He wasn't ready.....

It's what he repeated in his mind the moment London's port grew closer.

He wasn't ready to dock his ship.

He wasn't ready to lower the anchor.

He wasn't ready to....let her leave the ship...

He knew it the moment he pried his fingers away from the railing that he gripped like death to a corpse and walked below deck to his cabin.

He partially prayed for mischief...her cunning wit to avoid leaving. Anything to prevent her walking on the docks...into a carriage..and taken away from him.

He wasn't ready....

Justins legs heavily carried him towards the cabin where he slowly entered and stopped. He could move no further. He exhaled the longest breath he has ever held in his life but it wasn't enough. He stood immobile to the image before him.

She was a simple apparition of an Angel come down from the heavens for him. He was sure of it.

He swallowed what he could the way the lump in his throat felt like a boulder. His gaze lowered the length of her with loving admiration. He slowly stepped closer as she stared off in the distance at herself in the looking glass.

He stood behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"You look beautiful," he whispered.

Her gaze cleared. Their eyes met through the dusty mirror. They stared at one another for quite sometime until he spoke again.

"We....we've already docked," he whispered.

He could see the little light left in her gaze dimmed with sadness. He turned her around slowly to face him.

His eyes never left her face as he had stepped slightly closer to her. His heart thumped furiously in his chest as he slowly raised his palm to caress her cheek.

He suddenly felt at odds with himself in her presence. Her hair was left loose to hang in shiny ringlets down her back. Justin remembered what it felt like running his fingers through it when they made love.

She stood before him in a beautiful pale pink satin gown tightly corseted with a low, broad neckline and dropped shoulder. He absorbed her appearance through his soul. Her soft shoulders and the swell of her exquisite breasts above the gown was making his breathing difficult that suddenly the cravat he wore seemed too tight.

He never expected Bellamy to be so thorough in his findings of ladies' attire when he was sent into town for it. He couldn't have her stepping off the ship in meager rags but ...most definitely not in such a daring gown.

"I think Bellamy has outdone himself this evening," Justin's eyes caressed her and his deep voice warmed her down to her core.

Tempest drank in his soft words and leaned into his touch. Dimly her senses registered that this will be her last time in this cabin. Then her thoughts scattered as his thumb brushed away a single tear that slid down her cheek.

He tilted her chin up, he pulled her closer until she surrendered to his tight embrace. She could not believe that she was actually leaving the Floating Vengeance, it had been her home for the past eight weeks.

The slight knock on the door and Quinn's voice brought her out of her reverie. They pulled away slightly as he announced that her hired carriage awaits her on the docks.

They faced one another in silence as the time had finally come for them to part ways.

Slowly he reached up and held her chin. "I will write to you as soon as I reach Surry," he promised.

She sniffles and nods. " I will respond to everyone."

"I want to know everything. How your days are, all your tea parties and balls you assist until I come for you," he smiled.

"Even my darkest hours, because you won't be with me," her voice trembled with a watery smile.

Vehemently he shook his head. "The darkest hour will be more mine than anything," he pulled her into his embrace. Reluctant to let her free from his arms he pulled away to stare down at her wiping away her tears.

"Come, I will see you to the dock," His voice was husky with his own emotions as he gently took her hand and placed it on his arm.

With each step he took to the deck with her at his side, he felt like a condemned man waiting for the dawn to carry him to his death. He knew that he had to let her go even if it were for just a few months, he really had no choice.

Now above deck, she slowly walked towards the sailors that stopped working in their place. She had come to love the familiar faces of the crew and their captain.

"I's shore gonna miss ye lass," Quinn said stepping forward with a sob in his voice.

Tempest felt the tears prickle and swell behind her eyes.

"I'm going to miss you too Quinn." She whispered as she came close and placed a soft kiss on his weathered cheek.

"Me too," Big John grumbled gently stepping closer. She stepped up to him and stood on tiptoe and placed a gentle kiss on the huge man's cheek.

She turned then and was approached by Bellamy.

"You be safe, Miss," Bellamy said with a caring smile.

"Thank you Bellamy for all you have done for me," Tempest whispered, also kissing his bristly cheek.

"Aw 'twas nothin' miss," he answered softly.

"You take care now, God be with you. We will be sure to keep the Cap'n in check until you shall meet again." He said as he gave Justin a thunderous glare.

As Tempest turned to leave the ship the crew that had all turned out, gave a gentle farewell that turned the fire behind her eyes into huge fat tears that traveled down her cheeks unchecked.

She turned then halfway on the gangplank not able to move any further and looked over to Justin.

He could not bear it.

He took a step. Then another step towards her his hand outstretched to take her into his arms when Tempest suddenly met him halfway and rushed into his embrace.

"Take me with you, "She whispered, her voice cracking on a sob.

Justin squeezed his eyes tightly shut, a tear escaping down his cheek to be lost in the soft fragrance of Tempest's hair as her head rested on his chest.

Oh, how he wished he could. But They must do this right.

Another tear escaped his eye, coming to rest atop her head, and he kissed her there...just where his tear had moistened her hair...kissed her again and again, softly until his palm held her soft cheeks and he tilted her head back to glare down into those eyes he will dream with every night and taste her lips to remember them until he sees her again.

"Three to four months, love, and I will come for you. Do you understand?" he mumbled with a gruffness that made her shiver.

She nodded with a slight daze of his passionate caress as he pulled her flush against him and his mouth descended to hers taking her lips as if he meant to devour her entirely without a care of those who saw it.

She was his and meant for them to know it.

His kiss was driven and ardent...yet exhilarating beyond any he has given before. She let her fingers weave themselves deeply through his hair, attempting to pull him closer, drink more deeply of his warm mouth.

He broke from their kiss, his eyes locking with hers for a moment, both his chest and hers rising and falling with the labored breathing invoked of the passionate love they felt for one another.

"I love you....I..." she breathed, but any further utterance was silenced as his mouth took hers once more, drinking of her ardor for him with one last powerful kiss before slowly pulling away.

He could not hear any more. He did not trust himself at that point.

"Bellamy, escort her to Mr. Laramy, the coachmen," he said in a labored breath.

His eyes saddened and heart heavy watched his first mate escort her over the gangplank onto the dock and slowly walk with her at a distance towards a tall gentleman.

He watched Bellamy exchange a few words with him and briskly shake his hands before turning away and returning to the ship.

She stood at the gentleman's side and turned to face the Floating Vengeance.

They watched silently for a while as the ship slipped quietly away from the dock, as she passed Tempest could clearly see Justin's chiseled features as he stood on the bridge watching his ship being masterfully maneuvered into deeper water.

He couldn't help himself. He turned his head to the side and looked straight at Tempest. I will return for you. He promised. His jaw tightened. She gazed back at him, her eyes piercing his. Neither of them moved or looked away as the beautiful ship glided majestically away.

The sob that had threatened, finally escaped as she looked up and saw that several of the crew who were up the masts and in the shrouds, waved to her as the ship passed by.

The coachmen's saddened gaze watched the young woman disappear through the crowd towards the awaiting carriage as the footman helped her up and closed the door. He stared at the carriage for some time before he turned his attention back to the ship now floating away in the harbor.

At a distance, his gaze stared after her until his eyes burned with the unshed tears. He watched as she climbed into her carriage. In that instant, he turned away and disappeared below deck leaving a sullen crew to man the ship.

In the quietness of his cabin, he slumped in his chair and lowered his face to his palms.

It will be the longest four months he will endure without her.

But for her, he will make that sacrifice. Anything so they can be together again.

*******

And her we go ...sorry for the delay.

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