A/N: Holy shit ten chapters. Where did this come from? Thanks for reviewing and reading~ you all melt my fucking heart. If you're reading this, just know I love you to bits.
"Captain?"
"Yes Ade?" Edward Kenway looked up from his desk, maps littered everywhere with his own messy handwriting smothered all over them. He'd been laying out a new plan of attack, he was on a mission to hunt down a treasure ship headed back to Spain in a week's time. The Jackdaw would have to move quickly, they'd have to sail tonight to put them in line to cut the frigate off.
"Pirate hunter on the horizon, man of war."
"I paid our clear name back in Nassau, pay no mind to him."
"He's hunting an ally-"
"Then I'm sorry for the poor sap that has to dea-"
"It's Master Kidd's ship sir, and one of its masts is already down."
"Full sail then, hurry up mate why didn't you just say so?" Edward was up in a moment, his treasure would have to wait then. The alluring Mar Read was in need of aid eh? He's long awaited this moment, to show her just how manly he can be. She'd made a right embarrassment of him in Nassau when he'd drunkenly tried to swoon the beautiful Anne Bonny and get her cloth back. It was time for his redemption.
Edward left his captain's cabin, looked off towards the East were the sound of mortars crackled through the air and his heart sunk to the floor. The beast of a ship was indeed hurt, but Mary's own looked like it was one more cannon ball away from being overrun. He ran up to the helm, sailed straight into the fight and thanked any god who would listen that Mary's ship was fast, always staying behind the English one and blasting it every few minutes or so. He sailed by the two, lowering his main sails to swing the Jackdaw into a full sharp turn to their guns were aiming at the front of the beast.
"Fire!" Wood flew in all directions of them as the cannon fire tore through the ship like kindling. It wasn't long, Mary had been here for a long time, and until the man of war was done its fight and waiting for them board her. He smiled, letting Mary board the left as he took the right, watching as his men through grappling hooks onto the ship and pulled her in close.
He jumped the railing, leaping onto the lift that would bring him to his mast and took aim, firing the scout that had aimed at Mary's men. He looked around franticly, finding the red bandanna with her back to her quartermaster, Jean, as they took on the men that had surrounded them. Edward swung down on a rope, air assassinating the man Mary was about to kill and grinned.
"Having problems today Kidd?"
"Not now Kenway!" Mary glared at him, aiming her pistol towards his face, moving it an inch left and fired at the man who had nearly run him through. "Pay attention mate!"
"Yeah, yeah," He laughed, running off into the fights to protect his men and take this ship down. As more and more men fell the worse the deck was becoming, drenched in the blood or friends and foes. More would come up from the boards and they'd attack once more taking down the officers who wanted him. It wasn't until he turned around, wondering how Mary was doing when he watched her jump from the top deck, arms spread out with a pistol in each and shot two men rushing Jean who had fallen to his knees holding his chest, blood seeping through his fingers.
It was all it took, every last man left in a British uniform fell to their knees before the pirates and Edward sprinted through them, catching his feet in a puddle of blood before stopping away from the sight before him.
"Just hold on, I can fix ya up."
"Captain…I'll be fine," Jean was laying on the ship, and Mary was holding her hand over the wound in his chest. He looked around, the heads were bowed of all the pirates left alive from Kidd's ship as they watched their quartermaster fall. He was a good man, Edward knew that and he turned to find Ade and throught of the idea of losing his most trusted ally on his Jackdaw.
"Just hang with me man, please," Mary's voice cracked and Edward kneeled beside her, grabbing her shoulders as Jean smiled to them both before he gurgled on the blood spilling form his lips and his head fell to the side. Mary fell apart, she had tears running down her face leaving a trail of grime with them.
"James, come on," Edward whispered, trying to pull Mary up with him but instead she threw him off and stood, turning around sharply and walked towards a man on his knees who had a gun laying down beside him. Edward cringed, watching as she threw his hate off and lifted him, slamming him into the broken mast behind him.
Her hidden blade slid into his throat before the body fell to her feet, her foot moved to slam into the body's face. Captain Kidd was a demon, Edward had seen it himself but this was nothing more than an act for bloodlust. "Tie them all up like pigs, throw 'em down below! We loot and it burns!" She screamed out, and he listened to the cheering.
"James isn't this a bit…inhumane?" He asked, only to have her look up at him with a look of disgust before brushing past him and going back to Jean's body. He grabbed Ade, "Look take the men back to Nassau, if I'm not back in a months' time come find me."
"Where are you going captain?"
Edward turned, looking over to where Mary kneeled, Jean's head in her lap as her men went around and murdered every last British soldier on this ship. "Someone's got to fix Kidd, and I'm his best friend."
"You'll miss the treasure ship sir."
"There will always be more gold."
Rhona snored, and it was driving Edward up a wall. The morning sunlight had only begun to filter through the cracks in the walls as Edward laid on his side, his fingers running through Mary's dark hair as she slept by his side. It had been three days since their friend had joined them, and tomorrow morning a ship was coming to take them to wherever Edward wanted to go in search for his two girls.
Anne had informed them both she knew something was up, much to Mary's horror. His pretty siren had turned bright red when Annie asked when they were getting married, and Rhona proudly claimed she had slept with them both. Mary promptly grabbed the nearest bottle and threw it straight at them both before coming back much later that night and crawling down next to him. Edward's arm was healing fairly well but as every day passed he grew more worried over Jenny. She'd come to him to be with her father, and here she was gone from him.
His fingers trailed down over Mary's scar, feeling every little indent when the other glared up at him, slapping his hand away. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and glared over to Rhona as her mouth fell open and a loud roar went through the room. "M'going to get something to eat."
"I'll come too."
"Don't need ya, I'll bring ya food."
"I'm going to be with you, not the food Mary."
"To early for this Kenway," Mary groaned as she reached up and tied her hair up into a tight bun, tying on her scarf before glaring down at him. She looked like James Kidd with tits, he supposed one day he'd be used to this. When she stood up he tried to follow, only to feel her hands shove him back down, sending him a harsh glare. "Sleep, want me to knock ya out?"
"Think I can sleep by myself lass."
"Thought so, ya healing just fine Kenway," She sent him a wink before turning to take her leave, her departure left him with a cold blanket, closing his eyes as he tried to let sleep fall over once more. Though perhaps she was right, soon he heard Anne's voice in what seemed like he had only shut his eyes he soon felt a hand running through his hair. "But why would they take his daughter? She's so innocent and young, he hardly even knows her."
"Sounds to me like someone who knew her wanted to get him."
"Pardon?" Anne's voice asked after Rhona's .
"Someone Kenway knows I mean, what do ya think Read?"
"I think you're still a shit assassin, he's awake. Kenway get up, we're just about packed to leave."
"That's no way to talk to your future husband Read," Edward heard Anne scream no as two bodies hit the floor and he sat up, looking around at what was going on. Anne had been playing his hair, but now she was laughing as Mary pinned Rhona down and was shooting her a firm glare.
"If ya continue to mock the nice thing I have going with Kenway, I will make the next few hours of your life absolutely miserable."
"Lighten up Mary, god your bony get ya knees out of my thighs!" Rhona laughed, throwing Mary off and the other woman stood up, grabbing a bag and threw it at her friend.
"Get 'im dressed, Annie and I have to say goodbye to Cilly. Make sure everything is ready to go in an hour."
"Why do I have to get him dressed? He's a fully functional grown man!" Rhona glared, turning to give Edward a grin. "Fancy meeting ya here Kenway."
"Rhona why is our lovely Mary in such a foul mood."
"Hm…breakfast didn't go so well, she seems to have realized something she fears," Edward raised an eyebrow, reaching over and grabbed the clothing out on the floor and with Rhona's help began to dress himself.
"What's that?"
"That you won't listen to her, and are going to set sail to ya hideout. I tried tellin' her ya have to do what you think is right but ya know her. Got a temper quicker than a match on kindling."
"I won't kill him, Ah Tabai."
"Not about that, it's about she thinks ya should trust her enough not to talk to him."
"Sounds like she avoiding him."
"She's upset ya know? So am I. I don't like the fact that she's been alive all this time yet we didn't know anything. Mary has always had an odd way of avoiding her fears. She used to hide behind James Kidd but now she has to be herself. She hasn't been Mary Read around us before, think it scares her."
Edward shook his head, sliding on his coat and getting up with Rhona. "Just how long have you two been friends?"
"Hm suppose it was when I joined the order, was lost in Tulum and she came by. Handsome lad asking if I needed help, ya can be sure I had her held me all the way to me cot. She trained me too, taught me how to hide and use my vision better than anyone else was able to. Ya can bet my surprise when I went to bed her and found out she didn't have a cock," Rhona laughed, clapping Edward on the back and grabbing a bag, swinging it over her shoulder as the door swung open.
"I do recall ya turning red and shoving me away to have a good cry," Mary laughed, shoving a bowl in Edward's good hand and gave him a firm glare. "Drink it. Cilly says her goodbyes, she's a bit to upset right now to come say it herself. Annie stop ya flirting and let's go."
The journey back to Havana took most of the day, and by the time Edward arrived to the bureau he was truly wiped out. Rhona was helping Anne settle down and he sat next to Mary in front of the fire, eating bread and sipping on broth. She hadn't spoken much on their journey, though he could feel a fire about to burn through her.
"Going to tell me why you look so tense?"
"It's not that big of an issue Kenway."
"You should open up more."
"I am, have been."
"You've told me two stories about Haytham, and they both contradict one another. Which is true?"
"The later, sounds a bit more fun to mumble on about things don't it?"
"I'd rather have the truth."
"Ya getting' it now so shut ya gob man," Mary shot a glare his way, throwing her bread to him. "Eat up."
"You need to eat as well."
"Aye but not as much as you. Where are we goin?"
"Tulum, I have to- Mary get back here."
Edward rose, grabbing her arm and pulling her back to him.
"Why Tulum? I told ya he don't have Jenny! Will ya stop being such a foul man and trust me!"
"No but I have to see so myself! Why are you always questioning me Mary?" Edward shouted back at her, only to watch her yank her arm off and slam the door behind her.
Edward was sailing with her as she had her men dock at an old cove to fix up their ship. A storm was blowing in, a faint rain was starting to fall as she stood at the helm of her ship.
"What I need of all of ya won't be easy, but it must be done. We set our brother to the ocean, where Jean can rest in a peace one day we will all find. A vote must be taken care of as we repair our ship, a vote on quartermaster. I know it won't be an eas-"Her voice faltered as she looked down the length of her boat, seeing Jean sitting at the end and waving to her, his stupid smile on his lips. She walked down the deck, her men giving her an odd look and she listened to Kenway tell them something.
As suddenly as he came, he was gone in an instant. Mary stood there, looking confused as ever when a man grabbed her shoulder and she looked to her cook.
"Captain, you alright lad?"
"M'fine…" She mumbled as he appeared at the entrance of the jungle on the beach. It took one second for her to shove her cook to the side and dive into the ocean, swimming to the beach and hearing someone follow her. Soon she was running over the sand, listening to Edward scream to her.
"James! How much did you drink? Where are you going!?"
Mary sprinted through the jungle, diving underneath branches as her feet guided her through the jungle, chasing after something she could only see. Edward was screaming her name but she didn't care, she had seen him. Jean had been there, she was going to find him if it killed her.
"Mary!"
"Leave me alone Kenway! I didn't ask for ya help!" She shouted back to him, as she ran out of the jungle and the clearing revealed the temple se had been wanting to find, the one where Jean had found out her secret. Turning to look back to see Edward was just about on her she ran forward, running past the fallen ruins until she was at the temple itself and leapt, beginning her climb. It was faint but the blue orb was buzzing forward and she had to catch it.
She was faster than Edward, and she was listening to him struggle behind her as she made her way to the top. The crackle of thunder boomed throughout the air as his fear of a storm was confirmed. It mattered not to her, the only thing that mattered was saying goodbye to her friend. It took an hour, longer than it should have when she finally reached the top and found her orb hovering there. It took the form her him, her dear quartermaster as she fell to her knees and reached out for him.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry."
"Captain you have nothing to be sorry for," Jean smiled, standing in front of her as she looked up to him. The rain had her drenched to the bone as she reached for him and he came down to her, only Jean melted into Edward and she threw him off, standing up and looking around in a daze of panic.
"Mary stop this madness! You act like you've never lost someone before!"
"It shouldn't have been him! Not him! He deserved a life longer than me! Ya don't understand Kenway!"
"I understand completely! You're not the only one who lost their friend Mary! I lost Thatch!" Edward shouted at her and Mary looked over to him just as a bolt of lightning striked the ground just feet away from them and Edward was on top of her, so close their noses were brushing. "We have to get off of this, it isn't safe!"
Mary shoved him off, pushing herself up as they crawled over the ledge and she slid over it, swinging her body into the top chamber of the temple and laid on the floor as Edward swung himself in and stared down at her. He soon was kneeling over her, pulling her falling red bandanna off and laid it beside them as he pulled her up and to his chest. "Lass, you know it's alright to cry."
"Men don't cry, certainly not a captain."
"I cry, I couldn't stop when I watched him die. It doesn't make you weak, it shows your human Mary. No one is here but me lass, let it out." Edward tightened his hold on her and Mary leaned her cheek on his shoulder though her arms still hung by her side.
"He was the first pirate I told, who knew 'bout me. We were here, just a few chambers below. I came here hunting a Templar when I got shot in the chest. He had followed me, my stupid quartermaster. He dragged me I the room and tore my shirt open, then my binding and didn't even so much as blink when my tits fell out. He just took the lead out and stitched me up but I passed out," Mary whispered as Edward began to rub her back.
"He did the right thing, didn't tell your crew did he?"
"No…I woke up to find him making some sorry excuse of a tea with leaves he found nearby. Jean told me his story, how he came about on my ship and worked his way up to be voted my quartermaster by the men on my ship. I liked him don't get me wrong, but I hadn't seen the person he really was until that night when he took care of me. He was kind, compassionate, and an honest man. He wasn't cut out to be a pirate, but he had heard I did a lot of secret work so he wanted to be on my ship. He could collect gold as a free man, but instead of doing a shit ton of pirate nonsense he could help me out on my assassin missions when I needed it."
"But that night when I woke in a fever and my chest aching he didn't once ask me my name or who I was. It was 'Captain Kidd you should lay back down' or 'Captain, sir, you need to drink more tea to stop the infection.' I told him, and he listened to it all. Who I was, that I'm Mary Read a person I sometimes forget I am. All he did was compliment my tattoo and helped me tie my shirt loosely since binding with a wound wouldn't be possible. For the past four years he's been the closest thing to family since I found the assassins. He had a girl he loved, he'd tell me about her when we'd get pissed in my cabin," By now she realized her cheeks were wet and Edward had stopped his rubbing to listen.
"He was going to ask her to marry him two months from now, when I was done with him for this hunt. I asked him to stay with me, that I'd let him go once I was done. I was selfish and now it's cost him his life. What kind of captain am I?" Mary asked as she leaned back, staring over to Edward he reached out and brushed her hair behind her ears.
"A fine one, who trusted a man with your life. A pirate's life is a dangerous one Mary, he knew that."
"And he wanted out, but I asked him to stay! I had no right! I was afraid of sailing without him! Ya don't find men like him Kenway, good honest men who want the best for their crew. I knew if I died hunting that man on the man of war he'd get my crew out and to safety! He wasn't supposed to fall! Not next to me, not by my hand!" Edward looked away from her as she screamed at him, watching him stand he reached out his hand and Mary looked up to him, though she took it.
"Rain's stopped, come here lass."
Mary followed him, as the two of them walked out of the chamber and down the steps until they were outside and the run shone over the ruined temple. Everything was glistening from the quick rain storm as a rainbow was off over the jungle set in the mist, and she felt Edward push her forward.
"He was where he was supposed to be Mary, by your side. He told me enough when I was hurt on your ship all those months ago. He was happiest sailing by your side, being the one you depended on. He respected you more than anyone else, and I'm sure he'd rather die protecting you than find out you died when he wasn't there. Not a day goes by where I don't think of Thatch, and how I miss him. If I would have been quicker would he still be here? We can't ponder these questions lass, we have to accept fate as it happens. He's gone now Mary, and you chasing a ghost won't bring you happiness."
Mary stood next to him, hugging herself as she listened to his words. She looked over the valley they were cradled in, watched life move on as the hallow pit in her chest only grew larger. "I just…I just wanted to say thank you, and goodbye. He was a brother to me," She whispered as she walked over and sat on the edge, looking down towards the ground as Edward sat beside her.
"He knows Mary, I'm sure of it."
If there was one thing Edward hated most about fighting with Mary, it was that she would run off to be by herself. Rhona wasn't helping him, she and Anne had fully taken Mary's side on this one and he had never wanted to be so far away from women in his life. So he took it upon himself to go out looking for her, and soon found her perched up by the beach in a tree smoking a pipe. He climbed up up, stayed a bit away from her but he knew she was watching him.
"I want to talk to you."
"Ya sorry for being an arse, I get it. I'm sorry for questioning your manhood," Mary mumbled as she packed her pipe again.
"It is there, you've felt it."
"Aye, it was rather small though wasn't it? Must be why your ego used to be so large. Compensating for something 'eh Kenway?" She finally turned and looked to him, giving him a small smile.
"You're right you know, usually are."
"Not all the time, just mostly when it comes to ya."
"I saw you, after I thought you'd died."
"Did ya now?" Mary tilted her head to look over to him, lifting her pipe to her lips.
"Aye, I wasn't in a right…state of mind. I saw you and Caroline and you both spoke the truth to me."
"If it makes ya feel better I don't recall finding you while I was sleeping though I did dream of ya."
"I dreamed of you every night and it hasn't been until recently that they have been even remotely pleasant."
"So what did we say to ya?" She breathed out her smoke into circles, leaning back against the tree. Edward couldn't tell if she was amused by his dreaming or rather asking to be nice, though Mary wasn't one to say things for people to think of her fondly. She spoke the honest truth, something he needed.
"She threw it in my face that I had left her, abandoned her for years into chasing my own selfish dream. You though, by God what you said to me shook me to the core. 'There is no one in your life left to care for'…how true those words were. I achieved fame, glory, and gold yet there I stood at the helm of my ship," Edward laughed at himself before grabbing the branch underneath of himself until his knuckles turned white, gritting his teeth. "Courage was what I told myself, what I was fighting for but you were right. I was spiteful, I was greedy, and I've ruined so many lives from it."
"Least you've learned from it. Ya can't sit here and talk about what ya should have done, what could have been. Past is over now Edward, it's time to forgive yourself."
"I can't lass."
"Ya can, come on down," Mary dumped out her pipe, putting it in her coat as she and Edward climbed off the tree. He slid down, watching her land next to him and he sighed, gripping his hands together until he watched her lay her own over his. "If ya wanted pity ya shouldn't be fancy'n me."
"If I wanted pity I would love Annie, I want the reality. I can't forgive myself for what I've done to Caroline, what I've gotten Jenny into, and the pain I must have caused you."
"Tosh ya didn't give me any pain besides a few headaches from how stupid ya were. I may not be all soft words and touches but if there is one thing I can do for ya, it's have your back. I've always been there for ya Kenway, even when ya didn't look for me."
"That's the problem I suppose, I was always looking for you. I hated that you and I didn't run into one another more often when you told me your secret. Whenever we did see each other you were rescuing me or we were off on an adventure together."
"That was spending time together."
"I wish I would have been man enough to tell you how I felt, you scared me shitless lass. How could I ever tell you how I felt without you laughing in my face? Why did it take you coming back to me after death to feel brave again?" Edward whispered his words, a hand coming up to gently caress Mary's cheek.
"Ya know by now, the slight order of our creed. Ah Tabai acknowledged me a few years back as being a master assassin if ya will, very good at what I do but nothing more. Now why would I have to show my tits to some guards' way back in Kingston when I took ya to that manor? Ya may be thinking you're the only one who felt keen on me, but I was very keen on you as well. We all have fears Kenway, perhaps it took my death to show you your own."
"If you wouldn't have died would you have ever told me how you felt?"
"If ya would have joined my creed five years ago would we have been in that prison to begin with?" Her words felt like a slap in his face and Edward cringed, letting his hand fall from her face. "Everything happens for a reason Edward, stop dwelling on the past."
"I can say the same to you Mary. Anne told me what happened on the ship to Port Royal, how they tied you up on a mast and beat you bloody until the sailed to port. But that's not what ruined you, you're the strongest woman I know. Why do you let that prison haunt you?"
"Anne needs to stop running her god damn mouth," Mary crossed her arms, turning to leave but Edward grabbed her, pulling her to his chest as he glared down at her.
"Tell me."
"We came to talk about ya not me. Ya should be thinking about where your daughter is and where we sail first not about my life!"
"You are my life now Mary! Why don't you get that!? I want us to be a family. Jenny, Amara, and you. But that can't happen until you open up!"
"I have opened up Kenway! I told ya bits about me just the other night, about how I joined the creed!"
"Bits though! Exactly what you just said Mary!" Their tempers were flared and as she tried to shove him off he held on, slamming her body into the tree that they had been up moments ago.
"Let me go," Her words were low, her eyes narrowed and she was gritting her teeth. Edward had never seen her so ready to kill him but he was so damn determined to get this information out of her.
"Tell me Mary. Let me help you."
"Forcing me to do anything won't get ya what ya want Kenway. You let me go before I skin ya alive."
"I've helped you before, I got you through Jean's death didn't I? We spent a week together in some bloody temple just so ya could get over it! Why don't you think I can help you with the prison?"
"We have bigger things to be worrying about!"
"We're sailing for home, if you're right and Ah Tabai doesn't have my girls then we go from there!"
"He don't have them, I've told ya this."
"I have to make certain, Mary we're sailing in the morning. Are we going to board a ship with our tempers flared or will you let me help you! It doesn't make you weak," Edward had stopped shouting at her and she had stopped fighting. She simply stared at him, as if she was judging him for holding her against her will.
"They came to Annie and I a few days after they threw us in them cells, just long enough so we were dying of thirst. They had water, and a half loaf of bread for us both only they went into Anne's cell. She screamed and cried and I told them to stop what they were doing to her, and come for me instead. Ya seen Kenway," She spat his name like a dirty word, throwing him off of her as his grip had loosened in shock that she was finally telling him. "I'm not soft, I don't have nice big tits or motherly hips that can swoon a man into telling me what he wants just by watching me walk. I've got one thing that makes me a woman and that's all they needed. I told them if they'd leave Annie alone, they could take me instead. So if ya so obsessed with finding out why I've shut ya affection down, why I try to avoid your compliments, and why I never wanted ya to find out then have a listen. Four men to a group, two shift changes a day, and only one woman available to them in our cell block."
Edward stood still, to stunned by the information he was being told to do much of anything. Mary was always so worried about protecting her friends that even in a prison she wouldn't let her morals go. "How often?"
"Every day till I was big in the belly. Do I repulse ya now Kenway? Are ya happy with yourself? I did what I had to do for Anne even though it made me weak. You don't know pain until the sixth cock of the day is ramming into ya while his friends hold ya limbs down. I've never wanted to die in my life, but I wished for death in that prison. So there ya go Kenway, get me through this. Fix me," She snapped at him, walking past him until he found his wits. Edward jogged over to her, grabbing her arms and leaned down as he pressed a kiss to her lips. He felt her go rigid so he stepped back, letting her go in an instant.
"You're not weak, you're not broken, and you certainly don't repulse me. You're a better person than anyone in this world and you deserve to be loved. You can stop shoving me away, stop hiding from me, and just let me in a little. You're Mary Read, one of the most infamous pirates to sail the West Indies and those men who did that to you are buried in a hole since I made sure not a guard in that prison was left standing before I left it."
"Why are ya so damn set on me? I've done nothing but shout at ya since I met you."
"You're the only person who ever saw the person I could be, the man I am today. I owe everything to you. No woman deserves being raped Mary, but it's what you've been telling me all night. The past is in the past, it's time to move on. I'm not going to rape you. You're beautiful, you're intelligent, and you're brave and wise beyond your years. You're my mentor."
Mary looked away from him so he reached out, gently pulling her forward again and simply wrapped his arms around her, running his hand along her back. "Let me in, let's find our daughters and start a new life. The age of piracy is gone, let's move on from it lass."