-Little Miracles-

Author's Note: And so we come, at last, to the final chapter. I hope it's enjoyable for you all.

Disclaimer: If wishes were fishes, I'd never starve. If this movie's rights were mine, I'd be filthy, stinking rich.

Chapter 17

Playing Navy and Pirates was fun, but nowhere near as fun as when you had help. Especially when the one helping you knew a lot about boats like your new papa. Lily found that out the hard way. Mister Jacob and Mister Cecil were both busy, one with some of her favorite treats and the other with the silver.

Papa had told her James was her new papa, too. She didn't know where Papa was going or why, but something told her she wouldn't ever see him again. Tired of trying to play by herself, she picked herself up off the floor and chose to go downstairs. Maybe Mister Jacob would have something for her to eat.

She left her ships and soldiers where they lay and left her room. At the stairs, she gripped the rail and hopped down onto the uncovered portion of each step, delighting in the sharp click of her shoes on the polished wood. Upon reaching the bottom, she ran back to the kitchen to ask for a treat.

"Lily!" Mister Cecil called to her. She stopped and looked up at him. "We do not run indoors, Lily. Please walk."

Lily nodded, but didn't know if he really meant it or not. He was smiling and looked like he could laugh. He was almost always happy, though. She decided to be safe and walked the rest of the way to the kitchen instead. He was watching her, anyway.

"Mister Jacob?" she called quietly as she pushed the kitchen door open.

"Aye, Lass?"

"I'm hungry."

"Oh you are, are you?" he asked. He sounded like he thought she was silly. "I know you ate breakfast and a snack around noon." She simply gazed back at him. "Oh, you've twisted my arm. Here. Run along, now, and play," he said, placing something in her hand.

She gave him her best smile. "Thank you, Mister Jacob." She started back toward the front of the house, then looked to see what she'd been given. A small, extra bit of piecrust cooked with sugar sprinkled on top. She turned to go into the parlor to sit and eat her treat. Mister Cecil didn't like finding crumbs in her room.

She was just sitting down when a sharp knocking came at the front door. Lily dashed to the door, knowing she was closer and wanting to open it anyway. "No running indoors, Lily!" Mister Cecil called, coming through the dining room doorway.

"Sorry!" she called back. She stopped by the door and pulled it open with her free hand. "Mary Kate!" She pushed the door open enough that it nearly hit the wall.

"Hello, Lily. How are you today?"

"I'm fine. Mister Jacob gave me a treat!" she said, holding up what was left of her piecrust cookie.

"I see that. It looks very tasty."

"To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit today, Miss Birch?" Cecil asked. "Have you come to spend the day with Lily?"

"Yes, Rosemary and I were going to Market Street for a short while and wondered if Lily would like to join us."

Lily looked up at Mister Cecil. Market Street sounded like it could be fun. "Can I?" He gave her a stern look. "May I?" she revised.

"I see nothing wrong in allowing it," he said. "I believe Master Norrington wished that she be here when he returns home tonight, however."

"She will be returned by then," Mary Kate promised.

"I can go?" Lily asked, looking back and forth between the two.

"Yes, Lily, you may go," he answered with that same grin she saw on her way to the kitchen.

Lily smiled brightly and wrapped a sugar- and crumb-coated hand around Mary Kate's. "What will we do?"

"Visit some shops, perhaps. Or possibly simply stretch our limbs," She answered, guiding Lily to the end of the front walk where Rosemary stood.

"Can we go to the fort?" Lily asked. Maybe if they just surprised him, Papa James would let her stay with him.

"We may. We shall simply have to wait and see," Mary Kate answered.

"Did you know he's my new papa? Papa said so when Papa James talked to him."

"He is?" Mary Kate asked. "That's wonderful!"

"Mmhmm. Papa James tol' me we was going to have a special supper tonight acause of it."

" 'Because', Lily dear, not 'acause'," Rosemary corrected.

"He also gave me new names, too," Lily continued.

"Did he?" Mary Kate asked.

"Mmhmm. I'm Lily Ellen Hen- Henrita-"

Mary Kate smiled. "Henrietta?" she offered.

"Mmhmm. He said that was my momma's name an' his grandmother's name. An' it's not 'Cooper' no more, too. It's 'Norrington' just like Papa James, now."

" 'Lily Ellen Henrietta Norrington'?" Mary Kate asked.

"Sounds like a mouthful to me," Rosemary muttered.

"Mmhmm. Papa James said it was more proper now. He also said it was so I could 'member Momma an' he could 'member his grandmother. Why would he need to 'member his grandmother? He 'members everything."

Mary Kate laughed. Lily liked Mary Kate's laugh. It was always happy. "I suspect it was in honor of her, Lily. Not because he has forgotten her."

"He said Papa won't hurt me anymore, too."

"I highly doubt you see him again." Mary Kate released her hand and pulled out a lace-edged handkerchief. Lily thought it was very pretty. Especially the little blue flowers in each corner. "Let me see your hand, Lily," she said as she wiped her hand off. Not sure which hand Mary Kate wanted, Lily held out both and looked up at her. Mary Kate gave her a nice smile, then brushed the sugar and crumbs off of it. "There. That is a little better, is it not?"

"Mmhmm," Lily murmured shyly.

"Now then," Mary Kate said, reaching for Lily's hand again. "Where shall we go first?"

"Can we go to the fort?" Lily asked again as she was led toward the street.

"We may later, Lily. There are other things that must be done before we go there." Mary Kate smiled. "Besides, I have a feeling your new papa might wish to have most of his work done before we interrupt him."

"Would he get mad?"

"Perhaps not angry, but I do not wish to annoy him and find out today."

"Have you made him mad before?"

When Mary Kate didn't answer, Lily thought she maybe asked a question she wasn't supposed to. But then Mary Kate didn't stay quiet too long. "I fear his first impression of me was not the best."

"What does that mean?" Lily asked. Mary Kate bit her lower lip.

"It means the good commodore didn't really like her very much at first," Rosemary said.

"Rosemary!"

Lily glanced between the two, confused. That didn't sound right at all. "But why wouldn't he like you?" she asked Mary Kate.

"Because she wasn't very polite or nice to him at first."

"Nathan!" Lily exclaimed, whirling around face the man.

He immediately scooped her up into his arms with a small toss. "And how is my little Lily-bit today?" he asked, wiggling his fingers into her side.

Lily giggled and shied away. "I'm all better now, an' James is my new papa!"

"So I heard!" he said. He sounded very happy. "How does it feel to be 'Miss Norrington' now?"

"I like it." Lily coughed then, and it scratched her throat. She made sure to cover her mouth, though. Just like Papa James asked. "Where are you going?"

"Your Papa James missed lunch. I thought I would stop by Parson's Bake Shoppe."

"You're getting him some sweet bread?" Lily asked. Maybe Nathan would give her some, too.

"Yes. It seems to be his favorite." Lily wondered why he told her that and why he said 'favorite' a little different from the other words. She already knew James liked sweet bread a lot. Then she noticed he wasn't looking at her. He was looking at Mary Kate. Why did he think Mary Kate needed to know what James' favorite bread was?

"He should have something a little more substantial than sweetened bread, Nathan."

"He eats it all the time, Mary Kate, and he hasn't lost any fingers or toes or had anything else detrimental happen to him because of it. Not that I've noticed, in any case." Now Nathan was just being silly.

"Now what are you insinuating?" Mary Kate asked. Why was she getting mad at him?

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He sounded like Papa James when Mister Jacob catched him snitching one of the new, really hot tarts.

Lily didn't know what they were talking about, so she looked around her from her higher spot. There were lots of people coming outside now. She hoped Nathan would stay with them so she wouldn't have to walk. She didn't like walking around so many people.

She looked back at Nathan and Mary Kate. They were looking at each other funny. They weren't talking anymore, either, but Nathan looked like he had just beaten Mary Kate at something, and Mary Kate looked like she was mad. "Nathan?"

"Yes, Lily?"

"Will you tell me about the Good Captain an' the Mermaid now?"

"Perhaps later, Lily."

"But you always say that, an' no one else will tell me it."

"Mermaids, Nathan?" Mary Kate asked.

Nathan glanced quickly between them both and gave Mary Kate a sour look. He turned back to Lily. "I will, but later."

Lily sighed and twisted around a little so she could look around better. She could see they were getting closer to the bread place. Over Nathan's shoulder, she could see a small black kitten following them. Watching it, she was delighted when it looked up at her and flicked its little tail. Lily smiled. Maybe James would let her keep it.

When Nathan went inside, she wiggled a little so he would set her down. She glanced at Mary Kate and the other grown-ups, but they were busy talking. Mary Kate and Nathan were still looking at each other funny and talking, and Rosemary looked like she was trying to get them to stop. They didn't see her go back to the door.

She saw the kitten was still there and squatted in the doorway. The kitten trotted right up to her and sniffed her fingers, then licked them. Its tongue felt different. It was a really fluffy kitten, too. She really hoped James would let her have it.

Lily patted it on the head, only to have it rub up against her hand. She picked it up, but it started squirming.

"Lily?" Mary Kate called. "What are you doing?"

Lily stood up and turned around, trying to keep hold of the little animal. "Look at what I found!"

Mary Kate smiled. "Where did you find it?"

"It followed us. Do you think James will let me have it?"

"I cannot tell you, Lily. You will have to ask him yourself."

"Can we ask him now?"

Mary Kate glanced at Rosemary, then at Nathan, who had just finished paying Mister Parson. "Would you be willing to escort us into the fort?" she asked.

"I will," he answered, though he looked to Lily with a bit of warning. "Though I don't know if he will allow you this pet. I don't know how he feels about pets, and, more specifically, cats. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a cat in close proximity to him."

"Oh," Lily said. She wasn't so excited anymore. She fingered the kitten's soft fur a little.

"Lily, I don't tell you this to disappoint you. I only say this so that you will be better prepared in the case he says no," Nathan said gently.

Lily looked up and, biting her lower lip, nodded. "Do you really think he'll say no?"

Nathan looked at her with a very serious look, telling her he wasn't being silly this time. "He may." Lily nodded again as Nathan stood. He rested a hand at the back of her head, leading her out into the street.

The road to the fort had less people on it, and as much as she liked Nathan and Mary Kate and Rosemary, Lily couldn't help but wish Papa James was with her instead. Especially with apples and those yellow things. She also wondered what he would say about the kitten. It wouldn't hurt anything.

Maybe it would even get those really big mice Mister Jacob was always saying got into the pies. The ones with green eyes and white or brown hair. She thought the kitten would be very good at that. Then the pies might last longer. Mister Jacob got really mad at those mice. He said the white-haired one got into the special tarts he was making this morning.

A lot of men in the fort smiled at Lily as they walked by, and some touched their hats for Nathan. She recognized a few of them as ones that gave her some of her toys, too. She smiled at them all.

Finally, Nathan stopped and knocked on a door. "Come in," she heard James call. He sounded like he was trying not to be mad like he had when Papa came. Before Nathan could open the door, Mister Thomas came out looking stiff. He stopped and looked back. "Think about it, James," he said, then left.

Hesitantly, Lily stepped into the room. Her new papa looked over at her. He gave her a reassuring smile, but then frowned. "I foun' it in the streets," she told him, though she tried to be happy. She held her arms out so he could see the little black kitten better. Maybe that would help. "It followed us around. Can I keep it?" The kitten mewed to help her convince him.

James shook his head. "No, Lily."

Lily's chest hurt, and her eyes burned and got a little blurry. "But- but he won't hurt anything. An' he could catch the mouses Mister Jacob says gets into his pies."

"I'm sorry, Lily, but you cannot have a cat." He grabbed his nose and squeezed his eyes shut.

"But James, it is only a small kitten. What harm is there in having one?" Mary Kate asked.

He only shook his head really hard and didn't even open his eyes. "But why?" Lily asked mournfully. Her lower lip trembled and her eyes watered.

He didn't say anything for a long time. "-Achoo!- I said -Achoo!- no, -Achoo!- Lily. -Achoo!-"

Eyes wide, Lily backed up against Nathan and Mary Kate, then glanced up at both for help. She looked back at James. He kept sneezing.

"James, are you well?" Nathan asked, stepping around her to go to James. Lily backed up further against and behind Mary Kate's skirts.

"-Achoo!- No, does it -Achoo!- look like I -Achoo!- I am? -Achoo!- I can't -Achoo!- abide -Achoo!- cats, Nathan. I -Achoo!- I never have. -Achoo!-"

Mary Kate swiftly, but gently, pushed Lily toward Rosemary. "Please take her back out, Rosemary. I will see if I can help."

Rosemary quickly led Lily back out to the hall. Inside, she could still hear him sneezing. She looked up at the woman, her lower lip trembling even more. "I didn't mean to make him sick," she said. A tear trickled down her cheek, followed quickly by another on the other cheek.

"I know you didn't, Lily, and don't worry; he knows you didn't either," Rosemary answered as she pulled her toward a nearby bench.

"But it was acause of me he's sick," Lily sniffled. The kitten mewed, and the older woman pulled them both into her lap, hugging them both close.

"Shh, Lily. He'll be fine in a little bit. You'll see."

Lily shook her head, a sob hitching her breath. "I made him sick."

"He will be fine, Lily. I know he will be. He just needs a bit of time."

"But what if he isn't?" she sobbed. "What if he doesn't want me anymore? I don't wanna go back to Papa. Please don't make me go back to Papa!"

Rosemary hugged her even tighter and began rocking her. "Goodness, Child. He won't give you up that easily. You didn't know, and he knows that. Don't you worry none, my dear. Everything will be fine." She rubbed Lily's back, but it just wasn't the same as when James did it. "Would you like to go outside for a bit?"

Lily nodded miserably, and clung to Rosemary and the kitten as the woman pushed herself to her feet. She reminded Lily of Emmie, which only caused her to burrow her head into her shoulder. Maybe if James didn't want her anymore, Emmie would come get her.

Outside, Rosemary found a place to sit near the main gates. There were children playing nearby, some younger than Lily. One such child, a boy, toddled over. "Why you sad?" he asked.

"I made Papa James sick," Lily answered glumly.

"Ki' cat pretty."

Lily only nodded, then looked up as the boy's mother came over. "I hope young Freddy isnae both'rin' ye," she said. She talked different from anyone Lily had ever heard.

"No, he's quite a nice little lad," Rosemary said.

"Ki' cat, Momma! Ki' cat!"

Aye, I see th' kitty, Freddy."

"Do you want him?" Lily asked. She bit her lower lip again, and raised the kitten from her lap, offering it to them. The woman glanced at Rosemary.

"The kitten makes her papa sneeze," she said.

The boy's mother gave Lily a compassionate smile, then accepted the kitten. "Thank ye, Lass." The little boy scrambled to pet it as they walked away. Lily settled back against the rounder older woman.

"Here, now. Let's see if we can't get some of this cat hair off your dress, eh?" she asked as she began brushing some of the little black hairs off, and picking the more stubborn ones off. "That was a very nice thing you did, Lily. And very brave. I'm certain they'll take good care of him, too." Lily looked up at her, but settled her head back on Rosemary's shoulder. "Would you like to go back inside?"

Lily sniffled, then nodded. She hoped James wasn't mad at her. Rosemary set her down on her feet, then took her hand. As they passed back through the gate, Lily saw one of the guards look down at her and smile. Lily sniffled again, then gave him a small smile in return. That helped make her feel a little better.

Lily clung to Rosemary's hand as they traveled back through the fort corridors. There were more soldiers now, and it seemed like they had been walking for a long time. Lily didn't think Rosemary knew where she was going. They turned another corner and Rosemary stopped, turning all around. "Now this…" Lily couldn't understand what she was mumbling.

Somewhere outside, a bell rang a few times. Lily bit her lip and looked around. She thought she could maybe help, but she couldn't remember if she had been here or not. Lily hoped they wouldn't be walking around the fort all day; that Papa James or Nathan would hurry and find them.

"Ah, there you are! Commodore Norrington has been searching for you," Mister Stone said coming up behind them. "Hello, Miss Norrington, Mistress Longfellow." He stepped aside slightly. "I presume you were trying to find your way back to the commodore's office?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid I've gone and gotten us lost," Rosemary said.

"Then, please, allow me to lead you away from the barracks and to his office, then."

"The 'barracks'?" Rosemary squeaked. "Oh, my! Yes, you best get us back to the proper corridors then, before certain young eyes see something they most certainly shouldn't."

Mister Stone laughed a little. "We wouldn't want that, now, would we? Right this way." He led them back the way they came and through more hallways. Lily found it all to be very tiring and boring. While she had been excited to spend the day with Mary Kate at first, now she just wanted to go home.

Unlike before, Mister Stone led them right into Papa James' office without knocking. James' eyes looked red and a little puffy, and his nose was red, too, but he looked the same otherwise. "Lily, are you all right? It was not my intention to frighten or upset you earlier," he said, coming around his desk. Lily nodded. "Do you understand why I can't allow you a cat, though?"

"Not really," Lily said.

His mouth went thin, then his face brightened. "Do you remember how you felt when I returned from the ship? When you were ill and I took you to see Mary Kate?"

"Mmhmm."

"For some reason, cats make me feel much like that, only it doesn't go away. That is why I could not allow you to have that kitten. Do you understand now?"

"The kitten made you sick? Not me?"

He looked surprised. "No, Lily. You did not make me sick at all. I doubt very much that you could."

"So you still want me?"

"Of course I do! Never think any differently, Lily," he said, pulling her into a really big hug and kissed the top of her head. She liked it when he did that. It told her he really did want her. "I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world."

Lily hugged him back as best as she could. "I like having you for my new papa."

"And I like having you for a daughter." He pulled back and gave her another kiss on her forehead. "Would you like to have some of the bread Nathan brought me?"

That made Lily feel a lot better. "Yes, please!" she answered with a big smile.

James smiled too, and sat down in the chair by his map table, then pulled her up into his lap. It was a very comfy place to sit, and it was her favorite, too. As he shared his bread with her, Lily looked around. No one else was in there with them, now. She hadn't even seen them leave. "Where did you and Rosemary go?"

"Outside. Then when we came back in the gates, she went to a wrong place an' Mister Stone found us. I think he said it was the b—" Someone knocked on the door, interrupting her.

Papa James gave her a I'm sorry look. "Enter." Mister Murtogg and Mister Mullroy and another like them came in. She recognized him from the gate when Rosemary brought her back in. He had smiled at her. "Gentlemen, how might I help you?" he asked as he set her on the floor and stood. Lily hoped he wasn't going to send her out again.

Mister Murtogg cleared his throat. "Well, we thought—if you want it, of course—we wanted to give you something."

Lily looked up at James in time to see him raise an eyebrow. "I was on guard at the main gate when Miss Lily was brought outside, Sir. She gave a kitten she had to a little boy, and she seemed so heartbroken. I heard the good lady that was with her say it was because the animal made you sneeze."

"And he told us about it, Sir, and thought maybe a different pet might be better," Mister Mullroy said.

"But only if you will allow it," Mister Murtogg was quick to say. There was a curious whining sound behind his back.

"And just what is this different pet?" James asked.

Mister Murtogg carefully brought his arms around from his back to reveal a little white puppy with brown on its ears and the top of his head, on his back and on part of his tail, with a big black spot on his back.

"He's from the litter that Commodore McDonald's harriers had recently, Sir," the man from the gate said.

With some trepidation, Lily looked up at her new papa. He wasn't sneezing yet. She tugged at his hand and waited until he looked down before asking: "Will this one make you sick?"

He laughed and hugged her as best he could from where he stood. "No, Lily. Puppies and dogs are quite safe for me to be around."

"Does that mean I can have this one?"

"It does, and you can be the one to name him, as well."

The three at the door smiled and brought the puppy forward, carefully setting him in Lily's arms. He wiggled a lot. "Can I name him 'Mister Wiggles'?" she asked, oblivious to the rising snickers from the three men.

"You can name him anything you wish, Lily," he answered. "Thank you, Gentlemen." He looked down at Lily again. "Would you like to stay and then go home with me, or leave with Mary Kate?"

"With you, so we can be like Mister Arthur an' Mary Kate. Only we have Mister Wiggles, too!"

"We do indeed, Lily. We do indeed."

And thus ends this little spin-off of a tale. I have two other stories in the works, one of which is the one this branched off of. It has more of Mary Kate, Arthur, and, later, Lily. Little Miracles takes place about half-way through that particular story.

Author's Responses:

Erusuiel: Thank you SO much for all of your help and reviews! You know how much I enjoy chatting with you and all. I hope you didn't feel slighted by my not mentioning you in these responses before… :p ;)

Luv2rite: Welcome! And thank you! I'm glad you found him to be so good a character in this. As for Lily's reaction to Jack, I haven't entirely decided when and if the two should meet, but if her inclinations toward Norrington and those in the navy and marines are of any indication…

Moonbeam: Look for more Norrington/Mary Kate interactions in one of my next stories. I promise there will be more, though perhaps not exactly what you might be looking for. As always, I'll be keeping my plans to myself. ;) I wouldn't want to spoil anything for anyone. There are several different possibilities I'm entertaining for her at the moment…

BlackJackSilver: Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked how that turned out. And there's no need to apologize for any accusations. ;)

Rennie1265: Thank you! I was told, once, by a professor that villains should not be wholly evil, just as protagonists should not be wholly good; that it makes them more believable. I've been trying to hold to that, as it makes a lot of sense to me. :p As for Jack, I haven't quite decided when or how to bring him and this James together. Or even how they should interact, so it might be a while. I'm rather curious myself as to how such a meeting might take place.

Gina: Welcome! Thank you for your many reviews! I'm very pleased that you loved my story so much. :D I'm afraid mum's still the word on anything concerning Mary Kate and James, though…

Rusty Button: Thank you! I thought so too. :D

Lady Tolwen: Thank you! That's interesting… Very interesting. Don't worry, though. My parents instilled a firm belief in good, solid punishment if it's deserved. Spankings, usually. It's rubbed off on me, and as I'm trying to keep true to history anyway, you're likely to see that James won't be too lenient when she gets into too much trouble.

Lady Tanarion: Thank you! That was my intention. :p ;) I try to keep it rather unpredictable.

Smalldiver: Thanks! I'm glad you like Arthur. He's the character that delayed my updating a few weeks ago. He wanted a complete make-over, but he's still one of my favorite characters. :p

Lirenel: Thank you! No marriage in this one, I'm afraid. Perhaps a marriage of some kind in one of the next ones…

alyios: Why thank you very much! I plan to continue writing, so don't worry. I have many Norrington stories dancing around up in the ol' noggin. As well as a few in other categories as well.

jigglykat: Welcome back! Don't worry. This little tale is far from over. Though I'll have to start at the beginning, so to speak, then continue where this one left off after I get some other details and chapters written. I'm going to try and have it up soon.

myself: That's quite a review! I must admit, I like it very much. I had just posted the new chapter, however, so this is an edit so I could get a response to you. (I'm not sure if this site would allow me an extra chapter thing for just responses.) When I said that Arthur made James feel "more like a midshipman than a captain under such scrutiny", I simply meant that he felt like a midshipman under a captain's intense scrutiny. Not that he was a midshipman or demoted or anything. Kind of like how an older person might make another adult feel like a scolded child or something, I suppose. I hope that made sense. ACK! Yet another edit, this is (the fourth since the actual, original posting—I kept finding typos). I just got what you meant about the actual "Captain/Commodore" part. I thought you meant the feeling like a midshipman part. A commodore is actually just more of a glorified captain. It's kind of a long, complicated explanation, but if you wouldn't mind to e-mail me, I'd be more than happy to show you where I found it and all. Though I may have misinterpreted some of it, and have mixed the time period up a bit. Disney did that, though, so much so that I can't really figure out what time period the movie's even supposed to be set in, so I'm assuming this little bit will be ok. As for the swordplay, my only hope about it had been that it would be believable and stuff. I'm glad to see it was well enjoyed. And you liked my story well enough to doodle pictures of torture? I'm flattered! :p As for email, I'm never opposed to it. Thank you for your marvelous review! :p :D

Thank you to everyone who's ever reviewed this story! I hope you continued to enjoy this, even if you didn't review anymore. I'm pleased to have had so many wonderful reviews from so many wonderful people. It really means a lot, and I wasn't sure how my writing would be considered, so I thank you all again from the bottom of my heart for such superb and thought out reviews.

I hope to see you with the next story—which might even be later this week…

- Gaeruil Seaweed