To be a Father

Title: To be a Father
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own PotC
Summary: Takes place after first movie. After pursuing Sparrow for a few months, Norrington captures a pirate ship and finds a sick toddler hiding on board.

A/N: I’m posting this chapter against my better judgment. I don’t know what it is, but this part is shorter and just didn’t seem to flow as well. Anyway, thanks for the reviews, and I hope this doesn’t disappoint.

Chapter 5

The next morning Penny was constantly asking Norrington about Alice.

“Mama?” Was the question that woke him up before dawn.

He did his best to get her to go back to sleep, but when that didn’t work he tried to get her to play with her toys.

“No Comdore! Want Mama!” She wailed throwing a wooden block at his face.

He looked at her in shock and she started crying, lifting her arms to be picked up. He did and she immediately kissed the spot on his forehead that the block had hit.

Norrington sighed.

“All right, Penny. Let’s get dressed and we’ll go see Mama.”

She became much more cooperative after that.

The sun had barely made a presence before he was knocking on the door to the Governor’s mansion.

It took several minutes of knocking before a sleepy looking butler answered.

“Commodore? You weren’t expected until later, sir. I’m afraid the household is still abed.”

Norrington gestured to Penny, who was hiding behind his leg again. Were all young children so shy?

“I’m afraid Penny here will not wait any longer to see her mother.”

The old man smiled and ushered them inside.

“Miss Clark is in the third room on the right,” the butler said, pointing up the stairs.

Penny immediately began to scramble up them. Norrington followed hesitantly unsure of what he should do.

She turned when she reached the top step and gestured at him impatiently to hurry up. He picked her up and walked to Alice’s door. After glancing around to make sure that no one was watching, he softly knocked.

“Miss Clark?” He asked, hesitantly.

Norrington and Penny listened closely and heard a soft murmur come from behind the door.

“Mama?” Penny asked, rather loudly slapping one palm against the door.

They heard a thud followed by a soft curse. Then came the sound of feet padding toward the door. It opened to reveal a very sleep-tousled Alice wearing nothing but a thin cotton, sleeveless nightgown.

Propriety demanded that he avert his gaze, but he just couldn’t seem to bring himself to look away.

Her long red hair fell in tangled waves around her bare shoulders. The nightgown had a low neckline that hinted at generous cleavage, and the gown itself only fell to mid calf, leaving her small white feet and ankles bare to his gaze.

Alice seemed completely unaware of the effect her state of undress had on him. She opened her arms to Penny with a smile, cuddling her close when the girl dived into them.

“Does the British Navy enforce a before sunrise breakfast?” She asked him with a laugh.

He blushed.

“No, Penny was most insistent that she see you immediately this morning,” he responded, fighting back shock at the fact that he was actually conversing with a half-naked woman.

“Oh, someone’s going to need a nap this afternoon,” she sang and planted a loudly exaggerated kiss on a giggling Penny’s cheek.

Norrington felt his lips twitch at her amusement.

“I will wait for you downstairs,” he told her and turned to leave.

He literally ran into an irritated looking Will who gazed suspiciously back and forth between Norrington and Alice.

The commodore stepped to his left to block Will’s view of Alice. For some reason, it really bothered him that Will had seen her like that.

“Miss Clark, if you would please get dressed we can have breakfast and leave.”

Alice looked down at herself and seemed to realize for the first time that she was not appropriately covered. With a very fetching blush, she took a step back into the room.

“Right. Penny and I will be down in a moment,” she said and shut the door.

Will now looked more amused than irritated as he raised his eyebrows questioningly at the commodore.

Norrington began to explain about Penny, then decided he didn’t care what William Turner thought and simply turned on his heel to make his way to the dining room.

Governor Swann was having an early breakfast, and was truly delighted when he saw Norrington enter the room.

“Commodore, what a nice surprise. Please won’t you join me?”

Norrington nodded and took a seat. A maid placed a plate in front of him and he helped himself to the breakfast platters on the table. Not counting last night’s meal, Norrington had had nothing but his own cooking for two weeks now. He was a decent cook, but the Swann’s was truly superior and he savored every bite.

Alice arrived a few minutes later looking harassed while trying to hold on to an agitated Penny.

She was wearing a simple brown dress, but it fit her much better than the dress she’d had on the night before.

“Commodore, did you happen to bring Penny’s face cloth?” She inquired hopefully.

Norrington shut his eyes and grimaced.

“Sorry, no. I was in such a rush to get her here, I didn’t think of it…”

Penny let loose a series violent sneezes then rubbed at her nose with a whine.

Alice looked apologetic.

“It’s all the fresh cut flowers that Mrs. Turner likes to keep around the house. I was a bit sensitive to them myself when I first arrived.”

“I’ll have them thrown out immediately,” Governor Swann said, looking at the girl with concern.

“Thank you very much for the consideration, Governor Swann, but I think the best thing would be to get Penny back to Commodore Norrington’s house,” she explained giving the commodore a look he couldn’t quite comprehend.

The Governor waved a hand dismissing her words.

“Nonsense, I’ll have it done right away,” he said, leaving to find a maid.

Alice turned concerned eyes to Norrington.

“There is a lot of mold in this old house. I’m afraid that if we don’t get Penny away she’ll start vomiting soon.”

Norrington looked mournfully at his half-eaten breakfast and sighed.

“I suppose your right.”

He stood up and left the room only to return a minute later when Alice didn’t follow.

“Should I go ahead and… I mean with Penny… I don’t mean to presume, but…” she broke off with a helpless look.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Miss Clark.”

She sighed and Penny sneezed again.

“Penny will not be able to stay here no matter how much they clean,” she said, finally.

Norrington nodded slowly and handed her a napkin to wipe Penny’s face.

“Then she’ll continue to stay with me,” he said, trying not to smile at that.

Alice did smile.

“And, do you intend on waking me before dawn every morning?”

He blinked then frowned.

“You and Penny should not be parted.”

Alice shook her head.

“We need to stay together at the same place. And it can’t be here.”

Norrington began to fidget uncomfortably.

It was Alice’s turn to frown.

“I-I guess we’ll just have to do our best. Penny will adjust to staying with you, and of course I’ll visit every day. Hopefully it won’t take too much time to find a clean place where she and I can live together. Perhaps the midwife you are taking me to see can help,” she said, looking at the floor.

“That is what you want?” He asked, slightly miffed that she didn’t ask to live with him as he’d secretly hoped.

She looked up at him, startled by the tone of his voice.

“Isn’t it what you want?”

“Good morning, Commodore, Alice,” Elizabeth Turner announced loudly as she entered the dining room along with her father.

Both father and daughter had a mischievous twinkle in their eyes that made Norrington want to grab Alice and Penny and run far away.

“Father tells me that my flowers have made poor Penny ill,” she began with a smile that clearly said she was up to something.

“Miss Clark, I believe you were right earlier. Penny is obviously ill here, and I doubt getting rid of a few flowers will help all that much. I do think it best that she returns to the Commodore’s home,” the Governor said giving his daughter a wink.

“Of course you are welcomed to stay here as long as you like, Alice,” Elizabeth continued.

“But we will understand if you decide to go with your daughter.” The Governor finished.

Alice smiled gratefully at the pair then turned to Norrington.

“I would like to go with Penny, if it is alright with Commodore Norrington,” she said staring at him cautiously.

Everyone was looking at him. What did they expect him to say? Of course he wanted Alice and Penny with him. Propriety was the only thing holding him back from asking. No matter how you looked at it, he was a bachelor and Alice was an unmarried woman. It came as a surprise to him that Governor Swann was so agreeable to the scandalous arrangement.

Norrington looked at Penny who was very pale and obviously miserable. He needed to do what was right for her. And while he knew that the gossips would be horrendous if Alice moved in with him, Penny’s health was more important than his and Alice’s reputation. And if things worked out the way he planned, he and Alice would marry anyway and there would be nothing to gossip about.

“Of course you are welcome to stay with me, Miss Clark. You and Penny for as long as you need,” he said looking her squarely in the eye.

Alice was blushing as she nodded her head in thanks while Elizabeth and the Governor gave each other triumphant grins. It seemed as if Governor Swann had joined his daughter in her matchmaking quest.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Alice did not have many belongings so it did not take long for her to pack. Just a few borrowed dresses, some personal items a few bottles with unknown ingredients, and half a dozen books and journals.

“Perhaps after you’ve gotten settled, and Penny’s had a nap, we can visit the mid-wife,” Norrington told Alice during the carriage ride home.

“That would be nice. Thank you,” she said distractedly as she looked out the small window as Penny lay beside her with her head in Alice’s lap.

“Then we could go by the dressmakers and order you some clothes of your own.”

Alice nodded absently, and then his words seemed to sink in.

“What? I don’t have any money for new dresses,” she protested.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said, pleased that he had the means to do so.

“But Commodore, I can’t accept such things from you.”

“And why not?” He demanded, offended.

She just looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time.

“I’m already indebted to you for taking care of Penny.”

He opened his mouth to protest but she held up a hand to stop him.

“I understand that you did what you did for her because you love her. It’s obvious that you see her as a daughter and would never expect to be paid back for any kindness you give her.”

Norrington was quiet for a moment as he considered her words.

“Are you saying you won’t allow me to buy you a few dresses because you think I will expect something in return?” His voice was soft and low though the anger was evident.

Alice narrowed her eyes at him.

“Did you honestly think to let me live with you without expecting me to marry you?” She retorted.

He gaped at her, speechless.

She huffed and turned back to the window.

Where had the Alice that he spent the last evening with gone? The one that was so easy to talk to?

“Miss Clark?” He asked, not sure what to say, but needing to say something.

When she turned back to face him he saw she was crying. He swallowed hard, realizing that he was completely out of his depth.

“Mama?” Penny asked, her little face etched in worry.

She hugged the girl close, as her sobs grew harsher. Penny looked back at Norrington as if she expected him to do something.

“Is the thought of marrying me so horrible?” His mouth asked without consulting his brain first.

His question startled a laugh out of her, and she released Penny to wipe her eyes.

“No, it’s not. I’m sorry for being so emotional, Commodore. I just really hate not remembering things. I mean for all I know there could be someone else…” She trailed off uncertainly.

“Then where is he? Trust me Miss Clark, if anyone were looking for you, they would have found you by now.”

Penny scrambled out of Alice’s lap and climbed up on Norrington’s. She put a small hand over his mouth.
“Shh! Comdore, don’t be mad,” she scolded.

Norrington placed a kiss on the palm that covered his lips and Penny giggled.

“I’m not mad, Penny.”

Then he looked at Alice who had a skeptical eyebrow raised.

“I’m not mad. I’m just trying to help you and I can’t understand why you don’t want to accept my help.”

Alice gave him a rueful smile.

“Well, when you put it that way it does sound silly,” she admitted.

He smiled at her uncertainly.

“I need time to figure things out. I can’t promise you anything not knowing…” she trailed off with a groan of frustration.

“I understand. Let me help you Alice. I promise there’ll be no strings attached.”

She nodded, smiled and held out her arms to Penny, who happily jumped into them.

End Chapter 5

A/N: I think I might switch to Alice’s POV next chapter, which might help with the flow. Let me know what you think. Also, I am still without a beta…
PJ