"So Ed and I were wondering?" Stede began, then stopped, as he second guessed himself.

Mary scrunched her face at him, "Well keep talking, I'm not a mind reader." She smiled into her warm mug of spiced cider, "This stuff is bloody good by the way."

"I'll have Roach make you up your own batch." Stede sipped his own drink and continued, "No, but Ed and I were wondering if maybe during the holidays the kids could come sail with us for a week or so?" He bit his lip as he tried to see her face, only half lit by the flickering fire. "Of course, we would extend the invite to you and Doug if you wanted, but I remember you weren't all that keen last time I raised the question of living on a ship."

Mary turned to face him, her eyes shining, "Yeah, no, count me out, But you would do that? Take the kids for a week?"

Stede stuttered, unsure, "Only with your permission of course."

"Shit Stede, that would be awesome! I mean I love the little maggots, but some time away from them would be amazing. Doug and I could have a proper little holiday!"

"So… that's a yes?" Stede raised his eyebrows, a glimmer a hope in his eyes.

"Fuck yeah!" She grinned at him and suddenly flung her arms around his shoulders, enveloping him in a tight hug.

Stede was taken aback but smiled into her hair. "I like you much better as an ex-wife."

Mary broke apart from him and smiled, "Right back atcha."

Stede looked around at the odd group of people that constituted his family. Alma lay with her head resting on Jim's thigh, they were stroking her hair and while she wasn't asleep yet, Stede saw her eyes droop and realised it wasn't far off.

Louis was curled in against Frenchie's side, his arm clutching his ukelele, his head laying on his shoulder. Frenchie looked slightly bemused and he smiled when he saw Stede looking at him. He pointed at the boy sleeping on his shoulder and mouthed, "He picked me?"

Stede smiled back and moved his focus to where Ethan was sleeping in Wee John's lap. His thumb was in his mouth and Wee John's large arms held him close to his chest, acting like a blanket. He was swaying softly. Stede wondered if Wee John even knew he was doing it.

And finally his eyes found Ed and Hallie. Roach and Doug were speaking in hushed voices next to him but Ed was paying them no attention. His entire focus was on the pink bundle sleeping in his arms. Every now and then Stede watched him kiss Hallie's forehead or stroke her cheek with a soft finger. As if he could feel Stede's eyes on him Ed lifted his gaze to meet Stede's.

"Love you," he mouthed.

Stede smiled across the fire and blew him a gentle kiss. When he finally tore his eyes away from Ed, Stede found Mary looking at him with a soft smile on her face. She wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his shoulder.

"I'm glad you found him."

"And you, Doug. We may have gone about things in a very different way, but I think we're exactly where we're meant to be, don't you?"

"Stede, I need you to know I don't regret what we had. We weren't happy together, but I wouldn't change anything if it meant we didn't have what we have now." She gestured towards the people gathered around the bonfire, "Where would they all be if we were never together?"

Stede rolled his eyes, "I shudder to think," he turned his head to kiss the top of Mary's. "Come and see us off in the morning?"

Mary chuckled as she sat back, "As if the we would stay home."

As they made their way back to the ship Ed and Stede hand in hand, Wee John carrying Ethan like he weighed nothing at all, and Hallie in Ed's arms.

Ed squeezed Stede's hand, "Thanks love."

"For what?" Stede looked to Ed in confusion.

"Sharing your family with me. I never had that."

They were both silent for a moment then Stede spoke in a soft voice, "Neither did I. It's nice though isn't it?"

"Yup. It's nice," Ed echoed as he pulled Stede closer to him so he was now flush to his side. "Real fucking nice."

The morning came, bright and beautiful. The sun shone and a good wind blew. The new bed had been installed and it took Stede a moment to remember where he was when he woke. Ed was sprawled across him snuffling in his sleep and Stede smiled. He gently extracted himself and went to check on Ethan and Hallie.

Hallie was still asleep in her little crib and so Stede quietly moved to the wardrobe where Ethan still slept. Pulling the little statue towards him, the door opened and he saw Ethan sleeping in his hammock. He would be outgrowing this little space soon and Stede momentarily wondered how they could reshuffle space to allow for him. Moving towards him he reached out a hand to wipe the hair from his face. His little cherubic face was framed by his sleep mussed sandy hair, and his thumb in his mouth.

Stede heard movement behind him and wasn't surprised when two arms wrapped themselves around his waist and he felt lips on his neck. "Morning my darling."

Ed grunted, "Fucking cold without you. Come back to bed."

Unseen by them Ethan cracked open one eye and looked blearily at them from his hammock.

"Sorry my love, Got to get things moving. Lots to do before we leave."

Ed pressed another kiss to Stede's neck, "When are Mary and Doug coming?"

"Not sure, sometime this morning," Stede turned in Ed's arms to face him. "Are we doing the right thing? I mean, Mary, the kids…"

Ed wound his hand into Stede's, "You still worried about leaving them? I thought you discussed this with Mary last night. About them coming to stay with us during holidays?"

Unseen by them Ethan's eyes widened.

"Yes, I did, but…"

"And you said Mary was happy with that?"

"I know," Stede sighed as his shoulders sagged. "I'm just gonna miss them all so much."

"Dad? Papa?"

Stede turned back to Ethan, "Morning Chook! Did you sleep alright? No more… accidents?"

Ethan turned red, "No," he mumbled.

"Excellent."

Ed leaned over and ruffled Ethans hair affectionately. "Right, I'm off to find some brekkie."

"We'll join you in a bit." As Ed left Stede looked around the small space, "I was just thinking Chook, this space is getting a bit small for you."

Ethan looked at him, worry etched onto his little face, "It's ok Papa."

"But wouldn't you prefer to sleep in a proper bed? Like you did at the house?"

Ethan looked around him, "It's fine Papa. It really is."

"Did you like playing with Alma and Louis?"

Ethan chewed his lip, "I guess so."

"Would you like to spend some more time with them?"

Ethan shrugged his little shoulders

"Your dad and I were talking to Mary and Doug last night and…" Stede began, but was interrupted by a loud wail from Hallie. "Hold that thought, Your sister is quite loudly demanding my attention. We can continue this conversation after breakfast."

Stede kissed the top of the boy's head, but as he disappeared through the door he didn't see the tears forming in Ethans eyes, nor the way he pressed his face into his pillow and sobbed silently.

Ethan was quiet during breakfast and after eating he slipped away silently, unnoticed by the busy crew, who were all preparing to set sail. A buzz of excitement rippled around the ship, as everyone went about their own jobs.

Stede pushed the cabin door open and his eyes fell to where Ed was leaning over the desk. Ed didn't register Stede coming in and he was muttering to himself and marking things on the maps and papers spread everywhere.

"So. Where are we off to Co-Captain?"

Ed jumped and clutched a hand to his chest, "Stede! I didn't hear you come in!"

"Sorry my darling." Stede smiled at him, "You were just very absorbed in your work."

Ed looked back down at the papers, "Yes, well I've been a bit distracted by the little princess this morning, I've only just put her down to try and get her to take a nap. She's been talking to me all morning."

Stede looked into the crib, "Have you and Daddy been having a good chat then? I'm sure you had lots to say." Stede smiled at her as Hallie blinked slow eyes at him and chewed her tongue, "My sleepy girl." Looking about the room he frowned, "Where's Ethan? I wanted to talk with him about the possibility of him moving into Izzy's old room, If you were on board with the idea that is. He's all but outgrown his little space in the wardrobe."

Ed's eyes shot up, "Ethan? I thought he was with you?"

"No I've been in the kitchen with Roach and Frenchie, supervising the storage of all of the… what do you mean he's not here?" He looked about wildly as if Ethan was going to pop out from behind a chair somewhere.

"He can't have gone far Stede, He's probably off bothering Lucius or Wee John, It's not as if he's going to run away love."

Stede's panicked eyes met Ed's, "Why would you say that!?"

Ed frowned, "What the fuck are you on about?"

"There's something going on with our boy Ed, He's not been himself lately. He's been needy and moody, the thing with the broken brandy glasses, acting out with Alma, wetting the bed..."

"Oh love he's just at that age."

"No… Somethings wrong, I know it."

A knock on the door interrupted Stede's panic.

"Come in," Ed grunted and Lucius pushed the door open.

"Lucuis!" Stede called, "Is Ethan with you?"

"Me? No. Why? Has he run off? Little scamp," Lucius grinning face fell as he watched an agitated Stede stalk past him through the open door.

"Stede's worried about him," Ed muttered to Lucius as they followed Stede out of the room.

"Ethan?" Stede called as his eyes swept the deck. "Roach, Buttons, have you seen Ethan?"

Roach shook his head and shrugged, "I've been in the kitchens"

A scratchy Scottish accent broke through Stede's panic. "Aye."

Stede's eyes flew back to where the man stood, calm as anything looking out to the open water. "What? Where? Tell me, for gods sakes man." His eyes searched the water where Buttons looked.

Buttons pursed his lips and pointed up, "The wee bairn has been up there since breakfast."

Stede's head whipped up and he shaded his eyes from the sun. A small figure sat at the top of the crows nest.

"Buttons! Why didn't you tell us he was up there?"

"I dinnae noo you was looking for him Captain."

"Ethan! Come down now!"

"Ach, he's noo doin any harm."

"He could fall!" Stede began to climb.

From inside the cabin Hallie began to wail.

Roach indicated his head toward the noise, "I'll get her Captain Teach, I think you might be needed up there."

Ed sighed and followed Stede up.

When he reached Ethan, Stede pulled the boy into a hug, "Oh my boy, I was so worried, I didn't know where you were!"

Ed's arms reached around and sandwiched Ethan between them. He kissed the top of Ethans head, "What's up?"

"Nothing. I'm fine, leave me alone," Ethan crossly pushed his way out of the embrace and stared out to sea.

Ed and Stede exchanged a worried look behind the boy's back and Ed shrugged. Stede tried again, "Chook I don't know what is upsetting you, but I think you're having some big feelings at the moment, could we maybe talk it through do you think?"

A stony silence was their only reply.

"Please?" Stede added.

There was more silence and Stede rubbed a gentle hand on Ethans back.

Ed tried, "Mate, It won't do you any good to bottle it up, it will just fester. We can't help you if you don't talk to us."

Ethan let out a shuddering breath and finally spoke, still staring at the water, "I don't fit anywhere."

Stede frowned, "What do you mean?"

"You want me to stay with Miss Mary and Doug, but I don't fit there, This is my home, But I don't fit here anymore either, Now that you have a baby." Ethan's lip trembled, "I'm not silly. I see what's happening. Taking me to 'visit' Miss Mary and Doug, new fancy clothes, asking if I wanted to spend more time with Alma and Louis, telling me I'd be better off in a proper house with a proper bed." He dropped his head to look at his lap. "But look what I did when I had a nice bed. I wet it. I made such a mess. I embarrassed you." He inhaled loudly, "You just need me out of my wardrobe to make room for… Her." Ethan spoke all of this without looking at either Ed or Stede. A few times his voice wobbled but he was otherwise calm.

Stede's mouth dropped open.

"Woah Woah Woah, Ease up there turbo, What made you think we wanted you to leave here?"

Ethan swung an angry face around to look at Stede, "I heard you talking this morning, about leaving the kids behind."

Stede's eyebrows jumped, "Oh love, I meant Alma and Louis! I'm feeling sad about leaving them all over again. We'd never leave you behind. You belong here. With us. You are our family. Our boy."

Ethan looked away once more as Stede reached behind his back and clutched Ed's hand in his own. Ed gave it a gentle squeeze and emboldened Stede continued.

"Running into Mary like that was a complete coincidence. And the new clothes were just that. You had grown out of your old ones and we'd been making do with what we had for so long. I wanted you to have some nice new clothes to wear." Stede sniffed as a tear threatened to roll down his cheek. "As for the room, I just wondered if you wanted to move into the spare cabin next to the jam room. You're getting too big for your hammock in the wardrobe and I thought you might like your own space."

Ed reached out his spare hand and tucked a wayward curl behind the boy's ear. "And you've never embarrassed us mate. Sometimes things just happen. We're sorry we made you feel that way."

"You never have time for me anymore. You're always with the baby," Ethan's quiet, sad voice continued as he watched a gull land on the mast.

Stede swallowed and sighed with realisation, "Ethan, love. A baby, especially one that came to us in the circumstances your sister did, requires a lot of looking after. I'm sorry she's been taking up so much of our time and you've been feeling forgotten."

Ed reached out and placed a hand on Ethans shoulder, "Your Papa said the doctors declared she was healthy and she's eating well, and I'm all better now, so we can do some more things together, would you like that?"

A small nod.

Stede stroked down Ethans back gently, reassuring him they were still there and listening. "Do you think you can tell me Chook, what are some things you liked to do with us before she came to live with us that we don't do as often now?"

"Stories, and cuddles in bed," Ethan replied in a small voice after a moment of thought.

Ed met Stede's eyes. "Excellent well I happen to know your Papa is a brilliant story teller."

"And your dad gives the best cuddles around."

They both reached out and took Ethan's hands in their own and helped him turn towards them.

"We're so sorry, We didn't realise you were feeling this way."

Ethan finally fell into Stede's arms and sobbed heavily. Ed gently stroked his back.

Finally Ethans tears stopped and he leaned back trying to regulate his breathing. Ed wiped his cheeks with a soft thumb. "We love you mate. Don't ever think we don't. Just because there is now another person in our family doesn't mean we don't want you."

"Loving Hallie doesn't mean we love you any less." Stede cupped Ethans face in his hand, "Thank you for telling us Chook. It takes strength to talk about these things sometimes and I'm so proud of you." He kissed the boys forhead and pulled him in for another hug. "Now, how are you feeling? Do you think you can climb down so we can say goodbye to Miss Mary, Doug, Alma and Louis?" Stede waved a hand at the figures on their way towards the ship. The two smaller ones running ahead, the two bigger ones following behind at a more leisurely pace, arm in arm.

Ethan nodded. "Can I write to them? when we're away?"

"Of course my darling. And I wanted to tell you this this morning, but Louis and Alma are going to come sail with us for a bit. In their summer holidays. Do you think you'd like that?"

Ethans face brightened "Yeah! I could show them all the cool things to do."

"Why don't you go tell them then," Stede urged.

Ethan made a move to climb down.

"Chook?"

The boy turned back.

"Love you."

"Don't you forget it."

"Love you both too."

As Ethan disappeared down the ladder, Stede's head fell back with a thunk, and he closed his eyes as Ed reached for his hand.

"You ok?"

Stede took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, "I'm ok." He opened his eyes, "I just wish it hadn't come to this. How were we so blind?"

"Sorry I didn't listen to you before."

"It's alright. I'm just glad we discovered what was going on. We have been pretty distracted. Firstly with your recovery and then worrying about Hallie."

"We're gonna have to make a conscious effort to spend some more time with him, one on one. Maybe when Hallie is sleeping?"

Stede picked up Ed's hand which was still wrapped in his own and kissed it. "We'll work it out, I know we will."

Ed's spare hand cupped Stede's face "I love you. And I am so proud of the way you've handled everything these last few days. I know this has been weird for you, being back here, pretending to be Mary's husband, seeing the kids, and then all of this. I know it probably sounds lame, but I really am proud of you, and I love you. So fucking much."

"I love you too. And I know you haven't had an easy time either. I'll be glad to get back out on the water where things make a bit more sense."

Ed brought his face to Stede's and pressed his hungry lips to his husbands.

"Stede!? Stop sucking face with your husband and get down here and give us a farewell hug!" Mary's voice came from below and they broke apart reluctantly.

"To be continued," Stede murmered.

Ed grinned, "Abso-fucking-lutely."

Goodbye's were always hard. Hugs were shared, Tears were shed by all, Ed even spied Jim quickly swatting at their face when they thought no one was looking, promises to write were given and finally the ship was on its way.

Stede wrapped an arm around Ed's waist and held Ethan on his hip as the port grew smaller and smaller until they couldn't see it at all.

"Is it weird saying goodbye again?" Ed trailed a hand down Stede's back.

"It is, but it makes it easier, knowing that this time it's only temporary." He looked to Ethan and kissed his cheek, "What do you want to do now Chook? Want to read with me? Or colour?"

Ethans eyes roved around the ship and spied Roach heading to the galley. "I wanna go help Roach in the kitchens and cook something nice for dinner." He wriggled down and sped off.

They watched him go with a soft smile.

Stede sighed happily. Being back on the water felt right, like everything was back to normal. "Well guess we'd better go see what Princess is up to."

Ed pointed and Stede followed his finger to where Jim was sat next to Oluwande, with a sleeping Hallie in their arms. "Looks like she's doing just fine."

"Ah," Stede smiled. "Well, in that case, we could… go back to the cabin and… air the bed?" He shot a sly glance at Ed, whose face cracked in to a mischievous grin.

"Fucking brilliant idea love, best one all day in fact."

Dinner time came and went, and after dinner Ed and Stede took Ethan to show him Izzy's old room. "And we could get you a bed, a proper bed to go in here. And you could put all of your nice new clothes in this dresser, or if you don't like that one we can get you a new one, and…"

Ed put a hand on Stede's to stop his nervous rambling, "I think he's got the picture love." He picked up Ethan and cuddled him to his side, "What do you think Chook?"

Ethan stuck his thumb in his mouth and cuddled closer to Ed but said nothing.

"Is that a no? or just a not yet?" Ed murmured into his hair. "Can you use your words?"

"Not yet," the boy finally managed. "Maybe sometime, though."

Up on deck they played games and told stories as a crew in the evening light, like they always used to and when it was finally time to go to bed Ed and Stede bid their crew good night and trailed towards their cabin. Ed carrying a tired Ethan and Stede wearing Hallie strapped on his chest, distractedly patting her back. Arriving back at the cabin Ed moved to take Ethan to his hammock but was stopped by Stede's hand on his shoulder.

"This new bed is bigger than the old one," Stede said meaningfully as he arched his eyebrows towards it.

"Er… Yes?" Ed failed to grasp his meaning.

"I think all three of us could sleep comfortably in there for one night, don't you?"

Ethan's sleepy face cracked into a grin, "You mean it?"

Ed caught Stede's eyes and smiled softly, "Just for tonight."

They undressed and Stede put Hallie to bed in her crib as Ed helped Ethan put his pajamas on and then they all slid into the big bed, Ethan sandwiched between Ed and Stede. He snuggled down comfortably and sighed, a large sleepy smile on his face.

"Love you Chook."

"Love you Papa."

"Love you mate."

"Love you Dad."

Ethan closed his eyes and Stede looked to Ed.

"Love you darling."

"Love you too."

Their hands joined together over the top of Ethan's tummy, and the familiar rocking of the ship had them asleep in no time.