So here we are at the end (sniff) I hope you have enjoyed reading about my favourite characters as much as I have writing them. As much as I worship Austen and Persuasion is my favourite book, I always wish she had had more time on it, I think there could have been so much more in the ending. This is of course only my opinion of what could have happened and I love being on here and reading everyone else's too. Persuasion never gets enough praise, falling well behind Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. It's a beautiful story. So, here we go...

Chapter Forty Nine

Anne lay with her eyes closed, but a smile on her face letting him know she was still awake. He felt better than he had in an age – since all this began. He returned to her, she brightened at the change in his appearance, telling him how much better he looked. He climbed on the bed beside her again, holding her left hand in his, twirling her wedding band between his fingers. "Anne there is something I promised myself I would tell you if – when you woke up." She looked puzzled. "I love you," he said.

She rolled her eyes and turned away, but he pulled her face around to his once more. "No, I realise I do not say it enough. It is all well and good to reveal your feelings in a letter, but to have them fall from my mouth." He paused trying desperately to find an eloquent way of putting what he so badly needed her to know. "I never said it before, when I was – well you will not be aware, but I was talking to you before when you – well when you were asleep, and I realise now, that although I told you how much I wanted and needed you, what it would be for me to lose you, I never told you why. Yes I need you, but that is not it. I love you. I love you more than anything and I should say it more often, I should say it every day."

He took a large breath in and exhaled, "I should have said it every day for the past ten years." Her eyes became wet at his declaration. "I told you in the letter I had loved none but you and I had not. That will always be the case, I love you and so you should know it."

"I do know Frederick." She leaned towards him and allowed him to kiss her. "It was you who kept me on the correct path, back to you. It was your voice I heard pulling me back to you. You saved me. Your love for me saved me. I love you too." She reached up and stroked his face. "Now where is the Doctor so that he can come and go and I can spend some time with my husband and my babies?"

He chuckled, "We still need to think of a name for our daughter."

"Isabella." Anne answered without pause.

His eyes widened and then narrowed, "Isabella? As in-" his eyes became blurry again.

"Your mother." Anne finished for him. "Isabella Wentworth is a good name. I believe it will suit her." She smiled, thinking of the girl in her dream.

"We should call her Isabella Elizabeth for your mother."

Anne screwed up her face, "no, that name is already taken." she raised an eyebrow at him. She did not want her daughter named for her sister.

Frederick looked around the room and an idea came to him. "How about Rose?" he said, gesturing to the roses her mother was so fond of. "Isabella Rose, that is a beautiful name, do you not agree?"

Anne beamed, "Isabella Rose Wentworth. Yes, I like that very much indeed." She squeezed his hand and lay back closing her eyes.

Frederick stayed by her side until the Doctor arrived. The Doctor appeared amazed at Anne's recovery, and although he put it down to all the experimental procedures he had tried, the Wentworth's chose to believe their love for each other was what had pulled Anne back.

Later Anne finally got her wish, and her children were brought to her. She lay gazing at her son. Frederick held their daughter, they dismissed the servants, including the wet nurse, informing them all they should get some well-earned rest. They wished to be alone as a family.

"He has a handsome face your son sir. I believe he will cut quite a figure in a Navy uniform." Anne stated. "Like his father."

Frederick chuckled and stroked his daughters face. "And Isabella is already breath taking like her mother. We will be swamped by mothers of sons and fathers of daughters, wanting a match with our children." They both laughed and he rested a hand on her leg. "I do believe my life is complete Mrs Wentworth. For I have everything I'll ever want on this bed.

Anne smiled and then thought back to her dream. One day she would tell him all about it, but not today. "I do not know. Perhaps we have more love to give. Perhaps in time, we shall not always be a family of just four."

Fredrick blew out a long breath, "Annie, I nearly lost you this time, I confess I fear I could not survive it again."

"We shall see. I see a long future ahead of us Captain Wentworth, filled with laughter and above all; love."

They moved in and shared a kiss. It had taken them almost ten years to get here, but they had overcome everything and now had the life they had always planned for, dreamed of, spoke of. It had all become true, and in spite of everything, neither could honestly say it could have been done better; things they would have changed.

For in the end, they had a richer, deeper, stronger love that would serve them and their family a lifetime.

La Fin

Recommended Playlist:

Before Your Love – Kelly Clarkson

You and I – One Direction

Blessed – Rachel Lampa

Two Is Better Than One – Boys Like Girls feat. Taylor Swift

All I Ever Needed – Bret Michaels

Unbreakable – Westlife

Life After You – Daughtry

When You're Not Trying To – Reba McEntire

Whatever It Takes – Kellie Coffey

When The Right One Comes Along – Clare Bowen Sam Palladio

When You Lie Next To Me – Kellie Coffey

Let Us Be Us Again – Lonestar

Beautiful In Your Eyes – Joshua Kadison

If You Could Only See – Cyndi Thomson

Can I Have This Dance – High School Musical Soundtrack

Arms – Christina Perri

If You Only Knew – Shinedown

Close Your Eyes – Rhodes

May I – Trading Yesterday

Make You Feel My Love – Adele