Hello Lovely people, This is my second attempt at starting an Edward fic, i didn't think that last one flowed properly so I hope you'll all enjoy this one. Please let me know how I'm doing with it, otherwise I think i'm just writing to empty internet, or its just bad. So please enjoy, I haven't finished the game yet, because I know what's coming ... I'm just not ready for that, but I'll do my best with what I've got! :)

The pirates' republic of Nassau, the only place in the Caribbean where you could find utter freedom without constraint, was packed. People spilled in and out of the shops, taverns and brothels that lined the dusty streets, enjoying the early morning sun before its rays became too hot to bear.

Bella Carter stepped out of the Tavern she owned with her Husband Tommy, blinking away the last remains of sleep, her arms full of haphazardly stacked piles of paper.

"Bye, darling. Have a good day." She had called to Tommy when she left, the older man ignoring her farewell, loud rumbling snores erupting from his throat as he sprawled across the entire bed. Their marriage had two faces, one – the one the tavern's regular customer's saw of an evening, a jovial and happy couple who were enjoying the married way of life. But this side was an act, the love and devotion that had been there at the start of their marriage three years previously had started to wear away, being replaced with monotony and disdain. When she and Tommy got married her mother was overjoyed and kept repeating "Thomas is a good man, he'll see you right. You'll have a good life with him Isabella." Luckily she had died a mere six months later, never having to see what her beloved son in law had become – a slave to alcohol and lustful urges (Bella always turned a blind eye to his fornication with the pretty waitresses that served in their tavern. There was a time it had hurt her, but now she was numb to it, glad he chose to leave her alone.)

Although the tavern was thriving, being a favourite drinking haunt of the island's 'governors', she watched Tommy drink and gamble their profits away, forcing her to take a second job during the day. She ran a small art class at the island's only school. There were few children in her class and the building was dilapidated, but she enjoyed it.

As she made her way through the street, greeting people who called and waved at her, she glanced towards the docks, seeing two very familiar pirate vessels pulling into the harbour. Their commitment to piracy and the freedom of man declared for all the see in the black flags fluttering from the top their masts. Captains Ed Thatch and Ben Hornigold had arrived home, she smiled wearily, happy to see her favourite customers, but knowing their arrival meant that the tavern would be busy and unable to rest until the early hours.

Unlocking the door to the tiny school, which sat close to the docks, she dropped her papers down on a near by table and leaned against the doorway, watching the hullabaloo that now surrounded the two ships as the crew began to disembark. The two captains broke away from the throng and headed up the dusty slope, their voices kept hushed but their eyes taking in the city's activity as they passed. Bella raised her hand in a wave as the two went to pass her by. A grin quickly spread across Thatch's weathered face as he spotted her. He thundered over to her and grabbed her into a rib crushing hug, lifting her feet off the floor.

"Bella the beautiful. How are ya lass?" He enquired gruffly, dropping her back onto the floor and ruffling the neat ponytail she has managed to tame her curls into that morning. She let out a huff and playfully narrowed her eyes at the captain, pulling the ribbon from her hair and letting it remain loose.

"Well, thank you Thatch. Will you be joining us tonight?" She asked, offering a wave to Ben, who returned it but remained in deep conversation with a merchant who had grabbed his attention.

"Aye, that ya will. But now ya have some toddlers to coddle ... I mean teach" He grinned good naturedly at her, indicating the small group of children that had started to line up beside the crumbling stone building, their eyes widened as they watched their teacher's interaction with the fearsome Blackbeard.

Bella rolled her eyes and slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "Art is important too you know, we can't all go sailing around looking for treasure and taking on the navy. I'll see you this evening." and with a kiss on his cheek she shooed him away, turning her attention to the children, calling the register as they filtered past her into the room, grabbing paper and paint brushes as they went.

Nassau's sweltering day had given way to a sticky evening, the humidity coating everyone's skin in a thin layer of sweat. Bella had yet to change from her day in the school when Tommy informed her he needed her to work behind the bar, choosing to spend his night lounging and drinking with the important pirates' whose number had grown since the morning. Charles Vane and Jack Rackham had joined the group. Their laughs at one of Tommy's jokes heard over the raucous noise of the tavern. Rolling her eyes she grabbed a flagon of ale and five mugs, sneakily tucking a bottle of best rum into the front pocket of her dress.

"Here ya are gents." She grinned jovially as she placed a mug own in from of each pirate and Tommy except Blackbeard, to whom she handed the rum bottle with a wink.

"Thank you lass, you spoil me." Thatch grinned pulling the cork from the bottle's neck with his teeth.

"Aye, that she does. Swear she has a soft spot for ya Ed." Tommy laughed, holding his arm out, beckoning Bella into a show embrace, clutching her petite body tight to his chest for a few moments.

"Ah, nonsense Tommy lad, that lass of yours only has eyes for one." The twinkle in Blackbeard's eyes told her that he knew, he knew it wasn't Tommy who captivated her attention and made her heart speed up erratically.

Tommy just laughed and kissed her suddenly rose tinted cheek, taking the comment as Thatch has meant it – at face value.

"They're late." Vane murmured, taking a long draught of his ale.

"Hmm?" Rackham questioned, his eyes firmly fixed on Monique's backside as she bent over a customer's table across the way.

"Kenway and Kidd, they're late."

Bella's belly tightened at the name and she swallowed heavily. "Will they be joining you?"

"Aye, if they know what's good for em." Vane acknowledged, his blue eyes intently studying a map that was spread across the centre of the table.

"Well gents, I really should be betting back to the bar, can't have people complaining of favouritism now, can we?" She joked, pulling herself away from Tommy's grasp, ready to head back towards the bar.

"A shame, a bit of attractive company goes a long way."

The voice stilled her heart in her chest and butterflies flooded her stomach. A rosy glow quickly flooded her cheeks as she turned to face the voice's owner, a smile present on her pretty face as she took in the speaker's twinkling blue eyes.

"Ah ... hello, Edward." she breathed out, her voice a lot steadier than she thought it would have been.