Waste Not

Chapter 21

Elizabeth,

I'm in English waters as I write this, but gods only know where the hell I'll be by the time ye get it. I know I left without sayin' too much, and I know ye hated it. But since I be such a fine husband, and since I've got so much damn time on me hands right now, here are the words ye wanted.

I'm doin' this for revenge, and that's about all there is to it. Ye acted like it was somethin' to do with ye or the brats, but that was just yer female mind at work. It's just revenge, and I need to do it. Trust me.

Stay on Tortuga where I put ye and don't dare follow me. Keep my lads safe. Apologies for makin' ye wait. Hang on to that necklace (yer welcome, seein' as I got it back for ye). I'll be back.

Hector

P.S. Thank ye, Elizabeth, for tradin' that necklace when me leg needed work.

Elizabeth,

Ye should take a gander at His Majesty. No wonder we ruled the seas as we did for so long. England's king wouldn't survive a day without his royal cake and ice cream. Maybe ye'll see him one day. Ye'll have a good laugh.

Ship captains on the right side of the King's law get more leisure time than I'd expected, which is why I be writin'. I haven't forgotten ye, nor the boys. I've been gone a while. Don't let Antony forget me.

There are whispers of the Fountain of Youth and Blackbeard goin' there. I be on the right course.

Affection,

Hector

Elizabeth,

Don't expect more letters after this one. We set sail tomorrow to claim the Fountain for England and for glory. I care not for King George or magic waters, but my chance at Blackbeard is nigh, and I aim to seize it for what it's worth.

I know yer worryin', and I wish ye'd stop. I can feel it from here. It's annoyin'. I've well got over the pain. Me leg is fine—what's left of it—and it'll soon be avenged. I'll be havin' quite a story to tell when I get back.

When this is over, I'll be headed straight for Tortuga. Ye'd better be there, and with both of me sons (and I better not find ye've taken a third husband). I won't say I miss ye, but ya'll have been on me mind.

Keep waitin'. I won't be much longer. And don't fret. I may be half lame, but remember I've got the advantage of intelligence.

Love,

Hector

Elizabeth waited, hovering around the docks whenever she got the chance, but she was never alone. It wasn't like when she'd waited for Will. She didn't feel hopeless, and in that way it was so much easier, especially with her son and daughter to keep her company. But she'd only ever had one fleeting night with Will. She had never gotten used to seeing him every day or cuddling close to him every night. With Barbossa, she'd had eight years of almost constant interaction. In that way, waiting for him to come back was much much harder.

He'd sent her three letters, and she read them and re-read them until they were almost worn out. She wanted to be on this adventure with him, but she just couldn't be, not this time. Their children were simply too young still. She could only pray that Barbossa knew what he was doing.

Around sunset on the bajillionth day, Elizabeth made out a very ominous-looking ship on the horizon. As it came into the bay, all other vessels seemed to shy away from it, and once she saw it clearly, she understood why. Her heart sank. It was the Queen Anne's Revenge.

She wasn't sure what to do. Did this mean that Blackbeard had merely escaped Barbossa's wrath, or was her husband dead? In either case, perhaps she should try to kill Mr. Teach herself now that he was here. Or perhaps she should flee with her children like a sensible person.

"Come on, darlings," she said, taking each child by the hand, "Let's get off this dock." They all turned and, wanting to move quickly, Elizabeth hoisted Antonia onto her hip.

"Ahoy!" came a voice on the wind.

Antonia looked over her mother's shoulder and watched the fast-approaching ship curiously.

"Ahoy there!" came the voice again.

The little girl's eyes widened and she began to squirm against her mother's grasp with all her might.

"Antony…oh, what is it?"

"It's Papa. Let go. Let go!"

Elizabeth set her down, but held her arm tightly, letting neither of her excited children escape as she scanned the vessel now making port. All three of them spotted the ship's captain simultaneously. To Elizabeth's sheer delight, it was not Blackbeard, but none other than Hector Barbossa. He'd done it. He'd done it, and it had paid off. It couldn't have turned out any better than this.

"Hector!" she heard herself yell, a joyful grin on her face.

"Ah, now there be me first mate!" Barbossa called, standing tall.

Robert and Antonia broke free and ran towards their father, Elizabeth not far behind them.

"And me cabin boys are a mite bigger than when I saw 'em last."

Barbossa patted their heads when they threw their little arms around his waist. Elizabeth didn't embrace him (yet), but positively beamed. The crew of the Revenge watched them all.

"Now me crew is complete." The captain addressed them, "Take a week off, lads. Do as yeh please. Mind yer back by day seven, or get left behind. Now off with yeh!"

The men cheered and began to disembark immediately. When they'd gone, Barbossa dropped down on his good knee and hugged his children close.

"We missed you, Papa," said Antonia.

"I missed yeh, too, darlin'."

"Where all did you go? Did you kill Blackbeard? Did you talk to the King of England?" asked Robert eagerly.

"Steady on, lad. I'll tell it all in due time." He stood. "But first, you two run along and look 'round yer new home. See if yeh like it better than the Pearl."

The kids looked at each other, then took off down the deck. Smiling, Elizabeth watched them go.

"I'd like a word with the mother."

Elizabeth turned back to Barbossa, who was wearing a small smile of his own. She stepped closer to him, and, for a lingering instant, they just looked at one another. But the kiss that followed bespoke all the lonesome days and weary nights they'd had to live apart. And when they separated, their eyes held a glad excitement for the adventures to come.

The End

Hello beloved readers :)

Expect an epilogue after this chapter. Also, as I mentioned before, I will be doing "deleted scenes" for this story. I have one written already, and another that I have an idea for. I would be more than happy to take requests for other scenes if anyone wants something else added to this story. Don't be shy. I love it when people reach out, and I'd love it to happen more.

All my love.