Ch. 2 Mistake

"Autumn, can you help me zip up my dress?" Lenora was wearing a beautiful white dress with a red bow around the waist with red flame patterns highlighting the dress.

"Sure." Autumn walked to the young pirate. She started zipping up the back of Lenora's dress. "So, there's going to be dancing at the reception. That'll be you and Adam's first dance." Lenora chuckled.

"I'm not the best dancer. Besides," Lenora said, "I talked to Adam, and we're going to treat tonight like it's a first date."

"Then you should know this: Adam can't dance either." Autumn chuckled at the thought. "The last time he tried dancing, he knocked over a potted plant. It was a mistake of course, he didn't know the plant was there." Autumn looked at the ground, still chuckling. "A mistake."

Autumn woke up in her apartment on Skull Island. She looked at a picture on the table by her bed. "Oh, Ryan." The widowed pirate quickly showered, put on some clothes, and ran out the door. It was time for her usual routine of finding a captain. She walked down the sandy slopes of Skull Island, but stopped when she heard a voice call her name.

"Hey Autumn." Pedro walked up to the young pirate with a sword in hand. "You left this at my place yesterday. Wouldn't want you walking around defenseless, would we?" Autumn blushed as she took her sword from the buccaneer. When the weapon was on her belt, Pedro pulled her close and kissed her. "I'll see you when you get back from your doomed venture."

"You never know. There could be a captain hiring." Pedro walked with Autumn down to the docks. "Honestly, Pedro, I don't know why you hope I'll never find a captain."

"Because the longer it takes you to find a captain, the longer I'll have with you." A pirate shoved past Pedro and Autumn. "Hey, watch where you're going!" The pirate turned and apologized.

"Sorry, but the scouting ship just returned. They managed to rescue some Armada prisoners. I'm going to see if they need some help unloading." The musketeer took some medical supplies and headed to the docks. "Again, sorry. I'm Brave Alaric Bellamy. If you're ever looking for a captain, I'm heading to Rajah in a few days." Autumn shook his hand.

"I may take you up on that offer." The musketeer left. Autumn and Pedro continued to the docks and saw the ship the captain had been talking about. Will walked off the ship, carrying an injured pirate. "Hey Will, I heard you rescued some Armada prisoners. Good work." Autumn looked around. "Did they leave already?"

"They're still here and they're here to stay." Will helped the injured pirate to the life fountain. Autumn saw the rest of the scouting pirates walk down the ship's boardwalk. Then, a new pirate caught her eye. The pirate held himself high with his red overcoat, pistols, and rifle. She turned to his right and saw another pirate, wearing black assassin's garbs with red highlights.

"Ryan!" She ran towards her husband and tackled him to the ground. Ryan grabbed her face and treated her to a long passionate kiss. Autumn refused to let go. "I've missed you so much." Autumn started crying.

"I've missed you too." Ryan held her close as the pair stood up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Pedro-" Autumn froze. She turned and saw Pedro with a pained look in his eyes. In a matter of seconds, she'd been reunited with Ryan and left Pedro. "Pedro got me and Will out of Mooshu." Ryan let go of Autumn and went over to Pedro.

"Thank you for saving my wife." Pedro rubbed the back of his neck.

"It was nothing. Just doing what I thought was right." Pedro waited until Ryan turned back to Autumn then mouthed the words, "I love you," to Autumn.

Autumn rested her head on Ryan's shoulder and shook her head, "No." Pedro huffed and stormed away.

"Oh, Autumn. This is Merciless Adam Silver. He's a captain who is hiring pirates to join his crew. Interested?" Autumn smiled.

"Anything to get back at the Armada. They need to pay for taking you away from me." Adam stretched out his right hand.

"Welcome aboard, Mrs. Dodger." Will came running back to the docks.

"Adam, Captain Avery is the leader of Skull Island. He's dealing with a Troggy attack and would like to speak with you immediately."

"Alright. Ryan, Autumn, care to start our first mission as a team?"

"I'm coming too." Will stated, "Now that Ryan's back, he can continue my training. And the Island can do without one scouting ship; we're spread thin enough as it is."

"Then let's head out."

"Pedro joined us after we dealt with the Troggies. Then he came back with a vengeance." Autumn looked at the daughter of the bride. "It's my fault Pedro betrayed us. It's my fault Pedro survived. It's my fault Avery died. It's all my fault."

"No, it's not." Lenora walked to the married pirate. "Pedro made his choice. He should be happy that he had you for a little while. He knew your heart always belonged to Ryan. He chose the wrong way to deal with it." Autumn wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I just feel like my whole role in the journey has been to cause pain. I don't want to cause any more pain." Autumn composed herself and turned to Lenora. "Alright, grab my waist."

"What?"

"I'm going to teach you how to dance. Now, grab my waist."