Norrington's Darling

Second Chance

POV: James Norrington

I watched as Zuri ran from me, the tingle left by her lips buzzing across my own lips. My mouth went suddenly very dry and my throat tightened as I realized that chaste kiss could have been the last one I would ever get from Zuri. As much as she said she wouldn't let me get away without hearing my apology in full, I feared the Kraken wouldn't have the same priorities as her. Jones certainly wouldn't.

Zuri disappeared from my view and I turned back around and continued walking, aware of the second beating heart I carried. My thumb ran across the leather covering the Letters of Marque as I thought, wondering what to do. 

I turned my gaze back toward the direction of the beach. Surely they're gone by now...right?

I hoped so. I wanted my Zuri to be safe so badly.

Jamie, her voice whispered in my mind.

"Zuri," I whimpered aloud, a sudden, sharp pining going through my body. It took several moments to steal my nerves and convince myself to take a step...and another...and another away from the woman I loved.

"You don't know what to do?" a voice asked.

I whirled around to find a woman with chocolate skin dressed in a dress made of various pieces of material, almost all of the pieces in various shades of brown. My throat went dry. "Who-who are you?"

"Tia Dalma," she replied after a moment of observing me. "Zuri has not told you of me?" Then she shook her head. "Of course not. She prefers to keep what happened between us a secret."

"What happened—?"

"Ask her yourself."

I snapped my mouth shut, another pinch of longing spreading through my body.

"Ahh. You have left her here, run for your life and your honor, hmm?"

I nodded, guilt coursing through me. "Leaving her behind...it's the hardest thing I've ever done."

"You don't have to leave her behind," Tia whispered. "If I gave you the chance to take her with you...would you take it?"

"Yes," I whispered without hesitation, no doubt clouding my mind.

"You will get another chance," Tia said, nodding. "Zuri will come to me. She will ask for differences. I will give her but one. Of course, what happened in this time, when these were the choices you and she have made, will remain in your mind. But you will see what could have happened, had the choices you made been different." She snapped her fingers and I found myself back with the undead pirates, Tia Dalma nowhere to be seen.

"Your bravery is wasted. I shall pry the chest away from your cold...dead...hands."

Again, just a moment of hesitation passes over me. Then I threw the chest. "Here you go!" I ran.

"JAMES!" Zuri's voice reaches me again.

"Zuri?" I cried, shock flowing through me again, despite knowing this would happen.

Get it right this time, James, I told myself and the banter between myself and my lover begins again.