Hi, all! Scarlet Rebelle here! I hope y'all are having a good week so far.

This chapter is a little hastily put together, so sorry if it is a bit short.

No dedication this week, cause I don't feel like it.

AKAFredandGeorge: Good point, well hopefully this chapter makes it all better, or so I hope. / Fanciful? Yes I suppose I am, but that is what stories are for right?

Sarah-K-O-M: Oh, how fun? I have a fan girl! happy dance No, I will not repeat it, if you missed it, that is your own fault! Any who…perchance we will navigate why father and son are different, no?

CAPTAIN Matey Sparrow: Well, I thought that I would at least try, it could have happened before the movie, before Norrington was promoted, even though it is after the movie.

Drink-Up-Me-Hearties-Yo-Ho: Yes, that they are, I'm glad your computer is running now, cause it kinda would be if you are reading this right now. Oh, and that is just gross.

Disclaimer: I do not own James Norrington, all else in this chapter (and the last one, 'cause I forgot a disclaimer for that chapter) I do own though.

Briony and Katrina were sitting on plush cushions just outside the captain's cabin under an awning of sailcloth. Katrina idly sketched random items that lay about the ship's deck while Briony was happily applying her needle to a section of cloth set in an embroidery frame, happily humming what Katrina suspected was a ballroom tune. She sighed setting down her borrowed pencil and sketch pad, there where only so many things on a deck to draw. And she allowed her mind to wander.

After a week of boredom the ship's surgeon had declared her well enough to leave the cabin, and for her arm to be unbound, and Katrina really did feel healthy again, if not for an uncomfortable ache in her side. But regardless, she was just happy to be out of the cabin, despite its comfortable atmosphere, it had become sort of a gilt cage. That surgeon was very strict and very mad when Katrina had dared to venture out on deck against his orders to rest on the third day after she had woken up.

Suddenly Katrina's view of empty space blocked by a blue jacket brought her back to earth.

"Good day to you, Miss Charmaine. Miss Ellis." Lieutenant Norrington stood in front of them, looking dashing in his navel uniform. "I was wondering if you would care to take a turn about deck with me." He addressed Katrina.

Happy for any diversion, and knowing it would be rude to refuse, Katrina smiled, getting to her feet with only a small wince, and accepted his arm. They walked in silence until they came to the back railing of the quarter deck, where they stopped, watching the wake the hull of the ship cut through the water.

"Why did you decide to join the navy, Lieutenant?" it was the only thing Katrina could think of to break the silence, that and she really was curious about the young man standing beside her.

"Well," he turned around to lean back on the railing so he could face her. "I guess the most simple answer would be because of my adoptive father."

Katrina stayed silent, inwardly encouraging him to continue.

He sighed and his eyes became distant with memories. "My parents died in a carriage accident when I was little. I no longer remember much about them, or my old home, only that it was a happy and carefree place. Uncle James is my only living relative, the brother of my mother. He was already in the navy, gone a lot, so I was sent to a boarding school at seven, and after that , the Royal Naval Academy in Greenwich. The Commodore planed to purchase my commission for me, it seemed ungrateful to refuse, I enjoy it and I know no other trade. I really do look up to him as a father and he treats me like a son."

"Oh." Katrina breathed.

"Well, we are bound for the colonies to drop off some troops, you know, but then we will proceed to Port Royal in the Caribbean. I was hoping that you would come with us."

Katrina slightly panicked. What could she say? She was running away from her father who was a drunk and who had almost daily beaten her? Katrina didn't want pity, and she didn't want to ruin these people's disillusionment. She knew they thought her to be a respectable young miss, and she was fine by that.

"My mother died a few years back." Well, she told herself , that much was true "My father decided I need a female's guidance, and not being able to provide it himself, he is sending to live with some relatives in the colonies.." That part was complete fabrication and you know it Katrina Rae Ellis.

"Relatives?" he seemed disappointed.

"Yes. Cousins of my mother, once removed." She turned her head to look at him, his face was just inches from hers, if he just leaned forward a little…

"LAND HO!" a cry from the crow's nest sounded.

The Lieutenant looked up startled. "One day ahead of schedule." He murmured. "Please excuse me, Miss Ellis."

"Of course." Katrina replied as he moved toward the front of the quarter deck, pulling out his telescope, training where the lookout had pointed.

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The Lexicon docked at Charleston harbor early the next morning. Katrina stood at the railing with a small cloth bag containing the four extra dresses that Briony donated from her own wardrobe. While she waited for the ship's boarding ramp to be lowered Briony was trying to convince her to stay.

"Katrina, please, do say you will come with us, I hear there are great parties held at the plantation's owner's houses, and that they have young sons." Katrina glanced at her with a slight grimace. Briony laughed, then lowered her voice to a confidential tone. "And Lieutenant Norrington will be stationed there. Surely you know he has taken a fancy to you."

Katrina bushed.

"Ah!" Briony exclaimed with glee. "Now you must simply come! We wouldn't want a heartbroken young Lieutenant on our hands, would we?"

"I can't, Briony. M-my family is expecting me." She fumbled over the lie, a little unsure of her future in an unknown country.

Briony sighed defeat. "Well, at least promise to write."

Katrina forced a small smile. "I will." The ramp was lowered and she picked up her bag, moving towards it.

"You will not reconsider, and join us to Port Royal?" a voice said near her shoulder. Katrina whirled around.

"I'm afraid not, Lieutenant." Katrina said.

"I didn't think it would hurt to try." He smiled boyishly, if a little sheepishly.

"No, I suppose not." Katrina turned back to the ramp. "Good bye, sir." She was gone then, disappearing into the crowded wharf.

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Daniel Norrington watched her figure vanish in the bustling crowd. Dammit! I don't even know where she is going! Frustrated he turned to order the unloading and over see the supplies replenished.

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Well, hope ya all liked it, kinda boring, I know. Though I hope to get a little more action going in later chapters

If you haven't figured it out by know, I'm a hopeless romantic, though I promise to try to keep the squishiness down to a minimum.

Reviews are as good as a breeze on a hot summer's day.