Chapter Text
With a firm tug you pulled the cord of your duffle bag closed
"Is that everything?" Jacob asked, his eyes lifting as he sat forward on the bunk opposite.
"I think so" you sighed loudly as you glanced slowly around your empty bunk "anything else I can just do without"
He nodded gently, his mouth thinning somewhat
You took a moment to slowly glance around the crews quarters of The Jackdaw, the place you'd called home for so long. The whole time you'd been away you'd thought of nowhere else as home, the smells, the noise, the whole fabric of the place, it had well and truly gotten under your skin and now you faced your exit with a huge bag of mixed emotions
"I'm going to bloody miss this place" you said, your voice somewhat thickened with emotion
"Then why don't you stay lass? " Jacob added glancing up at you after a moments silence
Exhaling deeply, you sat down on the bunk next to him "you know I can't Jacob..... You out of everyone on board this ship know why I can't, you know how things are and why I can't stay"
Jacob nodded slowly "couldn't you forget about the captain? carry on as normal..... As a crew mate ?"
"On board the Jackdaw?" You gave a despondent sigh and began to slowly shake your head "no.... I couldn't... Seeing Edward every single day.... It would be too painful"
Jacob nodded "I understand lass..... I'm going to bloody miss you so much though" he smiled sadly "I owe my life to you that day.... I'll never forget what you did"
You quickly blinked away the thick tears that threatened to gather begind your eyes
"Ahh sush Jacob! I was hardly going to leave you just dying in the street was I?" you smiled sadly recalling that day so vividly, there was a moments thick silence as you brought your thoughts back "you're going to be alright you, you know that?"
Jacob stifled an almost bashful giggle as you spoke
"No really, you have the makings of a fine and noble Captain yourself one day mate....."you smiled "your parents would be very proud of you if they could see you.... And if your father is too pissed to notice, then stuff him eh" you smiled recalling your conversations about his wayward father back in England
"Thank you " he smiled sincerely "that means a lot"
"Don't thank me! It's the truth lad" you replied hoping your words had gone some way at making him feel better about himself.... You took a deepened breath "well! I'd better not put this off any longer" you sighed as you pushed yourself to your feet
Jacob grasped your bag from your slender finders and straightened himself
"You will take care won't you?" He said slightly awkwardly, as if knowing he'd never see you again was almost too surreal
"Don't I always...... Oh, Come here you" you smiled and stepped close to him, your arms wrapping tightly around his form pulling him close to you.
Jacobs arms encased your shoulders and held you tightly against his chest, his hand stroked your shoulder comfortingly as he placed a gentle kiss upon the top of your head as you both said your final goodbyes.
"Ugh!" You finally muttered as you began to pull yourself from his shirted chest with a snotted sniff, the tears now beginning to gather in your eyes.
"Don't you dare cry..... Don't you let the captain see you cry...... You're better than that" Jacob insisted "you leave this ship with your head held high.... Do you hear me? " he smiled as his thumb swept a tear away that threatened to spill down your cheek
You nodded frantically lifting your hand wiping away any others that dared to gather.
"I wish things could have been so different.... I don't want to go"
Jacob lifted his hand and gently cupped the side of your face, his thumb sweeping your cheek "I know " he smiled softly "Captain's numb in the head if you ask me...... You go get the life you always wanted.... It's only what you deserve"
You knew what he was saying was right and with a deepened and deliberate breath you looked up at him and tried to smile as best you could
"Right! I'm ready" you sighed loudly, trying to convince even yourself. your words shaky and slightly stolen.
Jacob nodded and picked up your bag throwing it over his shoulder "lead the way then Miss" he said lifting his arm urging you forward.
Thanking him you began your final walk from your bunk through the ship and up towards deck.
The bright Nassau sunshine poured down through the open deck hatch as you glanced up at the crystal clear blue sky above, on all accounts it looked to be a perfect day. Your feet fell heavy on each of the steps as you climbed their steep assent. As you reached deck and glanced quickly around, you were a little taken back to see the whole crew waiting for you.
Your tentative arrival brought a few cheers from your crew mates who quickly approached you arms outstretched. Their warmth pulled at your gut, not as if you needed any further reason to cry.
"Stop it!" You laughed, your eyes quickly refilling with tears as they all jostled and reached forward to hug you goodbye "you saft old bunch!.... I should leave more often if this is the response I get"
There was a lackadaisical hum and chatter as you slowly worked your way round and hugged each and every one of the men, the men you'd come to count as your family over the years, the same men you'd relied on and who'd looked out for you time after time.
"I couldn't have wished for a better bunch to sail with lads....."you said as you finally pulled yourself away "you make sure you look out for each other eh"
Saying your goodbyes filled you with a sense of deepened sadness that twisted uncomfortably in your gut. You'd been at sea for so long with them, that a life away was completely unthinkable
"I promised myself I wouldn't cry!" You laughed emotionally as you lifted your hand and wiped your tears from your heated face with the heel of your hand.
"The boats ready to take you ashore lass" Jacob said, his hand cupping your shoulder reassuringly. You nodded before taking one lasting glance at your friends.
"Come on then" you sighed with a final smile before turning round and walking towards the helm.
Adé was stood waiting for you and as you approached, he lifted his large strong arms aloft for you to walk into.
"Come and say goodbye properly lass" he boomed as he encased you within his vice like hug. His booming voice echoed through his barrel like chest as he held you close. "Look...... make sure you look after yourself eh" he smiled as he placed a kiss upon the top of your head. "It won't be the same without you around"
You pulled from his hug and glanced up to his beaming face, his teeth so white and bright they almost glowed.
"I will Adé.... Thank you," your smiled dropped slightly from your face "No captain to say goodbye?" You queried as your eyes skipped around looking on the off chance Edward would be around to say goodbye.
Adés smile fell quickly from his face "no lass... He's ummm, he's got a lot of fleet work he's doing just at the moment" his tone suddenly dour and his eyes dropping from yours skirting across the deck.
You began to nod quite deliberately as your face forced a false smile, your heart shattering at Adés excuse which was quite clearly a lie.
"Well he's a busy man" you muttered with a deepened sigh
"Shall we get going lass?" Jacob asked quietly over your shoulder anticipating your spiralling emotion at Edwards absence.
"Yes!..... Yes of course" you replied suddenly bringing yourself round. You'd maybe hoped in the smallest part of your being that Edward would have been there, there to wrap his arms around you just one last time and to have tried to stop you. The sheer fact that he wasn't only made your mind up and confirmed that you were doing the right thing.
"Right' yes..... Goodbye Adé, we may catch up again another day eh"
"I'd like to think that very much lass" Adé replied, his mouth somewhat thinning as he gave a saddened beginnings of a smile
With a small nod and a deepened breath to steady your nerves, you turned and stepped towards the side ledge of the ship.
Set far below in the shallowed waters, bobbed the ships row boat ready to take you ashore. You clambered over and began to carefully lower yourself into the hull of the small boat. Once you were safely sat, Jacob lowered your bag down to you and you offered him a warm smile of gratitude
"Stay safe" he murmured as you grasped your bag from his hold and clung to it tightly.
"Right then Miss.... Hold on" came a voice from behind you as the boatman lifted the oars and firmly shoved the boat from The Jackdaws hull. It was a journey you'd taken a million times before, but today... It felt so different, it felt so final.
Your eyes never dropped from the ship and its crew as he rowed you away and towards the shoreline of Nassau... Away towards a new life, a new beginning.... All the time you struggled to keep yourself glued together, the knowledge that Edward never came out even to wish you well before you departed.
*
Adé watched from the deck of The Jackdaw as the row boat began to near the shoreline. With a deepened determined breath he pushed himself quickly from the ships ledge and strode the few steps to the doors of Edwards cabin.
His hand upon the handle he pushed the door to the cabin open with gusto, the bright morning sunshine spilling into the dimly lit captains cabin
"Jaysus Adé..... Do you not knock?" Edward asked from behind his desk, startled by his sudden unannounced entrance
"Not today captain" Adé boomed as he strode purposely into the cabin and over to where he worked, his steps heavy and determined "the lass is just leaving Edward"
Edwards eyes dropped from Adé's as he shuffled somewhat uncomfortably in his seat
"Really?" He sighed as his eyes falsely fell to his paperwork once more "and I'm supposed to do what?" He added somewhat nonchelantly.
Adé sighed deeply "Edward... I stand here not as your quartermaster but as your friend......think long and hard about what it is you are about to do..... I've made many decisions in my life I have come to regret so deeply. Wishing time and time again I could turn back time...... Some decisions hurt more than others Edward........ "He began to take a few steps back towards the door "don't be so blind as to make a decision that one day you come to regret Edward........ Take it from me, regrets hurt"
He waited a moment, his eyes lifting from Edward as he turned slowly and left the deathly silent cabin
Edward waited for the door of his cabin to click shut before he threw his quill down onto the log he was working on. With a deepened sigh he closed his eyes, his fingertips reaching to the bridge of his nose as he fought to clear the thick fog that had gathered once more inside his head.
After a moment his eyes slid slowly open and rested upon your pearl necklace that had been thrown down on the desks surface earlier that morning. His thick worked fingers toyed at its delicateness as he lifted it in front of his iced blue eyes focusing a moment on the white pearl that swung gently in front of his face.
"For fucks sake" he sighed under his breath as he pushed himself quickly to his feet. Without delay he dropped the necklace once more onto his desk before striding briskly from behind it and across his cabin towards the door.
He barrelled quickly through the doors making them slam noisily against the wall behind from his force. Adé turned quickly around, startled by his crashing exit.
"Ah Captain......we need to speak about the sugar stored in the front hold.....I think we....." He was promptly cut short by Edward striding quickly past him
"Fuck the sugar" he said quickly as he leapt to the ledge of his ship and dove into the sea like a shot
Adés eyes widened in surprise as he stepped hastily towards the ledge of the ship after his captain, his hands grasping tightly as he looked out and watched Edward surface and swim quickly towards shore.
The crews boatman hauled the small row boat safely up onto the soft shoreline of Nassau and stepped towards you, his hand aloft ready to help you from the boat onto the sand
"Watch your step Miss" he smiled as you took his hand. With a jump you landed into the soft snow white sand and turned to grab your bag from the boats hull.
"Thank you Smithy" you smiled as you hauled its heavy weight from the boat and dropped it onto the sand.
"My pleasure Miss" he smiled as he placed his hand reassuringly on your shoulder "good luck with everything" he nodded "do you need a hand with your bag?"
You smiled, thankful of his offer but began to shake your head
"Thank you but no, Ill need to carry it a lot further than the shoreline on my own" grasping the bag you hauled its weight over your shoulder and shuffled it slightly until you were comfortable with its weight.
"Very well..... Well, goodbye then" he smiled sadly
"Goodbye Smithy..... And thank you" and with a nod you turned and began to walk slowly from the beach.
You'd not even reached the outskirts of the settlement when you heard your name being called loudly from behind. Brow furrowing you scuffed to a sandy stop and turned around.
"Edward?" You muttered quietly dropping your bag, your eyes squinted in the strong morning sunshine trying to get a little clarity at the form quickly swimming towards you.
Your eyes met with Edward as he straightened in the sea, the azure waters lapping around his clothed body as he began to stride and splash through the shallows towards the beach where you stood.
"Lass!" He called, his breathing laboured and ragged from his sudden exertion
Even though the day before you'd detested every fibre of his being and he'd made your blood boil to distraction, you couldn't stop your stomach twisting excitedly to see him.
"Lass" he said again quieter this time as he got closer, your eyes cast over his soaked form, the sea water running quickly from the blonde hair that fell in front of his rugged features.
"Edward? What are you doing?" You asked furrowing your brow
"Don't go" he breathed quickly "I don't want you to go"
You sighed deeply out, ecstatic he was stood before you but still so angry. You began to shake your head slowly
"I can't Edward" you said quietly, hardly believing you were saying it yourself
"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want to stay"
Your silence was all Edward needed to hear, your gaze fell to the sand, unable to look him properly in the eye.
"I knew it.... " he said, his mouth tugging in the first suggestions of a smile "so there's a chance....you staying? ... "
You hand lifted to your forehead and swept it across your brow as you thought hard "argh Edward..... No, there's no chance"
"You don't mean that" he replied quickly
"It's all the lies Edward.... I can't handle the lies" you sighed despondently
"There's been no lies lass....as God is my witness I swear that I never touched Lolita....I thought about you the whole time she came onto me, it was all orchestrated by Du Casse to keep me away from The Jackdaw that night.... I swear it"
You sighed thinking over his explanation..... "And Mary?" You asked
Edwards posture seemingly deflated at your question "I don't know what you're talking about" he finally said, his head suggesting the beginnings of a shake
With a tired groan you grasped at your bag and hauled it on your shoulder once again
"More lies" you barked before you turned and began to walk away again. Edward launched forward and grabbed your shirt firmly pulling you quickly round to face him once again
"I'm not bloody stupid Kenway! Do not treat me like so" you spat angrily "I know what I heard that night... Don't you dare belittle me" your blood heated within your veins once more at his arrogance
"Alright alright!" He sighed defeatedly "Mary was there that night"
"See!! I bloody knew it!" You smiled smugly as if just winning an argument
"There's something you need to know about Kidd" he finally muttered reluctantly with a sigh "no one else knows so you mustn't breath a word.... But if it means you'll stay then I'll tell you"
You're eyes lifted giving him the benefit of the doubt as you became more intrigued as Edward spoke
"This had better not be some kind of lie Edward... I will find out" you replied suspiciously as you crossed your arms waiting for his explanation.
"It's no lie" he assured you " Kidd was there the whole time that night..... And so was Mary"
Your brow furrowed confusedly "you're speaking in riddles Edward...there was only Kidd there when I woke up" you replied
"Think carefully about what I'm saying lass!" Edward added, his eyebrows lifting urging you to think hard about what he was trying to tell you. Your gaze dropped to the sand as you mused over that night.... There's was only one thing he could have been saying... I mean, you'd always thought Kidd was lacking in the testosterone department but you'd always assumed it was down to his younger adolescent years.
"Are you saying that Mary is?"you stopped
"I am" Edward replied, happy that the penny had finally dropped
There was a thick silence as you allowed the thought of Kidd's true identity sink in. Suddenly things began to slot into place... His build, his voice and his slight reluctance to like you
"She was jealous!" You mused, your eyes lifting to Edwards khol lined ice blue gems.
"Just protective" Edward was quick to correct "so now you know......... Now how about you come back to The Jackdaw eh?" He asked, his smile simple and assuming.
"I'm sorry Edward...I still can't" you replied shaking your head once again
Edwards face dropped, his smile quickly leaving his lips "what?... There are no more lies lass.... This I promise you"
Your lips thinned " I know... And I really appreciate you telling me... Thank you" you said, your grip tightening once again on your bag.
"Then what lass.... Why can't you stay?" He asked, his still soaking brow furrowing as his confused gaze danced quickly over your form
"Because if I stay it'll be just the same as before .... Stolen glances, drunken fumbles, the odd quick fuck...... I'm sick of the secrecy Edward, I deserve more than that"
Edward nodded slowly "you do"
"I don't want to feel like I'm something to be hidden, something to be ashamed of..... I can't go on like that any longer Edward....I can't hide my feelings for you any longer, it's killing me more than you'll ever know...."
Edward glanced over his shoulder, his eyes casting off back to The Jackdaw. Furrowing your brow you found yourself a little annoyed at his disregard for what you were trying to tell him, seemingly more interested in the crew who'd all gathered on deck watching you both so intently.
"Shut up" he said quietly turning and taking a step toward you, you slightly recoiled unsure of his actions
He lifted his large hands, cupping your face gently within them, their heat radiating and warming your cheeks as he lifted your face so you were gazing deep within his sapphire blue eyes
"Is this public enough for you?" He asked, his voice deep and velvet like
Still confused, you were about to remonstrate when his lips crashed firmly against yours, catching any word you were about to mutter. Offering a gentle yelp into Edward's mouth your eyes widened with a start, the sound of the crews cheering ringing loudly in your ears.
With a deepened breath out you relaxed into Edwards embrace, your eyes sliding gently closed and your tongue meeting his as you kissed so tenderly and so publicly. The rough pads of his thumbs swept gently across the soft skin of your cheeks electrifying your being as you lost yourself completely in his presence.
In that moment, every ounce of anger and resentment drained quickly from your body as you realised what it was, in that one simple gesture, he was putting on the line for you. The underlying prospect of the whole of his crew mutinying if they ever found out about you, had always spurred you both to keep your liaisons secret, yet here he was declaring his intentions so plain for all to see.
You slowed your kiss and pulled slowly from the warmth of his soft lips, your eyes fluttering open seeking his.
"Well it seems the crew may have already suspected us" he said softly before smiling widely, the sound of the crews cheering and applause impossible to ignore. "I love you lass"
Your eyes fixed onto his, never before had you felt so elated, so desired and so alive before in your life.
"So what now?" You smiled as your heart thumped loudly in your chest.
Edward dipped, his large arm sliding under the crease of your knees as he swept you up and held you effortlessly within his arms. You yelped playfully wrapping your arms around his neck tightly
"You come home" he smiled before he placed another quick kiss upon your rosebud lips
"I'd like that..... Very much Kenway"
Fin
cheers X X X