Disclaimer: None of POTC belongs to me. I do rather resent that fact.

Kat once again hugged her friend. "I am so happy that you are finally here. Letters are all well and good but there is nothing like having you in person. I've so much to tell you. I can not wait for you to meet James."

The tall raven haired woman returned her younger friend's enthusiastic hug and then gently pulled back. "It's good to see you as well Katherine." Val gave a mischievous grin and then pretended to study her friend with a puzzled scowl. "Nope. You appear to be the same young woman that I knew in London. However I am certain that someone must have switched places and taken the identity of the Katherine that I knew."

Ruefully Kat asked, "You are not going to let this pass are you?"

"Of course not. I never overlook an opportunity to torment and tease." Val scoffed and then continued, "I do seem to recall that a certain young lady of my acquaintance staunchly declared that she had no wish to marry and that she would never tie herself to any man. Yet it now appears that that same young lady has not only wed but is blissfully happy in her marriage."

"Come and sit down. We shall have tea and I will tell you the whole story. I can truthfully say that James' and my courtship was not only unexpected but rather unusual in nature."

The two women sat down to tea and Kat soon had Val laughing until she was crying. Since Val was a widow and not easily disconcerted, Kat even revealed the more intimate encounters that she and James had shared. When Kat was done, Val grew serious for a moment, "Katherine, I am so glad that you found your James. He seems the perfect man for you. I did not say it when we were in England because I did not wish to seem judgmental but it would have been a terrible waste for a woman as full as life as you to grow into an old spinster. You have far too much spirit and love to share."

It was much sooner than Kat had intended broaching the topic but since the issue had been raised she decided that there was no time like the present. "What about you Val? I know that you do not like to talk about your husband and marriage but have you never thought of remarrying? The men still flock to your side and you have your choice of suitors."

Val laughed and wickedly offered, "That my friend is exactly the way that I intend to keep matters. I rather like men vying for my affections. It keeps them on their toes and makes them much more eager to please. In matters of the heart, I prefer to keep my dalliances light and mutually satisfying. That way things never become boring. Luckily being a widow I am afforded opportunities that most women are denied."

When Kat had first heard her friend express such opinions she had been a little nonplussed but that had soon given way to admiration. Val was a woman who was very much in control of her life. According to rumors, she had had a fair few romantic encounters with men but still she was accepted by polite society. Kat surmised that it was because Val made it a point to never discuss the details of any of her liaisons with anyone. Not even her closest friends. She would neither confirm nor deny rumors when they surfaced. This refusal to engage in the gossip mongers' games made it impossible for anyone to be able to sort truth from fiction. Kat smiled as she recalled that it was Val's desire to impart that very piece of advice to her that had led to their friendship.

It had been just as the scandal with Sir Huntley had reached its apex that one day Kat had been surprised by the butler telling her that Mrs. Smith had called and was waiting for her in the front parlor. Kat had been perplexed that she was receiving a call from the woman because the two had only ever shared the barest of social exchanges. Val had wasted no time in explaining the purpose of her visit. She had had her own run in with Sir Huntley and she was certain that he was spreading lies. However she knew the power that lies told by a man in the peerage could cause to a young unmarried woman. Val had told Kat that the best way to deal with the scandal was to simply ignore it, hold her head high, and continue to carry on as if nothing had occurred. Kat had been impressed both by Val's wisdom and her kind heartedness. Despite the differences in age and social circumstances, the two had quickly become friends. For the most part Kat had followed the advice but when the social pressures had become so great that it was affecting her family she had given in to their pleading and fled to Port Royal. Kat smiled as she realized that if it had not been for those social pressures she might never have met James. It did indeed seem as if some things were fated.

The idea of fate caused Kat's thinking to veer back to its original track. Surely a marriage between Jack and Millicent could not be fated? It made much more sense to believe that Val's' decision to move to Port Royal at the same time that Jack was looking for a wife was a sign that this was what destiny intended. Despite Jack's protests, Kat was convinced that he wanted more from marriage and she was also convinced that Val and Jack would be ideally suited. Trying to be nonchalant she queried, "You know that pirate captain that I mentioned?"

Knowing her young friend well enough that she was aware that the question was anything but casual Val cautiously answered, "You mean the one that you were going to have an affair with before James intervened?"

"Well I never really… never mind that is not important. Anyway, his name is Jack. He really is a most handsome man and recently he has turned over a new leaf. Although I imagine that he will always be quite adventurous and never dull."

Val only managed to get out," Katherine I am not currently in the market for..." before she was interrupted.

"You should at least see him before you dismiss the possibility. You can meet at the ball that James and I are hosting this Saturday and then make your decision."

"I doubt that I will change my mind. By the way I do hope that you are not going through all of the trouble of arranging this ball for me. It really is quite unnecessary."

"Actually the ball has been planned for a few weeks. It's an engagement ball but it will also serve to introduce you to all of Port Royal. I rather wish that it could be just for you rather than that vile Millicent."

Puzzled Val questioned, "If you do not like the woman, why are you hosting a ball for her?"

A very sheepish expression filled Kat's face and she hesitantly explained, "Well the ball is to celebrate her and Jack's engagement."

"Katherine Thompson! I mean Katherine Norrington, do you mean to tell me that you are trying to pair me up with an engaged man?" Val did not have to feign the outrage in her voice.

Kat protested, "But Val, Jack should not marry Millicent. He is only doing so because he is confused at the moment. The two do not suit at all. You and he would make a much better couple. I can feel the rightness of it in my bones."

"Katherine, I never ever involve myself with men who are married or otherwise spoken for. It is a cardinal rule of mine. Besides, it would be cruel to throw a spanner into his marriage plans when I have absolutely no desire for marriage myself. I have been married once in my life and once is enough for me. End of discussion. Now, let's talk about something else. Better yet, why don't you accompany me out to the house and show me around?"

Although she had not given up on her idea, Kat was aware that now was not the time to further pursue the matter. Perhaps when Jack and Val met each other at the ball fate would intervene and make them realize that they were meant for each other. Kat could only hope that such a divine intervention would occur before Jack made the unbelievably stupid mistake of actually marrying Millicent Witherspoon.

Jack stood in the corner of the room surveying his engagement ball and indulging in a foul mood. The days following his first kiss with Millicent had found Jack making very little headway in his plan to seduce his fiancée. Millicent would allow him to place a chaste peck on her cheek and on occasion press a kiss to the inside of her wrist but any other physical affection was firmly and soundly rebuffed. This was a novel situation for Jack and one that he found was not to his liking. His temper grew short and he began to doubt the wisdom of his choice. However he had firmly committed himself to this course of action and he was not about to back out now. Backing out would be tantamount to admitting that he was wrong and that was unthinkable. Adding to his discomfiture had been Katherine's insistence on mentioning each and every time she saw him that her friend was going to soon be living in Port Royal. Katherine had sung the Widow Smith's praises to the high heavens and Jack was heartily sick and tired of hearing the blasted woman's name. Katherine might be many fine things but meek and biddable were not among them and Jack was sure that any friend of Kat's would not fit into the idea of what he wanted in a bride. No, he had absolutely no desire to meet and court the Widow Smith.

Having decided to stick to his plan to marry Millicent and yet thoroughly annoyed by both his bride to be and Katherine, Jack had made plans to remove himself from the uncomfortable situation. He had suddenly discovered a previously forgotten commitment to make a cargo run to an outer island. Amazingly enough the amount of time required to make the journey directly coincided with the amount of time left before the engagement ball. Jack had been tempted to make the fictional run last until the actual wedding but that had seemed to be pushing his luck. Besides he had been certain that a few weeks on the open sea would be enough to refresh and fortify him.

However, the trip had not had the desired effect. Rather, it had served to remind him of all that he would soon be required to give up. Turning from piracy to legitimate shipping had been difficult enough but Jack knew that once he actually inherited he would not even have the small consolation of still being able to sail. He would be landlocked and busy managing an estate. Jack had arrived back in Port Royal thoroughly resenting all that his future held. The short trip from the Witherspoon's household to the Norrington's household had not helped matters. During the entire carriage ride, Millicent had pouted over how cruel and thoughtless Jack had been to leave her alone to attend the myriad of social obligations that had arisen due to their engagement. Her pout turned into an outright snit when she discovered that he had not brought her back any token of his esteem from his trip.

After arriving at the ball, they had danced one dance and then she had quickly excused herself and spent the next hour talking to a small coterie of doting friends. The time to make the formal announcement was quickly arriving and Jack was feeling like a rat trapped on a ship. He was trying to figure out how to unobtrusively cross the room to escape out onto the balcony when a flash of movement by that very same balcony caught his eye. He saw a swish of sea green silk as a woman quickly slipped outside. It had only been the briefest of glimpses and from behind but Jack's practiced gaze had noted pitch black hair, a long elegant neck, and a lush figure. This was a figure that he had not before seen in Port Royal. Logical deduction told him that it must be the Widow Smith who had just furtively departed the party. Evidently Katherine had not embellished in her praises of her friend's physical charms. Rationalizing that he was not yet formally engaged and that in any case this might be a woman worth cultivating for after he was married, Jack decided to follow.

Val leaned against the balustrade and took another sip of champagne. Drawing a deep breath she could smell and taste the sea in the air. It felt so good to be out of the cloying atmosphere of the ballroom. The crush of people had begun to grow wearying. When she had arrived, the ball had already been in full swing but she had quickly been absorbed into the crowd. It was always tiring when one had to meet so many new faces. Of course everyone had been incredibly friendly but still the polite social chit chat grew tiresome. She was also worn out from dancing. The men of Port Royal were proving to be flatteringly eager to both dance with her and dance attendance upon her. She had yet to meet the happy couple but would no doubt have an opportunity to do so once they made their formal announcement and sat down to supper.

Suddenly she felt a prickle of awareness run along her spine. Although there had been no sound made, Val knew that she had been joined on the balcony. Her suspicions were confirmed when a warm voice smoothly said, "Well what have we here? Now it's shame to have such a lovely lady all on her lonesome in such a romantic setting. How very fortunate that I should have happened along."

Not caring for the overly familiar tone in the voice and able to feel the pair of eyes surveying her figure, Val turned intending to deliver a sharp set down to the brash man.

It was a toss up as to who was the most stunned. At the same time that Val squeaked a shocked "Jonathon?" Jack emitted an equally shocked "Bugger!" Both stood frozen to the spot with their minds unable to comprehend what their eyes were telling them. The seconds ticked by slowly with neither able to utter another word until the silence was broken by a crash when Val's champagne glass slipped from her nerveless fingers and shattered upon the ground.

Jack was the first to regain his composure. Purposefully adopting his most cocky grin and demeanor he drawled, "And how have the years treated you, Mrs. Sparrow?"

AN: Hey, I never said that Millicent was going to be the heroine!