Hey Guys!

Just wanted to send you all a big THANK YOU for all the kind reviews, follows and favorites! I'm glad you like the story and I'm sorry I've been taking time to upload new chapters -.-'

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Chapter 11

Welcome Back

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Portmore

Samantha couldn't be more surprised with the men's reaction as she arrived to the ship. She expected angry groans, bored sights and nasty jokes. What she got (at least from most men) were excited laughs, shanties and smiles. They were happy to have her company on the ship. After all, she had helped them in many ways throughout her journey: for two or three men (including Joe), she helped them with letters they received from their families - many of the pirates were uninstructed and unable to read - for other men, many of their work was saved for her and being the only woman on the ship, she could not say no; she even helped the Jackdaw's cook sometimes with some tricks she had learned in the house. In the end of the day, her unusual female presence made the men glad, one way or another.

But there were, of course, exceptions. Bill had a massive discussion with the Captain in his cabin when he heard the news of Sam's return and had to use a great manner of self-control not to punch her as he passed by her.

-You will never be welcome here, no matter how many times you let the Captain fuck you. - He told her when he caught her alone below decks the first night in Portmore.

Samantha got so nervous when she knew they were alone, that she chose not to open her mouth, only nodding in denial.

-Don't fucking lie to me, girl. What other reason would Kenway have to keep you here, sleeping in his cabin every night? We ain't fools, ye know?

-That is not true...

-It won't last. One way or another, Kenway's little bitch is coming off this ship.

He left no room for an answer and Sam knew they would never get along. His brother, the man she had gotten shot, had never spoken to Sam. She had seen him before, but he did not threat her as Bill, he was merely indifferent. She had done what she had to.

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Edward acted truly strange throughout the week they were ported in Portmore. He spent most of his time on the ship, especially around Sam, as if guarding her. Not once did he go out to a brothel or to a tavern for a full night. He often invited her to have a drink with him, although she refused most times. When she finally accepted, drawn by the curiosity to know what it felt like to drink, Edward was so surprised that he let out a loud laugh. She neither enjoyed rum nor did she dislike it. It felt strange and different and that burning feeling it left in her throat was neither good nor bad in her opinion.

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Kingston

All Lydia wanted was the happiest day in her life. A month had passed since Samantha had been taken by those dreadful men, what else could she do? Mr. Jackson had done everything in his reach, contacted everyone he knew, in pursuit of his only blood daughter. Samantha was gone. What else could be done by the family?

She knew very well that her wedding had been changed to an earlier day to at least attempt to save the family's honor. She knew very well that people would make rumors of how Sam had followed a pirate into his ship and that she would be considered a whore, even though it was false. She knew very well that deep down, most guests watching her in that beautiful white gown were sad, wondering how in the world could she possibly be getting married when her 'sister' was out there sleeping (gladly or not) with an outlaw. But all she wanted was a happy day for herself. She had imagined her wedding many times, always with Samantha by her side, crying of happiness and providing her with support. And now there she stood, with Marcus handsomely standing by her and Samantha nowhere to be found. It pained her to be doing it, but she had the right to wish for her own happiness.

The only worse thing than a wedding being ruined by the lack of a very important and missed family member was a wedding being ruined by that family member taking all the attention and have it postponed. Lydia's heart had never beaten so fast. It had been beating as such since she saw Samantha, before entering the chapel. How could she tell Mr. and Mrs. Jackson? It was not fair that her wedding was postponed because of Samantha, but how could Lydia explain to them she had ignored the sight of Sam, who was in horrible condition? Lydia did not want to imagine how Sam got those bruises on her face – how could she tell her parents about them?

After hours of not enjoying her own ceremony, Lydia pulled Sam's parents aside as the guests ate and spit out what she had seen. She began crying even before saying anything, barely able to speak without voice cracks. She apologized a million times for not having said anything and Mr. Jackson fought himself truly hard not to hurt Lydia right there. All Cindy could do was cry to the thought of her poor daughter having been right there by her side and not having noticed. Eventually it was her to slap Lydia twice in the face, driven by anger and sadness. Richard Jackson had never been so disappointed at Lydia and could barely speak – he had seen his missing daughter and had not recognized her.

Not much could be done now besides the usual searches, now more careful than ever.

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Portmore

Every time Samantha remembered of what she was doing, she could barely believe it. However, it was happening and she gladly reminded herself that it was the best (and the hardest) thing to do. After all, her family had seemed to put an end to their grieving over her loss and Edward's men were… well… not so bad.

And so she sailed with them to Long Bay, after that Observatory Edward spoke of.

-I am yet to understand all the mysteries of that place… - He said once, in his cabin. – But it will provide me with great fortune.

Edward was sitting by the edge of his bed, putting on his boots, while Samantha stood by the map table attempting to gain some knowledge on geography.

-And afterwards…? What shall you do? – The girl asked. – Will you return to your old home?

-Maybe… Perhaps I could return to England and bring you with me. – He winked and Sam scoffed.

-I have not been in England in so long… - She thought out loud.

-Another reason to come with me.

-What? I cannot follow you across an ocean.

-Why not? Because it has no 'honor'? Because it is not 'acceptable'? Or perhaps because I am your kidnapper…?

-Because of all those reasons. – She said, wondering if he had suggested it honestly or as a joke. – I couldn't simply leave everything behind.

-Why not?! – Edward insisted, raising himself from the bed.

-Because this is where I live now.

-You have nothing holding you back! Your parents were on a celebration when you went after them and your sister told you to piss off!

-How dare you?!

-Did I lie? – He said in an almost threatening tone.

-You keep criticizing my way of life but I am sure they had their reasons. – She answered, not quite knowing what to say.

-Reasons?! What kind of reasons could take a couple of parents to neglect their daughter like that?

-Kenway, they searched for me. You know they did.

-For a month! Then they went off partying to your sister's wedding! And for fuck's sake, call me Edward!

-If you believe my family does not care for me, you are wrong! – Sam said, her voice filled with cracks. – They do! They always have!

In that moment Edward realized Samantha was on the edge of tears and thought the discussion should end. But then he remembered that if it did, it meant Samantha was definitely staying on the Caribbean and the option to follow him to England on the table no more. That was not how he had planned how to give her such suggestion, but it was going so much worse than any scenario he had imagined.

-Well they do not have the best way to show it. – He said coldly. – What the fuck do you think will happen if you return? The tiny amount of freedom you held will be removed from you and your every step will be decided by someone else!

-You know nothing of my family. Do not act like you do! – Sam added, still holding back the tears.

-I know the look you had on your face after you saw them. You were not happy and if you return, you won't be happy again.

-Oh, and going to another country will free me of all my problems and make me happy, yes?

-I could make you happy. – Edward said, then regretting his words when he realized how what he had said had sounded.

Samantha realized it as well and remained silent for a moment, wondering what he had meant from such sentence. Was he declaring feelings or was it merely a strange way of giving his opinion?

-What do you mean? – She asked, genuinely nervous and surprised.

-I think you would have a better, happier life there but do whatever the hell you want.

Edward headed for the door in a rushed pace and went out of the cabin, leaving Samantha to her confused thoughts. For a while she had been thinking she'd developed feelings for Edward, but had always felt too guilty to embrace them. After all, he was still the pirate who had kidnapped her and there was not the slightest chance they could develop something (at least without losing the entire honor that remained). Yet, after speaking those words, something in her fired up and she didn't even move for a while, trying to figure out her own feelings. Eventually she had to admit to herself: she cared for Edward… a lot. And that was terrible.

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Samantha tried hard not to face Edward for a couple of days as the crew sailed to the Observatory. But a ship is not that large and the men were not that many. She kept meeting the Captain face to face and at night, had to share the cabin with him. He was clearly trying to avoid her as well, but both were secretly happy when they saw each other. Samantha denied her feelings to herself at all costs. She had cared for other boys before and those feelings had eventually gone away. So too should these. Or at least so she told herself. There was not a chance on the world they could be together, for many reasons: first, there was the age difference - not that it was not common for girls to marry older man, but given that Sam was not even seventeen yet and Edward was almost twenty eight, there was a major difference; he was a pirate – and that is not the problem itself, it just brings a ton of complications as Sam's father is known for hunting pirates and marrying one is of the most intensive ways of being condemned by society and so on…

And yet, the poor girl found herself imagining some sort of life together as she laid in bed, at night, living in a small merry house with a beautiful garden or forever sailing the seven seas together… impossible dreams, in her perspective.

One night, as she thought alone in the darkness of the Captain's cabin, lighted only by the poor glow of the moon, she heard Edward calmly stepping in and did not make one move.

-Samantha? - He called after a few seconds of nothing.

Sam pretended to be asleep, not moving a muscle as the man walked around the room.

-Samantha, ye awake?

With her heart raising its rhythm and the doubt whether to face him or not in her head, Sam remained still. Edward approached and fixed her light blanket. She did not hear him move, and assumed he stood beside her, probably watching her, giving her a hard time trying not to laugh. The man leaned over her and grabbed her face gently with his right hand. Out of instinct – and a bit out of fear – Sam opened her eyes and they meant his.

-Edward? – She asked, nervous, in an attempt to fake the fact she had just woken up.

He smiled to the sound of his first name being called, instead of the usual 'Kenway' and kept looking her. He did not smell like rum, but Samantha was convinced he was drunk.

-I meant what I said… About ye coming with me to England. – He finally said.

Samantha said nothing and raised her hand to remove Edward's from her face. He considered it as a gesture of wanting to hold hands and grabbed hers, then letting his face approach hers enough to kiss her on the lips. It was a complete surprise, but what can a girl do? No one was there watching her – no one was judging – and no one would know. So she allowed herself to enjoy that small but very powerful kiss and was a bit disappointed when he pulled away from her. Who knew a touch on the lips could make a heart beat so fast… Edward looked in her eyes for a second and that was when she understood that he was asking her through his eyes whether she wanted to go further.

When the man was leaning down once more, Samantha felt him raising a leg as if to climb onto the bed with her and suddenly turn terrified, putting her hands between them, although gently. Edward got the message and fixed her blanket once more before stepping away from her.

And she smiled as if crazy until she fell asleep, hours later.

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