Chapter Fourteen—Departure

The Dread Pirate Roberts' ship, The Revenge

The sea, one mile off the coast of Florin

One week later

Inigo didn't kill them the next day. He didn't kill them the day after that, either. No, Inigo Domingo Montoya—the Dread Pirate Roberts, notorious for never taking prisoners—let his captives live for a whole other week. Caterina and Antonio were freed from the mast, fed, watered, and given free reign of the ship once more, as though there had never been any confrontation at all.

Caterina and Antonio were doing wonderfully as a couple. Their near-brush with death gave them a renewed passion for life and for love. No moment spent together was taken for granted—they were totally grateful for the time they shared on Inigo's ship.

Little gestures here and there were evidence of their intimate connection—a stolen kiss after sunset, a caress in the hallway, a laugh behind closed doors. They had never been so happy. They had never felt so blessed.

When Caterina recalled the disdainful way she'd treated Antonio aboard The Merchant, she was angry with herself for having wasted a fraction of her time with him. He was, quite literally, the best thing that ever happened to her, and she wanted, more than anything, to become someone more than deserving of his unconditional love.

They'd become a cliché, but neither seemed to mind.

Inigo's relationship with Rosalina also blossomed. Rumors spread that Rosalina was going to have a baby, but Rosalina offered no comment on the subject. If she were pregnant, she would've told, Caterina knew, just as she'd come out about sleeping with Inigo that first time.

Alejandro thankfully left Caterina and Antonio alone. He made no effort to hide his disdain for the both of them; nor did he choose to act out on his contempt. Caterina saw a glimmer of loathing in his eyes when he looked at her, but beneath that loathing, she sensed a kind of regret. Could it be that he still harbored feelings for her?

Caterina continued to work as Rosalina's maidservant. Eventually, she noticed her mistress' rounding belly and gathered the courage to ask about it. Rosalina tearfully confessed her pregnancy, overwhelmed by feelings of excitement and anxiousness.

"I still feel like a child myself," she told Caterina, placing a hand on her stomach. "And what will Roberts think? I... I don't think he wants to be a father."

"Are you happy about it?" Caterina asked.

"Well, yes."

"Then focus on that, and worry about In—about Roberts later." She pulled Rosalina into a hug. Their relationship had come a long way, too. She's like the little sister I never had. I feel like I've known her for decades. If she and Antonio ever got off the ship, Caterina decided that she wanted to see Rosalina again. Next time, though, I hope to see her married to Inigo and raising his child.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Rosalina said.

Caterina smiled. "Same here, mi amiga."

Antonio found Caterina abovedeck, leaning on the railing as the sun dipped beneath the waves. He crept up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She giggled and leaned into the kiss he pressed to her cheek.

"I missed you today," he whispered.

"I missed you, too. Rosalina kept me busy."

"Did she? Good." He proceeded to kiss her neck, her ear, her jawline—until she finally turned to face him, letting him take her in his strong arms.

Caterina put her arms around his neck and pulled him into a long kiss. He eagerly deepened the contact, sliding his hands to her waist.

Someone whistled.

Antonio pulled away when he felt the heat rise in Caterina's cheeks. He touched her face. "Still not used to this, are you?"

She giggled, shaking her head. "I don't think anyone is."

He looked over her shoulder. The man who'd whistled flashed him a sheepish grin. Antonio laughed. "I guess you're right about that."

Her hand covered his where it rested on her face. Caterina closed her eyes and inhaled his scent—a smell as familiar to her as the sea. I never thought I'd be this happy after Solanio died. I never imagined loving again. Life really was full of surprises-some of them unpleasant, and others totally worth the blood, sweat, and tears.

When her eyelids finally flew open, Antonio was smiling at her. Self-consciously, she averted her eyes. "What... is there something on my face?"

"No," he assured her. "I was just... thinking."

"About what?"

"About us. About how perfect everything is right now."

She looked at him. "Too perfect?"

He chuckled at that. "Is there any such thing?"

They kissed again, apathetic about an audience.

"I'm dropping you two off in Florin. We'll be stopping there to restock, and quite frankly, I've had it with your exhausting relationship," Inigo told Caterina and Antonio at dinner that night. "You should pack your belongings tonight... we'll be there first thing tomorrow morning."

Caterina looked at her lover—lover, what an interesting term—and asked, "What are we going to do in Florin?"

He scratched his stubbled jaw. "Well, the nearest venue to the coast is the infamous Fire Swamp. I suppose if we make it through that, we'll come up with some sort of plan. Roberts, are you going to drop us by the Fire Swamp?"

The pirate nodded. "I haven't much choice. King Corin knows it's our season. He'll have all of his men on the lookout for pirates."

Apprehension gripped Caterina's stomach. No one has ever survived the Fire Swamp. No one ever will survive it. Her father had told her stories of quicksand, hideous beasts, and sudden flames. We don't even know how big the swamp is. What if we never find our way out again? Her eyes flitted over to Antonio, though she spoke directly to Inigo. "Isn't there some other way? What if you released us in Guilder?"

"We're too far from Guilder now," Inigo replied. "If we double back now, we may run out of rations before we make it ashore. I'm sorry, but Florin really is the only option."

"He's kept you alive for far too long. Don't be ungrateful now," Alejandro growled from the end of the table.

Antonio shot him a look.

Caterina laid a hand on Antonio's arm. It'll be better for everyone once we're off this ship. Imminent death is easier to deal with than jealous sailors.

"I'm afraid I don't have a much of an appetite," Antonio said.

"Neither do I." Caterina squeezed his arm. "Do you want to go pack."

"Si, per favore."

They stood and left the galley without another word. Inigo bristled slightly, cleared his throat, and went back to dinner as though he hadn't been disrespected.

Caterina packed without incident, went to bed early, and rose with Antonio, who'd put off getting his things together until morning. She gave him a quick kiss and told him to meet her abovedeck. She had some unfinished business to resolve.

Alejandro was exactly where she thought he would be—sitting in his cabin, hunched over his desk, with his head in his hands.

Gingerly, she touched his shoulder.

He jumped through the roof. "What the bloody devil do you want? Haven't you done enough—"

"Haven't you?" Caterina retorted. "I want an explanation as to why you have a vendetta against Antonio and I, after we've managed to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the rest of the crew."

He looked up at her. His eyes were dark. "You really are an idiot, aren't you?"

"Am I?"

"Oh, please—"

"No, go on. I really want to know—"

"I was in love with you, Caterina! I'm jealous of Antonio—is that what you wanted to hear? God!" The chair made a loud scraping sound as Alejandro rose and seized Caterina by the wrists. He jerked her to him and smashed his mouth against hers.

She twisted away from him and slapped him across the face. Her hand stung. "You have an awful way of showing it," she muttered, turning on her heel and exiting the cabin.

He wanted to stop her, but he couldn't make himself apologize. She walked out of his life just as simply as she had entered, but Alejandro was a changed man because of her.

If he ever saw her again... he hoped to God he'd be a better man.

The minute Caterina saw Antonio, she fell into his arms and cried. When he asked her what was wrong, she shook her head. She was going to be all right.

There was a rowboat waiting for them on the port side of the ship. Inigo and Rosalina stood beside it, ready to see the couple ashore.

Antonio tossed their belonging in the boat and extended a hand to Inigo. "Thanks again for the courtesy you've shown us. We're... sorry if we've caused you any inconvenience."

Inigo shook his hand. "If you'd been too inconvenient, you'd be dead right now. Don't worry about it."

Caterina pulled Rosalina into a hug. "I'll miss you, Rose. Make sure you take care of yourself, all right?"

She nodded, blinking back tears. "I'm going to tell Roberts tonight."

Caterina kissed her cheek. "Good luck." She stepped back from Rosalina and approached Inigo. "Could I ask you for a favor?"

"You may certainly try."

"If you love that woman, make her an honest woman and marry her. She deserves a loyal husband, and she'll never love anyone as much as she loves you."

Inigo blinked. "She told you..."

"She told me everything, and I don't think any less of either of you," Caterina said. "Will you do it?"

He thought. "I can't make any promises—not yet, anyway."

"I understand. Goodbye." She followed Antonio into the rowboat, holding his hands as the boat was lowered into the water and the uncertainty that waited below.

As long as they had each other, it didn't matter what lie ahead. Their love for each other was so strong—perhaps they even had a shot at surviving the Fire Swamp.

Author's Note: This chapter is not the last chapter of this story, but I'm starting college shortly, and Lord knows when I'll be able to update this fic... please, bear with me! It'll be totally worth it in the end, I promise! Thanks for all the reviews-I love you guys! :D