I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

April and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and Fran, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.

Epilogue: (20 years later)

BPOV

"You're late, filthy pirate," I muttered from my lookout as I spotted The Golden Eye slip through the passage and into the cove.

They were due to arrive home weeks ago, and I was getting worried they would be too late, or worse, lost at sea. I was relieved to see the two lanterns on top of the crow's nest, signaling all was well aboard the ship.

"Mother," Elizabeth called from behind me. She was a beauty at thirteen with my hair coloring and her father's eyes. I was sure in a few short years, her father and brothers would be wary of suitors. Especially since the only ones on the island were pirates.

"Yes, dear." I turned from my post and found her at the top of the ladder.

"Aunt Alice said you must come quickly, Grandmother has taken a turn for the worse." She blinked back a few tears.

"Please stay with Charles. I don't like leaving him when he's asleep." I headed towards her and asked her to keep an eye on her five-year-old brother.

"Yes, Mother." She nodded, and I gave her a small hug.

I made my way along the moonlit path. In the courtyard between the houses, Seth sat with Lily on his knee consoling her, their youngest in a cradle by their feet. Flora held their eldest as she dosed on her shoulder.

"Seth, the ship has returned. Could you go to the beach post haste to light the signal, so the men will come quickly," I asked.

"Aye, Isabella." Seth kissed Lily's cheek and stood.

I climbed the ladder into the nearly darkened house. There was a small lantern in the bedroom. Rose sat on one side of the bed and Alice on the other side. Both looked up when I entered, Alice rose and came over to me.

"How is she?" I whispered.

"Fading quickly, she won't last to the sunrise, I'm afraid," Alice said sadly.

"Hopefully she can hang on a little while longer. The men are back," I said wistfully.

I took the vacated seat and reached for Esme's free hand. She was a mother to many of us on the island, and her leaving was going to create a large void. However, I could not begrudge her ready to go and join her husband. Carlisle Cullen passed away several years before, and I knew she had missed him greatly.

Over the years we had gained and lost members of our family. The ones that had passed away were laid to rest on a hilltop overlooking the ocean. My father was one of them. He arrived on the island six months after we landed.

A fight almost broke out between the two men I loved most. Father came to rescue me from Edward. He thought I was taken against my will and wanted to avenge me. Edward had not forgiven my father for the one time he raised his hand to me and was not about to let him take me away.

I got between the two, forcing them to cease fighting, lest they hurt me. My father calmed when I promised I was happy and in love with Edward. He then broke down and explained to me that he had promised my mother on her deathbed that I would have nothing to do with piracy.

My father lived out the rest of his days on the island. He and Carlisle became fishing partners and on many nights by the fire, they loved to entertain the kids with stories of their travels. He and Edward also formed a bond of their own.

"Isabella?" Esme opened her eyes and looked at me tiredly.

"Rest, Mother, the men are in the cove and are coming as quickly as they can." I forced a smile on my face.

Esme's eyes closed and her breaths were short and far between. Rose swallowed back her tears as she met my gaze. When Mother first became sick and started to take a turn for the worse, many of us suspected she was holding on until her family was safe and back on the island.

The silence was almost unbearable until I heard heavy footsteps on the floorboards. Edward and Emmett stood in the doorway, looking concerned. When they spotted their mother, both men removed their hats respectfully.

Rose and I stood so they could exchange places with us. Edward placed a soft kiss on my lips before he brushed by me. He held his mother's hand gently as if it was made of fine china.

My filthy pirate was still a very handsome man. Over the years, a few grays had peppered his hair, and a wrinkle or two had appeared on his face. He was still stubborn and had a temper. However, the children and I were always privy to his softer side.

I followed Rose out of the room so the men could have their time with their mother. We hugged each for a long moment in consolation.

"I am sure the men are hungry; I will go see what we can make to break the fast," Rose said quietly, wiping away a tear.

"I will help," I told her.

A small group had gathered below, a few of the pirates seemed boisterous, their journey must have gone well. My eldest, Anthony, stood in the middle of the circle proudly, with Captain Edward's hat upon his head. Marcus, our sixteen-year-old, spotted me and came to greet me.

"Mother, tis good to see ye." He picked me up in a hug and swung me around.

I sighed inwardly. I had given up long ago attempting to teach my boys proper grammar. They were too much like their father.

"Mother." Anthony stole me away from his brother.

"Welcome, home, sons. I see some congratulations are in order." I kissed Anthony's cheek.

"Aye, Father has finally come to his senses." Anthony grinned, tipping back the hat.

I shook my head in amusement, as I could not help but to agree, but for another reason. I had been begging Edward for years to retire. Every time he had gone off on a voyage, I was afraid it was the last time I would see him—like Alice. Sadly, Jasper had been lost during a storm at sea several years ago.

"Boys, go to your grandmother and pay your last respects," I told them.

"Hold, Mother, ye can't order me about anymore, now that I am Captain I'll do the ordering," Anthony said arrogantly.

"See here, young man, I am your mother and not a member of your crew. The island is not your ship, and you'll mind what I tell you," I said sternly.

Marcus snickered and slapped his brother on the back. Anthony flushed and looked from the corner of his eye to a small blonde, who was standing quietly with her hands clasped together, looking nervous.

"Now, Mother…"

"Go on, your grandmother does not have much time and take your cousin, Alexander, with you. The young lady will still be here when you get back. We will also need a few of you men to start a resting place," I ordered.

"But we just arrived, and we are tired," Alexander complained, glancing towards his mother.

"I can go start," Seth offered.

"Thank you, Seth. The others will join you shortly," Rose said before turning to her son and grabbing his ear. "You heard your aunt, move along before I take you over my knee as if you were still a youngin'." Rose let go of his ear, and he rubbed it.

"Aye," Alexander grumbled, and the three made their way to the tree.

I turned my attention to Anthony's guest. I trusted my husband and boys to know that she had not been brought back against her will. There was something familiar about the girl I could not place.

"I am Isabella Cullen, Edward's wife, and Anthony's mother. Who might you be, dear?" I asked calmly, the poor girl appeared ready to faint.

"I am Lauren New…Cullen, Ma'am." Her voice was meek.

"None of this Ma'am business, if you have married my son, then you are family. You may call me Isabella or Mother if you prefer." I smiled at her.

"Yes, Ma…Isa…Mother." Lauren swallowed nervously.

"Are you here by your own accord, girl?" Rose questioned with narrowed eyes.

She had relaxed over the years, but she was still a bit frigid to newcomers for a spell.

"Yes…." Lauren looked at me.

"This is Rosalie, Anthony's Aunt," I informed her.

"Yes, Aunt Rosalie." She glanced around. "Are all of you family?"

"More or less. Some of us may not share a bloodline, but we are family just the same. Do you come from a large family?"

"No, my mother died in childbirth when I was still young. My father was a drunkard, and the devil's drink sent him to an early grave the year that followed. My grandfather raised me to his death a year past. My uncle didn't care for me to be around, he claimed a girl my age was supposed to be married and not to be a burden." She wrung her hand nervously.

"Where are you from," Daisy asked eagerly, she always wanted to travel, but Edward and Emmett refused for her to be on the ship for her safety.

"From St. Aros." Lauren bit her lip as she met my eyes.

I became enlightened. "Your mother was Jessica Newton, was she not?" I asked.

"Yes, Mother." She nodded.

"I knew her. As a matter of fact, I knew you as well. Last I saw you, you were still a babe in her arms." I smiled.

"Then you knew my father as well. Your husband said he wasn't a kind man." Lauren frowned.

"There is some truth to that. However, Michael was not all bad. I believe there was some good in him," I told her.

I heard a huff behind me; I glanced over my shoulder at my filthy pirate, standing there, the others not far behind him. I closed my eyes momentarily and said a little prayer, knowing that Mother had gone to the heavens above.

"She is at peace now," Edward said sorrowfully.

"Let the angels take her to her reward," Rose said softly before hugging her husband.

Anthony whispered something to Lauren before she gave him a shy smile and a nod of her head. He kissed her forehead and then turned to his crew.

"Men, we have jobs to do before we eat, let us move swiftly," he ordered.

They followed him obediently, disappearing into the night. Edward wrapped his arms around me from behind. I glanced up at him, he looked tired, and a bit proud.

"May I help?" Lauren asked Rose.

"Can you cook?" Rose asked.

"Yes, Aunt Rosalie." Lauren nodded eagerly.

"All right, you can fry up some eggs, but first you should change before you catch your death in damp clothes," Rose said firmly. "Ivy, take your new cousin and give her a dress to wear."

Ivy motioned Lauren to follow. Lauren looked bewildered by the gestures.

"She doesn't speak," Daisy said in a voice daring Lauren to say something.

"Of course, I beg your pardon, Anthony told me, but I had forgotten. Thank you for the clothes." Lauren nodded and followed Ivy.

Edward tugged on my hand and started to lead me away towards our home.

"Hold on, filthy pirate, I promised I would help." I tried to pull my hand away.

"Go on, we have plenty of help." Rose shooed me with her hands.

We walked silently to our house but did not go up. Edward sat on the bench and pulled me on to his lap.

Edward kissed me and cupped my cheek. "I missed ye wife."

"You would not miss me if you did not leave, filthy pirate," I responded, narrowing my eyes.

"No more, love, I promise," he said sincerely.

"You are late." I pouted. "You worry me when you are gone too long.

"Aye. I gave Anthony a bit of time to woo his wife. Then we ran into a few storms, the poor girl fared worse than ye did." Edward chuckled.

"You be kind to the girl. She might be Michael Newton's daughter, but she seems scared of her own shadow. However, Lauren also seems to be a sweet girl," I said.

"Aye, the lass tis very shy. Barely said a word to anyone but Anthony the whole journey," Edward said. "I suppose they can either build a home of their own or…my parents' home will do."

"I am sorry, Edward. She became ill a month back, and I think she was only holding out for you and Emmett to be home." I fought back my tears.

"I would never begrudge her if she didn't. I know a large part of her heart left with me father. I am surprised she lasted this long—I know I wouldn't." Edward played with a strand of my hair.

"Do not speak that way, filthy pirate. I am not going anywhere," I told him.

"I have somethin' for ye. Another reason I was late. I had to wait for my gift to be ready." He dug into his pocket.

"You have spoiled me, filthy pirate," I told him.

He pulled out a long golden chain and dangled it in front of me. Attached was my precious emerald.

"I thought I had lost that. I have searched everywhere." I reached out and touched it.

"I may have swiped it when ye weren't lookin'. I wanted it to be a surprise fer ye." His smile was genuine for the first time tonight.

"I love it, filthy pirate." I pecked his cheek.

"I am glad, love. But there are better ways to thank me." He winked.

"This is not the time, filthy pirate." I shook my head, trying not to smile.

"I disagree, I think me mother would understand. There is never a wrong time to show ye, I love ye," he vowed.

A/N:

That is the end, my friends. I'm sorry if it was a little bittersweet. Remember life expectancy back in the 1700s was much lower than today. Thank you for reading and sharing all your thoughts and love with me in reviews.

I'm not entirely sure what is coming next, but probably something new in the near future.