Thank you guys for being awesome people and reading my fic. The next chapter will be what Mary has been doing in Nassau in the time that Edward was marooned. I hope you're excited!


God damned Jack Rackham. That stupid son of a bitch. I won't stop cursing his name until I get off this god forsaken island.

The palm fronds above shield my sunburnt skin from the burning orange sun. I avoid the shore, the sun reflecting off the water and only making matters worse.

Vane has went off the edge. Lost his mind as fate would have it. He lurks around, watching me for no reason at all. I found him yelling to himself, his words unintelligible, stomping in circles pulling at his hair. I wouldn't wish that type of madness on my worst enemy.

I need to get off this island. The longer I wait the harder it will be to get to the sage and find the observatory. That's the end game and that's what I have to focus on now.

I hope for Ade's safety. The things they would do to him if they sold him off and they found he was a pirate above all else. They'd want to strip him of any sense of freedom he's ever known. But Ade is smart, I know he'll be able to escape from Rackham along with those who were with him.

Just sitting like this makes me feel old. I'm twenty five. If I live long enough I can hope for fifty but that is too much to ask with the life I lead. My Caroline, I hope, has left me for someone worthy of her not a man who can't be there for her. It's painful to think of her moving on but it's even more so to think of her waiting for me. Hoping for my safe return.

Thatch never had a wife to my knowledge, nor Hornigold or Vane but Read had a husband. I can't even picture her in a dress, let alone marrying a man in one as she told him she loved him.

I brush the sand off my trousers, walking to a spring further into the jungle. The lush green leaves blocking my path as I part though them. I enter the clearing, walking to the edge of the pond. I sit along the edge, cupping water in my hands and taking long drinks to keep from the dehydration that I'm always fighting.

It's been almost a month now. Christmas has surely come and gone but I wasn't planning anything. I've killed too many to hope for this heaven everyone preaches about. I'd probably find myself drunk on a beach with my crew celebrating a holiday we'll be too wasted to remember the name of. I'd find myself a woman with dark hair, chocolate eyes, and ruby lips to take to bed.

I think of the woman I'd want and I only get one face. I can't think things like that. I have too much respect for her. I wouldn't think anything like this about my other comrades and I won't do it to her. I won't treat her differently now even though my drunken thoughts always lingered back to James Kidd, even before I knew.

Why is it the only one I can't have that I wish for? The idea of me having feelings for her is... absurd? God damn it, I don't know anymore. Being stuck on this island doesn't help. It only lets me think too much and that's not good for someone like me.

I sometimes wonder if she thinks the same and it's her pride keeping her but I know that's not the case. I don't know if she even considers me a friend. Like I deserve something like that.

I walk back to the beach, catching some small crabs. One pinches my finger, as I curse under my breath, like someone around would be offended if they heard.

I sit with my small gathering, breaking off a leg and pulling out what I can with my teeth. I feel the sharp press of something again my back.

"I'll take these oysters you've hoarded," his voice low like a growl, his eyes darting around.

"You mad sap. This island is crawling with food if only you'd care to look for it," I scold, feeling like I'm watching a child and not a man.

"I'm looking lout. Found some just here." He laughs bitterly.

I stand and turn to look at the man, crouched over, pointing a stick at me as he holds the oysters to his chest. "Don't! Don't come following now! Do you hear me? Don't come looking for me!"

"Wretched fool," I sigh, watching a man, once proud, slink into the jungle like a wounded animal.

I run in after him, listening to the broken tune he sings. "Down among the dead" it repeats over and over and if he isn't careful he will find himself among their ranks.

I reach an opening in the jungle, old ruins towering above and standing at the top is Vane. "Go play with the fishermen in their quays, Kenway!" he yells down at me. "This island's mine! Come at me and I'll cap you, bastard! It was your bloody imagination that landed us here, Kenway! I'll be damned if I let that man make one more decisions for me!"

It was his idea to look for the sage with me and it was his decision to kill the Spanish captain. Not mine.

"Will you not talk with me, Vane? Are you fixed on this madness?" I climb the ruin, attempting to reach him quickly.

"Madness? Ain't nothing mad about a man fighting to survive, is there?"

"I mean you no harm, you corker. Let's work this out like gentlemen."

"Ah. God I've a bloody headache on account of our jabbering. Now stay back and let me live in peace!"

"I would if you'd stop filching the food I gather and the water I find."

"I'll stop nothing until you pay me back in blood! You was the reason we were out looking for slavers and you was the reason Jack Rackham took my ship!"

I reach the top running toward him but he leans forward and plummets off the top. "Vane! Face me man!" He runs along the river below, running deeper into the jungle.

I dive after him, slicing through the water as my clothes soak. I run after him, keeping to the trees to ward off the jaguars below. I hear a gunshot and cursing.

I reach the end of the path, turning a corner. "I said not to follow!" he mocks and raises his gun at me, firing a shot that barely misses.

"Jaysus, you've lost your head man!"

"It's a fair exchange for finding these flintlocks and grenades."

"Listen Vane. We can hunt with those guns."

He laughs again, the son of a bitch. "And I mean to." He lets off another shot, smiling and going about like it's the best day of his life.

I run into the waist deep water, hiding behind stone pillars as he curses at me, calls me a low life, anything that comes to his mind really. He continues firing, throwing grenades when he can't get a clear shot.

I flank him, moving towards his left side but the fallen tree I attempt to walk across explodes, sending me into the shallow water below. I look up to see him run off and the vigor I felt is now reinstilled in me.

I climb up one half of the fallen tree, reaching the top of those ruins and running deeper into the jungles after him.

"You and your bloody fairy stories got me into this mess, Kenway! And I'll be damned if I let you drag me down further!"

"You keep this up and I'll have to kill you, Vane!" These aren't the words I want to say. We've never been friends but he does his work and I can respect that from any man.

"Bloody try! By all means!"

I turn down the path to stand at the foot of the largest ruin on the island. He stands atop, waving a rifle in the air. "It's either you or me who is leaving this island alive, wanker! Cause I'm not gonna sail again in a world cursed by your ugly mug!"

He fires down at me, throwing grenades down and blowing the ladder to shreds. I run through the water around the ruin. I will not die today.

I climb the side, out of his sight, gaining higher ground. I stand at the top, the rain now pouring down me. I breathe deeply and jump, knocking him to the ground below me.

I grab the soaked collar of his shirt, holding him up so I don't have to bend down to make sure my punches hit hard. "You God damned fucking knave, Vane!"

I let him go, pacing as he rolls on the ground at first groaning but then laughing. "You Nancy boy," he said, "you've only done half the job."

I get in his face, spitting the words that disgust me. "Is this my reward for believing the best about men? For thinking a bilge rat like you could muster up some sense once in a while? Maybe Hornigold was right. Maybe the world does need men of ambition, to stop the likes of you from messing it all up."

"Or maybe," he laughs, "you don't have the stones to live with no regrets."

"Don't save me a spot in hell, shanker. I ain't coming soon."

And I leave him there, passed out on top of the Mayan ruin. I walk back the way I came to the small shelter I'd made and kept all my things in and I sit staring out at the shore. I couldn't bring myself to kill him. Maybe he'll find a way off the island on his own and move on but I find it unlikely. I should have listened to Kidd.

As the sun reaches high in the sky I see a ship heading close to shore. I pull on my robes and grab everything I had on my person when I was marooned. I have a ship to commandeer.


I walk down the docks, my boots heavy on the wooden planks. My Jackdaw just to my right, taken back from that heathen who I see tied to a chair. My crew turn to me as I pass, patting me on the back and shoulders, glad I'm alive after months of uncertainty.

I walk to the two who sit at the table beside Rackham. I've never been more happy to see them. They smile, Mary lifting her bottle to me as she kicks out the chair beside her. "It's nice of you to grace us with your presence, Kenway," she jokes.

I have to choke down the urge to turn and beat the living shit out of Rackham.

I take the bottle from her instead, drinking as I take my seat. It feels good to be home again. "I'm also glad to see you lot and my Jackdaw. Thank you, both."

"I care about her just as you do," Ade says. He glances back down the docks looking for something. "What happened to, Vane? I would have thought he'd be in tow."

"He lost his mind. Stuck in the delusion that it was my fault that we were marooned. I had to leave him there." My voice gradually gets lower, as I'm not proud of my actions but I know they are not unjustified.

"Damn," Ade sighs.

"What was his reasoning?" Mary asks, ever insightful.

"He said if it wasn't for my fairy stories we wouldn't have been marooned. He forgot Rackham's name by that point."

"Fairy stories indeed," Ade says with a smile. He and Kidd drink to that.

"And the schooner." Mary, motions down the docks. "How did you come across it?"

"I took it on my own. The captain backed down after I'd taken half his own crew hostage under the deck. I am also glad to see that Rackham's plans for you fell through," I say to Ade.

"I won't lie. If it wasn't for the assassins I wouldn't be here."

I offer Mary her bottle back but she shakes her head.

"I'll grab another," she says standing walking to the bar and grabbing another. I find myself staring at her. She sits back down legs open like any man would sit.

"Stealing a fishing schooner single handed," Ade comments. "Damned canny, Captain."

"As is taking back my brig from this pillock. Once again I thank you both."

"This billy huff didn't last two months before he came limping back to Nassau," Mary smirks after glaring at Rackham. "Took the pardon straight away."

"I had to lads." His voice sounds like the whine of an irritable child. "That Rogers was on to me from the first."

"Hold your tongue, Rackham." Ade stands and walks to him pulling him up and walking him down the docks.

"So what now?" Mary asks, turning back to me after seeing Rackham walked away. You can see her hatred for that man plain as day. "Still chasing your elusive fortune?"

"Aye and I'm close. I've heard the sage is sailing out of Kingston on a ship called the Princess." I smile at her annoyed look.

"Put your ambition to better use, Kenway." She almost sounds tired. Tired of saying the same words just for me not to listen. "Find the sage with us."

I finish off the bottle, standing. "I've no stomach for you and your mystics," I pause and lean closer to her so only she can hear. "Mary. I want a taste of the good life. An easy life."

She crosses her arms, something I've noticed she does when she's either pissed or uncomfortable and I know it's not the latter. She turns away walking down the docks but over her shoulder she says. "No one honest has an easy life and it's the aching for one that causes the most pain."

I watch her walk to Ade and take Rackham's other arm. "All right Rackham. Back to retirement."

It's been a long time since I've seen her. I ache to speak privately with her but I know she's always needed elsewhere. It might be months before I see her again.

I turn on my heal, suppressing my thoughts and take to the path that leads up to the manor. The gentle breeze from the sea, rustling the leaves on the bushes nearby.

My heart catches in my throat. I turn on my eagle vision looking at the bush but find nothing in it. Being gone so long has made me paranoid and strained.

The sweet smell of perfume wafts from the nearby brothel. It takes some willpower to walk past it but I have more important things to attend to than to play in a pretty ladies skirt no matter how important that very thing may seem.

I walk through the open door, turning down the hall and to my bedroom. I avoid looking into Mary's room. If I gave it to her she deserves privacy.

When did I decide to be noble?

I open the wardrobe, pulling out a clean shirt. I pull off my robes, the belts needing loosened and sashes needing untied.

"Kenway?" I hear Mary call from down the hall.

"I'm down here." I slide my shirt over my head, relishing in the feeling of wearing something clean again.

She turns the corner, her face expressionless. All I have is the urge to hold her again. She walks to me, without hesitation. We pull each other close, embracing. Her fists wad the cloth of my shirt, holding tightly. I hold her just as close, I can feel her rapid heartbeat through my shirt.

We break away just as quickly as we embraced. The content look on her face is masked by an angry one. "I told you it was a bad idea, Kenway."

"I know. I know," I say quietly, in an attempt to calm her but James has always had a temper.

"I thought you were dead." Her voice is cold, her eyes looking, daringly, into mine. She sighs, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter now."

"You can't get rid of me. You've tried before." I attempt to lighten the air. She has seemed... off since I got back. "Mary, you seem preoccupied. What happened in Nassau?" Her mind is always running but I can tell she's not thinking about me.

"It's not important," she sighs. "You're really going to run after the sage right after you've been marooned for months?"

"Aye. The longer I wait the less chance I'll have. Oh, how was Anne by the way? Did the boy get his heart crushed?"

"No, they seem like old friends though Anne learned a little more than she was supposed to."

My eyes widen. "Anne knows you're a woman?" I laugh. "Forget the boy it was Anne's heart that was crushed."

"Have you met Anne?" she laughs. "It didn't dissuade her at all."

"Are you and Anne..." I don't know why I feel like I've been punched in the gut.

"We talked on it." She sounds awkward and unsure of whether she should be talking about this with me. "But I know nothing could come out of a relationship and that settled things. Besides she's married and half of Nassau has eyes for her. I wouldn't want to be to blame for stealing Annie away," she jokes.

"Come on Kidd. You wouldn't want anyone special in your life?"

"I have more important things to worry about. The brotherhood needs my full attention at the moment with a sage being discovered." She sounds bitter at me which I also find myself bitter at her over the subject.

"You married once. You don't think you could have that again? It seems that he meant a lot to-"

"Don't speak of him, Kenway," she says darkly. "I've closed that door once already. I have the creed and i'd rather work against the Templars than waste time on idle things."

"You could have anyone you wanted." The words tumble out of my mouth without me realizing it.

"Could I?" She narrows her eyes, seemingly skeptical.

I've dug myself into a hole. "Aye. You're good company." I swallow, hard.

"It's nice to hear, Kenway." She smirks and pats my shoulder with her blemished hands. "I'd have thought my talks of you becoming a better man would have run you off by now."

"You wish you could but you can't."

"Same as I. I'll always be around, Kenway. You should find me when you take a break from trying to ruin your life."

"You're sailing off aren't you?"

"Aye. I have a brig in mind that's carrying some Spanish gold."

"You could come find the sage with me," I offer.

She shakes her head, scowling. "I won't betray the brotherhood for any amount of gold."

"It wouldn't be about the gold. We'd finally work together like old times."

"Sounds like you're gonna miss me," she teases.

"I'd be a lie if I said I wasn't going to. You're the best I have other than Ade. I'll thank you again for putting up with me."

"It's like keeping a child from touching a scolding pot." She smirks.

"Oi, I'd hope I'm a bit more to you than that." I want to mean as much to her as she means to me.

"I care about you, Kenway. Don't worry on that. You frustrate the hell out of me but I still like being around you." She nudges me with a slight hit to the shoulder. "If the observatory wasn't a factor I'd think we'd see more of each other."

I know what she means, being around each other more often but I want badly for her to mean something even more. No I don't. I can't. Why does everything have to be complicated with this woman.

"But it's because of the observatory that you learned to trust me. You never talked to me much until I showed you that drawing."

"Aye, I didn't. I saw you as just another man who would recklessly get himself killed out here within a few months after leaving Thatch's nest," she jokes. "I wasn't wrong. You are a reckless git but you've got more of a brain in that head than I thought. If only you'd use it."

"I wish I didn't think as much as I do already," I sigh.

Thinking about the assassins is all I've done of late. I know what is right and that I'd never side with the Templars but I can't just give up on something I've worked for and the promise of gold only tips me further to the side of greed.

Kidd herself takes over my thoughts just as often as the observatory does. Every time I find something funny I think of her, hoping I could make a joke about it to hear her laugh. But I know she doesn't feel the same way. She told me so on her ship the day before I met Vane. She told me to forget anything that happened.

She looks at me funny, narrowing her eyes and tipping her head so I'll look at her. "You look like you're thinking about something now," she states.

"You wouldn't care to hear it." I walk out of my room ready to get far away from Mary Read so she won't plague my thoughts any longer.

She follows me. "Kenway!" she calls. "Stop, man. What's with the change in attitude?"

I stop. She walks into my back not expecting me to freeze in place. "Kenw..." She lets the rest of my name trail off as I turn to look at her. The questioning look never disappearing.

I reach out slowly, she eyes my hand but doesn't say anything as it cups her cheek lightly. She leans forward ever so slowly, as if permission.

I lean over to meet her, greeted by the hot press of her lips. She doesn't pull back, letting it go on, unlike every other time I've stolen a kiss. Her tongue licks my lower lip cautiously, afraid of a reaction she's not prepared for. I part my lips letting her tangle her tongue with mine.

She grabs my collar and pulls me flush to her. I knot my fingers in her hair, pulling at the knot of her bandana but not enough to untie it. She bites my lower lip, hard enough to leave a mark that won't go away by tomorrow. She soothes the marks with her tongue and lips, kissing the area around softly.

I can't help but to reclaim the kiss, pressing my lips hard against hers before we step away from one another.

My mind runs blank. She crosses her arms and stares out the window, silently refusing to look at me. "I guess neither of us will be forgetting soon, eh?" I attempt to joke.

She smiles but it's not one of joy. It's a bitter smile, like one you put on after you say goodbye.

"Why did we do that?" The question is rhetorical. There is no right answer. It just happened. "If things were different..." She doesn't finish her sentence. If things were different maybe we could have a chance. Maybe she could admit she thinks more of me. "We're on thin ice, Kenway."

"I think we've already fallen in."

She purses her lips, frustrated. I reach out to her but she steps back, keeping distance.

"Give me a reason, Mary, why we can't attempt this."

She shakes her head. "Edward... there are too many. The assassins don't want my friendship with you to escalate, you're still chasing the sage, and you're a god damned married man."

"What the assassins think shouldn't matter. If they cared for your happiness they'd-"

"I serve the creed, Kenway. It doesn't serve me."

"We're fools aren't we?" I ask, defeatedly.

"Aye."

We stand in silence both with our hearts aching our chests. Her hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me to my room, shutting the door behind us. "You need a proper sleep before I'll let you leave."

I sit on the edge of the bed and pull the blanket back to rest under it. "Lay with me, Kidd?"

She rolls her eyes and pulls up a chair. "I think we've had enough of that." She sits beside me leaning back, staring at the ceiling. "Sleep well, Kenway."


I walk back down the docks, approaching Ade who waves me over. I glance out into the bay, Mary's schooner no where to be found.

I woke up alone, Mary no longer at my side and the chair moved back into its original place.

"Edward. Kidd told me to give this to you." Ade hands me a folded piece of parchment. "He seemed in a hurry. Is he alright?"

"Aye, he's probably just running off to take another brig."

"I see you've already found yourself a woman." Ade smiles, motioning toward my face and I remember the hard press of Kidd's teeth against my lip.

"Aye," I say plainly.

I place the letter into my pocket and climb the Jacobs ladder, entering my cabin. It's noticeably darker inside. I light a candle on my desk and sit in my chair to read by its light.

I open it, the anticipation killing me. Her handwriting his scrawled across the page. It's not the most legible handwriting. Most of it looks broken and the sentences short, a testament to her poor childhood and lack of education.

Edward

I wanted to say that I hope you give up on the sage. I know it's not likely. You were a good friend, Kenway. I hope you find the happiness you seek.

Kidd

It sounds like a goodbye. She's giving up on me. I always thought the worst I had to go through was Kidd's constant nagging but now I realize the lack of it is even worse.

I crumble it up and throw it across the room. I've lost my chance. I place my head in my hands, sighing. I'm going to miss her. More than I expect to.