Notes: I'm sorry I'm not digging into that glorious, excruciating slow burn shit that I did in CTW (and am currently doing in my Boromir fic), but my thinking here is that it would but way too much rehashing of the OG fic, and I'm not willing to turn this into another 400k word event – so certain amounts of glossing need to be done. There still isn't going to be an easy road by any means, because I cannot imagine a world where Norrington has the intended reaction to Elizabeth's prodding at whatever it is going on between he and Theo, but I'm just having to scale down the really drawn out pining a tiny bit.

From then on, things formed a routine that was as nice as it was unexpected. But the unexpected things did have a habit of being the nicest, didn't they? Theo, when she sought a bit of solitude – and when she worried she was hanging around the Swanns too much, like some strange Irish ghost haunting their home – would go down to what she was quickly growing to think of as her spot, books in tow…and more often than not, Captain Norrington would join her.

She didn't go every day, the last thing she needed were whispers that she'd come here and immediately started flirting with all of the military men here like something out of Pride and Prejudice – and Norrington didn't join her every day, for he was a busy man…and he likely had just as much distaste towards all of the potential rumours as she did.

But…he did join her. More often than not. Sometimes pausing as he walked across the docks, as though struggling to decide whether he would or not, but then the deliberations always ended in her favour. Or- well, in favour of accompanying her for a bit. And she found she didn't even resent the interruption. With each occasion that passed, his greetings became a little less awkward and stilted. "Good morning, Miss Byrne, are you well?" shifted into "what section have you reached now?" – which, by the standards of these times, was like a bro-hug back home.

Although if she tried that with him, he'd probably have a heart attack. Instead, she continued to supply the sandwiches. He'd even grown less wary of accepting the half she'd begun to habitually leave for him – but he was still a little shy about it. Theo found that oddly adorable. Oh, his motives weren't entirely innocent, she wasn't an idiot, she knew that part of him (and likely a rather large part) was doing this to fish for more information about her. Nothing made someone keeping secrets slip up half so quickly as camaraderie did.

That was understandable. It was fine, even. And it was a good distraction from how quickly she found herself growing fond of him – because that fondness also offered her an utter inability to stop noticing how handsome he was. Devastatingly. Because it wouldn't do to get attached to anybody here, least of all him.

If only he would go back to making that a bit easier for her.

When a knock sounded at the front door, Elizabeth largely ignored it, save to note that a servant had indeed gone to answer it. She had no social engagements today, and more often than not it was merely business concerning her father – or worse, more dreaded paperwork for him to attend to. For his sake, she hoped it was not the latter in this case.

But then she heard a very distinct voice and stilled. It was that of Captain Norrington's. He would not be here for her, not without any present to chaperone such a meeting, but unease still filled her. It wasn't his fault, of course, and it wasn't even that he wasn't a good man. But if anything, that made it worse. There was always bound to be awkwardness with any when there was a…disparity in enthusiasm, but his very goodness made it worse still, for she had no wish to see him disappointed.

Straightening where she sat, she listened carefully.

"I believe that Miss Byrne is not present at the moment…"

Miss Byrne? Was she in trouble? No, that made little sense. Had there been some problem, Captain Norrington would have come to speak to Elizabeth's father on the matter, rather than Theo herself.

"No, Captain Norrington, I'm afraid she isn't," the footman answered.

"No matter, I only wish to leave this here for her."

Elizabeth was up in the blink of an eye, for this she could not miss. Her footsteps against the marble floor were unmistakeable, and both men paused as she neared.

"Captain Norrington?"

If a painting was ever rendered that hoped to perfectly capture the image of a man who had been caught out, it would resemble the captain's face perfectly when he noticed her standing there.

"Miss Swann," he greeted. "I was just…that is, I only came here to…"

She'd already heard precisely what it was only came here to do, but she was curious to see whether he'd lie or not, and so she waited patiently, one eyebrow twitching upwards. The conclusion was a foregone one – she saw him make that realisation, for he'd already been speaking to the footman who answered the door, and he could not expect her own servants to lie for him.

"I brought a book," he said finally. "For Miss- for your friend."

"She's out walking."

"I suspected as much," he said, his lips thinning when her brow rose higher still, "and so I sought to leave it here for her, instead."

"Thomas, you may leave us," she said to the footman.

He did so with a bow, and Elizabeth waited until the sound of his footsteps faded before she spoke.

"A book?" she enquired, accepting it from him and glancing at the cover. "Seneca?"

In all the years she'd known him, she had rarely seen anything make Captain James Norrington squirm. Seeing him do so now should not have been half so entertaining as it was. Perhaps it would not have been, were it not over Theo. But it was, and that? That was intriguing.

"She is…surprisingly well-read. This would interest her, and I thought that it may be a nice gesture of civility. In light of what you shared with me."

"I see."

So why did he look so guilty, then? Captain Norrington shifted his weight from one foot to the other, clasping his hands behind him, readying to take his leave. Elizabeth wasn't willing to let him go so easily.

"I'm pleased to see that such amicability has been built between the two of you."

"Yes. Well. I am not so stubborn as to be unable to concede that you were correct, Miss Swann. Your guest has more amiable qualities than I first realised."

At first, Elizabeth was surprised he would admit such a thing. After but a moment's thought, however, it became less surprising – for he didn't say it to extol Theo's virtues, but more to tell Elizabeth herself that she'd been right. Theodora was not the direct recipient of his praise here. But…perhaps she could be.

"Oh?" she enquired.

If he did not elaborate, his words would have the sound of mere lip service. Of a lie. And Captain Norrington would never stand for that.

But that didn't mean he had to like the corner she'd boxed him into, either.

"As I said, she is surprisingly well-read," he said, and upon seeing that she was still waiting for more, he sighed. "And her understanding of said reading material has proven to be insightful. She has proven to be an interesting conversationalist. And…she can even be rather humorous."

"Humorous?"

"At times."

She'd have an easier time drawing his teeth from his mouth than these compliments, but this was far more amusing.

"I see."

There had been rumours of the two spending more time together, but Elizabeth had thought it little more than that. Mindless gossip by the women who had decided to dislike Theodora before even meeting her. Elizabeth knew her, after all – and therefore knew that she was not some sort of scheming demon of desire. If anything, it might be rather funny to see her face should she find out that any man here had indeed set his sights upon her, and whatever response followed would likely not be fit for repeating.

Apparently, gossip was not all it was. And that was very, very interesting. But she wouldn't bring that up – not her interest, beyond what she already had, nor the rumours. For she knew Norrington, and if she pressed this matter too hard he would run for the hills before she could even lend coherent words to the thoughts slowly turning in her mind. Which would not do.

"Very well, Captain," she said brightly – before he could read too deeply into her reaction thus far. "I admit, it warms me to see this change. I shall pass the book along to Theo."

At first, she worried he might be too suspicious, but his desire to get away as quickly as possible won out, and he bid farewell and took his leave, hastily striding down towards the mansion's gates as if he feared she might give chase.

Elizabeth smiled at his retreating form.

Ordinarily, when Elizabeth suggested a turn about the gardens after dinner, Theo was all for it. More often than not, the sunsets out here were beautiful, and she always did better being on the move than she ever would sitting around a drawing room. But today when she made the offer, there was a distinct gleam in her dark eyes. That spelled trouble.

That suspicion only rose when she waited until they were well clear of the mansion before she hooked her arm in hers, and began speaking.

"Captain Norrington called today."

And here she thought she'd gotten her too early for phone calls to be a thing.

"Oh?"

At first, she wondered if he'd shown up to make some sort of romantic overture. Elizabeth had known well enough that he had a thing for her before he proposed, and surely – prim and proper as the time was – it wasn't merely a case of a few vague interactions and then bam, proposal. But Governor Swann had been working all day, in fact he'd yet to return, so she thought not.

Theo chose to entirely ignore the part of her that was oddly relieved when she came to that final conclusion. It was common courtesy, that was all. He'd been kind to her, and she had no wish to see him rejected by the woman he was madly in love with.

"He was looking for you."

"I doubt that."

"All right, perhaps he wasn't seeking you out directly. But he did leave a gift for you."

"A gift?"

"A book. The Dialogues of Seneca."

"Ah."

"That doesn't surprise you, then?"

"He's…loaned me some before. As a peace offering. I suppose he saw that I'd almost finished Meditations and planned accordingly," she said. "It was nice of him."

"It was, indeed. You never mentioned it."

Theo breathed a laugh.

"I know I'm a bit of a hopeless case around here, Elizabeth, but I didn't think I was quite so bad that we needed to celebrate every time somebody didn't hate me."

It had taken a while before she was this comfortable being so casually sarcastic to her new friend, her closest friend here, and even now she found herself sighing in relief when Elizabeth laughed rather than taking offense.

"No," she squeezed her arm, "you are far from a hopeless case. Captain Norrington even appeared, dare I say, fond of you."

They drew to a stop at the end of the gardens – in part because it offered a gorgeous view to the ocean, situation so high up on the hill as it was, but also because Theo had no desire for any of the servants (nor anybody else, for that matter) to overhear this sheer insanity.

Theo groaned. "You've been listening to Amelia's spin factory, then."

"My dear Theodora, I have been listening to the words from the man in question's very lips."

"Sure."

"I have! He all but extolled your virtues today."

"Sure he did."

"Don't tell me you dislike him, still?"

"What's there to dislike?" Theo snorted – although not half as sarcastically as before. "He's clever, he's good – which is rare, by the way, and he's funny."

"Funny?"

"Funny. Believe it or don't."

While she liked to think she'd gotten used to the absurdity of her current situation, dressed like something out of a period drama and surrounded by people who were supposed to be fictional characters. But now, standing here, overlooking the sunset that cast glorious shades of orange, red, and pink about them – reflected almost perfectly by the still waters, too, which doubled the effect, standing and listening to Elizabeth try to claim there was anything between Norrington and herself other than mild tolerance on his part was…well, it was unbelievable. Theo was certain she'd wake up any second now and be completely unable to so much hear the Pirates theme music without wincing.

"I'll trust your word on the matter. Many of the women here find him rather handsome, you know."

"Many of the women here happen to have eyes."

And ears. Because he could be a toad and the voice would still redeem it all. As it was, it just added to the overall package in the end.

"You're blushing."

"Oh, I am not."

"Hm. I see."

"What do you see, Emma Woodhouse?"

"You know, Theo, there'll come a day when I understand one of your unique little references and I shall be very insulted."

"Maybe then you'll stay out of my love life."

"So you're in love with him?" Elizabeth gasped with a great deal of faux excitement.

Theo groaned aloud, even as the other woman dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"Come, Theo, I'm only teasing. Be a good sport."

"I'm not sure you are," she griped.

"You have to admit, you'd be a good match. I never would have concluded so on my own, I'll admit that much, but after all of the information I've gathered over the course of this day, I can see it now."

"Uh-huh."

"You would be! I think you'd make a fine pair."

"I'll just take him back home with me, then, will I?"

"Do you have a plan to return home?"

Not one she could share with Elizabeth, that was for damn sure.

"…irrelevant," she argued with a huff.

"It's entirely relevant. Reason dictates that if you're not leaving, you're staying. A…a secondary course of action would not be a bad thing."

"James Norrington would make eyes at Blackbeard before he glanced in my direction."

"A worrying prospect, for Blackbeard is dead."

"Blackbeard's corpse, then."

Elizabeth hummed, and Theo thought she was entirely free from this conversation…until Elizabeth squeezed her arm again, took in a deep, wistful sigh and said softly.

"He's usually rather precious about his library, you know."

Oh, Jesus Christ.