Title: Protect The Children

Author: WickedRum

Disclaimer: Disney has them. I'm simply having fun a little. Nothing and nobody was actually harmed during the production of this fanfic.

Summary/Pairing: Admiral James Norrington on yet another mission. Norribeth, eventual Sparrabeth.

Set: after AWE.

Genre: romance/family.

Rating: probably PG, I haven't decided yet.

"I've never met the Pirate King before," Dailey told James Norrington as he unshackled him off the wall and pushed him in front of himself onto deck for the first time in several weeks. The bald pirate had been the one mostly responsible for bringing the admiral's food every day to the brig since they have captured him. They had orders from the king not to harm him and take him to the Empress as quickly as possible and since he was to be treated well, Daily didn't mind chatting his mind out to him. Normally the navvy officer'd not show too much interest in his tales, but he assumed his own fate'd concern him at least. "I don't know what the King'd want wif ye, but whatever it is, it'll be righteous. No other pirate has ever obeyed the code as much as this current ruler, no other's ever been so impartial and rewarded so many for their service to the crown. Yer famed fe not hanging a pirate and losing yer position as a result. I'd use that fact fe me advantage if I was ye, then maybe ye'll no be food fe the fish," Dailey gave his last advice to James as he motioned him to walk along the wooden plank that connected their ship with the Empress.

James collected himself together as much as he could, put a hand through his hair, hoping that'd make him look better and rubbed some dirt off his face. Too much effort he didn't put into it, it wasn't his fault he was kept in those conditions, besides, who knows what this pirate king's standards were anyway. Not bad though, meeting their king. He never knew they had one before, but since he found out he was more curios than anything else. Ever since that fateful day Dailey's just mentioned, James was used to being thrown about by destiny, up and down and up and down, not that he cared much. His and Elizabeth's lives were entwined and he'd only try to live for the sake of the next time they'd meet. He let himself being manhandled, pushed about down below into a large and ornate cabin and set to kneel. His head was pushed down for a bow.

"You may unbind him," said a familiar voice, "then leave us," she ordered, sitting by the table and not stopping her activity of polishing a silver blade, for knowing eyes so obviously made by a blacksmith named Turner.

James was just as dazed and confused than when he last met her and was told she was pirate captain. His gaze was drawn to those working hands on hers, one ring on each, a golden wedding ring on the left, one with a skull with a crown on the other. He only spoke when they were alone. "Elizabeth? I was to be brought in front of the pirate king?" He tried.

"That'd be me, James. I'm glad you made it," she cornered her desk and contemplated drawing him to herself, but last time he passed up on that. They had drifted too far apart, much more stood between them now than Will, and maybe Jack.

"What? King?"

"I was elected pirate king to fight the navvy." As if not enough stood in their way without having to say that.

"Why would a bunch of sea rovers elect a young girl of noble decent as a queen?"

"King." She shrugged, "Jack helped. Well, isn't it good for you I'm the king? If I wasn't they would've killed you by now. You will be free to go when you want to and the Empress will take you too, I have one favor to ask though.

James rolled his eyes, "for me to be a pirate and you'd consider us being together? Aren't you married already?"

Elizabeth continued very seriously, "I think I will have to start another war in the near future and I need your help."

"More treason?" James snorted. His alliances always lay with her, but he was continuously messing up the rest of his life for sake of those choices.

"I know I have no right to ask anything from you."

James sighed. He wanted to tell her how true that was, talk about all the empty years he had in life missing her, of the long weeks he'd spent between life and death after he's been stabbed on the Dutchman, but nothing came out. Truth was, he couldn't deny her anything. His face softened, "if I ever held that compass of Sparrow's in my palm again where do you think it'd point to?"

"If there was a way back to accepting your hand in marriage before it was too late, before my father had to die, before Will turned into that monster, before having made decisions I regret, I'd do so. But there isn't. I'm undeniably a pirate now, I'm their chosen king, I believe I can protect them, from each other the most. There's no way back for me. But I don't want the same life for my son. He's not even two yet, he'd forget life on the seas with me, he'd forget the sword fights, the blood, the sound of the canons, the smell of burning flesh and rum. I was hoping you could take Jonathan with you, raise him in England. That's what I've heard, that you were on your way back to the empire, having given up your title as admiral, away from everything? Nobody would know Jonathan's not yours, I don't want him to have to endanger his own life knowing his parents are pirates. I was hoping you'd take the only piece of me I can give you...it'd be best for him. I don't trust he'd even live to grow up out here with me..."

James gulped, "you're giving me your child?" She trusted him completely.

"I can't take care of him James, what kind of mother is that?"

"No worries Elizabeth. He'll be safe with me. I just need to know one thing. The father."

"The father knows nothing of his existence and I don't want him to."

"You're confident you can keep secrets from Sparrow?"

Elizabeth opened her eyes wide, "how did you know it was Jack?"

"You could start a new life too with a new name, as my wife for instance, back in England. But that's who binds you here in this position you claim to be stuck in. Jack. It's always been Sparrow, the man who ruined my life. Women always fall in love with their savior. I could feel it as I was somehow never really jealous of Turner and then I saw how alike you were when we were on the Pearl."

"It's not like that James. People depend on me here."

"You've said enough. Jonathan'll depend on me if that's what you want," he nodded formally, then added quietly, "it'd be redeption the right way for me this time."

tbc