Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Tony, and Terry

Setting: Takes place right after Curse of the Black Pearl.

Characters: Norrington, Gillette, Groves, Anamaria, Murtogg, Mullroy, Marty, Will, Elizabeth, Jack Sparrow, Tia Dalma.

Parings: Will/Elizabeth, Norrington/Anamaria

Gentleman Pirate

Chapter 13: Afterglow

-

Andrew Gillette felt his eyelids drooping as he leaned back against the foremast. He felt the cool breezes from the sea against his face. The half empty bottle of rum he had been nipping at was kept in a pocket in his breeches. He was supposed to keep watch, look out for any trouble between the hours of three and six in the morning. He knew he would have a better view in the crow’s nest, but he hated being up there during the night.

There was not a lot to look for. He had not seen a single ship, nor see anything else in the sea; net even the fin of a ship fish or a shark was seen cutting through the waves. He was alone, the only sounds was the waves lapping against the hull and the occasionally ripple of the strong cloth of the sails overhead.

Andrew did hear another sound. When he walked past the captain’s cabin he heard the thumping sound of the bed against the floor. Curiosity ensnared his mind and he pressed his ear close against the door and listened with full intent. The loud moans from both James and Anamaria brought a smile to his face.

“Don’t tell me you are sleeping on the job,” Grove’s voice caused Andrew to stand up in full attention. “Have you been at the rum again?”

“Just a little,” Andrew fished the rum bottle from his pocket. “Still have half left.” He stared at the rust colored liquid with a sheepish smile on his face.

“And a little can be too much,” Theodore reached for the bottle but let his arm drop. “It be best if I do not take it myself.”

“What are you doing here?”

“My turn to watch,” Theodore pointed towards the east. A single thin line of golden orange light separated the sky from the sea. “That is why I am giving you back your rum. Enjoy it.”

“I will,” Andrew stared at the bottle. “Where is Arrow?”

“Still asleep, curled in that ball form he usually takes when he falls asleep.”

“In your hammock?”

“Of course,” Theodore smiled. “Has it been quiet this evening?”

“Very quiet, except for the captains cabin.”

“He is that sick?”

Andrew laughed. He had thought Theodore of all people would certainly know what he had meant. “No, not in that way. They have been awake in the middle of the night, together.”

It had only taken a second for it to register in Theodore’s mind. His eyebrows rose and the familiar smirk formed on his face. “We shall try to be proper and not mention it at breakfast.”

“Understandable,” Andrew nodded before he took another long sip from his bottle.

-

James woke up with only one thought on his mind and he still could feel her sleeping next to him. He had no idea what time it was, only that it was actually daytime from the warm sunlight shining across his face. He just knew he had a great night sleep, thanks to Anamaria’s help. The medicine did cure his headache, but he was certain the pain had left as soon as her body was on top of his.

James smiled at the memory of Anamaria removing his clothes while he had helped remove hers. The feeling of her fingers gripping his shoulders while she rode on top was still fresh on his mind as were her moans and the scent of her hair. It did not last as long as he wanted to and was willing to extend his nocturnal energy, but she did not want to push him, she wanted him to heal.

He could feel her arm across his stomach and her breath against the side of his neck. What a wonderful way to wake up. He opened his eyes, hoping that neither Gillette, Groves, nor Marty would knock on his door. He did not care how long they slept in. He just wanted to savor the feeling.

“Now this is when I feel the regret,” he mumbled softly and sat up. He slept with another man’s woman, albeit the other man was exactly the same as him, however it was still a different soul. It was one of the reasons why he tried not to allow his heart to give in, but that was before he lead his crew to board another ship, charmed three young women and stole some of their jewelry. Pirates don’t regret, they don’t care about what is proper. Why should he? He was able to fall in love again and she loves him, and how long had it been since he had last been intimate with another woman?

“Regret?” Anamaria was still half asleep. She was nuzzled close as she could be to him without exactly being on top of him. Some of her hair was spread out over his chest.

“About how we betrayed my other self,” he felt her feet with his toes. He should feel that familiar feeling, chewing at the back of his brain and weighing on his heart. It was still there, but instead of pain it was a mere tickle. “I do not feel it.”

“Then that is a good thing.” Her fingers brushed against his chest. “Tell that voice to be quiet for good.”

“Yes, I should.” He closed his eyes as she continued to touch him. He was a pirate. He should be able to start to enjoy life as one.

“Yes,” her kisses brushed against the side of his face as the same time as the new realization had struck him.

“Dear lord,” he bolted up.

“What is wrong?” Anamaria sat up.

“Everything.” He stared at the brand and tattoo on his arm. “I’m a pirate.”

“That is all?” She yawned.

“That is all and everything. I no longer just have the appearance of a pirate, but I am now acting and thinking like one.” He noticed her confused expression. “I am a member of His Majesty’s Royal Navy. I have earned the role of Commodore, by upholding the values and traditions the navy, by honoring the flag, hunting down pirates and defending my country against any possibility of an attack.”

“You will return to that life,” she stretched out her arms, causing the coverings to slide completely off her chest. “As of now you are Captain James Norrington.”

“Ah yes,” James told his eyes to leave her chest. “But you see, when I return to my world, I will have these thoughts in my head.” He slid out of the bed. “I am trying to not be much of a pirate, I need to think like a Naval officer. That is what I am.”

“Yes, that is the true you, as you are now,” Anamaria folded her arms. “You will return to your world. This will be a dream.”

“Yes a dream,” he sighed, staring down he remembered that he too was devoid of any clothing and quickly grabbed a pillow to hide his vulnerability. One arch of Anamaria’s eyebrow was enough for him to put the pillow back. They have seen each other naked the night before.

“Then relax. Do not allow it to get to you.”

“I can’t help it.” He walked around the bed, searching for his clothes. “My nature. It is who I am.”

“Respectful and a gentleman to the end.”

“Precisely,” He grabbed his breeches.

“You are not in the role of Commodore right now, do you not have days off, do you not take time off for a vacation?”

“A vacation?” He found his shirt, entwined with her shirt.

“And now you can give in and enjoy your desires.”

Desires, is that what he thought of them? Desires to indulge in? Should he give in to his darkest urges, and why is he referring to it as such. It was love, and he felt it whenever he looked at Anamaria.

“I desire you. You do not know how I fell in love with another, but she was not in love with me and I let her go be with the man she truly loved.”

“Oh,” she blinked. “James, I’m sorry.” She grabbed the shirt he handed to her. “I love you.”

“And you have two James’s who love you. When I return I will not have you by my side. I could seek her out, but since I am the Commodore and Sparrow is the pirate, then she is in love with Jack Sparrow.”

“I don’t believe it,” Anamaria chuckled. “The other me do not have any taste in men.”

James smiled. “Maybe that his how she is different from you.”

“I still don’t believe it.” She set her shirt down next to her. “I wouldn’t be surprised if my James is trying to-“ Her mouth parted. “He probably is looking for me, and since he is as cunning as you he is doing it in a way to keep the other members of the Navy from arresting the crew.”

James stared at the clothes in his hands, pondering what Anamaria had told him. He thought what he would do if things were in reverse. If had started out as a pirate and woke up as a commodore. He would also try to figure out how to return to the world he knew and if he were in love with someone, he would try to find her.

“I would hope for my other sake, the other Anamaria is not in love with Jack Sparrow.” He threw his undershirt on.

“Are you not going to bathe first?”

“I should, but with you in here, that would…”

“We could bathe each other.”

“Bathe each other and then breakfast.”

-

It was after eight bells when James and Anamaria were cleaned, dressed and ready for breakfast. Murtogg had brought the bangers and mash with scones and gravy, sliced apples cooked in cider, and tea to the large table in James’s cabin.

“I have checked the charts,” Theodore said after he, Andrew, and Marty had joined the two of them at the breakfast table. It was a warm and welcome sight to have Theodore return after week of him shunning James. “The course has been the same.”

“How far have we traveled?” Marty asked as he placed sugar into his cup of tea.

“We are on the same path as before,” Theodore continued. “We made it past the coordinates where we had picked up the survivors.”

“We are going in the same direction as the Prince of the Sea?” Andrew asked. He had pushed his mashed potatoes around, creating a small mountain near the center of his plate. James could not remove his eyes from such an odd display until Andrew carved out the center, creating a pocket, where he ladled in the coffee.

“I am not certain if we are actually going after the Prince,” Anamaria said. She broke off a section of her scone and used it to sop up some gravy and mashed potatoes. “We are looking for the bracelet.”

“Bloody hell,” James set his fork down. “We should be looking for the bracelet and not the prince himself. The compass was pointing to him.” And James wasn’t certain if they were still heading in the right direction. He hadn’t checked for the direction since they had let Daniel and the others off at the Bahamas.

“The bracelet might be in Costa Rica,” Theodore cut off another piece of sausage and used his knife to cut even a smaller part off to feed to his ferret.

“When was the last time you looked at the compass?” Marty asked.

“When I needed to find a ship to rob,” James ground fresh pepper over his potatoes and gravy with a silver peppermill, which he was certain his other self had stolen.

“Now is a good time as any,” Andrew pointed out.

James reached for his compass, his fingers grasping at air in the place where it usually was. “I don’t seem to have it on me.”

“I have it,” Anamaria slid the compass across the table “You forgot it last night.”

James froze at the mention of the words and stared at the face at the others. Andrew blinked before he took a bite of his apples, but James noticed the pause. Marty had appeared oblivious, but Theodore had a knowing smirk, until his eyes met with James’s.

“Where are we heading?” Marty asked.

“We are headed after the bracelet,” James stared at lacquered box before he flipped back the lid. The arrow pointed towards the southwest, towards the direction of Central America. “We are headed towards Southwest.”

“The rumors about Costa Rica was right,” Marty said.

“So it would appear.” James had only sailed to the ports of Costa Rica twice, both times after nefarious pirates, he had set foot on land once and had the mild displeasure of seeing a shipload of slaves being unloaded.

“Will we also look for the Light of Eden?” Marty asked with a hopeful tone.

“Don’t forget the Chained Lady,” Theodore brought up.

“We will seek out both,” James said as brought a spoonful of food to his mouth. He nearly let go of the spoon when he felt the toe of a boot nuzzling against his ankle and brushing up against his calves. He did not need to look into the eyes of his crew to know that it was Anamaria.

“I still wonder how big the Light of Eden is,” Marty said.

“You still will not let that thought go,” Andrew shook his head.

James only half listened to them. His eyes were on Anamaria as she continued to inch her foot up higher.

“The Chained Lady,” Theodore glared at Marty. “We have to rescue her.”

“This poor and unfortunate woooman-“ James’s eyes widened when Anamaria had angled her foot in between his thighs and was closing in on the center. “Needs to be rescuuuued.” Bull’s-eye.

Both Andrew and Theodore raised their eyebrows in unison before they turned to Anamaria. “You can repeat last night later,” Andrew said.

“Later,” James gasped when Anamaria removed her foot.

“Last night?” Marty blinked before he stared at James’s blushing face and saw Anamaria smile. “Ah, good for you, Captain.”

“Yes, we are going to rescue this woman as well as find the bracelet. The jewel is not of utmost importance, however if you do find it you may take it.” James did not question how Marty knew or was in disbelief of how bold Anamaria was. Pirates did not believe in propriety.

-

Replies:

Nimrondell, Thank you. I figured Jack would still have some of his personality.

Atticus620. Thank you. Drunk Norrington is indeed fun.

Ogreatrandom, thank you

Seabreeze, thank you. I was basing Drunk!Norrington on DMC. And thank you again for finding the Typos.