Authoress' Note: Okay, I'm not so confident about this vignette. It wasn't really intended to be included in the grand scheme of things, however I couldn't leave the Norrie/Liz relationship hanging at the end of that last vignette. I'm all for resolution to be honest, and I was tired of watching them suffer in their private hells. So yeah, things are still not fine and dandy from here on out, but they will be considerably better.

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far! Keep 'em coming! -hands cookies to Nurr, Interested, the Mouse in the Opera House, and Rex Luscus- All characters © Disney

The First (of Many) Apologies

The following morning fares no better than the night before. The overcast sky, which is usually sunny during the autumn months of the year, corresponds perfectly with the bitter mood lingering over the house. I awaken early with a dull ache in my neck from sleeping on the parlour settee, and above me I already hear the sounds of Elizabeth's morning routine. Betsy hurries by pausing for half a second to give me a rather flustered look as I sit up and stretch. What a sight I must be.

I do not wait for Elizabeth at breakfast, but eat quickly so that we will not be caught together in the same room. After our heated discussion earlier I'm not quite ready for another confrontation. Just as I slip out the door I hear the tap tap of her heeled shoes on tiled floor behind me. I've barely made it. The two of us spend the afternoon locked up in our own respective areas of the house: I in my office, and she in the library. Unfortunately, books and letters of state do nothing to ease my guilty mind and the pain in my heart.

Betsy knocks twice on my office door before entering. She bustles about serving me tea in an unusually muted fashion. I watch her silently noticing every time she glances up at me. She's dying to say something, I can tell.

"Is everything all right, Betsy?" I ask, stirring my tea but not intending to drink it for my stomach aches too much from the tension of the day.

Red roses bloom across Betsy's cheeks as she looks up at me, nodding her head urgently.

"It's the missus, sir. She's quite distraught. I don't know what about of course. . . she said something about an argument. That's all I know. I'm sorry."

I set my tea down gently and fold my hands in front of me, surveying Betsy, who stands before me with a culpable look on her face.

"You heard everything, didn't you?" I whisper into the silence.

She nods sheepishly, "But I didn't mean to, sir! Honest! The whole 'ousehold could hear you as well as me. . ." Betsy trailed off and looked down at her skirt fingering some imaginary speck of dust that had settled there.

Sighing I settle back in my chair and close my eyes. How long can this go on? No one should have to live this way; constantly arguing and worrying about the ever-growing menace that threatens to take away what I've worked so hard to gain. William Turner's face materialises in my mind's eye, and I suppress the urge to reach out and strangle him with my bare hands. He will not take her away from me.

"What do you think, Betsy? Should I speak with her?" I ask, opening my eyes again, "Please, help me. I don't want to live like this anymore."

Betsy is silent for a moment, thinking. When she looks at me it is with the most miserable face I've ever seen on such a young woman as she.

"I don't think she wants to live like this either, sir," she whispers, clasping her hands neatly in front of her.

This idea had never struck me before. Elizabeth has reasons behind her actions and heated words. She grieves for a lost love, and though I have tried to treat her as any honourable man would I have not given her what she wants more than anything– happiness.

I stand suddenly, new thoughts and ideas whirling in my head so that I feel slightly dizzy. Betsy looks startled, and watches me as I move quickly toward the door. I must speak with Elizabeth. Now.

"My wife, where is she?" I ask, though I already know the answer.

"In the library, sir."

I hardly have time for a hurried "thank you" before I am running down the corridor and up the staircase to the solitude of the library above.

Slowing to a walk upon reaching the library's double doors, I take a deep breath before pushing one open gently. Stepping inside, I close the door with a subtle snap and survey the scene before me.

Never has the library looked so used. Mountains of books are stacked haphazard upon the tables, and half-read novels litter the surrounding chairs. Straight ahead are rows of towering shelves, and there, straight down the centre aisle, curled in an alcove whose large windows overlook the bay, is Elizabeth. She has not heard me come in.

Silently I watch her, noticing such subtle nuances as when she occasionally mouths words on the page or continuously brushes a wisp of brown hair out of her eyes. She looks perfect in the simple dress she is wearing, and the picture is only marred by the fact that there are tears still staining her pale cheeks.

I take a step forward right into a stack of books, which tumble endlessly onto the floor in every direction. Startled, Elizabeth jumps up pulling her book to her chest.

"Oh," she exclaims breathlessly whilst taking in the sight of me crouched on the ground recovering the fallen books.

Quickly I stand and take another step toward her. "Elizabeth, I'm sorry for intru –"

"You weren't," she cuts me off, and when she thinks I'm not looking she wipes at the corners of her eyes.

Now it is my turn to be speechless. The silence between us grows as Elizabeth chews at her bottom lip.

"I'm sorry I've been so –"

"I haven't even been thinking –"

We both stop mid-sentence. Elizabeth smooths her skirt and sits down again, motioning for me to sit next to her. When I do she takes my hands in hers, and is silent. Suddenly, I know then that though we feel as if we do not deserve one another we are perfect for each other in that very way.

Authoress' Note: Aww, sappy ending… Sorry for that. I promise it won't happen again. ;) Please remember to click on the blue-ish purple-ish button at the bottom of the screen to review! :D The next vignette will be up when I get back from my cruise around the British Isles. W00t! Maybe I'll have number 5 up before college starts again as well.