17th October 1781

Pain. That was all he could feel, more so in his abdomen. William allowed his head to fall back against the dirt. He had been lucky up until this point, most musket balls had whizzed past him or just skimmed his skin. But this one had planted itself in his belly, striking him off of Brecken at an alarming speed. Was this where he died? What of his Euphemia? His vision went hazy, his tears blinding his sight as he tried his best to cover his would with his hand. Blood. It made his glove warm. A strange feeling.

Euphemia, his dear Effie. Would he be returning to her in a coffin? In truth she wouldn't know. Only his family would receive news of his passing, leaving Effie in the dark for the rest of her life. He let out a pained sob as his entire body jolted, leaving him in agony.

All he could hear was the firing of muskets around him and grown men screaming for their mothers. If he somehow survived this brutality he'd surely hear that haunting cacophony for the rest of his days.

William closed his eyes, trying his hardest to imagine his and Effie's reunion. He had wanted to surprise her at her home in Charles Towne after the war ended in the British favour. Now after a few months he was almost certain that it would end in the continental victory.

Enough now

Although his pain had escalated to being unbearable, he still imagined holding Effie in his arms. Maybe in another life they could've been together.

"Colonel!" He heard someone should, caring not for who it was. After a few moments he felt someone pulling on the shoulders of his coatee, dragging him away from the conflict "Don't be dead, come on…" The person stopped for a moment and pushed him onto his side, causing WIlliam to let out a helpless cry of distress "No exit wound…" He cracked his eyes open for a moment and saw John's worried expression "You're a bastard, Tavington, bloody idiotic fool! Your mother is going to kill me!"

William would have laughed if he wasn't in much pain. Though he passed out a couple of moments later.

With a soft groan, William turned onto his side and wrapped his arms around his wife. He still couldn't quite believe it himself. Effie had married him! When she turned to face him, she rested her hand on his chest "Hmm, good morning Angel" She looked exactly like she did the last time he had seen her causing his face to light up with a smile "I've missed you"

"What are you talking about, I'm right here" Effie let out a soft giggle "Come now, breakfast will be ready soon" She sleepily spoke before reaching up and brushing back a few stray curls of hair "You seem distracted this morning, is something wrong?" William, who was busy staring at his wife, didn't realise that she was speaking. A newborn's cries filled the room causing him to scrunch his eyebrows and glance over his shoulder "It seems that your son wishes to see you"

"Son?"

"Yes, your son"

"No…" William raised his hands to his temples and sighed "I do not have a son…or a wife" He looked to the side at Effie who was staring at him quizzically "Where am I?"

"At home?"

"Euphemia" He said more seriously this time "Where am I?"

"You were injured" William instinctively reached down and rested his hand on his stomach "This is what your unconscious self wished for" She stood up from the bed and walked over towards the babe's bassinet, lifting her son from it "In your head anyway, you wouldn't say it aloud" With that, she gently cradled her child and leaned down to peck his forehead.

"So you're not real?"

"A mere figment of your imagination"

William swallowed thickly "Oh…I thought for a moment…" He trailed off and stared down at his hands "Did I die then? Is this where I'll be for all eternity"

"No, this is merely a dream" Effie made her way over towards him and perched on the edge of the bed, holding her son closely "You can leave at any time, though all you will be greeted by when you return is pain"

Tavington nodded and reached forwards, gently cupping the back of the baby's head. He smiled slightly when the boy looked towards him. The babe looked exactly like him with matching eyes and a small tuft of brown hair. The little lad wriggled in her arms and started crying causing Effie to gently rock him back to sleep.

"And if I wished to stay?" William uttered before clearing his throat and looking down at her "If I don't want to be greeted by this pain?"

"Then you will die" Effie looked him up and down before shaking her head "But I cannot let you"

"Why?"

"Because you promised that you'd survive for your family and Effie, you are only here on borrowed time" Effie gently brushed her fingers along the babe's cheek "Take no notice of me, Colonel, take notice of the ones who are waiting"

William stared into her eyes before leaning forwards and softly kissing her "Will I see you again after this dream?" She nodded "Then I choose the pain…" He reached upwards and brushed a lock of hair from her face "I cannot wait until I meet you again my love"

A dull ache to the left of his stomach caused William to move his head to the side. He cracked his eyes open when he felt someone wrapping his abdomen up in bandages. When he saw a man press two fingers around his wound "Son of a whore!"

The corpsman jumped slightly before casting the colonel a small smile "That's a new one, I'll have to write that down" He spoke before sitting down at his bedside. The colonel examined him, noting that the man had neat black hair along with a rather warm smile. Well he needed to have a nice smile to not scare men who were already close to death "You're a lucky man Colonel, the ball missed your organs by a few centimetres" The physician spoke before scrunching his brow "Though if it wasn't for the major, you would've died on the battlefield"

"...I-I need to" William tried sitting up only to be pushed back down by his shoulder causing him to grunt. He reached down and rested a hand on his stomach "B-Bloody hell…"

"You need to rest. But when I know that you aren't going to die you will be transported to New York as you wait for a ship back to England"

"My lucky day?" William uttered as he lifted the bandages to see a rather horrid looking line of stitches. Did they need to cut him open to extract the ball? It looked like they did "...But why will I…" He trailed off as he cast a confused look to the surgeon "I-I'm being discharged? I can still fight, give me a month and I'll be back in the saddle"

"Cornwallis has surrendered his sword, sir"

Tavington smirked slightly "Do not make me laugh, it will snap a stitch"

"I'm not jesting, sir, the war is finished"

"W-Where…" He cleared his throat "Where is Major Borden?"

The corpsman's face saddened causing William's stomach to sink "He caught a ball in the neck an hour before Lord Cornwallis ordered his men to stand down" He shook his head "The Major was dead before anyone could drag him away"

William swallowed the bile that had risen in his throat. He had lost his friend of almost eleven years in a battle an hour before surrender "Have they sent notice to his mother?"

"I do not know"

When he was finally left to his own devices, William managed to pick up his waistcoat and searched through his pockets until he found Effie's bundle of letters. And unsurprisingly, the paper had been dyed in his blood. He read through the last one she had sent him with a heavy heart. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes when he realised that he'd probably lost her too. But it was his decision to end their courtship. Though now he regrets it more than everything. He could use her words of encouragement around now.

15th March 1782

After being home for two months, William still hadn't managed to adjust to his new life. His family had greeted him home like a hero though deep down he knew that he didn't deserve it. But when his mother took him into her arms for the first time in years he had to fight back a sob. When he had returned, he had sold his commission as a colonel just so he could travel to Charles Towne to meet his Euphemia once again. However, regardless of his efforts, no civilian ships were travelling to the colonies due to the current diplomatic relations currently held with England.

On one particularly beautiful, rainy English day, William was sitting up in his office with a glass of whiskey helping his eldest brother, Michael, by balancing the books for the estates. It was an old fashioned office, with furniture much darker than his own taste. Even if the sun shone in through the windows the room remained ominously dark during the day, moreso at night. White sheets still covered the two settees in the corner of the room, along with the tea table. William couldn't be arsed to take them off and nor would he in the future.

When he inevitably got bored, he took a small break by walking over towards the window, staring down onto the street below him. He hated being in England, he'd much rather be in South Carolina with Effie.

"So why are you sulking today dear brother?" William's sister, Elizabeth asked as she walked into the room. He just let out a sigh before turning to face her "Come on, mother wishes to look at you"

"I'm sure that mother can wait" William uttered and swished the last of his whiskey in his glass. His sister shook her head, walked over towards him and took the cup from his hand "I was drinking that" He mumbled as she placed the glass on the desk. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, tapping her foot on the hardwood floor "What do you want anyway, Eliza?"

"Mother asked me to fetch you because you've not come downstairs in three days"

William gritted his teeth "Yes because I am dealing with something" he spoke. Truth be told, he was dealing with the aftermath of the war. He would be able to hear the distant sound of musket fire in the back of his mind. Even when his little nephew, Eilas, snuck up on him out of the blue, he had to cover up his reaction under a stone-like mask. In reality he felt as though he was standing there, back at Yorktown moments before receiving his injury.

"Dealing with what?" Elizabeth asked, only for William to shake his head "you can tell me baby brother"

"I'm only a year younger than you"

"And yet I'm more mature" She cast him a small smile before reaching up and sorting out his cravat, tucking it back into his waistcoat "Come on, you can tell me"

"No means no"

"I'm sure that Michael could pry it from you"

William scoffed "He couldn't pry a bone from a chicken leg" He shook his head and strode over to his desk to pick up his whiskey once again "Nor could Christopher or Luke for that matter" In truth, all the Tavington brothers looked the same. They all shared chestnut hair even if William was the only one with long hair as his siblings had cut theirs. The only real defining difference between them was that Christopher and Luke shared the same hazel eye colour.

Elizabeth leaned against the windowsill "Susan, Louise and Angela could" He sat on the edge of his desk and stared down at his glass. When it came to the Tavington sisters, they were all equally beautiful. Elizabeth was the oldest of the four, Susan was born second, Louise third and Angela fourth. Though when it came to marriage, Louise never wed and acted as a governess to her nieces and nephews.

She tipped her head to the side "Is it to do with the war?"

"Partly" Well he wasn't lying, the war had been an issue "The reason I don't like spending time downstairs is because…" William trailed off, not sure of how to form his next sentence "The horrors I saw and the horrors that I committed will forever haunt me. I hate how a simple popping of a wine bottle can reduce me into a teary wreck. The only person who would be able to help me is in the colonies with her family knowing that I love her but yet I haven't returned because no ships from here are allowed to dock in Charles Towne. My best friend died a mere hour before we surrendered while I was lying in a hospital bed with a wound after he saved me. I…" He let out a sob and rested his head in his hands. After a few moments he uttered a few inaudible words and

Elizabeth felt her eyes well up at the sight of her younger brother crying in front of him "If you travel to Canada, you'd be able to make your way through the colonies to meet this woman" When he didn't raise his head, she made her way over towards him and tipped his chin upwards.

"What?"

"If it will help you…well, I hope it does"

William kissed his teeth "No, If I visit her I will not return for a long time, perhaps never" He turned towards his desk and pulled open a drawer, taking Effie's bundle of letters out which were tied with her hair ribbon "As you may know, from your happy courtship with Ronald, couples usually send love letters back and forth"

Elizabeth glimpsed down at the letters and then back at her brother "Come on William, Elias and Samuel want their uncle to tell them a story. Maybe I could read you letters while you do that?" She asked only for him to nod "Wonderful, I'm sure mother will enjoy your presence too"

When they were eventually downstairs and sat in the drawing room, William busied himself with his numerous nephews (All five of them) while his nieces (all three of them) sat around Angela. Much to William's dismay, Angela was currently being entertained by a young gentleman caller by the name of Richard Clark. Even when he was messing about with his nephews, William kept glancing over his shoulder at him, keeping an eye on them both.

Angela, who was only twenty-four, was the youngest sibling. William took it upon himself to protect her before he left for the war especially after his father died. Horrible, Horrible man! He feigned a shiver before lifting up his little nephew Elias and sitting him on his lap.

"Uncle Will!" He giggled.

"How are you, little man?" William ruffled the young lad's hair before offering him a small smile "have you grown again?"

"At least an inch!" In reality he had only known the boy for three months, Elias was born in 1777 a mere month after William was sent to the colonies.

"Ah I see, you'll be taller than me soon" William realised how much Elias reminded him of Christopher. He had the same chestnut hair and dark eyes, even the same mischievous grin when he did something wrong. The same attitude too "Will you miss me if I were to travel away for a long While?"

"Nope"

William raised an eyebrow "Thanks little man"

"William, can you not traumatise my youngest grandson?" His mother, Eleanor, asked as she sat down beside her youngest son. William had always bared a resemblance to Eleanor, everyone could tell that they were mother and son even when he grew older.

He flashed her a small smile "Traumatise him? Did I traumatise you, little man?" William smirked slightly when the boy shook his head. Eleanor reached up and brushed back a few strands of son's hair that had fallen out of place of his braid. He inclined his head and moved away "Mother…I am a grown man"

She rolled her eyes before looking down at Elias "Go and play with your cousins, Eli"

"Ok grangran" With that, the little boy lept off of his uncle's lap and rushed over towards his cousins.

Eleanor stared up at her son before softly clearing her throat. William stayed silent until she lightly nudged his side "Yes mother?" He asked as he leaned back into the settee not even meeting her gaze.

"I have noticed that you rarely come down to break your fast each morning" She reached for his hand, only for him to move it away "If you'd care to elaborate on why, now is your chance" Her son shook her head and clenched his jaw. In response, Eleanor reached forwards once again and took his hand causing him to scowl "Is it because of the war. There are many soldiers who have nightmares…especially the ones that almost died" He knew that she was pointing out his wound. Even though it had healed to the point he could ride a horse, he still struggled with certain activities such as lifting heavy objects.

William thought about it for a moment before shaking his head "I am not a madman-"

"Did I ever say that?" His mother asked with a raised eyebrow "You are my son, I birthed you in this house from this very body" She looked up at the family portrait on the wall, sighing softly when she remembered that William was at war when they had it done "It does pain me to see you like this Will…" Eleanor gently swiped her thumb across his knuckles "I would not send you away, you are my baby"

"I chose this life mother…I-I wanted to make you proud and look where it landed me" William felt his eyes burn as he tried to form his next sentence "Yes I do have nightmares, I relive the most terrifying scenes that I had witnessed and I have done since my first battle" He expelled his words, hating every one of them as they passed through his lips "And then I met Effie, every nightmare seemed to stop-" After realising what he had said, he promptly stopped speaking.

"Effie? Whose that?"

"Her full name is Euphemia Collins; I saved her life when we first met though she will never admit it-"

"And you love her?" William only nodded in response and went completely quiet. She lightly tapped his thigh "Elizabeth said that you wanted to travel to Canada and work your way through the colonies, is this true?" When he didn't speak, she offered him a smile "you can go if you wish to, you are almost thirty-one"

"I'll leave as soon as ships are allowed to dock in Charles Towne"

"So for now, you'll stay?"

"For now I stay"

18th April 1786

If he had known how long it took for british boats to travel to Charles Towne he'd have swam the Atlantic by now! But alas he was hear and eagerly walking along Tradd Street. Number 21, Tradd Street. Even though every journey he had been on led up to this moment he couldn't help but feel nervous. William looked the house up and down and smiled slightly before reaching forwards and knocking on the door.

What if she didn't recognise him? Lord, if her brother answered the door, he'd probably plant his fist into his face. Even worse if it was her father! When he heard the subtle voices from the otherside of the door, he scrunched his brow. Now unless the Collins' family had hired servants he had most definitely gotten the wrong address from Effie all those years ago.

As soon as the door opened it revealed an unfamiliar looking man causing William's heart to sink "Can I help you, sir?" He asked. This man looked nothing like Effie or any member of her family that he had seen "Sir?"

"I-I apologise, I'm looking for Miss Effie Collins" William explained before shaking his head "Does she not live here anymore?"

"The Collins' family hasn't lived here since the end of the war" For the love of God! "I believe that they moved up to Nova Scotia" So he had waited all this time until they allowed passage to Charles Towne from London when he could have just travelled to Nova Scotia! For the love of Christ! "Will that be all, sir?"

"Ah- yes -I apologise for disturbing your morning" With that, he dipped his head down and walked back down the porch stairs.

William wandered along the path back onto Broad Street knowing, from his last visit, that there was a stable at the end of the long road. Well that was four years ago, things had changed. He let out a long sigh when he realised that the stable had moved. Bloody amazing this!

"Watch yourself there, mate" A man spoke. William raised his head and scrunched his brow "If you don't pick up your lip, you'll fall over it" This man looked almost identical to what John Borden did. He had the same facial expressions too. The ex-soldier smirked slightly before looking back down at his hands "is something wrong?"

"Nothing, I am trying to figure out how to travel to Nova Scotia…I'm trying to find someone"

"Ah, well a ship just left for there a few hours ago"

Oh Come On!

"But there will be another in a week or so, I think it costs around six pounds for passage"

"Six pounds?" he had just enough to last him. He had eight pounds, he could use the two spare to rent a room in a tavern "Thank you, sir, you don't know how much this information is to me"

24th May 1786

William stood at the harbour of Halifax, breathing in the salty sea air with a small smile on his lips. He picked up his haversack and slung it over his shoulder before breaking out into a steady walk towards, what he thought to be, a tavern. Maybe if he asked around he'd be able to find Effie. He had come this far, had waited six long years, what was another few weeks?