Scarlett's anger with the Captain still simmered underneath her relief that he had rescued them. She wanted to stand up in defiance against his condescending remark but telling by the exasperated look on his face, she knew better than to put up a fight.

Not a word was spoken on their way back to the ship, the Captain leading the way with long, angry strides. The ship was fully repaired when they arrived and ready to set sail again. Upon seeing their captain nearing the plank to step aboard, the crew jumped into action, knowing full well by his body language that time was of the essence and that he wasn't happy.

"You," the Captain said, pointing at Scarlett. "In my cabin."

Scarlett gave a regretful glance in her brother's direction before following Alexander into the cabin alone. He walked over to his desk and rested his hands on its surface as he towered over his maps, scrutinizing them out of mere habit.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" he said, keeping his head down.

Scarlett didn't respond and when he looked up at her expectantly, she crossed her arms and avoided his gaze.

"Bloody hell, Scarlett!" he said, raising his voice. "You disobeyed my orders twice. Do you have any idea what just happened?"

Her mind raced with thoughts but her mouth was unable to produce them into words. "I don't know," was all she could say.

Alexander ran a hand across his face. "I think you do but you don't seem to understand how serious this is. You and your brother are wanted! That man knew who you were because Bastian put out the word for your capture. Do you know what that means? Men with connections to Bastian are looking for you everywhere right now--and word spreads fast, as we learned the hard way. That means you can't trust anyone now. Do you see now why I told you to stay with me?"

"Well, if you knew that, then why didn't you tell me?" Scarlett said.

"Because I didn't exactly suspect he had put a search out for you so quickly or that it would reach Southampton before we had. I was just trying to keep you safe. And for God's sake, why were you wandering around the town, anyway?"

"Because William and I were looking for a ship to take us to Plymouth."

"Dare I ask, why?"

Scarlett gazed at the hurt expression in his eyes, which told her he already knew the answer. "After our argument, I thought it would be best."

"You thought it would be best," he said with a scoff. "Scarlett, you are bound to get yourself in a lot of trouble."

"Not any more trouble than staying aboard your ship. My brother is right--we are on a moving target."

"Oh, really? And what do you call that out there?" he said, pointing in the direction of the town they were leaving behind.

Scarlett gave no response, unable to conjure up an argument against him. She felt trapped and tears sprang to her eyes upon this realization but she pridefully batted them away. "Well, perhaps it's better than standing here and arguing with a man I thought I knew. That's one thing we can agree on. I can't trust anyone, especially a lying, slave-trading coward."

"Oh, for the love of God, Scarlett," he said, throwing his hands in the air. "We've been over all this. This is who I am and who I have been for a long time. If you don't like it--well, then that's just too bad. I don't have the time or energy to argue with a ridiculous woman, who I am doing a big favor for, by the way."

Scarlett crossed her arms and avoided his gaze again. He wasn't wrong about doing her a favor and she was beginning to hate it.

"Oh, I know that look," the Captain added with a frustrated huff. "What do you want me to do? What would you like me to say to fix everything?"

"I just wanted you to be the same man I fell in love with not so long ago. I feel like you've become a different person or perhaps my eyes have simply been opened. But I don't own you. I suppose you can be whoever you wish and do whatever you want. I'm no one to tell you how to live your life."

He let out a laugh. "Oh, doesn't this all sound so familiar? You sound just like your sister."

"Well, then don't make the same mistakes with me as you made with her."

The Captain fell silent, the amusement on his face fading away. Scarlett expected him to be angry but instead, that vanished from his demeanor as well. He collapsed into his chair, resting his elbows wearily upon his desk and running his hands through his hair. She gazed at the tiredness in his eyes. His usually well-kempt beard had grown out and a few strands of grey hair were beginning to peek out from his hairline. He looked stressed and weathered and she could nearly see the evidence of the weight he carried upon his shoulders.

Scarlett sat down across from him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," she said, watching as he picked up his compass and fumbled with it in his hands. "In fact, I shouldn't have said any of those things."

He shook his head but didn't look up at her. "No, I'm everything you said I am. I'm a coward and a barbarian--a pirate." He spat his words out, disgust seeping out behind each one, and then he breathed in shakily. "I could always put it in a different perspective. I justified my actions, telling myself it was for me and my crew's own good. I've only ever done these things with our best interests in mind and eventually, I learned to be okay with that. But ever since I saw you there--standing in the middle of that room, your hands bound, Blackbeard dragging you about and Bastian looking you over like a prize--it didn't sit well with me. Ever since then, I've had a bad feeling in my gut. To see someone with a family, someone with a good standing in society with her whole life ahead of her, so innocent and beautiful...I couldn't imagine seeing someone like that sold to men."

"Oh, Alexander," Scarlett said, shaking her head slowly. "What have you done to get into such a mess?"

He let out a scoff. "Well, don't ever get mixed up with Bastian De Leon no matter how easy it may seem. A small deal will lead you into working for him."

Scarlett scooted closer to the edge of her seat. "Well, why do you have to work for him? Why can't we fight against him--expose his operation?"

The Captain turned to her suddenly and when seeing the serious expression on her face, he burst into laughter. "Love, you are starting to sound an awful lot like a pirate. In fact, I think you've got more bollocks than most by even saying that out loud. You don't just take down a prostitution market and certainly not Bastian De Leon. You would have high officials coming for your blood."

Scarlett felt defeated. "Well, it was a thought. Evil men can't go on forever."

He shook his head in disagreement. "Evil men flourish in my world--it's just a matter of how you survive them."

"What are you to do, then?"

"For once, I don't know. I'm trapped and whatever happens, there will be no easy way out of this. The only thing I do know is that you are right about everything. Scarlett, I'm a horrible man."

He placed his face in the palm of his hand and slumped in his chair. Scarlett couldn't help but pity him and rushed to his side, resting her hand on his arm. Her touch caused him to lift his gaze to meet hers, a hint of tears glinting in his eyes. She put her hand against his cheek and felt the texture of his beard underneath her fingertips. Grasping for her hand, he rose to his feet and slipped his arms around her waist to pull her closer. It happened so swiftly that Scarlett nearly gave in to the moment but as he moved closer to kiss her, she broke from his embrace and stepped away.

The Captain stood blinking at her, a dumbfounded expression on his face. "What is wrong now?" he said, anger rising in his tone. "What more do you want from me? You need to make up your mind--or am I so repulsive to you now that you've learned all about my sins?"

"That isn't it," she said abruptly.

"Then, what is it?"

"It's you and I. I've been thinking about us."

"What are you saying?"

She turned to him and held his gaze. "Alex, for as long as I was back home away from you, I longed for you. I wanted nothing more than to be by your side. But then I began thinking about how you treated me while I was on your ship and I can't get it out of my mind."

"But that's all in the past. Love, we've overcome so much."

"I know but I feel like the time we've had apart has cleared my mind a little."

"Have you told your family? Your brother knows, doesn't he? That's why he despises me."

"Yes, only he knows."

"So he put these thoughts in your head."

"He only woke me up to them. Alex, he's right. You had your men bound and beat me. You threw me in your prison cell under deck and starved me. You nearly had James killed because of me! How can I just forget all that?"

A grimace appeared on the Captain's face. "Scarlett, I am deeply sorry for all the pain I have caused you. I didn't know where my head was then. I was so driven by my mission to find your sister that I wasn't thinking clearly."

Scarlett nodded sadly. "I know."

He sat back down, running his crossed fingers over his lips. Tears welled up in his eyes again and he swallowed the lump in his throat. "This is how I lost her. I pushed Grace away. She couldn't stand my temper and my habits anymore. I held a grudge against her all these years for running away with another man and who was I that I felt so much pride to feel that way? Could I really blame her? Scarlett, I don't want to lose you, too. I've only known love twice in my life and you've shown me more than any other woman. That's something I don't even deserve."

Scarlett remained still, unable to think of a response. She was conflicted, remembering not only how harshly he had treated her but their arguments since. Yes, he had a horrible temper and lived a lifestyle she didn't agree with but she knew he wasn't fully to blame either. She had her faults too and as she gazed at the sad man who had stolen her heart, she realized there was one way he never failed her.

"But you do deserve it, Alexander," she said, walking over to him and taking his hand. "There's something that I've noticed about you. No matter what, you always come back to save me. No matter how angry you are, you still protect me. You're a loyal, honorable man and maybe I'm crazy or maybe I'm wrong, but I can't imagine my life without you."

He looked up at her and searched her face. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," she began with a deep breath, "that everything is in the past, like you said. And I want to move forward. It's not easy but I believe in forgiveness and change. So I guess what I'm saying is that you need not fear losing me."

A wave of relief swept across his face and in a tender and gentle moment, Scarlett leaned in and brushed her lips against his. He smiled in elation that he couldn't resist as they parted and standing up, he cupped her face in his hands and brushed his fingers against her cheeks. He seemed nearly hesitant, as if touching her would push her away again. But as she wrapped her arms around his neck, the temptation was too overbearing. He bent down to kiss her again and as she responded favorably, his confidence grew and his kiss deepened. They melted together, their lips moving in search of a long-suppressed passion. It was scary for Scarlett and a range of emotions came flooding back but she allowed herself to embrace the moment without apprehension. This time, she didn't think of her family or her brother somewhere outside the cabin. This moment was for her and the Captain alone and she couldn't help but crave more.

But then the Captain pulled away. Scarlett leaned against the edge of his desk as he smirked at her, taking her in for a quiet moment. Then he opened his mouth to speak.

"What were you saying about taking down Bastian?"