Chapter Text
Ed felt lighter the next morning. He called Izzy and filled him in on what had happened. He could hear Izzy rolling his eyes through the phone. Talking to Stede had worked, imagine that. Stede texted Ed more reports on Captain Marmalade’s recovery throughout the day. He invited Ed to join him and the children for dinner that night, and this time Ed accepted. They ate pizza and played games; Ed learned that Alma was not to be trifled with when it came to Uno, while Louis just seemed happy to be there. They watched a movie, and then Ed went home. That night, he realized that the pang he felt at leaving was having less and less to do with Captain Marmalade. Stede texted again on Sunday after Mary picked up the children and the two met for coffee at a nearby cafe and took a walk in the park. Ed went home to finish up a design for a client he had the next day, but he and Stede exchanged goodnight texts again.
Ed’s work week got off to a good start. He took a walk-in who wanted a floral design. Ed nearly climbed over the counter to take it, shocking everyone. But he loved doing something other than his usual designs and everyone marveled at the delicate lines and shading of the lavender sprigs he had placed on the young woman’s forearm. Jim raised their brows but nodded approvingly at the piece as Ed wrapped it and gave aftercare instructions.
On Wednesday evening, Ed was clearing up when Jim approached his station.
“Some of us are headed over to Jackie’s. You want in?”
“Thought you were still banned from there,” Ed smirked.
“For that thing with her husband?”
“For that thi--yeah, Jim, that thing with her husband.”
“He lived. Besides, Jackie found out he’d been two-timing her, so in the end, she feels I did her a favor.”
“All’s well that ends well, I guess, but nah, I’m headed home. Next time.”
“Suit yourself.”
Ed felt some trepidation as he stepped into his home. Captain Marmalade had always shown up on a Wednesday. He checked the kitchen first. No cat. The living room. No cat. Down the hallway to his bedroom. No cat. Ed sighed. He headed back to the kitchen to grab a beer. He supposed he could text Stede and see if the cat was still at his. But somehow it felt like that would cement this new reality, that Captain Marmalade was really more the Bonnets’ than…Ed’s and Stede’s. Nope, nope, that was spiral-y behavior. Ed straightened his shoulders. If he wanted to see the cat, he would just bloody well text Stede. There was a knock at his front door just as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
When he opened the door, there was Stede, cat carrier in one hand, and a bouquet of flowers in the other.
“Uh, hey Stede. What’s all this?”
“Hello Ed. Well, it’s Wednesday. I realized as it got to evening that Captain Marmalade was still hanging around at mine, and I thought you might be in need of a visit.”
“And, uh, the flowers?”
“Oh, these are for you. Just. Because.”
Ed smiled fondly at him. “Well, suppose you both better come in.”
Stede helped Ed arrange the flowers in a pub glass (he was aghast that Ed didn’t have a vase and promised to rectify that situation immediately). They opened the carrier so Captain Marmalade could make himself at home and then ordered dinner. They ate sitting side by side on Ed’s couch. Stede had recommended a documentary slash reality competition about fat bears, so that was playing softly in the background as they fell into comfortable conversation about their weeks thus far. Ed showed Stede a photo of the lavender tattoo he had done and preened at Stede’s praise over the design. He offhandedly remarked that he might even consider a tattoo like that, and Ed’s mouth went dry thinking about all the different places he’d like to put one on Stede. He quickly rallied and said he’d be happy to give Stede a tattoo, if and when he decided the time was right. It was approaching midnight when Stede decided he had better head back to his. He insisted that Captain Marmalade should stay; if he wanted to venture back to Stede’s on his own, he clearly knew the way.
“If he doesn’t scarper off on his own, I’ll be sure to get him back to yours for Friday afternoon,” Ed said.
“That’s perfect.” Stede hesitated at the threshold as Ed opened the door for him.
“Stede?”
“Ed, I’m going to do something that’s either very stupid or very brave or both.”
“What’s tha--” and then Ed was being kissed. Gently, softly, chastely kissed. He should probably do something about that. So he put his hand at the back of Stede’s head and kissed back. When they broke apart, he brought his other hand up to cup Stede’s face.
“That was very brave. And not at all stupid.”
“Oh thank god,” Stede said, a bit breathlessly. “I’ve been wanting to do that since we first met. But Ed, I’m truly such a mess. I’m trying to sort out my life and I’ve got the children to think about and I didn’t think dating was in the cards for me. But it feels like we were supposed to meet. Is that…is that weird?”
“Maybe. But for the record, I like weird.”
Stede leaned in to kiss him again. This time he wrapped his arms around Ed and deepened the kiss. Ed reciprocated and then gently pulled away. “Let’s take this slow, Stede. You’re not a mess. But I don’t wanna be somethin’ you regret while you’re sortin’ things out. Let’s date. Let’s…let’s share this fuckin’ cat and see where this goes.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Good. Me too. Text me when you get home.”
“Of course. Goodnight, Ed.”
“Goodnight, Stede.” He watched as Stede made his way to the sidewalk and then shut the door. He turned to find Captain Marmalade sitting there staring at him. He scooped the cat up into his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Thank you,” he whispered.
***
One Year Later
Ed and Stede stood in their back garden, hands clasped, grinning as they stared into each other’s eyes. Alma stood next to Ed, while Louis was at his father’s side.
“And now, the rings,” said Stede’s assistant and best friend, Lucius.
Nothing happened.
“And now, the rings,” Lucius said, more emphatically.
“Oh, Ed, I told you this wouldn’t work.”
“Give ‘im a second, babe.”
“Mrow.”
“Ah, see, there he is!” Captain Marmalade pranced over and sat at their feet. Ed leaned down and untied two gold bands from a little satin pillow attached to his collar. “He jus’ wanted to make the most of his entrance, didn’t you, buddy?”
Stede rolled his eyes fondly. “You’d think it was his big day.”
“Well, it is, kinda. He’s the reason we’re all here,” Ed shrugged.
“Of course, you’re right, darling.”
Lucius cleared his throat, loudly. “If I may?”
Stede glared at him. “Yes, yes, on you go, Lucius.”
“With this exchange of rings, do you, Stede Bonnet, and you, Edward Teach, promise to love, support, and nurture each other for all your days?”
“Yes,” Stede said.
“Absolutely,” Ed said.
They slipped the rings on each other’s fingers and clasped hands again.
“Then by the power vested in me by the internet where I was ordained to perform this ceremony, I pronounce you husbands. You may now kiss. But remember there are minors present.” Lucius smirked.
Ed and Stede embraced and kissed to the sound of applause and cheers from their friends and family who had gathered for their intimate backyard ceremony. When they parted, Ed grabbed Alma’s hand in one of his and Stede’s in the other; Stede did the same with Louis. Together, they turned to their witnesses with their joined hands raised and received even more applause.
Ed had been emotional all day, but it really hit him in this moment how far they had come in just a year. From strangers to co-owners, and now a family. Once they had committed to talking it through whenever one of them started to panic, Ed and Stede’s relationship flourished. Stede finally divested himself from his father’s company and opened a small cafe, conveniently located down the block and around the corner from Ed’s tattoo shop. Ed had started branching out in his designs, rebranding a bit while maintaining the quality of work that people had come to associate with him.
And he was shocked just how easily he had slotted into the Bonnets’ lives, learning that becoming a parental figure wasn’t nearly as terrifying as he once thought it would be. Within six months, he had sold his house and moved into Stede’s, both of them agreeing they didn’t have any more time to waste when everything felt so right. It was a lot of change, yes, but they talked it through every step of the way, and made sure Alma and Louis were happy. Ed even included them in his proposal; Alma had rolled her eyes when he asked for their blessing, saying she couldn’t possibly understand what was taking him so long and to yes, please ask her dad to marry him before either of them got any older.
“Mrow.”
Ed was shaken from his reverie by a gentle paw placed on his shin. He bent down and scooped up Captain Marmalade to carry him into the house where cake and champagne awaited them. For about the hundredth time, and not for the last, he whispered a quiet “Thank you” into the soft orange fur.