Present Day

The knock on his office door broke Jonathon Beckett, Sr.'s reverie. Oh, dear. Was it time for the meeting already?

His prim secretary confirmed as much after opening the door, informing him that the motorcade had just arrived. He rose from his desk, brushing a hand down the front of his immaculate suit to smooth out the nonexistent wrinkles. With barely a passing thanks to Mrs. Prince, he left the pleasant confines of his office, striding down the officious hallway.

He knew where the reception had been arranged and the order for the day. In the grand scheme of things, meeting with the Minister of Finance should not have been high on their list of priorities when receiving the crown's highest honors, but nonetheless, here it was.

But if anyone offered heart-melting condolences on the untimely death of his only child, well. Of course, he would control himself, but that wouldn't stop the disgust from roiling in his belly.

Everything in the reception room passed his inspection upon arrival. Of course, everything was in its place and of course, he was the first to arrive. Mrs. Prince always saw to that.

The heavy door opened with a soft click of the latch, admitting the governor and the commodore. Beckett recalled meeting the governor once, maybe twice, before the man took his up Caribbean office, but Groves he remembered quite well from the holiday parties. Always a bit of a rogue, more out to have a laugh than seriously contribute to the world. Beckett had always felt military service was an appropriate choice for the young man.

The smile on Governor Swann's face filled out, full and wide. "Ah, my Lord Beckett. It's an honor to see you again."

Becket forced a small, pleasant smile, stepping forward to offer his hand. "Indeed, Governor. You, as well. Welcome back to London on such a glorious occasion. And you, commodore."

Groves tipped his head politely. "Thank you, my lord. Your warm welcome is most gracious. Thank you for taking the time."

"Of course," Beckett kept his tone neutral, "the end of piracy in the Caribbean is a great victory for the empire and the wellbeing of the empire's finances."

"To that end, my lord," Groves continued, "I would like to introduce two people who are due as much credit for this victory as myself."

Oh, dear lord. Beckett stalled an annoyed sigh, disciplined by decades of government service. "Please. I should be happy to meet them." Happy, indeed. He didn't need to waste his time making idle chat with two nobodies that Groves decided to bestow charity upon.

"Thank you, sir. I'll just be a moment." The commodore turned and walked back over to the door.

Governor Swann smiled appreciatively. "I think you'll be very pleased to meet them. They were instrumental in supporting Commodore Groves, though the commodore's achievements are not to be understated."

"Of course not." He watched Groves re-enter the reception room, but this time with two people in tow. A man and a woman, neither of whom were dressed in any uniform or finery.

The mad had tousled salt and pepper hair – could he really not be troubled to use a comb for a meeting with the Minister of Finance? He stood a good deal taller than himself, and maybe, just maybe there was something familiar in the lines of his face, in his sharp gaze. But it was nothing worth remembering. And the woman -.

The woman stopped his heart. Her hair was longer than he'd ever seen it, but there was no mistaking the eyes and face of his only child.

His daughter who…was quite dead.

He reached out to stabilize against the nearest chair, stunned and feeling an ache start in the back of his skull.

She nodded slowly, lips pursed. "Father." The room fell silent as she waited for him to speak, but no words came. She sighed, a flash of annoyance in her gaze. "As you can see, I didn't die two years ago. But the reports were accurate – I did go down with the Icarus , but we survived."

Beckett summoned his voice, coiled tight. "We?" His gaze darted to the man, suddenly hating why he looked vaguely familiar.

"Yes, sir," the stranger started, inclining his head. "James Norrington."

Of course. Beckett should have known from the start. His grip on the chair tightened, his mouth pursing in anger. After all the media circus hoops he had jumped through, discussing both of their deaths and the shameful disgrace of failure - only to now have them both just turn up at his office?! He ought to see them both shot for such deceit!

Governor Swann stepped forward. "They both worked tirelessly undercover. Infiltrating known pirate bands and reporting to Groves with viable intel that he made swift use of. It could not have been a more successful partnership, if I do say so myself."

Beckett fixed a withering glare on Groves. "And you. Did you approve this venture?"

"No, sir," Groves answered firmly, "I was not made aware of their plans until eight months in. Until that time, I believed – as you did – that they had perished."

"And you didn't see fit to inform me?"

Groves stiffened. "No, sir. Revealing their presence to you would have undone everything they were trying to accomplish in going undercover."

Beckett sneered. "And if that venture had failed? What then?"

Norrington huffed a soft laugh. "Well, we were already dead. Dying for real wouldn't have made any difference."

Beckett fumed at the nerve of the man. "Be that as it may, if you're here looking to reclaim your old lives, I'm afraid that's right out of the question. No matter your merits or support in this venture. Unofficial and unsanctioned, as it was."

Cutlena smiled politely. "Of course not. That's not why we're here."

He shot her a sharp glare. "Then why are you here?"

"I thought you just might like to know that your only child is actually still alive."

"Under these circumstances, I'd rather that you were still dead."

A harsh silence fell in the wake of his words. It mattered little. If word of his not-dead daughter were to reach the press, this would be an unending field day. An unmitigated disaster of epic proportions that would derail everything his career had stood for.

Her smile widened with a razor-sharp edge. "Yes, sir. You needn't worry about me ever again."

Norrington shook his head, judgement ripe in his gaze. "You heartless bastard. I hadn't wanted to believe anyone was as cruel as your daughter's stories made you out to be, but now I see she wasn't exaggerating."

He cut his gaze over to Norrington. "And what gives you any right to comment on the matter?"

Amusement lit the man's green eyes. "I'm your son-in-law. Or, would be, if we were still officially alive."

"Then thank God I don't have to claim you."

Cutlena looked between Swann, who looked ready to faint, and Groves, who looked appropriately solemn. "And on that note, I think we'll conclude this reunion." Her gaze settled back on him and he could only reel at his daughter's presumptuous attitude. Everything that he'd spent his life instilling in her was so obviously wasted and corrupted now. But he continued to listen to her. "Take care, father, and farewell. Thank you, governor and Theodore, for the opportunity. Please enjoy your commendations. They are well deserved."

Beckett sneered in disgust as her hand fell into Norrington's, other polite farewells passing around him. Such a shameless, public display - made even worse when she leaned over kissing Theodore's cheek. Beckett blanched at the sheer wantonness of the woman. He didn't even bother to speak as the couple turned from him, walking back across the plush carpet.

Even if that woman still walked the earth, the woman he'd known as his daughter had died two years ago. Sadly, that knowledge did nothing to ease the frustration and disappointment that he knew would linger for the rest of his life.