Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.

A/N: Just a fun and odd little fic that had sprouted recently. Takes place right after Curse of the Black Pearl.

Setting Takes place right after CotBP.

Characters. Norrington, Gillette, Groves, Elizabeth, William, Murtogg, Mullroy, Anamaria, Marty, Jack Sparrow. Tia Dalma.

Gentleman Pirate

Prologue

Commodore James Norrington ignored the sounds of various conversations floating around the Crystal Rose and stared into the nearly empty glass of water in front of him. He did agree to go to the fine Port Royal Tavern with Gillette and Groves when they had invited him.

James sighed at the memory of that very morning and the image of Elizabeth as he escorted her to Sparrow's hanging. He remembered the blissful if not fleeting days and nights he and Elizabeth were engaged. He could not get the feeling of her arm hooked around his or the image of her eyes staring up at him out of his head.

The start of the day was promising, up until William Turner had helped Sparrow escape the noose and Elizabeth had stared him in the eyes, telling him she did not love him. He could not force her to marry him. She would have been miserable and in the end so would he.

"Commodore?" Gillette had raised an eyebrow from where he was seated at the table he shared with Norrington and Groves. "We have been here for a half hour and you have barely said more than four words. You have sighed three times however."

James just stared at the lieutenant before he took another sip from his glass

"You have been counting his sighs?" Groves asked before he took another sip of his ale.

"He has been distant," Gillette pointed out as he settled back into the wooden chair the tavern had provided. "Not to mention all he has been drinking is water."

Groves frowned. "His heart had been broken." He set the fine pewter mug down. Every drinking utensil in the tavern was made of artistic precision, even the pewter mugs used for beer and ale had elegant carvings gouged into them, images of flowers, trees, birds, ships and carriages. "You can not expect a man to jump back to his previous composure after something like that, not even Commodore Norrington."

"Gentlemen if you please," James was tired of them speaking about him as if he were not there.

Earlier that day he had spent an hour in his office, allowing his feelings to drain and the realization that Elizabeth had used him and how blind he was. How could he not see that she had always fancied Turner? Was he too much in love with her that he didn't notice?

"I believe that would be four words," Gillette smiled weakly until he had caught notice of both James and Groves staring at him.

An hour of getting his head back together, followed by hours of paper work and meeting with his soldiers for their drills. One such form of paper was a letter to the admiral. The rest of his work was for preparation to begin the hunt after Sparrow for the following morning.

"What are you going to tell the admiral?" Gillette had decided to shift the direction towards more pressing matters. "If it is something you wish to speak about?"

"It is," James said. He glanced around the tavern. It was clearly favored by both the upper crust members of Port Royal society as well as military men in their off hours. James himself had changed clothes and donned civilian gear as well as Groves and Gillette. He continued to wear his wig though while his lieutenants had chosen not to do so. "I told him Jack Sparrow, being the despicable and slick man he is had escaped from the noose. I had written that I was going to hunt him down as soon as I had a crew and ship ready and prepared."

"Clever sir," Groves himself had to smile. His complexion seemed lighter without the paleness of his wig to contrast with. "No mention of being generous."

"Why did you let Sparrow go?" Gillette asked. "Unless I am being too bold in asking?"

"It did seem fair to allow him to escape." He had to admit Sparrow's grand gesture into the water, and it was a miracle he also had missed the rocks, was impressive. "Twice I had him in the hold he was stranded. It did not seem right to have him and not officially capture him."

Groves blinked. "They do say mercy is the mark of a great man, Commodore."

"Please," James raised his water glass "We are off duty. Mr. Norrington would suffice, even James would do."

"You did seem to be not looking forward to hanging Sparrow," Gillette said. "Was it because of Mr. Turner and Miss Swann?"

"I believe you are being bold," Groves glared at him. "How much have you had to drink?"

"I am only starting on my second glass," Gillette pointed at his fellow lieutenant. "You are nearly finished with your second mug of ale."

"I can drink three of these and still walk in the straight line while behaving like a respectful gentleman."

"Unlike Sparrow," James said before he drained the last of his water.

"Sparrow?" Their serving maid came up to their table and removed Grove's empty mug. "Care for me to refill your drink sir?"

"I think that should be enough for the night," Groves smiled at her. "I believe my final drink should be a simple glass of water."

"I will return with your water," she smiled back. "You were talking about the famous Jack Sparrow? I have heard stories about him, like about how he escaped from the gallows this morning."

James let out his fourth sigh of the night. Already that man was creating new legends.

"We could set you straight with the facts," Groves did not stop smiling. "But as men of the Navy we have to keep tight lipped about the subject.

And thank you, Theodore. James thought. For nearly a second he thought Groves might have told her something, even a summary. He always did have a fondness for pretty women with blue eyes.

"I guess I will just have to make do with the stories." She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "I have heard he was quite the gentleman to the women he had kidnapped."

It was a good thing James wasn't drinking or he would have nearly spat it out, or choked on it. "You are quite mistaken miss. Sparrow and his ilk are vile creatures, not a single gentleman amongst their lot."

She frowned. "Are you saying a pirate cannot be a be a man of honor?"

"Clearly not." He started at her and blinked when he had thought he saw a spark in her eyes.

"I am certain a man of your honor would know what he was talking about." She set a small wine glass down in front of him.

"I did not order anything besides water." The wine did seem tempting. He watched as the crystal like bubbles floated to the surface and inhaled the fragrance. It smelled of pears.

"It's a treat from the tavern," she said as she stepped away. "The owner wants to give something as a gift to our commodore."

"I cannot refuse if it is a gift," James brought the glass to his mouth and took a small sip, nothing more than merely wetting his lips. He did taste a hint of pears in the wine and it was just sweet enough that it wasn't overpowering. "Thank you. A very fine flavor indeed."

"She had already left." Gillette said.

"She had a nice face," Groves did not loose the peaceful smile on his face.

Boisterous laughter from the table next to theirs brought their attention to the group of wealthy merchants. By their red-rimmed eyes and the way they slurred their words, James could tell they had consumed several glasses of ale, or brandy or wine.

"I hope the barkeep will cut off their supply for the night," Gillette scowled at their display. "One more glass and they may loose all inhibitions."

"It's a shame if that happened to someone like Mr. Howell." Groves nodded

"Mr. Howell?" James inquired before he took another sip from his glass.

"Owns a sugarcane plantation," Groves signaled out the man in a burgundy waistcoat and graying blond hair. " Many look up to him. His eldest son is a marine, second youngest studying to be a doctor and his daughter is a very fine woman and still single. I would hate for him suffer embarrassment and have it reflect onto his children."

"I know of Catherine Howell," James tried not to show his displeasure at Groves. He knew what the man was trying to do. He was trying to point out the other still unwed and beautiful women of Port Royal so James would forget about Elizabeth. "I also know she fancies Andrew here."

Gillette nearly set his glass down too fast. "She does?" His cheeks flushed and a smile appeared briefly.

"I have seen her walk past the ports, always smiling at you," James told him. "She would always turn away when she knew you were looking at her."

"It would be polite for me to address her,' Gillette stared into his glass. "Engage in some form of conversation."

"After we catch Sparrow," James raised his glass. "This, along with Mr. Grove's water will be our last drink of the night. We need plenty of rest before we set sail tomorrow." He would have invited the two men to join him in a toast but he had to wait until Groves's water had arrived.

It was only just the one glass. James didn't remember drinking anything else besides water. He only had one glass of wine and that was it. It should have not been enough to cause his mind to fog over and walking had become extremely difficult.

"I only had the one glass?" James asked as Gillette and Groves were leading him to his house.

"One glass of wine," Groves assured him. "If I am not being too forward sir, how often do you drink?"

"Once or twice a week," James felt his eyelids weighing down. "Are you certain it was wine?"

"I wouldn't know," Gillette answered. "You were the only one to drink it."

"A quite odd vineyard." He heard his door being open but did not feel his feet or his legs. "Just leave me on the sofa." He heard no answer from Gillette or Groves, nor did he feel their arms. In fact he felt nothing, and saw nothing but darkness.