Ed gingerly stepped aboard The Revenge, leaning heavily on Stede, clutching a blanket tight in his arms.

The crew watched in silence, the only movement from a small boy who shrugged his shoulders out of Wee John's giant hands and ran toward them.

"Daddy!" Ethan Teach-Bonnet cried as he flung himself into Ed's legs almost toppling him over.

Stede reached down and pulled the boy away gently. "Careful there Chook, Dad's been through a bit of a tough time."

Ethan turned a confused face toward him, "Papa? Why is daddy all dirty?"

"C'mere," came a croaky voice from under the matted tangle of hair. "Need to hug my boy."

This was the first time Ed had spoken since they had rescued him and Stede's heart ached to hear the raspiness of his voice. "Gently," Stede reminded Ethan as he once again clung to Ed's leg.

Ed reached a hand down to tussle the boy's sandy hair. His eyes were bloodshot and his vision blurred but he closed his eyes as he felt Ethan's head press into his calf. "Missed you," he uttered softly. He felt hot tears soak through his dirty torn breeches and looked down to see Ethan desperately trying not to sob into his leg. Ed raised his eyes to meet his husband's, "Uh, Stede?" he tilted his head gently to indicate the boy.

Stede looked at where their son was on the verge of hyperventilating and his eyes widened. "Oh!" He stooped and scooped up the boy into his arms. Ethan wrapped his arms around his neck and pushed his little head into the crease at Stede's neck, hot silent tears continuing to streak down his face. Stede felt his small body heave repeatedly as he tried to suppress his sobbing.

"It's ok little one. It's ok, Daddy's back now and your Papa has you," he whispered into his ear. "It's ok to cry, let it all out, It's ok Chook. It's ok." As the boy in his arms dissolved into loud sobs he kissed his head. Lifting his eyes he spoke quietly and clearly. "We will be in our cabin. Roach could you please rustle us up some food?"

Roach nodded, as the little family moved towards their cabin, Ed relying on Stede to hold him up, the blanket still held tight to his chest.

"Oh and Roach, Please bring the first aid kit. Captain Teach has some injuries that need looking after."

The crew watched as Stede helped his limping husband along, one arm around his waist, the other holding their adopted son on his hip. Slowly they began to peel off, and tend to each other's cuts and bruises, steadily ignoring the burning ship in the distance.

Once in the cabin Ed all but collapsed on the lounge. Stede stood in front of him warily, Ethan still clinging to his neck like an octopus. Stede pressed a quick kiss to the boys clammy forehead as he realised the exhausted boy had cried himself to sleep. He gently unwound his hands from his neck and moving slowly towards the bed carefully deposited him there. Wiping Ethan's wet face, he brushed the hair from his forehead and tucked a blanket around him. He watched softly as the sleeping boy moved onto his side, his thumb finding its way to his mouth. "He hasn't slept properly since… well… since." His eyes moved back to where Ed sat on the couch, his back to him, still as a statue "Neither have I, And I'm guessing you haven't either. Slowly he made his way to where his husband sat, stopping behind him. He pushed one hand through Ed's hair as his other began to start work detangling the mass of curls.

Ed closed his eyes as an involuntary noise escaped his lips, halfway between a moan and a sob.

"What were you thinking dearest?" Stede's voice was gentle, calm, "Getting into a fight with that Spanish captain?"

"He insulted you." Ed mumbled, barely coherent.

"Darling. We've talked about this."

"And our boy. Called him a bastard."

Stede softened, "Well he was wrong wasn't he. Technically a bastard is a child without a father. Our boy has two." His fingers trailed over Ed's shoulders not breaking contact as he came to kneel in front of him. His hand cupped Ed's stiff jaw. "You can't let people get to you like that. Look at the state of you."

Memories stirred in Ed's head. A fight in a tavern, and a bottle broken over his head, waking up in chains in the brig of an unfamiliar ship. He stared straight ahead, resolutely refusing to meet Stede's eyes. "How long was I missing? I lost count of the days, they all blended into one." He frowned, "I don't remember much, It's all fuzzy."

"I think you're probably in shock my darling. You've been gone almost two months."

There was no response from Ed as he stared straight ahead of him.

Stede reached out his hands, "Do you think you can give me the blanket?" He wrinkled his nose at the dirty fabric Ed was still clutching.

Ed shook his head violently and snatched the bundle out of his reach, unsure of why he was being so possessive of a blanket. All he knew was that he HAD to keep a hold of it.

Stede swallowed carefully, "Alright…" he changed tack, "Do you think… Is anything broken?"

"M'fine."

"Balderdash you are. I didn't set fire to The Guerrera because you were fine."

Ed cleared his throat. "Maybe a few ribs," he mumbled. "Twisted my ankle, Mainly just cuts and bruises. Fucking killer headache," he finally admitted.

Stede immediately stood and moved to the jug of fresh water he kept on hand. After pouring a large glass he sat down next to Ed. "Do you think you can drink some of this?" He wished Ed would look at him.

Ed was silent and didn't move.

Determined, Stede held the glass to his lips and slowly Ed began to lower his mouth into it.

"That's it," Stede encouraged as he tipped the glass slightly, watching as some of the liquid escaped Ed's mouth and ran down his neck, leaving a wet trail in the dirt and grime, and blood, Stede realised with a start. He tapped the blankets again. "Come on my love, pop that down and come to the bathroom, you need a good wash."

Again Ed shook his head. More memories were swirling in his head. A woman in the brig with him. She was sick. There was a lot of screaming, then silence. Ed's eyes widened in alarm as he felt the blanket in his arms move. His mouth dropped open as he finally turned to look at Stede, shock written all over his face.

"Ed?" Panic crept into Stede as he took in Ed's face.

Ed dropped his head to look at the wriggling blankets. "I think…"

"What is it sweetheart?"

Ed brown eyes met Stede's once more. "I didn't mean to… She made me promise… I didn't realise…" he stuttered.

"Darling, What are you trying to tell me?"

Ed slowly and painfully raised a hand to the bundle of blankets, and moving them aside he gasped as bright blue eyes stared back at him. "Stede…"

Stede was confused until he also looked down into the blankets. He gasped. "Ed! That's a baby!"

"Dickfuck, I know that! I just… Didn't know I still had her." He trailed a finger down a pink face.

Stede leapt up and ran to the door. "ROACH!" he roared as he flung the door wide, almost knocking the aforementioned person over as he stood holding a tray of food, his hand poised to knock.

"Roach, we need warm milk!"

"Captain Bonnet?" Roach's eyes searched the room and came to rest on the face poking out from the blanket in Ed's arms.

A wail filled the cabin as the tiny baby Ed held decided to voice its dissatisfaction at the sudden noise. This woke Ethan who, completely confused about what was going on, sat up and began to sob again.

Roach watched in bewilderment as Stede ran to the bed and enveloped Ethan in his arms, whispering comfort into the boys head while Ed distractedly jiggled the child in his arms.

Roach looked from Ed and back to Stede as he stood frozen in the doorway, still holding the tray of food. "I'll, uh…. I'll just put this down here, yeah? And go and get some milk. Um. Yeah. Some milk." He put the food down and turning back to the door he stopped. With his back to the room he spoke, "Captain Teach? Just so I'm clear. That's a baby right?"

Ed cleared his throat in the pause "Uh, yeah. It is."

"Right," he nodded. "Right. Warm milk coming right up. Then I'm coming back to check you over." He left, closing the door behind him. As he walked quickly back to the galley he ignored questions from the crew.

"What was that godawful noise just now?" Lucius.

"Have you been in to seen them? Are they alright?" Frenchie.

"Did you see the way that ship just lit up?" Wee John.

As he began to heat some goats milk, a shocked smile played on his face. This would be interesting.

Meanwhile back in the cabin Stede was panicking. "A baby Ed? What were you thinking?" his face was red and he was shouting while still holding a crying Ethan to him.

"Mate I don't think I was thinking! I certainly wasn't fucking thinking you were going to storm the ship and set it alight," Ed jigged the baby up and down in the hope that it would quiet the noise.

"Where's the mother?"

"She was in the brig with me. That Spanish dick knocked her up and she went to him for help. Instead, she was kept locked up. I heard them talking about it. They were going to wait until she'd had the baby, then keep the child and kill her. Turned out there was no need. Nell died during the birth."

"Nell?" Stede stared at him, "Wait, Ed, are you saying…?"

"I delivered her, In the brig, while in chains. Nellie made me promise to try and look after her."

"Her?"

"A baby girl Stede. Hallie. After Nell's mum. That was the last thing she said before she…" Ed swallowed as the memory became too much.

Stede's voice softened "But Ed, We can't look after a baby? I mean it's one thing to adopt a toddler like we did when we saved Ethan, He was two years old, but this baby… she's not even two months old! Hell, is she even two WEEKS old? She's tiny! What are we supposed to do with her?"

"I couldn't just leave her there. I made a promise Stede. She would have died. You set fire to the fucking ship!"

Stede let out an exasperated sigh and realising Ethan was still sobbing against his chest, tightened his arms around the boy. "It's alright Ethan, I'm here," he cooed into the soft hair. Papa's here."

"Want Daddy too" the boy managed between sobs.

Stede's eyes flicked to Ed, "Daddy's… got his arms full," he sighed as Ethan wailed loudly. "With your little sister," he finished in a soft voice.

Ed met his eyes and despite his aching body, the rising tension in the room and the noise from the still crying Hallie, the corners of his lips twitched in the hint of a soft smile.

When Roach returned, he was pleased to find a somewhat calmer room. Ethan had been convinced back to sleep and Ed and Stede sat together on the couch, Ed pressed against Stede's side, Stede's arm around his shoulders. As he moved toward them, he saw Stede's pinky finger enveloped in a chubby little fist.

"Roach. This is Hallie."

Roach nodded a greeting at her, "Miss Hallie. Here I uh, created a bottle for her." He presented the warm milk to them and rubbed his face wearily. "Best I could do with what I had at hand."

Ed held the bottle to the fussing baby in his arms, "Thank you Roach." There was a heavy silence as the baby latched on to the bottle and began to drink hungrily.

"Uh. Captain Teach? I need to uh, check your injuries. Could you perhaps give Captain Bonnet the baby?"

Ed looked to Stede who said nothing but leaned forward to take Hallie. Reluctantly Ed let Stede take her and immediately his arms felt heavy, cold and empty. As Stede stood to make room for Roach to work Ed didn't miss how his face broke into a soft smile as soon as Hallie was in his arms. He couldn't help but think how natural Stede looked as a father. Suddenly he was embarrassed by the way he had been holding her, He had forgotten he even held her, what kind of person forgets he's holding a baby? Nausea overtook him and his stomach heaved as it tried to empty itself of its meagre contents.

"Woah, woah, Captain Teach?" Roach called as Ed's eyes rolled back in his head and his body went slack.

"Ed!" Stede yelled as Roach ran to the door. Throwing it open he called. "Help!"

Lucius appeared in the doorway and stared at the baby in Stede's arms as Roach poured water over a cloth.

"Lucius. Don't stand there gawping, do something, Help Ed" Stede called crossly.

Lucius's eyes moved to where Ed was collapsed against the couch, "Oh wow. This is… oh, revolting." Lucius gagged at the pallid vomit on the ground. "What can I do?"

Roach thrust the wet cloth into his hands and manoeuvred Ed so he was laying down. "Hold this to his head while I check him over. I'm hoping it's just exhaustion, dehydration and concussion, but I need to rule out anything more."

Lucius nodded and sat on the arm of the sofa, placing the wet cloth to Ed's forehead. He looked at where Stede hovered. "So. Who's this then?"

Stede sot him an annoyed look. "Really Lucius? Introductions? At a time like this?"

Lucius shrugged and raised is eyebrows, "Just thought it might take your mind off things, and Uh, just so you know, this is so not on anyone's bingo cards."

Stede sighed wearily, "Her name is Hallie."

Lucius's eyebrows jumped even further. "A girl? Is she staying?"

Stede's eyes were glued to where Roach was carefully stripping Ed out of his once pristine white linen shirt, now brown and stained with dirt, blood and now vomit. "Perhaps." He swallowed heavily as his eyes moved from Ed back to the tiny body he held, "If she survives," he said grimly. "She's incredibly malnourished."

A smile stole across Lucius's face. "A girl on the ship, Can't wait to tell Frenchie," he rolled his eyes.

Stede snapped his eyes to where Lucius sat, "You will say nothing to anyone. Not until Ed and I have had a chance to talk about it."

Lucius pouted "Captain, you know I'm rubbish at keeping secrets."

"I'm just asking for a day, two at the most. Once Ed's feeling a little better we'll discuss it further. That goes for you too Roach."

Roach nodded as he dabbed ointment onto a particularly nasty looking cut on Ed's side. "Understood Captain."

Ed slept like a log that night, Helped by the heavy dose of whatever Roach had given him for the pain.

Stede on the other hand was not so lucky. Between Ethan's nightmares and Hallie's feeds he woke up every hour, only ever sleeping for 20 minutes at a time at the most. As the sun rose and Stede heard the crew begin their morning routines he yawned and his eyes flicked from where Ethan lay sleeping next to him on the bed, to the pillows and blankets Hallie was swaddled in. She stirred and Stede immediately took her into his arms. She began to make small baby noises and Stede cooed back at her softly. He felt Ethan stir and the boy sat up and leant into his side sleepily. Stede wrapped his spare arm round him, pulling him to him.

Ethan inched closer, his eyes coming to rest on the yawning baby Stede held, "Papa? Who's that?"

Stede sighed. He wished Ed was awake, He would know how to explain this is simple terms a five-year-old would understand. "Um, This is Hallie. Your dad saved her from… from where he was being kept. They weren't very nice people."

"Did they hurt my dad? Is that why he is sleeping on the couch? Is that why he was sore last night? Did you get them Papa?" His little angry eyes settled on Stede.

"I got them buddy." Stede smiled a sad smile down at Ethan, the boy's many questions buzzing around his already sleep addled brain.

"Is daddy ok now?"

"Daddy is sleeping, and probably will need lots more sleep over the coming days. And lots of good food. Uncle Roach will look after him though, don't you worry."

"Papa?"

"Yes Chook?"

"Is Hallie staying with us? Forever?"

Stede inhaled softly. "I don't know yet. Maybe? She's very young. We might have to take her somewhere where she can be more properly looked after."

"Can't Uncle Roach and Daddy and you look after her?"

"Well up to a certain point yes, but babies are fragile little things, sometimes they can be… difficult." Stede tried to remember anything from when Alma or Louis was born that might possibly help them. "She hasn't had it easy so far."

"So, if she stays, will she be like my sister?"

"Yes. Chook. Hallie will be like your sister."

"Cool, I'd like someone to play with."

Ed had awoken muzzily to soft voices. His head was pounding and his whole body ached. He opened his eyes, then wished he hadn't as pain sliced through his head. He closed them again and as he waited for the stabbing pain to subdue, he couldn't help but overhear the conversation.

"Is Hallie staying with us? Forever?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe? She's very young. We might have to take her somewhere where she can be more properly looked after"

"Can't Uncle Roach and Daddy and you look after her?"

"Well up to a certain point yes, but babies are fragile little things, sometimes they can be… difficult". She hasn't had it easy so far."

"So, if she stays, will she be like my sister?"

"Yes. Chook. Hallie will be like your sister."

Ed smiled to himself as he drifted back to sleep.