Marmalade Mermaid

(I planned on writing this before episode 8 so pretend this is an AU where Izzy survived the gunshot and is alive)

Ed and Stede were on the revenge for the first time in a long while ever since they decided to run an Inn together, which was surprisingly doing well. However, they both decided to go on a vacation for a few weeks and wanted to spend it on the ship that started their friendship and relationship. That, and they wanted to see the family that they formed over the sea, having missed the crew so much. The crew were more than happy to have their former Co-Captains back on the ship, missing their presence as well. Once they boarded the ship, they were bombarded with hugs and each crew member talked over each other expressing their excitement that they were staying with them on their vacation. They spent the first few days, telling them all about their adventures across the sea, and they told themselves told them about how their business was doing and what troubles they got into while working as innkeepers. They were really glad to be back for a little while and were excited to spend their vacation with them, especially since their arrival fell on the week of Calypso's birthday.

The crew made it a tradition to celebrate Calypso's birthday every year, throwing a party bigger and bigger than the last and this was the first time that Ed and Stede got to be part of it ever since Ned Low crashed the first one. They both got to participate in getting the decorations, the drinks, and pic colorful outfits to wear for the day and much more. After they helped set the party up, setting up the decor of flowers, setting up snacks for their meal for the evening, and dragging out Stede's old tub to fill with alcohol. After they finished getting things ready, they all began to get themselves ready, getting into their outfits and costumes if they preferred. Some of the crew like Wee John and Izzy were doing each other's make-up, Lucius, Pete, and Frenchie joining in this time, all dressing as various creatures of the sea.

Stede and Ed had a blast with the crew, all enjoying the party and enjoying each other's company. Frenchie provided the music as always, playing joyous tunes for all of them to dance and sing along to. Izzy provided his wonderful voice for the slow songs for the others to dance together to. Lucius danced with Pete, Oluwande with Zheng, Archie with Jim, and sometimes the four of them together. Izzy took to slow dancing with Wee John as he sang, Jackie with the Swede, and Frenchie, Roach, and Fang took turns dancing with each other. Then that left Stede and Ed, Stede holding out his hand and smiling at Ed, silently asking for the dance that they never got to share, which he happily accepted.

They both joined their family on the dance floor, Stede's hands resting on Ed's hips as the other wrapped his arms around his shoulders, both moving back and forth to the lovely music. Everything felt perfect in the moment, Stede staring lovingly into Ed's eyes, causing the other to smile, moving one of his arms to rest his hand on Stede's chest before pulling him into a tender kiss. Both pulled away when they heard the others wooing, causing them to laugh as they went back to dancing.

The whole crew partied for hours and hours, getting drunker as the hours passed. Stede after a while, feeling a little buzzed decided that he'd turn in for the night, not wanting to feel too bad when he woke up in the morning in case he needed to be the one sober enough to help the crew. Ed, however, stayed up with the others getting as drunk as the rest of them, having a blast singing and dancing along with the crew.

Now Stede was in his old room in his sleeping gown laying in his and Ed's bed doing some late-night reading before going to sleep, a little candle lit next to him as he flipped through the book's pages before he heard the door of their room open. He looked up from his book, seeing that it was none other than Ed causing him to smile. He watched as Ed stumbled in walking toward their bed while humming a shanty to himself, beginning to strip his leathers, letting them flop to the floor until he was in nothing but his purple shirt.