Chapter Text
After getting home and dropping their bags on their floor, Nate and Elena gave each other a look.
"Do you want to talk?" Nate questioned, nervous that he would make one wrong move.
"Can we do it in a bath or something, I feel filthy," Elena responded, not quite looking at Nate. He nodded. He knew this wouldn't be some sort of sensual bath, rather a moment for them to gather their thoughts and clean off the pains of Libertalia.
The water was hot, and it almost made the couple forget about the fresh wounds that were hidden underneath their clothes before. They had been resting in relative silence, with Elena resting on Nate's chest, which was freckled with shallow wounds she would try to clean when she found the energy to. She as well was the first one to break the silence.
"I'm not mad you went. I was, then I heard about Sam, and I understand why you didn't tell me about him at first, if you thought he had died," Elena started, turning to face her husband, "what I was upset about was, well, I missed the adventure. I knew when you tried to leave without the treasure or glory that you did this for your family, not for that weird sense of adventure or pride. I guess I was just upset you kept this burden hidden."
"I wanted to tell you," Nate began as he wrapped his arms around his wife, "but I couldn't live with myself if you got into trouble, to see your face when I wanted to break our promise. My biggest fear was always losing you." Elena grabbed the wrist of the hand Nate was using to cup her cheek and kissed the palm of it. She then looked up and kissed Nate. It was the second time they kissed since they found each other near Madagascar. The last time they kissed felt flirty and fun, but this felt raw and full of love and emotion. It lasted a while, and when they pulled apart they rested their foreheads together with their scratched hands holding onto each others.
"I love you Elena."
"I love you too, cowboy."