AN-Content Warning: Panic attack

Ed hugged Hallie to his chest tightly as he watched Stede push his arms into his jacket, then turned to him and held his arms out for the baby. Ed froze.

"Ed?"

Ed mouth was dry. "I just… I still don't like this idea."

Stede tucked a loose bit of hair behind Ed's ear. "My love, we've been through this. It's the only way."

Ed tucked his head into Hallie so he didn't have to look at Stede, "I'm going to feel so fucking lost without you both," he mumbled.

"Oh Ed," Stede kissed the top of his head with affection, You won't even have time to miss me. Doug's got your whole day planned."

Ed's eyes flicked over to where Doug was fussing over Mary, "Uh, yeah, about that. Do you really think it's a good idea, me spending the day with him? I mean I did threaten the guy…"

"Pfft, water under the bridge, Anyway, he offered, think he wants to make it up to you." Stede gently cupped Ed's cheek into his hand forced his eyes back to his own. "Give Hallie to me, my love. We'll be back before you know it."

Ed swallowed heavily as he leaned his cheek into Stede's hand. "Don't go re-falling in love with your ex while you're away or anything stupid."

Stede chuckled and rubbed his thumb over Ed's lips gently. "No chance of that, My heart is already taken. And I believe my husband is the jealous, possessive type."

"Damn right he is," Ed leaned forward and claimed Stede's lips with his own. When they parted Ed finally relinquished his hold on Hallie, carefully positioning her tiny body in Stede's arms.

Stede climbed into the carriage, and as Mary moved to join him, Ed pulled her aside. "Bring them back to me safely, or I'll skin you alive, with a snail fork."

Mary's eyes widened as she was reminded that yes this was Ed, her ex-husbands new partner, loving partner and doting father, but this was also Blackbeard, feared across the seas. "I promise," she nodded as she followed Stede into the carriage.

Ed and Doug watched them until they were out of sight, then Doug turned to Ed.

"So, shall we get moving then?"

Ed nodded and went to collect his jacket and bag.

When he came back he found Doug had assembled Alma, Louis and Ethan, and he felt a slight pang of guilt that he hadn't thought of getting his own son ready. He cleared his throat, "Right, So. What's the first port of call?" He listened as Doug outlined the plan for the day.

A day which was busy, starting with dropping Alma and Louis to spend the day with the crew on The Revenge. Then to the music emporium to find and purchase a new piano and organise delivery and installation on the ship.

When they stopped for lunch Ed was pleased to find that the awkwardness between him and Doug had abated, and they were well on their way to becoming friends. As Doug went to pay for their meals he realised he hadn't thought of Stede and Hallie once, and he pulled Ethan close to him for a soft cuddle.

Their next stop was to some shops to get Ethan his clothes and shoes. After finding his size Ed and Ethan ran around exploring styles and colours, and eventually settling on six pairs of shoes and multiple shirts and breeches, plus some jackets and extra pajamas. Chuckling cheerfully at the Stede's influence on him, his eyes were drawn to the baby clothes. He knew Wee John was going to make Hallie some clothes, and yet he found himself adding three of the fussiest, most impractical dresses that he knew wouldn't last long on a pirate ship. But as he ran his fingers over the delicate lace he found he couldn't leave them there. He also picked up a bunch of singlets and tops in varying sizes as Hallie seemed to be growing by the day, and a romper in the same fabric of one of Ethan's jackets and couldn't help but smile at the image in his head of both the kids in matching outfits.
As he was finally approaching the desk to ring up his purchases his attention was caught by a display of baby shoes. Picking up the white patent leather Mary-Jane style shoes with the white bows, he cradled them in his hand, imagining them on Hallie's feet. He picked up the matching black pair, as well as a much more sensible pair of brown sandals and a navy pair of lace ups. Placing it all on the counter he saw the sales assistant's eyes widen with surprise as she began to ring up his large purchase.

"Did you and your partner find everything you needed today?" she asked politely.

"My… what?" Ed followed her eyes to where Doug sat, showing Ethan a trick with a string. "Oh that's not my partner, he's…" his voice trailed off as he realised the truth was too convoluted and involved to get into with a stranger, "He's a friend" he finished with a smile as he realised it was the truth.

Ed paid his bill and arranged for most of it to be sent up to the Bonnet house the next day. He called Ethan over and told him to pick out something to wear for the rest of the day, and once the boy had changed into his new clothes and shoes, they left the clothing shop behind them, and made their way towards a line of antique and second-hand shops where Doug suggested they look for a rocking chair.

They moved through the first two without purchasing anything, Ed was fascinated at the dusty, cluttered shops, and happily wandered around picking up bric-a-brac and running his fingers along pieces of furniture.

He'd seen two rocking chairs so far, but neither seemed right. One was incredibly badly made and uncomfortable to sit in, the other, he could tell just by looking was riddled with white ants.

As they entered the third shop, an elderly gentleman greeted them cheerfully and immediately directed Ethan to where the toys and games were with a smile. He nodded at Ed and Doug, "Looking for anything in particular today?"

"Just browsing at the moment mate, Thanks," Ed smiled at the man.

"No problem, Let me know if you need a hand with anything," And he went back to reading the book in his hands.

Ed wandered around a corner and spied a table of fabrics. Within minutes he had found a bolt of turquoise and gold jacquard fabric which he was sure John would make in to a stunning jacket for Stede, as well as a roll of rich crimson velvet for himself, and a much more serviceable green and yellow seersucker check that would be made into more matching outfits for Hallie and Ethan.

He spent a long time in the books, sorting through piles and shelves, and when he finally managed to tear himself away, he had a pile of maritime history books, and a few pirate romances he knew were Stede's favourites. He'd also picked up a beautifully bound copy of Grimms Fairy Tales for story time, and a book of old recipes he knew Roach would covet. There was an encyclopedia of animals that he knew Ethan would love and with a quick look at the boy across the shop quickly hid it in between other purchases to try and keep it a surprise for his birthday, and a whole box of charcoal and other drawing supplies that would keep Lucius busy.

Ethan had found some games and toys he wanted and as he brought up everything to the front counter to pay for them, Doug joined them.

"Sorry mate, I felt sure we'd find you a rocking chair here."

"A rocking chair?" The gentleman, who's name read 'Ernie' on his nametag, leaned forward, "You're after a rocking chair?"

'Yes sir, My partner and I have a new baby, and…"

The man cut him off, "Follow me."

He led them out the back to where pieces of furniture and other items lay in various states of repair. The man indicated a chair in the corner. "Just finished fixing this one up. Yours if you want it."

Ed regarded the chair. It was solidly built, a dark cherry wood that would match their cabin perfectly. "Hmm." He nodded appreciatively, "Mind if I sit in it?"

"Be my guest," Ernie gestured to the chair.

Ed sank into it and gave it an experimental rock back and forth. It was comfortable and well balanced. "Ethan, Come here." He pulled the boy into his lap and held him close as they rocked together for a few moments. "Do you like this chair Chook?"

Ethan nodded, and Ed could see the boy's eyes flicker as he realised the boy was about to fall asleep on them. He raised his eyes to Ernie. "We'll take it" He pressed a kiss to the top of Ethan's head and was struck with a surge of guilt that he hadn't realised the boy would of course be tired after being up during the night.

By the time they paid for the items and arranged for them to be delivered straight to the ship, Ethan was asleep, on Ed's hip, His head leaning against his shoulder, thumb in his mouth. Ed shook Ernie's hand and smiled, "I'm Ed, by the way. You ever get another rocking chair this beautiful, you send word up to the Bonnet house, I'll buy it, I get the feeling there will be fights over this one."

Ernie's nodded to him. "Will do."

As Ed and Doug left the antique shop, Ethan still sleeping on Ed, they chatted quietly like old friends. They turned a corner and there in the street arguing with a stall holder was an old friend Ed was hoping to never run into again.

Izzy Hands was holding an apple in his hand inspecting it carefully, loudly expressing his dissatisfaction.

"Shit!" Ed gulped and quickly ducked his head, turned on his heel and half ran, half walked back the way they came.

"Ed?" Doug called after him. He glanced back at the street, unsure what had spooked Ed and was taken aback by a man with dark beady eyes, staring at him. He had a half angry, half confused look on his face and moved to take a step towards Doug.

Doug turned and jogged in the direction Ed had disappeared. He hoped the short, grey-haired, bearded man with the x on his face wasn't following him and he chanced a glance over his shoulder. Nothing. He exhaled loudly and moved to search for where Ed had gotten to. He found him hiding behind some bins, down an alley. His face was pressed into Ethan's shoulder and his breathing was ragged.

"Ed?"

Ed jumped, as if he'd been stung. He raised his wide eyes to meet Doug's, who saw tears streaming down his cheeks.

Ethan had been jolted awake by the running and Ed's erratic movements and he had his hands on Ed's cheeks and was staring into his eyes.

"Daddy? Breathe with me, Like I've seen you do with Papa. Like Papa does with me. It always makes me feel better." Ethan grabbed Ed's hand and put it on his chest.

Ed felt the gloved hand that was currently squeezing his heart begin to loosen its hold as he struggled to match his breathing to his sons.

Ethan wiped Ed's wet cheeks. "It's ok dad, It's ok."

Doug waited until Ed had his breathing under control and careful approached and sat next to him. "Want to talk?"

"Was there one of the bad men there? One that hurt you? From Hallie's ship?"

"N…nnnno Chook, Something a little closer to home. Someone who hurt me, who hurt my heart. Someone who tried to keep your Papa and I apart." Ethan snuggled close to him, leaning his head on Ed's shoulder as he turned to Doug. "My old first mate. The one who sold Stede out to the British, H… he was there, in the street."

Doug let out an exhale.

"He must know we're here. He's got to have seen The Revenge in the harbour."

"Do you think he wants to fight?"

Ed let out a low miserable chuckle, "Izzy always wants to fight, It's what he lives on. I shouldn't have run, but he can't know about Ethan and Hallie, He wouldn't understand, he always said a pirate ship was no place for a child. We gave him another chance after Stede returned, But Izzy's stuck in the past, never really understood Stede and I, wanted me to be Blackbeard full time." He pressed a kiss to Ethan's sandy hair. "He gets in my head, makes me second guess myself, guess he knows me so well, he knows exactly which buttons to press. We finally banished him from the ship, and sent him away in a dinghy with plenty of provisions, with the understanding that he wouldn't be welcome back." He let his head thunk back into the wall behind him. "That was one of both the hardest and the best days of my life."

Ethan's little hands found his cheeks again and forced his eyes down to meet his own. "Daddy, will Iggy want to send me away?"

The corner of Ed's mouth twitched at Ethan's unintentional echo of his Papa's favourite nickname for their former first mate. "Love, nothing will ever tear us apart. Your Papa and I love you so very much." He kissed the boys cheek. "Never forget that, no matter what people say to you, what you hear, Families come in all shapes and sizes and you are part of ours." He kissed his cheek again. "Come on, We'd better get back, We want to be ready for when Papa and Hallie and Mary come back, don't we?"

As they pushed themselves out of the dirt Ed felt Doug's big hand on his shoulder.

"You ok?"

"Mmm. I will be when we get back to your place and I see the rest of my family."

"I'm here for you mate."

Ed reached up and covered Doug's hand with his own, "Thanks. Means a lot."

"And I really am sorry about yesterday."

"I know, and I'm sorry, you know about the knife thing."

They shared a small smile. And Ed knew Doug had his back, Because having a panic attack in front of your husbands ex-wife's husband, is something that you can't share and not become friends.

Ethan was exhausted and Ed and Doug took turns giving him piggy backs, back to the ship, and after sharing a cup of tea in the galley with Roach and Lucius they collected Alma and Louis and made their way back up to the house.

"You've got a nice little family on that ship."

Ed looked to Doug with a soft smile, "Yeah, they're great." He looked at where Alma and Louis were racing ahead of them followed closely by Ethan. "Yours is pretty bloody good too mate," he added with affection.