia. His smile was warm, but did not quite reach his eyes.

Julia finally found her tongue. "It all looks so delicious. But such bounty should not be lavished on someone as undeserving as myself. I… The men are more deserving – they work so hard and–."

"The men are eating just as well this evening, worry not." This time the smile reflected in his eyes. "I promise you, they are eating as you are, if not better. Or will be. After their hard work during the storm, I had the same thought that you are having now. Their tables below are filled with enough foodstuffs to feed a conquering army. Now, again, eat what you wish. I do not stand on ceremony when it comes to food. I have gone too many times in my life when I did not know when or where my next meal would come from. I eat frugally, so that when I have the opportunity to indulge, I enjoy the meal that much more.

Julia ducked her head as her cheeks heated. His emphasis on the word indulge caused her heart to accelerate in a very unladylike fashion. It was as if he was using food consumption as a metaphor for… Stop it! Just stop that right now. No impure thoughts. As it is, you do not know if his intentions are truly honorable or not, so it is best if you do not think along the same lines the captain might have already perused. He might mean just as he says. He just might…

Up until asking about her departure from England, the two had been silent for the better part of half past the hour. Julia felt like a caged bird; the captain took oblivious delight in watching Julia choose and consume her food, but made no effort to engage her in conversation. So Julia chewed methodically, considering what to say next.

Oblivious of the mental interrogation his passenger was giving herself, Norrington leaned back in his chair, rocking the furniture back on two legs. Drumming his fingers along the wooden armrest, the staccato rhythm echoing in the chamber, he quietly asked, "So, if I may ask, what brought you to Jamaica?" His voice dropped low, as if afraid of the answer.

Letting out a long, slow sigh, Julia picked up her fork and maneuvered the fish around on her plate, not caring that playing with one's food was highly improper. As much as she wanted to hide the hurt, to pretend that the journey never happened, Julia knew that she would feel better to finally verbalize what had happened on the island, if only in part. She cupped her chin in her hand, elbow on the table, and smiled tightly.

"It was certainly not for any vocational pursuits," Julia said, the last words spit out almost pointedly. "I suppose you could say the trip was for pleasure, although it ended up being anything but. I traveled to Kingston six weeks ago to assist my sister with the birth of her first child. She had written me, telling me that she was having… difficulties and, if I could, to please come out and help. I had not laid eyes on her since I had married, so of course I was thrilled at the idea of reuniting after so many years.

"So. I… I booked passage for Kingston – and also passage for my return trip back – and expected the happiest of reunions. Instead, I found my sister sick and… diseased. If asked, I would be unable to explain what ailed her, but it terrified me with its ruthlessness and viciousness in wrecking havoc to her poor body. I did my best, for having a doctor as a husband gives one insight that others might lack, but it was of no use. When she went into labor, there was so much blood. I will spare you the details, but long story short, my sister and her daughter did not live more than an hour past the birth. My sister's husband blamed me for her death and, I suppose, in my grief I would feel the same way. He has to lash out at someone, so it might as well be me.

"But because he threw me out of his home, I was suddenly in need of passage back to Charles Towne. I could not wait six more weeks to leave, as I did not have that kind of money, so I sold what I could of my belongings to afford passage back to Charles Towne. And that is where our paths crossed." Julia shrugged her shoulders to cover the sudden intake of breath that hid the attempt of a sob.

But such actions were not lost on Norrington. There was a hardness, a definitiveness, to his voice when he replied, "I have no doubt that you did everything you could to save your sister and your niece. I agree; your brother-in-law has every right to his anger. To lose his family in what should have been the happiest day of his life? I cannot even begin to fathom his grief. But to direct it at you? A woman who tried to save his wife? His child? His family? Then he was certainly out of his mind in heartbreak." As he spoke, Norrington realized his voice rose louder and when he finished, recognized that his last words reflected the own animosity he hurled at Missus Ramage.

The poor girl! What have I done to her?

Then it dawned on him – the woman before him was just that, a woman. A woman who had lived. And experienced. And knew who she was. He had been treating Missus Ramage as if she were not a woman, but as if she were a young lass. As if she were a child. As if she followed her heart rather than her head. As if…

As if she were Elizabeth Swann.

Interrupting his thoughts, almost as if she could read his mind, she asked softly, "And how does your wife feel with you away for such long stretches of time? Surely such long passages of time at sea cause her heartbreak of her own." Norrington looked at her sharply, curious if Missus Ramage was indeed able to delve into his mind but saw that she was staring intently at her plate. Scarlet cheeks told of embarrassment for her forwardness, but Norrington saw it as what it was – a benign question meant to show interest in his life. And to deflect the attention away from herself.

Norrington snorted, unable to hold back a chuckle. He was also unable to look Julia in the eye lest he laugh harder. In his peripheral vision, Norrington could tell she looked up from her dinner and sat up straighter, anger stiffening her spine. Her reaction of indignation caused him even more merriment. Her umbrage was about to boil over to all out anger if he did not cease his amusement – and soon.

Before Norrington could think of what he was saying, the words rolled of his tongue, "Please forgive my rudeness. I mean not to laugh, but I was just thinking the exact same thought when you asked. Well, along the same lines, at least. I am not married. Truthfully, I have yet to find the right woman to share my life with. Of course, sailing prevents making any lasting attachments, but I dare say that I think I would like to settle down soon, a wife and a passel of children to welcome me home from a day's work. The older I get, well, the wanderlust in my bones lessens. I was engaged once, but she felt… that our paths diverged rather than welded together and soon found herself betrothed to another. Such is life."

Julia was able to ascertain that the bored shrug was affected and that it hurt him deeply that his former fiancée sought partnership elsewhere. The hurt he felt certainly made his treatment of her more understandable, even… acceptable. Without thinking she said under her breath, "Captain Norrington, if you will allow me to be so bold I must remark that she is a fool. It would be my hope that your former fiancée and mine are able to cast their lot together, for it sounds like they are made for one another. Now, since I have thoroughly embarrassed myself, I shall bid you a pleasant evening and retreat back to my cabin." Julia rose, setting her napkin on the table beside her plate and made to move past the captain for the door, but he also stood. Her path was effectively blocked.

Confusion marred his features, but his smile was kind. "Please, do not go. Not yet. There is no need to feel uncomfortable. I… This evening has been a pleasant change of pace. Not only for the peace between us, but also having a dinner companion whom is of some refinement. Save for Mister Cobb – whom is in the brig and will not be bothering you the rest of the voyage – my men are wonderful. But they are most barbaric in their eating habits," he sighed. "But thank you for that… compliment. That means a lot to me. More than you know. But I thought you said you were married? I am afraid I do not understand. A fiancé?"

Unable to look him in the eye, Julia smoothed imaginary wrinkles out of the waist of her gown. Heat radiated off his body, making her very aware of how close he stood to her. "That I was. But before that, I was engaged – temporarily. In a previous lifetime, there was another man. One that stole my heart, then stole my life away from me. That engagement ended with great bitterness and caused me to marry a man I barely knew and move half a world away. So, not to take anything away from you, I can certainly understand your anger."

Norrington mulled over what Missus Ramage just told him. "Then if you will allow me to be so forward, if the termination of your betrothal was not at your hands, then I must say that he is an imbecile. Why on earth would…?" The question was not spoken with the expectation of an answer, but rather as if the captain was talking to himself – surprising them both. "Forgive me. I spoke too freely. My words got away from me."

Julia dipped her chin down in shame. She had not meant to fish for a compliment.

Julia then shook her head and chuckled, the sound hollow and without mirth. She turned, sinking into her seat, acquiescing to his earlier request. Julia quietly regarded Norrington, sudden comprehension that she was telling him – the one person who had treated her without a scrap of respect – details of her life that were incriminating. But never having been told, it was liberating to release secrets that had been tightly bound to her heart. Even if everything might still get thrown back in her face.

With a barely perceptible nod and an arched brow, she responded, "It was I that was a fool. I learned that flowery words and cheap trinkets do not make for true love. I listened with my heart and not my head. While my husband was a good man, a fair man, I would not have chosen him for myself. But the man I was engaged to… I was the envy of every girl I knew. He was the one man whom every girl fancied. He was the one man whom every other man wanted as a friend. And the one man whom I despise with all my being. And will do so to the day that I die."

The sheer anger in her voice startled Norrington. Unsure of how to respond, he folded himself back into his chair, then shifted awkwardly, trying to formulate words. Sensing that she had overstepped her boundaries, Julia quickly continued.

"I apologize for my bitterness and for putting you… in a uncomfortable position. I just… May we please talk about something else?"

Norrington leaned forward and pounded his fist against the tabletop once, the impact rattling the dishes. "It is not my place to ask, but this runs deeper than just setting you aside, does it not?"

Julia swallowed hard, then turned away from the captain, finding a crevice in the floorboard suddenly fascinating. Wetting her lips several times, she debated whether she should be forthright in her answer and suffer possible further humiliation or allow herself to come off as a shrew and keep her hurt to herself. This is one way to test our newly forged friendship…

"Yes. It does."

Norrington was quiet for a moment, looking carefully at his passenger. The look on her face was utter horror. His heart nearly broke at the pain she had endured. If only… "You know, you do not need to make me privy to those reasons, but I strongly doubt that you have ever let those bottled up emotions out. While I am in no position to offer assuagement, considering how I have previously judged you, I can be an excellent listener."

Julia swallowed. Hard. If she did not know better, Julia would say that the man before her was the kindest of souls. The epitome of tolerance and graciousness. The same man whom warned her that her that there was no fraternizing with the crew because he thought her a whore. But here he was, trying to be sympathetic. And what was the worst that could happen? That I cement his lowly status of me? "He… he did what many young men do – requested marital rights prior to our wedding day. After nearly a year of his pestering, I finally consented. We were engaged for a year and a half, our wedding day just weeks away. I thought, what was the harm? He had been so patient; it was the least I could do. His excuse was that it would save me from unbearable pain on the night of what was to be the happiest day of my life. I loved him; I thought he loved me.

"No sooner was the act completed, I suddenly was branded a soiled woman and not worthy of his affections. He made certain that everyone knew what I had done, that I had coupled with a man without the sanctity of marriage. Although he carefully omitted that it was with him, my fiancé, that I laid. Once my purity was obliterated, he moved on and my family was left to deal with the wreckage that was once my life. It was quickly arranged that I married a widower twenty-three years my senior who had designs on becoming a father immediately. He was kind to me, but I had my role and he had his and nary the two could mingle. I never did give him the child he craved, a fact he blamed on my previous indiscretion." Julia paused, exhausted by her revelation, and shrugged slightly. "What can I say? I was young, foolish and was easily lead astray."

Biting the skin on the inside of his bottom lip, Norrington clenched his fists and felt feverishly warm. Men treated women poorly; it was an unfortunate fact. But to have a woman consent to such a request – demand really – and then throw her away? Especially one who not only looked like Missus Ramage, but had the brains and sense to be an enjoyable companion? "Please allow me the request of knowing his name so that if I ever cross paths with him in my travels, I might find a new arrangement for his nose. Amongst other appendages."

Shocked, Julia placed her hand at her throat as she recoiled from the venom in his words. But they were not directed at her, much to Julia's relief. Rather, at what had happened to her. The difference caused her heart to skip a beat. There would be no more hostility between herself and the captain. No more surliness. No more disdain. I know I should not ask, but how, in the course of a few short days, have I gone from wanton to redeemed? Even after admitting to such an act…

The answer was barely more than a whisper.

"Cutler Beckett. Lord Cutler Beckett."

Norrington felt the blood in his veins turn to ice water.