A/N: I last updated this in JANUARY – so updating this at the end of the year seems fitting 😊

Enjoy.

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For the third night in a row, Edward had skulked off to the private Captain's quarters of the Jackdaw, which remained moored in the docks at Nassau.

His mind was busy racing over in the events you had described to him... of your encounter with Torres, Du Casse and Rodgers when in Havana.

The Captain of the Jackdaw was trying to keep a level headedness about himself whilst he formulated plans to try and get his own back on the Templar threesome that had threatened you. But each time he thought of this fact, his blood would boil – with anger, but also frustration that he wasn't there to stop them from using you.

This particular evening, Kenway heard a gentle knock on the door of his Captain's quarters.

"Come in." Edward said in an a subtly irritated voice, as he was busy trying to tie all of his evidence together to be able to formulate a logical and reasonable attack.

Upon lifting his bright blue gaze, Edward could see the figure of Kidd enter the room. There was a slight small smirk on his face, whilst he crossed the wooded floor.

"Haven't seen you for what seems like years, Master Kenway," Kidd called out, reaching the big table where Edward was sat, bits of papers and maps thrown out to their full size. Captain Kidd's eyes quickly flickered across the evidence on the table, before Edward cottoned onto the nosey gesture and rolled them up without haste, a slight temperamental flare in his movements.

"Can I help you at all, James?" Edward muttered coldly, taking his friend aback. Kidd watched passively as Edward stored the various bits of paper in the set of drawers to the right side of the room.

"Just thought I'd come and check up on you, considering I haven't seen you for some time." James answered simply, his northern tones soft and composed as they always were.

"Thought you'd want to be spending time with the lass, since she's back now and all." The smaller captain soon added, which made Edward falter, and his already flat mood dipped further upon once again thinking of the hardship you suffered.

The heaviest of sighs that left Kenway's figure said all that needed to be said. Kidd knew the whole thing was obviously playing on Edward's mind.

"She's back Edward. Home. You don't need to reflect on the past-" Kidd said, with little understanding as to what had actually happened, which made Edward snap.

He lashed around quickly, hands landing firmly on the gleaming table top of his desk.

"No Kidd! I have to! (Name) faced more than enough shit while she was gone, that I can't help feeling bloody responsible for!" Edward cried, with a ringing sadness in his welsh accent that softened James' otherwise alarmed expression from the outburst.

"Why? What exactly happened that is so important for you to fixate on it?" Kidd replied, taking a seat in the small chair that sat on the other side of the desk, an expectant look on his slight face.

"Something I'm sure will be of interest to you and your assassin mates." Edward said after a short pause, sitting back in his chair. For some reason he couldn't bare to look at Kidd whilst he recounted what you had told him that evening on the Beach.

"... Du Casse took her in to stay at Torres' villa in Havana." Edward started, his blue eyes instead fixated on the flickering orange flame of the brass candle that sat on his desk. "The lass didn't elaborate but... she said they tried to hurt her, and if she hadn't of escaped and found Vane... well... she sounded like she feared for her life." Edward's hallow tones recounted. Captain Kidd could tell by the expression in Edward's delivery of the story, that he felt very strongly about you and everything that had happened.

"Shit... It does definitely sound like they wanted to get their grubby mitts on her." Kidd sighed, making eye contact with Edward for the first time in minutes. "But why, I wonder?"

Edward let a small shrug, he didn't really want to think about it.

"She was vulnerable... they knew that, and obviously wanted to use her for their own 'advantage'." Kenway responded, standing up, hoping it would be a message to Kidd that he wanted the conversation to end. It was becoming quite difficult for Edward to comprehend those slimy bastards hurting you...

To him, you were the sweetest, more charismatic woman he had ever met. How anyone could ever wish to hurt you, was an alien idea to him.

"Right then Kenway..." Kidd started in a dismissive manner, signalling he knew it was time to leave. "I'll be off for the night. But please promise you'll get some rest." James called as he turned his back to leave, and Edward couldn't help but smile a little at the concern for his sleep pattern.

"Oh, and Edward-" James started, halfway through the cabin door, "Try to get a little sunlight soon?" he added, before making his exit, leaving Edward in peace.

With a soft sigh, Edward did come to realise the fact he hadn't seen much of the daylight as of recent, since he'd been buried in his quarters making plans.

As he retired to bed that night, he made a mental note to at least try to come and see you over the coming days... but not before he had solidified a way of murdering all three templars.

---

Another day dawned, the rays of bright light creeping through the cracks in the wooded structure of the shack you had been staying in for the past 3 days.

Sitting up slowly in the bed, you groaned softly. You weren't quite sure yet whether you wanted to even face the day.

Over the recent days, you had been rather reclusive, sticking to staying in the shack and taking minimal trips outside. You hadn't really wanted to talk to anyone, unless it was Edward, simply because you hadn't the energy yet.

It was only as you climbed out of bed, and took a peek outside, that for the first time in days – you had felt a real inclination and uplifting to step outside.

The landscape outside the window looked like a painting – glorious sunshine poured over the sandy terrain – the sea nearby glimmered like a diamond under the white light of the sun, it was too perfect... and perhaps, the sunshine and catching up with old friends, was what you needed.

--

A quick wash to freshen up and slipping into one of your white linen dresses and simple brown leather corset, your boot covered feet made contact with the sand. Although it was a sensation you had felt hundreds of thousands of times before, something made you want to take your shoes off and just walk through it without a care.

So, carrying the brown leather boots in your right hand, you wandered through the soft sand into the makeshift 'town square' of Nassau.

"Morning lass," came an upbeat accent from behind you. Turning quickly, you noted the smile on Ben Hornigold's face as he looked at you.

"Morning Ben." You replied quickly, and luckily you did - because as usual, it didn't take long for the loud mouth captain to reply.

"It's nice to see you out and about again." He said in a pleasant tone of voice, patting your shoulder softly. "I've errr... got some things to do, so I will catch you a bit later." His tone was almost a bit shifty, as he waved goodbye and scarpered off. You weren't going to let that deter you, as you went to continue your walk.

"CHARLES! LOOK! SHE'S AWAKE!-"

That voice, a voice you ever associated with annoyance and irritability. It made you stop in your tracks, and regrettably you looked up.

"Good morning, Mr Rackham." You sighed, a little irritated as usual that he had to announce every minor detail to everyone in Nassau. The drunken sod was half sprawled over the railing that enclosed the tavern's decked terrace, and as usual he was that pissed that the tankard he was drinking out of – was unwittingly held at a precarious angle so that all of it's contents poured down into the sand below.

And of course, due to him cawing like a seagull – a much more welcoming face wandered up beside him... well, welcoming to you. His welcome factor to others.. well, that was questionable.

"What you bloody yowling for, you loud bastard-" Vane's gravelly tones scolded, before he saw you standing in the sand below the terrace. The excitement that initially crept onto his expression was actually quite adorable – before his inner pirate must've said 'calm it, Charles' – and then subsequently Vane cleared his throat and cooled it off a little.

His figure then rounded the railing at the summit of the stairs, and he descended quickly to meet you in the sand below. The moment would've been much nicer had Rackham not been there hooting and howling like some damn idiot.

"I wasn't quite sure when I would be seeing you again." Vane said, the smallest smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Thought you were avoiding me, see." He said in a flat tone, but you could tell underneath it there was a boyish fragility that he did actually think you had been avoiding him. Fancy that, this feared pirate captain with the culling mentality of a starving wolf – actually had these things called feelings. He was sweet.

"I just didn't feel right about coming out to see anyone or do anything," you replied, letting out a soft sigh before pushing out a smile. "But today is different. The sun is shining, so I thought I best just come out and make the most of it."

Vane chuckled softly then and patted your arm, "There she is." He remarked, a small statement that made you feel somewhat proud. The belonging you felt when Vane was around was unmatched. It brought a warming to your heart, and recalled the days before you left – when he had been so kind to you... it was all flooding back.

The captain put his arm around you as he led you back up to the tavern, his mood clearly more elated now.

You didn't have the lift a finger as he rather responsibly had gotten you a flask of fresh fruit juice from the tavern... and then juxtaposed by ordering himself a huge flask of ale. No regard that it was still morning – but that just went to show the lifestyle these men lead.

"Nice to be rid of Rackham." Vane grumbled into his flask of ale as he took a large sip, smacking his lips together at the taste, lowering the drink to the table top and smiled at the sight of you. "Best company I've 'ad all week." He remarked then, and the evident bashfulness crept in – it's like there was this constant front he felt he had to maintain, and he couldn't let his guard slip.

You let out a small laugh as you looked over at him. Vane smiled in a puzzled manner, chucking shortly as he had another sip.

"What's so funny?" he laughed wryly, and again there it was – the underlying self consciousness that something may be wrong. He wasn't like this with anyone else, it seemed you brought everything out in him.

"Nothing, it's just nice you said that about me being good company." You replied to calm him, helping yourself to another mouthful of the sweet juice from the cup, glancing back at the view of the ocean.

Little did you know in this moment how closely you were being watched, how a certain Captain was following what he thought to be, as every beautiful curve of structure on your face, the way your hair fell in a certain manner due to the salt of the sea in the air – the way you just appeared so peaceful. He had missed every little things when you had been absent from his life.

Despite the pain of knowing your heart was with another, Charles Vane loved you undyingly.

Turning back, his green gaze went in the opposite direction – which roused your suspicion a little. You decided to strike up a conversation so things didn't become awkward.

"Are you up to anything today then, Captain?" you said in a playful manner. Vane's little smile appeared again.

"No-" he said, half muffled in the flask of ale. He paused to take a drink before replying. "Just enjoying my time not 'aving to do anything. Especially after the months I've 'ad." He explained, and you cocked your brow.

"The months I was gone?"

Vane faltered, and frowned dismissively.

"Partly yes, I suppose." There he was again the tough 'I'm going to rip your bastarding head off' Captain Vane, the one who didn't have any emotions aside from anger and liked to slaughter anyone who tried him. It was all rather amusing that he felt he had to front that to you.

He necked back the last of his drink then, and stood up suddenly, shrugging his large leather coat.

"You fancy a wander lass?" he asked, taking up a nonchalant tone. You smiled a little, taking up his offer as you too left your seat.

The pair of you wandered past Rackham, who was half slumped across the bar and felt he had to make some kind of unwanted and stupid comment.

"Watch it Charles-y Boy, don't want Kenway to catch you! He'll feed you your bollocks if he sees you with his pretty bird." Rackham slurred with a tormenting look on his face, and being as short fused as he was – Vane snapped.

"Shut up, lout! You need to watch your fucking mouth before I smash it shut-"

"Charles." You whispered, and he immediately stopped, "Let's just ignore him. He's pissed as usual, he's just doing it to get a reaction out of you." You reassured, and Vane looked down at you. You were such a perfect mediator, and immediately the roaring fire in his belly dwindled into nothingness.

"Yes... You're right, lass." He responded, a calmness to his voice. You instigated leaving the tavern terrace for good as you wandered down the steps, and Vane wasn't far behind you.

---

It was nice for once to not of felt any pressure or urgency, and what beautifully serene moment it was as you took a long stroll across the island with Vane.

"The sky is so perfectly blue, it's like paradise." You commented with a smile, and Vane looked down at you and took some pleasure and happiness seeing the pure look on your face.

"Ain't anything compared to the Great Inagua, that's summat else lass." He said, knowing you hadn't travelled there yet and from the corner of his eyes he could see you looking at him in interest. It just further compelled him to elaborate on the story.

"It's beautiful. Properly lush, not like this shit hole-"

"Vane!" you laughed, as the pair of you stopped. Having made you laugh, the captain also felt the need to have a little chuckle.

"What? It's true! I'm not 'aving you on!" he defended amid his laughter, and you couldn't help but laugh a little while longer as the pair of you continued to walk around a quiet corner of the beach a little while longer. Everything, for you, seemed to good to be true. The day had been so nice so far.

However, whilst Vane had been watched you chuckle – his own smile had faded. Spending all this time with you was becoming a reminder of what he so desperately wanted, but couldn't have.

He cleared his throat, "Well either way I expect Kenway will be whisking you off there some day. To stay in the 'big fancy manor house'" Vane's bitter tones rung clear, and like some kind of pollution, it seemed to choke the air around you. Your laughter simmered away, and you felt awkward under the new dark cloud that hunt above the pair of you whilst you walked along the golden sands.

As you hadn't given a response, it was like part of Vane just had to keep going, like a wild horse with a 'bolt' mentality

"Yeah – I can see it now. Big and fancy isn't really my style though, maybe that's why I always seemed to come second best on things-"

He spoiling everything for himself, digging a hole that was ever deepening. Why he couldn't see that, was a mystery to you.

Quite frankly, it was spoiling your mood. You had come out here loving Vane's company, and now as usual it had to be about him.

You did love him, that was true – but you didn't love this side of him. It was ugly, ignorant and stubborn.

"Charles, just what is this about?" you stopped suddenly, grounding to a halt right in front of him. The invasion of his personal space took him back a bit.

"Nothing." He then started childishly, his mood foul. His temper could be worse than the rough seas.

He went to walk around you, but you put your hand to his chest – now that visibly stopped him, both physically and mentally – you could almost sense that his heart rate had increased.

"Stop being like this, please?" you whispered. How he could he not see that this behaviour was one of the main things that drove you away in the first place?

Vane looked as if he wanted to say something, his eyes were searching your own but the words were just not coming out at all.

"I – well... It's..." he gabbled uselessly, before getting frustrated with himself, which seemed to take back the control.

"I'm sorry, (name)," he started, "I don't want to be like this with you, I really don't." his deep tones exclaimed

"But I just can't help it... It's like I'm constantly aware of.... Of...." Now this was where he struggled, the feeling's bank of words hadn't been used in a while for this rugged sea Captain, and now he couldn't seem to say what he wanted to in front of you.

"Aware of what?" you said, deciding to make it a little easier for him, "This is ultimately about Edward and I, isn't it?" you questioned, greeting with a long and almost sulky pause before you got your answer.

"Yes." Vane agreed, eyes darting down to his boots in the sand, "... It's just... you know how I feel about you lass, it just makes me sad when I remember everything.. that I can't 'ave." he went onto say. You felt so sorry then once he had confessed.

There was nothing you felt more compelled to do than give him a big hug. Not to mention you felt the same safety and happiness in his arms that you did with Edward... this was where things were getting confusing. In some ways you wished you hadn't spend the morning with Vane, because it was just further adding fuel to a fire you didn't even know was there.

"Vane, this is not a one sided thing and I want you to know that." You whispered into his ear, and felt his arms tighten around you slightly – as he tensed up.

"W-what?" he sounded miffed, in a state of total disbelief. It was often that this Captain appeared dumbfounded.

You pulled away, looking into his softened green eyes as noting the look of shock on his face. It was a shocked look which was slowly melting into a smile. Now your head was really racing, blood pumping wildly around your body. The red flags were waving madly in your head, you had to stop – but still you found your face was getting ever closer to Vane's....

Gunshots sounded, clapping through the air around you – which immediately alarmed the pair of you.

"What the bloody hell!?" Vane growled, seemed somewhat angered it had ruined his perfect moment.

Ascending the sandy bank, you approached a wall beside one of the houses, and quickly noted the huge galleon moored in the dock.

"Shit-" you whispered, looking up to Vane in alarm. He didn't seem frightened... (but when was he ever?) as he observed the men walking up the beach.

It was when you stopped looking at Vane, and glanced across at the self righteous looking soldiers parading up the beach, you saw one man who set you into a frenzy of panic. His unmistakable marked face made you fall to pieces as you flashed back to that terrible night.

"Oh my god – Oh god, no-" you whimpered and went to fly backwards, darting from the scene like a deer. Vane quickly noticed your panicked state, pulling you back and against him.

"Lass? Bloody hell, what's the matter?" he asked, a concern for you in his voice, knowing you were out of earshot from others.

"That's Woodes Rodgers," you whimpered, even saying his name seemed to sour on your tongue. "He was one of the men in Havana who tried to hurt me-" you babbled, trying to calm yourself down.

"Just take a breath, I promise I won't let him see you." Vane reassured, and you buried your face into his chest. You could then feel his hand stroking your hair softly – comfort sparked in your belly and you felt yourself starting to settle. You also swore you felt this fearsome captain press a kiss to the top of your hair...

The shouts that were unmistakably of Mr Rodgers made you peek at the display gathering on the beach.

"We demand a parlay with the men who are so called Governors of this island!" he started, raising a large sheet of parchment and clearly reading from it, "Charles Vane, Ben Hornigold and Ed Thatch. Come forth if you please!"

You heard Charles' name and instantly felt an unsettling feeling in your stomach, you glanced up to see what sort of reaction Vane had made, but he was simply scowling.

"Bastards, they're not getting a word out of me." He grumbled, tensing up again.

Pulling away, you took a few small steps back, and look worriedly back at Charles.

"What are they here for? What could they want with you?" you asked, and Vane chewed his lip in an irritated manner.

"I suspect they're 'ere about the king's pardon... well old George can shove his pardon right up his arse, 'cause I'm not taking it." Vane growled like a mutt. He was taken out of angry spiral when he saw Ben crossing the expanse of white sand to greet the king's men. Now confusion crept in, and things were looking sketchy.

"Hornigold you lily-livered twat." Vane whispered sourly to what he had seen. One thing Vane didn't like were so called 'men of the king' telling him what to do.

"Lass, go back to the tavern or somewhere out of the way. I don't want this wanker catching sight of you." Vane instructed as he pointed in the direction of Mr Rodgers, who obviously couldn't see you both behind the protection of the wall.

You knew you wanted to go and be out of the way, but you worried for Vane's safety. What would happen if he talked to those men? Would he die?

"Yes, I'll go... but please be safe." You whispered softly, your display of concern ever welcome to the captain of the Ranger.

"Lass, you don't need to worry about me." He chuckled, a self assured cocky look about him. "The bastards would be dead men before they even managed to try and lay a finger on me." He smirked.

Well, if that wasn't enough reason to trust he would be fine – then nothing would be. You would just have to take his word for it, as you rushed back in the direction of the tavern – mind still racing over the events of the day...

A/N: Wow this was sooo long sorry, there's a lack of bby Edward in this but that's because I was trying to build on the reader's relationship with bby Vane (*cough*ifuckinglovehim*)

Thank you all so much for reading, and if I don't write anything else before Christmas, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of my wonderful readers a happy Christmas. I hope you all have a fabulous time x