"Up there." Months later, Kate believed that was it. On the top of the world, or at least of Shipwreck Cove … They'd been hiking up through the old and narrow alleys of the town so slowly they now found themselves in midday heat. It wasn't exactly ideal, but well – neither had the last couple of months been. Tara was heart-broken and soon also heavily pregnant. Sparrow, meanwhile, nowhere to be found. Of course not … But it would be alright again. Kate would see to it, so she swore to herself. "Look, Sully! We've almost made it, it actually does seem like a court in a way. It's like in the description that boatbuilder gave us!"

"Must be it, otherwise we'll just give up, yes?" She could hardly catch her breath anymore. "Bet his old man's not even there."

Kate turned around when her friend's voice became slightly distant. Tara had begun to take yet another break, she obviously had to.

"He will be there, I have a feeling he will."

"Katie – I'm about to be sick."

While it was, without a doubt, not a wise tactic to waste her last breath on complaining to the universe, it was utterly necessary for Tara's peace of mind. She was as mad as she was determined, just as worried as frustrated – and in the end, what bothered her most was the fact that she was exactly as much to blame for it all as him.
Only that it was her body that was about to explode …

"Is it your physical condition?" Kate asked, no less rattled by the steep path they were following in the scorching Caribbean heat. "Or the fact that Teague might really live up there?"

"Both, I guess." Tara abruptly propped herself up against a palm tree, on the verge of throwing up from overexertion – or being almost pregnant to term. "Both, really."

Kate finally welcomed this new spontaneous break with equally glowing cheeks and positioned herself in another meagre strip of shade cast by the palm leaves high above them.

Basically, she had to fear that Tara might go into labour at any given moment and that she, as her best friend, would then be completely overwhelmed trying to get the children out of her – because judging by the size she'd become, it couldn't be just one kid.
The very thought immediately caused Kate to break out in a sweat. With a hand, she hurriedly fanned air to her friend. Whatever would help …

"Are you alright?" She could answer that question herself. She was not.

Tara cackled in quite some self-pity when she saw the look on her friend's face.

"I'm telling you," Kate gasped, "if they want out now, I don't know what to do. Pull yourself together!"

"Then please keep doing that magic …"

While Kate eagerly continued to fan, Tara closed her eyes for a brief moment. She refused to acknowledge the sweat on her face and the angst in her heart, still leaning against the palm tree.

"I just need to catch my breath for a bit," Tara decided. "And then I'll knock on the door of that notorious deserted Brethren Court and I'll just say …" She lost her courage as she spoke. "Kate, what am I doing here?"

"We didn't sail all the way to Shipwreck Cove for weeks, seasick at that, just for you to get scared now." Kate winked. "It'll be fine! Just take heart."

She was right. Tara was quick to nod and tried to internalise her reasons again. She felt kicks in her stomach, a little tussle between siblings, and it was basically the last push she needed.

They covered the remaining distance to the mighty shipwrecks put together, towering high above town, which was said to be the place where Captain Edward Teague resided whenever he wasn't sailing.

The veranda above the hall of the Brethren Court, likely also built out of an old ship's deck, was not visible from below where they stood, but by approaching, they could soon hear someone playing the guitar. An old sea shanty, a tune every child in these waters knew, was carried through the stiflingly warm air, as did Tara's call when she finally gathered all her courage.

"Captain Teague?"

The silence that followed was as eerie as it was uncomfortable.

Just as Tara was about to faint, this time from excitement, they heard the guitar again.
Another shanty.

"Who's asking?"

"My name is Tara. Sir, we haven't met yet, but I know …" Tara let out a harsh breath, Kate, however, gave her a gentle jab into her side.
Tara nodded, completing her sentence. "I know your son." Only with great reluctance she could keep herself from calling said son crazy.

And even without that, the guitar abruptly stopped again.
It made Tara freeze just as much.

She swallowed. They heard Teague groan as though he was tired of fate's games, more likely, however, it was because he stood up.
Or maybe it truly was because the mention of Sparrow usually caused resentment among those who knew him for a reason.
They heard the muffled sound of the instrument being put down before heavy footsteps approached them.

"Haven't met him in a while myself," she heard him mutter even before she could see him. "So if you're looking for him, I can hardly help –"

As Teague leaned over the old wooden balustrade, he immediately fell silent.
He'd expected quite a lot, but not a sight like that.

He worked up a bleak smile as he let his gaze wander from her belly back up to her face. "When you said you knew him, that was quite the understatement, eh?"

She eventually forced herself to nod.

"Does he know?" Teague's face darkened. "Tell me he didn't just leave you all alone like that, because if so, he'll have to pray I don't –"

"No, no, he has no idea. No, I was surprised myself."

"That's an understatement, too," Kate whispered.

"I don't know where he is," Tara continued, "but … maybe it's best that way."

Teague held her gaze for a few heartbeats long, and it was as if he knew everything he needed to know. Like he could literally tell how tired of Sparrow her heart was.

"Tara?" he asked again, this time with a vague smile. "Had a feeling I'd once meet you … Come on up." He gestured for them to move. "It's too warm out there."

Kate took Tara's hand, pulling her along without hesitation.

"Here. Drink up." His waiting for her to do so was like a strange and kind encouragement. "It's just water, dear. Go on, drink it. You have to look after yourself, in your … condition."

"That's what I always tell her." Kate cleared her throat as Teague gave her a smirk. "Excuse me, sir, haven't introduced myself – Tara and I, we sort of grew up together. I'm Kate …"

He didn't respond verbally. He simply refilled a glas for her, too.

Quite a silent man Teague was, but he didn't make them feel uncomfortable. However Edward Teague probably favoured being alone with his guitar over company any day.

Not that day, though.
It all seemed like a touch of destiny.

There were a few spread books and cards lying around, a couple of soup plates and bowls, some pistols and blades, but apart from that he didn't seem to own much. Or maybe he wasn't usually here?

"Well, Captain Teague –"

"Just Edward, no need to be polite." He winked, and he immediately reminded her of his son by that – though the latter would have done so suggestively, as always.

"Edward …" She gave him a smile. "Have you … only settled here recently?"

"No, I've been here for years. Why do you ask?"

She could barely hide her surprise.

"Because it's so spartan in here?" He laughed, it sounded almost like a cough, the tobacco his lungs had filled throughout his life could be well heard. "I've never made myself too much at home away from the sea."

"We know someone quite alike," Kate grumbled, then raised her hands in an attempt of apologizing when she saw Tara's reproachful look. "No offence, but even when he was completely taken with you, he longed to be sailing."

"Jackie?" Teague laughed again, nodding as he kept eyeing Tara. "He was born on a ship during a raging typhoon. The ocean's in his veins – he couldn't defy it even if he wanted to. And he hasn't been here, in the Cove, for about thirty years. But you're not really looking for him, are ya?"

Tara glanced up, and what sounded like an accusation was not meant as such. He was asking out of pure interest, and the truth sounded bad whichever way one put it …

"I didn't have any more time to waste looking or waiting for him." She basically dodged the question, and yet it was answer enough. "My priority is to keep our children safe – hard on Tortuga. The Cove might not be perfect either, but –"

"Better." Teague nodded. "Indeed. I'll see to that."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Tara admitted, "and you might want to see them once in a while. Once they're born, I mean. You don't have to, of course, I just thought –"

"Raise them here." Teague gravely nodded, and while her heart skipped a beat, he added, "Let me help."

"I can't possibly accept that, I'd just be happy if they had another constant in their lives. Now and then someone from … the family."

"But I don't ever pay visits to anyone, not even now and then." Teague chuckled, already grabbing his guitar again. "So make yourself at home here, aye?"

Watching her in an old rattan chair next to her bed with a sleeping kid in each of his arms, and being all stiff trying not to wake anyone up, was a necessary burden to bear for the mother of his grandchildren. He wouldn't let it show, it was no use for Tara to notice, but he still feared for her life. She needed rest, and lot's of it. It was frighteningly common for women to die from childbirth, even days after the babies were born.
She'd lost plenty of blood, and frankly Teague also wasn't too sure about the way the only doctor he could find on this godforsaken spit of land had stitched the poor thing up again.

It just had to be fine. Jackie's twins needed her.
And she needed someone to support her. Not only Kate, that loyal angel, but also family to help, given Jackie had no idea about any of this.
Teague looked down on those little faces in his arms and couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with high hopes, warmest love and quite some sorrow.

This was his shot at atonement. He would be there for them.
He'd committed many a sin throughout his lifetime, but only too late he'd realised that the one he always believed to be quite unspectacular was the most impactful. He had been the worst father to ever live, a horrible example for his only son.
A clever boy he even was, equipped with a good sense of humor and astonishing wit. Handsome, proud – just like his mother.

But not even for Jackie he'd been able to get his act together with her. He'd owed it to Nazshoni, his Shoni, to help her feel more comfortable around the ways of living in the Cove. She'd left her beloved home and everyone dear to her, she came aboard his ship just for him. Just because Edward begged her to, knowing he could never possibly want another woman that much.

They travelled the world, he showed her all the places he believed were worth seeing while alive. But when she told him he was to become a father, and she gave birth to a healthy boy while the ocean almost tried to claim them both from him, he felt it would be best to settle down.
Best for Shoni and their son, that was. He couldn't. He needed the sea, his ship – but having a child, and keeping it safe, meant making sacrifices and staying ashore.

He failed miserably in supporting her in that, she missed traveling just as much as he would've missed it, and she also missed him. And soon her family again, all her loved ones far away from the Caribbean. Subsequently the Cove never became a true home to her. She couldn't live like that for too long, and once Jackie knew how to walk, and would talk a bit much for his age, Teague had only himself to blame for her leaving whenever she could.

He'd give her such a hard time whenever she needed a break from English traditions, the Cove and him, if he even happened to be around. Each time she begged him to let her take their son home with her, just for a couple of weeks, but he always refused. No, Jackie was to stay right where his family was. Even if Teague hated that family himself, even if his mother, Jackie's Grandmama, was a violent, cruel witch that would nearly kill the kid on several occasions – he never allowed Shoni to take their son to her home country.

He claimed due to the unrests in the New World. But hadn't it been for those, he'd have found another reason.

"I told him to leave."

Teague looked up well startled, he hadn't noticed Tara waking up. And she hadn't, actually, she much rather seemed to be in between worlds.

"I told him not to come back."

"It's fine, dear," he tried to hush. "You're just dreaming."

"Where are they?" All of a sudden, she was wide awake, concern written all over her face – until she saw her babies fast asleep in Teague's arms.

"It's all right, they're dreaming as well. You need to go back to doing that, too. Aye?"

Her pretty dark skin still looked a bit grayish, but she was there. She would make it for her kids. Teague decided she would, right in that moment.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" She whispered, her eyes welling up with those tears her joy and grief were united in.

"Of course they are."

"Edward, they look just like him."

"Jackie?" Teague chuckled, nodding. "Aye. Could be worse, though. Imagine they'd gotten his ever chattering mouth."

"Maybe they have. We'll find out."

Teague swallowed hard and forced himself to vehemently nod. "Aye, that we'll do. You get well and healthy again, missy, you hear me?"

She gulped, trying her best to hide the pain every movement inflicted on her body still.

Teague couldn't help but sigh when looking from her to the twins. "Shame he might never know how much you sacrifice for them …"

"They're just as much mine." She shrugged. "I'd die for them."

"Saw that. But you need to live for 'em."

She nodded. "Those stitches will do."

"Is it all numb or –"

"I'd beg you to hand me alcohol if I didn't have to feed them."

Teague felt for her. "Quite the curse that is …"

"Do you think …" She hesitated, then asked, "You think they'll wake up if you put them in my arms?"

"You should rest, Tara, you won't be able to sleep holding –"

"I'd better get used to it, it'll be that way for years now, right?"

He grinned, eventually nodding. "But still –"

"I know you think I'm only half alive, but I carried them around for months already, and while I still breathe, I –"

"You want them close."

He slowly got up – both his legs and arms fuzzy from avoiding to move for much too long – gently placing the kids into her embrace. They briefly woke up, but didn't cry. And all the three of them soon fell asleep again, and no word of his should be in the way.

She would make it.
And still … The children would indeed miss their father one day.
Just like Jackie had missed Shoni and him.

Was it pride that blinded him so much as to believe forcing her to leave the kid with him and all those pirates was right?
Maybe it was his way of punishing her for his own mistakes. If she couldn't feel at home where he wanted her to, she at least was to remember that it was the place she'd left her son at.

It was his guarantee she'd come back. She loved Jackie to pieces, and so in a way, their son had been a means to the end of making her return for quite some years.

He was ashamed of his behaviour looking back, but such was life. Some things couldn't be washed away once the cards were already played.

She was the love of his life. Free like the wind, only ever backing down for him, clever as hell and like the walking definition of rarest beauty. He caught her with the tide, and bound her to him. When she spoke her native tongue, he didn't understand a word, he never learned Cherokee. One of his biggest regrets, nowadays. Along with the bitter realisation that he hadn't been the man, the father, he should have been.

But Tia and James were Shoni's grandchildren just as much as his. Maybe one day they'd radiate that same deep understanding of the world, its possibilities and that longing for freedom that she'd also instilled in Jackie.

Shoni had passed away a couple of years ago. She was unwell for a while, she had a feeling her life was about to end. She made sure to fall asleep peacefully in Teague's arms despite the way he'd often hurt her. Right before that, she met Jackie one last time. Wherever the hell she managed to do that … Her son had no idea it was the last chance he'd get to see her, but their relationship had never been about the amount of time spent together, but the way their longing for true justice and that zest for life had connected them.

Shoni was resentful of any kind of violence, but Teague knew she would've shot him dared he not take care of their son's twins. It was his way of making amends, and he'd be damned if he failed yet again.

"Edward," he eventually heard Kate whisper, approaching the bed trying not to wake Tara nor the babies up, "it's been hours, you need to eat and get sleep as well. I'll look after them, yes?"

"No. No, no. It's fine, I'm not hungry."

"I'll take good care of them, Edward. Your dog looks a bit sad also, maybe a stroll would be good for both of you. But if you prefer to sleep, Jean can take him and –"

"No, you're right. The poor fellow's been patient long enough. I'll tell Jackie's mother about her grandchildren on our way."

Kate was quite surprised. "His mother lives here as well?"

"Oh, no. She died years ago. But her high spirits … All around here they are, I believe. In the waters, in the air. The wind."

Kate smiled, he hardly ever talked that much, but this seemed to mean a lot to him. And in a way she felt like she knew what he was getting at. "That sensation that makes you believe you could conquer the world? That life's actually good, and liberty's worth fighting for?"

"Aye, Katie, that's it." He nodded, a wistful smirk on his lips. "May it live on and on despite those tamed societies that try to tell us otherwise."