written for @audreyblanche for @roswellprompts‘s Crash Fest 2019! Prompts were Jenna/Maria and tropey Malex au... I hope I delivered.

The sun glared off the still sea on the day that Captain Maria DeLuca watched her family leave. The sky was cloudless, a contrast to the storm of emotions on the deck. Guerin, at the helm, refused to meet anyone’s eye, too angry and too scared and too heartbroken to watch as Alex Manes slipped into the rowboat and made his way back to his father. Alex too refused to meet anyone’s eyes as he lowered the boat. Maria watched it all, stoic in the face of this heartbreak. Another member of her family slipped away- away from the ship that was their home, away from their real family.

She had already watched Liz leave, to the arms of a navy man and a chance at adventure and discovery. She couldn’t begrudge her that dream, the chance to seek out knowledge, to see something beyond the sea and the few safe harbors that allowed them entry. Maria loved the sea with her heart, had since Mimi first set sail away from the land that hand tried to shackle her, but she knew that not everyone shared that love. She knew Liz didn’t. Liz loved her books on the sciences, biology and chemistry and all the things that England would never allow a woman from a family such as hers to study. She had found a man who loved that about her, who loved everything about her. Maria would never keep her from that.

Maria wished she could keep Alex from this. She watched as Alex released the rope, to start the pulley to lower himself into the water. She walked across the deck, footsteps heavier than she would ever dare if the sea weren’t so still.

“You don’t have to do this Alex,” she said, voice harsh with desperation. “We will fight. You do not have to return to him.”

Alex couldn’t even manage his usual smirk, eyebrows furrowed as he tried to hide his on-coming tears. His eyes flickered to the helm, to Michael, before they quickly returned to Maria’s face.

“I know what he’s capable of, Captain. He will not stop until he sees us burn; or, until he gets me. I will protect my family, the same as you would protect me. This is for the best.”

“I already lost one member of my family Alex, please don’t make me lose another.”

This time Alex managed a small, sad smile as the tears finally fell. “We’re family Maria, we’ll always return to one another. One way or another. I promise. Please, take care of yourself. Take care of Michael and Rosa. They will need you, as their friend and their captain.”

“I love you. And if you ever get the chance…”

“I’m a pirate DeLuca, I know when to use a sword.”

“Good,” she replied before she kissed his cheek and stepped back.

She stayed by the side of the boat until Alex hit the water and started to row to the ship well outside the range of their cannons. Neither side trusted the other not to fire. She walked over to where Guerin was huddled, still trying to hide his pain. Rosa was already by his side, small yet powerful as she wrapped her arms around his shaking form.

Maria joined them, allowing her crew to see this single moment of pain. She wrapped both Guerin and Rosa in her arms and rocked them, gentle as the calm before the storm. Whatever came after, they would weather it, as they always did, together. She disentangled herself from their arms and opened her spyglass. She watched as her brother in all but blood neared the opposing ship. It was a merchant ship, allegedly, their hull was full of iron and gunpowder. Privateers paid by Admiral Jesse Manes to retrieve a single piece of treasure- his wayward son who had to be punished for his crimes.

As she watched, she listened as Rosa tried to console Guerin, tried to say that his heart would heal, he would love again. Maria doubted it. So, it seemed, did Guerin.

“There is only one man I will ever love Rosa, and I just watched him leave forever.”

“You don’t know it’s forever. Besides, what about a woman to love Mikey?”

He laughed a quiet sob into Rosa’s hair. Guerin didn’t have to answer, they all knew the truth. There was only one woman any of them would ever love truly. She had their heart firmly in her salty grasp.

Alex climbed the ladder thrown over the side of the boat, helped over the rails by a thin blonde woman, curled hair pulled back barely hidden by her hat. The captain of The Aphrodite was known to Maria, but never before had their paths crossed.

It was unfortunate for Captain Jenna Cameron that she made an enemy the day she struck a deal with Jesse Manes.

“I just...I need some time to process all of this.”

Of all of the responses Michael had prepared for, this wasn’t the worst. Still, as they sat near the firepit in front of his trailer, he couldn’t help but hope that Alex would have accepted him immediately - told him that it didn’t change how he felt, tell him that he still loved him.

“Yeah, alright.” Michael replied, slapping his hands on his thighs. “Fair enough.”

“We’ll talk soon, though?” Alex asked as he stood up.

“Yeah.”

Alex looked as if he wanted to step in Michael’s space, but instead Michael watched as he stepped back.

“See you soon, Guerin.”

Three days passed before Michael heard a familiar rapping on the door to his trailer. He threw it open to find Alex staring up at him. Michael drank him in, burning the small smile on his face into his memory. If Alex was here to tell him that he was walking away for good, that he couldn’t handle what Michael was, he wanted to have the image of him forever.

“Well?” Michael asked. “Did you process everything?”

“I did.” Alex confirmed, and Michael nodded.

“And?”

“And...you’re an alien.” Alex replied. “You’re stubborn, and a genius, and you drive me absolutely fucking crazy. And I meant what I said. I want to get to know you, really know you, the way we didn’t get to when we were seventeen.”

Michael watched as Alex stepped up onto the step leading into his trailer. Michael still loomed over him, but having Alex that close made Michael’s breath catch in his throat.

“I don’t care if you’re human or alien or whatever, Michael. I’m not walking away again.”

Thank you so much for the ask! I’m sorry this took so long to answer!

Top 5 favouritecharacters: Carol,Tara, Michonne, Ezekiel, AndreaOthercharacters you like: Mostof them?Leastfavourite character:Neg@nOtps:C@ryl,Tara/Beth, Tara/Denise, Michandrea

Notps:Neg@n/Anyone,any of the children with adult charactersFavouritefriendship:Michonne and Carl destroyed me.

Favouritefamily:The Rich0nne family, probably

Favouriteepisode:Consumed

Favouriteseason/book/movie: Season2Favouritequote: “Ididn't think I could be strong. I didn't know I could. I alreadywas.”

Momentthat made you fangirl/boy the hardest:Really,any moment when Carol and Tara interacted. Because I love them bothway too much.

Whenit really disappointed you:There was some really OOC Tara stuff in… s7, I think? It reallyupset me. And made it hard for me to continue watching.

Saddestmoment: Carolkilling Lizzie, probably.

Mostwell done character death:Lizzie. That scene was amazing.

Favouriteguest star:Alicia Witt. There were a couple of other actors I was really excitedto see because I knew them from shows I love, but Alicia just did anamazing job.

Favouritecast member:Melissa and Alanna for different reasons. Melissa is so thoughtfuland Characteryou wish was still alive:Tara

Onething you hope really happens: I’dlove it if C@ryl finally went canon.Mostshocking twist: Idk.Maybe that Sophia was in the barn the whole time?Whendid you start watching/reading: Season1.Tropeyou wish they would stop using:Burythe Gays.

Onething this show/book/film does better than others:Ruins its potential? Repeatedly. I know that’s negative, but, whenyou really love a show and you watch it slowly fall apart before youreyes…

Wow! Just. Wow. These are so vibrant and light and no one looks like they're half dead (like they do in the show when underground). I don't know which entity you bargained with to be able to make gifs this perfect, and I am in awe of your skill ������ fucking incredible!

You do what's best for you! Btw do you need me to tag friendship headcanons about those two as well? Because I have a lot of feels about kyle and alex being friends again but I don't ship them so I left the tag off. I can add it though, no problem

Okay first off, thank you for this gif set! This is giving me all the feelings! Also i did not expect how sexy alex with nail polish would be... i cannot get over that

I feel you so hard! Glad to hear youre having fun writing again. Sometimes it just takes some time to get back to a place where it works

Aww, thank you! <3