Claiming he knew a spot, they went on along the pier, and when Tara finally realised where their way actually led, it was too late already.

"A cross in the outskirts of hell." Squinting his eyes in the yellow dawn of town he tried to make out what the sign above the entrance read next to the symbol. And when he'd ultimately seen the word, well combined with the cross, he still couldn't quite believe it. "Church? Achurch?"

"A church. Yes. As the cross implies. Nothing more to see, come on, where's that dock you were talking about?"

His arm still wrapped around her hip for their stroll along the pier, he made her pause right then and there to further examine the old building, much to her chagrin.

"That used to be a brothel …"

"Bet some still mistake it for one."The priest in particular, she thought in all her gloom and tried to suppress the memories rushing back to her. How that man's hands tried to get ready to touch her, how she kicked him …

"Force of habit …"

"Yeah, done staring, Sparrow? Can we move?"

"You made church sound so casual, love, but this is Shipwreck City."

"Aye, and yet thatisa church. Done?"

"No." The concept, the sheer confidence to fill church rows on this island of all places, truly stunned him. "Do they have a priest of sorts?"

Tara gave a heavy sigh, walking on, but not without taking his hand – and hence dragging him along. For a couple of meters at least, not more. Of course he was stronger than her …

"Suddenly so eager to go swimming? Thought this was a little aimless evening stroll while the kids kill dear Henry –"

"Theypracticefencing while Lizzy's watching, they never hurt each other!"

"Anyway," he repeated with a searching gaze, "this is supposed to be slow and steady, hence suitable for you and the little birdie you carry in your beautiful earthly shell. Why hurry now?"

The dirty look she gave him was more than enough to make him grin. She wasfurious, and by now, almost twice her usual size.

"Just say if you need a break, Tara."

"Youseem to need a break!" she hissed. "I don't, I just wish to walk on, and not stare at this church and be all interested in it and –"

"Just admit it. Ask, and you shall be given." He inched closer to her and her angry face again, whispering, "Say you want me to, and I'll carry you to the end of the world, darling."

She snapped, it was a calculated risk. "Stop acting as though I was tiny! Just admit that I'm huge, everything's swollen and I can't even see my own –"

"I can see everything, and trust me. It'sfine."

He managed to twist her lips into a faint smile, still she kept wallowing in her misery. At that, he wouldn't walk on – all while she hated that place for a good reason.

"Charming as you may be, you're notmoving– please, can we leave?"

The way she wouldn't quite calm down in that turn of their conversation let him in on more than her words could ever convey.

"You know that place." Finally he threw his arm over her shoulder so they could walk on again. "You tried to be a good soul and went there, didn't you." He stated it, he didn't ask. "Yetthisis an illusion, right? In fact, it might bloody well be a farce. A sad excuse for a place of worship because every faith is just as good as its people. And the people here happen to belawless."

"Let's just go."

He refused to walk on again. "What happened there?"

Running possible answers through her head, she finally decided not to reply at all.

"Tara?"

"I once knew the priest there, alright? Just imagine the rest."

His features were tight at once. "Careful what you wish for, I have but little patience with hypocrites in robes."

"I don't need you to have patience, he's been afraid of me ever since he's tried to touch me."

"He tried totouchyou?" His gaze got darkly intent just when he was about to turn around, heading for the church. "Prayers are in dire need, then, since that filthy son of a –"

"There's no need for that, Jack," she yelled and held him back with all her might. "It's beenyears. I must've sent the wrong signals to him back then, I –"

"You certainly did not!" Voice scathing, he went on, "Priest or King, men are men. None of your fault."

"I was too naive."

"Shouldn't be possible to be too much of that in a church, with a man that vowed to take a life of celibacy!"

"But I should've known better still, I grew up on Tortuga with leeches alike. I guess I just …" She paused, shrugging her shoulders.

"What?"

She tilted her head, a sad smile on her lips. "I wanted you. Your warmth, maybe your sunstroke …" She took a deep breath. "Can we just walk on and away from here? Please." Glowering, he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I never had as protected days and nights as with you." She sighed. "But I thought I'd never see you again. We all missed you, and the children healed my heart, but eventually I wished for a sanctuary once more."

"Never was I a sanctuary for you," he found, gently swaying her along to resume their walk. He would come back on his own pretty soon, he decided. "I was the cause of all chaos in your life."

"You were. Youare, both." She notably relaxed as they went on, the golden dawn shining only for them, or so it seemed. "I tried to chase what you instilled in me, but I couldn't grasp it. You were out and about, and I went seeking alternatives. That is, on a purely spiritual level at first, since my body was a mess."

"In that regard, listen," he suddenly said. "I'll have an old friend and a friend of a friend take care of you this time." He nodded as she gave him a puzzled glance.

"When I give birth?"

"I'll introduce you to them in a couple of days."

"To whom?"

"Roxanna, for one, she's helped many in labour before. And a medic Jocard knows and swears by. They'll both want to take a look at you beforehand, alright?"

She gulped. "Why?"

He paused to cup her cheeks with his hands. "Because this time, I want you to be in good hands, and not be stitched up by some careless stranger. I'll be with you, too, but apart from being present, I can't do much. They can. Savvy?"

"Thank you." She whispered it, a bit lost for words. "You're taking charge. You take care. Of me."

He gave her a faint smile. "You know what I also do? I do feel vengeful. So feel free to proceed with telling the tale, about priests and not so spiritual connections I should know of."

She shrugged, frustrated by the very thought of going back there mentally. "I just got lost there. In a church without hope, because everyone in this placeislawless. Should've just kept reading the Scriptures on my own …"

"The way you don't even speak up is more than enough for me to make sure he'll never do it again." His handsome features were clouded by suppressed anger, she could tell.

"Don't you get your hands dirty, Jack, he's not worth it."

"Never mind."

"But I do."

"Then don't."

She moaned. "What can I do to bloody distract you from doing something stupid?"

And he took his chance indeed. "Well, what else … went on, while we're at it? Fill in my blanks for good, love …"

"No. You're all grown-up, Jack, I was heartbroken and on my own. Again, use your imagination."

"I would rather not. Because I do recall how you weregrievingback then."

"Easy now." Her eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"

He gave her a dull glance. "We both know you were far from being shy before you met me, my dear." His tone of voice, his whole demeanor at this moment, instantly reminded her of the man he used to be. The man that expected her to only wake and breathe for him and no one else, while hurting her more than anyone else by being unfaithful himself.

"So would it be that bold to jump to conclusions of you just going back to your old ways?" Mimicking old patterns of their mistrusting dynamic, he added, "You wouldn't truly expect me to believe lovely Theo was the only one that got to –"

"How dare you!" she hissed. "You weren't there. It's none of your business!"

"No, it bloody is. You're the mother of my children, the one person I was trying to find foryears! And I simply refuse to casually learn of someone that tried to rape you ever again!"

"Rest assured that damn priest was the only one that ever dared to try, and he only came close to it thanks to my naive trust in a supposedly shared faith."

"I'll shoot the man, thrice," he mumbled again.

"I don't need your help now. Not anymore, understand? I'm not shy, remember?" She glared at him, proceeding nonetheless. "You insolent lunatic …" She almost whispered in her rage. "Shy or not, for years, I couldn't even sit properly! Likely all while you drank yourself to oblivion! Fiesteando, durmiendo con cualquiera –"

"No, no, I wasn't even doing that for too long, don't be all mad. You know what, actually it's fine –"

"If you're to speak it's fine? You urge me to tolerate all your jealousy, but we can't ever talk about you?"

"No – we can. But follow me first …"

His instruction caused her to raise a brow, and he already grabbed her by the hand to lead her down quite some stairs to an abandoned dock of the harbour. Due to plenty of palm trees swaying above them, and the splashing of the water beneath, it was well protected from eyes and ears of those passing by the pier above.

"Almost like a tiny cove," Tara soon said in awe as she took a look around. Only an old dingy was still moored there, surely no longer seaworthy, bobbing up and down in the ocean waters. "Like another world just a couple of steps away from the harbour. How come I've never discovered this place?"

"You weren't looking, I'd say. Unlike me, as a kid – I loved to hide here." Even though Shoni would always find him there …

Each and every piece of hardwood underneath their feet seemed to be exactly the same. "Watch your step though, darling. Even thirty years ago no one would use this dock."

"Why? It's beautiful!"

"A nice view doesn't help to carry cargo up and down those stairs, love."

Right he was, it dawned on her how impractical it had to be. And yet this little spot on earth was stunning.

In a spontaneous spark of interest, he pushed one of the remaining boxes next to them slightly open. "Empty," he hummed.

"Guess a rotten path of wood couldn't take more weight, after all," she hushed.

He met her searching gaze, and eventually said, "Before I cut that priest open, do ask whateveryouwish to know."

"We're badly drifting away from watching the sun set in peace and quiet as a happy couple, aren't we …"

"The kids are with Lizzy," he began to list, "you are with child, I am here. Carpe diem. Don't you frown. Smile for me, will you?"

She wouldn't. And the hell would she ask again. If he couldn't sense that it was up to him to justcommunicate

"Fine, Tara, here we go … When I couldn't find you, those first two, three years … Sure, throughout those I'd try to ease my mind, and you wish only by drinking, I tried to forget even the spelling of your name."

She pouted soon enough. "It's just for letters though …"

"See the challenge?"

She couldn't help but smirk, partly appeased by the fact that he at least wouldn't just act as though he didn't know what she wanted to hear.

"But no matter what I did, four bloody letters were carved into my soul because before we lost each other, you weremysanctuary … But there was no trace left of your existence. And at first, mostly at night, I thought I just missed the way you'd get me committed to a rhythm."

"Sparrow …" She let out a harsh breath, her amusement, though, she couldn't deny.

"I'm prone to laziness, what can I do."

"A lot."

He chuckled, gazing over the edge of the dock and the waves. "I initially thought I just missed how you'd try to make no sound while my hands were all over you. But I soon realized I also missed how you'd scold me. How you'd read aloud and let me fall asleep next to you. The way you'd smile whenever I couldn't wait to try your cooking. So pretty soon, I didn't just miss you at night. You'd haunt me, at broad daylight, in the most mundane situations. I felt sick."

"You didn't like the heartache?"

"No matter the quantity or quality of poison, you were on my mind. And who am I? Of course I tried to distract myself with all sorts of people for a while."

"Oh, people even?"

He only grinned, enjoying the warm breeze and salty air. "The ends justify the means. But it didn't matter, I couldn't forget you. I hated you for that. I missed you. I truly missed you, Tara, like I never missed anyone before. The moon to my sunstroke was gone. Vanished."

"A form of justice, maybe. Why would life let you enjoy it …"

"That's one way to look at it."

His challenging glance was crowned by a golden smile as he gently placed a hand on her belly. "Further questions?"

She sighed. "Only if you start mentioning poor Theo again, and act as though I was cheating on you all while you yourself were out there on your worst behaviour."

"I just feel like choking whoever touched you."

"It's likely more concerning where your hands were in the meantime."

"Have you not listened, Sully? They didn't do too much in the last couple of years, since they didn't feel like it."

"Tough luck." She couldn't help but shake her head as she watched the sun kiss the ocean from afar. "For me, it was the other way around. The first couple of years I basically felt like a nun."

"With twins."

She chuckled. "A nun with twins, yes … Still! After four, five years …" She looked directly at him. "I felt so lonely, Jack. My life seemed to be over."

"So you distracted yourself, with all sorts of people as well?"

"Damn you, no," she whispered. "Only Theo. Theo, in all his loving patience, was the only man I let near me after your kids ruined my body. He was just what I needed at the time. He was calm, and gentle. Honest. Not at all manipulative. I'd sometimes wait for him to snap, like you would've … But he never did. Quite healthy that was, actually."

"How boring."

"Jack!"

He only gave her a soft smile. "Bless his soul, then."

"Don't be such a cynic."

"I'm not. I'm glad you … No, well – I'm not glad. Not in particular, I'm possessive as hell and you know that, there's no use in pretending otherwise. But I do understand that your world couldn't stand still. And that the man was convenient."

She gulped.
Never had she thought about that.
Convenient.

Maybe he'd been. Maybe she'd used that to her advantage.
Had she learnt from the best?

"Am I just that for you? Convenient?"

"You?" Jack couldn't suppress a laugh, already shaking his head. "You, my dear, keep scratching my eyes out, you're many things, but not convenient." Before she could protest, he already added, "But I don't ever want you to be. I need you in all your glorious faith and rage. As you are. I crave you not to hold back. Unhealthy, huh?"

"Likely so." She leaned forward, whispering, "But we're here. And even if it killed me, I won't move an inch away if you don't mess it up this time."

He didn't answer, atypical of him, he simply kept examining her face as though he wished to stop the time.

"I ask you to move, though." He turned her around in his arms to hug her back to his chest. "You're glowing from heat, so on you go into the water …"

She vehemently shook her head. "What about people passing by?"

"What about them? Do you see anyone?"

He was quite right. A bit, at least. Because potentially at any given moment, someone couldcomeand see them. But likely nobody would … So he was rightenoughfor her to already let her hair down.

"Good girl."

"Just untie the dress, will you …"

"I shall." And after throwing their clothes onto a box, he jumped right in as though he wished to save someone from drowning once more. She watched him in longing melancholy until he swam back to her, gently helping her down into the water.

She wondered about it for a heartbeat long, then she remembered. She was commendably careful with her, given her circumstances. Physically at least. His mouth was as insolent as ever.

"Wait, wait – what did you just call me? A good girl?"

"Are you not?"

"Shut it, Sparrow." She already swam ahead under the dock, knowing he would follow.

As he did. "Or what …"

"While you look for treasure, I might steal your clothes and leave you behind, as the pirate code suggests."

"You know I usually don't stay behind for too long." His words were echoing between the shadows of the dock and the water surface. He swam towards her ever so effortlessly – it was almost annoying. Water was his element, it couldn't be denied.

"As romantic as it gets," she teased, pleased to notice that she was even able to stand in the water underneath the old wood. As he caught up to her, she soon found herself with her back pressed against one of the poles, and she whispered, "You do prefer looking at my … eyes … Don't you."

He only took in a deep breath, unable and not even motivated to let his gaze remain where decency would suggest.

"Bloody hell, Tara." His voice was coarse already.

"Does it get a bit much for you?"

"I'm familiar with all kinds of magic, Sully …" He smirked. "So be a cruel witch all you like, I'll willingly handle it."

She bit her lower lip, letting her nails trail softly over his back. "Will you?"

"Gladly so, since," he began under his breath, "you made me appreciate all that ridiculous steadiness. Quite remarkable."

"It's not ridiculous, though, Jack," she pouted, caressing his cheek while he indeed looked rather enchanted. "It's justhealthy…"

"Damn healthy." He leaned into her even more as his lips brushed against her ear. "See, we know it now. I love you."

Her heart sank with joy when she met his blank gaze, he had nothing to hide. It wasn't charm, it wasn't nice words, just his truth. He seldomlyvoicedit. But the heat in her core it caused her whenever he did … It radiated, shifted, breathing life into raw intuition that now made her wrap her legs around him to bring him to holding her up against the pole.

And with a rather smug grin he did, his hands placed right where it made most sense. It was purely logical. And still not close enough. Yet she was hesitant.

"No one's ever down here, hold on to my shoulders," he mumbled, "not your self-control."

His touch kept burning her skin. Underwater and for no one to see it felt much too right to be an iniquity. Weightless and wet from the tide, self-control was but an illusion, and his salty, impious lips on hers were not only convenient. They were much healthier this time.