(Fiona's POV)
A few hours later
We had won – I was free of them forever, my inheritance claimed and to be given to me within the week. It had been easier than I thought, but I didn't care, as long as it was over. The fact that Lawrence had come was a relief, and I owed him a great deal. He had been nearly livid a few times, staring in a rage at my father, but managed to keep his seat and remain calm. My whole body was still tense, and as we walked out onto the streets, I felt the need to return to the pleasant streets of Port Royal.
I stood between Uncle Henry and Lawrence, watching my father drive off, my mother following him in her black jaguar.
"Let's go to the hotel," said Uncle Henry flatly. "I'll get another room." I leaned against Lawrence, who put his arm around my shoulders. We walked in silence back to the Monarch, and Lawrence and I went back to the room my uncle and I had been staying in. I locked myself in the bathroom and took a much needed shower. Stepping out into the room in a bath robe, I found Lawrence sitting at the desk, wearing only his shirt and pants. The white wig was off, revealing him to have a head full of deep brown hair. He was staring at some blank paper, trying to figure out how to work the pen, and glanced up as I came in. We both hesitated, eyeing each other. I was rethinking why I hadn't brought my pjs into the bathroom with me to change. Then, holding out his hand, Lawrence indicated I should come to him. Stepping over, I took his hand, and he pulled me onto his lap. I was surprised, but began to run my fingers through his short hair.
"What is it?" I asked softly. He shook his head with a sigh. "I shouldn't have asked you to come, not when you have so much other stuff to do. I'm sorry."
"Don't regret asking me," he said, lifting his face. "I left everything in one of my captain's very capable hands, and I'll be going back tomorrow anyway, so I'm not worried."
I stroked his face. "You're too good to be my future husband," I told him. "I'm too much trouble."
"You obviously haven't met many pirates," he sighed. "And I want to marry you. Don't worry so much." He paused for a moment. "Fiona, could you come back with me tomorrow? Just sign the papers, leave, and have your uncle send everything?"
"Yes. Is that what you would like?" He nuzzled my neck.
"Yes, I would like that very much."
"All right, I'll come." I couldn't suppress the heavy yawn rising in my chest, and I covered my mouth. "Sorry. Long day." He smiled into my neck, breath warm and tickling. I sidled out of his grasp, went to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth. When I went back into the room, I threw the big pillows onto the floor with the heavy dressy blankets, and curled up under the sheets and single blanket that would be warm enough. Lawrence came and sat on the bed beside me, putting his arm over me.
"'Night, Lawrence," I yawned.
"Goodnight, Fiona," he replied, gently kissing my temple and stroking my head. I turned the lights off, and I heard him climbing into the other bed. Still keeping his reputation up and running, I giggled inwardly. Slipping out of my bed, I lifted the blankets and curled up next to him. His whole body tensed, and I could feel his heart hammering in his chest.
"It's all right, no one's going to see us, promise," I assured, putting my arm over his chest. He loosened up as I massaged through his shirt. Kissing his shoulder, I put my head on the pillow, head against his shoulder with my hand on it. His breathing became even, slowing as he dropped to sleep.
My bonnie lies over the ocean,
My bonnie lies over the sea,
My bonnie lies over the ocean,
Oh bring back my bonnie to me.
Bring back bring back
O bring back my bonnie to me, to me.
Bring back, bring back,
Oh bring back my bonnie to me.
Rap rap rap. Rap rap rap.
I stirred, the knocking waking me. I struggled to open my heavy eyelids, my mind fuzzy with sleep. Lawrence had his arm locked securely around my waist, leg draped over my legs. We lay on our sides, I realized, and I smelled the sea and the hotel on his chest and shirt.
"Mmm," I gurgled, trying to free myself. He grunted, only pulling me closer.
"Not yet, few more hours 'til cast off," he sighed in a still 75 asleep voice.
"We're still in the hotel. Someone's here," I pushed a tiny bit harder. He jumped out of bed like a jack rabbit out of a hole, stumbling around in a sleepy daze, tripping over sheets and chairs. He nearly dragged me with him, and I woke up in a hurry due to my surprise. Grabbing the sheets, I yanked, pulling him onto the floor. "It's all right, just stay here."
"Next time make sure I'm awake before informing me that there's someone at the door of our room!" he hissed, massaging a stubbed toe. "I would like to keep my reputation intact."
"Yes, sir." I rose, pulling on a robe, and went to the door. My uncle stood outside, carrying a tray of breakfast foods. "Angel," I said, taking it from him.
"Good morning to you, too," he grinned.
"Can you come back in, like, an hour and a half with the legal stuff?" I asked sleepily. "You woke us up."
"Oh, sorry. Yes, I'll go hunt down your lawyer. Be back later!" He touched his hat and left. The door slammed behind me as I carried the tray to the bed, where Lawrence had relocated himself and was dozing. A smile of contentment twitched on the edge of my mouth, and I couldn't help but love him – he seemed so vulnerable, lying there, out of uniform. Setting the tray on the desk, I brought over a cup of coffee and wafted the smell towards his nose. Twitching, brow furrowing, he blinked, then coughed as he groggily strained to see the coffee cup.
"Breakfast?" I asked. "I thought you were anxious to leave."
"I am, but I'm exhausted," he replied, licking his lips. "Being Commodore isn't easy, especially when you're dealing with runaway daughters and renegade pirates." I snickered.
"Let me guess…."
"I'll let you guess, but you probably already know." He slurped down the coffee, wincing and nearly spitting it back out because it was so hot.
"Poor Lawrence," I sympathized. I slid behind him, massaging his shoulders. That didn't last long, as he rolled his head, trying to loosen his neck, then lay back on me.
"When do you want to get back?" I asked. "My uncle will be here in a little over an hour with the legal papers, and he can show us a way back."
"Then let's be ready to leave when he gets here," Lawrence replied, now seemingly fine with being intimate. He ran his fingers along my thigh, then ran his whole hand up and down it, sending shivers up my spine. He was a bit heavy, but I didn't care. Thank goodness I had shaved the night before. "Will he be able to put us wherever we like in Port Royal, even on a ship?"
"Yes – he knows the time portal business like he invented it. Why?"
"I have some business to complete on the Dauntless that is unavoidable."
"Concerning the runaway daughters and renegade pirates?"
"Yes, unfortunately. I'd rather forget the whole business and let someone else deal with it for once, but it is my duty to keep the Governor's daughter safe and kill as many pirates as possible."
"So it was Elizabeth who ran off."
"Captured, actually. Pirates attacked Port Royal the night you left – the Black Pearl, run by the damned, the undead. Turner freed Sparrow the next day after I told him we couldn't do anything rash, and they stole the Interceptor, which I am afraid is at the bottom of the ocean now. I'm not sure what happened to them, but when your uncle came and summoned me, we had just found Elizabeth and Sparrow on a tiny island not a mile in length, burning rum and palm trees to make a smoke signal." I burst into laughter. Lawrence partially turned, gazing at me questioningly. I covered my mouth, shaking with silent laughter.
"Elizabeth…Sparrow…island…rum," I choked through my laughter tears rolling down my cheeks. He glared, eyes twinkling.
"Really, you are impossible," he said.
"I'm sorry, love," I apologized. "It's just, the picture of the two of them together on an island trying to escape is quite amusing. And I don't think Elizabeth would have allowed him to touch her – she's not that bad." He grasped my arms.
"I know. She can be a real annoyance sometimes, but her intentions are good."
"Yes, I know." I pushed him off me and began to dress. I was done long before he was, so I had to help him button and clip and make sure his wig was put on just right.
"Do I look all right?" he asked, concerned.
"You look fine, just like any Commodore should," I assured for the umpteenth time, brushing the wrinkles out of his jacket. Scooping up his hat, I set it firmly on his head. "There, done. You're as handsome as ever. I'm surprised that every single woman and girl in Port Royal isn't swooning over you." He snorted, then chuckled, kissing my cheek.
A knock announced my uncle.
"Here are the papers," he said, stepping through the door. "You need to read them, but I read them for you and everything is in order, I promise. I double checked on the way back from the office." I quickly signed, speed reading though them.
"Uncle," I said, handing the papers back, "Commodore Norrington and I would like to rejoin the Dauntless today at the soonest possible time. Can you take us to a portal and drop us on the ship, please, and just send my things through when everything's ready?"
"If you'd like, yes, I can."
"Yes, we would like. Lead on to the portal." And off we went to better and brighter things. Hopefully.
Last night as I lay on my pillow
Last night as I lay on my bed
Last night as I lay on my pillow
I dreamed that my bonnie was dead
Bring back bring back
O bring back my bonnie to me to me
Bring back bring back
O bring back my bonnie to me.
Lyrics a Scottish folk song, from