The wood swayed under him. He could feel the rocking of the ship. Soothing to a degree. Yet he felt dizzy and nauseous. The world seemed to swirl just beyond his close eyelids.

He heard the water lapping against the side of his ship. How long had he been out? How far had the wind taken him?

Slowly.

Very slowly.

He peeled open his eyes.

A blurry mess was coming together in his vision. Beyond the wood. Beyond the sails. A sky. A clear sky with more stars than he could possibly count.

He blinked a few times to try to focus his vision further. Dead ahead of him, he saw it. Just like he remembered it. Emmalien's Constellation. Pointing just like any other constellation how to make it home.

He breathed. Just allowing his chest to rise and fall ever so slowly. Taking in the stunning view. He hadn't seen the stars in so long. Like little lighthouses in a vast blue ocean. Just like Emmalien used to say.

Edmond's lips curled into a half smile. Was he truly free? Was this too good to be true? He sighed again as his vision blurred once more. His eyes felt heavy and forced. They burned. He was exhausted and worn. He couldn't keep his eyes open much longer.

He gently let his eyelids come to rest closed again. Listening to the waves and wind in his sails, everything soon went dark yet again.

He dreamed. Dreamed of Halcreek. Dreamed of Willas. Dreamed of DeVitas and Piles and all his crew.

They shared a hardy meal together. All around the table, his men laughed and chatted. A few sang a shanty together with their mugs high in the air.

Edmond couldn't help but laugh. This is how things should have been. Maybe he was finally awake, and the rest had been a dream.

A two-legged Piles and Davis engaged in an arm wrestle. It was almost comical how much they both struggled against each other. Both desperate to be the champion.

Edmond found Willas singing along with Shaw and Keller.

He wanted to hug the man but found that he wasn't in control. All he could do was watch all of his men be happy and at peace. And yet, he could physically feel the warmth of the moment.

While the scene started to fade out, the warmth still lingered with him. Along with the distant chatter.

This time, when Edmond came to, his face and chest still felt... warm. His hand twitched, hitting the damp wood beneath him.

A light stained his eyelids yellow and orange.

Wincing, he did his best to open his eyes once more. This time, he opened them to see the sun. Shining brighter than he could swear it ever had before.

"Captian?" someone called out to him amongst the chatter.

Edmond was too weak to lift or even turn his head.

"That's Captain Edmond." Someone else said.

Voices were heard around him. All muttering and blending together. All while Edmond did his best to keep his heavy eyes open. He felt stiff and frozen. Only the warmth of the sun told him he was still alive. The fact that he could feel the heat.

"Is that him?" Another voice asked above the others.

Edmond didn't recognize the voices. He wasn't even certain if they were real or if they were somehow part of his imagination.

"Edmond!" A woman called out to him. "My darling!" Now, this was a voice Edmond would recognize even on the cusp of the void. His Maryann.

He felt a warm hand on his cool cheek. "My love! Edmond, please! Talk to me!"

He eyes opened again. This time, he could see her. Maryann. More beautiful than ever. Her hair blew in the wind over her face. Her eyebrows were creased in her worry. "Edmond!" She patted his face lightly and took ahold of his hand in hers. She clutched his hand to her heart like her life depended on it.

"Maryann..." Edmond said softly. He fought with all his remaining strength to lift his free hand to her face. He brushed her hair away from her eyes. He had to see her fully. Her bright eyes looked just as concerned as her half smile.

"My love." He stoked her face. "I... came back to you."

"Yes!" Her thumb gently rubbed his cheek. "You came back! You came back to me!"

"I said I would." He tried his best to smile now, still feeling drowsy.

"Never leave me again!" She demanded sharply.

He couldn't even blame her. He would have laughed if he had the strength, and it didn't hurt so much. "Never." Was all he could say in reassurance.

"You'll never leave me again?"

"Never." He repeated.

That was all she needed to hear. Her smile made Edmond's heart melt. She grabbed his face now with both her hands and kissed him firmly on the lips.

Edmond's heart could have exploded. It was everything he had wished for and more.

Peace.

He finally felt peace.

He was home.

Home at last.