A/N: Ah here it is! Two days late and I'm so very sorry for that! College has been very hectic lately but break is soon. Thank you to everyone who keeps reading this and supporting it. You all are so wonderful and I'm so grateful. Thank you!

"Then this ol'sap here saves the damn thing!"

"Oh tosh Ben, jus' to put her back on an island."

"Thatch here saved the poor wench to let her die on an island."

"Aye can't let a woman on me boat now can I? Oi Kenway get me another ale won't ya lad?"

Edward merely tossed him a glare, going back to smiling at the pretty ginger in his lap. She had nice big tits, her skin felt so soft beneath his fingers and most importantly she looked like Caroline. Oh his sweet Caroline, he should have been home a few months back and had written to her pleading for longer than two years. He was a pirate now, sailing with Edward Thatch for the time being but another captain was talking of sailing close to Havana and he was sure he'd have to catch his ship soon.

Pressing his lips to the whore's neck he gently pushed her off, getting up to fetch his friend some more ale. They were in Nassau, reports had come in, and sure enough the British had left the city. Thatch and Hornigold had sailed here with the hopes of claiming this piece of land for the freedom of the black flag. Edward was with them for sure, perhaps he could bring his wife here and they could have a family where their children could be free and he'd have all the gold he could want.

As he handed the mug of ale to Thatch the sound of a rowdy crew came in and he stood, grabbing his friends shoulder. "Thought you said Vane didn't want nothing to do with this plan?"

"He doesn't, not till we claim it. Devil who is captaining these men?"

A large Frenchmen walked in, laughing along with the crew of mixed races. Black men, brown men, and white men all were a part of this crew, something Edward didn't see most days. He took it upon himself to welcome the pirate captain, hoping to get him on their side.

"Good evening lads! Have some ale and you sir we'd like to talk to you if you don't mind."

"Me? Why?"

"We have a plan here, and as the captain you-"

"Ah sir, I'm no captain."

Edward heard Ben cuss under his breath and Thatch laugh, turning to glare at them until he saw who Ben was staring at. In came someone he'd only heard stories about but he was sure this man was the demon that was whispered through all ships alike. If rumors were to be true he could take down fleets with his one ship, board a ship by himself by only talking to the captain, and apparently in the fog his ship will disappear, striking foes down by never being seen. James Kidd was a captain they needed to join them, he might be just a boy but he'd made a name for himself the past year.

Edward didn't approach him, leaving the Frenchman to laugh at him before leaving to grab more rum. He for one went down to sit with his friends, watching the young lad glance their way before making his way to the pretty ginger whore he had left alone at the table. Edward groaned, he had paid her already and there was she sitting in Kidd's lap and whispering things in his ear, it would take him walking over there and getting her to get what he paid for.

"Have you met him?"

"No but I know enough about the bastard son of William Kidd. Don't let your temper loose around here Kenway I'm sure he'd shoot you," Ben said.

"Aye lad, let the whore go there be plenty more. We need him, if he came to Nassau we could make our Pirate Republic something to be feared," Thatch downed his second ale, leaning back and scratching as his short black beard.

Edward wasn't so sure this fear about a teenage boy was something to be true. So with Ben and Thatch watching he stood up, downed his last bit of rum so he was feeling nice and warm and made his way back to his whore. James Kidd had his hands on her hips, and he watched her play with a braid he had falling out of his stupid bandanna.

"Oi, your Kidd right"

"Aye and your Edward Kenway. Pirate turned privateer who rides on Edward Thatch's ship and walks 'round like a captain himself. What can I do for ya?"

"I'd like my whore back, I paid for her time. Surely a man like you can understand."

"M'not forcing her to stay here," James laughed, kicking out the chair across from him and pointing to it. Edward sat down, watching James whisper something to the whore and she left them to go to the bar. "I heard ya and your friends want to make this place ya own."

"We do."

"I want in."

"Absolutely not."

"Excuse me? I know ya friends want me."

"How do you know that?"

"Heard them, talk to loud ya lot do. Need a louder tavern to talk of secrets like that."

"Don't think you got me though Kidd, I don't like you."

"Ya only jus' meant me. Ya pissed and ya annoyed your whore wants me. Well it's a good thing then tha' I don't want her. Now go run up her skirts like a child, I got to go talk to ya friends."

Kenway sat in silence watching Kidd excuse himself and walk over to where he had been sat with his friends. He might have let it go if he realized other pirates around him were snickering. Had he just been told off by a mere boy? It didn't help his pride watching Thatch clap Kidd on the shoulder as they spoke. His whore came back but Edward shoved her aside, walking straight over to James Kidd and did the most logical thing in his mind.

"Edward! Jim here thinks he can help us," Ben smiled to them and then stood up as Edward grabbed James and slammed him against a wall, glaring at him. He heard the scrape of chairs and felt hands try to pull him off but he fought them, elbowing whoever it was.

"Who the fuck do you think you are."

"Could say the same to ya, only just met you."

"I don't need to listen to come child."

"Aye but that child's more a man than you'll ever be," Edward remembered trying to punch the boy but whoever had been behind him slammed a cup of ale over his head and his world turned to black.

Edward woke with a startle, listening to the sound of metal bring rung against a stone over and over again. He felt overly hot and his body felt too heavy. It had been such an odd thing to dream about, the first time he met Mary. He listened to the sound of the metal before coughing eyes finding Mary in the faded darkness around them. Sun was filtering in through cracks and the one busted window, Mary sat in the sunlight her hair tied up loosely though a few pieces of braiding fell over her shoulder and she was bent over all of their blades sharpening them. He realized he had a blanket over him and he threw it off only for the metal to stop and he watched Mary crawl over to him and re-tuck him back in.

"Who am I?"

"What?"

"Kenway."

"Mary Read, get the blanket off."

"No, you're hot with fever your wound has festered. Ya been crying out Kidd's name all night and trying to punch me when I'd try to comfort ya."

"Mm, you comforted me? Did we kiss?"

"Ya fist kissed my lip yeah," She sighed, reaching over to his arm and peeled off his bandages and he groaned in pain, looking over only to feel her hand press over his eyes. "Don't ya worry 'bout this. Let me change them and I'll get ya some more water."

"I punched you?" He asked turning his head to the side so she could drop her palm and go back to unwrapping his arm. "M'sorry Mary, had the oddest memory back when we first met."

"Not the first time ya punched me though this time I was a bit shocked. Hold on this is gona hurt," He felt air hit his wound and the smell of something foul and it turned his stomach. The next thing he knew pain soared through his arm and he felt Mary straddle his lap holding his chest against the wall with her hip. "Kenway hold still."

"The fuck are you doing? Pouring hot wine over it? You're burning me!"

"M'bout to kill ya if ya don't stop bitching. Its hot rum, nearly boiled and it has to be done. We don't have medicine and Cilly was nice enough to help me prepare this, got herbs in it as well," He looked over to her, tears forming in his eyes as his mouth fell open into a silent scream as she poured more over his arm, lifting his arm up so it didn't roll down his skin. "It's my fault, I didn't clean it proper last night and now it's gone and got infected."

"Nonsense I'm the one who got shot," Edward kept taking deep breaths, eyes staring up at Mary who did indeed have a busted lower lip. He felt a soft cloth pat his skin dry and soon dry bandages were being wrapped around his bicep. She was so concentrated in her work that he ended up staring at her and when she looked back he got graced with the sound of her laughter. "You're beautiful."

"Says the lad with a fever, let me wrap it once more and tie it up."

"You are Mary."

"Ya keep saying that and it's nice and all but I don't want to hear it."

"Why?" He questioned, watching her tie off his wrap and when she moved to get off his lap he wrapped his arm around her waist with his good arm. If she wanted to move she could, he didn't have much strength but she just sighed and leaned down, laying her cheek on his shoulder.

"Not used to it is all, don't want to be used to it. Ya burning up Kenway."

"I'll be fine, I got a lovely person to help me don't I?"

He smiled when she sat up, and leaned in pressing her lips to his own and could have sworn he felt her smile against his lips. "M'going to get you water."

"Can't you just kiss me some more? I think I feel better."

"I tell ya what. Ya get through this fever for me and I'll let ya kiss me till ya hearts content."

"You're too worried about this, it's just a fever Mary," Edward said feeling her go rigid and stand up, reaching down around them and yanked his coat up over his shoulders before walking away from him in silence. She bent down to pull her own coat on, to cover up her thin frame and threw another blanket at him and put more sticks on the fire. She was agitated and he wasn't so sure what he had said to upset her. "Mary come on lass come back down and talk to me."

"Ya need water," Was all she snapped at him as she reached up to tie her hair up, pulling it back in her bandanna. Edward watched as she came over to him, reaching over and picked up a glass bottle and he grabbed her hand only to have it be ripped away. "Stop it."

"You stop acting like this."

"Ain't acting like anything."

"Yes you are, we were kissing and then flirting and you start acting like this."

"Maybe ya should think before you speak."

"What?"

"Jaysus Edward can ya be any stupider. Only just a fever right? You'll be fine? Fever nearly killed me mate. So maybe it's a bit important to me," Mary yanked away from him, opening the door to the shed before slamming it shut leaving Edward to lean against the wall and stare at the fire.

"Nearly four hundred men swear their alliance to Nassau, we're getting there," James Kidd got up, helping Edward carry a very large crate of rum over to where Thatch and Ben were seated.

"Aye British are all out for now tis all but ours boys!" Thatch cheered, grabbing a bottle as soon as the crate was sat down in front of him and uncorked it, spitting the cork at Ben's face which earned him a glare.

Edward sat down next to Thatch before Kidd could, shooting the lad a glare which only earned him an eye roll from the other. "We need women now, got our rum to celebrate."

"Only thing ya think about is whores," Kidd mocked him, tossing Ben a bottle before grabbing his own and downed some of the amber liquid.

"I also think of gold and rum. I've never even seen ya with a lass Kidd. Fancy men?"

"I assure you I have my lasses, I just do it in private."

"Kidd's got a point Edward, wasn't too happy to find ya stark naked laying behind the church with two wenches by your side sleeping this morning."

"Was a hell of a party Ben, should have been there."

Kidd stood, tossing his bottle towards Edward who caught it and glared. Thatch only clapped him on the back and waved goodbye to their friend who said he had an appointment to attend.

"Ya so sure you should be goin off to Havana tomorrow? Don't like tha' captain."

"I'll be fine, I thank you for your worry but he's saying we're chasing a ship with a nice load of treasure."

"And you believe that? You're a right idiot aren't ya Kenway," Ben roared, grabbing his pipe and lite it up, passing it around as each of them took a puff. Edward inhaled the sweet smoke as he stood up, passing it down to his friends.

"Got you two your rum, I'm off to be in the arms of some pretty ladies before setting sail in the morning. I'll see ya two soon." He waved them goodbye as he stood brushing off the sand on his ass and found his way to the brothel deep in town, winking to the pretty ladies who stood against the entrance. He made his way into the building which reeked of perfume and smoke, grabbing a pretty red head who was giggling madly in his arms.

"Where can I find Ms. Rose for the evening?"

"Oh she's with another tonight, sorry Edward. Why don't you let me warm you up?"

"Who took her? I thought she agreed to be with me?" He gently nudged the girl off, making his way up the steps to where the whore Rose stayed. He was fond of her, she was a pretty blond thing with a nice set of tits and knew how to work her hands. Edward had come over here this morning to agree that she would be ready for him tonight and he was going to find out who had paid more than him to see her.

He opened her door, and what he found left him with his jaw dropped. She was sat on her bed, naked with her legs wide open and a man whose coat was thrown away had his face between her legs and by the way she was gasping he knew what he was doing. He froze as the lad turned around and gave him a shitty smirk, a smirk he had grown to know. James Kidd rose wiping off his mouth with the back of his hand as he walked away from Rose and over to the door where he stood.

"Can I help ya Kenway?"

"How…I..I paid for her."

"I paid double, find ya self another girl mate. M'a bit fond of Rosie here, but ya leaving tomorrow right? Go three doors down to the right, think of it as a peace offering."

"For what?"

"Our friendship, see ya soon Keway," James shut the door and Edward sighed, rubbing his face. He walked down, counted each door till he found the third one which was shut and he opened it. Inside he expected to find anything but what he found. Four woman, with black hair as dark as night laid on a bed all smiling to him.

"Hello Edward," They called out, and Edward decided maybe James Kidd wasn't so bad after all.

Edward moved in his sleep, his whores turned into Templars which he killed winning over his home. He laid on a tree near the beach, closing his eyes only to hear a nagging sound begin.

"Wake up Kenway," Edward could still feel the breeze coming off the coast from the Great Inagau as he slept on the tree, listening to Kidd nag him.

"What do you want Kidd?"

"Kenway," He felt a sharp jab in his ribs which caused him to open his eyes, the cool breeze melted into the heat from the fire and the layers of blankets over him. Kidd wasn't standing there with a stick but Mary with her coat off, shirt open so he could stare at her cleavage, holding two cups with no stick in sight. "Come on lad, drink for me."

Edward reached up and took the glass jar from her, sipping on the cool water and watching Mary sit down in front of him. She reached across and felt his forehead, frowning at how warm it still felt. He set the water down, taking the other cup that smelled of broth and tasted like heaven. "They made if for ya, said it has some herbs and chicken in it. Stop gulping, slow slips now."

"M'sorry, 'bout saying it was only a fever. Been having dreams of you when we first met ya know? Back when Nassau was still waiting for us to take her. Thatch is there, smiling and laughing…I miss him so Mary. Seeing Kidd and him sitting together, and you were dead but you're here and-"

"Stop ya rambling. Kenway. M'here alright? Annie said you used to dream about the prison right?"

"You died every night in my arms. Didn't matter how fast I ran, if I wrapped ya in a blanket, or if I sat with you in the cell waiting to die with you. Every night you would leave me," Kenway closed his eyes, setting the half empty broth down and pulled the blankets tighter against his skin as a chill went through him.

"That couldn't have done much for ya mind. Thatch went the way he would have wanted I suppose. Blowing up with his ship, but we have to move on for him. You should of moved from me ya know, I don't like thinking I could have been the reason ya never were happy again," Mary pulled her knees to her chest, toes wiggling on the top of Edwards legs as she sat in front of him. "Ya should sleep some more."

"No, every time I sleep I just see old memories. At least now you're here lass," Edward picked up his broth again and went back to sipping it, watching Mary fiddle with the end of her sleeves. "I want to go to the sea, I feel filthy."

"Ya need to sleep some more Kenway, I'm here."

"Mary please," he shoved his blankets off, watching her stand up and he took her hands, using her to lift himself up.

"Not for long, and ya need to take ya clothes off so you have something dry to wear."

"You want to see me naked eh? I knew one day you'd realize ya want me."

"Always wanted ya," Edward turned to look over to her in shock, watching her laugh and shove him towards the door. "Come now Kenway, let's bask in the moonlight."

"What do you mean you want me?" Edward reached over and took her hand, watching her look down before lacing their fingers together as she helped him towards the beach, passing the smoldering embers of the white mansion.

"Always fancied ya, prettiest man I ever did meet. But ya pride kept me away. Couldn't stand ya for so long, then when I saw ya had the sense I knew you had something in ya to be a good man."

"So if I wasn't so greedy we could have, you would have let me in your life?"

"Maybe, past is the past though. Come on, she's calling for ya to take a swim," Edward stood with his feet in the foam, watching waves crash farther out and feeling the sand slip away from around him and covering his feet. He felt Mary tug at the bottom of his shift and he lifted his arms, letting her slip it over his head and watched as she folded it up and laid it on the dry sand. "Rule number one Kenway, no touching me while ya have a fever."

"We've been touching."

"Ya know what I mean, don't be an arse," He smiled tugging at his trousers and slipped them off, watching her lift her shirt over her head and he stared, feeling much like a young boy seeing a woman for the first time. Edward knew a line was crossed when she tugged off her own trousers and walked over to him as naked as the day she was born and shoved him down into the sand. "Fever or no, stop ya staring. Come on, time for a swim."

"Float, don't think I can swim," He felt tired as he grabbed her hand to help lift him up and they walked into the surf, diving underneath the crashing waves to get past the rough water to the gentle rocking of the ocean. He rolled onto his back, flowing as the sea rocked him and soon felt hands grab his shoulders, feeling her hands slide down over his chest. "Mary."

"Edward."

"Thought you said no touching."

"Making sure ya stay up."

"Know how to swim."

"Ya sick, stop fighting with me. Go back to being submissive."

"I have never been submissive to you."

"Oh?" He heard her laugh and he sat up, treading water and wrapped his good arm around her waist, kicking up as he watched her laugh, her arms around his neck.

"Ya have always listened to me. I keep you sensible."

"Should have listened to you ages ago, maybe you wouldn't have ended up in the prison."

"Stop this, not ya fault. I'm alive now, just been away from ya for awhile."

"Two years," He whispered, leaning in to kiss her but felt her shove him away and swim back over to the beach. She laid down where the water washed up in the sand, and beckoned him over. Who was he to deny a beautiful, naked woman lying in the sand? He was soon by her side, laying his cheek on her chest as she rubbed his back.

"Ya burning up still mate, let's get back. Feel cooled down?"

"My arm is on fire."

"Been using it to much, herbs in the broth must have numbed ya pain for a bit. "

"I do feel cooler though, but seeing ya here is making me hot again."

"Time for clothes then," He frowned, reaching up and placing his hand on her stomach and felt Mary groaned, feeling her shove him off gently as she walked up to their clothing. She was brushing the sand off her legs as she pulled her trousers up and he shuffled on over, letting her help him get dressed as he poked at his bandages.

"They're soaked in salt water, gona need changing."

"Nonsense, when the numbing is gone ya can feel the burn."

"Stop being cruel I'm sick."

"Ya keep saying that when it's convenient to ya. Why haven't they come back with Annie and Jenny yet? Or brought the Jackdaw into this cove? Been gone all day they have."

"Who again?"

"Two slaves who offered to help me, been making friends."

"Never knew you were so friendly."

"Bit fond of people who need my help, haven't ya learned that yet? Come on time to get ya back to the fire and warm ya up. I'll go see if Cilly has more broth," Mary put her arm around his shoulder, helping him along to their make shift home. She was right, if those two slaves had left this morning they should be getting back by now.

"Think Jenny is okay?"

"M'sure Annie wouldn't let nothing happen to that lass. She's a bit fond of children."

"She'll be a good mother one day eh?"

"Aye, come on lay down," Mary opened the door to their shed, reaching up and brushing some leaves from the opening in the ceiling in the hut and got the fire going as Edward climbed down into his nest of blankets, curling up in them and leaning against the wall.

"Last night did I…did I try to fuck you?"

"All in ya head Kenway," Mary sighed, sitting next to him and laid her cheek in his shoulder, reaching over and shoved water back into his hands. "Drink."

He put the cup to his lips as their door was slammed opening, looking over as Mary stood up holding a knife towards it as no one but Anne Bonny ran in, her head was bleeding as she was coming in with a limp. Mary ran to her, helping her stand and moved her to sit next to him where she had just been.

"Annie what's happened?"

"I'm so sorry," She stared at him, ignoring Mary as she reached across and held on to his hand, letting Mary poke at her forehead as it was cleaned up. "Oh I'm so sorry Edward."

"Anne what's the matter?" He asked, handing her the water he was supposed to be drinking, feeling a bit dizzy.

"They took her, the Jackdaw."

"WHAT?" He screamed, giving her a look of horror as Mary reached over and slapped his cheek, sending him a glare.

"Tell us slowly Anne, you're in shock."

"They killed half the crew and the two men you sent to get us, we were packing Edward some clothes heard he was shot. I got most of them but they…they found her, I hid her in a barrel and they grabbed her out and I agreed to get off the ship if they would let her live."

Mary's face fell, dapping Anne's forehead, "Who were they? Where's Jenny?"

"I don't know, they just looked like normal men nothing special but they fought like they were trained. They gave me a letter addressed to you Mary, here," She reached into her coat, handing Mary a letter only Edward grabbed it, tearing the wax seal in half. Whoever had taken his daughter and his ship was going to regret the day they were born. As he read the words his head began to pound, shaking it as he crumbled it up, shoving Mary away from him.

"It's nonsense, we have to get home."

"Give me the letter Kenway."

"Mary you're not doing it, I don't care. I'm not losing you again," He snapped to her, tossing the letter in the flames as she stared at it, grabbing his face and glaring at him.

"What it say?"

"If you go back to Ah Tabai I can have my two girls back. He's taken your babe, and mine now."

"I go back?"

"Aye, willing and ready to do what he asks of you."

"Did it say anything about mine?"

"No, but Mary you're not leaving."

"I can get you Jenny back, and the Jackdaw."

"Mary, Edward is right sit down. We ain't letting you go in there alone."

"This is my fight."

"No it's ours," Edward snapped, grabbing her hand and making her look at him. "You're stuck with me till I die. We'll figure this out, together,"