AN: Yippee, the proposal has landed! Man, how very sad, to get so excited about my own fic...what can I say, I've been waiting for something conclusive to spill out of my wretched head for quite some time now. Hmph. Enjoy, my lovelies, and come back soon. When hopefully the page break will be fixed. Raaa. dd xxx

32

They had not walked far in awkward silence, when Norrington's steps became laboured and evidently painful.

Alicia watched the way he limped in concern, and tentatively suggested that they sit down on the bench tucked between two towering ferns.

'You are not well, Commodore,' she said as they sat down on the slatted bench.

He smiled wryly. 'I suppose not,' he replied. 'However…fresh air and…good company are the best cures, I always find.'

Her eyes shone, and Norrington's hand twitched to take hers, but Elizabeth's admonishments on his behaviour flooded back to him, and he tried to compose his face into an expression of penitence.

'I…Miss Groves, please allow me to apologise for having neglected our…correspondence in the past fortnight,' he began in a stilting tone.

Alicia looked down at her lap before answering. 'That is…quite all right, Commodore,' she said, her voice lighter than her expression suggested was the truth. 'I…it is far better that you rested during your convalescence, instead of writing to me.' Norrington was alarmed to hear her voice crack, as though about to cry. He looked around, seeing no intrusive gardener or servant, and thought of Elizabeth's wise advice.

'What I mean to say, is,' he continued more brazenly, 'I must apologise for my…for the hideous way in which I treated you…when I awoke to find you caring for me. I…no, please let me continue, Miss Groves,' he said as she opened her mouth to protest weakly. 'It is most important to me that I make myself clearly understood. I cannot excuse my harsh words by hiding behind my illness and my weak state at that point. I am…quite sensible, thanks in no small part to Miss Swann, that I have treated you very cruelly, and caused you undue hurt and anguish. For that I am deeply sorry.'

He looked at Alicia, who was sitting silently and genteelly beside him. She refused to meet his eye, and he suspected that she had begun to cry quietly.

'I came here today,' he continued, his voice thickening in dread, 'to…to make this apology, and to…make one thing clear to you. I have…during my convalescence, I have had ample time to consider my actions, and my feelings…I believe…that is, I know that I meant none of those unkind words. I…yes…I know my behaviour when you rode to my house the night of the battle was ungentlemanly and highly improper, but…though you may condemn me for my inappropriate actions…I wish you to know that…'

He inhaled deeply, and closed his eyes tightly. '…those actions were…a true reflection of my feelings for you, Miss Groves. I…you see…I…I must conclude that…in fact, I came here today to ask…well, the Captain, that is…your brother, I declare, a fine man he is…' he was aware that he was babbling hopelessly, and tried to steady his trembling voice. 'I know your opinion of me must be…very low…and justifiably, I assure you…but I could not wait another day…it is rash of me, I know, and I wish you to know that my regard for you will always be higher than that for any other person…'

Alicia raised her head slowly, and Norrington, trailing off miserably, saw that her lovely eyes were, indeed, brimming with tears. She began to speak, and her voice came out as a muted sob.

'I…please, Commodore,' she said more clearly. 'I…please, tell me, are you…are you making me an offer of marriage, Commodore?' She closed her eyes almost reverently. 'I am very sorry if I have misunderstood you, but…it is torturing me to sit here, unsure of your intentions. Either way, please end my torment, sir.' Her speech was composed and polite, but Norrington detected an edge of desperation and panic in it, and saw hope and fear mingled in her eyes as he dared to meet her gaze.

They sat in silence for some time, the calls of exotic birds echoing in the garden. Norrington licked his lips nervously, and slowly stretched out his hand to cover hers, which were delicately folded in her lap. She looked tearfully up at him, almost alarmed by the intensity of his gaze.

'Yes…' he said as though he was surprised with his answer. 'Yes…I believe I am making you an offer of marriage. If that is acceptable to you, of course,' he added swiftly, not meeting her eyes.

Alicia smiled wanly, and glanced at his hand over hers. Slowly, she lifted her hands and entwined her fingers with his, her thumb sub-consciously caressing his palm. She looked back up into Norrington's anxious face. He held his breath.

'I think…' she said faintly, so that he could barely hear her, 'I think…yes, that is…acceptable.' She paused momentarily, and the Commodore bit his lip apprehensively. 'I…it would be more than acceptable…James…' she said, smiling bashfully.

The Commodore, his mind reeling blissfully, was painfully aware that he must say something in reply, and was distressed to find that the power of speech had temporarily abandoned him. He was conscious that she was still caressing his hand.

'That is…good,' he said dumbly, trying to stop himself from embracing her in wild delight. 'Yes…yes, very good,' he babbled, attempting to sound decisive and firm, and failing completely. His face finally broke into a huge, happy smile, and he looked around in wonder at the flowers and plants surrounding them, unable to bear the beauty of his shy fiancée any longer.

Alicia laughed gently, freeing one hand to wipe her eyes daintily. 'Very good?' she repeated, shaking her head a little. 'Elizabeth was right,' she said in amusement. 'You really have no idea, do you?'

'None whatsoever,' replied the Commodore breathlessly. He sat marveling at his great good fortune, still struck almost dumb by happiness, until she reached up tentatively and removed his hat. She bit her lip as she let it drop carelessly to the ground, and smiled timidly as she looked at him. Norrington could hardly breathe, and his head felt worryingly light.

Her eyes were round with joy and breathless anticipation as they looked shyly at one another.

'Miss Groves…may I…may I kiss you?' he asked hesitantly.

She smiled sweetly. 'Not as long as you insist upon calling me "Miss Groves",' she replied in a whisper, sliding slowly across the bench towards him, and tilting her face towards his.

He moved his face cautiously closer to hers. 'In which case…' he murmured reverently, 'may I kiss you, Alicia?'

'You never asked before, sir,' she whispered in the instant before he leaned forward inevitably and captured his lips with hers.

It was a sweet, slow kiss, vastly different to the rushed embrace they had shared the night the Dutch smugglers had attacked Port Royal. Gradually, cautiously, he raised one hand to her soft face and lightly cupped her uplifted chin. He felt her relax against him, and felt her thin arm encircle his waist. The air was filled with spicy scents of foreign flowers, and Norrington felt he could quite happily sit entangled with Alicia on that bench for the rest of his life.

Presently, however, he pulled away from her, and noted the way in which she blushed timidly, and smiled blissfully as he pulled fondly at the feathery wisps of hair curling over her cheek. It was inconceivable to him that anyone could be as happy as he.

'I have been so very, very stupid,' he said quietly, their faces still very close. She kissed him lightly on the mouth and shook her head.

'It doesn't matter, James,' she breathed. 'Everything is all right now…'

He tenderly stroked the downy skin of her slender neck. 'But I've loved you for months,' he said frankly, amazed at how easy it was to confess such secrets now. 'I am such a fool,' he said, hanging his head.

Alicia unhurriedly put her arms around his neck and rested her head serenely on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart and the undulating rise and fall of his lungs. Norrington stroked her dark hair gently and saw the lights of the house gradually going on, one by one, as dusk began to fall.

'Not a fool,' murmured his fiancée drowsily, nestling against him. 'Perfect. My perfect James.'

Norrington pressed his lips to the crown of her head and put his arms around her slim body. Fireflies were beginning to swarm in the garden, and he watched them glow leisurely, comforted by the warmth of Alicia's body against his.

AN: Squee? Or not squee? Very cheesy, I know that much. Do you think I should stop here? Because I have many more ideas, and 10 more chapters written, but this fic is getting very long and drawn out...I mean, they aren't even married yet! Feedback would be gratefully received, as ever. Lots of love, dd xx