Ehehehe, yeah, I've been glaring at this one for a while, I'm making sure I've got the draft for the next chapter before I post the one before it, so I can go back and tweak but gods, words were failing me here. Anne was supposed to talk more, about halfway through but I cut it, didn't feel right though it did fit.

Mary sat with her old friend as they nursed her daughter, a mix of relief and a little jealousy on her face. She would remain as Mary for the duration of her stay in Tulum, few of the Assassin's knew of her relation to James Kidd.

"Who would have thought it?" Anne laughed, "That the barmaid would long for the sea and the pirate would long to be a mother?" Mary nodded, a smile on her face. They turned as Edward strode towards them, arm raised in a friendly wave. Anne waved back and handed Mary her child. Her own son slept in a basket on the table before them. He was named Mark, Anne chose the name when Mary was still ill with fever, a way to remember her brother and her, if she also passed.

"You know, Anne, you could go down and have a run on The Jackdaw, Edward wont mind and I can watch them for a while." She gestured to Mark and her own child. Anne smiled and thanked her then ran to the beaches. Edward jumped out of the way and gave Mary a look, she ignored him and settled her daughter in her cradle.

"Did you let Anne have my ship?"

"Only for a while. She'll have them workin' better than you ever had." He rolled his eyes and leant again the tree that shaded the table. A bird screamed in the distance as it swooped in lazy circles, it was fairly quiet asides from that.

Mary stood abruptly and moved before him. He looked down at her solemn face, she was much shorter without her boots on. Her gaze made him uneasy but she spoke before he could voice his concern.

"I'll be with you, Kenway," she whispered, the sadness in her tone twisted his gut.

"Mary...?" Edward was hesitant but reached to touch her. She stepped back before he could.

"I will." It was such a blatant lie, one he wouldn't have ever believed. He leapt foward to catch her but she slipped through his fingers and faded away.

"Mary!" Edward spun and scanned the area. Everything vanished like she had until there was just black.

"MARY!" Edward bolted up. He shuddered in relief as he realised he was in his hut at Tulum. Sweat coated his body and chilled him to his bones. He didn't care. What parts of that were his dream? His thoughts were muddled, memories and dreams collided in his head, he couldn't pull them apart and recall what had happened these past two months, for all he knew it could all have been a dream. He stumbled to his feet, didn't bother to grab a shirt and headed out the door. He would visit Anne, no questions though, he would just be there, he didn't want to upset her if it was indeed just fevered dreams.

The path was narrow, flooded by wild flowers that Anne encouraged to grow, the same that she liked to tie into her hair. They ran up the sides of the stone building, gifted to her to keep drafts away from her sickly child, though Mark's health had improved. Edward hoped that wasn't just part of his dream.

The door swung open before he knocked and an angry voice snarled, "I told you lot already, piss off! We don't need no men 'roun-Edward? The bloody hell are you doin' here?" Mary stood, fierce and dagger in hand, though as he watched she relaxed, eyes drooped, shoulders slumped, a state that screamed tired. She wore naught but a white shirt that ended just above her knees. She replaced the dagger on the sheath around her thigh, it remained there even while she slept. She gave him a quizzical look as he stood before her. He had planned what he would say but now it seemed stupid. Instead of words he grabbed her in a tight hug. Though she was startled she returned the embrace.

She was so warm and alive. The steady, slightly fast, beat of her heart reverberated through his own chest and mixed with the beats of his own. She smelt like the ocean, salt and tar, along with the spice of the exotic drinks she had a fondness for. As she remained at Tulum she had the freedom to remain Mary so her face wasn't hidden under layers of grime, soot and, on occasion, blood. He tried to store the moment as a good memory, that she was alive. He marked every touch in his head and the warmth they caused before he thought he should speak. He was still silent for a time, though Mary had mad no indication that she was annoyed. He rested his head on her shoulder to avoid her gaze, surely she felt the shudder that his breath caused. He was surprised she had humoured him this far, if she had slammed the door shut he wouldn't have been surprised.

"I dreamt you were dead, like everyone else, bloody mad aren't I? Worryin' like a child."

"Bloody mad to think I'd die so easily." Edward laughed, he had to admit if they navy hadn't killed her then it would be near impossible for anything else to.

Yeah, so, Anne was originally gonna let Edward in and they'd chat for a minute, or she'd encourage him to chat but it was soon to be interrupted by Mary pretty much saying what she does when she opened the door.

I'd be grateful for anyone who wants to review.