This is number one of my short stories about James Norrington and a Made-up, Rebecca.

These focus on sweet moments in their developing relationship.

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Welcome Home

Standing anxiously at the bow of the Dauntless was James Norrington, eyes scanning the faces of Port Royal that stood waiting for his ship to dock. His knuckles were white as he gripped the railing, relaxing only when he set eyes on the black hair and slim figure of his wife, Rebecca. His smile matched her own, raising his hand to wave as she did the same. With a nod to her brother who waited with her, he turned to his men, smile gone, an expressionless look on his face once again.

"Good work, Gentlemen." He commended, starting towards his cabin, walking slowly to look each man in the face. "Go home and rest, be ready to be called in on the morrow. You are dismissed." He was saluted as the gangplank was lowered, his men hustling to their families. He sighed and rubbed his temples, stuffing a key into his pocket before locking his cabins and moving to the gangplank. Rebecca stood alone at the bottom, waiting, her brother having left back to Fort Charles. His fingers were trembling and he wrapped his hands around the rope rail to steady them, calmly walking to greet the girl he loved.

He opened his arms to her and she gladly moved into them, hugging him tightly. He closed his eyes to breath in the scent of dry land. He backed up after a moment and offered her his arm, and giggling, she accepted.

They made their way to the waiting carriage; he helped her in before climbing in as well, and speaking, only after the door had been shut. "I've missed you, Becca." His words were soft and careful, always polite as should be. "It's hard, being out there without you. I've missed you terribly." Her teary-eyed smile made him remember, she was only twenty-two, and he was only twenty-five."James." She started, clearing the through and dabbing her eyes, "Jamie, that was entirely to long. You've been away before, of course, but nothing over the expanse of three months." She had reached out sometime when she was talking to clutch his sleeve in her hand. "I thought for sure that you had been killed, or captured, or marooned." On the last word, her voice caught. James slid his arms around her, soothing her with words of comfort, enjoying holding her to him once again. As the carriage pulled to a stop, he pulled away and opened the door to help her out, offering her his arm once again.

The door was open, and he could smell tea and biscuits, what they had every time he returned from sea. A maid took his hat and coat and hung them up, curtsying respectfully as she did so.

"Go on up and change, Jamie." Rebecca said with a tearful smile, waving him up the stairs. "You have clean things in the linen closet." His grateful smile and murmured thanks made her grin and sweep into the tea room.

She hadn't been lying, clean breeches and shirts were folded neatly in the closet and, to his amusement, his favorites were on the top of the two piles. His formal attire was doffed and less formal and extremely more comfortable was donned. His wig was placed on it's form, fixing his hair into a horse's tail. Treading softly on the wooden floorboards, he savored the feeling of unmoving and smooth wood, cool and unlikely to give him splinters. He entered the Tea Room to find Rebecca on the lounge, a fire in the hearth, tea on the table. He settled next to her and she leaned on his shoulder with a smile, offering him a cup of tea.

"Welcome home James." She told him softly.

"Thanks, Becca. I missed you too." He told her softly, kissing her cheek and accepting the tea. Then, even softer, "I'm glad to be home."

-fin-