Beads of perspiration gathered at Lars' forehead as he dragged his sister's body out. He was in an abandoned cottage. The house looked like it was going to collapse anytime. Staying in it would be suicidal. Bel's pulse was decreasing and her breathing was much slower. Lars was just as weak, but he was thankful to be conscious. He woke up a few days ago floating motionlessly on the surface of a river and managed to find his sister in the abandoned cottage. Bel was anemic – her skin was translucent, there were bald spots on her hair and there were odd bruises appearing on her skin. Who would believe that she was still that beautiful and bubbly Bel last time? Lars hated to see his sister like this and wanted to end her misery, but he just couldn't leave her in that cottage all alone. Lars used to be able to piggyback both his sisters, now as a grown man he couldn't even handle Bel's weight. The sharp wood of the floor was piercing her skin and her cuts were continuously bleeding. A sparkle of hope kindled in Lars when Bel's eyes fluttered open.

"Bel! You're awake!"

"Brother, I-"

"We'll be okay, Bel! Just a few more steps…"

"B-Brother, it hurts…"

"I'm sorry, Bel. Bear with it. We're almost there."

"It hurts." Tears gathered in Bel's eyes.

"You'll be okay, Bel. I promise."

"But it really hurts…"

Lars knew what Bel meant. He let go of her shoulders and rested her on a softer part of the wooden floor. He removed his jacket and put it over her as he held her in his arms.

"Brother, remember that song that Mother used to sing to us whenever we refused to go to sleep?"

"Angels to watch over you?"

"Yep…if you don't mind, I'd like to hear it again."

Lars nodded, hiding his tears.

When you go to bed at night

And your turn off all your lights;

In the dark and out of sight,

There's angels to watch over you.

Later on when you go to sleep,

Take me off to the land of dreams;

Guarding you and your family,

Angels to watch over you.

By the time Lars had finished the second verse, Bel was already fast asleep permanently. Lars brought Bel out of the house, dug a small hole in the dirt and rested her body there. Even though he knew she couldn't hear him, he continued to sing as he buried her. Lars was glad that her last wish was fulfilled. Lars removed his scarf and put it on Bel's neck. The scarf was precious to him, it was knitted by his mother on his seventh birthday. He never let go of it since but now he was giving it to Bel. He believed that if she ever got reincarnated wearing this scarf, he would know she was his sister. After finishing the last few words of the lullaby, he left. He knew what he had promised Rio, but now he had to get Daphne.

X

Rio couldn't count the weeks that passed. Her tummy was so large that she couldn't even wear pants now. Standing up also seemed like a feat to her. She dreaded becoming obese after the birth of the baby. She was a woman, of course she cared a lot about her figure. She had been moody and lazy for the past few weeks, or probably months. She was too lazy to count. As for her moodiness, she refused to eat anything. She also got irritated every time Arthur walked in without knocking. Speaking of Arthur, that note she found in his pocket the other day had been with her since. It was bugging her emotionally but she was too selfish to tell Arthur about it. She had no idea what happened to the queen and she didn't want to know either. But she wasn't as ruthless to hope for the queen dead. She took out the note and read it again but hid it in an empty vase once Arthur came in.

"What are you doing here?" Rio asked with annoyance in her tone, forgetting that Arthur shared a room with her.

"This is my room?"

"Right…but still, I told you to knock whenever I'm in here!"

"Why? Hiding something from me?" Arthur joked as he leaned down and kissed Rio on the forehead. How Rio wished she could tell Arthur it was true. Arthur knelt down and kissed Rio's tummy. "By the way, have you thought of a name?"

"What name?"

"For our child."

"No." Rio's mind was too occupied by the queen's note to even think about such things.

"I was thinking Andrew, or maybe Alfred…Elizabeth sounds good for a girl, Alexandra too…what do you think?"

The name Elizabeth just made Rio feel guiltier. "Arthur," She reached her hand into the vase and pulled the note out. "This-"

"I read it."

"It's been weeks, Arthur."

"I know."

"Well, obviously something's happened to her!"

"Antonio can't get to her."

"Yes, but he's probably wiped out half the population in London! This has been haunting me for the past few weeks!"

"But I refuse to go back before the birth of the baby!"

"I'll go back with you, alright?"

"No, it's too dangerous."

"Arthur, I-"

"Rio, I don't want to lose you again! And neither do I want to lose this child!"

"Okay, fine. So what are you going to do now?"

"I'll wait for the birth of our child."

"I'm not nagging you or anything but this is serious…I don't think her majesty can stand the wait. Not to mention the time you'll take to travel from here to London."

"Then I'll send her a letter. No matter how serious it is, I have to be here for the delivery."

He kissed Rio on the lips so she couldn't say anything to change his mind. The ship Victoria built was completed, but Arthur didn't want to tell Rio. He also told Victoria to keep her lips sealed. But he knew he couldn't hide it for long, at least until after Rio's delivery. It had been a long time since his ship got attacked and probably stolen by Niall. He didn't care about Niall being still alive. He already got what he wanted. Arthur only worried about Antonio. As long as Antonio was still alive, anything related to Arthur could be affected. Arthur only knew Antonio wanted to fight with him, but he had no idea Antonio's real target was Rio.

X

"Damn it." Antonio murmured as the storm was approaching. He was this close to getting to the queen until the British outnumbered him and kicked him out…literally. He had no idea what happened to his crew. He was just kicked into the sea. He knew he was knocked out first then they threw him off one of their ships. He lost his compass so he probably had no idea where he was. The storm was coming quite quickly and it wasn't going to be pleasant for him on the violent waves. Suddenly, a small boat appeared with a few familiar pirates.

"Jose! Alberto! Alejandro!" Antonio cried. "You're here?"

"Yes, captain! The rest of the crew died in London or went missing. We managed to steal this boat."

"I'm so glad. But I lost my compass. How are we going to get home?"

"Well, we'll just have to find land and find help there then."

"What about Bel? Is she alright?"

"She got taken away by those damn British soldiers."

"Don't worry. Our chance will come when I go back there again…with more men!"

X

"You're Carriedo's woman?" The queen looked at Daphne with a raised eyebrow, not trusting the girl's words.

"I'm not, your majesty! My sister was his woman, not me! But she died and I was forced to impose as her!"

"All the more I cannot take you in!"

"Your Majesty, I do not wish to be taken in. I only wish to go home."

"You're not Carriedo's woman so we have no reason to hold you captive. You also refuse to go back to Madrid. Where is your home?"

"Luxembourg, your Majesty. But I have no financial support there…"

"Where is your brother?"

"I don't know. One moment he was right in front of me wounded and then he's gone." Tears gathered at Daphne's eyes. "I don't know what to do now. If I go back to Madrid, Antonio's men will go after me. If I go back to Luxembourg, I won't last long."

The queen stared at Daphne for awhile and then her stare softened. "Alright…you can stay in England for the time being…until we are able to contact your brother."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

X

"You have never learned to dance, dear?" Arthur teased after Rio stepped on his foot again. He was teaching her the King and Queen waltz. She was too lazy and moody to dance but Arthur forced her to get her butt off the chair for once.

"Oh shut up, Arthur. Unlike you, I spent most of time on fighting instead of embroidery and dancing."

"But I'm still better than you."

"Sim, whatever. Then here's your reward." She put her head on Arthur's shoulder and bit the back of his neck slightly, kissing it at the same time. Arthur let out a soft moan. Rio giggled to show her pleasure as she continued to bite his neck. Rio stopped at the sight of Victoria. It wasn't the first time Victoria had seen Arthur and Rio this close. She wouldn't mind most of the time and just walk out of the room but sometimes it got annoying since they were a couple and she, being the youngest, had to wait for them to finish their 'business' so she can finally talk. It happened before with her and her brother Francis when he would flirt with some random girl and she interrupted. Francis told her it was rude to interrupt a couple's 'interacting'

"Victoria…I-um…yes?"

"I saw a guy from my window…he brought three men with him and he looked a lot like you."

"What in the world?" Arthur looked through the window and his eyes widened when he saw Antonio settling down at the shore. Rio saw it as well. "What the bloody hell? What is he doing here?"

"I don't see any ship from far. He must be stranded." said Victoria. "You know him?"

"We've got to hide you!" Arthur said, grabbing Rio's shoulders.

"Who exactly is he?" Victoria demanded.

"He's her brother."

"He's not my brother!" Rio hollered. "He's Arthur's enemy."

"Rio, you're not fighting him." Arthur said as if it was a command.

"I never said I wanted to." She turned around and crossed her arms. She wasn't stupid enough to charge in and finish Antonio off but she'd prefer it if Arthur wasn't the one who killed him. Antonio wasn't only Arthur's enemy, but also hers. Arthur, by killing Antonio, would seek justice for himself and Rio. But she wanted things to be fair for Lars and his sisters. She had no idea what happened to them, but she wouldn't get her hopes up. If Antonio was still alive, something must have happened to the three siblings. What's done was already done, she can't blame Lars for breaking his promise. Now that she was pregnant, she couldn't express her distaste in Arthur killing Antonio.

Arthur had no weapons and Rio only had her arrows and bow. There was only one arrow in the case and Arthur was an amateur when it came to archery. "Victoria, is this the only weapon we've got?"

"I don't hunt." Victoria snapped.

"Well…I guess it's worth the shot!"

"Arthur, you don't know how to use those." Rio protested. "You'll just end up getting killed."

"But I've got no choice!"

"Then I'll fight!"

"You can't run that fast with a baby bump, Rio."

"Why should I run? An arrow to the eye of that tomato bastard will kill him!"

Rio ignored Arthur and grabbed the arrows and bow. Arthur glanced at Victoria, begging her to put a good word into Rio's head but Victoria was actually supporting Rio's idea. Rio had no armor on, just a dress that reached above her knees.

"Rio, if you won't consider my feelings, think about the baby!" Arthur pleaded as he finally stood in front of Rio. Rio was no longer relaxed, she was all tensed up. Arthur knew it was bad for the baby. He followed Rio, trying to convince her to leave everything to him but to no avail. "Rio, stop it!"

"Follow me if you want, Arthur. But this is the end for Antonio." Upon hearing his name, Antonio turned around. He wasn't surprised. His lips curved into a smirk when he saw Arthur as well. Victoria was told to hide so that she wouldn't get hurt. But Victoria had the urge to stop Rio from killing Antonio. She felt as if she was related to Antonio but couldn't remember. Antonio was waiting for Rio to start cursing him and spitting vulgarities at him but she had no intention of talking to him. She raised her bow with the arrow in it and aimed at Antonio's eye. It was the best shot compared to his chest or head. Rio thought by now Antonio would be running off and trying to stab her or Arthur with the sword in his hand, but he looked like he was taking a suicide gamble. It was as if Antonio was rooted to the ground.

"No, wait!" Victoria screamed. It was too late. The arrow pierced the flawless skin on her abdomen and blood started to stain her beautiful sky-blue dress. She shrieked in pain as she collapsed, her hand clutching the wound.

"Victoria!" Rio rushed over to the girl's side, her eyes filled with tears. Arthur was furious at Antonio for his smug look but also at Victoria for wasting the last arrow.

"Don't kill Antonio. Promise you won't."

"What?"

"Just promise you won't kill Antonio!" Victoria cried. There was anger in her eyes. But why was Victoria no longer supportive of the idea of killing Antonio? Rio pulled the arrow out of Victoria's dress gently. The blade of the arrow was now blunted and blood-stained.

"Rio!" Arthur yelled. It was a warning, but Rio was too busy tending to Victoria to see what was coming. Antonio used the blade of his sword to hit Rio, causing her to yelp. The soft sand broke her fall and she was lying on her stomach. She couldn't get up due to her weight combined with the weight of the fetus. Antonio flipped her around so that she was lying on her back and facing him. His body covered hers completely so that Arthur couldn't get a glimpse of her. He was getting more tense as he fought the two other men. There were three, but he managed to kill one and take his sword. Antonio took out a knife from his back pocket. Its blade was curved.

"I see that you and Arthur have decided to start a family," Antonio said, tickling her skin with the tip of the knife as it moved down her neck, to her chest and then to her abdomen. "Don't worry. After this, you'll come back with me and we'll start our family."

"No!" Rio screamed. She didn't care if she got violated by Antonio, she just wanted to keep the baby. Antonio raised the blade. In seconds, the sharp blade cut through the skin of her lower abdomen, her flesh and the membrane of uterus. Blood started to flow out of her as her hearing and sight became impaired. She could see nothing but the red color of blood and hear nothing but the cries of her baby. She felt like she was having those hallucinations all over again. The pain that Victoria and Arthur helped her get over was getting to her again.

Antonio seemed to be enjoying Rio's state, but he couldn't even smile. He wanted to show how cruel he was to do such a thing to his own sister but it was like his heart didn't allow him to smile or smirk. He turned around and cursed when his men and Arthur were out of sight. But little did he know that Arthur was standing behind him all the time, waiting for the ripe time to stab him. The blade of the sword that once belonged to Alejandro, Antonio's crewmate, went through Antonio's abdomen, though Arthur was aiming for his chest. Arthur pushed the sword in to deepen Antonio's wound.

"It's the end for you."

"N-no. I-I'm the strongest p-pirate in the world…"

"How ironic."

Antonio hissed in pain. A scream was stuck at his throat as he refused to let it out. He didn't believe it was the end for him. He didn't want to believe it was Arthur Kirkland who was stabbing him now. Arthur pulled the sword out of Antonio as he collapsed for the first time. Arthur stepped on Antonio, aggravating his wound.

"H-How could I l-lose to you?"

Arthur didn't answer that question. He raised the sword and finish Antonio off once and for all. He avenged all the people Antonio killed and hurt, including his own child. He dropped the blood-stained weapon and ran over to Rio's side. She was lying motionless on the sand, wide-eyed. He glared at the sky when he noticed a storm was forming. Dark clouds were appearing and soon the rain was mixing with his tears and the crimson blood of Antonio on his hands. He picked Rio up. He knew the child in her was dead and she was on the verge of it but he hoped for nothing but her to live. He loved her so much that he couldn't allow this to be a memory for them. He left Victoria, who was still conscious. She was struggling to get on her feet.

"I'm sorry." Victoria whimpered. Her heart was eaten up by guilt as she cried. Arthur didn't reply. The amount of tears that flowed out of her eyes can never be equal to the amount of blood Rio lost. In fact, no matter how much Victoria helped Rio in the past, it would not make up for Rio's loss of the baby. Victoria may have indirectly helped the baby, but now that it was gone, wouldn't all her help be in vain? Wouldn't it mean that she now had nothing to do with Rio? Wouldn't it mean that the baby was Rio's gift in return for helping her? Why, Rio? Didn't you say you wanted to give me something in return for all that help? Why didn't you ask me what I wanted first? Why did you give me something I don't like?