Thank you's:
Snarker… Good to see you for this installment! I'm glad that you enjoyed the first part… I like my Norrington as well, that's why I've dedicated this plot entirely to him… I really hope you like this part! Make sure you let me know!
Cheska… Thanks! I'm really glad that you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you think of this part!
AriannaMalfoy… I'm glad that you like Norrington and are feeling the family tortures he's going through. It's what (in my story) drove him to the see and to become the man he is in the movie and in Renegade. I'm also glad that you like my OC, Oliver. I'm trying to decide how big of a part I want him to have, but it's good to have reader support for something that hasn't been delved into at all (Norrington's past). I hope that our favorite Commodore's got a bigger role in the sequels because I love him so much… :)
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Five months later…
Me… a military man… James thought with a sigh as he looked at the ship floating in the water ahead of him. There was a smile on his face as he observed a freedom that he never would have known if he hadn't signed those enlistment papers. With those thoughts and a light heart, James picked up the small bag containing the little possessions that the military allowed for enlisted men and made his way towards the gangplank. He was about to step onto the wood when he heard a distinctly female voice.
"James!" He turned quickly around and his eyes scoured the docks for the owner of the voice. A grin quickly transformed his furrowed brow as he saw Oliver escorting an expecting and four months along Penelope towards the ship.
"You'd best hold up, big brother! It took us the better part of the day to get here with her waddling," Oliver called out to him. James shook his head with a chuckle as Penelope gave an offended wail and smacked her younger brother's arm.
James leaned down and took one of his sister's delicate hands.
"Pen… you look beautiful… don't mind this menace. In a few short months, I'll be an uncle and you'll have a beautiful son or daughter," he said kindly before leaning down to kiss her upturned cheek. Penelope beamed up at him.
"Thank you, James," she said before turning to give her younger brother a glare. "Lord help us all when you get married… but more specifically, your future wife…" Oliver just grinned shamelessly at her.
"I can't help it that you've given me ammunition to pick on you with for the next… what is it? Seven more months?" he asked. James chuckled as Penelope huffed and crossed her arms.
"Eleven months, Ollie? Shows what you know about child birthing," she muttered. Ollie just grinned again as he shrugged.
"Gentlemen never speak of such things in polite company. How was I supposed to know?" he asked. James smiled at his brother.
"Crying ignorance will not always work, Ollie," he commented. Penelope rolled her eyes.
"But he has it in spades," she muttered. Oliver just wrapped an arm around her slight shoulders and placed a smacking kiss on her cheek.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to miss this," James said. A sad look crossed Penelope's face as the thought of her brother leaving finally sunk in.
"I can't believe you enlisted, James," she said morosely.
"I needed to Pen… it was a question of my sanity. I could not stand that house any longer," he said, reaching out to grip her hand again. She let out a sigh.
"I know that. I guess I was just being selfish. I want my brother to be here when his niece or nephew comes into the world," she said. James smiled again.
"It's not selfish to have all the people you love around at a time like that… but you'll have Ollie and you'll have Phillip… not to mention George and Rose… The house will be full and there wouldn't be any room for me," he said.
"I'd make room," Penelope said with a pout. James gave his sister a loving look.
"I have every bit of confidence that you would, Pen. Now… to suitably put a damper on the moment… I will ask what you are doing down here," he said, crossing his arms and looking quite severe in his naval uniform. Penelope's eyes went wide at his demand, almost offended.
"What am I… Hell, James! I've come to see you off, you blasted fool! I know that mother and father wouldn't step foot down here and I wasn't going to let Oliver's face be the last one you saw before sailing off!" she ranted, falling silent at the looks her brothers were giving her. Then, she blushed. "Excuse my swearing…" James let out a laugh before he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.
"It's good to see that marriage and impending motherhood hasn't dulled you in the slightest," he said, squeezing her. Penelope squeezed him back before he released her, allowing her to step back.
"I'll miss you," she said simply, finally giving in to the tears she'd tried desperately to hold back. Oliver rolled his eyes as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.
"I'd like to say it's just her being a silly female, but I daresay that I will miss you as well," Oliver said while handing the cloth to his sister. James smiled before he stuck his hand out for Oliver to shake. The young man looked at it solemnly for a second before gripping it.
"Watch over Pen for me," James said. Oliver nodded.
"You can rest assured that I will irritate her to no end," he said before cracking a small smile. James nodded once.
"Good. Now…" he said turning to Penelope. "I think it would be best if the two of you departed. The docks are no place for a woman with child…" The young woman rolled her eyes.
"James…" she started.
Suddenly, as if to emphasize James's stern warning, a body ran slightly into Penelope, knocking her slightly off balance. James and Oliver immediately turned to reprimand whoever dared to waylay their sister in her delicate condition. A young man stood near, hat clenched in hand and an apologetic look in his dark eyes. There was nothing spectacular about the man… his black hair was cut short with a single bead braided into a strand of hair near his cheek and he was clean-shaven. He was darkly tanned and the salt stained clothing bespoke of a life at sea.
"Beggin' your pardon, Miss," a rough English brogue slurred past his lips. Penelope smiled at him as he bowed his dark head over clasped hands.
"Don't you worry about it. It was an accident," she said cheerfully. The young man smiled, a single gold tooth showing.
"That it was, Miss. That it was. I do appreciate your kindness," he said before nodding once more and giving them leave. James watched as the young man, quite possibly no younger than himself, weaved his way between sailors in the slightly crowed dock areas. It was a little early in the day for a person to be drunk to his gills, but it appeared that the lad had no comprehension of such a convention. James shook his head quickly before he turned back to his sister.
"Oh… my…" she said in a quiet breath. James stepped closer to her, a concerned frown crossing his face. Oliver grasped Penelope's elbow in fear of a faint, but she brushed off both of their concern.
"What is it?" James asked. Penelope smiled up at him.
"It would seem someone has relieved me of my coin purse," she said. James's frown deepened as he surveyed the crowd of people that had gathered to see the newly teamed military ship off. There was no one that stood there that stuck out at him, but there was one person who stuck out in his mind. The gold tooth, much too impeccable manners and the apologetic dark eyes – it was a look he would be wise to never underestimate. With a sigh, James looked back to his siblings.
"Do you have money for a coach home?" he asked. Penelope smiled.
"Phillip let us take his coach," she said. James looked to Oliver with a raised brow.
"Phillip isn't at home, is he?" he asked. Oliver shrugged.
"He would have wanted us to come anyway, so he would have let us take it," he commented. James rolled his eyes.
"You two better get back before the man misses his wife," he said in his usual put-upon voice that seemed to accompany his siblings. The call to prepare to weigh anchor was heard causing all the Norrington siblings to fall silent. James bent to pick his bag up. Penelope wiped at her eyes again and Oliver gave a small smile.
"Be careful of those French bastards," the younger Norrington brother said. James smirked before turning to his sister one last time and giving her another quick kiss on the cheek.
"Take care of my niece or nephew and tell him or her about their Uncle James until I can come see him," he said. Penelope nodded, eyes watering, and squeezed his hand once before letting go. James gave them both another smile before he turned and walked quickly towards the ramp before the crew could haul it aboard. Once on board the Gallant, he turned to see both Penelope and Oliver waving to him, his brother wrapping an arm around his sister's petite frame. As sad as he was to leave them behind, he knew that this was what he needed to do. Serving in the King's Navy could give him the life that he knew being partner in Norrington Trust never could. A life of freedom… a life of his own… With that thought, James turned from the docks of Dover and went to report for duty.
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A/N – Had to put a cameo in there, you know. ;) I may have a few more up my sleeve as this continues. "Rebel Heart" will certainly not be as long as "Renegade", but hopefully people will like it as much… :) Let me know what you think of it so far!