Disclaimer: No mouse ears for me. No profit made, just a little fun.

A/N: For those of you who are wondering whether there's more to come: I'm just getting started.

It's still all Keith's fault. Many thanks to those readers who read and reviewed. I'd thank those who read and didn't review, but I don't know who you are.

Wait For No Man

Chapter 2

Four years later

"Godpapa!"

Governor Edmund Norrington braced himself just in time to catch the small child flying down the walk toward him. He swung her into his arms, hugging her close. "Lizbet, my girl! How you've grown!"

She looked at him skeptically through ebony eyes. "You were only gone a week, Godpapa."

He hoisted her up to one shoulder and entered the smithy, ducking slightly to clear the doorframe. "A week away from you, little one, is as a lifetime."

Lizbet giggled, then squealed as he swung her down to the floor dramatically.

Her father, silhouetted in front of the smithy furnace, looked up with a welcoming smile. "Edmund! I didn't realize you were back! Let me just put these things away and I'll meet you in the house in a moment." Norrington nodded and took Lizbet around the outside of the house to the front, listening to her baby conversation with the deepest pleasure.

Four years ago, he'd made a simple promise to Will. Becoming Lizbet's godfather had been a gift in itself; it had never occurred to Norrington that there would be anything in it for him beyond a few words spoken solemnly in a chapel.

Instead, Norrington had found himself drawn slowly but surely into the daily life of a family, something that had been in short supply in his life. Until now. Will had become the brother he'd never realized he wanted, Lizbet the daughter of his heart.

A friendly hand clapped him on the shoulder and guided him into the cottage. "Are you hungry?"

Norrington chuckled. "Ravenous. Hardtack is hardly my idea of cuisine."

Will grinned. "Thought so. Lizbet," he squatted in front of her to bring his face on a level with his daughter's, "do you think you could go ask Belle to make Godpapa a plate of the cold beef from last night?" The tot nodded vigorously and solemnly, eliciting a laugh from both men. "Off you go, then." She scampered off in search of her nanny.

"So." Will leaned a hip against the trestle table which dominated the room. "What's happened?"

Norrington grimaced. "And I thought I was being so jovial."

One corner of Will's mouth quirked up. "You were. It's not like you. Tell me."

Norrington sighed. "It's Sparrow. He's been arrested."

"What?" The remnant of the smile fell from Will's face. "For what?"

"Piracy."

"No." Will jerked to his feet. "How can that be? You know he's been flying the British flag for three years. He tithes to the Crown. His privateer's commission grants him immunity."

"I know." Norrington winced. "But it's been revoked."

Will went white. "Revoked? But – "

"Will…" Norrington searched for a gentle way to put it, but came up empty handed. "He's accused of attacking a ship flying a British flag. His accusers called him by name, described him closely. Two of them are women; they claim he – well, that he ravished them. The captain was killed, the first mate –"

Will sat weakly and put up a hand to stop him. "Enough. It's not true, none of it."

Norrington simply looked at him. He'd gone over the evidence himself, looking for a hole, and found none. And yet… somehow Norrington found himself doubting the veracity of the witnesses as well. It wasn't so much what they said, but more… well, best to face it. Jack Sparrow was a pestilential blot on Norrington's personal landscape, but… this sort of piracy simply didn't fit with what he knew of the man. Even when on the wrong side of the law Norrington had never heard that Sparrow had ever harmed an innocent.

"So – so he's to hang?" The younger man's voice cracked on the final word.

Norrington put a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "Not yet, at any rate. I managed to convince the judge that while Sparrow may have lost his immunity, he still carries the rights of any of his Majesty's subjects. He goes to trial on the morrow."

Will looked up at Norrington helplessly. "What good will that do? No advocate will represent a man accused of piracy by the Crown."

Norrington quirked a smile. "I will."

"You?" Will's jaw dropped.

"As governor I have the ability to function in any legal capacity I deem necessary," said Norrington, somewhat pedantically.

Will shook his head, as though to clear it. "I know. I meant you would do that for him?"

Norrington shrugged, embarrassed by the dawning gratitude on his young friend's face. If Will knew the real reason he'd agreed to represent Jack, he'd probably try to stop him. Best to put a nonchalant face on the deed. "Apparently."

There was no further time for conversation; Lizbet returned, proudly bearing a sizeable wooden plate piled with cold beef, potatoes, and sliced fruit. Her small pink tongue was caught in her tiny teeth as an aid to balance, and Belle hovered nervously behind. Norrington knew better than to take the platter away from his strong-minded goddaughter, but he was inordinately relieved when she pushed the plate onto the table's worn surface.

"Thank you, little one," he said politely, catching the girl up for a hug. "Now run along with Belle, and in a day or two I'll invite the two of you to spend the night with me at the Governor's mansion, eh?" Lizbet squealed with delight at the promise of her favorite treat and ran off, Belle in tow. Norrington picked up his fork, glancing up at Will. "I'll do the best I can, Will. You know that."

"I do. And I'm grateful, Edmund. Truly grateful. And so will Jack be."

Norrington chuckled. "And the thought of having Captain Jack Sparrow in my debt is one I cherish, believe me." Will gave a small snort of laughter, but it was enough. Norrington smiled to himself and tucked into his meal.

~*~

"Be honest, now, Governor, do I look like the sort of bloke who has to force a woman to bed?"

Interesting question, considering the source. Norrington stared through the cell bars at the man he'd come to interview. Jack Sparrow sat in a nest of filthy straw, part of which was lodged in his long, matted hair. His fingernails were black, his skin only marginally less so. His clothes were unspeakable.

Norrington opened his mouth to reply, and shut it again as a waft of eau de Sparrow crawled up his nostrils and died there. Norrington could feel his eyes begin to water. "I don't really feel I'm qualified to answer that, Captain. We must deal in facts, not appearances."

Jack grinned. "As you like. Fact is, I've never forced any woman. Unless she asked me to," he added, winking slyly.

Norrington thought about that for a moment, then decided he'd better not. "Yes. Well. Um. These witnesses – can you think of any reason they might lie about this?"

Jack snorted. "You askin' if I've any enemies, mate?"

Norrington could snort too. "No. I know perfectly well that you do. I'm asking who they might be and whether these witnesses might be some of what I am certain is a veritable army of people eager to do you in."

For a wonder, Jack looked nonplussed. "Oh." He shrugged, dislodging a particularly long straw from his hair. "Not that I know of."

"Oh, that's helpful," Norrington said, irritated.

"Hang on, I've thought of one," Jack said, stroking his chin.

"Excellent. Now we may be getting somewhere. Who?"

A slow grin crept over Jack's face. "There's you," he said softly.

Norrington stared at him in disgust. "Well, you've cracked the case. I confess, 'twas I put them up to it, all so I could damage my reputation and my credibility by representing you in a public court of law."

Jack rested his chin on one disreputable fist. "So why are you doing it, then?"

Norrington looked at him disdainfully. "Be glad that I am. No one else would."

Jack got to his feet. "Oh, I am, my good son, believe me. Positively seething with gratitude, me. But I do admit to a touch of curiosity. Why would an upstanding bloke like yourself, and the Governor to boot, stand up in court for a man like me?" Norrington made no reply, and Jack's dark eyes narrowed. "Ah."

Norrington rolled his own eyes in exasperation. " 'Ah,' what?"

" 'Ah,' you, that's what," was the provoking reply.

"Good God, man, this isn't even a conversation!" Norrington exploded. "What is it you think you've discovered about me in your tiny mind?"

Jack folded his arms across his chest, tucking his hands into his armpits. Norrington made a moue of distaste. Jack grinned cockily. "You're doing this for the lad."

Norrington growled. "Can we please get back to the point of this painful discourse?"

Jack pointed at him, triumph written on his features. "Hah!"

"Oh for God's sake. Now what?"

"If it's so painful to you, the only reason you'd be trying to keep me from a date with the hangman is because the lad asked you to." He said it craftily, as though he'd caught Norrington in a lie.

Norrington folded his arms. "Hah, yourself."

Jack blinked. " 'Hah' what?"

Norrington smiled smugly. "Hah, you're wrong, that's what."

Jack shook his head. "Tch. Now you're just being childish."

That stung. "I'm being – "

"I mean, it was a simple question. Well," Jack amended, "technically not a question, more in the nature of a statement, which I invite you to refute." He clasped his hands behind his back and paced, pausing now and then to look over at Norrington, for all the world like a prosecuting barrister.

Norrington gritted his teeth. "Which I do. Refute it, I mean. Will did not ask me to defend you."

Jack spun to face him. "AHA!"

Norrington actually flinched. "WHAT!?"

Jack chuckled. "Got you on that one."

"Damn it, Sparrow, I've better things to do than waste my time – "

Jack interrupted him. "So. Young Turner has no idea you've taken this task of defending me to try to spare him pain, else he'd've tried to stop you blemishing your good name. That about the size of it?"

Norrington stared. "You're smarter than you look, Sparrow."

The pirate nodded. "I don't know who it is that's blemishing my good name, Governor, or I'd tell you. But it's clear to me that someone wants to stretch my neck good and proper." Jack grinned again. "How's that for cooperation?"

Norrington nodded, feeling resigned. "Very well, Jack. If you think of something, send word to me, will you?"

The prisoner clicked his heels together smartly and gave what he apparently imagined to be a military salute. "Aye, aye, sir. Can I call you Edmund?"

Norrington threw up his hands and left, muttering to himself.