Warning!! Smoopy tearfest ahead! Angst? Sure why not!
James and His Midnight Visitor
He stood there not really knowing how to react. Her tears had soaked the front of his night shirt where her face pressed against his chest. He awkwardly put his arms around her and patted her back, tears threatening to overwhelm him as the grief she was feeling went straight to his heart.
A few short minutes ago he had been in his bedroom. It was almost midnight when he had finally left the paperwork in his study, gone to his room, washed up and donned his nightshirt. Thinking a small glass of brandy would help him sleep he had come back downstairs and was just coming out of the dining room when he heard the knock on the door. His first thought was it was a runner from the Fort with some message of import for him. He set the brandy down on the table and went to answer the door. He had no more opened it than he had a near hysterical Elizabeth Swann clinging to him. She was crying so hard as she pressed up against him he could not make out her words.
James did have a kind and compassionate heart, but due to his chosen path in life he had always been forced to keep that side of him buried, and was at a loss when it came to comforting distraught females; actually he was usually at a loss dealing with females of any demeanor. Having spent most of his life concentrating on advancing his career he had neglected his personal life, therefore he had very little experience with the fairer sex. The woman now crying her eyes out in his arms was the first he had ever loved, and still loved if the truth were known, and had set out to have as his own although in his eyes and the eyes of quite a few others, he had failed miserably. He continued to hold her against him and hesitantly pat her back, and in what he hoped was a soothing tone say words he also hoped were comforting.
They stood there like that for some time until Elizabeth's tears had lessened and her crying became intermittent sobs. She looked up into James' face, her eyes red and puffy, "Oh James, he's dead." The utterance of these words brought renewed crying and she once again hid her face against him.
"Elizabeth who is dead?" James asked, thinking it must be her Father she was talking about. Although that didn't make sense, the man had just recently left on a trip for England and even if he had passed away on the ship there was not time for word to have gotten back already.
"William, William is dead." She choked out between sobs.
"William? How do you know this Elizabeth? Who told you this?" James asked, his tone full of shock. The last he knew Mr. Turner was doing some work at a nearby plantation.
"Mr. Harris sent word James. He said Will had an accident. Oh James you are the only one I have to turn to. Will you take me to the Harris plantation? Oh James, what am I going to do without Will?" Elizabeth wailed, her words again almost unintelligible.
"Of course Elizabeth." James replied. He gently guided her to the dining room and sat her down in a chair and set his abandoned glass of brandy in front of her, "Here Elizabeth drink this. Will you be alright here while I get dressed?" Then having second thoughts about leaving her alone in the state she was in he changed his mind, picked up the glass of brandy, helped her to her feet, put his arm around her waist to steady her and headed up the stairs to his bedroom. She was leaning against him so heavily and was so unsteady on her feet it took some time to negotiate the stairs but finally they reached his room. He helped her over to sit down on the settee, handed her the glass of brandy, gathered his clothes, stepped behind the screen in the corner and got dressed. He sat down beside her and pulled on his shoes. Placing a gentle hand on her arm he asked softly, "Are you ready Elizabeth?"
The brandy had helped her gain at least some semblance of control even if it was of the alcohol induced kind. She gave him a weak smile and nod as she brought one hand over to cover his and the other up to his cheek, "I don't know what I'd do without you James Norrington. You have always been there for me regardless of how unmerciful I treated you." She forced a brave smile on her face as she continued, "I am as ready as I will ever be." She said as she got unsteadily to her feet. James once again put his arm around her to steady her, allowing her to lean against him.
The carriage she had come in was waiting out front and James helped her in, told the driver where he was to take them, climbed in himself, put his arm around Elizabeth and pulled her to him cradling her with his arm as she wept out her sorrow and grief against his side.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, he would do his best to be the strength and comfort Elizabeth needed him to be, and prayed to the powers that be he could fulfill that role, something he wasn't sure at all he could manage. Not for lack of wanting to do it, he would do anything for this woman his love for her was that strong. He had, after all, given her up to another even though that act had as much as ripped his heart out.
He noticed she had quieted some, only a slight shuddering sob disturbing her rhythmic breathing and he knew the brandy along with being worn out from crying had probably put her to sleep. He ran his hand lightly over her hair and leaned down and placed a gentle kiss atop her head. "If only things had been able to work out between us Elizabeth." He thought to himself. He made himself comfortable in the seat as much as he could without disturbing her. It would take several hours to reach the Harris plantation and he intended for her to get all the sleep she could while she could.
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They were standing hand in hand in his garden, the setting sun casting a golden glow around them, the jasmine surrounding them sending forth it's fragrant scent to envelope them, sweet melodies from the evening birds in the Poinciana tree falling pleasurably on their ears. She looked up at him and as she caressed his cheek she smiled and said, "I love you James. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know now what I thought I felt for William was not love. You are the one I want and need in my life." She put her hands on his shoulders and raised herself to place a kiss on his lips. He took her in his arms and returned the kiss, filling it with every ounce of love he possessed for her.
She drew away just a bit, met his eyes, and beamed a radiant smile up at him. He smiled in return and leaning over next to her ear said, "I love you more than life Elizabeth. I will make you happy I swear it."
"I know you will James, I was blind not to see you are the one I love." She ran her hands up and down his chest as her eyes continued to meet his. Slowly she began unbuttoning his shirt, placing kisses on the exposed skin each uncovered……………
James jerked as he awakened, his face flushed not only from the effects the dream had had on his body, but also the guilt and shame he felt for dreaming the dream to begin with. The man was hardly cold yet and he was dreaming such things about Elizabeth. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a few minutes on taking deep rhythmic breaths trying to calm himself. When he felt his control returning he sent a thanks heavenward that he hadn't awakened Elizabeth. He looked out the window of the carriage and could see the faint blush on the horizon that meant the sun would soon be rising. They would be at the plantation before long. James decided it would be to his advantage, since he evidently couldn't trust his subconscious to behave its self while he was asleep, to stay awake for the rest of the journey.
He sat and looked out the window of the coach, watching the countryside glide by and wondering if he were up to the task ahead of him.
To Be Continued
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