A/N- Thanks for the amazing reviews as always! I am currently on holiday so updating this may take a little longer than usual but I am determined to keep going with this. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 19

The time came to leave the Silent Mary far faster than Constance had anticipated. She was holding the sliver dagger tightly against her chest and she watched as the officers slowly began to prepare the ship as it had sailed into the port. The Captain had barely left her side in the last few hours and she watched as he was talking to the Lieutenant quietly before they were to leave the ship. Yet as she watched him, she felt a lone tear trickle down her cheek, and quickly turned her face and took a deep breath.

"Would you like this miss?" Asked a gentle voice next to her and raised a brow at the young officer who held his handkerchief out to her. Placing the dagger beneath her belt, she nodded her head and took his kind offer before wiping her face quickly.

"You are sad about leaving, yes?" The officer asked and she gave him a sad smile in return.

"Yes…I feel at home upon this ship". She paused to glance at the Captain who was still talking and then turned her attention to the officer again. "Sorry, I don't believe we have ever spoken before".

"Officer Moss". He introduced himself with a small bow and she allowed herself to smile. "I know that we have not had a chance to get to know each other but I have often found that home is always waiting for you no matter how much time passes. Please keep that in mind". She was surprised at his words and she was about to reply when she heard the Captain call her name. She gave Moss one last smile and passed her his handkerchief before making her way to the Captain.

"Ah Constance. We will stay here for an hours before departing once again. I have a meeting to attend with a representative of the Royal Spanish navy and will be asking if there is a direct way to get you home. Now, your clothes have been already being placed on land and we shall make our way from the ship, are you ready?" The Captain asked, his eyes were softer than usual and she could tell he was trying to keep his emotions at bay. She nodded her head but suddenly saw Santos and Magda from the corner of her eye. Putting her hand up to ask for one moment she went to the officers and even surprising herself, she hugged them both and told them that she hoped to see them again.

Soon enough she was being escorted down the steps from the Silent Mary and she grasped the Captain's hand tightly, as though he was an anchor keeping her in place from the overwhelming emotions that raced through her. Behind them she heard Lesaro commanding officers to move certain crates of what she supposed were supplies and she was sure he was asking for an officer to seek out a medical officer to join them.

The walk to where Captain Salazar had a meeting was long and the more they walked, the further away she was from the Silent Mary. From home. Taking another deep breath, she saw the Captain glance at her and gave her hand a small squeeze. He did not seem bothered by the whispers which followed them and at first she was conscious of them talking about her. But as she listened they were whispering about Captain Salazar and his reputation as a pirate hunter. She was glad that they reached their destination and that the town which was there was not overly large. They were greeted by a man in a similar coloured uniform to that of the Captain and they greeted each other in a friendly fashion.

They began to talk in Spanish and she heard her name mentioned by the Captain and the older man glanced in her direction, nodding whilst giving her a rather sympathetic glance. They then proceeded to walk into a large, quite elegant building and she was escorted to what looked like an office.

"Here is some information we have gathered Armando" The man said whilst passing some documents to the Captain. Judging by the use of personal names, Constance had a feeling that they were well acquainted. The Captain flicked through them only to stop at a certain page and she watched as he furrowed his brow in confusion and his mouth opened as though he was in deep thought.

"The Devil's Triangle?" Captain Salazar asked, his voice was one of exasperation and she wondered if he was not that superstitious. She supposed he wasn't since he had allowed a female onboard the ship and after hearing enough from her gentleman friend in England, women did not appear to be great companions on the sea in terms of luck.

"Ah yes, that is what the men call it. There have been a number of pirate ships spotted around this location and we believe that they may be the key to tracking down much…wider networks". The older man replied, although he too seemed unimpressed by the name choice. "The location has been coordinated so you should have little trouble locating it".

Captain Salazar nodded and placed the documents into the pocket inside his jacket and asked the older gentleman to allow him a moment with her. He gave them an odd look and left the room and Constance knew that this was it. This was the last time she would see her Captain for a long time and she suddenly hugged him. She felt his shoulders sink as though the weight of the world was upon them and he hugged her back tightly.

His gloved hand tipped her chin up and through watery eyes she saw her own pain reflected in his. He gently pressed a kiss against her lips and she tried to memorise everything. How he felt, his body, his scent, his warmth. Everything. They parted from their kiss and she felt his hand travel from her face to her hair and she tried to hold back a gasp as his other hand travelled down to her hip. He slowly pulled out the dagger where she had kept it from her belt and before she could react, he cut a lock of her hair. It was not too much but it was still substantial and she watched him expect it. Then, whilst making eyes contact with her, Captain Salazar opened his dark undershirt and revealed a pocket that was just right of his chest. He twirled the lock of hair and placed it in the pocket before closing both his jacket and shirt again.

"So that you are always with me". He murmured and she was taken back by his romantic gesture. They remined in silence for a few more seconds, aware of what little time they both had together and it was as though they were trying to imprint an image of one another onto their minds, like a painting.

"I have ensured that you shall be able to get back home. I must go now and finish the job that I have started. But do not cry". He whispered as her eyes began to water. "I will return for you". And with that he pulled her forcefully against him and she kissed him with every piece of her. She emptied her soul into that kiss and then it was over. He had taken a part of her and as she watched him give her one last look, she felt her heart become colder as he suddenly left the room.

As the minutes went by and she began to fully comprehend her situation, she realised something. She had finally realised something so important and just as the older naval officer stepped back into the room she ran past him shouting that she would be back momentarily. Running like a mad woman she felt time slow down as she could see the figure of her Captain walking away.

"Armando!" She shouted causing him to turn around in confusion. She was not close to him and she kept herself near to the building she had just exited in case she was to get lost.

"I love you!" She said brokenly and despite being a distance away she knew he had heard her. She watched as he stared at her and she was about to go closer to him when he suddenly walked back quickly and before she knew it he had pulled her by her arm closely and bent his head to whisper in her ear.

"Te Amo"

And then he was gone. And so was her heart. Constance may not have known Spanish but she knew love. And now she knew pain as he walked away, further and further into the sunset. Further away from her.