SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!

Remember last chapter how I said we had an ice storm? Well, there was a thunderstorm that night and snowing the following day! You just gotta love Michigan weather!

Princess Amberly: WOW! A fan club for me? I can honestly say I'm extremely flattered. I never thought anything I did was fan worthy, thanks! Oh, and no caffeine? You poor dear, Lent can really suck, huh?

Word junky: I have a firm idea of the pairs, but they are not yet set in stone.

AKAFredandGeorge: O.o

AKAfredandgeorge: yes, it did have chocolate frosting! In fact it came from Arnie's bakery. Yum. I only wish it was warm and gooey, but it was partially frozen :'( o well, it was still good.

StarSplash: ah, yes. Studying, boring, but unfortunatly almost imperitive.

SarahKOM: wow, you've got it all worked out, don't you?

Windpoetry: well, m'dear, she is your cameo afterall. It is what you requested, no?

Kiara: surprise! Not dead, sorry to dissapoint… ok, I've already decided that the cameos were closed, but if I can, I'll try to work in your charater, and that is a lot of information for a cameo, as the aperances are relitively short and show up sporatically, often only once or twice. But like I said, if I can, I'll get her in there.

Sarah: Sorry, hun, it's from star wars: episode VI; han talking about an ewok, though it may be from shrek 2 as well…

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Katrina tilted her head back, relaxed, enjoying the cool feel of the rain splashing against her face after the heat of the day. A low, distant rumble of thunder made Lady nervously tossed her head and sidestepped beneath her, nearly unsaddling Katrina. Looking out towards the harbor, Katrina saw the ships swaying on waves on the usually calm water. Beyond them, lightning was flashing from clouds much darker and more menacing then the gray ones releasing their rain over her.

Katrina leaned down to pat Lady's neck, trying to calm her, but another crack of thunder caused the horse to bolt in fear. Katrina gripped the reigns and Lady's mane, afraid of falling though Lady's gait was as smooth running full out as it was at a meandering walk. All hope that the horse would slow down fled Katrina's mind as more thunder echoed off the bay. Faintly, a sound overcame the fear fogging Katrina's mind. It took her a moment to differentiate it from the now near constant rumbles of thunder and the steady rhythm of falling rain. It was the pounding of hooves from behind her, turning her head as much as she dared, there just a few yards back and closing distance was a powerful black stallion.

"Katrina!" Thomas yelled over the storm from atop Prince, slowly drawing alongside her. "Give me your hand!" he stretched out his own to her.

Katrina looked over at him, unable to release her death grip on the reigns.

"Katrina! Trust me! You have to jump!" Thomas shouted. "Drop the reigns and take my hand! Now!"

Taking a deep breath, Katrina grabbed Thomas's hand and pushed herself from the saddle the same moment that Thomas pulled her towards him. She didn't know how it happened, but somehow Thomas had her seated across Prince in front of him, one arm wrapped around her waist to keep her from falling while the other one gradually pulled Prince to a slower pace. Lady kept on running.

Katrina shuddered and buried her face in Thomas's chest, clutching handfuls of his soaked shirt. She stayed that way until she felt Prince come to a halt and the rain stop pounding against her.

Lifting her head, she saw that they had ridden straight into a barn. Thomas dismounted and reached up to lift Katrina off as a stable ran up to lead Prince to his stall. "Rub him down good." Thomas told the boy as he helped steady Katrina on unsteady feet. "Here." Thomas took off and placed his coat over Katrina's shoulders.. "It's wet, but it will still keep you a bit warmer. We'll have to make a run for the house before the rain gets much heavier."

Katrina looked out at the steady rain and nodded.

"Ready?" Thomas asked, he took Katrina's hand and together they dashed towards the large mansion made hazy by the veil of rain. In a matter of minutes they reached the terrace, Thomas hurtled the wrought iron fence, much the same way he had the first time they had met and reached back to swing Katrina over the railing as well. Even though they were under shelter the wind pushed stray drops of rain at them.

"Let's get inside." Thomas moved to the door, opening it and ushering Katrina in before shutting it behind him.

"Thomas?" a voice called from down the hall.

"Yeah, Lil?" he called back.

"Oh, thank goodness! With you out riding and this storm showing up all the sudden… why, hello, Katrina. I didn't know you were going to visit." Lilly said approaching them.

"Hi, Lilly." Katrina gave a shaky smile.

"Kind of caught up with Katrina as I was out." Thomas smirked.

"You are both soaking!" Lilly exclaimed. "Thomas you are dripping all over the floor. And Katrina, you must be cold. Thomas, have you no manners? Come Katrina, let's find you some dry clothes while we wait for some nice hot tea to be made up." Lilly took Katrina's arm and started steering her down the hall. "Here, now. Sit here." Lilly drooped a blanket around Katrina's shoulders. "You just wait here, and I'll go see about those dry clothes for you."

Katrina sat on the love seat, snuggling in the blanket and Thomas came into the room, already in dry clothing. "My valet knows me too well." He grinned. "He already had dry clothes ready for me." He sat across from her. "Are you warm enough? Or should I start the fire?" he made as if to stand.

"Oh, no, I'm fine, pray, sit back down." Katrina hastened to reassure him.

"Thomas! You rogue!" flurry of skirts rushed at Thomas and hugged him. "You were supposed to be here!"

"That was today?" he answered looking up at the dark haired girl.

"Yes, that was today." The girl flounced down next to him with a slight pout.

"I'm sorry, it slipped my mind." Thomas took her hand.

The girl smiled. "I guess it's alright." She gazed at him.

Katrina let out a light cough. The girl jumped and blushed.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't notice you there."

"Hello Lady Amberly." Katrina greeted.

"Oh, Katrina! You look a mess. What happened? And your beautiful dress!" Amberly bemoaned.

"Yes, I'm dying to know as well. As usual, my brother's explanation was far to vague for my liking." Lilly entered the room. "But first, you need to get into some dry clothes. Mine were to small, but my lady's maid is about your size and I convinced her to give up one of her finer dresses, though I had to bribe her with one of my own."

"Lilly, you shouldn't have to-" Katrina started.

Lilly held up her hand. "It is already done. Anna alters and wears the clothes I'm done with anyhow. She is very well dressed. I think you will find this one still very much in vogue. Now, come along, lets get you dried up."

Katrina followed Lilly up the stairs. "This is my room." Lilly said opening the door. "Anna, my abigail, will help you change and redo your hair."

Half an hour later, under Anna's deft ministrations, Katrina was garbed in a pale blue dress with the slightly too large waist cinched in with a wide white ribbon and her hair done up in soft curls, left down to dry, but pinned back from her face.

"There you are, miss. Nice an' dry. I'll just take your dress an' shoes down ta cook an' we'll see if'n we can't get them right clean an' dry for you. Miss Lilly said that they all be waiting for you in the parlor when you was ready. Tis the door ta the right o' you at the bottom o' the stair." Anna informed her as the maid gathered up the wet and muddy articles of clothing.

"Thank you." Katrina made her way back down the stairs and to the parlor where she was ushered back into a seat and poured a cup of tea as Amberly and Lilly questioned the story out of her with Thomas correcting parts that she got wrong. All in all, it was a rather short retelling.

"Oh, Katrina, how frightening! Good thing Thomas was there." Lilly looked at her with large eyes.

"Yes, my man is a brave one." Amberly agreed, gazing at Thomas.

"Oh, you don't know yet, it hasn't been announced. But they are engaged." Lilly gleefully told Katrina.

"You mustn't tell anyone yet." Amberly implored. "We are planing to announce it at the ball that Thomas was supposed to be here to help me plan out."

"It's going to be a masked ball!" Lilly was practically bouncing on the couch next to Katrina. "It will be so exciting!"

"Yes, it will be fun, settle down before you spill your tea, Lil." Thomas admonished his sister.

As the storm raged outside the next few hours were consumed by plans and arrangements for the upcoming festivities. Katrina commented on a few things. Gradually the storm lessened and the sun broke through the clouds shining off of the droplets of water still dripping from the trees and other plants.

"Miss, your clothes are dry." Anna said from the door way.

"Why don't you go get changed?" Lilly suggested.

"Then we best get you back to the governor's." Thomas told Katrina.

"Only this time we will take the carriage." Lilly added.

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"Good bye, Katrina." Lilly said as Thomas got out and handed her down before climbing back into the carriage. Katrina waved before climbing the steps and slipping through the front door.

"Oh, Miss Katrina!" Kara descended upon her almost at once. "We were all so worried when Lady showed up with out you! The governor was in a state! I hadn't seen him so concerned since the time his daughter got captured by those vile pirates. Also, we couldn't get the young miss to come here. The governor wanted to surprise you, since her room and the nursery is all done up now, but she wouldn't come, kept asking for a cat, even after the governor got her a kitten. She still was asking for a cat. Near wit's end, he was. The only way she would come is when that handsome captain promised that the cat would be here."

"Captain Norrington?" Katrina asked, confused.

"Nay, miss. That other one. That dark haired privateer."

"Where is she?"

"Right up the stairs in the nursery, still asking for a cat. That captain is there, too, she didn't want nurse anywhere near her." Kara explained as they climbed the stairs. "Here, miss, this is the nursery door." Kara indicated one near the end of the hall and opened it.

"Kitty!" Sera cried, hopping up from where she was cradling a gray ball of fuzz and running towards her, wrapping her free arm around her knees.

"Careful, now, you're liable to do miss harm if you do that, and don't run." The nurse, a woman probably in her young thirties chided Sera.

Katrina smiled and swept Sera up into her arms. "Hello, precious. What's this you got here?"

"Kitty." Sera held up the fuzz ball for Katrina to see, the kitten opened its blue eyes and let out a pitiful mewl. Sera tucked it back into the crook of her arm and it settled back down.

"Did the nice man give it to you?"

Sera nodded and wiggled to get down. "Down?"

Katrina set her down and Sera took her hand and led her into the room. It was painted a cheery soft yellow with pink and white accents. Every type of toy imaginable was lining the walls and there was even a small, child sized set of furniture. It was easy to see that no expense had been sparred, even in Sera's clothes. The girl was fitted out in a white frilly dress, her white blond hair done up in curls and ribbons.

Katrina turned to see Kipp sitting on a chair from where he had been watching the exchange. He stood when she looked at him. Gone was his pirate garb, and he was dressed in fine gentleman's day clothes. "Hello, Kitten."

"Good afternoon, Captain." Katrina answered with a slight blush, remembering their last encounter. "Thank you for watching over Sera. She seems to like you."

"My pleasure." they both noticed the nurse watching them closely, though she was trying to cover it up. A small monkey ran into the room with a shiny watch pocket in one front paw and took refuge high on a book shelf and the nurse let out a small shriek, hopping onto her chair.

"Come back here you hairy little thief!" a shout came from outside the door followed by "Don't hurt my monkey!"

Kipp covered his face with one hand and groaned. The door burst open to reveal one agitated governor and a little dark haired and blue eyed boy.

"Jace." Kipp said in a low tone.

"I know. Here, Scamp, here, boy." The boy coaxed the monkey down to him and took the watch, handing it back to the butler. "Sorry, sir, ya see, he's attracted to bits o' shine."

"Yes, well, I see it is not harmed. Just keep him from doing so again." The governor said, tucking the watch back into his pocket.

"We should probably get going as well." Kipp apologized.

"No, dear boy, you must stay for supper." Weatherby Swann urged.

"I really-"

"Kipp stay?" Sera got up and looked at him with the eyes, and Kipp folded.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt."

"Capital. Nurse, tell cook we will have two more for supper, will you?" the woman bobbed a curtsy and went to do as told.

"Niece, it is good to see you are safe. We feared the worst when your horse returned without you." Weatherby said sincerely.

"She was frightened by the storm and bolted. The Hawthorns offered me shelter from the storm." Katrina explained.

"Splendid people, the Hawthorns. You danced with Sir Jeffery and his grandson, Thomas, I think his name is, at the ball I believe. Dinner should be ready in about an hour. If you will excuse us, I need to talk to Captain Hunt about something that has been brought to my attention."

Katrina shot Kipp a worried look and opened her mouth. Kipp slightly shook his head and followed th governor out the room.

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I know, it's a bit short.

reviews are a s good as:

these awsome italian cookies that I had at my cousin's wedding reception, they tasted like banket!

QUOTE:

-"I am not a child!"

-"You are my child!"