Author's note: Sorry this took so long, folks. My mind is split again. For a while there, I was relaxing in the fact that I only had one piece to work on. But now, another obsession has taken hold and I must cater to it as well as this so that I don't explode from plot frustration. The TV show MASH has taken over half of my brain and plans on staying there for a while (a long while… I just bought season 4 & 5 on DVD). I'm working on a piece concerning it as I continue to work on this one. So, I apologize if updates become frustratingly staggered. I honestly don't know why I continue to do this to myself… I think I need to look into a psychiatrist… ;)
Snarker… Why thank you kind friend. Tis my purpose in this life, my sweet, to make you enjoy such characters. Fear not, my "Love James Norrington" campaign has only begun… ha HA! Well, no, not really, but I will continue o write for one of my favorite characters. Fear not, once again, Jack is also my favorite pirate… It's why he had a cameo. Couldn't leave him out, now could I? It would be blasphemy…
Molliejoy… Why thank you my dear. I'm glad that you like this and I'm ecstatic that you think my writing has improved. This one is much easier for me to write, mainly because I know that it's not going to be an epic and because I really feel all the characters. Also, because that darned back story was plotted out already… :P I hope you enjoy this next part as much, if not more, than you did the last. Talk to ya later!
JackFan2… I absolutely adore your enthusiasm for these characters. Your encouraging words make me want to write faster, whether I'm able to or not. Thanks! Hope you like this part!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
One year later…
"Dover, just ahead, sir," a crewman informed James, as well as Captain Merewether. James nodded.
"Thank you, sailor. Pull the topsails and secure the rigging," James ordered. The Captain nodded at the orders and turned to James.
"Very good, Lieutenant. Now, if you please… meet me in my quarters," the captain said before turning and finding his way to his cabin. James gave a few more stern orders to the man at the helm and to a few men working the lines before following. A quick knock on the cabin door was answered by a just as abrupt enter command. James stepped into the room and just closed the door when the captain started in on the subject he wished to discuss.
"When we reach Dover, you will see that the Valiant and the Godspeed are docked," the captain said. James stood at attention and clasped his hands behind his back.
"Yes, sir. What have they to do with us?" he asked. The captain smiled.
"I received a missive when we docked in San Sebastian. I'm to go to London with Captains Port and Kensington. There's word of pirate trouble," he said. James sucked in a quick, almost unnoticeable breath. Pirates had been bountiful in their year's journey along the European coastlines. The Gallant had only been drawn in to four skirmishes. Their losses had not been insignificant, but the Royal Navy proved victorious, taking all surviving pirates captive and sinking the four ships.
"The French?" James asked after a moment. Merewether laughed.
"No, my boy. The French corsairs have thought twice about sailing our waters. Their threat has dwindled. Especially with Spain on our side in view of them. No, these pirates are across the waters. Near the Americas, scouring the waters of the Caribbean. Many English ships have been raided on their way to Jamaica and Hispaniola. Word has it that a fleet is to make its way there," the captain explained.
"Very good sir," he said, not knowing exactly what to say. The captain took a big breath.
"Word also has it that there is to be a crew commissioned to accompany the fleet's distinguished passengers," he said. James's eyebrow rose.
"Passengers? It's not usual protocol to have passengers aboard naval vessels, Captain," he noted. The captain smiled.
"I am aware of that. But these passengers are to be taken safely to Port Royal. There is to be an exchange in the governorship," he said. James gave an understanding nod.
"Very good, sir," he commented. Another knock came on the door, interrupting the discussion.
"Enter!" the captain said. One of the crewmen stuck his head in.
"We're entering the harbor now, Captain," he said. Captain Merewether gave a dismissing nod to the man and straightened his jacket.
"Let us anchor the ship and then depart to find our land legs," the captain said as he made his way out the door. James followed at a slower pace and took his place next to the captain at the railing.
"I've plan to request your name be on the commission for the fleet," the captain said suddenly, shocking James.
"Sir?" he asked, turning to look at the older man.
"You're a good sailor, lad. And if I'm to be captain, then I wish you to be my second-in-command. What good is a captain when he doesn't trust the man he should trust with his life?" he asked with a fatherly smile. James's shoulders went back slightly and he stood up a little straighter at the confidence the words instilled.
"Thank you sir," he said. The captain pat the young lieutenant's shoulder.
"As I said… you're a good sailor," he told James. Then, he looked out ahead of them and the smile turned from amused to relieved. "Give the order for docking…"
James let out a tired sigh after giving the command to drop anchor and the ship came to a halt. The long days of sailing were beginning to wear on him. It took a few more moments of an organized sort of scrambling about to get the ship secured. As James prepared to disembark the ship, the captain stepped next to him again.
"Lieutenant," he greeted. James stood at attention one more time.
"Captain," he answered.
"Will you be reachable when I return?" he asked. It was an unusual sort of question to come from the captain, but James answered without reserve.
"Yes, Captain. I will be at my family home here in Dover," he answered, slightly ill at having to say those precise words. The captain nodded.
"Very good," he said. "I will call upon you on my return from London." James nodded.
"Very good sir," he told his commanding officer as he fell silent to watch him take leave of the Gallant.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"James!" Penelope cried as she entered the drawing room. James turned from the fireplace mantel he was inspecting with a large, happy smile on his face.
"Penelope… you look absolutely stunning," he noted, shrewd eyes looking for any sign of unhappiness on his sister's face. There was none. She was positively glowing as she reached out and took his hands in hers.
"Thank you! Oh, how I've missed you so!" she said, her eyes watering slightly. James smiled before he pulled her close to embrace her.
"I can't believe it's been just over a year since I've said good-bye to you," she continued. "How long are you back for?"
"A week, at least. The captain's on his way to London as we speak. I've no idea on how long he will be there…" Penelope gave a nod.
"Good. That way you can get to know your nephew," she said with a large smile identical to her brother's.
"Nephew?" James asked.
"Thomas James Reginald Lindondale, your nephew," she said proudly. James smiled at her, but it was cut off as a commotion was heard, followed by their father's gruff voice.
"I wish to see my daughter and my grandson," he was heard saying. Penelope's eyes went to her brother's in a panic. She hadn't invited James here to be ambushed by the one person he wished to see less. James just gave her an understanding smile and went to sit his tall frame on the delicate drawing room sofa to await their father's arrival. The silver haired Norrington patriarch marched into the drawing room, his wife only a foot behind him. They both stopped short as they recognized the unexpected guest entertaining Penelope.
"James," his father said without a hint of emotion. The young man looked to his mother, no expression on her face. Some would say she was pretty, and some would say he'd gotten his angular face from her, but years of discontent and frowns pulled her face into a displeasing pinch.
"Mother," James said, giving her a slight bow. Then turned back to the man who had sired him. "Father…"
"Has the navy kicked you out, then? Is that why you are back?" William Norrington asked. Penelope frowned as she went to sit next to her brother in support.
"Father! Mind your manners in my home… otherwise you will be escorted out before you ever lay eyes on your grandson," she said. The elder Norrington glared at his daughter, but remained quiet.
"It is good to see you, James," his mother commented as she crossed the room to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. Proper decorum called for politeness where it was given, so he nodded.
"You as well, mother," he said.
"So, what brings you home, then?" his father asked, standing at the fireplace mantel like he, James, had moments before.
"The captain has business in London. When he gets back, I may be off again," James said. Penelope let out a quick cry.
"No, James! You just got home," she said, but he calmed her as he took her hand.
"I have to Pen. I have an obligation," he said and his sister nodded in understanding. Their mother let out a barely audible 'oh dear.'
"The sea is such a harsh place, James. You should be home," Rosamina chimed in. William let out a large huff.
"Yes, we raised you to be a responsible boy… a man respectful of duty, of family. Not some discourteous carouse about," he said with a large frown. James had to choke down the disbelieving laugh that bubbled up.
"Carouse about? Father, I joined the damned Royal Navy… not spent the year away gambling, drinking and seducing young society misses like some of the other respectable gentlemen in this town. Because of the navy, I have more respect than half the men here in Dover. I am a lieutenant in the King's Navy. It has given me a life, a life I can be proud of. A life you should be proud of," the son told the father. William blustered about for a second or two, his face turning dangerously red.
"Proud?!? Because of you, my youngest has run off to join the military! Because you didn't know your place in this life, I've brought two sons into this world only to be disappointed in both! My eldest has laid the Norrington name low by refusing his birthright, his obligation to family. And now my youngest has run off to fulfill his own death wish," William said with a heavy sneer. There was a moment of shock as James absorbed the newest information concerning Oliver. Finally, he let out a sigh as he stood up, straightening his uniform jacket.
"Sorry to have placed such a black mark upon the family name, Father. Rest assured that it was only because I was driven to it. I was hoping that being the second son would relieve Oliver from your nature, but it seems he's not been spared your fatherly devotion. God help him that he had to seek his own means of escape," James said with a bit of acidity in his voice. William's eyes went cold. Any hope that James held of his father being a somewhat respectable person hidden beneath the unpleasant, bitter, greedy surface melted away completely as the older man motioned for his wife to approach him.
"Come, Mina. Let us relieve ourselves of such ungrateful company," he said, not once acknowledging his son's presence as he nodded to Penelope and escorted his wife from the room. Penelope's eyes closed in relief as the room became quiet again.
"I didn't know they were coming for a visit, James. Otherwise I would have told them not to come," she said. James shook his head.
"Do not worry, Pen. If anything, they just proved to me that I made the right decision a year ago," he said. "Did you know that Oliver had run off from Eaton?"
"Yes. I was going to tell you about it, but I wasn't sure how to bring it up. He left me a note about two weeks back saying that Eaton was a breeding ground for men of father's want and not the place for him. Father's expectations of him are just as high as they were for you," she said miserably.
"I wish Oliver would be relieved of such a burden," he said morosely.
"I was hoping my marriage would accomplish some of that," she said. James turned to look at her.
"Are you happy, Pen? Mother and Father… they didn't pressure you into this marriage, did they?" he asked, concerned for the welfare of his sister and his new nephew. Penelope smiled up at him.
"It was pushed by Mother and Father, that much is true. But I was lucky enough to already be madly in love with my husband. No doubt if Mother and Father knew that they never would have allowed it," she said with a laugh, causing her brother to chuckle.
"No doubt," he agreed. "I just wish things would be different for Oliver. I wish that the military was not his only option."
"Oliver looks up to you, James. It's understandable that he is harboring notions to follow your footsteps," she said, tears stinging her eyes at the thought of another brother at the mercy of the unforgiving sea. James let out a frustrated breath as he continued to pace. Then, he suddenly turned to his sister, anger apparent in his eyes.
"I've scars, Pen. I've scars no one can see, but they are there. I've only been involved in four altercations on the seas in the past year, but I've bled, and I've watched men standing next to me fall. When my tour of duty is up, I will lead the charge for civilian life. I am not a career military man, I never went into this thinking I just may be. But that life was preferable to the life mother and father wished me to lead," he said harshly. Penelope let a tear fall at the sudden hardness on her brother's face. James was always so proper, so dignified… but now, all she saw was a man the military molded. He wasn't happy, by far, but it was something that was now in his blood. She knew that the harshness in James's voice was at the thought of his brother enduring what he had. It was an unpardonable thought that a lively and still-so innocent boy such as Oliver could surrender willingly to such a life. There was a quiet, timid knock that interrupted the Norrington siblings' thoughts. Penelope looked to the door to see her dark haired governess standing there.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Young Thomas is awake, mistress. He would wish to see his mother," the young woman said. Penelope smiled as she stood and went to James.
"I'll be right back. My son is a demanding young thing," she said. James smiled down at her.
"Much like most Norrington men," he said before kissing her cheek lightly.
"I'll bring him down to see his Uncle James as soon as he's fed," she told him as she made her way to the door. James watched his sister depart, but his attention was soon captured by the young woman still standing in the doorway. When she realized that he was watching her, her eyes immediately went to the wooden floor. His curiosity peaked, James crossed the room to stand directly in front of her. Propriety would demand that she offer her hand should they have been in polite society. But as it were, it was just the two of them.
"Your name, miss?" James asked softly as to not shock the girl. The young woman kept her eyes to the floor, but otherwise gave no indication of discomfort at his presence.
"Adalia Vasquez, good sir," she answered with only a slight accent, allowing her dark gaze to rise and take a glance at the man in front of her. James let his face soften into a smile as her beautiful face was finally revealed to him on the whole. Her dark hair was pulled up lightly into a tidy bun, and she wore the simple gown of a governess, but she was still the most beautiful creature James had ever come across.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
To be continued…
Whew… that was longer than I'd expected… Let me know what you think!