I hope this one was worth the wait.

Enjoy!

Initial completion: April 10, 2023

Work always tired one out, no matter how much they didn't mind it. But stars and comets, was Silver ever so glad to be working here again. It was like he was a wayward puzzle piece that had fallen back into place and fit just right. With some new additions, of course.

Deb had been visiting Silver very regularly and she would tell him all about the growing number of people working and helping Sarah. What she didn't tell him until her last visit earlier that day was that they had organized to collect money to pay his bail amount. She decided they would help Sarah with the inn and at the same time collect money for Silver's bail. And many of them agreed to it no matter how little Sarah could pay them.

Little by little, they collected money. Not just from working at the inn but from their other jobs and however else they could while Deb made sure to keep it all stored away safely.

And they all welcomed him back with the most open arms he could ever imagine.

How could so many people care for someone like him?

It all brought the nicest smile to his face as he finished putting away the remaining dishes. Everything was just as he had remembered: the same scratches on the bottom of the washbin, the one chipped corner of the stove, and even his apron was still there, waiting for him. He found great joy in tying it around his belly again. It was almost perfect.

Almost.

One thing that did bother him only slightly was Sarah.

Oh, no, she herself could never be a bother to him. Not in a million years. But she seemed to be keeping some distance between them during dinner. It wasn't difficult with the sheer number of people who wanted to speak to him and catch up.

He wasn't sure just how much time had passed but it had been at least some months, maybe enough for a season or two to pass. Regardless, he wanted to have a talk with her. One he'd been meaning to have with her ever since he was put in that cell.

Pushing the double doors that made the slight creak he missed so much, he caught sight of Sarah. She sat in the near darkness in a lonely chair, next to the window, with only one light left on. Silver sighed to himself as he gazed longingly at her shadowy form. She, too, sighed as he placed another chair and took a seat in front of her.

"How've t'ings been around 'ere?" he quietly asked.

She lightly nodded, still looking out the window. "Better, especially since I've gotten more help."

"So I've been told."

She shrugged as an incredulous look spread onto her face. "I just didn't realize they were using the money they were earning to pay your bail," she admitted.

"Aye," he nodded, "... I only found out meself jus' this afternoon."

Silver had no idea of this plan before today and it seemed Sarah didn't either. He was completely taken by surprise when he was told he was a free man, then to step outside to see Deb there. "I wasn't sure if it be a good idea to come back 'ere right then and there," he said, scratching the back of his neck.

Sarah tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It was certainly… a surprise. For a while, I wasn't sure if you were even still alive, especially with pirates often receiving the death penalty."

"T'is what I expected when they took me," Silver said. "During sentencin', th' Admiral of the Royal Navy came by and vouched fer me 'cause I helped take down Iron Beard."

"So Jim told me."

Silver continued. "They had to punish me somehow, but because of th' Admiral, I was spared death. Then I was bailed out an' Deb wanted an escort back 'ere, but," he hesitated, "... even when I agreed to yer terms I wasn't sure if stayin' 'ere was the best idea…"

"But you agreed to a commitment," Sarah cut in as she quickly stood. "Are you saying-"

"I don't… I ain't goin' anywhere, Sarah!" He stood as well and lifted his hands in defense. "No, I jus'… ya never stopped by or passed on a word, so I wasn't sure if ye'd be upset to see me," he explained.

Sarah relaxed her face, momentarily shutting her eyes, as she sighed. "It wasn't that I didn't want to visit or anything," she confessed. "I just… I didn't want you to come back just because of me. I thought if I gave any indication that I wanted you to return, you would only do so to make me or the others feel better." Breathing deeply she slowly exhaled. "I wanted you to make that decision on your own, regardless of what I wanted."

Silver gave her a caring, wistful look. "What did ye want?"

Sarah lifted her head and met his eyes. Hers were tremendously blue, just as they always were.

She stared back with a soft expression before she dropped her head. "What I want," she muttered, "... has to do with this."

She seemed to pull something out of her pocket and Silver's eyes broadened as he recognized the worn-out papers that held carefully thought-out words on one side and her name on the other.

Sarah,

By the time you read this, I will be long gone.

You may have questions and I need to give you answers.

You deserve the truth.

But know that I never wished to hurt you, the people, or your son.

My name be Long John Silver and I am a pirate.

I used the Benbow Inn as a refuge to hide from authorities until the dock was repaired and I could flee.

My actions were selfish and apathetic, I know this.

But only now after my time spent here do I accept their consequences.

You helped me with this and many other things, whether you realize it or not.

I've not allowed myself many insecurities, but those I do have are significant and kept confidential.

You may have noticed I took great care to avoid touching anyone with my mechanical appendages.

I never do in any way on principle unless necessary.

Perhaps a handful of folks didn't seem bothered too much, but none had ever looked completely past them.

The way you behaved with me when we danced that one night, your nearly careless manner of moving about with a cyborg as though he were any other person…

It felt as though I was more than the massive robotic terror most perceive me as.

As though you could see the man within the metal.

I thank you for this, Sarah.

I never could talk to anyone of my past, either.

Not as profoundly as I could with you.

My story is messy and doesn't paint me in the brightest light.

But you wanted to help.

Even if just with an uplifting word, you wanted to help me in ways no one else would bother.

I thank you for this, as well.

But I believe the most important thing I should thank you for is opening my eyes.

Opening them to the true nature of my actions both past and present.

I always carried the notion that my life as a pirate carried peril for others.

Only until I knew you and those in your establishment did I see the full picture.

I had once robbed an Alfred, an Edmund, an Arthur.

There was a Deb I had held hostage.

And I had torn down a Sarah's inn.

All in the search for a treasure I was sure would finally give my life meaning.

I never would have guessed that I found it instead in the very inn I demolished.

You've been a bright light in my darkness and you helped me see there is a life to be had without running.

I only wish I had the chance for such a life of my own.

I don't want to go, but I know now that I must pay for what I've done.

I couldn't live with myself should something happen to you, your people, or your son as a result of my actions.

We may never meet again but I hope you can forgive me one day.

Not for my sake but for yours.

I could never apologize enough for what I've done nor ever repay you for all you've done for me.

But I tried how I could while I was here, cooking and cleaning and the like.

Please don't allow yourself to be overworked or alone upon my leave.

Find more help for you and the caring folks at your inn.

Let your son spend more time with his mother.

And please give my thanks to Arthur for lending us a boat.

Farewell,

Long John Silver

"When I read it I wasn't sure what to believe," Sarah began, her stare locked on the paper. "You had lied about yourself for so long, I didn't know how much of what you wrote was just to excuse your actions."

Silver grimaced but knew she had every right to not believe him.

"I chose to not agonize over it and move on until something objected to that idea." Sarah lifted her head slightly, still not meeting his eyes. "That's what I wanted... to be proven wrong," she murmured. "All through dinner, I thought about everything you've ever told me. And the more I thought, the more your actions spoke instead."

Taking a deep breath, she thought a long while before finally speaking.

"When I learned who you were I was upset at what you had done, both to me and to my son. I recognized you were also the same pirate cyborg he spoke about on Treasure Planet. But I hadn't realized what you had done for Jim. He didn't speak too much about the journey or give too many details, but when he did his face lit up in a way I hadn't seen in ages. And he did mention a man named Silver a lot.

"I also hadn't realized that I was so worried about Jim that I never bothered to ask myself how I was doing. I was needlessly hurting but I ignored it. I know some of the residents tried to get me to take it easy but it wasn't until you helped me see it that I finally took the first step. I made you help with work to keep your stay, but I kept wondering how someone who was just hiding from the police could take the time to help me out with my own personal demons. You wanted to help me take time for myself and realize how much I deserved it. And I felt like I didn't have to be alone.

"All this to say," she sighed heavily and gradually lifted her gaze, "... I think you wouldn't have left the way you did if you didn't care."

Of course he cared. He cared more deeply than he ever thought he could. Even to the point of facing death only to be served a worse fate: living, in a cell, never to see Sarah again. He had almost wished he had been executed. But now that all was said and done, what were a few months in jail compared to the opportunity for forgiveness?

"If not fer Jim and the kind folks 'ere, you're the reason I've come back," he confessed. "'Course, plenty of 'em came to visit many times, but… It was you I was missin' the most."

She looked at him, the one dim light in the room reflecting in her watery eyes. Her loveliness shone even in the darkness.

"I wasn't sure if you would come back," she said softly, "... but I've never been so glad to be proven wrong."

Silver looked at her- this amazing, strong woman. He gently placed his left hand under her cheek and she gently exhaled as she rested on it, her hands clasping it in place as she closed her eyes. Silver gazed at her lovingly as he leaned in close and slowly moved his other arm to carefully hold her shoulder, his voice just loud enough for her to hear.

"How could I not come back fer the woman I love?"

Her eyes flew open and he felt warm tears land on his palm. A sob choked in her throat as her face scrunched up. She jolted at him and flung her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder as she cried.

He responded just as fast and embraced her as fiercely and carefully as he could. Her hands gripped tightly at his clothing, almost as if she feared he would be gone if she let go.

Her cries ultimately slowed enough for her to speak ever so softly. "I love you, John Silver… so, so much."

Silver shut his eyes, feeling a tear trail down the side of his nose as he blissfully sighed into her shoulder.

"Don't leave."

He felt his heart break at her words and at the pain he knew had provoked such a request. Pressing his hand against the back of her head he tightened his hold to assure her that he spoke the truth.

"Never again."

The two remained in their embrace until Sarah finally moved, gazing at him with such tenderness. He waited for her to release him but she didn't. Instead, she moved one hand to caress his cheek while the other rested on the back of his head. It didn't take long to figure out what her half-lidded eyes were looking at.

He felt his face burn at their closeness, feeling her breath on him. His heart pounded in his chest, and the way her hands tugged at his face as they had once before told him what she wanted.

And by t'under, he wanted it, too.

Carefully he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer as she lifted her head to meet his. He gradually closed his eyes, the slightest sigh escaping her as their lips met in a loving kiss.

And his heart skyrocketed, soaring farther out than any ship ever dared to dream. Almost instantly Sarah relaxed into him, the distinction of their two bodies blurring in their senses as though they were melting into one another. The feeling of comfort, of safety in someone's arms, was something neither Silver nor Sarah thought they would ever experience again.

But right then, in that singular moment, all was right with the world.

Their world.

Silver wasn't sure when they finally pulled apart but they kept their embrace, foreheads pressed together and eyes locked. They could stay there resting against each other for an eternity and he would be at peace.

His mind was in a sort of calmed flurry as he tried to convince himself that what had just happened did, in fact, happen. It must have, why else would he have the woman he treasured in his arms?

So much had changed in what felt like such a short time. Silver had found somewhere to call home, and he didn't feel tied down by the thought. He now had a remarkable woman in his life and he hoped he could reunite properly with Jim, too.

The future still remained uncertain as far as he could tell, but as he gazed lovingly at Sarah- his darling, his love- as she returned the sentiment with her genuine smile, he knew he would never need to hunt for treasure again.

It might be silly, but I like how I picked the title for this story.

We're almost done, but I still appreciate your wonderful reviews!

We're almost there!