Hello, my lovelies. I hope you have been enjoying this story so far. I hate to inform you, but we are nearing the end of this story. So, please, enjoy, and review.

Thank you to everyone who has followed/favorited/reviewed this story. You guys are the reason I write. Thank you so much. *bows*

I stroked Arthur's forehead with a cool rag. He had a burning fever that refused to come down. Most of his wounds had been treated, but he was scarred and still horribly malnourished. It hurt to see him brought so low. He was unresponsive to any outside stimuli, but every so often he would whimper, or murmur my name. All I could do was sit and watch as he struggled alone in the darkness of his mind.

I had no idea what he had experienced on the ship for five years, but I knew that it would haunt him for the rest of his life, just as my experiences haunted me. I smiled grimly. Two broken people, trying to fix each other. I heard the door open and turned to see Alfred tiptoeing in.

"Mommy, is Daddy going to be okay?"

I smiled. "Yes, Alfred. Daddy is going to be okay. He is strong. He will push through. He has to," I added quietly.

Alfred came and sat down next to me, looking at Arthur with curious eyes. "He looks just like how you described him, Mommy. But you didn't say that his eyebrows were that big."

I giggled.

"I'm glad I don't have huge eyebrows like him."

I laughed. "I am sure you would look handsome with them."

Alfred scowled.

I smiled sadly, gently brushing strands of Arthur's damp hair off his sweaty forehead. "Just like Daddy."

Alfred smiled. "Mommy, you love Daddy, don't you?"

I nodded. "With all my heart, forever."

"Then he'll get better! Love cures everything."

I smiled at his naïvety. He grinned in response, blue eyes bright with childish hope. "Go back outside, Alfred. Heroes like you should not be stuck inside in the dark.

"But I want to help."

I smiled and ruffled his hair. "You can help later. For now, go play with the other children."

He sighed. "Okay, Mommy, but if you need anything, call the Hero, okay?"

I smiled and nodded. He ran back outside and I turned back to Arthur who was still breathing shallowly, face pale, and was shivering violently even under all the blankets I had covered him with. I sighed and stroked his face. "Oh, Arthur. If only you could see him, he is so much like Alfred, if I did not know better, I would say it was him. And the way he speaks about you, oh Arthur, if only you were really here. If only you could talk to him. He already loves you so much, and you are not even his real father." I began to sob, tears falling freely as I gazed at his face, so familiar, and yet, so frightening in its stillness.

I just wanted him to open those green eyes, wink, and say in that irresistible voice of his, "Miss me, love?" I wanted him to tell me it was all a dream, a joke, that none of the pain really happened, that everyone was waiting for me to come back, that Alfred was getting sick of being tied to the mast so the joke would work. I wanted him to smile at me, tease me, I wanted him to get mad when I mentioned his eyebrows, I wanted him to touch my hair, to kiss me, make me feel like the only important person in the world. I wanted him back. I wanted him to stop scaring me and just open his eyes and end the pain.

My tears fell harder, blurring my vision. It had been almost a month since we had found him, and nothing had changed in his condition. Nothing. It had not deteriorated, it had not improved. Nothing had changed. It was almost worse than it deteriorating because the waiting was unbearable. The only thing wrong with him now was healing scars and bruises, and the hellish fever that refused to leave, nothing could bring it down. It was horrible.

I sighed, wiped my tears, and dipped the rag into the bucket of cool water again, wringing it out and placing it on his head again. I touched his face gently, amazed at how hot his skin was to the touch and frowned as he shivered again. There was no help for it. I had used almost all the blankets available and so, I gently lifted up the blankets, slid under and then let them fall around me. I pulled Arthur into my arms, as one would a sick child, and held him, gently stroking his golden hair. His shivers became less and less frequent until they finally stilled and his breathing slowed ever so slightly, becoming more even and relaxed.

I had to laugh a little. Everything Alfred said seemed to be true. Maybe love really could cure everything. Arthur's warmth was incredibly soothing and I slowly felt myself drifting off as well. I whispered four simple words into his ear as sleep took me away and could have sworn I saw a small smile on his face before my eyes closed and I entered the deep sleep of the heavyhearted.

I woke up to Oma's voice. I opened my eyes and rolled over to see her smiling at me. It took me a second to realize where I was, then I looked down at Arthur who was now sleeping soundly, breathing even, and some color had returned to his face. I looked back at Oma in surprise. Her smile widened and she raised a finger to her lips. I raised an eyebrow and she pointed to the other side of Arthur. I looked over his shoulder and saw Alfred curled up next to the man he believed was his father. My heart swelled with love for those two precious people.

I slowly wiggled out from under the blankets, and picked Alfred up, taking care not to disturb Arthur. I smiled at Oma and she winked. I took Alfred over to the mat that we shared and laid him down, covering with one of the few blankets I had not used for Arthur. I smiled at his sleeping face and then walked back over to Oma. She nodded at Arthur. "Love," she said quietly, one of the few English words I had managed to teach her, with Alfred's help.

I nodded. "Yes, love." I walked back to Arthur's side and took the rag off his head and felt his skin. It was substantially cooler. At last, his fever had abated somewhat. I dipped the rag back into the water then began to wipe his face. Oma's had stopped me. I looked up at her, questioning, and she nodded to the door. I shook my head and pointed to Arthur.

She frowned and pointed to Alfred, then to me, then to the door. I sighed, understanding. Just as I had told Alfred to get out of the stuffy cabin, she was telling me to take a break. I pointed to Arthur and raised an eyebrow. She smiled and nodded, then shooed me out the door. I stepped outside and was surprised to realize that it was the middle of the night. I released my held breath and smiled. As late as it was, I was unlikely to run into anyone.

The moon was almost full, and painted everything in silver. It was a beautiful night. I walked through the village down the beach, a now familiar path. I walked through the trees and gasped at the sight before me. The sand was shining white in the moonlight and the clear sky was a deep blue that was reflected in the water. The waves were silver-tipped and the moon was bright in the water, almost as though it was a portal to another realm. I could almost believe in magic at that moment of pure beauty.

Then a deep ache set in that Arthur was not there with me. That he was not walking along the sand at my side, watching Alfred with me as he dashes across the beach, laughing as he danced around the waves that pulsed in and out. My heart ached and I dropped to my knees, feeling tears begin to fall once more. I turned my face heavenward and stared at the moon, pleading with all my heart, wishing on the stars that I might have my dream come true. All I wanted was Arthur back. To be with him, was that too much to ask.

Then I heard my name. "Amelia!"

I turned in surprise and saw Oma running towards me. I stood up and faced her, a pool of dread settling into my stomach.

I looked at her as she stopped in front of me. "Arthur," she said, and without letting her explain anything I bolted for the village. I burst through her door and rushed to Arthur's side. I gasped as I realized what she had been trying to tell me. His green eyes were looking at me, and he was smiling. I felt my heart explode and I broke into sobs, throwing myself at him. He made a muffled noise but wrapped his arms around me.

I could feel him stroking my hair gently and I lost it completely. I let go of all my pain, my fear, my loneliness in that one moment because everything was perfect now. Arthur was here, he was alive, and we were together again, forever.

I finally pulled away and smiled through my tears at him. He smiled weakly, still pale, but alive.

"Oh, Arthur, you have no idea how long I have waited for this moment."

His smile widened slightly. "Amelia, oh God, it is so good to see you alive and well."

He started trying to sit up and I quickly helped him, then he wrapped his arms around me, breathing softly into my ear as he buried his face into my neck. I returned the embrace and reveled in the perfection of the moment.

I pulled away first again and touched his face. "It is really you."

He smiled. "Miss me, love?"

I laughed, even as I felt myself begin to cry again. "Oh, God. Arthur, I-"

He held a finger to my lips, wiping away my tears with his other hand. "Shh, Amelia. It is going to be alright now. I promise."

I smiled through the tears and kissed him softly. He kissed me back, gentle and full of love. We broke apart and I brushed his bangs out of his face. "You need to sleep. Tomorrow, though, we can talk more, and I have someone to meet."

He glanced at my stomach, then back at my face. "Did you keep it?" His eyes were cold.

I held a finger to his lips. "Shh. Tomorrow. Okay?" I helped him lay back down, and was about to leave, but he grabbed my wrist. "Stay?"

I smiled and lay down next to him. He wrapped his arms around me and soon drifted off to sleep. I smiled at his sleeping face, so peaceful now, and almost healthy-looking. I slowly wriggled out of his arms, and stood, then walked over to where Alfred was sleeping. I lay down under the blanket and pulled Alfred into my arms. I fell asleep smiling.

I woke up as Alfred wriggled out of my arms. "Hi, Mommy," he said, quietly.

I smiled. "Good morning, Alfred. Be quiet, okay. Daddy is still sleeping."

"Will Daddy ever wake up?"

I smiled. "He will today. I promise."

"Will I get to meet him?"

I nodded. "Yes. Now, go outside and say there until I call you, okay?"

"What about breakfast?" he pouted.

I giggled quietly. "I am sure there will be some food around the village for you."

"Okay." He hugged me and then left the hut quietly. I stood up and returned to Arthur's side. I stroked his head, pleased to realize that his skin was now a normal temperature, his color was good, and his breathing was natural and deep. He was recovering well. I sat there for a while, watching him sleep when I saw his eyes flicker open. I smiled.

"Good morning, Arthur."

He opened his eyes completely and smiled up at me. "Am I dead? Because you look like an angel."

I laughed. "No. You are alive. Completely alive, and you have returned to me."

"Good." He sat up slowly. "I was worried last night had been a dream."

I smiled. "It was no dream." I leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. As I was about to pull away, however, he caught me around the waist and kissed me back, deepening it. We broke apart and he smiled at me, green eyes glowing. "I have finally returned to you, Amelia. And I promise I will never leave."

I smiled and tried to pull away, but he pulled me closer until I was on the mat with him. He pulled me down so we were both laying on the mat. I turned until I faced him and smiled. "I missed you, Arthur."

"And I, you, Amelia."

He kissed me again and I pulled away. "Arthur, you asked last night if I had kept the child."

His face darkened. "Did you?"

I nodded. "I could not bear to kill it. His name is Alfred."

His face grew thunderous. "Why would you name it that?"

I touched his face. "Arthur, it is not what you think. He cannot be blamed for who is father is. And, he is nothing like his father."

Arthur was still scowling. "I do not want to meet the spawn of that demon."

I slapped him. "Arthur Kirkland. He believes that you are his father, and he loves you. You will see him, and you will be civil. Understand?"

He winced and rubbed his cheek. I sighed. "I am sorry, Arthur, but he has been the only thing keeping me sane these past five years."

He sighed. "Alright, but I cannot guarantee my acceptance."

I sighed and stood up. "Please, try, Arthur. For my sake, if not his."

He nodded and sat up as I walked to the door. I stepped outside and was surprised to see Alfred standing only a few feet from the door. "Alfred?"

"Is Daddy awake?" His blue eyes were eager, full of hope.

I smiled. "Yes. You can come see him now. But, you have to promise me to be very careful. He is still very weak."

He grinned. "Of course! The Hero can do anything!"

I giggled and led him inside. I heard Arthur gasp. I threw a glare his way and he shut his mouth. Alfred walked up to Arthur and smiled, sticking out his hand. "Hello, Captain Arthur Kirkland. My name is Alfred Kirkland, and I am pleased to say that, in your absence, Mrs. Kirkland has been well-cared for."

Arthur shook Alfred's hand, throwing me a look that said You will explain this when he leaves.

He smiled at Alfred though and said, "Thank you, Alfred. I can tell that you have done an excellent job in your duty, and I am please to relieve you now of duty."

Alfred grinned. "Thanks!"

Arthur laughed despite himself and said, "How about you go leave your mother and I alone for a little while, okay?"

Alfred glanced at me and I nodded. He shook Arthur's hand again, then ran back outside. Arthur released his pent up breath. "You said nothing of him looking identical to Alfred."

I shrugged. "Why should that matter? He is my son, and he believes that you are his father. And I intend to never share the truth with him."

Arthur shook his head in amazement. "And he is only five?"

I laughed. "He is smart. Of course, so was my brother, though he never acted like it."

Arthur laughed. "No, he never did."

He looked at me and smiled. "I suppose Alfred can be our son."

I smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, Arthur."

"Though, only because he looks like Alfred. If he looked like that bastard I would probably never be able to speak to him."

I frowned. "Stop judging him by appearances and origin. He is Alfred Kirkland, my son, and your adopted son."

He sighed. "Alright, alright. Just, please do not slap me again. My face still hurts."

I laughed and pecked his cheek. "I am so glad you are back, Arthur."

"You missed."

"What?"

"I missed you too," he said, and pulled me into another passionate kiss.

Hello. ^^ Arthur's back. And isn't Alfie just adorable. Now, some of you may complain that Amelia is a little emotional in this one. But, remember, the man she loves is finally back after 5 years of absence in the possession of a cruel, evil man, and he had the high possibility of dying. So, give her a little break.

Now, as I said above, this story is nearing it's close (I know, I know, I'm sorry, but all good things must come to an end). Sooooo, I have a question for you all:

Do you want them to stay on the island and live there happily ever after?

Do you want them to get off the island and go to England? (meet the rest of the Kirkland Family)

Do you want them to get off the island and go back to America? (return to Amelia/Alfred's home)

Do you want them to get off the island and go West? (meet up with Matthew)

Please answer in the comments. I would love your input!