Norrington's Darling

Promise Ring

POV: Zuri Sparrow

James jerked awake. "Zuri?!" There was a high note of panic in his voice, something I'd never ever heard in his voice.

"It's alright, Jamie," I breathed, trying to steady my pounding heart. "I just had a bad dream."

"Was it about Beckett?" James asked, his voice thick and heavy with sleep but concerned and caring.

"It was," I said softly.

"Oh, darling," James cooed, wrapping his arms around me. He pulled me close, wrapping the two of us in a snarl of blankets. I cuddled into him and his warmth despite the Caribbean heat and managed to fall back to sleep as James got up, picked up something, sat back down and put something around me.

I woke to the sun streaming into James's bedroom. The spot next to me was cold, the blankets where James had lay in a twist. I found a note in James's handwriting on his pillow. I plucked it off and read it quickly.

My dear Zuri, I've gone to report to Beckett. I should return sometime around ten in the morning. I love you, my precious. Love, your James.

I smiled sleepily and got up, placing the note on the desk. I went out onto the balcony and leaned on the railing, closing my eyes and enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face. I don't know how long I stood there, but it wasn't long before I realized there was something metal—for it was very hot—hanging around my neck. My hand went up and I gasped in recognition.

I pulled it off. On the thin chain was the silver promise ring, the thin silver band twisted elaborately to make the loop of a knot, not quite completely tied. I felt tears gather behind my eyes when I saw it. I'd worn it for so long around my neck, but I'd taken it off last night. The ring had been made by a smith who had gone out of business the year after James gave me the ring. The smith had been a prominent one, his items all made with a signature style. Should either of the lieutenants have recognized the ring as his, they would have known James and I had been together long before it was legal for us to be together, as it was now, with Beckett's consent.

I found it strange it was Beckett giving consent after what had happened between us.

I slipped the promise ring from the chain and put it on my finger. I no longer had to hide my love for the commodore—admiral—from the pirates, so I could wear the ring out in the open. I smiled at the sight of it back on my finger and closed my eyes again, reveling in the early morning warmth.

Warm arms wrapped around my waist some time later. "Good morning, darling," James whispered in my ear.

"Good morning," I said sweetly. "How'd it go with Beckett?"

"Lovely," James said, sounding pleased. "He's promised my pay will cover both of our expenses, regardless of the fact we aren't married."

"That's great!"

James's eyes flicked down. "I'm just glad I'm the only man who's up here."

"Why's that?" I asked, frowning.

He raised his eyebrows. "That slip leaves nothing to the imagination, my dear, and it was quite the view walking in."

"James!" I slap him playfully and he laughs. He holds me close and does that thing with his eyebrows that makes me grin and kisses me gently. His fingers brush over the promise ring and he freezes.

"You're wearing it," he whispers, all playful intimacy set aside.

"I am," I agree.

He hugs me tightly. He doesn't use or need words to express how happy he is about this. I kiss his cheek gently and settle into the hug.

I don't know how long we stay in that hug, but we are interrupted only by a very loud knock on the front door, which is directly below the balcony on which we stand.

We look at each other, the carriage in the drive, and back at each other.

"Beckett," we say together, our voices grim.