"Pete was able to find a nearby ship, and we soon received help," Calico wrote. Kwazii continued reading on, eyes scanning from line to line, word to word. Completely numb. "They immediately took me to the hospital. The captain of that ship radioed the Coast Guard, and they actually had a helicopter come out and take me to the emergency room. Throughout it all, Amelia stayed by my side, a pillar through all of this.

"...It was difficult, to put it lightly. I had to get used to walking again, using a wooden peg leg. It would hurt like crazy; still does, sometimes. I also have to wear an eye patch. Though I guess it makes me look more like a pirate, so that's something good, at least. Amelia says I should try to find the good things in life, so I'm trying. It's quite hard, though.

"'Bánaithe' means 'Desolate,' and the Bánaithe Serpent definitely holds up to its name. I don't know how to describe it, but it does something to you. I don't know how true it is, but it seems to me that it takes the biggest part of you as it's own, leaving you empty and with want. I have seen a pirate who was once known as the smartest pirate in the seven seas, but now sits near a building in a port, shouting and muttering like a lunatic. I've met another, who used to be strong, so strong that he could lift five tables with one paw. Now, he's been paralyzed and will never be able to lift anything again. And as for me, it took away my love of adventure, and love of life itself.

"And it's not like the Serpent literally takes it away." His handwriting was more scrawled, as if he was hurrying, as if he was trying to take this off his chest as fast as he could. Because he may not have the courage to write it again. "My own actions and weaknesses brought this on myself. For me, it was gradual. I couldn't shake off the Serpent from my mind. I couldn't look forward to another adventure. After a while, the color seemed to be sucked out of everything.

"The attack had got me thinking about my life, in ways worse than I wanted.

What was the point of it all, when eventually I'll die? What was the point, when I'll be forgotten? I'm just a cat on a boat in an empty sea. What legacy am I leaving behind? I'm not even making a difference. I'm well known, sure; but only as the eccentric pirate, the one who's different. I know that there are tales out there that make me seem dumb, and strange, and inexperienced. It's all because I'm not like them, I'm not willing to cross the line.

"But I'm not making a difference either. I'm just looking for treasure; that doesn't mean anything. But the worst part is that it's the biggest thing that makes me feel alive. I can't do anything else, because if I stop being a pirate, my life would then become a straight line, gray.

"And, I'm ashamed to write, my thoughts from then on turned darker. 'Wouldn't it be better that I get death over with? That's the only thing that is sure in this life, and nothing even matters anyway.'

"Sadly to say, I... had begun considering to end my life."

Kwazii dropped the book. It fell on his legs, kept perfectly open, taunting him.

"Calico Jack, me own Granddad, wanted to end his life?" he couldn't help but whisper in shock. Kwazii wiped his face with a paw, keeping back the wetness that tried to escape. He knew it was alright now, that Calico didn't do it; but it was still a stab in the gut. He had not known this side of him at all; but then again, he was always a child when Calico Jack visited, and the adventure in the Amazon River didn't allow Calico to tell him anything about it. And why would Kwazii need to know?

But now it was staring at him in the face, and he didn't know how to handle it. The one he had looked up to for so long wasn't perfect, but Kwazii was old enough to understand that. But he couldn't shake off that feeling of grief forming in his chest. Imagine what Calico experienced, the feelings he had, the thoughts that ran amuck in his Granddad's head... Kwazii's paws curled into fists when his thoughts turned to the Serpent.

That monster! he thought, How dare he turn the most life-loving, adventure-seeking, swashbuckling cat in the whole world into this? I'm glad this beast is not around anymore to hurt anyone else. The Captain was attacked, but he didn't seem to be any different. The curse of the Bánaithe Serpent hadn't fallen on him, thank goodness.

He picked up the book and continued reading. He couldn't go to bed now. He had to know how it ended, how Calico was able to keep himself from falling over the brink…

Calico looked out over the water, his paw touching the ship's rail. The night was still. There was no wind at all, yet small waves gently lapped against the boat. The moon illuminated everything, making it easy for him to see what he was doing.

The rope was tied around his waist. The box of cargo was tied as well. It wouldn't take long; the box was heavy enough to drag him down like a drop.

He lifted the box with a grunt and set it on the railing. It stayed there, balanced on the wide-enough support. He then lifted himself up, holding on to one of the ropes that was attached to the sail.

The view really was beautiful, especially covered in the pearly whiteness of the full moon. He let out a deep breath and was about to finish the job before he heard a voice.

"Calico?"

The voice was only too familiar. Of course it was; it was the only other voice on this quiet ship in this lonely sea. He sighed, his shoulders drooping. He didn't want her to be here.

He turned to see his pirate wife, standing stock still on the deck. The moon accented her silhouette, but shadows covered her face.

"What are you doing?" she shrieked.

She pulled him down unceremoniously, making him stumble, before putting both paws on his arms. He could see her face now, this passionate face that he always loved, now scrunched up in fury and pain. He couldn't handle it. He looked away.

"What are you planning? Were you going to jump?! Calico, why would you do this?"

He kept looking away. She shook him, but he only limply moved.

"Answer me!"

He didn't.

He was glad his boy wasn't here, that he had grown up and moved out of the ship. Imagine if he would have heard this, their parents fighting, the yelling. What would he think of him?

"You've been different recently," Amelia didn't let up, but her voice was quieter. "Ever since that Serpent attacked."

"How could I be the same?" he finally answered softly, numbly. His eye socket burned. He directed at his leg.

Amelia closed her eyes, tightened her grip on his shoulders for a second. She was in pain. He hated it.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Calico, don't worry about me. If you're feeling this bad, and you are, then talk to me."She was so earnest. Her voice choked; her eyes pricked. "I don't want to lose you..."

He brought her to his arms. She hugged tightly back, trying to compose herself but failing. He hated seeing her like this; he hated being so down. But he needed to go. It was like a fact in the universe, as plain as that moon over the horizon.

But he didn't want to hurt her. So he did as she asked and talked to her, finally expressing his listlessness, his fear, how his more friendly pirate way of life kept him an outsider. Outside of common life and normal creatures because he's a pirate; ostracized from pirates because he wouldn't hurt anyone. What he did didn't even matter, and he was filled with pain. Nothing mattered.

"You do matter," Amelia said. At this point, they were in the hull, sitting at the kitchen table. She had taken that blasted rope off of him. "You changed my life; I wouldn't be where I am today without you. I was just a cat who tried to follow her dream, have a life of adventure. But without crossing the line. And you made that possible. Right when those murderous pirates were gonna do me in. Remember, Calico?"

He did remember. The memories came back to him, flooding his mind with how they first met at the port, when they shared their hopes and dreams, when they went on their first expedition.

"And we found Pete, who's with us now and is enjoying life too. And we have our son, who has his own wife now. And we're going to be grandparents." Yes, Calico's daughter-in-law was expecting. "We've changed their lives. You changed our lives. That's gotta count for something."

He wasn't really convinced; it must have shown on his face.

"Think of your grandson that is going to be born,' she said. 'He would love to meet his Granddad!'

His heart softened a little. "I... I'm being honest, Amelia. I don't know if I can even last that long."

Amelia swallowed, but then her eyes were filled with determination. "Try for that long. If you still want to die by the time he's born…then I'll let you do it." Her eyes teared up, but they were still resolute.

She was playing a gamble; they both knew it. But he was one to play high stakes, and he couldn't say no to those teary eyes, so he agreed.

It was excruciating. Amelia didn't tell anyone else about Calico's plight, even to their relatives; and Calico never brought it up. He constantly thought about death, felt the pull of the waters calling to him. But he kept his word, and he trudged on. Eventually, as the weeks and months went by, the pull went softer. It became bearable.

And when he saw his grandchild, it was like a moth to light.

"I focused on him, when he was born." Calico wrote. "He was so small! Barely with any fur, which is normal for kittens. Yet some of his orange coat was already growing in. I remember visiting him when he came into the world. His paw was so small that it could wrap around my finger. It was precious, seeing the new life in that hospital. My own son and his wife were beaming. In all three of their young faces I was reminded of the fun and good things in life, and was reminded of how easy it was to be taken away. And in that moment I decided to live, to live for my grandson, for Kwazii, and to protect in him that enthusiasm and life that I had once forgotten."

While later on, I decided to live for you, Kwazii thought among his tears. He couldn't keep them back anymore, and they silently slid down his face.

"It's still hard," Calico wrote. "But I'm feeling more and more like myself each day. I have things to live for, and I can feel joy in life again. But I know that I wouldn't be here today without Amelia finding and helping me. If it had even been a half hour later... I can't even think about it.

I owe Amelia everything, and I love her so much."

A/N: Amelia making a gamble like that is very dangerous. They were in the middle of the ocean, so Amelia didn't have time to get help.

It's better to get professional help, if possible. There are suicide hotlines you can call. Or you can call an ambulance or visit the emergency room, if it is really dire.