The Gift

Chapter 20: Fine

Setting: Post POTC 3

Characters: Norrington/ OFC

Author's Note: Here is the last chapter. Fine (Fean-A) is the Italian musical word for 'The End'. I hope you enjoyed this story and I'd love to have a last review on your thoughts to the ending.

Thanks!

Lyra

One month later:

"Why is it so difficult to find one's wife at one's own wedding reception," mumbled an aggravated Norrington to the dense crowd of merry wedding guests

"Bonjour Admiral!" Lizette took his arm. "Your bon cheri is over there," she replied pointing across the crowded ballroom of the Governor's mansion.

Lucy was surrounded by a laughing and jovial crowd of young lieutenants which caused Norrington's nostrils to flair. It was his wedding party, and he should be enjoying the company of his wife, not his young officers.

"Thank you, Madame Gillette."

"We are so happy for you, au revoir!"

Norrington had barely taken two steps forward when he felt a tug on his jacket sleeve.

"There you are, Jamie!"

It was his youngest sibling, Anne, and he leaned forward with a commanding voice as he corrected her.

"It's James."

The young woman merely rolled her green eyes and chided.

"Don't use that 'officer 'n chief' voice on me. It simply doesn't work!"

She laughed and took a sip of her champagne.

"There is really no stopping her, brother," offered a tall and handsome British officer with graying hair and green eyes. "She and Kate can be quite a pair."

"Duly noted, Hugh," James nodded to the only brother of seven that had bothered to attend his wedding. Hugh Norrington, LTC in His Majesty's Army, was stationed in the American colonies with his wife. The Norringtons' youngest sibling Anne had been visiting them in Boston and assisting Kate, Hugh's wife, with her new baby.

Hugh was summoned by Kate and bowed as he said, "If you'll excuse me, James. Your sister-in-law calls."

Anne quickly piped up, "Jamie, when are you going to take us to the other side of the island? I was hoping to go soon while we still have this nice break in the weather. Sometimes, the Coleoptera Insecta is still active in these southern regions."

Norrington wanted to shake her in brotherly frustration. What kind of a man was going to marry a girl whose nose was constantly stuck in a botany book. She was very pretty; the spitting image of James' stepmother with black hair and a slender waist, but she had the Norrington family eyes that glowed an inquisitive green.

"Congratulations, Admiral," nodded Doctor Ingram as he passed the pair.

"Sir!" Norrington called out, and the doctor halted. James tightened his fingers around Anne's slender wrist.

"Anne, this is Doctor Johann Ingram, the physician who recently saved my life."

Anne's face beamed as she curtsied.

"Sir, I am honored to meet you!"

"Doctor, this is my youngest sibling, Miss Anne Norrington who is visiting from Boston."

"Welcome, to Port Royal, Miss Norrington," Ingram bowed.

"I believe you share a similar interest in the sciences and the study of fauna."

Norrington realized this was perhaps the strangest introduction he'd ever made for a woman. But it felt oddly appropriate as he added, "Beetles, in particular, I believe."

"Oh!" Nodded Ingram, his large blue eyes now intensely interested in the young woman.

"You are an entomologist?"

Anne smiled eagerly.

"It is a particular hobby of mine, indeed. Since living in the Americas, I've discovered four new species of Anobiidae Coleoptera."

Norrington had never seen Ingram smile so widely.

"Then you must visit the forest region on the western side of the island, as I have discovered three new species there myself!"

"Perhaps," interjected James, "You could do me a favor, doctor. I have promised Anne a visit to the western shores, but she wishes to go sooner than I can make ready. Would you consider giving her the tour? Chaperoned, of course."

Anne's dark eyebrows arched in surprise, and she clasped her hands.

"That would be wonderful! Of course, if it's not an imposition, Doctor Ingram."

"Yes, yes," agreed the fair- haired physician. "I'd be quite happy to show Miss Norrington our local flora and fauna. Not an imposition in the slightest!"

"Very well," Norrington said, nodding to the pair. "Anne, I shall leave you to make arrangements with the doctor, then. If you'll both excuse me, I must find my wife."

Feeling very good about matching his inquisitive sister with Doctor Ingram, he pushed his way through the crowd of well-wishers to Lucy's side. She was engaged in conversation with Lt. Mowett and some other young officers, the ruby earrings he'd given her for Christmas glittering in the candlelight.

"Gentlemen."

He bowed, and the young men saluted then hurried away.

"Madame Norrington…"

He kissed her hand.

"James! You've scared away my well wishes, and Lt. Mowett was just reciting me the most delightful poem," she laughed.

He raised an inquisitive eyebrow, for he knew Mowett's poetry all too well. "I believe it is time we say goodnight to the Governor and make our way home."

His lips curled like a fox in hunt, and Lucy new she was the prey. Ever since that night one month ago when she had seduced James as he lay in his sick bed, she had been playing coy. At each kiss, she kept her lips tightly sealed. At his cuddles, she'd brush him aside with frustration and words he loathed to hear.

"Not until our wedding night, James!'"

"Need I remind you, dear, it is our wedding night," he whispered hotly in her ear, and she giggled behind her lace fan.

"So eager, Mister Norrington!" Her dark eyes teased him. "Whatsoever for?"

"I believe you know quite well, Miss Wanton," he teased back.

"James!" She smacked her fan against his arm. "Tosh!"

He grabbed the fan and whispered, "No Mrs. Norrington, there will be no submission from me tonight. This evening it is my turn to command our..."

"Admiral! Mrs. Norrington! Congratulations!"

Norrington groaned, and then turned around to politely bow.

"Governor Swann, thank you, sir," he answered tightly.

Finally, upon arriving to their new home, Lucy bid farewell to her father. James ensured with his butler that the servants had the night off and then they made their way to the bedroom. Lucy wandered in and sat on his large bed, as Norrington turned to lock the door.

"We are not so poor, Lucy, that you may not have your own bedroom," he offered.

"No, I wish to sleep with you every night that you are here... That is, unless you'd rather have your privacy."

James grinned and dipped his head to kiss her.

"I wish no privacy where you are concerned."

Then as he kissed her again, her arms stiffened.

"What is wrong, love?"

Her dark lashes lowered.

"There is something that I never told you regarding my birthright, James."

The issue had been niggling her all evening.

"Your father never married your mother," James replied, sitting beside her on the bed. Her dark eyes were wide.

"What?! How did you know?"

"Your father told me the night I asked him for your hand in marriage," James replied nonchalantly, brushing her knuckles with a kiss. "He also told me that you were no courtesan, and that if I laid a hand on you before the wedding that he would person cut off my manhood with his carving knife."

Lucy laughed richly.

"And you still wished to marry me after all of that?"

"Well, the part about the carving knife was rather bothersome, but I thought I could manage well enough. Thank goodness he didn't visit my sick bed on Christmas Eve!" He exclaimed with a laugh. "That would have been hard to explain."

Then removing his tricorn, he said, "I courted a woman once, because I thought she would make a fine officer's wife..."

"Elizabeth..." Lucy said softy. It was an issue of which they had never spoken.

"Yes. I pined for her with the same passion that I pined for the position of post- captain. I was eager to have two epaulets balancing my shoulders…..She was a prideful desire, and her rejection made me humble."

"Oh, James."

Lucy stroked his cheek with tender affection.

"Soon afterwards, Theodore Groves, the son of Lord Edward Groves of Wessex married Jane Ledgerwood, a merchant's daughter. It was a match I didn't understand at first, because I didn't understand love... After my mother died, my father took up with a young and very beautiful Irish maid who made him very happy. When she became pregnant, he married her."

"Anne's mother?"

"Yes. I never forgave him for that, because I never understood why he loved her."

He took both her hands in his.

"I was a fool…. Elizabeth Swann made me realize that. Abandoning my post and living in Tortuga was my way of punishing myself for neglecting the only thing that I had ever really loved -- duty. When I failed my men during our chase of Sparrow, I sank so low…"

His green eyes were distant.

"I realized somewhere between the mugs of rum that the only thing I had of value in my life was friendship. I certain didn't have love, because I'd had never truly allowed myself to submit a woman's love….And when I learned that Groves and Gillette were being held by the East India Trading Company because of their loyalty to me, I had to act. It was my first step towards redemption."

Lucy felt her heart swelling with love for the man that sat beside her.

"My second act was to write my stepmother; apologizing for my behavior and seeking her forgiveness for my youthful scorn."

"And did she respond?"

"Yes."

His pink lips smiled slightly.

"Yes, she forgave me with an open heart..." He sighed. "I had been so very low to her when I was boy, and she forgave me. It was the start I needed to begin forgiving myself. I saw Theodore and Jane so very happy and Gillette eagerly wooing the baker's daughter. I had to reconstruct in my mind what love was. I had to allow myself to understand and accept the idea that love is selfless-- it doesn't see class and it shouldn't be used for social status."

Lucy's eyes welled with tears.

"When I had decided that I was in love with you, Lucy -- this little twig of an Italian girl and her beautiful music…It hurt so badly to think that you might not be able to love me in return."

"Oh, James," she said, kissing his fingers. "You sprung it on me with such surprise, and I am sure I am more a novice than you when it comes to sweethearts and lovers."

James stroked her cheek.

"When I first asked your father for your hand, the first thing he did was ask me if I loved you. I thought this was an odd question, but I answered, 'Yes, with my entire heart and soul.' Then he told me about your birth and your mother, and he asked me if I still loved you…if I could still respect you."

Lucy's eyes widened.

"And?"

"I told him your secret would be my secret and that I would protect your honor with my name and my sword. I swear that to you now, Lucrezia, just as I swore that to your father."

"James, I could not ask for a more wonderful and honorable man to be my husband," she cried, throwing herself into his arms. "I feel so unworthy of your love."

"What makes one worthy of love?" He asked, innocent as a knave.

"It is a man's character that makes him worthy of loving," she answered solidly. "Neither possessions nor his power of station, nor his title. It is his benevolence towards others, his protection of the weak, his regard towards friendship and his duty to serve others, James Norrington."

She sighed and relaxed into his arms.

"When I was on that pirate boat so far away from you, I saw you most clearly -- in Andrew Gillette's love for you, in Barbossa's hatred for you….and I knew...no, I felt such a deep, painful longing for your voice. Here," she whispered, touching her hand to her heart. "I knew I loved you because I felt your loss here, like a crushing weight."

"And now?" Asked James, tenderly kissing her cheek.

"Now I am made whole."

And James smiled.

"As am I. It is a wonderful gift from God."

"Aye, my love," she said, kissing her husband, her hand smoothing against his chest and running over his heart.

"What is this?"

Then pulling back his dress coat, she saw her Christmas gift pinned to his jacket.

"I've been wearing it every day, love," he said smiling and squeezed her hand. "You're literally pinned to my heart."

The small cameo that her bore her likeness glowed in the candlelight against his beige waistcoat and royal navy lace. She turned over the small token and read aloud the words she'd had engraved on the silver backing only a month ago.

"Heart and Soul. Yours, L.G."

Norrington brushed his lips against her knuckles.

"Yes, but you forgot to put, body."

Lucy raised a dark brow.

"My dear Mister N, now that we are wed, my body is completely yours, as well."

They kissed deeply.

"I love you, Lucy Norrington."

"I love you, too, Admiral."

And as husband and wife, he made love to Lucy properly. And they lived happily ever after...