A/N: I'm actually so on a roll with my creativity at the moment, I have so much inspiration to write!

I'm just waiting for the day soon where I write a chapter for one of my stories and it feels crap and it discourages me lmao, that's what usually happens!

Anyway please enjoy this chapter.

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From outside the thick wooden hull of the Jackdaw, Edward could hear the shots and commotion. The tall captain slowly raised from his place at the desk, and wandered slowly across to the cabin door to peak out across the Jackdaw's eerily empty deck.

It was not hard to miss the intimidating figure of a vessel that had anchored itself in the Nassau docks. So a huge 'self-important' looking ship didn't seem to look at all right moored in their private pirate colony.

"What's this all about?" Kenway mused to himself aloud, walking across the deck as he looked down onto the sandy white beach, his gleaming blue eyes locked onto the upright and stocky figures of the English soldiers that marched through the sand, weapons clearly on show as if to make a statement.

The jackdaw's captain then clocked the unmistakable Woodes Rodgers, walking alongside a commander of some sort. Now his intrigue shifted violently in the direction of anger, like a pot of water reaching the boil. What on earth was that pompous idiot doing in Nassau?

---

Boots crunching under sand, the ever happy and egotistical Hornigold was sucking up to the King's men, buttering them with banter and witty jokes.

Leaning against one of the small shops in the centre of Nassau, Captain Vane on-looked with an air of disgust, slowly smoking his pipe.

"What the bloody hell are you up to mate...?" he whispered to himself between drags whilst he watched Hornigold, unaware of the wobbling stance of Rackham that was approaching from the side, and was then all of a sudden alarmed with the clumsy, drunk idiot crashed into him with little regard or apology.

The drunkard smirked a little smile as he sipped from his bottle, "Who's the grim fella?"

"Woodes Rodgers, so I'm lead to believe." Vane replied to Rackham, gritting his teeth. He had been quiet happy to watch the strange men from afar, but now it seemed Hornigold was marching towards them.

"Vane! Get your arse over here, the Commander would like to talk to us." His accented voice bellowed across the space. Immediately Charles had his back up, he did not like any dealings with these official men, and he already had his suspicions and doubts that were flagging up red.

He reluctantly shifted from his spot against the chipped white wood of the shop, and walked with a tall stance that declared some kind of defensive behaviour, as well as his face emanating the look of a slapped arse. It was clear to see Vane didn't want to be involved in this, and was not going to have any sort of reasonable conversation with the King's men if he could help it.

And like the lost puppy he was, Rackham followed slowly behind, finishing the rest of his drink – before without a second thought, casting it into the white sands below.

Above, and feeling your mind was rather distracted – you had been sat at one of the small tables on the tavern's decked terrace.

Luckily you had managed to stop yourself from wanting to look at what was going on below, but you knew if you took one long at Mr Rodgers' face then you instantly be dragged back kicking and screaming in your mind – back that awful memory...

You could almost see it now- the soft, seemingly opulent yellow lights warming the beauty of that ballroom... and then the gliding form of the smartly dressed Woodes Rodgers, pulling you away and effectively pulling you down from that cloud you were on. That night, he and his accomplices had been the ones to withdraw any last bit of trust from your heart-

"Alright (name)? You look a bit out of it?" came the soft chuckle of what you instantly recognised to be Captain Kidd, a welcoming face – Kidd always had this magic power to be so calm and together whatever circumstance may occur. He had this sensitivity to him too, that you found odd for a man.

Nodding slowly, your repeatedly shaking leg under the sun baked wooden table told otherwise. Captain Kidd only had to take a small look, before sitting down. He too had seen the arrival of the English officials – and seen that Rodgers was with them.

"You don't need to worry about what them buggers are up to, I'm sure the lads will be more than capable at standing their ground." Kidd assured quietly, looking into your (eye colour) eyes with earnest, a plaited strand of his jet black hair falling over the top of his red bandanna and into his face. "And if you stay out of sight, Rodgers won't see you. You don't need to worry about him." He then added.

Confused, you gazed at Kidd a little gone out... how had he known? Then it figured, Edward must've told him. Even your trusted confessions it seemed he couldn't keep to himself, the thought irritated you somewhat, and subsequently a tiresome sigh left your body.

"What's the matter, lass?" Kidd further questioned upon this, watching as you flew up from your seat opposite.

"I'm just fed up of every bloody body on this island having to know everything about me. I came back with Vane to get away from what happened to me there, not to stew over it." You said rather bitterly, watching as Captain Kidd's composed expression fell into that of somewhat guilt.

Now you were feeling slightly bad for snapping at him, it wasn't his fault... he was just trying to help.

As you went to walk past to exit the terrace, you laid your hand to Kidd's shoulder kindly.

"I'm sorry James... it's not your fault, I appreciate your kindness, I really do..." you started, patting his shoulder lightly, "I'm just annoyed that I told Edward in confidence and he-"

You were withdrawn from your current topic at hand when you saw the hooded figure of the man in question creeping subtly through the sand below you, looking as if he was up to something he shouldn't of been.

"I'll catch you later, Kidd." Was all you said with a level of urgency, and with haste you exited down the rickety, creaky wood steps and rushed off to catch up with a certain Captain Kenway.

--

After tailing the group of his fellow friends and the King's men to a small wooden supplies shack by the old fort, Edward paused by some gun powder barrels by the side of the structure. Luckily the wood the shack was built from was a fairly thin quality, so he could pick the louder bits of the conversation out.

The Captain was quietly figuring the topic of conversation, when a hand fell to his shoulder – and he immediately anticipated the worst.

Turning without looking, pulling his pistol from it's holster – the welsh captain held the weapon directly to the forehead of the bastard soldier he expected to see.

Except the being on the receiving end of the barrel of the gun was you, frightened as anything - and quick as he had pulled the gun out – it was away again.

"Bloody hell, lass! You frightened me half to death!" Edward whispered harshly, grabbing you and pulling you closer to the side of the shack, "What exactly do you think you're up to!?" he hissed, angry that he almost could of hurt you because of your actions.

You were in no mood to be meek or apologetic, you had to clear some things up with Edward.

"The question is, Kenway," you started, whispering harshly as you sensed there were people inside the shack, "What are you up to? Magically Captain Kidd knows all of my business! About everything that happened In Havana!" You growled lowly, (eye colour) eyes narrowed with a bitter look that could kill.

This is when Edward's uptight wall crumbled a little, and you could see it in the way his expression softened. He looked more apologetic than angry now.

"I just told him in passing conversation about other things, I didn't really think about it lass. I'm sorry." He explained, figuring he was still very much in trouble with you as you stood there with your arms folded tightly in a guarded fashion.

"Well perhaps you should use that brain of yours before you disclose something I have confessed to you in confidence! I don't want everyone to know my past, Edward." You fought back, meaning every word. You hoped this wouldn't be a recurring thing, the last thing you wanted was a relationship where the other person couldn't keep their trap shut about sensitive topics.

"I know, love, and I promise it was an accident-" he had started to say, having taken to grabbing your hands and holding them tightly in a reassuring and caring manner. He was halfway through his little verse when the shack door suddenly opened, and if the pair of you didn't move out of the way you were in some serious trouble- you would be caught.

Edward quickly grabbed you, and dragged you both behind the gap between the outer wall of the shack and the now open door, bodies pressed tightly together.

"This is cosy." He mouthed at you with the cheekiest smirk and boyish wink.

Any other time he would've humoured you, but you were still pissed off with him, so you chose to silently ignore it.

"I pray you take the prudent course, gentlemen," came the self righteous tones of Rodgers', something that made you stomach twist in an ill feeling. "And accept the King's pardon as soon as your hearts allow." His voice was just filled with the false nicety that was disconcerting and obviously transparent, but the tone soon changed.

"For until this time," he began, "you will be confined in Nassau."

You had to smirk to yourself, like any of those lads would let themselves be stuck here by the order of some snobbish idiot. You knew Vane certainly wouldn't.

"I am sorry for this," Woodes Rodger's added, his voice not indicating an inch of sorrow at all, "But in lieu of a public trial this is your best bet." His words were so well enunciated that it was almost as if he was trying to be threatening simply by his dictation.

The commander than set in, babbling on about how Rodgers' was putting it 'far too brightly' and they were all to accept the King's pardon forthwith, or effectively, face death.

"Please Commodore Chamberlin!" Rodgers said in a flighty fashion, "We are messengers... not executioners." His firm voice pressed.

As you could hear the sounds of boots crunching in the sand, and sense the men walking away – there was an eerily implemented "Not yet" from Rodgers.

They had barely even left before Vane swaggered forwards in his usual cocksure fashion, a 'come at me' attitude about him.

"Oh thank you sir!" Vane growled sarcastically, making obscene gesture behind the shrinking figures of the men, "God bless you!" he added, voice full of venomous vindictiveness.

"Take this as a stroke of fortune lads," Hornigold assured as he led the way from the shack, Vane following sceptically behind whilst Rackham was happy to tootle along at the back, drunk as anything and not having really understood what just happened. "We should just take the king's pardon and salvage whatever dignity we have left-"

"Piss!" Vane snapped before Ben had even finished, "I'll be a dead man before I fall to the likes of that bobbin." The Captain of the Ranger stated angrily.

"We had a golden opportunity here lads!" Hornigold lashed around quickly, finger pointing directly into Vane's face, which he obviously didn't like, and swatted his hand away sharply. "We had the foundations to make and maintain a place of vision, a place with principles, freedom... But in under three years we pissed it all away." There was a coldness about the Captain Hornigold that suggested he was more than through with it all.

"I won't make that bloody mistake again." He uttered, before storming off. Two of the English soldiers that had lingered were now chuckling at Vane.

"It's truth he's telling, you boys can't handle it!" one taunted, laughing in Charles' face, "See you later, at the gallows!" he then proceeded, marching off with his colleague and chuckling openly. Vane found the whole thing very embarrassing, he didn't like to be shown up in any sense at all.

"You'll all be dead men , you hear me!?" he yelled after them, "Bastards!" added obviously for good measure, but the soldiers were already gone and past caring about what this Captain thought.

Rackham looked sheepishly at Vane, who growled under his breath in a tiresome fashion.

"I need a drink." Vane instigated, turning sharply towards the direction of the tavern – as usual, ale could act as the mediator for his troubles.

--

When it was eventually safe to leave the small space behind the door, you squeezed out with a sigh.

"We should spend more time in that sort of proximity" Edward joked, going to take your hand but instead you pulled away. You weren't going to give into him that easily.

"Oh come on, lass..." he crooned, slipping the white hood down from his head to reveal his features, looking at you with that soppy look you honestly hated sometimes... only because you knew it worked wonders on you. Kenway could clearly see the ice you'd put around yourself thawing away. He tried again, taking your hand and pulled you so that he could draw you close, wrapping his arms around your waist.

"How can I make it up to you? You know I am truly sorry." He started, pressing a simple kiss to your forehead, but it was enough to start making you crack.

"You don't have to. I just want to know that it won't happen again." You replied, watching as he pulled away with that cheeky laddish smirked stained on this irresistible lips.

"It won't... I can't have you acting like this all the time." He joked, watching as you frowned and pretended to whack him one. One thing he was undeniably magic at, was knowing how to work with your feelings.

"Seriously though, I promise you lass, I won't utter a word of it again." He whispered, kissing the tip of your nose ever so tenderly before he leaned his forehead to yours. Such a tender and intimate little gesture that made your heart wrench. ".... You sure I can't do anything to make up for it...?" he hummed. Now that wasn't really a question, it was fairly suggestive.

You swallowed. You had not yet encountered this. Up until now your things with Edward had been... well, fairly innocent. You adored his sense of care and compassion towards you, but anything remotely of the lewd sort... he had really been refraining from with you. So for it to come out now... took you aback.

Your silence had obviously made him feel aware of himself and the way he had chosen to be, and he backed off a bit.

"Sorry lass, I've made you feel uncomfortable haven't I?" he whispered quietly, and now you felt embarrassed. You were nothing like the whores he had probably been used to in the past, and you feel more than foolish upon thinking that he actually wanted to do that sort of thing with you... what if you fell short of his expectations?

"N-no..." you faltered, forcing a weak smile, "It's just that I'm, well – I've never had to-"

Edward had been looking at you so intently whilst you fumbled and fell over your words, but a call of his name made his gaze lurch away from yours faster than the turning weather on the rough seas.

"Kenway-" the voice had called, and you turned to see the intimidating figure of Thatch. His fingers tucked into his belt, his jaw shifting a little behind the thick black wiry beard. Thatch had been gone for a few days, and had only just returned to Nassau – and he had been informed of the visit from the Governor and his men.

"I've called a meeting at the Old Avery." His voice was filled with a seriousness. Thatch then beckoned you both with a 'come along' motion.

"We have to have a discussion about the future of this place." Was added in a somewhat sombre tone.

Your somewhat fearful (eye colour) eyes looked up to Edward, who simply looked back in confusion, before you followed Thatch towards the tavern.

And not once on the way there, did Edward let go of your hand.

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A/N: ahdalihfls\ifhl\shf I have had such a good idea for where to take this story and it's so exciting to think I actually get to write it lmao. That sounds so stupid...

Anyway I know it looks cheap? Of me to update this so quickly but I have had such a burst of inspiration!

Have a good Christmas guys x