Disclaimer: POTC is not mine and probably won't be. As for Norrington, I can dream, can't I?
"Act decisively and do not relent from your course of action. The key to success is to keep the lady on her toes…"
-Rules of Engagement for Dealing with Ladies
"Men are very devious when they want to be. Sometimes it is just easier to go along with their plans, pick your battles so to speak. You'll get what you want soon enough…"
-Rules of Engagement for Managing Gentlemen
Chapter 13: Unexpected but Desired
Anne waited anxiously in her room. She could hear nothing happening and that reassured her. Surely, she reasoned, pirates would be far noisier. However, she would not lower her guard.
The time stretched into enormous lengths of tension. Anne heard movement farther down from her room. She tensed, ready for whatever was to come…
The door opened. In a flash Anne was standing, her gun trained on the intruder.
Her voice was cold steel as she said, "Don't move any closer."
Andrew's first impression once he opened the door was the barrel of a gun pointed directly at his forehead.
His next was a voice that would freeze the waters of the Caribbean. "Don't move any closer."
The gun suddenly faltered. "Andrew?" Anne asked in amazement.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed as she pulled him in the room and shut the door.
"Saving you." Andrew grimly stated.
"Saving me? From what?" she incredulously asked him.
"From yourself."
"And you think you have the right to do that?"
"Yes, I do." He glared at her.
"I've made my choice, which I made perfectly clear in my letter." She could match him glare for glare when she wanted…
"Yes, you made quite a few of your ridiculous notions known to us…"
She snorted. "Ridiculous? Ridiculous or not, sir, I will go on with my plans."
"No you won't." He seemed sure of that which served to fuel Anne's anger.
"And what, pray tell, are you going to do about it?" Anne seethed.
That, unfortunately had been tempting fate a bit too far.
"This." Andrew bent down and picked Anne up.
"Andrew Gillette! Put me down! You son of a-"
Carrying her over his shoulder like a bag of flour, Andrew progressed topside. To the stunned looks of everyone, he went to James, whose eyebrows had risen in inquiry.
"Her belongings are still down below, if you could send someone to get them?" Andrew asked his question as if it were a normal, everyday occurrence to have a lady slung over his shoulder shouting insults at him.
James nodded. "Captain, if you would send someone down?"
The captain complied. Meanwhile, Andrew and his charge had already gone to the Hunter.
"Andrew! For God's sake, I'll kill you quickly if you put me down!"
"Hello, Gillette. Everything taken care of?" Pru asked, a wondering smile on her face.
"It will be, shortly."
Anne tried to get Pru on her side. "Pru! Help! I'm being carried off by a madman!"
Pru yelled to her as Andrew and Anne disappeared below, "IT'S OKAY DEAR! YOU'VE MADE YOUR BED, I SUPPOSE YOU NOW MUST LIE IN IT!"
Andrew proceeded to his small room. It was fortunate that in the construction of the Hunter, the Lieutenant was allowed a room. It was particularly good in this case, as Andrew would be needing privacy…
With less than gentle care, Andrew plopped a livid Anne on his bed.
"You pompous ass!"
"Stop right there. If anyone has any right to be angry, it is me!" Andrew barked. "You left without a word, save that letter, which was discovered after the fact! You never even consulted me…"
"Yes, I'm sure you and my brother would have allowed me to leave." Anne remarked bitterly. "You both were the reason I left! I couldn't remain, seeing you two hate each other because of me, especially when you were rapidly heading to the point where you would be forced to marry me!"
"And is it so terrible to marry me?" Andrew's voice was soft now, all anger from it gone from it forthe moment.
"No, of course not! I said that I didn't want you to be forced to marry me. Despite what you've said before, I wanted you to have the chance to love the person you married! Not be stuck with me because my brother thought is was some salve to my broken honor!" Anne was shouting again by the time she finished.
"I'VE ALREADY FOUND HER, DAMN IT!"
"What?"
"I've found the woman I love, Anne!"
"You…what?"
Andrew laughed softly. "Is that all you can say?"
"Who? Who is the woman?" Anne held her breath.
"Anne…I…Who do you think it is?"
He grabbed her to him and kissed her. Kissed her with all the passion he'd held inside for all those weeks. Kissed her with all the love he felt, even as he doubted she loved him in return. Kissed her for all the uncertainties that were never going to be realized…
Andrew tried his best to compose himself. He bent down on one knee and took her hands…
"Anne Norrington. I know we didn't have the best start. I insulted you, you insulted me. Who knew how rapidly I would be become enthralled with that?
And I am enthralled. Completely, deeply. I love you. I didn't realize it until I knew you were gone, but I know now. I love you more than I could ever say.
I know that I once stupidly told you that I would only marry to have children and my wife would be a friend, nothing more. I hope you see through that for the coward I was being. Even then, I think I was beginning the inevitable action of falling in love with you.
But denial is strong, isn't it? I resisted even as the mere mention of your name drew me closer to you.
Anne Norrington, you are my only source of happiness in the world. Will you consent to be wife? I will marry no other.
Marry me if only to save me from a lonely existence without you, for it would be the worst fate if you did not love me in return. Marry me, Anne. Create a family, a home with me.
I know you told me once that you never wanted to marry because it was no guarantee for happiness. I'm asking you now to take a chance on me. I vow that I will do everything in my power to see you happy. I will love only you and no other, Anne.
Anne, my love,will you marry me?"
Anne was crying by the time he finished. She stood there silent, as tears ran down her face.
"Will you give me an answer?" Andrew asked nervously.
Anne gave a happy cry as she launched herself into his arms. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"And do you love me, then?"
"I love you, Andrew Gillette. I will marry you."
This time, their kiss was gentler, sweeter than before as they celebrated the fact that their love was returned. It very quickly escalated however.
It was unfortunate that the walls of the cabin were rather thin. They were quite oblivious to the door silently opening to Pru and James.
"I see you've achieved a resolution." James remarked.
Andrew jumped up faster than one would have thought.
"We're engaged to be married!" he blurted out, his face turning red.
Anne rose to put her arms around his waist. "Yes, I sure this seems quite unexpected, I assume."
"Indeed," James dryly remarked.
AN: I believe at least two chapters are in order before it is finished. Stay tuned. :) Oh and for those who are wondering who's taking care of the twins…I think I mentioned in an earlier chapter that they had a nursemaid, but I'm not sure.