So sorry this took so long (reason why at the end of the chapter) This chapter is dedicated to AnaFoxy for sending me such a lovely message!

August 14th 1721

It took a while for Edward to get over losing the Jackdaw, in the end it was only Charlotte that could pull him from his sorrows. Most of my time had gone to co-ordinating where the women we had saved would live, Anne gave up her house and came to live in the guest house sat in the gardens of the manor. Together we had made sure each woman had their own room and everything they would need for their children, the doctor that had originally come to help with Charlotte's birth had his hands full. Businesses thrived which helped word spread, trade picked up and soon we were expanding the town. Edward never left the manor whilst this was happening, he was happy to sit watching our daughter clutching on to furniture in an attempt to walk. I was glad Edward was watching her because now without supervision she would crawl out of your sight quicker than you could realise, when I returned one night I was surprised not to say Edward chasing her around the hallway instead I found him watching her sleep in her cot. I looped my arm around his waist and joined him

"I'd like more you know" he returned my hug "I missed so much of what you went through with Charlotte, I think when she's a little bit older she would appreciate a sibling" I remember him telling me he was an only one, although I had a brother I know what its like to be alone.

"Aye, I'd have more. How many were you thinking?" he smiles down at me

"I'd say enough to crew a ship" he's joking or at least I hope he's joking, his emotions don't betray him until he starts to laugh "You should have seen your face" he kisses my forehead

"Oh really, how do you know you don't have enough kids to crew a ship already" Shit! Oh fuck. His face contorts through different emotions

"What?!" he looks hurt but angry

"Well don't act like I was your first, god knows how many times I've caught you in predicaments with women throughout the years" I need to learn when to shut up

"Mary, I can count the women I've slept with on one hand, it seems you have a twisted image of me" wait what?

"Come off it I've walked in countless times where women have been inebriated and passed out next to you"

"Aye but we've both been dressed and asleep, most of the women I bring back is to prevent men that you think I'm like taking advantage of them. Do you think so low of me?"

"I've never thought you were low, we're pirates it's an occupational hazard. You can count them on one hand"

"Aye three fingers to be precise. Caroline, a lass called Emily and you. I know Emily's never had a child because she lived in Nassau I saw her for almost a year after we'd spent the night together. Caroline you already know and then there's you" I feel terrible, thinking back they were always clothed but I just assumed that meant... well god knows where I got the idea from.

"Edward I'm so sorry I... I guess after Charlotte I feared it could have happened! I never thought you were low" I realise this is the first argument we've had since being together, it feels awkward so I leave and go to our room. It's not long till I hear him closing Charlotte's door and joining me

"I love you Mary, I have never loved anyone as I have loved you! Do you remember when I told you I was married, it wasn't till Nassau fell that I slept with another woman. Emily escaped the island on my ship, maybe it was how vulnerable she looked that drew me to her but after that night I realised it didn't mean anything to me. She lived here for about a year like I said she never had a child, in fact she met the man she married here and left with him. Then that night with you was the first time that means anything to me, I may not be able to remember it but without it I wouldn't have Charlotte and I wouldn't have you now" he wraps me in a hug and we lie back together, I don't know what to say but luckily he fills the silence "How about we get started on our crew"

"I'll have you know now that whilst I'm okay with having more children, it hurt enough having one so how about we limit it to say five"

"Aye captain Read, five sounds perfect"

"I'll have you know its captain Kenway" he smiles and I'm glad we sorted that subject out, it feels like a major weight off my shoulders.

August 21st 1721

Although Edward played it off like it hadn't affected him it was obvious that something was, luckily for me the day I decided to breach the subject was the day Charlotte took 3 unaided steps. She had been building up to it but the finished product brought smiles to our faces, its as if everything previous to this had been forgotten. I took Edwards's hand willing him to look at me, the smile he gave me was dazzling the look of hurt had left his features. Embracing me in his arms we watched as Charlotte pulled her self up again and began studying us, we had planned to go to the beach with Charlotte today but after this we seem to forget all of our plans.

It must have been exhausting walking for the first time because after an hour of standing and falling Charlotte lets out the biggest yawn I've ever seen, Edward stands and takes our daughter to her room. I almost don't follow at first but realise this might be my only window to talk to him. I find him where I knew I would, standing next to her crib staring down at her.

"She looks more like you every day" He pulls her blanket over her and turns to me, it's true since her hair has grown past her chin her face resembles mine more and more.

"Maybe our next one will look more like their father?" a smile brushes over his lips but it doesn't stick "You know I'm truly sorry for what I said"

"Aye, I'm not angry at you, I'm more angry at myself that I made myself look like a right bastard" I flinch at his words and go over to him, holding him in my arms

"You are anything but, I wouldn't have begrudged you sleeping with anyone else. There were times even I had to admit when I saw a beautiful woman, my other self had to pretend to want to be in those situations. The amount of whores I had to pay to keep my cover, I bet everyone thought I paid for cheap meaningless sex when in fact most of the time I left out the window after the door was locked" now it's his time to look sad, like I told him before woman are an occupational hazard of being a pirate and I had to keep up appearances.

That night we sit and talk, our first argument is all but forgotten about. We talk about the town, how we'll need a tutor for Charlotte when she's older and how lucky we are there will be children similar age to her on the island. The woman we rescued from the prison have regained most of their health and have really helped the improvements on the island, I can only repay them by giving them and their children the best futures to offer. We make plans for our secret beach, ideas of a hut that we can go to for our own time. We talk about when we'll get married, about who will be there and how small the whole thing should be. Edward eventually persuades me that I should wear a dress, the only way he can stop my arguments is by trailing kisses down my neck and after we've talked about everything we can think of, I make love to my future husband.

October 13th 1721

"Happy birthday baby girl" I whisper to a fast asleep Charlotte making sure I don't wake her, I can remember exactly what I was doing this time last year and I think back to how bad the pain was, although it doesn't seem so bad now that she's here. Although it was her birthday we both had a present for Edward, when he woke up that was. After feeding and dressing Charlotte, the telltale noises that Edward was awake were audible, the floorboard on his side of the bed creaked when he got in and out of bed. The sound of him jogging down the stairs was my cue to move, I'd packed us lunch and him some breakfast.

"About time" I grabbed his hand and led him out of the manor, handing him Charlotte so he had chance to tell her happy birthday I continued dragging him till we reached the jungle, I stopped us in the entrance and handed him two pistols "I've got some food in my bag so in case something would like to join us on our picnic I think we should both be armed" tucking them into his belt he indicated that he had his blade on as well. With that, we set off to our beach.

Thankfully the pistols and blades remained unused, reaching the beach a small gunboat sat in the shallows. I waded out to it and climbed in beckoning Edward to do the same, he passed me Charlotte and joined us both on board.

"What's all this then?" it was only a gunboat and the cannons were long gone, but it's how I had been getting Charlotte accustomed to ships in my spare days.

"Charlotte wanted her own ship that she could be captain of, I thought this was rather apt and who better to crew it for her" luckily gunboats were easy to manage, so much so that if the crew didn't need to use the guns, they could usually be sailed by a single man. I took the small boat out into the slightly choppier waves and showed off how much she loved the sea, although if we wanted to go anywhere with her now we would need a less Inconspicuous ship then The Charlotte.

We spent all day fishing and floating in our little boat, it was perfect in every way. Just before the sun went down we headed back, as we reached the town one of the man in charge of a stall came and handed us a letter. Edward ripped it open scanning for its sender, I had expected it to be Caroline, daring not to ask I waited till he was finished.

"Its not from her" as if he could read my mind "It's from Ah Tabai, Roberts is dead" I realised that this meant if one of the Assassin's killed him Torres and the Templars would be after them, and thanks to Edward's betrayal all those years ago they knew exactly where they were living.

"Edward we have to get them out of Tulum, if the Templars attack they stand no chance" I realise I should have thought about this a while ago "They could come here, we lived in huts amongst trees not much different to the ones here on the island" he studied my face looking at me as if I was mad "You owe them Edward, and I owe them my life. The least we could do is give them somewhere to rebuild, the safety of the Island would be better than before" I know his mind was made up when I reminded him it was Ah Tabai that saved us from that prison but he visibly perks up realising how much safer Charlotte would be with trained Assassins keeping an eye on the place.

"Aye we'll sort out getting to Tulum and transporting everyone here" he goes to make plans with the Harbourmaster whilst I go and seek out Anne.

I find her behind the bar at the Tavern, luckily its quiet tonight "Anne I have a favour to ask of you" nodding to a young girl behind the bar she leads me to a table and sits me down "Edward and I believe the Assassins could be in danger, Tulum isn't safe anymore. As long as Ah Tabai agrees they are going to relocate to here, Edward's going to set out soon and if I get my way I'll be going to"

"I see where you're going Mary, I wish I were strong enough to go back again but last time broke me, I don't think I can help you this time" she went to stand but I grabbed for her hand

"I wasn't asking you to come with us, I wondered if you wouldn't mind watching Charlotte" she sat back down with me and let me finish what I was going to say "I left her once and it killed me not knowing how she was, but I trust you more than anyone else and know she would be safest if you were watching her" tears started to form in her eyes yet she smiled obviously touched that I regarded her highly enough with my child.

"Of course I'll watch her, it would honestly be my honour" I'd seen Anne looking after some of the younger children that we had saved and it broke my heart to see how naturally she looked with a child.

October 20th 1721

Reaching Tulum I was glad to see they hadn't been attacked yet, Ah Tabai sent word to the assassin bureaus of where they had moved to. With the help of everyone on the island everything was swiftly packed and onboard The Charlotte, as soon as everyone was on board the sails were opened and we were off.

It was about half an hour into the journey when I spotted the other ship following at a distance, I made Edward and the rest of the crew aware of them. I realised how if we had set off a day later no one would have been saved, I also recognise that The Charlotte wasn't the most inconspicuous ship to have used today. In the captain's cabin I grabbed my weapons and my spyglass.

Back on deck, I used the spyglass to scan the faces of our pursuers. I didn't recognise any of them until my gaze reached the helm, the recognisable armour of El Tiburón glinted in the sun. I realised eventually we would have to engage this ship, we couldn't risk showing them where we living. Slowing the ship to half sail the crew manned the cannons whilst the assassins engaged their blades, I realise if El Tiburón is on the ship there is a possibility that Torres is as well.

It doesn't take long for them to be at our side, cannons firing around us we leaped to the other ship. For me it's a short fight, after killing my opponent I stalked the deck killing Templars before they realised I was there. I realised almost too late that I hadn't seen Edward since swapping ships, when I found him the scene playing out in front of me was the exact carbon copy of the fight I had had with the guard outside the prison. As Edward hit the deck I bought my pistols up and focused on the arm bringing the axe down, the lock of shock on his face when the bullet tore through his wrist meant that his eyes met mine. As a repayment for Edward saving my life again that night, I held up the second pistol and wiped it off his face permanently.

So sorry again that this took so long! I have started a new job and now work 5 11 hour night shifts a week, so I should hopefully get a chapter a week out probably at the weekends. Thanks again for all of your reviews, follows, favourites and messages! Love you all xx