Sorry it has taken so long, but I'm doing my best to update as soon as I can without getting any writers blocks. Please, please, please! Your reviews mean the world to me.

If you have any friends who love POTC and Jackie, then please suggest this story to them.

Enjoy, yet another installment. :)

Chapter 13: Lead The Way

A knock echoed throughout the Swann home and startled Katherine from her primping. The voyage was today, and that knock sounded all too recognizable. Her heart skipping, she flew down the stairs, ignoring Elizabeth's inquisition and opened the door to greet Jack with a warm smile.

Only to find that it wasn't Jack.

"Will," Katherine addressed him politely, surprised at his arrival. Yes, the two women were expecting him, but so soon?

He smiled kindly, "Hello Katherine, may I?" He gestured inside. Nodding, she stepped aside for him to enter and greet Elizabeth.

Downhearted to some extent, Katherine cast her gaze to the recently washed tile floors as she began to shut the heavy door, but a hand quickly shot out and stopped her movements.

Alarmed at the sudden halt, she peeked out and glanced at the hand against the wood, the palm open flat with ringed fingers…

"Forgetting someone, love?"

Her heart leapt as she flew the door open, embracing him, "Jack!"

Stunned for a moment at her sudden outward affection, it took him a second or so to respond to her, wrapping his clothed arms around her lithe frame with a smirk present on his lips. Katherine basked in the brief instant that she was held against his muscular chest, breathing in that spiced, yet sweet and salty scent that solely belonged to him.

They each pulled away slightly to look into the others eyes, "I suppose you missed me, eh darling?" Jack questioned with a flash of golden teeth.

Finally coming to and removing herself from such a situation, she ran her hands down the skirt of her dress, flattening imaginary creases before clearing her voice slightly in hopes to regain her lost composure, "Yes."

Jack, after a quick chuckle over the inwardly fretting brunette, glanced in Will and Elizabeth's direction; who had watching the previous scene in its entirety.

With a blink, Elizabeth discarded her intrigued expression and donned one of confusion, "When did you arrive?"

"He was with me when I arrived at the door; leaning against the wall" Will explained to his fiancé, "I met him in a discrete area of the port after he had rode the dinghy here from the Pearl."

Raising his head slightly in memorization, Jack shared looks between the young woman beside him and Bootstrap Bill's son, "Aye! That's right! Gibbs will raise Hell in all its bloody glory if we are late," He gestured to the door, impatiently, "So shall we?"

Elizabeth grew desolate, "Wait! You can't leave so soon!" She racked her brain for a plausible excuse, only to come up with, "…You simply can't!"

Swaggering over toward her Jack quickly explained, "We can and we bloody well will. Frankly, 'Lizabeth, I am in no mood to bear the pestering of Gibbs if we run behind schedule whilst on the way to the next port with rum."

Her face contorted into a whirl of disgust, and gathered her will not to scream at the pirate, "You are separating Will and I for rum?"

"No,no,no,love. See, I meself have absolutely no clue why dearest William is joining Ms. White and I on our little trip around the Caribbean sea. Do not blame the rum." Sparrow explained, rolling his brown orbs.

She peered at Will, silently expecting an answer to which his gaze fell as he murmured, "I cannot tell you just yet. Forgive me.."

It was clear that at his words that hurt was triggered within her. With pursed lips, she simply looked off to the side and crossed her arms; defensively shielding her heart and mind from any more harmful words.

Sensing the awkward situation, Katherine hastily made attempts to brighten the atmosphere, "Oh Elizabeth, I'm that what ever Will has in mind will be worth this trouble."

She merely hummed in response, avoiding her gaze from the group. The hazel-eyed lady sighed before sparing a glimpse to Jack.

"Perhaps we should let the two have some time together, aye..?" He whispered into her ear, his warm breath hinted with remnants of rum breezed against her jeweled dangle earrings.

Nodding, she spared him a glance before lowering her head in attempts to conceal her blush. Jack rested a large tan hand against the small of her back and led her to the lounge room.

The pirate flopped down onto the sofa, resting an arm across the back as a grin blessed his face. Katherine smiled at him before standing from the loveseat to begin searching the room.

Jack looked upon her curiously; as she bent to retrieve something, he angled his head slightly to take in the sight of her shapely bottom.

"Ah..! Here it is," The smile could be heard in her tone as she held a tall bottle of rum in her delicate hands, "I bought this from the market once I heard from William that you would be arriving the next day."

Laughing, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, "Love, you're an angel." He said as she handed the bottle to him.

"Please, do not tell Elizabeth I had this hidden," Katherine breathed in worry. Being close with the bold, fearless woman, she knew the extent of her temper.

At her request, he glanced at her and nodded to her fervently, having dealt with Elizabeth himself. Jack uncorked the bottle and placed his mouth against the mouth of the rim. The liquor soothed his throat as he gulped what he could before the relentless Elizabeth stepped into the room.

But Katherine was rather worried about the governor's daughter. This trip would impact upon her relationship with William. The brunette seriously considered what the blacksmith currently had in mind with this entire ordeal.

With tense silence, Will and Elizabeth entered the room just as Jack corked his rum and discretely stuffed it into his coat.

The brown-eyed woman crossed her arms over her chest, standing in a huff as she gazed at an opposite wall.

Apparently, her conversation hadn't gone all too well...

"Well," Turner began, disquieted, "Lets be off."

Smiling goldenly, "Aye!" Jack stood, hauling Katherine up from the loveseat with him. She stumbled slightly before straightening herself; after a bit of assistance from the flamboyant scallywag,

"Lead the way, Whelp!" Jack commanded merrily, a hand resting on Katherine's shoulder as he guided her out the door, slinging her satchel over his shoulder.

Katherine glimmered back at the troubled honey haired woman as she stood by herself in the lounge. Goodness, she was so concerned for the emotional condition of her best friend.

But.. Perhaps some distance would be good for the noblewoman and blacksmith.