Scarlett fell silent as she gazed at the Captain for what felt like several minutes. At first she wasn't sure she had heard him correctly but seeing his creased brow and tight lips, she knew he was being serious. Her face drew pale and fear fluttered in her stomach at the uncertainty and reality of the prospect. What had been offered to her as an opportunity now came as a hard decision already predestined for her.

"What are you saying?" she said, her voice faltering.

"I'm saying you need to come with me to the West Indies--you and your brother."

"You can't be serious, Alex," she said, stepping away from his embrace. "It's so far away. I can't do that. I know you want me to be with you but I can't leave my home and my family."

"This isn't about what I want anymore. Bastian is after us. He is a stubborn man, who, when he puts his mind to something, will do whatever he can to get what he wants and he wants you. And now that Blackbeard is dead, he will soon know it was me who killed him and he will be after us for revenge. It is so much worse now than before."

"What is his fixation, though, that we have to run so far away?"

"Because I killed one of his top tradesmen. A large part of his business and flow of profits will end because of this. And now I have rebelled against him and rescued two of his captives who he already purchased. That is unforgivable to someone like him. I've seen men try this before and they don't survive. Bastian doesn't allow such things to go on because it may cause a stir amongst his other traders to follow suit. Besides, I know too much about his operations and now so do you. He can't risk leaking that information."

"But maybe we can just figure this out before jumping to such extremes. Perhaps we can go into hiding for a while."

"You can't do that with Bastian. He scours the land until he finds someone. I've seen villages burned and plundered at his hand."

"Alex, there's too much keeping me here. I can't possibly leave. I don't think you understand that."

"Scarlett, do you want to end up like your sister?"

Scarlett paused, her stomach wrenching as the image of her sister's lifeless body appeared in her mind. A pang of guilt stabbed her heart as she recalled the memory of leaving her behind without any proper goodbye or burial. She wondered how long it would be until her body would be discovered.

"Exactly," the Captain said as if reading her thoughts. "I can't let that happen to you. I'm not going to make the same mistakes and lose you, too."

"But what about my family? They need me."

Alexander sighed heavily. "I know, love. And as much as I know you love them, I can't let you go home to them. If Bastian found you, he could kill your whole family. Think if you brought that burden upon them. Do you want to live in fear every day?"

Scarlett found herself shaking her head. "I suppose you are right. But why must we travel so far away?"

He smirked. "You fell in love with a pirate, remember? There are no waters closer that would be willing to accept an English pirate. Besides, the opportunity is great out there. Not only would it take us far away from Bastian, it would provide us a fresh start and give my crew and I the good living we deserve."

"I don't know," Scarlett said, placing her face in her hand. "This is all too much to bear. I can't possibly think right now."

"I know but we need to move fast."

The Captain walked over to Scarlett, grasping her hands in his and guiding her to look up at him. "Please trust me," he continued. "I know this is a new idea and perhaps it's difficult to place your life in my hands but I will do everything I can to protect you. I couldn't leave England knowing you may be at risk. Scarlett, I love you and I ask that you take this leap of faith with me."

Scarlett closed her eyes, prompting tears to fall down her cheeks. "I do trust you. But I'm so afraid, Alex."

"Don't be afraid, love," the Captain said, emphatically. "I will take care of you and we will build a life together. Will you accept me?"

She looked back up at him, imagining what uncertain future they would be facing and yet, she found herself unable to resist the hope in his eyes. Slowly, she began to nod. "Yes, I will go with you."

He released a sigh as relief swept over his features. Wrapping his arms around her again, he drew her close and placed his forehead against hers before kissing her. The moment was passionate but brief and they pulled away almost as quickly as the embrace had happened.

"We need to tell William," Scarlett said.

Alexander nodded in agreement and stepped aside to allow her to fetch her brother.

As Scarlett emerged from the cabin, the night crew had already taken their positions. Lanterns illuminated the deck and in their faint, glowing light, she could see those keeping guard and directing navigation. Then she spotted her brother's dark figure as he still remained standing where she had left him. He leaned against the bulwark quietly and gazed out into the black sea, his shoulders hunched over as he dwelled deep in his thoughts. Scarlett called to him, waking him from his stupor as he turned around and approached her.

She guided him into the cabin and placed him in a chair without a single word. The Captain had already taken his position across the table and Scarlett sat herself beside William. Taking his hand in her own, he looked at her with a suspicious, worrisome gleam in his eye.

"William, Alexander and I have made a decision," Scarlett began. "Rather, I'm afraid it was made for us and, well, I'm not quite sure how to say this. We have decided to leave."

"What do you mean?" William said in a low voice.

"Alex, tell him."

"After everything that happened tonight," the Captain began, "we are all in grave danger. When I went to fetch a doctor for your sister, a crowd had gathered around Blackbeard's body. I wouldn't have been so concerned if it wasn't for a man in a feathered hat. And worst of all, he saw me."

"Who was it?"

"I am certain it was one of Bastian's men. Now word will get back to Bastian that I killed Blackbeard. Not only have I made myself his enemy by rescuing and harboring his purchased slaves but I just murdered one of his most important tradesmen. He will be out for revenge against us and nothing will stop him from trying to find us."

"But where will you go?"

"The West Indies," Alexander replied.

"The West Indies? Scarlett, that's so far away."

"I know and leaving our family is the last thing I want to do. But Alex is right. Bastian will come looking for us. We can't go home. We would be putting Mother and Father and Joseph in danger."

"No," William said sternly, shaking his head in defiance. "I can't just leave them like that. I have to stay and take care of them. I have to take over the bakery for Father."

"But they will be okay. Joseph will be a fine, young man soon and he can help Father."

"Listen to you--abandon my family just in case a man may find us? I promised Grace I would take care of them and I am going to keep my promise."

"But things have changed, William."

"That is a chance I have to take."

Scarlett felt silenced by her brother's hard gaze. Her mind rushed with thoughts to come up with a way to convince him but to no avail. She turned to the Captain for support but with raised eyebrows and a slight shrug, he leaned forward to speak.

"William may actually have a point. Bastian is after me and though he bought both of you, women are more desirable in the trade. A soldier--what fate was almost bestowed on you, William--is easy to find anywhere. So I respect his decision. And perhaps, if he stays home to take care of your family, it will make it easier for you, Scarlett, knowing they are in capable hands."

"But I don't want him taking a chance," she said.

"Scarlett, I need to do this," William said, squeezing her hand. "Joseph is still too young to think of becoming the man of the house. He needs someone to teach him his schooling and Father needs a break from the business sooner rather than later. I can begin that now and set us all on a path to a secure future. I understand you may need to leave and I encourage you to do so. You love this man, right? This is a life you've been dreaming of for a long time now--I've always known it. But my duty is with them and I take full responsibility for that decision. I will be careful if need be but I can't break my promise to Grace."

Scarlett felt a smile sneak onto her face as her brother spoke so boldly and maturely. When he had grown into such a strong man, she didn't know but she sensed a confidence in her brother's tone that she didn't feel it was her right to reject. "Okay," she said. "If this is what you have decided, I will trust you."

"It is but I will miss you very much, Scarlett."

"I will miss you, William--all of you," Scarlett replied, a sob choking her words in her throat.

"We may not need to run forever," the Captain interjected. "But I know for right now, it's in our best interests. Perhaps someday, you may return to see your family, Scarlett. And because we got a head start leaving port, I figured I could give you some time to say goodbye."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we are taking William home and I thought I would give you a chance to return with him to your family and tell them of your journey. I'm afraid I can only allow one day but it will give you time to bid farewell."

"Thank you, Alex. Yes, I have much to tell..."

Scarlett felt weighed down by her burdens once again but somehow, it felt heavier than before. After all the challenges they had faced and overcome, telling her family everything--her love for a pirate captain, what they had encountered on their journey, what trouble followed after them, finding their sister and what fate had come upon her, and now, what she herself needed to do--seemed to be the hardest challenge of all. Sensing her emotions, William took her in his arms and held her close. She couldn't remember the moment when he laid her upon the Captain's bed to fall into a deep slumber.