Hi everyone,

Nope, I have not been abducted by pirates (so there's no need for ransom). I'm kidnapped by college work however, which I try to get around and write a bit daily anyway. I promise to have Jack Sparrow in the next chapter to make up for the delay of this one! XD

Chapter 26

Renee stood on the balcony in the fading light, lost in deep contemplation. Not even a delicate gust of wind swirled by to tug her locks gently and blow away lingering melancholy. James imagined it would whisper into observer's ear a sheltered wish to be the wind that can take this kind of liberty. He understood the emotions swirling about her due to the resounding sadness crowding his heart in the wake of the victory that at present seemed hollow. He stepped up to Renee's side, clasping his hands behind his back tight rather than placing them on the railing as she did and directed his gaze along her line of sight to the sea that merged gradually into one with the night.

"That's where they are at peace, James."

He shot her a sharp look, wondering when he missed that moment when his name came off her lips so naturally.

"The Adventure's crew," she insisted, "you're thinking about them."

"Them and their families," he admitted. A true understanding of victory had yet to emerge, sunk beneath the responsibility of dealing with the captured Spaniards and subdued by the reality that so many fine men laid their lives to ensure better future. He thought he handled that duty with an unshakable calm. Apparently, he couldn't hide gloomy thoughts from those who knew him.

"You've done all an honourable man would have done," said Renee. "Captain Peterson will be remembered as a hero by his friends and family due to your effort. Everything else will be left in shadow."

"It's not like Groves to blabber out important secrets," said James demurely. It would have been a betrayal of Captain's trust to share his confession with anyone else.

"Theodore hadn't blabbered. I believe he told me about Peterson intentionally in hopes that I'll be the one to speak to you," said Renee. "You doubt the selflessness of your decision because you question whether it's been made for your own peace of mind. Peterson has been forgiven for his error in judgement. Could you, after making a regrettable mistake, be forgiven as well? By concealing his betrayal and crediting his following actions, you've allowed yourself the redemption along with him."

He should have been crossed to be confronted so with the doubts he refused to discuss. Instead, James felt a gentle stir of pride as she met his gaze steadily, daring him to contradict her deduction. He was a bit responsible for relighting her confidence, after all. Admittedly, ever conniving lieutenant-commander had a point by sending her as the ambassador. "You are ever perceptive," he said, assured that it served him right for choosing good friends.

"And you are ever willing to shoulder all responsibility in the world," she returned the compliment. "Someone ought to chastise you for doing so."

"Are you volunteering for the task?"

"Not at all, I like you the way you are."

Just like that, she urged a hand squeezing his heart to release its painful hold. It shouldn't have been difficult to smile and tell her that he appreciated her too, exactly as she was. Yet, he didn't utter a word.

"Can I make you a cup of coffee?" she asked, turning away from the dimming horizon.

James nodded if only to keep her company longer. The sleeve of her dress brushed his hand, light as a butterfly wing. He offered his arm for her to hold on to out of habit even though she no longer needed it to walk. Yet, each one enjoyed the gesture in secret. It brought them closer, close enough for him to imagine that she could sense his emotions through a brief touch. She picked up on the disquiet that she hadn't fully dispelled.

"When I was little, I wondered why is it that people are left to suffer while they are surrounded by others," she told him seeming distant as she recalled the event, but she did so for him. "Once, when I went to the market with my mother I saw a man trip over a crate and fall. He was crouching down on the ground in pain; meanwhile people ignored his distress, moving around him like a stream around a stone. I've grown to believe it was normal. And then you appeared. Amidst it all, you are the person who stops to help, just as you stopped to help me. Whatever happened to you in the past led you to me. You may regret it, but it saved my life and perhaps my soul. Selfish as it is. How can I possibly be sorry?"

"Never be." He spun her around to face him and looked down into her eyes that were dark and brooding like a swirling surface of a freshly brewed coffee. Black pupils were dilated wide. He leaned closer to catch an unfathomable play of emotions in their depths. "I will never regret meeting you."

Her fingers tightened around his arm in a silent plea to preserve the sizzling tension between them that parted him from reason and rendered incapable of pulling away. He didn't think he would ever witness a woman looking at him this way, especially not her, but the truth spun down undeniably as he leaned in and kissed her.

Unexpectedly as their passion arose, she wasn't surprised, having read the same need in his eyes a moment earlier and met him with greater warmth than James imagined her capable of. The kiss flowed into series of tiny agreements of her hand travelling up his back and a butterfly kisses he trailed along her throat. They were cautious, in no great hurry outlining the boundaries how far they allowed the impulse to carry them, breaking apart sensibly when emotions threatened to overwhelm them.

"Does this mean you still want to go for that walk?" she inquired half-jokingly about their lost date, albeit 'death' wasn't the worst excuse for a cancellation.

"Tomorrow, without a doubt," James promised. "As soon as we attend a short but guaranteed to be interesting ceremony."

"I'm mystified," Renee drawled out indifferently, least James decided to postpone revealing his plans.

"It concerns our mutual friend, Captain Groves," James hinted.

Truly, those were the best news she heard in a month. They didn't laugh, but the amusement and satisfaction that they were sharing a secret knowledge of a joyful event to come was evident in every gesture.

"Shall I assume he has yet to find out that he is a Captain?" Renee inquired awfully sweetly.

"Very much so," James, in contrast, responded with a grave mockery. "I would like to have witnesses present when he does put a finish touch to earning it."

"That does not sound kind, but very much entertaining."

"He shall have what he deserves after all those jokes about the naval chain of command. The Hero needs a Captain. After Groves demonstrated a captivating innovation in battle, using the ship's capabilities, and a most intriguing capturing strategy, I believe they are union in the making."

"That's one way of putting it," said Renee.

When the Spanish ships no longer posed a threat, Groves moved the Hero under his command into the shallower waters where the crews of the defeated party floundered in the water and used large nets to collect the plentiful catch. His crew hauled the sailors up the masts where the nets hung around until the prisoners were ready to be delivered to the brig. Such innovation earned Groves profound curses from the Spanish and admiration of his fellow officers.

"I hope he will demonstrate the same resourceful on his first mission as a Captain," said James.

"Will it be dangerous?" There was a troubled note in his voice she picked up on without knowing that James was worried about her reaction.

"Not necessarily, but I won't be entirely at ease until he comes back with reassuring news. With Port Royal secured, a ship can be spared to run an errand. I believe Theodore will be able to locate your family and pass a letter to them from you." He tightened his arms around Renee in silent encouragement, feeling her shrink into a small, wound up ball of nerves. "The letter needn't reflect your experiences as long as it bears a recognisable mark," he reassured. "Your family must identify that it has been written by you."

"They may not want to see me ever again," she said, trying to escape from an embrace, but he maintained a gentle hold. "The possibility occurred to me a year after my mother's last letter. When my family is lost in the distance of time, I have an illusion that I still have them. I do not want to shatter it."

"You are most unkindly underestimating our cunning Captain. I have every ounce of confidence he will charm his way into your mother's good graces, convincing her that a reunion with a long lost daughter is the best gift a God could bestow, followed shortly by your father's capitulation as he will have no choice but to agree or face the ramifications of his beloved's displeasure."

"Your confidence is enough to surpass the impossible."

"It's because I cannot imagine how anyone can be unhappy with a possibility to have you in their life."

The tension did not ebb away, but Renee kept firm control over desire to hide from pain. It would have done her no good. She dismissed as foolish any impulse to weep and sniffle needlessly for that which could not be changed. It was another small thing to endure.

"Promise me that you will think about the letter," James urged gently.

"I have something better." Renee slid the thin band off her finger, for the first time entrusting the valued possession to another. "Take this ring to my family. If they have any love left for me, they'll return it."