Disclaimer: The movie does not belong to moi.

Double Disclaimer: All of my views of characters are not to be taken too seriously, i.e. my hate of the whole turner family, because I'm a weirdo and have irrational thoughts.

Note: Norrie didn't get stabbed with a big ol' thing of wood by Will's stupid dad. He went with Elizabeth to…that one ship…from Singapore. Will and Liz did get married by Barbossa. Norrie stabbed the heart and became the captain of the Dutchman, Will died (boo hoo). Liz goes off and does…something. I suppose she continues being captain of the Singaporean ship…and she doesn't have a baby, obviously. Barbossa still took the Pearl, Jack was still left with the dingy, that's all the same. And I suppose this takes place maaannny years later, James having served many decades on the Dutchman…but still not eternity. Any questions? If so, you can ask in a comment! 'Cause I love comments :D. And so yeah…Ou, and I will do some flashbacks so you'll know more about why Norrie stabbed the heart…as well as me. Ou, and everything italicized (well, not everything - including that) is a flashback. Like if I were to italicize this paragraph, it would be a flashback. But I'm not going to do that because it's not a flashback. If I italicized it, that would make me a liar, and that's not what I'm about. shameless movie quote

CHAPTER 1

"Do you feel death?" James Norrington whispered into the ear of a badly bleeding lone sailor. It wasn't his intention for the man to serve in his crew for eternity. He had found him, clinging to a plank of wood, as well as his life. He only found the man and gave him a choice to live. There was nothing he could do past that. He couldn't save him, and drop him off at the next port. Of course, he wouldn't have to live for an eternity either. James had discovered many things while on this magnificent vessel. He had the power, once the ship docked, to free any of his crewmen. So instead of a life-long commitment that his crew had, it was really only ten years at most. Sometimes, if they were lucky, a man would begin his stretch just days before it was time to dock again. The Dutchman had clearly transformed. It was rare there was any need to plunder a ship. The money had no use and there was seldom a shortage of hands on deck. James would either find someone in the ocean, alive (which was rare) and they would serve their ten years (or less), or he would find a poor soul clinging to life (quite common) and turn them immortal…for ten years or less.

So once again James asked the question which so easily rolled off his tongue. "Do you feel death?"

Using all the strength he could muster, the man grabbed James' shirt and pleaded. "Help me," he said in a weak voice.

James nodded. Everything from there seemed to happen on its own, though James knew he was doing it. The wind picked up a bit, Calypso being well aware a new soul was becoming immortal and eager to add some sort of effect. The near-death man gasped as life entered him, before collapsing for a moment and finally sitting up on his own. Of course, had the man chosen not to serve, James would try his best to make his death comfortable (usually killing the men himself), and ferried his soul on to the next world.

But the man today didn't choose death. James helped him to stand and put a hand on his shoulder. "What's your name sir?"

"D-Dickens, sir—I mean, Captain."

James smiled reassuringly and turned his attention to the water as he continued to talk to Dickens. "We have 7 years before we dock. From there you may decide weather or not you would like to leave…becoming, once again, mortal." James turned to Dickens. "Sir, what was the cause of your shipwreck?"

"P-pirates, sir."

James nodded. "Of course." After the return of Calypso, pirates regained their reign of the sea. It became a rarity for any ship to arrive at its destination without conflict. It was pointless to ask why anyone was shipwrecked anymore, though he did get the occasional "cargo explosion" answer. James snapped out of his thoughts and turned back to Dickens. "I assume you're familiar with the positions on a ship?"

"Yes, sir—Captain." He cursed at himself silently under his breath.

"Dickens." Dickens looked up at him. "I don't care what you call me. I need you to familiarize yourself with the ship."

"Yes, sir—C—I, uh…sir."

James smiled and walked away. Once far enough away, he broke into a sort of dignified laughter. It was a good thing he had a lot of men in his crew, otherwise he would only have a few men who actually knew what they were doing. Not that he was talking about Dickens. No, he was sure that in time Dickens would prove himself useful in some way. As for everyone else who either didn't know how to sail or didn't care to find out, they kept the game Liar's Dice going. Not that it did any good. Either way, it kept his crew happy, and a happy crew makes for a happy captain…usually.

But it's not like they could do anything about him. None of them knew where he had hidden the heart. Only he knew. He had told one other person, someone he was sure he could trust…but she was gone. Lost at sea. It had been three years since he had last visited her family's estate, which is when he confided in her the location of the chest. After that he maintained contact with her and her family, using a bird who's soul James suspected to be tied to the ship. Five months after the visit, James received a letter from her father saying she had been missing for a week. A late-night swim is was the last time she set foot in Port Royal…the waves must have taken her down.

Sitting at his desk, he opened the drawer and removed a locket…the last thing she had ever given him. She was adamant about giving it to him. Probably just because she knew he wouldn't see her again for another ten years, but still…it seemed like she knew he would never see her again ever.

He squeezed the locket in his hand, "Vera…" and the memories came flooding in.

"So, how long do you have?"

I glanced at my pocket watch. "Not long. The sun will set in less than a half an hour…and I have to get back to my ship."

She looked out the window behind me. "How do you know?"

I chuckled. "I've been around for a lot of sunsets."

Vera sighed. "I suppose you have." She began to bite her nails, before stopping herself. She had obviously been scolded about the matter before. "I have to give you something." She got up quickly and raced up the stairs. I followed, which I think was neither wanted nor expected by Vera, but she couldn't hear me over the racket of her hard-bottomed shoes on the stone floors. She entered her room and pulled something out of a small cabinet. She turned around quickly and ran directly into me. "Ow. What are you doing here? You were supposed to wait downstairs."

"You never told me so."

She bit her nail once again before turning around and sitting on her bed. I followed, assuming she wanted me to. She held her right hand closed, and with her left hand she reached across her body to grab my arm. I opened my palm and she slowly dropped in it what was in her right hand. It was slinky and cool to the touch. She finally took her hand away and I looked at it.

"A necklace?" I asked. It was gold and looked considerably new.

"It's a locket," she said. "Look what's inside."

I opened up the small oval-shaped locket with considerable difficulty, as my hands were much bigger than hers, and not used to maneuvering something so small. I finally was able to get it open and smiled. Inside was a picture of her. A painting, really. The details were amazing, though, and I could tell right away it was her.

"It's so you'll remember what I look like."

"I could never forget," I said. "And I could never take your jewelry."

I began to hand it back when she folded my fingers around it. "Please do, it's of no use to me. My uncle gave it to me when his dog ate my pet rabbit."

I nodded and put it in my pocket. "Vera…I must tell you something."

She turned to me, giving me her full attention. I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped. Feeling extremely childish, but knowing precaution had to be taken, I leaned over and whispered in her ear the location of the chest. The location of my heart. Her eyes widened. "Where?"

I smiled. "It's a beautiful island. It's teeming with fruits and shade…and no one knows about it. So…any time you miss me…" I smiled. "Anytime you want to hear the steady rhythm of a heartbeat, you can dig it up. Under the tallest tree."

James couldn't recall weather or not the soft kiss he received on his cheek was his cue to leave, or if it was a send-off when he announced the sun was almost set. Either way, he still hadn't forgotten how her lips felt, or how distant she felt the moment he walked out the door.

James put the locket back in his desk, and left his quarters. The sun was setting, and he had a whole night of work ahead of him.

Yayy, chapter uno is done-o. Woo!! OK, so, um…yeah, I pretty much made that all up as a went along, so if it sounds weird…that's why. Please review, I must know what I'm doing wrong!