Disclaimers: I don't own Potc and so on.

Thank you so so much to my great readers, I love you all!

The day of Sparrow's trial, the whole city was in commotion; soldiers and citizens included.

James Norrington hated the idea of taking a man's life, as any decent human being did; he just wanted it to be done and never talk about it again; after all, that pirate had proved to be quite an interesting man.

At one point, when Sparrow's sentence to death was read solemnly, young master Turner came to salute Norrington, the Governor and Miss Swann.

'Governor Swann, Commodore. Elizabeth… I should have told you every day from the moment I met you. I love you.'

'What was that for?' Norrington thought as he watched the young man walk away while the noose was put around Sparrow's neck. The drums rolled; the pirate's death would be eminent.

'Ican't breathe!' gasped Elizabeth, falling backwards.
'Elizabeth!' exclaimed both the Governor and Norrington at the same time, helping her to her feet.

A lot of things happened at the same time, Sparrow's hanging was miraculously stopped mid-way, Turner fought a couple of guards until he reached the gallows, and the two of them ran to the tower where Norrington's men were already waiting for them.

'I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt but not from you' said Norrington reprovingly to Will.

'On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency' added Governor Swann, 'and this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!'

'And a good man' replied Turner. If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear.'

'You forget your place, Turner' Norrington warned.

Will looked him right in the eyes. 'It's right here, between you and Jack'

'As is mine' announced Elizabeth, standing next to Will.

'Elizabeth!' exclaimed the Governor, shocked by her action. 'Lower your weapons. For goodness' sake put them down!'

'So this is where your heart truly lies, then?' inquired James feigning his surprise and hiding his relief to the news.

'It is' she told him without remorse.

'Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this' began Sparrow, who was still standing with them.' He turned to the Governor. 'I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually? Ecumenically? Grammatically?' He then looked at Norrington. 'I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that.'

James startled at those words. 'What was this pirate going on about?'

'Elizabeth…' Jack continued. 'It would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry. Will… nice hat. Friends!' he said, walking backwards dangerously getting closer to the parapet. 'This is the day that you will always remember as the day that-' and down he fell into the sea.

All gasped and looked over the ledge.

'Idiot' Lieutenant Gillette sneered. 'He has nowhere to go but back to the noose. What is your plan of action, Sir?'

Norrington didn't know what to do at that moment; the man had cheated Death twice in barely five minutes! Should he ask for his men to pursue him? He didn't want to leave for a new mission so soon after the previous one and especially not until he had seen Lawrence, who was to arrive anytime soon.

'Perhaps on the rare occasion pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?' suggested Governor Swann at the lack of answer of the Commodore.

James focused on the present matter, and turned to Will. 'Mr. Turner…'

'I will accept the consequences of my actions' Will said to Elizabeth, fearing his imminent arrest.

Norrington unsheathed his sword and examined it in the sunlight; thinking about Lawrence only for a brief moment had made him realize the things one can do for love, however foolish and irresponsible. 'This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life.'

'Thank you' Will slightly bowed and looked fondly at Elizabeth.

'Commodore! What about Sparrow?' asked Gillette, slightly frowning; he didn't know how to interpret his friend's last comment about Elizabeth.

'Well, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start' James said, smiling at his friend and going away from the couple kissing and the Governor beaming at the sight.

Andrew hurried to follow him and asked once at his sides:

'James, what was it all about?'

Norrington looked at him, his eyebrows raised, still smiling; Gillette rolled his eyes.

'Oh, I know that look.'

Norrington's smile reached his eyes when he turned to his friend.

'So, I gather that you didn't notice then?'

'Notice wh-'

'The Perseverance is coming back from its mission; she will be here in about half an hour I'd say.'

Andrew's face lit up. 'And by 'she' you mean the ship, of course?'

'But of course!' James rolled his eyes and started walking towards the harbour.

On their way, they found Theodore and told him about Lawrence's arrival; the three of them stood in the shade of a tall tree and watched in silence as the ship came closer and closer; each lost in his own thoughts. Andrew had had the chance to see her not eight days ago, but he was as anxious as Theodore to see her again; Theodore couldn't wait to hug her and see how much she had changed in the last months. As for James, his thoughts weren't as joyous; indeed he kept thinking about their last encounter, and that maybe she wouldn't forgive him, so telling her about his growing feelings were even more unlikely to happen.

The Perseverance laid anchor at last; Lawrence gathered all her strength not to run off that ship to find her friends for the sake of her dignity. She had missed them terribly, and the way back had been excruciatingly long. She helped one of the lieutenants with Admiral Leyton's belongings and once she had nothing else to do, Captain Higgins give her leave, and she finally looked around to see whether Theodore or Andrew would be near.

'Neither of them… Perhaps they have not been told about our arrival, or maybe they are already on another mission?' She tried to curb her disappointment. She had so longed to see them again, and now they were maybe gone for months. As she tried to think of other reasons that would have held them back, she walked past them without noticing, too lost in her downcast thoughts.

'Is that how you treat old friends that you haven't seen in months?' laughed Theodore.

Lawrence turned round instantly, all dark thoughts suddenly gone.

'Theodore!' He came to her and gave her a warm hug, not caring about anyone watching.

'It's been ages since I last saw you!' She stepped back to give Andrew a hug. 'Hello again, Andrew!' She was smiling brightly, so relieved to see that her friends hadn't forgotten her.

'Wher-?' she began but then stopped suddenly when she saw him.

James had eventually stepped off the shade of the tree to greet her; the sight of him made her stomach feel fuzzy, especially as she noticed that he was even handsomer than she remembered, with his face relaxed and his eyes that seemed to shine with joy.

'There's no way I'm going to hug him, even though I'm dying to.'

'Welcome back, Lawrence' James said smiling at her. He didn't know what to do now that she was here; 'Should I shake her hand? No too formal. Or hug her like she hugged Theodore and Andrew? Definitely not, I don't even know whether she thinks of me as a friend.' Instead of doing anything, he just awkwardly stood in front of her.

'Thank you, Captain. I mean, Commodore. I am really glad to see you again.'

'And I you. I never thought I would ever see you again to tell the truth.'

'Damn it, James! Why did I say that? Now she must think I didn't want to see her again…' he admonished himself when he saw her brow ever so slightly crease. 'Just, say something nice.'

'I, err, we've missed your presence on board of the Dauntless' he said to amend himself.

She looked at the three of them and smiled fondly at them.

'And I've missed you all very much too.'

Theodore rolled his eyes at seeing them so awkwardly standing there. It was obvious that their words were too short for what they truly felt and wanted to tell the other, but James being James and Lawrence being the overly reverent woman that she was, their reunion had to be this awkward.

'Alright, let's celebrate our friend's return instead on standing in the sun!' Theodore said to end it.

'Perhaps our friend is tired after her journey…'

'No, not at all, James. I would do anything to stay with you as much as possible. Err, by you I mean all of you, of course. Not that I wouldn't…' she blushed deeply, embarrassed by the things she hadn't planned on saying.

Andrew laughed and gave her a smack on the back, happy to notice that she was still infatuated with her former Captain.

Her last comment gave food for thoughts to James, so he said nothing and walked along with closest friends now all reunited.

They went into their accustomed tavern and ordered their usual afternoon tea.

'So, how was your mission Lawrence?' asked Theodore.

'Well, there is nothing much to say about it, really. I'd even say nothing at all. But please, tell me, all of you, about your last mission, I so wish to know all about it!' Lawrence said eagerly, looking at them with bright eyes.

Her friends proceeded to tell her in turns everything from the attack on Port-Royal and Elizabeth's rapt, to the events of today. Lawrence was fascinated by what they told her and listened to them as a little child to whom you tell stories of castles and dragons.

She wished she had been with them from the start to live with them this incredible adventure; chasing after pirates was one thing, but a mission involving a Mayan curse and skeleton pirates was another.

'I've always known Elizabeth had something wild in her!' she said when they had finished.

'You know Miss Swann then?' asked James, incredulous. 'You never told us.'

'Yes, well, only recently, thanks to my cousin Isabella Harrington. She's become a friend of mine in a way.' She paused. 'I'm sorry to hear about your proposal and that Will Turner, James. I wish one day you will find the woman that will make you happy' she said awkwardly, ignoring the weight that had settled in her stomach as she said those words.

Andrew and Theodore looked at each other, raising an eyebrow, and waiting anxiously for James' reaction.

His brow had furrowed; he was looking at his empty cup, then he lifted his head and locked his eyes on Lawrence's.

'I thank you, Lawrence. Perhaps one day I will indeed. I am mostly glad that Miss Swann and Mr Turner have found each other in spite of everything…'

Those last words hang in the air for longer than expected, full of promise and of hope.

Lawrence felt her stomach buzzing with butterflies once again; 'Is there something else to understand behind those words?' she thought.

Andrew cleared his throat.

'Well, I don't know for you, but we've been talking since the middle of the afternoon and now that night had fallen, I am starving!'

'Me too!' said Theodore, rising up.

They all rose from the table.

'I will leave you for tonight, gentlemen' Lawrence said.

'Don't you want to join us for dinner?' asked James expectantly.

Lawrence gave him a small smile. 'I would love to, but not tonight. I need to join the barracks before curfew.'

Norrington didn't insist.

'Of course, I understand.'

'Why don't you join us tomorrow at 0750 for the morning colours?'

'Great, I'll see you there then! Have a nice evening.' She formally saluted them and smiled. 'I am so glad to have seen you again, at last.'