Fic: 'Second Chances'

[dwgm]

I wrote this per a request from circeniko in celandineb's 3fan_holiday challenge. Many thanks to my dear hereswith, whose mad beta skills vastly improve my stories in so many ways.



~ Second Chances ~

"Not dead?"

"Not dead." A smile lit the man's face, and there was something about his eyes, weary but very much aware. Unlike the last time they'd met.

His brain whirled with a hundred questions, but the effort of speaking...

"D'you remember I near killed you?" The man's smile slipped.

"Yes." His voice barely a croak.

"Name's Bill Turner - Bootstrap Bill. Will's da." Bill nodded, and went on in a slow, soothing tone. "Aye, you didn't have any idea of that when you were in command here, did you? I was just one of Jones' fishy gobs, I suppose. I was real bad off when we last met, I'm sorry to say, though my boy says it all had to do with destiny and that heathen goddess, Calypso. We're still on the Dutchman, by the by, but my boy is captain now, fine as they come. Jones did him to death, same as I near did for you, but Jack Sparrow had the heart and helped Will to stab it."

More questions, but one surfaced above the others. "Elizabeth?"

Bill positively smirked. "She's the Pirate King. And my boy's wife. Seems Barbossa married 'em during the Battle of the Maelstrom. Don't know how legal that is with God or man, but after the Dutchman and the Pearl blew Beckett to smithereens, the two had their one day ashore, and it took. We hear she's with child. Will was that overset he couldn't be with her, but then we happened on Jack Sparrow, half dead in a sinking dingy, the fool. Will sent him back to the Cove, to take care of Elizabeth. And she of him, I daresay. Lord knows he needs it. Made Will a mite easier, on both counts."

It hurt to laugh.

"Easy there, Admiral," said Bootstrap. "You're healing, but you ain't there yet. Rest, that's the ticket."

The laughter had completely died away. "Not 'Admiral'."

"No. I suppose not," agreed Bootstrap. "Norrington?"

"James," he said. "It's James."

*

"You're sure this is what you want?" Turner asked. "The whole world is out there, I can take you anywhere."

James had been gaping (there was no other word for it) at the majesty of the extinct caldera that formed the walls of Shipwreck Cove, and at the startling, dilapidated magnificence that was Shipwreck City, rising tier on colorful tier in the Cove's midst. The waters around them were settling to glass again, after the Dutchman's roiling, foamy entrance, which had set the inhabitants of Shipwreck City scurrying every which way, like an anthill poked with a stick. This had seemed to amuse Turner, though his eyes were mostly drawn to one particular area, the largest wharf, where two rakish ships were already docked. There was still room for the Dutchman to tie off, however, and it appeared that's where they were headed.

James turned to Will. "You've asked me that before."

"And your answer's the same, I take it? Well, I must admit I'll rest easier, knowing it's not only Jack watching over her. He's a bit..."

"Insane?"

Will grinned. "Flighty. He and Elizabeth seem too much alike, in some ways. Though not in others."

"Yes," James agreed, dryly. He thought of the two... pirates. It had to be admitted that Elizabeth was truly one of them now. No longer the governor's daughter, a well-born scion of aristocracy, eminently suited to marriage with a rising officer of the Royal Navy.

And yet, a few minutes later, as she boarded with Sparrow and he watched her astonishment give way to joy, and then tears, he wondered if perhaps this beautiful, fierce, loving creature was not what she'd always been meant to be.

"James!" she gasped and rushed to him, embraced him, and wept. It was damnably awkward, and like a dream come true at the same time. He closed his eyes and laid his cheek against her hair.

Sparrow's velvet growl penetrated the reverie, after a few moments. "Thought you was dead."

James glanced up. Cocksure as ever, looking down his nose with his usual hauteur, the kohl-lined eyes sparking, lips fighting a grin. James said, "So sorry to disappoint you, Sparrow."

The grin had its way. "S'alright, James-me-lad. Lizzie missed you."

Elizabeth straightened. "More, much more than that. James, have you been on the Dutchman all along? Why didn't you tell us?" She turned from James to her husband and back again, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

But it was Bootstrap Bill who answered. "Didn't think he was going to make it. Took a mort of care to see him through, but it was my duty, so to speak, seeing I'd near killed him myself. And after, well, a man doesn't get a second chance at life every day, does he?"

Elizabeth nodded, and looked up at James. "This is the choice you've made?"

"It is," James said. "I lay my sword at your feet, ma'am. Metaphorically speaking, of course. I understand the sword your husband made for me was lost in the depths."

After it had killed its maker. All of them knew it, though no one spoke the words.

Elizabeth said, "I accept your service, in all truth."

"And I'll make you another sword," Will said, with a smile.

"Drinks all around! It's a pirate's life for you, James." Sparrow chuckled, and held out his hand.

It was a great concession on Sparrow's part. James had taken the heart, leaving Jack and everyone on the Pearl helpless against the Kraken, and then had given the heart to Beckett, an error in judgment that had cost many more lives. Too many.

But there was something of truth about that 'touch of destiny' Will spoke of, too. And about second chances.

"So it seems," James said, resigned, but, prodded by memory and mischief, he gripped Sparrow's strong, fine-boned hand too firmly and too long, as he had done on that dock in Port Royal so long ago. Sparrow's eyes widened a little in alarm, and it was James grinning now, his first in a very long time.


~.~

Comments

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

I like this take on it very much, so much better than 'canon'.

Just watched AWE the other day and was musing on how I would have wanted the James storyline to change.

[viva-lla-gloria.livejournal.com]

I am a sucker for a happy ending for James. :) This is fantastic! Everything really comes full circle and it's very amusing to think of James, Jack and Elizabeth taking care of one another.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

it's very amusing to think of James, Jack and Elizabeth taking care of one another.

I think there are a lot of possibilities in that scenario. James deserved better from the sequels.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting -- I'm glad you enjoyed this!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

so much better than 'canon'.

Ain't it the truth. James deserved better from TPTB.

I'm so glad you liked my correction of the story. ;)

[jenthegypsy.livejournal.com]

*wraps self up in lovely, comfort Norrington fic* I'm never more in love with this fandom than when your write the principles like this. 'Tis wonderful!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

What a lovely thing to say! Thank you so much!

I hope the new year is treating you right. :)

[fried-flamingo.livejournal.com]

Lovely to see some fic from you, love. This was such a good piece, so in character for Norrington, and I'm glad he ended up on the new and improved Dutchman. He deserved a worthy fate like that.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

He deserved a worthy fate like that.

He did, indeed. He's too good a character to let go. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this!

[viva-lla-gloria.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I am always thrilled to find good Norrington fic. Do you mind if I friend you? :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I don't mind at all!

[ophelivia.livejournal.com]

Ah a double dose! This is a lovely little fixit. The first part with Bootstrap was really warm and paternal, theirs is a relationship I haven't given much thought on but you really brought it to light

[the-cornettist.livejournal.com]

I loved this. I hate the way Norrington's death is written in AWE - gone and apparently immediately forgotten. He deserves better than that! I always like it when I come across a fic that resurrects him to a happier end. And of course, I especially liked the last paragraph. Thank you so much for this!

[aravah.livejournal.com]

I love how you give us these wonderful happy endings! I like your version of events better than the ones from the movies. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

James' death was particularly terrible for so many of us who had grown to really love him in fanfic. One needs conflict in a story, but happy endings are key, at least for me, for full enjoyment. I'm glad you liked my little "fixit"! Thank you for letting me know.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

He deserves better than that!

I think most of us agree that he deserved that "second chance", and at least we can provide it in fanfic. Thank you very much for letting me know you enjoyed this!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It was fun exploring the different aspects of Norrington's relationships in this A/U. His death in AWE was one of the major things I would have changed about that movie. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is fine stuff. I'm so happy to see James with Elizabeth and Jack -- the possibilities for even more fic abound. Loved the little moment when Elizaberh welcomes him to Shipwreck and he rests his cheek against her hair. Ohhhh, sweet, sweet stuff. I love this ending for him so much better. I'm adopting it as my own. Thanks!

Love the proud papa, Bill! Who knew he'd be such a braggart. *g*

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

This is a very nice fix for a wonderful character who deserved at the LEAST to be offed with more respect than he was given.

Also, is that the tiniest hint of Sparrington I see at the end there? If so, I APPROVE MOST HEARTILY. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

the possibilities for even more fic abound.

They do! I've been thinking that myself, this morning, and you're very welcome to adopt this ending. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this -- I do appreciate it!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

is that the tiniest hint of Sparrington I see at the end there?

It certainly is. *g*

And you're right: James deserved a better end -- or preferably, as here, a new beginning. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this!

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I likewise appreciate the idea of James getting a second chance (astonishing, eh?)

Just one item is puzzling:

> "I understand the sword your husband made for me was lost in the depths." <

I'd had the impression it ended up on Will's belt, as a completion of the circle.

Anyway, I really like this happy AU!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

And he would have been an awesome pirate to, you bet! Wonderful story this!

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Awwww! Happy ending yay! (And many potential orgies aboard the Dutchman, as well.)

[ganeris.livejournal.com]

You know how much I love Norrington, so this was one story I couldn't pass by without comment. Lovely, just lovely.

[whitemunin.livejournal.com]

Yay! YAY! You resurrected Norrington! A much more befitting ending than the one he got in the film. He was misguided in many ways, but noble, and in the end self-sacrificing. I fell head over heels for him in DMC and teared up at his death in AWE. Thank you for bringing him back to life in this lovely tale and giving him a future. I hope you'll continue with more for James.