Title: The Dutchman Must Have An "Admiral"

Author: Bl-Air01

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing, Disney owns all rights to 'Pirates Of The Caribbean'

Spoiler: Minor spoilers if you haven't seen 'POTC3'

Placement: A/U during and after POTC3

Characters: James Norrington, Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Hector Barbossa, Bootstrap Bill Turner, Gibbs, Davy Jones, Lord Cutler Beckett, and other familiar faces from the 'Pirates' movies.

Pairings: Willizabeth, and a little Norribeth

Summary: James Norrington has one opportunity to set everything right and change everything he's done. For those of you who weren't quite satisfied with the ending of POTC3.

A/N: The story begins mid POTC3 and continues on after the movie. Parts take place in an alternate storyline, A/U. I'd like to thank Genevieve05 for all her help with writing and editing my story, thanks. All your help was greatly appreciated. Please read and review.

Prologue

As Admiral James Norrington sat in his cabin aboard 'The Flying Dutchman' he could not help but feel somewhat responsible for the predicament Elizabeth was in. While he sat in his cabin she was below deck in the brig. Elizabeth along with the crew of 'The Empress' had been captured earlier and had surrendered to the merciless Captain Davy Jones under the orders of Lord Cutler Beckett. James decided it was his job... No, his duty to save Elizabeth and set things right. James finally made his decision, one he wouldn't regret. He grabbed his sword and made his way below deck to the brig.

What am I going to tell Jones? He will realize that his prisoners escaped, he's not a simpleton. He'll be furious with me-

"Who goes there?" asked the raspy voice of one of Jones' crewmen.

"Admiral Norrington," James replied.

"What business do you have with the prisoners, 'Admiral'?"

"I do not answer to Jones' crewmen, you answer to me."

"Well we'll be seeing what the captain has to say about this."

"It was your captain who sent me to retrieve the prisoners."

"We'll see what the captain says," the guard said as he turned his back to Norrington.

Norrington seeing his opportunity knocked the guard out and ran to the brig. He only had moments to spare. He opened the cell door.

"Come with me," Norrington said hastily. The prisoners started at him in disbelief then looked to their captain. "Quickly," Norrington ushered.

Elizabeth gave a nod and her crew shuffled past. She walked to the cell door, "what are you doing?"

What am I doing? He wondered but responded instead with, "Choosing a side."

The Empress' crew ran about in a mad confusion. Norrington pointed to a cannon port. "Through there," he instructed. He ran past the sentry who said.

"Wot you doin' der? I 'eard dem der noises. 'oo you tink you are?"

"I'm Admiral Norrington, stand down."

"I don answer de no a'miral."

With that Norrington grabbed a hanging lantern and smashed it over the sentry's head, thinking, I'll lose my position for this, but I couldn't live with myself if I left her to Davy Jones. He ran out onto the transom. Suddenly he heard from behind some squabbling. He looked to the side of the ship and saw the first of the crew hanging on with one arm, waving his other, speaking a language Norrington didn't understand.

"Come on," Norrington instructes, waving the crew along. Suddenly Elizabeth hoped the rail and stood before him. "Do not go to Shipwreck Cove. Beckett knows of the meeting of the brethren, I fear there may be a traitor among them," he warned his love.

"It's too late to earn my forgiveness," Elizabeth replied coldly.

"I had nothing to do with your father's death," he reassured her. "That does not dissolve me of my other sins," he said then looked away ashamed of the things he had done.

"Come with us," Elizabeth said looking at the ship she now captained. Norrington looked at her surprised. "James, come with me," she said looking back into his eyes.

Norrington thought about it for a moment. This was his opportunity to redeem himself.

"Who goes there?" He heard a voice unfamiliar to him call from above.

He grabbed Elizabeth's arm and pushed her to the railing. "Go. I will follow."

"You're lying," Elizabeth said.

He looked at her and turned. "Our destinies have been intertwined, Elizabeth, but never joined," he said then kissed her. "Go, now," he pushed as he turned back to watch for the crew of The Dutchman. Elizabeth started climbing as Bootstrap Bill rounded the corner. "Back to your station sailor," Norrington instructed pointing his sword at the man.

"No one leaves the ship," Bootstrap replied and pointed to Elizabeth.

"Stand down. That's an order."

"That's an order," Bootstrap repeated. "Part of the crew, part of the ship. Part of the crew, part of the ship. Part of the crew part of the ship..."

"Steady man."

"Part of the crew, part of the ship! All hands, prisoner escape!" Bootstrap Bill immediately sounded the alarm. Norrington pulled out his gun and pointed it at Bootstrap.

"Belay that," Norrington ordered.

"James!" Elizabeth shouted from behind him. He turned to see her worried expression. She started to climb back. He couldn't allow her to climb back to certain death and so, as a last effort to help save Elizabeth he shot the rope between The flying Dutchman and Sao Fang's ship, The Empress, now captained by the newly instated pirate lord Elizabeth Swann, letting it fall to the ocean below. As he turned back to Bootstrap he felt the cold sting of a metal blade slice into his stomach. "James no! No!" He heard shouted from below. He fell back against the rail and slid down to the deck. A number of crew members surrounded him.

"The admiral's dead..." each repeated one after the other, but Norrington heard from the dead of the night a dull "Thud, click... Thud, click..." which made all manner of life on board shudder.

As Davy Jones pushed through the crew and emerged around the corner of his cabin and grunted.

"To the captain's cabin!" One of Jones' crew yelled.

The crew disappeared and Davy stooped to Norrington's level, "James Norrington," he chimed in a fake respectful manner. "Do you fear death?"

And with all his strength he made one last movement and plunged his sword into the heartless cavity, the chest of Davy Jones. And as he slipped away from this world he faintly heard Jones' voice.

"I take that as a no."

Then all was silent and faded to black.