Disclaimer: POTC makes money for their creators, and I am not one of them. I live only with my Norrington fantasies.
Chapter 23: Two Heads Are Better
The next few days were relatively quiet in the Swann household. Pru regained a similar semblance of herself, but everyone could tell that all was not well. Elizabeth and Will watched her with concern and engaged her in all manner of activities. Through it all, Pru smiled and laughed and Elizabeth could never quite pinpoint what was different about her cousin, but there was something…
Elizabeth had been reading in the drawing room when the butler arrived to announce a visitor. Puzzled, as she was not expecting anyone, she rose to greet her guest. She stopped short when she noticed it was Lieutenant Gillette.
He bowed. "I've never liked you, Miss Swann."
"Good Afternoon to you too, Lieutenant." she responded.
He realized what he had said. "Apologies."
She smiled self-depreciatingly. "None are needed. I'm well aware that our interactions in the past were strained, as well as the reason for them. What can I do for you today, Gillette?"
"It has come to my attention that you and I share a common pair of friends, both of whom I can assume you realize, are incredibly stubborn and cannot see the truth past their noses."
Elizabeth agreed. "Very much so."
"If the Commodore is any indication of how your cousin is feeling, they are both miserable indeed…"
"You've described her feelings to a tee. Neither of them says anything is wrong, but I know better, at least in Pru's case…"
"And so I suggest we combine forces, so to speak, and force the two to come to a resolution. It would be better for us all if they finally…"
"See what everyone else has seen for months?"
"Of course."
"I'm listening…What is your plan, Lieutenant?"
Gillette outlined his plan of action to get their two dear friends together where they belonged, which of course was together. It was fairly simple. All that was needed was to gather the supplies and coordinate the attack. An hour after he'd entered the drawing room, the plan was complete.
Pru heard the knock on her door. She had been resting from the relentless Caribbean sun and had retreated to her cool dark bed. "Come in." she ordered.
It was Elizabeth. "I was wondering if you'd accompany me somewhere…"
"No thank you."
"Come on, Pru. It's important, it really is! Get dressed. I think the teal gown would be wonderful…"
Pru groaned. There were times when Elizabeth would not take no for an answer. Elizabeth was incredibly irritating when she was in that mood. "Fine."
Elizabeth smiled and hugged her cousin excitedly. "Oh, Pru! You won't regret it, I swear! You'll thank me in the end…"
Pru looked at her suspiciously. "Thank you for what?"
Elizabeth straightened. "Never mind. Get Dressed. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Norrington looked up from the report he'd been reading with weary eyes. "Gillette?"
"Sir, You're needed in one of the storage rooms. A few marines got into the grog rations and are three sheets to the wind as it were…They're getting violent…"
James gave a sigh in exasperation. "Why can't you settle the matter?" He indicated the papers strewn over his desk. "I've got other things to do."
Gillette stared at him with determination. "Well sir, I believe it's necessary that you correct the situation. It's the only way, sir."
Norrington blew out a breath of irritation. "Very well."
He rose abruptly and walked to the door. Gillette was right behind him the whole way. "Why is it," James asked, "that if I have to deal with this, you have to come with me?"
Gillette smirked. "Backup, sir. Two heads are better than one, right?"
James wasn't stupid. Something wasn't quite right as he headed to one of the larger storage rooms at Fort Charles. For one, it was silent. As he was about to open the door, Gillette quickly came around him, reaching the handle first.
"Allow me, sir." Gillette said.
The Lieutenant opened the door. James entered the storage room. "Gillette, there's nothing here…"
"Sorry."
Gillette forcibly pushed James further into the storage room and the door was shut with a reverberating bang. James bowed his head and closed his eyes in consternation much as he had when Sparrow had stolen the Interceptor. Damn him…
Elizabeth and Pru arrived at Fort Charles in record time. Pru had a bad feeling about why Elizabeth just had to go to the fort…
"Why again are we here?" Pru asked suspiciously.
"Father wanted me to deliver something to the Commodore and I wanted you along as company…"
"You know what's happened between us! I can't believe you've dragged me here." Pru hissed in embarrassment.
Elizabeth spotted Lieutenant Gillette. "Wait here. I'm going to inquire as to the Commodore's whereabouts…"
Pru observed Elizabeth conduct an intense conversation with the Lieutenant. Her cousin nodded and then walked back to Pru.
"He's down in the storage rooms for some reason. Let's go then."
"I can wait here…" Pru suggested.
"Nice try, but you're going." With a grip of steel, Elizabeth led her down to storage.
"I think this is the one the Lieutenant directed us to…After you cousin…"
Elizabeth wrenched the door open and pushed Pru in. Naturally, Pru tripped and fell into the room, a fact that Elizabeth had been counting on. The door slammed and Pru heard the tumblers in the lock turn.
Pru jumped up and began pounding on the door. "ELIZABETH! THIS ISN'T FUNNY. OPEN THE DOOR. NOW! BLOODY HELL!"
Suddenly a voice interrupted her rant. "Don't bother, Pru. I have the distinct feeling we'll be in here for a rather long time…"
Pru turned to see James. Bloody Hell. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.
He smiled grimly. "Much the same as you, I imagine."
"And what is that?" she pointed to the letter in his hand.
James handed over the paper. Pru began to read:
To Pru and James:
As you two have most perceptively realized, you are stuck in this storage room. There is nothing you can do to escape until we decide you are ready to leave.
First, to the reason we are writing this letter. We represent everyone associated with you that care for you as a friend or relative. These people are completely sick with watching you two ruin your lives. It's quite obvious that you two are too stubborn to solve your problems without being coerced.
Thus we have hatched this plan. You two will remain in this storage room for as long as it takes to resolve your relationship problems. You will be checked upon every few hours and we will assess your situation at that time.
Until then, we have provided you with anything you may need besides freedom from the room. We have provided a wonderful dinner, care of the Governor's cook with candles to light the room when the window fails to provide adequate light. There are also enough cushions to lie upon if you remain here for the evening, which knowing you both, will probably happen.
Consider please that we are doing this because we care for you and want you two to be happy. You may thank us for this later.
Our deepest regards and best wishes,
Elizabeth Swann
Lieutenant Gillette, RN
p.s. Please try to not be so stubborn and idiotic as to postpone finding a resolution. It will only take longer for you to be released.
"OF ALL THE…" Pru began.
"Indeed."
"You didn't have anything to do with this?"
"Okay, you've got me. I deliberately had Gillette lock me in with a woman who's broken off my engagement. I figured it would be entertaining as well as masochistic…In short, a perfect evening!" James sarcastically retorted.
Pru huffed and went to the corner. She was convinced that if she remained silent long enough, Elizabeth would relent and open the door. James sat on a crate in the opposite corner. Two can play that game…
Three hours later…
Pru's stomach rumbled loudly. James glanced at her, his brow raised. "Would you allow me to break the silence to suggest eating, or would that offend you?"
"Fine." She flounced over to the table. She wasn't quite sure why she acting so surly. Perhaps it was the incredible awkwardness and tension of being shut in the room with James. If they were in here for too much longer, she couldn't vouch for her behavior…
They ate in silence. Finally the frigid silence got to both of them. Impatiently, James bit out, "Pru, the least we can do is talk to each other!"
"What do we have to talk about?"
"Well, I don't know. Let's start with what our dear 'friends' suggested. Why did you break the engagement?"
She glared at him. "You know why!"
"Apparently I don't or I wouldn't have asked!"
"Think, James. Think real hard."
"You're avoiding the issue, Pru."
"Perhaps it's because I don't want to talk about it. It's happened, it's done. Why rehash it?" Pru's eyes became teary as she rose.
James stared at her imploringly as he stood up and faced her. "I need to know, Pru. Was it something in my character? My personality?"
"Of course not! You're one of the best men I've ever known! Why are you so concerned with the why of it anyway? YOU DON'T WANT TO MARRY ME!"
He stared at her in astonishment. "YES, I BLOODY WELL DO! GOD KNOWS WHY, BUT I DO!"
Her jaw dropped. "NO YOU DON'T!"
"I THINK I KNOW WHAT I WANT, PRU!"
"NO YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T WANT TO MARRY ME! YOU DESERVE SOMEONE YOU LOVE…someone…someone…"
He gazed at her, his heart in his eyes. "Who's to say I hadn't found her?"
That stopped Pru in the middle of her rant. "What?" she whispered hoarsely.
His entire body softened as he took her hand. "I said 'Who's to day that I haven't found the woman I love?' I have found that woman, the one I'll always love, cherish, and adore…It just seems she doesn't love me back…at least enough to marry me…" He turned away from her.
"Who? Who James?" Pru hoped against hope. She prayed, Not Elizabeth. Please not Elizabeth. Please don't confirm all my fears…Anybody but Elizabeth…
"You beautiful exasperating idiot!" he choked out, "It's YOU! I love you, damn it! I love every intelligent beautiful arguing frustrating piece of you! I love…I love…I love you." Overcome with the emotion, something that had never really happened to him before, he stopped, unable to go on…
He studied Pru. She'd not said a word. He'd attempted the impossible: he'd actually left Pru Martin speechless. Good God, he thought, I've actually done it and oddly, I feel rather proud of myself…
He made himself concentrate on Pru then. Her eyes were rapidly overflowing with tears and her mouth opened just a bit…She'd never looked more beautiful. It was as if his admission of love had just opened his senses further. Emotions rolled in upon him in waves…
And in an instant, he finally knew what to do. Finally realized in an instant that his life's happiness rested on these next few moments and if he wanted it enough, all he had to do was reach for it…
And so he knelt, her hands still in his, his body and heart prostrated before her feet, hers to take or destroy. Pru gasped, her eyes shiny with tears and passion. His voice emotion laden with love, he began:
"Pru Martin. Since the moment I saw you in the cargo hold of my ship, I felt an immediate connection. That feeling just grew as time went on, despite my complete denial of it. I'm stubborn and arrogant, as you've repeatedly reminded me. I'd somehow pompously believed that I could rationally control my emotions and I would decide who I would love…
But life really isn't that simple, is it Pru? For everyday, every moment, that passed by, I became more and more in love with you. I never admitted it. Indeed, I vigorously denied it to anyone who brought it up. Simply, I was a stubborn fool who couldn't see the truth. I can now…
Pru, you are my only hope of happiness in this life and the next. When I'm with you, I'm not James the Commodore, I'm not hiding under the wig, I'm James the man, plain and simple. You are the only one who sees the true me, the only one I would ever allow to see it. Please don't allow me to waste away behind the mask I wear…
When you were in dangerof marrying someone else, Jealousy filled every part of my being. I couldn't stand the sight of your suitors. And when you begged for my help to avoid marriage again, it wasn't out of concern for a friend that I agreed to help. In that moment, I realized you could be taken away from me in an instant and I reached for what I wanted the most. YOU. ONLY YOU…
I know you think I'm too protective. I can't help that. It's in my nature to protect and with you I have a compulsion to keep you safe no matter what. When you were taken by your father, I was cold inside imagining a life without our constant verbal fencing, a life without your smile, a life without you. I vowed that no matter what you would choose, I would save you and insure your happiness. Even when you refused our betrothal, I was miserable, but couldn't try to make you change your mind. Securing your happiness is the most important thing to me, my most important task…
Pru Martin, I love you with everything I am and everything I hope to become. You are my only chance to have all I have wanted: a family, a home, a wife I can't live without. So it is with all the love I have to give that I ask you to marry me. Not for any of the sensible reasons I gave you earlier, but for all the passion, the desire, the promise for a life together in love…
Please give me the answer I crave above all others. Say you'll consent to a life with me. Pru Martin, will you marry me?"
Even James had begun to cry by this point. Pru stood there for a moment, silent. In that moment he knew more fear than he had ever beforefelt…
With a sob of joy, Pru launched herself at him. "YES! YES! YES! JAMES, I LOVE YOU TOO! I always have!" she sobbed.
Intense relief flooded through his body as he lifted her into his arms with a joyous shout. He turned and sat upon the piles of cushions, cradling her in his arms. He bent his head down until their lips brushed each other. Their lips met, clung, welcoming the other from such a long absence from which they had feared would never end. Their tears mixed as they embraced and gasped with the love they held for each other.
James rolled her body onto the cushions and knelt above her. They explored each other with their lips as their hands roved everywhere, eager to know each other further. They could not touch each other enough as if they both feared it to be simply a dream that would disappear any moment. James was brought back to earth minutes afterward when Pru impatiently attempted to release the buttons of his waistcoat…
He gasped for air. "Pru! We can't do this!"
"Why not? We're alone…we're engaged…"
He wanted to agree, he really did. Damn it, being the honorable one wasn't fun sometimes. "Because, it isn't proper."
"Not good enough, James."
Her foot began rubbing him in the most inconvenient place. He moaned in delight…
He growled, hisnose touching hers"Pru, I want you to forever remember our wedding night as the time we became one for the first time. I love you enough for you to be my wife when we come together. I willdemand nothing less for you than that."
Pru softly accepted his answer with an, "Oh, I suppose when you put it that sweetly…" She smiled as she settled into his arms.
James and Pru stayed reclined upon the cushions for hours, simply talking. They talked about anything and everything. They discussed their life together. They answered any questions about each other they hadn't asked before. They argued, but it was merely for argument's sake. And they enjoyed each other's comforting presence. Multiple kisses sweetened the time of course, but James proved remarkable in his restraint…much to Pru's chagrin.
Eventually the discussion came to their miscommunications during the course of their relationship, of which there were many and of which they had to square with before going forward…
"Why then, did you refuse me if you loved me?"
She looked at him through her tears. "Why did you refuse me? I suppose our actions stemmed from the same reason. I wouldn't marry someone who didn't love me and I wanted you to find a woman you could love that loved you. But the reason is far simpler than that: We both are stubborn fools with a tremendous amount of pride!"
He laughed with delight. "That we are."
She sighed happily. "And to think, we might not have gotten here if not for Elizabeth and Gillette."
"Indeed. We shall have to thank them…"
Pru smiled, an idea already forming.
"I know that look, darling Pru. What are you planning?"
She grinned at him mischievously as she hugged him. "Oh, just that since Gillette had done such a wonderful matchmaking job here, perhaps we should return the favor…"
James groaned. "If you wish to meddle, leave me out of it, will you?"
They laughed together. Eventually they drifted off to sleep. A few hours later, the door opened quietly. Elizabeth and Gillette peered inside and smiled at each other. Neither could come to make themselves awaken the couple. Her finger on her lips, they closed the door and allowed the couple their privacy…
Morning came and James was the first to wake. Feeling remarkably lazy, he felt content merely to watch Pru as she slept. Not long after, Pru stirred in his arms. Her eyes opened sleepily to gaze at his softly smiling face.
"What?" she asked groggily.
"Nothing. I just realized that I'll have the privilege to wake up to this wonderful sight everyday for the rest of my life."
Pru linked her arms around his neck. "I never noticed you to be this silver tongued earlier in our acquaintance, sir." she teased.
"Perhaps I was merely in awe of your many exceptional qualities…"
Pru's eyebrow rose. "I think that's earned you a good morning kiss…"
He placed a brief peck on her lips. "Is that sufficient Mrs. Soon to be Norrington?"
"Not nearly…Let me correct my earlier statement: I think that's earned you a good morning kiss…or two…or three…or more…but they have to be properly done…"
He smiled at her. "Well, I've never been one to do anything in half measures," he said as his smiling mouth descended upon hers…
Lost in enjoying each other, neither of the newly re-engaged couple noticed the door open. They didn't notice the gaping faces of Gillette, Elizabeth, Will, and the Governor until Gillette's voice rang out, "Well, I can see you've reconciled…"
James and Pru broke apart immediately. Both were blushing as James looked up at the intruding party. "We've decided to be married…" he rather redundantly stated, but he did it with extreme pride, so everyone forgave him for it.
Governor Swann smiled widely. "It appears that would be in order, yes…"
Pru and James looked at each other and promptly burst out laughing…
AN: Don't stop reading or looking for updates! I've two more chapters I plan to put up- the wedding (where all manner of things could happen!) and the epilogue…so stay tuned readers!