Disclaimer: I had hoped to wake up this morning to find that the Easter Bunny had left me James Norrington all tied up in a large yellow bow. Alas, once again disappointed. Disney owns all POTC.

"James, you're not going to let him bully her are you?' Kat tugged at her husband's sleeve.

James looked down at his wife's imploring face. He could not resist the temptation. "I am afraid that Jack is correct Kat. Legally there is nothing that anyone can do to interfere. Now if I had been consulted earlier, I might have been able to assist in obtaining an annulment and this whole situation could have been avoided."

She snapped. "Okay, fine. I admit that I was wrong in not seeking your counsel earlier. Now will you do something?"

James smiled broadly. It was not often that Kat admitted fault. He savored the moment and then shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry Kat. Jack has every right to take Val anywhere he wishes. It would be best to allow them to sort out their own differences."

"James Norrington you are being a pig headed…"

Her tirade was interrupted by Val calmly saying, "Leave it be Katherine. I shall go with Jack. Evidently he and I have some unfinished business." She directed a cool haughty look in Jack's direction. "If you and Elizabeth will assist me in packing?" She swept out of the room with a determined air.

Katherine gave one more glare to James and then followed. Elizabeth merely looked in askance at Will and then turned to join the other two women. Before she could close the door behind her, Jack called out loudly" You've wasted five minutes already luv. Ten minutes and counting."

"Must you stir the pot even more? " James asked dryly.

Jack grinned. "Aye I must mate. Too much fun to pass up. Your wife and Valentine are far too entertaining when riled up. Must say though that Lizzie is a bit of a disappointment. Not so much as a word. What've you done to her Will?"

"Oh I'm sure that she will have plenty to say to me when we get home," Will observed dolefully.

"Will, me boy, will you do me the teensiest favor and go ahead to tell Gibbs prepare for departure? The sooner we sail the better."

"What's the rush Jack?"

James explained, "As obnoxious as his methods are, Jack is correct to hurry. Even though we now know that Val did not commit bigamy we have no hard proof. Until we can get some or until Millicent stops clamoring for blood it would be best if Val were not in Port Royal. Ever since Beckett's reign of terror the magistrate has more or less operated under the philosophy of lock them up first and then worry about the truth."

Will expelled an exasperated sigh when he realized the reasoning behind Jack's latest outrageous behavior. "Couldn't he have just said that instead of winding them up? Now I'll have the devil of a time convincing Elizabeth that I was right not to intervene."

"I sincerely doubt that I shall have a peaceful evening myself. But you know Sparrow, nothing ever is straightforward with him."

"True."

An annoyed Jack jumped up and down and waived his arms about. "Hey! I'm in the room. No need to be talking bout me like I'm not here."

Will shook his head in disgust. "Fine. I'll go tell Gibbs to ready the Diamond. You owe me one Jack."

"Ah now dear boy, I believe that makes us square. I did save your life from Barbosa's men."

"Only to then sell my soul to Davy Jones."

"Well yes but later your darling strumpet Lizzie fed me to the beastie."

"Gentlemen. I do believe that we have more pressing matters." James cut in before Will could answer.

Will contented himself with observing, "I'd bet that your going to have your own difficulties tonight Jack. Something tells me that Val will not appreciate your tactics." With a gleeful grin he left to find Gibbs.

"He is right you know. You have bought yourself a lot of trouble. It would have been simpler to tell her why she needed to leave."

"Simpler yes, but not nearly as enjoyable. Besides if I know Valentine she'll have figured it out afore long. Always was too intelligent for her own good."

There was a note in Jack's voice that caused James' eyes to narrow and his protective instincts to flare up. For a moment he studied Jack. What he saw reassured him that Val would be safe.

Jack, unaware of the scrutiny, was lost for a moment in recollections of the past. His countenance softened and he looked decidedly wistful and years younger.

James quietly queried, "Are you sure that potential imprisonment is the only reason you're taking her away?"

Snapped back to the present, Jack quipped, "That and to have me wicked way with her." Still avoiding the question, he grew serious. "Commodore, please be so good as to inform Governor Swann that I will undertake that little task he requested of me."

James did not have to ask what the task was because he had been in the room when the initial request was made and Jack had soundly refused. "Are you certain?"

"Consider it my last hurrah before settling down as a boring member of the peerage."

James found this statement very telling for it was the first time that Jack had spoken of the future without bitterness. He had to hide a small grin. "Very well. I shall tell him immediately and see if he has any further information for you. I will meet you at the Diamond." He started to leave and then paused at the door. "Good luck."

Jack dismissed the well wishes. "Nothing I've not done a hundred times before mate."

This time James did not bother to hide the grin as he informed Jack, "I was not referring to the task for the Governor. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for me to say, I'm rooting for you." A hearty laugh escaped him as he witnessed the color drain from Jack's face. "You can fight it as much as you want Sparrow but it will do no good. Trust me. I speak from experience." With that last piece of advice, James left a speechless and terrified Jack.

Upstairs the women were having their own discussion. Rather than assist with the packing, Katherine was busy trying to come up with an escape plan for Val. She threw the window open and peered down, "If we tie some sheets together you could go out the window. I doubt that he would expect that."

"Katherine, I've told you not to worry. I shall go willingly with Jack."

"How can you be so calm about it? He called you a piece of property!" Katherine crossly demanded.

Val agreed, "Yes, I could have done without that. However, despite his odious behavior, I believe that it is for the best that I leave Port Royal for awhile."

"Why? You did not commit bigamy so you have nothing to fear from Millicent anymore." Elizabeth observed.

"I don't think that it is that simple. I have spent the last fifteen years masquerading as Mrs. Smith. How does one go about proving that a marriage did not occur?"

Neither Katherine nor Elizabeth had an answer. Elizabeth continued packing. When she opened a drawer to gather lingerie she let out an exclamation of appreciation. "Oh these are beautiful Val." Elizabeth pulled out one of the gowns and shook the folds free. "The silk is so fine. Wherever did you find it?"

Val colored a bit. Her scandalous undergarments and sleepwear had always been a private indulgence, a vanity of sorts. "I had them made in Paris. An extravagance of mine that I now regret. Heaven only knows what Jack will think if he sees me dressed so. Perhaps one of the maids has something more demure that I could borrow."

Katherine eyed her speculatively. "Do you have reason to believe that Jack will see you in your nightwear?"

Elizabeth chimed in, "For goodness sake Katherine, he is her husband."

"Yes but their marriage is not a proper one is it?"

Laughing Elizabeth pulled out an even more daring gown and observed, "It daresay it will be if he catches her in this."

"I would appreciate it if the two of you could stop discussing my bedwear. And to answer your question Katherine, no I do not foresee any legitimate reason why Jack should see me dressed in such a manner. But I do know that he is full of surprises and he is likely to invade my privacy just to disconcert me. As he views it, I disrupted his plans. I've no doubt that he will metaphorically extract his pound of flesh from me before the journey is over."

"Only metaphorically, not literally?" Elizabeth drawled suggestively.

"Elizabeth!"

"I was only stating the obvious Katherine. What has gotten into you? You've never been a prude about such matters."

'"I am not being a prude. If Val wishes to engage in… well engage in pleasurable activities with Jack then that is her business. As you will recall I was trying to pair them together weeks ago. I just do not want her to be forced into a situation that she does not desire because Jack insists on acting like a cad."

"Trust me Katherine; I have no intention of engaging in anything with Jack except for some polite discourse on how we can disentangle ourselves from this situation." Val turned away to the wardrobe to pull out the breeches and shirts that kept there. She supposed that such clothes would be more practical on the journey. After all she would not put it past Jack to insist that she work for her keep.

Because her attention was otherwise occupied, she missed the silent looks that passed between Elizabeth and Katherine. Finally after a few moments Katherine cleared her throat and tentatively offered, "Val, I know that right now you believe that you have nothing to fear from Jack but I do urge caution."

Val crossed the room and finished the last of the packing. "I am not a child Katherine. I am aware that Jack was a pirate and is capable of all manner of dangerous things. Yet, I do not believe that he would ever actually harm me."

Both Katherine and Elizabeth blushed deeply. Elizabeth tried to explain, "We do not think you a child. We understand that you are a woman of the world. It is just that Jack can be … well he can be very persuasive in matters of the flesh. As much as I love Will, Jack almost lured me into his web."

"I must admit that I too was tempted. If I had not already met James, who knows what Jack could have convinced me to do."

With a click Val closed the trunk and then turned to regard the two flustered women. "I appreciate your concern and words of warning but they really are unnecessary. As far as Jack Sparrow is concerned, I am immune to his particular brand of charm." Unbidden a memory of their encounter in the stables flashed through her mind. She shoved the image away and firmly declared, "Mr. Sparrow has met his match if he thinks he can seduce his way into my affections. I can handle anything that he cares to throw my way. The only thing that I seek from him is a quick resolution to our all but nonexistent marriage." With this pronouncement, she went to find a servant to carry the trunk downstairs leaving Elizabeth and Katherine alone in the room.

"She doesn't stand a chance, does she?" Elizabeth remarked.

With a sigh Katherine agreed, "None at all."