XLVII.
Back in Bristol

Sailing the Atlantic was rough. It always was, though it was a journey Edward nor Mary had made in many, many years. Mary often took the wheel so that Edward could speak to his daughter or show her different thing. He kept much from her and they spoke of that very often at night. Was it right to hide so much from her? But, ah, she was a child. She lost her mother though and was it right to lie to her about who – about what – her father was? She was only nine years old, was that too tender of an age? Back and forth they went, not able to come to a concussion. They had no idea what to do. For now, they kept to their half-truths for the girl and when – if – the time came to tell her the whole truth, they'll explain why they very nearly lied to her.

They stopped for a brief time Azores, to water and resupply. It made the journey all the more bearable to be able to stand on land for a few days, to hunt and run and be off the water. While Mary would always love sailing, she would always love land more. At least land did not move under feet and at least land did not threaten to drown her. Well…there was that one time…

From Azores they sailed to the British Isles and then into Bristol's channel. They had to take pause there so they could remove the Black Flag and replace it with a British one. Jenny was talking with a sailor outside the navigation room and Mary stood within, watching Edward place the Black Flag in a chest. She leaned against a table, her arms crossed against her chest, a sour look on her face.

"I think it's a rotten idea"

"It has to be done"

"I think you're asking for trouble"

"They started it"

"That's a child's excuse, Edward!" She slammed her hand down behind her, on the table. "Dammit man! You have to look at the bigger picture!"

"I am, Mary!" He hissed back, eyes narrowing. "These men burned my farm, they threatened me, they played with the wrong man. I will have my revenge on them. This is setting things right. If they catch wind I've returned to England at all, who knows what they may do to me? To you? To Jenny?"

And that hit a soft spot for Mary. She adored young Jenny. She was smart and curious and so innocent yet. She was a treasure in her own right and she deserved only the best life – a much better life than Edward or Mary led. She wasn't her child, but Mary still cared very deeply for the young woman. She would grow up strong, that was for sure, else Mary would have Edward's balls yet.

"I'll be with you. To make sure you don't muck it up"

"I ain't going to muck it up, Mary. Not something this important. Not something I'm doing for you and Jenny"

"You're doing it for your father and your ma and Caroline too." She reminded him.

"I'm trying to keep my heart focused on the living" She could only nod at that. He closed the chest holding his Black Flag and then looked back up at Mary. "Are you going dressed like that then?"

She was back to dressing as a man. She wore her trousers yet and her hair, which was much longer now, was pulled back into a slick ponytail. She wasn't wearing her corset but she had bound her chest down, hiding the fact that she had tits. She looked up at him with a smile.

"Aye, I am." Then her face sobered up. "I figured with you being a widower….it might be smarter…"

"Ah. Yes. You're right, but it wouldn't be the first time that Bristol had bristled in the scandal caused by Edward Kenway" He laughed gently. He leaned to kiss her forehead and then together they prepared to find their way to the docks.

As the two of them walked along the docks, they got all sorts of looks. Mary looked the part of a sailor and Edward…well he looked dark and mysterious in his hood. He had it up, hoping that no one would know him. Though he met the eyes of a few and Mary saw recognition flash in a few eyes and she had to wonder who those people were, how had Edward known them? She was curious to his past her, to how he had met Caroline and well…everything. She had shared her past with him, bared her soul, yet she knew very little of his she realized.

They found a boarding house in town and by that time it was sunset. They had each brought a bag of things and they sat on the two beds across from each other and looked each other over. Their boarder though that Mary was of course a man. They had not needed to give names to her; they had just pressed some gold into her hand for the room and then were shown to it.

"I think this is still foolish" She told Edward softly, aware of the thin walls.

"I know you do" He answered, removing his boots. "Make sure that door is locked, will you?"

She got up and locked the door before beginning to shed her layers. Years of dressing as a man made the process quick. She stood with her scarred back to Edward, not caring that she was shirtless in front of him. It was nothing he hadn't seen. She was looking through her back and he watched her from where he lay, shirtless himself and ready for bed.

"What are you looking for?"

"Ah" She had found it and slipped it on and her trousers off. It was a nightgown – a little white thing that covered her modestly and she had decided to pick up some time ago. She climbed into her own bed and Edward looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "What?"

"When did you get that?" He asked.

"Some time ago"

"Why have you never worn it before?"

"Because when I spend time in bed with you, Edward, I don't wear clothes most times"

He paused, shrugged and then nodded. "Yes, I suppose you're right" They both laughed gently. They settled into their respective beds and talked in soft voices for a little while, but Mary could feel herself drifting to sleep on him.

"Edward?" She whispered. She heard a vague 'hm?' from the other side of the room. "Don't do anything you'll regret…in these next few days. I'm going to try and protect you but…"

"I don't need you to protect me, Mary"

"Yes you do. You're a damn fool"

"I am." He agreed. Then she heard gentle snores come from the other side of the room. He had clearly fallen asleep on her. She was tired, her eyelids drooping but she was worried about the day to come. There would be blood to come and she didn't know if there was wisdom in what Edward was doing.

Yes, they were Templars. Yes, they needed to die. Should Edward – a person so emotionally fueled – be the one to do it? That was where she found conflict in her heart. She sighed, closing her eyes and tried not to fight sleep anymore. The morning would sort things out, hopefully.

He told her to meet him in a tavern called The Auld Shillelagh between Bristol and the next small town. They had bartered for horses that morning and as they mounted them he had given her directions to this tavern in question. She rode on alone then, as he had other things he wanted to do. He assured her no blood would be spilt and they parted ways.

She found her way soon to the tavern in question. She tied her horse out front and made sure she had water and some grass to graze one. Then she entered the building.

The ceilings were low and a darkness seemed to creep from the walls itself. There were a few patrons hunched over their drink and one or two looked up to see the strange lad entering the tavern. A man was behind was cleaning mugs and there was a woman wiping down a table. She was older, in her forties or fifties Mary would guess. Her blonde hair was streaked with grey but her facial features matched a man she knew very well.

She looked up, her face bleary with the prospect of another customer. Mary took a seat at a table, by herself and called for the barmaid. The older woman came over and forced a smile. She looked tired. Mary wondered how long she had been working here.

"A rum flip" She said simply, making her voice gravely and deeper. She had forgotten how this hurt her throat. The woman made a 'hm' sound and wandered off to get her drink. She sat it down before her and Mary sipped at it silently, waiting for Edward.

She didn't have to wait long and while he cast a glance at her, he went straight for the woman. She looked up, the rag dropping from her fingers. Mary heard Edward say "Hello, Mother" and then the two of them had moved off to the empty side of the room and were talking in hushed voices.

Mostly hushed, Mary listened hard and caught bits of their conversation. Edward was willing to pay off his mother working here, but she would have none of it. She seemed angry, her hands trembling with rage as she spoke of the men that Edward had killed. Finally his mother seemed to have enough.

"You did more hurt than they ever could, my son" She hissed. "And now you've come here to stir things up again, haven't you? I heard about you walking from the docks, a big I-Am."

"Ma…" his voice went soft. "I'm trying to make things right!"

"Not in my name you don't! You've already dragged the name Kenway through the mud and I won't stand for it anymore!"

Mary looked up now, not caring if they saw she was staring. She knew this was going to hurt, Edward. It was going to rip him apart; it was going to break his heart. And there was nothing that she could do, and from the look in Edward's eyes, he knew there was nothing he could do either.

"Hear that everyone? I disown him! I'll have nothing more to do with the great pirate Edward Kenway!" There were only a few people in the bar, but in an area like this, word would spread quickly. His mother slammed his hand on the table and stared Edward down. "Now get out no-son-of-mine. Get out before I tell the soldiers where the great pirate Edward Kenway is to be found"

Mary watched the pain wash across Edward's face. Then she watched him hide it, but his eyes were still pain addled and she turned and stumbled out of the bar like had too many drinks. Mary felt her temper burn. She still had that terrible temper. It only flared up every great once in a while now, but now she felt it burning so hot in her chest she was surprised she didn't spit up flames.

"He only wanted to make his wrongs right you know" She spat at his mother.

"And who are you? One of his pirate mates? Get out boy, I'll call the soldiers on you as well!"

"Aye, I've known your son most of these past few years, I've seen him grow, I've seen him do grand things. And you just cast him aside. He's trying. I understand he did a great many things wrong and he'll go on to make more mistakes but that's a part of being human. But cast him aside – for you've cast you granddaughter aside as well and left yourself alone."

"What do you know, pirate? Get out! Out!"

Mary stormed out, still feeling her anger burn. She would have called the woman names, but she was Edward's mother. When she got outside, she could see Edward and his horse in the distance. They weren't going fast so it was nothing for her to jump upon her horse and catch up. She heard his sobs as she got closer, the grief ripping itself from his lungs. They were far into the countryside and no one was about. Once he saw that it was her, he pulled his horse aside and climbed down. She followed suit and they found a shady spot under a tree and she held him. She held him tightly, willing to give anything to comfort him, to make him feel better in this moment.

It hurt, she knew, to be cast aside by his mother. She stroked his blonde hair and murmured words of comfort. It took him a long time to find peace again and he sat, head leading against her chest, eyes bleary with tears and pain.

"I deserved it. It was my fault that pa died. It was my fault that mum lost contact with Caroline. It was all my fault. I deserved her scorn."

"Tosh, Edward, no you didn't. You're a good man. Maybe you weren't always, but that's part of growing up. We make mistakes"

"Well then I took my time growing up" He growled angrily to himself.

"Ah, love, but the important part is that you managed it" She smiled softly at him and he glanced up at her and his lips curled up slightly. She kissed his hair and then they stood. There was yet more to do and while he may have been grieving, they couldn't stop now.

A/N: Jeeze you guys are supportive and I just want you to know that I think you're all really awesome and amazing. I just wish I could connect with you guys more. That's the one downfall of this site. But hey, as long as you guys enjoy the chapters. Anyway, this part of the story is based on the novel based on the game. Did that make sense? Anyway, see you all next chapter!