Jim

I finish the mission faster than I intended, it's almost midday so I'm going to pass by the inn and maybe have lunch with Silver. As usual the inn is full, I catch sight of Silver sitting at a table looking carefully at the menu. I decide to sit next to him, it's not like he can have lunch with Sadie, she's working

"Hey Silver, how are you?" I say as I sit

He looks up to me with a strange expression "Jimbo! Back already?"

"Yes, look, is something wrong? You look strange." I ask worried

He rubs the back of his neck "Lad, I think ya know why..." He has mixture of sadness and frustration.

"What do you mean?"

"I... already know about... Nathaniel..."

My mouth drops "Silver... I'm sorry it's just..."

"Why didn't ya tell me Jimbo?" He seems really hurt, it's understandable I mean, I did hide from him for 4 years that he had a child.

"I thought that...Sadie should be the one to tell you." I defend myself

His eyes is getting darker but it's not completely red "James Hawkins, you hid something very important from me lad"

"Silver, trust me, I just thought that maybe we should resolve everything, I truly wanted to tell you. Last night I argued with Sadie, saying that she should tell you right away."

His eye turns yellow again... he's calmer "I know ya did lad, after all I trust ya. Still ya should have told me"

I look down in shame "Have you met... Nathaniel?"

He nods "Aye, he has Sadie's eyes" He chuckles "Too bad he got the rest of my looks. He doesn't know I'm his father though..."

"Sadie didn't told him!? And you didn't say either?!"

"I needed to process everything..."

"And? What are you thinking of doing now?"

"Wait for the sentence."

"What?!" He's thinking about the sentence before his kid?!

"Jimbo... what if I get years of jail? Or worst, get hanged. Do ya think I should tell the lad I'm his father when I won't even be able to be there for him?"

"Silver... you are not going to get hanged you'll see! But... prison... I can't be too sure..."

He smiles weakly "Lad, let's stop talking about this... let's order something."

"My treat" I respond

Sadie

I look through the window to the dinning room, I spot John and Jim, talking and having a meal together... Life could be like this, but I doubt my mom will even let him visit the inn anymore, even if he gets freed. I want Nathaniel to have a father... but John needs to get his mind and stuff together, figure out what he wants to do with me and my... our son.

"Mommy" Nathaniel comes into the kitchen and grabs my skirt

"What's wrong baby? Mom's very busy."

"Grandma told me to not think of dad anymore, and never become like him... that he's mean and cruel..."

"What?!" I personally also don't want Nathaniel to be a pirate, but to do this?! Speak ill of John? To make him hate him!?

"Is it true?..." He looks like he's about to cry

I put the spoon down and pick him up "Nathaniel... is true that your father did questionable actions, but he redeemed himself, he mended his mistakes. I know you don't understand now. But one day... you will. Please don't hate him" I hug him tightly.

"Ok mommy..."

After the lunch rush I went up to John who was talking to Jim. As I sit down I can feel the glares and hear the whispers

"See I told you she knew him"

"He looks like the boy"

"You don't think he's"

"Probably it is"

I shake my head to ignore it and say hi to both of the men in front of me

"Hey sis, have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah, don't worry..."

"I was talking here with ya brother, lass ya must be proud of him. In just a short time he's already at the top of the world. Didn't I say the boy had greatness in him?"

Jim blushes as I smile "He's still a maggot to me" I joke

"Hey I'm taller than you now. A lot taller"

"I know I know. Look Jim, can you leave us alone for a minute?"

"Sure, you know I brought a souvenir for Nate. I'm going to see him"

I nod. Once we're alone I face John "So..."

He grabs my hand "Sadie...ya know I love ya. I truly do..."

I jerk his hand away and avoid looking him in his eyes "I told you John... You have absolutely no obligation to either me or Nathaniel... "

"Now listen here" His eye turns red I hold my breath "Now what kinda of man do ya think I am? I'm going to be there for the lad, don't ya dare think otherwise!"

"John..."

"Ya can't tell the lad I'm his father yet..." He says in a soft voice

"Why?" I don't sound surprised or hurt... just expressionless

"I don't know what the sentence will be... I'm confidant that it won't be too harsh but... if it's too long I don't want the kid growing up seeing his pop behind bars... He doesn't need that"

I hold his flesh hand "John... whatever happens, no matter how difficult it will be, both me and Nate will get through it... It can't be worst than when he was born" I give a weak chuckle

"Ya know lassie? A few years back I visited you at the hospital, was that when..."

I nod "Yes... it was awful, both Nate and I almost died"

He looks so sad "I'm so sorry Sadie, I didn't know... what happened?"

"I was growing more than I should, the doctors thought it was due to the fact that ursid fetus grown bigger than human ones. When I went in to give birth they realized it was due to the water was too much and the lungs didn't develop right... he was there for so long... the doctors didn't think he'd survive..."

"Is anything wrong now?" He asks obviously worried.

I smile "No, he made an excelent recovery, sooner than anybody expected, but well they didn't think he'd make it in the first place."

"How about ya...? What did happen to you, ya seemed like you went to hell and back in the hospital bed."

"Thanks" I chuckle "They had to do a C-section, I was awake for so many hours that they had to medicate me so I'd sleep, it was awful"

"I'm so sorry i wasn't there for ya..." He seems to feel so...guilty

"John, it's not your fault. You know the flower...? I kept it... I also kept the letter in the compass" I say as I show him the compass around my neck in a chain.

He smiles "Ya figured out the letter?"

I shake my head, smiling "No... actually... Nathaniel was playing with it when he was in my arms, he was 1 year old at the time and opened up the secret middle layer"

"The lad is smart like ya..." He smiles like he did back at the galley...loving and sweet...

"And strong like you..." I leaned in and kiss him not caring about the old ladies' opinions on the matter, ignoring every gasp and whispers around us... I love him...

Jim

"James Pleiades Hawkins!" Mom calls me, what did I do now?

"Yes mom...?" I say a little scared... Pathetic right? Being scared of your own mother at 23 years old.

"You lied to me!" He grabs my ear

"OUCH, What do you mean?"

"Nathaniel's father! Is not someone who got caught between the pirates! He was the PIRATE LEADER!"

Mom lets go of me "Mom! You don't know him, not like Sadie and I do! He taught me how to be a man! If it weren't for him... I would still be a loser, a screw up just like dad!"

"He lies! He didn't change! He could have become a good man but kept stealing!"

"You don't know what he did mother... but you soon will"

I turn away from her and go up to Nate's room

"Hey little guy!"

"Uncle Jim" He comes running to me and I pick him up "Hey brought you something!"

"What?"

I put him down and take off my backpack a small black captain's hat. I bought it cause it reminded me of Silver's "So cool! Thank you uncle Jim!" He hugs me

I understand what Silver says when he tells me he doesn't want Nate to know just yet... he might spend a long time in prison, but then I remembered... I can suggest Monstressor's Men State prison for him!

A small prison for men who are criminals but also family men. Nice enough for his kids to visit...Maybe, if he wants to stay for Nate he'll agree to that prison...

Maybe...

Author's note

So what do you all think? Are enjoying so far? Please review :3 ^^