Disclaimer: POTC is still not owned by yours truly. If it were, I would not be a financially strapped college student and Jack Davenport/Norrington would me married to me.

Chapter 17: Tête-à-Tête

"Elizabeth. Pssssssst. Elizabeth…Are you awake?"

Elizabeth groaned. "Wha?" she said sleepily.

"I need to talk."

Something in Pru's voice made Elizabeth sit up. "Are you all right?" she asked concernedly.

"I suppose…it's just that I'm very confused. I hate it when I don't know where I'm going... Life was so much easier when I knew what I wanted…"

"What did you want?"

Pru shrugged. "Security. Family. And I've found that. Now though…"

"Now…" Elizabeth pressed.

Pru groaned frustratingly as she pushed her face into Elizabeth's mattress. "Blast it. I don't know what I want anymore."

"What started this? You're usually much more together than how you appear right now…"

"It's been building since I came to Port Royal. When you and your father accepted me into your family, I thought I'd had all I wanted. You would be getting married in a few months and I could serve as my uncle's hostess. I would grow into being one of those matron aunts…"

"You really thought that?...but you have tons of suitors!"

"Yes and past experiences have led me to believe that most were idiots or dull or ungentlemanly or worse! It never seemed that the honorable ones were interested or maybe it was the fact that I never felt like taking that leap of admitting I liked someone…I'm too afraid of falling off the cliff…"

"but…"

"Tonight, it just came to head. James and I…"

"You were out with the Commodore again? Alone?" Elizabeth was quite shocked. She quite expected Pru to do something like this, but not the Commodore. He was too stuffy and proper. Perhaps we've all misunderstood him, Elizabeth thought with wonder.

"Yes. He views himself as my protector. I personally don't think I need one, but he rather determinedly insists. I'm not happy that when I go out, I have to have a guard, but there you have it…He, um, surprised me in the garden tonight. Instead of going to a tavern, we rode horses along the beach and then rested on the sand while drinking a glass of rum…"

"Rum is a vile…" Elizabeth interrupted.

"Drink…I know, but it's obvious you've never been to New England…Anyway…it was the most lovely time. We talked and told each other things that no one else knows about us…It felt so right..."

"and?"

"And I liked it! Not just a friendly liking either…I'm not sure what I feel anymore…it's something I can't put a name to, but…"

"Won't put a name to it is more like it."

"I know what you're thinking but…"

"Pru…have you ever thought that you two are in love?"

Pru shook her head emphatically. "No. We aren't. I'm not in love with him. If anything…he's a dear friend. A very dear friend…I can't be in love with him, you know that…it would only end in heartbreak if I did…he doesn't love me, he loves…"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Me. As you've said before. You're deluding yourself if you still believe that. I was just telling Will…"

Pru's shocked face stared at her cousin. "YOU TOLD Will about this? What did you tell him?"

"Only something that he already knew, that you and the Commodore were becoming extremely attached to each other. We both agree that you two make an excellent pair…"

"We are not an excellent pair! Why aren't you listening to me?" Pru accused.

"Because you're being stubborn and refuse to listen to me…It's obvious that you won't listen to the truth. I'm tired and I want to sleep. Come back when you've finally realized your feelings. Lord knows, it will all be easier on us all…"

"I am not…"

"Good night."

Pru hung her head in acceptance. "Good night."

Pru went back to her room. Elizabeth has to be wrong. I can't feel that way…All I want is security and a nice home with family right now…and having unrequited love gives me neither…

Pru finally lay down in bed. I will not surrender. I won't say I'm in love until he does… Forcing herself to think of something, anything else, Pru finally slept.

James, who had busied himself doing paperwork for the past hour, sighed as he threw the papers he'd been perusing on his desk. Even work wasn't distracting him tonight. Interesting, that. After the Black Pearl debacle, and Elizabeth's rejection, work was what kept his emotions at bay. Itgave him the distraction he needed.Of course, perhaps those earlieremotions weren't as strong as the ones currently swirling around his heart.

James was confused, something he hated. He had so many unanswered questions that ran through his head constantly, a collection of what ifs and whys that had his mind in circles. Perhaps he needed someone to talk to, he mused, as he turned down the corridor to his lieutenant's quarters. The door was slightly open and the room was lit. James cracked the door open a little wider as he entered.

Gillette was sitting on his cot in a reclined position. His eyes and mind were concentrating on reading a book and wasn't aware that anyone had entered the room. James softly spoke. "Gillette."

He might as well have shouted it and been a ghost. Gillette literally jumped three feet in the air before falling back on the cot. The book he'd been reading had a far less kind fate. It flew across the room and hit the wall, sliding to the floor.

"Are you always this jumpy Andrew?" James asked.

"No, sir. I just wasn't expecting…"

"Yes. I was hoping that you'd consent to sharing some brandy in my office…"

Gillette nodded. "Of course, sir."

James looked at his lieutenant. "Stop sir'ing me. We're off duty. How many times must I ask that? We've been friends since we were both midshipman, man!"

Gillette grinned contrarily. "That we were…sir. Let's go and find the brandy then…"

As they were about to exit the room, James stooped to pick up Gillette's book. As his hands grasped it, Gillette frantically said, "You don't have to do that…"

"Nonsense. What is your problem? What could be so bad about…" James looked at the title, "Shakespeare's Sonnets? Sonnets, Andrew? I never pegged you to be a romantic…"

"I enjoy them, sir. It's nice to know that someone might have loved another enough to stay with them…"

James knew Gillette was referring to his lieutenantsown romantic failures, especially his own essential abandonment at the altar so many years ago. "Relax, Andrew. I don't begrudge you it by making you feel bad. I was only teasing…"

With a friendly pat on his friend's shoulder, the two officers began walking to Norrington's office. They sat in two comfortable chairs while James poured the Brandy from the decanter into the two crystal glasses. The men sipped quietly for awhile, each man collecting his thoughts…

"I'm curious." Gillette said, "Is there a reason for tonight's drink?"

"Does there have to be?"

"No, but something tells me there is…" Gillette insisted.

"You would be correct. I am in need of someone to talk things out. I am perplexed about something…" James said as he rubbed his forehead, obviously tired from his confusion.

"Would that 'thing' be a lady of our acquaintance?"

James looked sharply at his lieutenant. "Why do you say that?"

"A hunch."

"It's a good hunch. You've known me for quite awhile Andrew. I've managed to rise through the ranks because I have good judgment and I'm decisive. However, in this case I just don't know what to do and it frustrates me…

She's had this strange pull on me since I first saw her in the cargo hold of my ship. I've never felt such a rapport with a female before. Even when we're arguing, I enjoy being near her…"

"I know."

"You do?" James was surprised.

"It's quite obvious, sir."

"Does everyone know?" James hated the possibility. He prided himself on keeping his emotions hidden; it was what made one a good naval officer, after all.

"Only people that know you well."

Norrington relaxed. Well, I can't say there are too many of those around. I've made sure of it..."The problems, as far as I can see, are many. Why do I feel so comfortable and yet so heightened when I'm around her?"

Gillette interrupted, "You love…"

"Don't be rash. I can't be in love. I absolutely forbid it…at least until I'm sure that the lady reciprocates. I will not let happen what occurred before with Miss Swann's proposal…"

"You didn't love her, though."

"I thought I did, and doesn't that amount to the same thing at the time? Whether I was really in love with her or not, the rejection still hurt terribly. I know now that I never knew the real Elizabeth…We would not have been happy, especially when she loved another…"

"Thank God you've finally realized that."

"Can't you see why I'm not in love? I'm in control of my emotions now. I vowed at the time that I'd not let them rule me again."

"I can see that you're in denial…"

"No, I'm not." He frowned. "I'm being truthful with myself. Besides, what does it matter if I'm in love?"

"You could do something rather novel, James. Marry the girl and be happier than you've ever been…"

"You've been reading far too many sonnets. I'd have thought you of all people would have written off love…"

"For myself, yes. For you, no. You've finally met your match. It's time you realized it…"

"She is not my match. She doesn't love me and most definitely does not want to marry me. She views me merelyas an overprotective brother…"

"I highly doubt that. What makes you think so?"

"I heard her say so. I…ahem…listened in to a conversation between her and her cousin shortly after we arrived in Port Royal. I still remember her words: 'I am not going to marry him and he certainly does not want to marry me.'"

"Are you sure you interpreted that correctly? She might have…"

"Yes. I'm sure. I know what I heard. It's beside the point. We're friends and nothing else will come of it."

"But if you feel for her…"

"I am not in love! The subject is finished. Now, on to business…" James and Gillette talked for quite awhile about the more serious business of naval matters. Late into the evening, the men parted. James returned to his bedroom.

I will not yield. I won't say I'm in love until she does…

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