Disclaimer: Mine all mine… no not really.

James strode into the room carrying a bunch of flowers in his hand. Spying Katherine he went over to her, picked her up, and twirled her around.

Laughing in protest, Katherine demanded, "What on earth has gotten into you James?"

James set her back down and presented her the now somewhat mangled bouquet with a flourish. "My dearest Kat, let me congratulate you on your fine taste in friends."

At his words, Katherine went to the desk and picked up the packet of documents. "I assume that your happiness stems from Val's foresight in sneaking these off of the Diamond? She gave this to me earlier and told me that you would know what to do with it. You won't by any chance tell me what this all about?"

"Sorry Kat, it is not my secret to share. Let us just say that Governor Swann is most appreciative and Jack is one lucky fellow to have had Val on board. I'd thought for certain that he would be facing the hangman again but Val's quick thinking saved the day."

The merriment of the moment fled as Katherine recalled her conversation with Val. With a sigh she agreed, "Yes, Val is an excellent friend. I shall miss her dearly."

James, who had moved to the drink trolley to pour them both a celebratory drink, turned and asked, "What do you mean you will miss her? I know that she and Jack will eventually move back to England but that shan't happen for at least a few years. From all that Jack reports, his father won't be dying anytime in the immediate future."

Without comment, Katherine took the drink from James and sat down on the settee. Chewing her lip pensively, she tried to decide how much she could tell James without violating Val's confidence.

"Kat? Something is bothering you, what is it?"

"I can not tell you."

Raising an eyebrow, James queried, "Can not or will not? I believe that we have dealt this particular issue on at least two previous occasions. As I recall, you did not like the consequences."

Shifting uncomfortably, Katherine mumbled, "James, please do not make me choose between holding a friend's secret and defying my husband. I really do wish to share this news with you."

Seeing that Kat was truly distressed, James sought a remedy, "I surmise that this has to do with Val. Did you specifically tell her that you would not speak to me on this matter?"

Katherine though for a moment and then considerably brightened. "Now that you mention it, I did only promise to wait a week before speaking to Jack. Val never mentioned anyone else."

"Excellent, then I am ordering you to tell me whatever it is about Val that is so burdening you."

Taking umbrage at this, Katherine started to protest, "Ordering me? James Norrington how dare you …" only to have her words peter out as she registered the small grin on his face.

Dryly he said, "I thought it might be a balm to your conscience if you were left no choice in the matter. Now, please tell me what has you so upset."

Katherine went to the desk again and this time she retrieved the envelope addressed to Jack. "When Val arrived home this morning, she found the annulment papers waiting for her. She has signed them and left Port Royal."

The information startled James. "Left Port Royal? Why would she do that? I could have sworn that she and Jack had reached an understanding. Why else would she risk her neck for him?"

Sadly shaking her head Katherine offered, "I do not know James. I think that she loves him but is afraid that he does not love her. From what little she told me of the journey, she and Jack never discussed the future. She is under the impression that Jack still wants to marry Millicent and that the only reason he stole the packet of documents was so that the Governor would rush the annulment."

James pondered the dilemma for a few minutes. "Jack needs to know about this so that he can decide what he wants to do. I'll take the annulment papers to him and inform him of Val's departure." He stood to leave and Katherine stood as well, intending to join him. "No Kat, you can not break your word to Val. Besides, this is a conversation best had man to man. Do not hold supper for me, for I imagine that I shall be very late." James gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and left to find Jack.

Unsurprisingly, he found Jack in his quarters aboard the Diamond. Both Jack and Gibbs were drinking rum and recounting the events of the morning. Gibbs was doing a credible imitation of the outraged look that Ambassador LeClerc had worn upon learning that a thorough search had yielded absolutely no incriminating evidence. Jack was laughing so hard that he had to wipe the tears from his eyes.

"Ah Norrington, pull up a chair and join us. Can't recall when I've spent a more entertaining morning." Jack's feet were propped up on the table and he was leaning back in his chair so that only the two rear legs touched the floor. Grandly, he waived his arm indicating that James should sit down and pour himself a drink.

James hesitated for a moment and then sat down and solemnly poured himself a measure of rum. His manner alerted Jack.

"What's eating at you James? You and the missus have an argument? Fine woman you've got yourself there. Of course, not quite as fine as my own Valentine, but pretty damn close."

James refrained from comment and took a sip of his drink before tossing the envelope to Jack.

Effortlessly Jack caught it and then seeing the writing taunted, "So that explains the puss face. Pissed at being reduced to an errand boy for the ladies?" Deliberately whistling in an annoying manner, Jack slit open the envelope and withdrew the contents. It was not the love letter that he expected. With a thud the front legs of the chair hit the floor and Jack only just managed to keep from falling to the ground. However, in the process, he did manage to knock over the bottle of rum.

Moving quickly to right the bottle, Gibbs complained, "Damn it Jack, be more careful. That's the last bottle on board and I don't fancy having to go to town to buy more." Then he noticed the look on his captain's face, "Here now Jack, what's stuck in your craw?"

Jack reread the papers and then dropped them on the table. Turning the envelope upside down, he shook it out. Surely this was a joke on Valentine's part and there was some note saying as such? When the chain and ring tumbled out, a stunned Jack stared at them unable to think of a single thing to say.

"I assume that this has taken you by surprise." James observed in a matter of fact tone, certain that Jack would not respond well to an outpouring of sympathy.

Jack gave no indication that he even heard the comment. Lifting the chain and fingering it, he whispered, "Why? Why would she do this? Why would she risk her hide for me and then turn around and do this?"

Gibbs picked up the document and read it, a frown appearing on his face. James just sat, sipped at his drink, and waited for the anger that was sure to come. He did not have long to wait.

His voice growing louder, Jack demanded to no one in particular, "What the bloody hell is the woman thinking? She can't do this to me! First she stops my wedding and then she wants an annulment? Bugger her."

Gibbs emitted a strangled sound that sounded like a sheep's bleating. James and Jack turned their attention to him. "Uh Jack, there's something you be needing to know. It wasn't Miss Val that interfered with your marrying Miss Witherspoon. It was me that put old man Harper up to it."

Incredulous at Gibb's defection, Jack protested, "You took an oath. You swore on the code that you'd not tell a soul."

"Well Jack, you know that the pirate code is really more a set of guidelines. Besides, we're pirates remember? Not exactly known for keeping our word." Gibbs finished with a feeble grin and chuckle.

Jack did not have enough energy to be mad at his first mate, for the news that Gibbs had just delivered was dispiriting. Valentine had not been the one to disrupt the ceremony. On top of that, Valentine had removed and returned his ring. The two facts on which he had built his belief in her caring for him had both just been negated. His shoulders slumped in defeat.

Seeing that Jack was about to give up, James realized that it was time for some direct interference. "Do you love her?"

"What?"

"I said; do you love her?"

"What difference does it make?"

James smiled his superior smile. "I'll take that as a yes. So my next question is; did you tell her?"

Annoyed, Jack snapped, "We'd not got around to talking much, if you get my meaning. And don't tell me to go haring off to her house to prostrate myself at her feet declaring undying devotion. She bloody well knows how I feel about her."

Sarcastically James commented, "So Val is a mind reader? She was supposed to somehow magically divine that you do not wish to end the marriage despite all evidence to the contrary?" When Jack did not answer, James continued, "Besides, you can not go to her house because she has left Port Royal." Settling back into his chair, he awaited Jack's response to this tidbit.

After a few minutes silence, Jack broke down and queried, "Where is she headed?"

James had done his homework before arriving at the Diamond, "The sole ship to leave today was the Helena. She's the French ship headed back home. I believe that you are already familiar with that particular vessel." The last was said ironically.

Growing excited, Gibbs rejoined the conversation, "Jack, the Helena left port only a few hours ago. We could easily overtake her."

Hope began to glimmer in Jack's face but then was once again snuffed out. "We can't overtake her. LeClerc is aboard and I doubt we'd get away with boarding her twice."

James and Gibbs murmured their agreement with that observation. The three men quietly sat partaking of the rum. Then with a snap of the fingers and a sly smile, James picked up the papers and closely read them. "Not to be indelicate Jack, but you earlier gave the impression that you and Val became much closer during the last few weeks. One could even say that you now know each other intimately. Would that be correct?"

"If you're asking what I think you're asking, then it's none of your bloody business but yes."

"Well then, I believe that your wife, Mrs. Sparrow, has flouted the laws of England and needs to be brought to justice. She has signed a legal document declaring that your marriage should be annulled on the basis of non- consummation."

A wicked smile worked its way across his face as Jack caught on to James' direction of thought, "Ah, now that would be a falsehood. What is the world coming to when women feel free to lie on official documents? As an upstanding citizen of Port Royal, I am outraged."

James stifled his laughter, "It really will not do to allow such a scofflaw to run free. I rather believe that it is incumbent on me as a representative of the law to ensure that she is brought back to Port Royal to face the music. I would think that a naval ship would be most appropriate. And perhaps a few marines to escort Mrs. Sparrow off of the Helena so that Ambassador LeClerc does not become too disturbed by the disruption to his voyage?"

"Let's send Mr. Murtogg. I've always had a fondness for that fellow."

"Then by all means, it shall be Mr. Murtogg. We had best hurry before the Helena gains too large a lead." James had already started to leave when Jack called out to him.

"Norrin… James, thank you."

With a broad smile James replied, "Think nothing of it Jack. As a wise man once told me, tell the poor girl that you love her before we all grow old."

Val finally gave up trying to sleep. It was just a few hours before dawn and she had tossed and turned all night. Sleep had proven elusive under the pressure of her mounting doubts. Had she done the right thing by leaving Port Royal? She had not even given Jack a chance to explain. It was uncomfortable to admit that she had once again refused to give Jack even the slightest benefit of a doubt. She had done the same thing the morning after their marriage. It was just that her feelings for him made her vulnerable and unsure of herself. That was why it had been so easy to assume the worst of him all those years ago. And that was why she had repeated her mistake yesterday.

Sighing, Val acknowledged to herself that both times she had run away out of fear. She was a coward. Rather than risk learning for certain that Jack did not love her, she had bolted. A mirthless laugh escaped her at this thought. The oh so bold and daring Valentine too scared to face reality. Well if Jack had had any feelings for her, she most definitely had managed to kill them with this latest affront.

A commotion sounded from above interrupting her melancholy thoughts. A few minutes later a loud knock sounded on her door.

Val called out, "Just a moment." and then quickly shrugged on a robe over her gown. She opened the door to find the gentleman named Murtogg who had so recently searched through her trunk. Standing next to him were four more uniformed man.

With an air of self importance, Murtogg announced, "I am here to place you under arrest and to return you to Port Royal."

Val felt her heart drop to her feet. She thought she had been so clever smuggling the evidence off of the Diamond. Evidently, her actions had not been as clever as she thought them. A crowd was gathering in the corridor. Ambassador LeClerc somehow managed to both ogle and sneer at her while voicing his opinion that he had known all along that she was guilty.

Squaring her shoulders, Val questioned, "May I inquire as to the charges?"

This question flustered Murtogg. He had not been told why he was to retrieve her from the ship, only that he was to pretend to arrest her. In a blustery voice he answered, "Now Miss there'll be none of your impertinence. Come with us or I'll have to shackle you." He threateningly jangled the chains in his hand.

Val sniffed and held out her hands, "Fine then, go ahead and treat a lady in such a despicable manner. After all, I am a dire threat to five grown men."

Murtogg hesitated unsure of what to do. The shackles had been given him for show only, to lend authenticity to the charade.

"You had better hurry up sir or I may just make a break for it."

Reluctantly, Murtogg placed the manacles around her wrists. He just knew that Commodore Norrington would not be happy upon learning of this, but he could see no graceful way of backing down without giving away that this was not all on the up and up. To cover his discomfort he loudly ordered, "Move away folks. This is official King's business. Let us through."

As they made their way to the other ship, Val wondered what was going on. She doubted that it was James who had ordered her return, for she was almost positive that he had approved of her actions yesterday morning. With a sick feeling, she prayed that James had not also gotten into trouble over that packet of documents. How would she ever be able to face Katherine again?

As quickly as he could, Murtogg escorted her off of the Helena and on to the naval ship. With a sense of relief, he practically shoved her through a door and then quickly departed.

Only a single candle lit the room and her eyes searched in the gloom for the person on whom to spew her outrage. Val drew a deep breath to loudly voice her complaint of the outlandish treatment that she had just endured. Before she could open her mouth, an all too familiar voice drawled, "What took you so long Mrs. Sparrow? I've been growing lonesome all by my onsies."

AN: I just had to give Norrington one last hurrah before AWE destroys any possibility of him being a good noble man. If the previews are anything to go by, there is precious little, if any, Norrington time in AWE. I would like to lodge an official protest!

One or two more chapters to go.