Disclaimer: Haven't yet discovered that I am heir to anyone related to POTC, so I don't own a bit of it. I also don't own Norrington, I just keep him locked in my closet for my own amusement.

Chapter 1: Boy Meets Girl

Mine.

That one simple word wafted across Lieutenant Theodore Groves's soul when he saw her. Amazing really, what could be said in a word.

Those were his exact thoughts as he fell face first onto the ground.

Spitting out a mouthful of dirt, Theo mentally groaned. He'd been wearing his best uniform and the damned thing would have to be cleaned again. That was proving to be the least of the embarrassment as he heard the chuckles of the spectators around him.

Praying at least that the lady who caused the fall did not see it occur, Theo began to move to get up. A hand appeared to his right. A small feminine hand. A very charming feminine hand...

Damn.

"Are you all right sir?" a soft voice inquired.

He managed to become upright by himself, salvaging a bit of dignity. "I'm fine, miss?"

The lady was short and petite, with pretty strawberry brown hair and blue eyes. Freckles dusted her face, quite unusual in a society that valued plain white skin. Groves pegged her as having a bit of Irish ancestry. She blushed as she answered, "Lady Marianna McGarvey. Who might I be speaking to?"

"The ever clumsy Lieutenant Theodore Groves, at your service. Are you Irish?"

What the devil are you asking her, Theo mentally screamed at himself.

Her eyes took on a wary glint. "Aye."

Groves realized that she was apprehensive. The relations between the English and Irish were never what one termed good. "I'm not saying that's bad…I don't hate the Irish. I love them! They've got potatoes and jigs…and…"

Dash it, Theo! Why are you talking about potatoes?

An amused glint replaced the apprehension in Marianna's eyes. "Aye, that we do. I'm also half English, if you might like that…"

Marianna! You talk to a man and all you gab on about is your bloomin' ancestry?

"I'm rather fond of that as well."

Very articulate, Theodore, very suave...

Suddenly, Marianna remembered where she had been going. "I'm sorry, I'm promised at the Governor's for tea. His wife will be expecting me…" the woman cautioned.

A few months ago, quite unexpectedly, Governor Swann had remarried. The bride was a middle aged widow, Jane Baggins, who had previously acted as a chaperone and companion to young girls, having first arrived in Port Royal as a traveling companion for Mrs. Gillette, nee Norrington. The gossips of Port Royal had talked about it for weeks as the former Mrs. Baggins had been quite lower in society than Governor Swann. However, by all appearances the couple was happy and despite her advanced age, Mrs. Swann had given birth to a healthy baby boy, Thomas.

Groves bowed. "My lady."

Marianna curtsied and went onward.

Meanwhile, Groves was cursing himself for his embarrassingly stupid fall, and later, he spent a rather long period of time dreaming about reddish brown hair spilling over on his pillow…In cascades, really. He could play with it and arrange it all over his body..

Meanwhile...

Lady Marianna McGarvey sped along to her appointment. If there was one thing she hated, it was being late and she was getting quite close to not being her usual punctual self…If it hadn't been for seeing that naval officer…

Lieutenant Groves. He appeared to be rather young, perhaps somewhere between 25 and 30 years of age. Quite handsome, if a bit distracted. Very handsome indeed. He filled his uniform out rather well from what she'd been able to observe…

She quickly snapped herself out of her woolgathering. She had neither the time nor the luxury of daydreams. Marianna had far more serious matters to deal with as well as social niceties. For now, the serious matters would have to wait. It was the niceties Marianna had to concentrate on currently…

"Mrs. Swann will see you now." the butler intoned as he indicated the drawing room, where tea was to held. Marianna hated tea…she preferred chocolate…

The Governor was present as well. Marianna found him to be a kindly gentleman with perhaps a slight inclination to be scatterbrained, all in all nothing that would cause anyone to hate him.

Marianna curtsied. "Good afternoon, Governor Swann, Mrs. Swann."

Mrs. Swann gave her a motherly smile. "Good day, Lady McGarvey. Please sit."

The tea service had already been rolled in on a cart. Mrs. Swann said, "We have both tea and chocolate here, as I much prefer the chocolate myself."

Marianna smiled. "Chocolate would be wonderful," she said. Really, she thought that she could get to like Mrs. Swann very much indeed.

"Allow me to personally welcome you to Port Royal, Lady Marianna. I am indeed sorry for the loss of your brother." Governor Swann said.

Marianna looked down into her cup. "Yes, I miss him a great deal. It is not so easy taking care of my younger siblings alone…since my husband died not long afterwards…"

I hate having to lie to these people…I really do, but it's necessary...

Mrs. Swann laid a comforting hand on hers. "Be assured that you will have friends here to lend a helping hand…"

Marianna recognized in Mrs. Swann a mothering soul. It warmed her heart to no end to have an almost substitute mother at hand. She had been in charge for far too long...

"Thank you for your kindness."

Talk turned to more mundane things until it came time to leave. Thanking her hosts graciously, she departed for home.

Marianna entered the front door of the McGarvey residence and heard the noise from the drawing room.

A door burst open and young Colin ran out, chased by their sister, Aileen.

Having accustomed herself to command in the past year as head of the family, Marianna barked, "Stop!"

Aileen was breathing heavily when she skidded to a stop. "He took my diary!" she accused.

Colin had the grace to look sheepish. "I did not!" he protested.

Marianna stared at him. "Give it over, Colin. I've told you time and time again to stop stealing your sister's things…"

Colin was a rambunctious eight year old who also happened to be the 6th Baron of Warrick.

"But Pirates steal things! I'm a pirate…"

Marianna's words became clipped. "Colin, I told you to never pretend to be a pirate. Pirates are lewd vicious killers. I will not allow it in my house, do you hear?" she sharply reprimanded him.

"Yes, ma'am." He grumbled.

Marianna knew she had been too harsh on her brother and so gave him a kind smile. "That's better. Perhaps I will be able to arrange through the Governor a trip to see the Dauntless if you manage to stay out of trouble this week…"

His face lit up. If one thing excited him more than pirates it was the Royal Navy. "I promise, I will, I promise!"

She laughed. "Go on then and continue your studies. That's another condition." Marianna ruffled his reddish blond hair fondly as he ran by.

She sighed from weariness once her brother left.

Aileen, who was seventeen to Marianna's 23 and had a wisdom far beyond her years, said softly, "Mari, rest for awhile. I'll watch over the rascal…"

Marianna shook her head. "I can't, you know that. If we're going to launch you into society, there are things we must do…"

"Is it really necessary right now?"

Mari gave her sister a helpless glance. "Of course it is. I may not be here for you if something goes wrong in the next few months. I want you and Colin to be well provided for. We've money to spare, but I want you to be protected…"

"And what of you? Do you really think I can allow this to happen? For you to go on some ill-conceived vendetta to capture our elder brother's murderer?" Aileen asked emotionally.

"I have to do this, Aileen! I can't-" Marianna was near tears. "I can't allow his death to go unpunished…"

Aileen gave her sister a hug. "You have to let that go. We have to move on. Get married yourself, Mari."

Mari gave her sister a watery smile. "I think you've a far better chance of it, dear. Every gentleman is drawn to your serenity like flies to honey. Besides, it is best this way. We've no older male relative to act as guardian an no chaperone. I must act as one…"

Aileen snorted. "Yes, the virtuous widow Lady McGarvey. Really, Marianna Murdoch, how long do you think people will believe that? Someone will eventually discover that your dear husband, Ian McGarvey, is no more a man than I am!"

"Well, for your sake, I hope he doesn't exist then!"

Both women giggled. "Come sister," Aileen ordered, "I believe we should see how cook is doing for supper. Colin has reported that he is most famished!"

"Well, we must submit to his majesty's wishes then!"

Arm in arm, Aileen and Marianna continued down the hall. For now they could concentrate on being a family and the annoyances they caused each other…

AN: Well there it is…A girl who hates pirates and our fearless navyboy who is fascinated by them…