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Stede Bonnet was not a superstitious man; there was only a short period in his life spent believing in ghosts, but very recent occurrences had him reconsidering his thoughts on the supernatural. It had been just over a month since he found his crew marooned on the tiny island, and just shy of two weeks since they took command of a small merchant vessel. Stede no longer stood watching his men labor on deck, but joined them instead, glancing out at the open sea longingly when he was convinced that no one was paying attention to him. (They all saw him, but said nothing.) His heart ached for Ed, and guilt was gnawing at his stomach. He had not considered how his leaving would affect Ed, he didn’t think it would drive the other man to maroon their crew; but that’s what it always came down to: he didn’t think. He was a different man now, realizing his love for Ed changed him, made him want to be a better man.
The moon was high the first time Stede experienced what he could only describe at the time as madness or a strange occurrence spurred on by a restless sleep the night before. He was standing on deck, looking out at the wide ocean while the crew slept when he heard it. (It had been a single day since they took over their new ship.) At first it was almost too quiet to be heard, and he was ready to ignore the sound, and blame it on the wind. Then it came again and he could hear it as though it were across the room. The voice was mournful and familiar, and Stede could feel his heart break to hear that voice filled with such sadness.
“ Stede,” Ed’s voice called out from across the sea. “Stede…”
The second time he heard Ed’s voice calling out to him was the next day while he sat with the crew on deck, eating lunch. He was grateful that there was no food in his mouth for he was sure that he would choke if there had been. The bread in his hand fell to the floor of the deck and he looked towards the sound of Ed’s voice, this time sounding like a sob.
“Stede.”
Stede could feel the pinprick of tears at the corners of his eyes and he blinked them away and sighed, shaking his head.
“Are you alright Cap’n?” Oluwande asked, concerned.
Stede nodded slowly, smiling at Oluwande. “I think so, but did you hear a voice just a moment ago? Like it was far away, but right next to you?” he asked.
“I think you’ve been working yourself too hard,” Olu said. “Take a break for a bit, we’ve got this. We all want to get back on the ship, a lot of us have someone we miss on there too.”
Steded nodded and looked back towards the direction Ed’s voice came from. “Of course. Thank you Olu. We will find them. I promise you.
Night had fallen and the full moon shone brightly upon the sea before Stede heard Ed’s voice again.
“Stede.” It was Buttons who saw Stede’s attention drawn away from the rest of the sleeping crew and towards the sea.
“Everythin’ alright there Cap’n?” he asked. “Ye look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”
Stede shook his head and pointed his finger in the direction that Ed’s voice came from. “We need to head in that direction. Please Mister Buttons,” he said.
“Aye, I’ll start us in that direction at dawn’s first light.”
“Thank you my good man,” Stede patted Buttons on the shoulder and let out a heavy sigh.
“I’m coming home to you Edward, darling.”
Stede lost count how many times he heard Ed calling out his name after a week of following the sound of his beloved’s voice, all he knew was that Ed needed him, Ed was calling out to him and he would find his beloved no matter what or how long it took. He knew that it was very likely that Ed would be mad at him when they reunited, he also considered the idea that Ed could try to kill him, but with each time he heard Ed’s voice calling out his name with such love and desperation the less likely that scenario seemed a likely one. As each day passed, the sound of Ed’s voice grew louder, more clear. They would be there soon, Stede could feel it in his bones.
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Dense fog filled the sky, and the crew sat on the deck talking amongst themselves. The lack of wind had them floating with the tide, and Stede was restless, his leg bouncing as he sat with his men. He had not expected finding Ed and his ship to take this long. Anxiety pooled in the pit of his stomach. He needed to see Ed again, needed to face the man he loved and hurt. He owed it to Ed and himself to try and make things right again. His fingers ached with longing to hold Ed’s hand, to run themselves though Ed’s hair, and to feel the warmth of Ed’s cheek. He wanted to hold Ed in his arms in a tender embrace, wanted to rub Ed’s back while he held the silver haired man. He wanted to kiss Ed again, a proper kiss this time, one that was filled with all the love in his heart.
“Are you okay Captain?” Wee John asked, bringing Stede from his thoughts.
“Yeah, your face is turning red,” Roach added.
“I…I….” Stede stammered.
“Are you blushing?” Oluwande asked.
Before Stede could reply, his attention was drawn to the sea, his eyes searching hopelessly in the fog.
“Stede…STEDE!” Ed’s voice was closer than ever. They were nearly there, Ed was so close, and yet with the fog so far away. He stood and ran to the side of the boat where the voice called out again. “Stede.” It was like Ed was right there whispering in his ear. Stede felt something inside of him snap. He had to get off this ship, there was no doubt in his mind that Ed was just beyond the fog.
“Mister Buttons prepare the dinghy! There’s something I must do!” Stede spoke with so much confidence in his voice that it startled the rest of the crew.
“Are ye sure Cap’n? It’s nae possible to see in this fog,” Buttons replied.
“Stede…”
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life! If you won’t prepare it, I’ll do it myself,” Stede was starting to feel frantic and it wasn’t until he sat in the dinghy looking back up at the crew that frantic energy in chest began to settle. “While I’m gone, Oluwande is in charge. I’ll be back soon, I promise,” he called out before rowing towards the sound of Ed’s voice.
“Stede…”
“I’m coming my darling. Hang in there,” Stede replied. An hour passed before Stede saw the outline of a large ship, before he heard the sound of Izzy Hands’ voice shouting at someone.
“He fuckin deserved to die for what he did to you!”
Stede winced at those words, he didn’t think that news of his ‘death’ would travel this far. He waited for Ed to respond, but when none came his heart plummeted to his stomach. He jumped from the dinghy and swam towards his ship, finding one of the levers that would open a hatch to one of the secret passageways easily. Once inside, he closed the hatch and began to crawl through the passageway until he found the door that led to his hidden library where he kept the books that no gentleman would ever admit to owning, it was also in that hidden library that he found Lucius, sitting with his arms around his knees.
Lucius’ eyes widened in shock when he saw Stede. “You’re alive,” he whispered.
Stede nodded and offered Lucius a small smile, “I am, though it’s a rather long story that I’ll share with you later. I need to find Edward..Ed.”
Lucius shook his head, “I don’t think Edward exists anymore, or if he does he’s buried deep underneath the Blackbeard persona. He tried to kill me. Pushed me overboard one night, thank God for your stupid passageways.”
Stede’s face fell at Lucius’ words and he nodded. “I’m so sorry my boy. I know it may not work, but I’m going to try and make things right.”
Lucius smiled the tiniest bit. “You love him… I mean of course you do, but I’m glad you realized that…speaking of love have you seen Pete?”
“Pete’s fine, he misses you, but he’s fine. They’re all on a merchant vessel about an hour from here. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a mistake I need to correct.”
The hidden library had a door that led to the auxiliary closet. When Stede saw the clothes that once hung up in the closet strewn on the floor covered in kohl and tear stains his heart nearly shattered. He walked through the closet as quietly as he could and opened the door slowly. He stepped out into the empty cabin and gasped. He took another step, scanning the room for any sign of Ed.
Ed lay curled up on the bed, his eyes closed. The yellow robe Stede wore the night they met clutched in his fists. His eyes snapped open at the sound of the floor creaking when Stede took a step towards.
“Who’s there?” He snarled, sitting up. Stede was silent for a moment, unable to speak, unable to take his eyes off of Ed. He ran to the bedside and knelt beside it, placing one hand on the small of Ed’s back.
“Oh my darling,” he whispered.
It was Ed’s turn to freeze then, shocked at the sound of Stede’s voice, at the feeling of Stede’s warm hand on his back. There were no words to describe how much he longed for this moment, of how he dreamed of Stede returning to him. The anger and rage that had nearly consumed him evaporated in that moment, Stede was back and that was all that mattered.
“Oh I know you must hate me Edward darling, and I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I just need you to know how sorry I am for leaving you. I… I had every intention of joining you, but Chauncey got to me first…” Stede sighed and shook his head. “He called me a monster and a plague, told me I defiled beautiful things, that I ruined you. He was going to kill me, but he ended up killing himself instead.” Stede paused, watching Ed for any reaction, “to make a rather long story short, I went back to my family and found that they were better off without me. They helped me fake my death and in return I gave them everything I had. I came back to the sea with clothes on my back, a small boat, and some provisions because I couldn’t bear to not be with you, my love.”
That was not the explanation Ed had expected from Stede. He was glad that Badminton was dead, otherwise he’d have to add another person to the list of people he’s killed. “How’d you get here?” He asked, knowing that Izzy would kill Stede on sight, no questions asked.
Stede smiled, relieved that for now it seemed that Ed did not seem inclined to kill him. “There’s a secret passage entrance on the side of the ship. It leads to the auxiliary closet. I’m pretty proud of that one, especially as its existence saved Lucius’ life.”
Ed turned around to face Stede wordlessly, eyes wide with shock. Tear tracks stained his cheeks and the kohl he wore was streaking. “He’s alive?” He asked.
Stede hummed and placed a hand on Ed’s knee, squeezing it gently. “Yes, as is the rest of the crew. Edward I know I probably don’t deserve your forgiveness or affection, but I’d like to earn both. I’d like to make things right if I can.”
Ed looked down at Stede and laughed. “You’re a fuckin lunatic, and I love you. Seriously, who puts a secret passage entrance on the side of their ship?” He grabbed Stede’s hand and pulled him into his lap, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. When the kiss was broken Ed pressed his forehead to Stede’s.
“I love you too, Edward my darling.” Stede cupped Ed’s face in his hands.
“Your hands aren’t as soft as I remember..”
“Ah yes, well I suppose that happens when you actually work with them. I’m not a gentleman anymore Ed, I’m just Stede, the man who loves you.”
Ed pressed another kiss to Stede’s lips, pulling away slowly. He wrapped his arms around Stede and let out a contented sigh. He spent too long being angry, and if Stede was willing, he was more than ready to try and start a life together. “Promise me… promise me you will never leave me again.”
“Oh my darling, only death can part me from you now. I am bound to you, it’s as if there is a string that connects me to you. I am just sorry it took me so long to answer your call for me.”
Ed pulled from Stede and stared at him in shock. “You heard me?” He asked. He had been certain that during those times he called out for Stede he had been alone.
“I did, though I must admit the crew probably thinks I’m insane since I left them in the fog to row to you. I’ve been following your voice for just over a week.” Stede pressed a deep kiss to Ed’s lips, wrapping his arms around Ed’s neck. When he broke the kiss, he stroked the back of Ed’s head. “I will follow you to the ends of the world. Just tell me where you want to go, I will be there by your side for as long as you will have me.”
Ed smirked and held Stede to him tightly. “Let’s go find our crew and bring them home.”
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From the Journal of Stede Bonnet:
June 3rd 1718,
It is sometimes hard to believe just how lucky I am to have the love of Edward Teach. Tomorrow will be one of the happiest days of my life. At least that’s what Edward has promised me.Tomorrow It took him some time, but Izzy has come around the idea of us being together, of Edward no longer wearing the mask of Blackbeard. After tomorrow’s surprise, Izzy will board Edward’s old ship and take over as Blackbeard.
From the Journal of Stede Teach:
June 4th, 1718
I married him.
END