This story will not contain spoilers to Pirates 3. As a Norrie fan I am choosing to ignore it and pretend it never happened! ;)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any character rights regarding POTC. The only thing I own is an overactive imagination and time.

This story is rated M for sexual content and language. Be warned.

Please review. I enjoy CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and, of course, positive feedback.

Chapter 1

"Sure will be strange having the old man gone." A middle aged blonde Lieutenant said loudly so he could be heard over the noise of the party.

"Aye. Overland was a great Admiral to be sure." The older Commander replied.

James Norrington was standing behind the two men and paid little attention to their conversation as he surveyed the raucous room.

He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, everywhere he looked there were groups engaged in boisterous gossip and those who weren't were dancing to the orchestra that had been hired for the event.

"Sure did out do himself with this affair though. Heard he even has a fortune teller tent out back."

"There's two mimes out front also…passed them on my way in."

"Only gets one goodbye party, he's going out with a bang."

­Fortune teller? Mimes? Out with a bang indeed, James silently mused. Everywhere he looked there was some new opulence to hold his eye. From the red silk drapes covering the window to the twinkling candelabras that were dripping with crystals to the rich teak floors.

"Remember that battle we had deep in the waters of the Atlantic with those shady sea merchants peddling the stolen royal jewels?"

"Not too bright were they!" The Commander replied with a laugh. "Overland had them tricked out of the jewels before they even had a chance to toast to their heist."

The lieutenant joined in the shared laugh before turning curiously serious. "What do you think of this new Commodore Norrington?"

James had never really enjoyed parties much and had kept mostly to corners and walls, occasionally joining in chats with nearby men when he heard something that piqued his interest. The frivolity of such festivities escaped him.

He hadn't meant to eavesdrop on their conversation but now that he had come up he wasn't about to walk away from it. He shrank back into his dark corner further so as not to be discovered.

"A bit young for an admiral isn't he? Can't be more than thirty one or thirty two. Be like taking orders from my son."

Oh how tired he was of that complaint, he thought with a mental sigh as he immediately went on the defense.

"Exactly. Seems that's how most of the men feel too. It doesn't seem fit. Boy hasn't even gotten his feet wet and now he's going to be in charge of a fleet of fourteen. I wonder if he even realizes all the lives he's responsible for."

Even without his promotion James still outranked both of them and felt his irritation boiling to the surface. He stepped forward to get the soldiers in line but a young woman blocked his path and placed a warm hand on his forearm.

She came mid-chest and was dressed in a blue gown that matched her eyes perfectly, eyes that reminded him very much of the sea after a violent storm, such a shade of blue that they were almost violet. Wafts of lavender flitted to his nostrils as he took a surprised step backward.

Her curly chestnut hair was easily the longest he'd ever seen, even with the pins holding it up there were tendrils reaching past her bottom and her skin was so light and smooth that it looked like fine porcelain. She reminded him very much of a child's doll.

"You were eavesdropping Commodore. Think of the things you say when you think no one is listening." She said in a soft voice before she slowly glided away. So smooth was her gait that she appeared to sail across the room.

His arm still burning where she had touched him, he stared after her dumbfounded at her cryptic words for a moment before moving forward again. Odd indeed. What in the world was that about, he wondered.

"Ahh, there you are James." Came Elizabeth Swann's voice from behind. He immediately forgot about the two soldiers and whirled around with a smile.

"Elizabeth!" He said somewhat breathlessly. "You look beautiful as always."

"That's very kind of you, thank you." She said dismissively. "My father and Admiral Overland are looking for you." Elizabeth continued as she grabbed his arm and led him to where the two men stood.

"Commodore, where have you been keeping yourself? Thank you Elizabeth." Governor Swann said, relegating her back to the party.

James watched her leave and felt the familiar pang of sadness in his gut. He shook it off and forced himself to appear unaffected as he focused on his superiors.

"Lovely girl you've got there Weatherby." Admiral Overland boomed heartily. "Wouldn't you agree James?"

"Indeed." He agreed in what he hoped was not an over eager fashion.

"She is a dear girl, though I say it myself." Swann conceded.

"James you don't look like you're having a bit of fun at my party. I don't think I've seen you speak to anyone all evening." Admiral Overland continued so loudly that James wondered how much he had to drink.

It was almost the truth and James did nothing to refute it as smiled cordially. "There's a lot to see." He finally managed tactfully.

"That there is. I know!" Overland yelled zealously. "Why don't you have your fortune told? There's a tent out back. Should be great fun."

"No disrespect Admiral but I don't believe in that nonsense." James said.

"Oh come now, no one does Commodore. It's entertainment. I insist."

With that the Admiral excused himself from Governor Swann and all but drug James along behind him, ignoring every protest he gave and calling out loudly to everyone he passed.

This was the man he had to live up to? The ludicrousness of it was just….well ludicrous.

The Admiral poked his head inside the tent flaps before Overland slapped him exuberantly on the back and pushed him roughly into a tent plunged in near darkness.

He stopped short so his eyes could adjust before looking around. The round table was covered in a silky blue green fabric and housed the single light source, a three wick candle. The room was heavily scented of lavender and warm enough to make him feel drowsy.

A rustle caught him off guard and he reached for his sword quickly to corner the perpetrator.

"Relax Commodore. I'm unarmed and wouldn't harm you even if I was." A woman said easily, looking anything but frightened as she stared down the razor sharp shaft of his sword.

She turned her back on him and he saw the tendrils of russet curls falling past her bottom and realized it was the woman from earlier. Again he was stuck with the fluidity of her movement, almost as if she were floating instead of walking. She seated herself in an overstuffed winged back chair and motioned for him to follow suit.

He realized he was staring stupidly with his sword still at the ready. He sheathed it as he said, "I apologize. You startled me."

"I know that. I apologize I startled you. Won't you have a seat?" She invited again.

He moved hesitantly to the proffered chair and sat on the edge as if ready to bolt.

"You needn't be nervous sir. My name is Destiny." She said softly as she pinned him with a stare.

"James Nor…" He began.

"I know who you are Commodore Norrington." Her violet blue eyes seemed to be searching his for something and made him feel as if he were being invaded, a feeling that instantly put him on edge.

"How did you get persuaded into this?" He asked, slightly unsettled by the intensity of her presence.

"Persuaded Commodore? I offered my services. I'm a Seer."

"Where is your crystal ball?" He repeated doubtfully.

"That is something that only gypsies use for show." She laughed mystically, as if he had said something amusing.

It was a tinkling womanly laugh that again reminded him of a fine porcelain doll and sounded pleasing to his ears. It was so rare he heard a woman laugh anymore and the tone just seemed to enfold him, unsettling him further.

"What does a Seer use?"

"They use their eyes and the air around them. The energy or the touch of their subject. Their own intuition and feelings. We see from emotions. Our own and others." Destiny shared enigmatically.

Could this evening get any more ridiculous, he wondered as he watched her eyes glaze over for a moment.

Obviously, this slip of a woman had been hitting the same bottle Admiral Overland had. He couldn't imagine it would take much to get her inebriated. He had never been more ready to return to his quarters, an hour ago preferably.

"And what is it you see Madame?" He asked mockingly.

"You are a military man through and through. To your very core. It's all you have known." She said quietly.

"That's astounding!" He snorted as he leaned back farther in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm sure all this brocade did nothing to tip you off."

"Your father was a military man also." She noted with a tilt of her head.

"As most men of my position's are." He said flatly, noticing that the flickering candlelight was pulling many shades of red and gold from her hair.

"Your sarcasm isn't lost on me Commodore." Destiny replied unruffled.

"I would hope not. It's pretty thick."

"You don't believe in the occult do you?" She asked maddeningly calm.

"Four rounds to the Seer." He laughed. "Now if you'll excuse me I've had about as much of my fortune as I can stand. Good evening."

He stood and quickly walked toward the freedom of outside but just as he reached for the flap she spoke again. So quietly he almost would have missed it.

"You harbor an unrequited love." She said in a hushed tone.

James whirled around heatedly and opened his mouth a few times before snapping it promptly shut as he tried to formulate a response. "Pardon me?" He finally managed.

"You are in love with a woman who is in love with another. She will never love you Commodore. Nor is she suited to you."

He stared blankly, feeling as if this slight woman had punched him right in the stomach.

She rushed on at his stricken look. "I feel you know this yourself and I'm not saying it to be cruel. I'm saying it so that you may move forward. Find another. Your destiny. I can help you. If you let me."

James was concocting his reply when Admiral Overland poked his head back in.

"Well Commodore? What did you think of my niece? Entertaining was it not? Surely you can enjoy yourself now." Overland cried merrily.

"Niece sir?" James asked slowly as his words sunk in.

It's his niece? I was that rude to my superior's niece?

"Aye. Mentioned that didn't I? My brother's oldest girl. They live in London. Pretty little thing isn't she? Single too." Overland continued on, oblivious to James's discomfort.

James looked over his shoulder apologetically to meet Miss Overland's gaze and found her doing the last thing he would have expected. She was smiling as if his blunder were the funniest thing in the world as she gave him a sassy four fingered wave.

Three hours later James was still marooned at the party and still just as baffled as he had been when Overland had led him away. Destiny went from irritatingly unflappable to extremely odd to borderline insulting to a cheeky wench.

Confused as he was, he still needed to find her to apologize. Since she was Admiral Overland's niece, and he was obviously fond of her, he didn't want to take any chances. Not with his promotion so close.

He scanned the room and quickly found her surrounded by a group that was deep in conversation. Her gaze met his and James strode purposefully toward her.

"Pardon me ladies. Miss Overland? Might I have a word?" James interrupted smoothly.

She excused herself from her gaggle of female companions and he led her away to a quiet corner, fully aware the women they had just left were staring curiously in their direction.

"Yes?" She prompted patiently at his stalwart silence.

"I'd like to apologize." James said after a deep breath.

"Apologize? For what Commodore Norrington?" She asked innocently.

"If I've insulted you in anyway, I'm sorry. I did not know who you are." He replied repentantly.

It was her turn for silence as he stood there awkwardly.

"So, if I had not been who I am it would be acceptable to be that rude?" She finally inquired, enjoying his discomfort as he worked out what she asked.

"No. That's not what I said." He defended.

"Not directly." She smiled calmly.

"Miss Overland, I am soon to be an Admiral. Do you have no respect for a commanding officer?"

"I come from a family of military men, sir" she paused to give a mock salute, "I respect all soldiers but you are not my commanding officer, Commodore." She said sweetly.

Men had cringed with dread at his very approach and this exasperating woman seemed to think he was naught but an amusing joke.

"Do I not intimidate you at all Miss Overland?" He demanded with disbelief, crossing his arms sternly over blue coat.

She stared at him evenly for a full minute before answering. "I think the curls on the left are bigger than the ones on the right." She said seriously as she motioned to his white dress wig. "I could fix that for you if you'd like. I'm very good with hair."

James was used to men coming to abrupt attention when they spotted him and not having his words challenged. He was always the one in control of every situation. He was certainly not used to having his wigs failings pointed out to him.

The woman was absolutely maddening. Though said in the nicest way possible everything that had come out of her mouth seemed to assault him. He'd never been in such knots. Even worse than that she seemed to know that fact and was taking pleasure in it.

"No, I would not like." He answered as politely as he could through clenched teeth.

James was getting ready to continue when Admiral Overland surfaced again and clapped him on the back.

"Why don't you ask Destiny to dance so you can get to know one another better? Three months is a long time to spend with a stranger." He said jovially.

"Sir?" James asked for clarification, taken aback by the very suggestion of seeing more of her. Thirty minutes of her was plenty.

"You're taking her back to London on your yearly voyage. Thought I mentioned that…." Overland replied distractedly before wandering away when another guest claimed his attention.

"My incredible ability to predict the future has informed me he neglected to inform you of that fact didn't he." She said with a smile at his obvious state of shock. "I love my uncle but I've seen better memories on a fish. Aren't you going to ask me to dance?" She finished with a joking laugh.

"Commodore." She bid him farewell and curtseyed, leaving him scrutinizing her and wondering just how in the world he was going to survive the next three months.

I was hesitant to post this chapter without having chapter two to go with it because I don't want anyone disliking either character yet. Just remember that it's one chapter and the first chapter at that. Lots more character development to come. That said, who doesn't like some good love/hate.