I'll Be With You

Chapter 29: Mary's POV

I opened my eyes slowly. "Mary?" Jenny called softly. I looked around, and realized we were on the Jack. "Christ." I said as I tried to move up. Jenny quickly stood up to help me. "Father! Come!" Jenny yelled. She ran outside of the cabin. I was able to move a little. My clothes were ruined. I looked at my coat hanging on the back of the doors, and realized it had holes, and was stained red, as well as my shirt. I have no idea how I was able to live. It was a miracle, but I wasn't going to question it, just be thankful.

I was on Edward's bed. I tilted my head back, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath while contemplating wether or not to get up.

I tossed the sheets covering me away, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I had no shoes, and wasn't in the mood to look for my boots. It was cold, so I grabbed a spare coat that was lying around, and made my way to the doors by leaning against different objects, trying to keep my balance.

I was close to being able to open the door, but fell down. "Dammit." I looked up and grabbed a coat rack and leaned there for a few seconds. I closed my eyes and bit my lip as the wound was now causing a lot of pain. I did my best to keep going, and opened the door.

All men stood up straight, and had their hands behind their backs when I walked out. What where they doing? It was cool outside, so I tied the robe, but that caused more pain. "For fucks sake." The men were still holding their position. It was odd. "What the hell is wrong with you men?" I asked. A younger boy, David, from my crew walked to the middle. "Captain, you saved us and thousands of others. Possibly all of the West Indies." He answered back. "And how is that." I asked him back. He looked up, stepped back into his spot and closed his mouth. "Mary! You're alright!" Edward said, about to hug me. "Please, I can barely wear this coat. What's happened? What are they babbling on about now?"
He looked at me with sadness. I tilted my head, giving a confused look. "Edward. What happened?" I asked once more. "Where's Anne?"

"Mary... Anne... Annie's gone." Those words rang in my head. I felt my eyes burn, and start to tear up. "She died. You and her... We found the two of you on the island together. Lying next to each other in the smoke. Both of you were still breathing. We took the two of you onto the ship, Rhona and I. Anne... She didn't last through the night." I was angry. Sad. Disappointed. I wasn't there. "You both may have saved all of the West Indies. A man you killed, we looked at papers he was carrying. He was the leader. He set Man O' War's on each area. Kingston, Nassau, Havana. Many more. If he made it, he was ready to send a signal to blast these islands and take God knows how many lives." I remember it all now. He was a brunette man. He was running to his ship. A few shots, and some sword fighting did it. Annie helped me. "Mary, they want to have a ceremony in England. For You, and Anne. Would that be alright?" I thought. "It should be for Anne. That's the only reason I'll go." He nodded understandingly. "Okay. Boys! Ready for England!" He shouted. "What of Shay?" I asked. "I'll get him."

He was nearly five, and already lost his mother. I worried that the same would happen to ours. I looked and saw Edward motioning for me to go by the wheel. I was feeling drained, so I walked to the corner and sat down, near the back of the Jack.

Shay was walking to me. He sat near me. "I miss her." Shay said. Those words hurt. I knew his pain. "Your mother... She was the best woman. Always had the greatest stories, best attitude, humorous." I gave a small smile and laugh. My eyes started tearing up as I was smiling. Shay had a small smile pulling at the ends of his lips. "Really?" He asked. "Really. She was the greatest, Shay... She's proud of you. Have no worries about that. But, in order for her to know you're okay, I need you to be strong. I've lost my fair share of family, friends, companions. Even a husband I loved very much. But you know how I got passed it?" "Anger and Revenge?" He asked. He was Anne's son alright. "Well, yes, actually. But that anger, and revenge... It made me better. I channelled it. Used it to my benefit. Made it a strength rather than a weakness. That's how I do it. And know that I'm fighting for these people. And in that way, they'll never be gone."

He took this in as I had my arm around him. "So if I fight, for those I love, they'll never be lost?" He wondered. "Exactly. Thier names will go on for generations and centuries to come. Have no worry about it." He shook his head and wiped his eyes. "Thank you." He replied.