Norrington's Darling

Forgiveness

POV: Zuri Sparrow

"It's real," Elizabeth whispered.

"You actually were telling the truth." The pure wonder in Norrington's voice is enough to make me smile. Elizabeth catches sight of the smile and gives me a pointed look.

"I do that quite a lot, yet people are still surprised," Jack said.

"With good reason." The voice of Will Turner cuts through the air like a knife.

Elizabeth is up on her feet in a matter of second. "Will!"  She throws her arms around him. "You're alright, thank God! I came to find you!" Will kisses her deeply and instantly Jack and Norrington look away, both clearly jealous. Norrington's eyes land on me and the jealousy in his eyes melts away. I step closer to him without looking at him. My fingers rub across his palm and curl around his own fingers. I give his hand a gentle squeeze and he returns it instantly.

"I'm sorry," I whisper to him.

"It's me who should be apologizing," he whispered back. "I'm the one who couldn't see beyond my own nose."

"But it was me who didn't listen to you when you tried to apologize, James," I said before he could go on. I squeeze his hand again. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too," James whispered.

"How did you get here?" Jack demanded.

"We'll continue this conversation later," James murmured. I nodded.

"Sea turtles, mate," Will said upon separating his mouth from Elizabeth's, referring to Jack's legendary escape after Barbossa's mutiny. "A pair of them strapped to my feet."

"Not so easy, is it?" Jack asked.

James gave me a look. I'll explain later, I mouthed.

"But I do owe you thanks, Jack," Will continued.

"You do?"

"After you tricked me onto that ship, to square your debt with Jones—"

"What?" Elizabeth demanded.

"What?" Jack said in a high-pitched tone.

"—I was reunited with my father," Will finished.

Jack is silent for a moment. Then he said, "Oh, well, you're welcome, then."

Elizabeth looks like she'll murder Jack. "Everything you said to me—every word—was a lie!"

"Oh, boy, here we go again," I mutter to James. I press in closer to his side and whisper, "I'll be right back. See if I can keep Elizabeth from murdering my brother, eh?"

"Mmm," James agrees. I move off toward Elizabeth. I pull her away from Will, muttering to her, trying to calm her down.

Jack nods a while before admitting, "Pretty much. Time and tide, love." Will unsheathes a knife from his belt and kneels next to the chest. "Oi, what are you doing?"

Will answered as if it was obvious: "I'm gonna kill Jones."

Jack unsheathes his sword and levels it at Will. "I can't let you do that, William." His voice has turned deadly serious. "'Cause if Jones is dead, who's to call his terrible beastie off the hunt, eh?" Will looks like he's relented and stands up, still tightly clutching the key. "Now, if you please. The key."

Will snatches up Elizabeth's sword.  "I keep the promises I make, Jack. I intend to free my father. And I hope you're here to see it."

James draws his sword. "I can't let you do that, either. So sorry." His voice is dry and plain, completely empty of remorse. It reminds me of how Elizabeth responded to him in breaking his heart after Jack's escape.

I meet James's eyes and I shake my head.

Jack flashed a grin at James, giving me a significant look. I stick my tongue out at him. He ignores it and turns back to James. "I knew you'd warm up to me eventually."

James swings his sword around to Jack and the swords make a triangle: James to Jack, Jack to Will, Will to James. "Lord Beckett desires the contents of that chest. I deliver it: I get my life back." His eyes flick briefly to me and I try to keep the despair out of my eyes. I don't want my brother fighting my lover, especially now that James and I have just solved our problem caused by jealousy and pride.

"Ah." Jack sounds like he swallowed a mouthful of sand. "The dark side of ambition."

James tilts his head. "Oh, I prefer to see it as the promise of redemption."

Their swords cross and the fight I was waiting for begins.

"Stop it!" Elizabeth calls.

"James!" I yelp as Will takes a swing at him.

Elizabeth glances at me. "You two made up?"

"Very briefly," I admit. "Just now."

Elizabeth looks at me like I'm crazy. I shrug.

Will stumbles and falls from James's counterattack. Elizabeth cries, "Will!" She runs to help him.

"Guard the chest," he tells her and runs after my brother and the former Commodore, who are slashing at each other like the rabid dogs that sometimes prowl Port Royal's streets at night.