Hi all –

As I wrote this Epilogue I could have continued on and on, which is why its way longer than it should be. There is such rich story potential with Madi and Silver, but I had to pull back because it's time for this story to come to a close.

Thank you all so much for taking this journey with me. Like all of you who read this, I was moved by Madi and Silver's story, and thought Zethu and Luke did a great job at portraying their journeys together and as individuals.

Also, I will say, I have watched a LOT of TV, and I don't think I've ever seen a man love as hard and as deep as John Silver loved Madi Scott. His love for her was very poignant and beautiful, and it was Luke Arnold's fantastic performances that made it so compelling.

Anyway, personal thanks to:

Gertie72

Lammimi25 – Thank you for consistently posting your thoughts on each Chapter. It was much appreciated!

Sam – Thank you so much for the excited responses to each Chapter. I really appreciate your support!

Hualam – Thank you for the reblogs/likes and your continuous responses to this story throughout!

Sbenton1

Lovehassailed

Fairsayy

Demiella1

Foxymomamimi

PhoenSims

Kekeh

QuasiOuster

MickeyRos

VictoireAgathon

Koali29

Linda

And thanks to all the individuals who posted as Guests or reblogged/liked on Tumblr. Again, you all were inspiring! Lots of love and big hugs for all the support.

Epilogue

The beginning of the end was death. For it was Marion Gutherie who had funded the new Nassau, her advocacy and cunning that had allowed Featherstone to become Governor, Rackham to secretly remain on the account, and in turn Madi and Silver to reside on the isle while quietly resuming the Cause. Thus, when the woman passed, it had drastically changed the course of their lives.

Five years earlier, Silver and Madi had left the safety of the Island for the possibilities that was Nassau. They'd easily settled into a small home, which Silver had secured, right outside of downtown Nassau, then began the arduous task of building a life, while continuing their work in aiding those in chains. Madi had obtained a job at an Inn, assisting the owner with front desk duties and tending to the patrons that frequented its saloon. It had been a difficult adjustment, not only because she missed everything that was the Island, but having to live this new life where she was seen as inferior. However, she had endured the venom she encountered with strength. Restraining her tongue for the greater good, reminding herself that her post at the Inn served as an excellent cover for the Cause.

Conversely, Silver had not fared as well in finding sustaining work. Though there were still many in Nassau who highly respected him, they could not reconcile his disabled leg with his ability as a skilled carpenter. As a result, he'd been unable to garner significant employment, which had led him back to the account. It had not been hard, for he still had many acquaintances who worked in piracy. Furthermore, when they'd learned he was residing in Nassau, they'd solicited him to join their crews. At first, Silver had been vehemently against it. For he did not wish to leave Madi in her delicate state and just as they were starting their lives together. Moreover, he did not want to leave her to manage the dangerous Cause with just Eme, her husband and Baako as support. And then there was the risk in pirating, that was more immense than before the war, which strengthened his desire to never return to the life. However, they needed the income. Madi's wages were meager at best, and the money he'd earned during his previous adventures at sea had been nearly depleted when he'd purchased their house and supplies needed for their day to day life.

Thus, he had grudgingly relented and return to the sea, separating them for three agonizing months, but with great success. The abundance of his haul provided the funding that allowed them to steer their lives down a path that resembled what they had envisioned. He'd resumed his work in carpentry, which had eventually stirred more business, when people begin to hear and see the quality of his artisanship. Madi had maintained her work at the Inn, while they covertly assisted slaves in escaping to the Island.

For months, their lives had evolved into a tense, yet happy normalcy. Tense due to their actions towards the Cause, and happy due to having a life that wasn't all agendas and work. For they occasionally enjoyed a play at the tavern or shared a meal with Eme and her husband and sometimes others, who had come to be genuine acquaintances. They also delighted in their private time, which they deeply savored - reading books, talking life, quiet meals and making love. It too had been a joy for them to revel in her condition. Being as Madi would often sing native songs to her growing belly, with Silver listening on in adoration. He relished the beauty in seeing her with child, and marveled at the ever-expanding sphere that was her abdomen and the feel of the baby moving within her. As her expectancy had progressed, they'd even noted that his appetite had increased, with his strange cravings becoming more pronounced, and concluded that his impending fatherhood was the culprit. The experience had been a wonder of discovery and excitement, which had made their transition to Nassau more amenable.

They'd made a good life. Madi was living her dream of residing beyond the Island and reveled in the knowledge and diversity of Nassau, while Silver couldn't help but appreciate the rousing dynamic of the town himself and bask in the pleasure he found in watching Madi experience what she'd always desired. Yet despite their fair success, they desperately missed the Island, and as a result, returned there in Madi's 8th month of expectancy, so that she could give birth amongst their people. During their six month stay on the Island, they'd considered forgoing a return to Nassau, thinking that perhaps remaining there would be best for Madi and the baby. Ultimately they decided to return Nassau, determining that for that time, their work was there in the Cause, with the intent to perhaps move back to the Island when the baby was old enough to learn and understand the culture to which it had been born. However, circumstance had altered their intentions.

After they'd resided for more than two years in Nassau, old age had claimed Marion Gutherie and with it the security under which they'd all lived. Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny were soon captured at sea and executed for piracy. Featherstone had been promptly unseated as Governor and ran out of Nassau by assassins hell bent on killing him, with Woodes Rogers suspiciously being appointed as leader of the island once more. When it had been learned that the man who had inflicted so much pain in their lives was destined for Nassau, there had been a visceral reaction from the Silvers. Both had a deep desire to lay in wait for the man's arrival and strike him dead as soon as he stepped foot in Nassau. However, they'd refrained from such actions. Knowing that it would stir trouble for them and their people, which they could not counter. Furthermore, they now had a child to think of, and thus had to be less reckless with their choices. Therefore, knowing that under Rogers' regime, Nassau would be a fortress, leaving nominal opportunities to free slaves and acquire supplies they'd shifted their focus to shipping as many goods as they could gather to the Island, aiding as many slaves possible to freedom and leaving Nassau themselves before the notorious Governor arrived.

Two years later they were still home, residing on the Island, with the Cause having had little traction since Rogers' arrival in Nassau. For a while, Eme and her husband had stayed behind to continue the work. However, when it became too difficult and dangerous they'd come to the Island for their own safety. It had been frustrating, most especially for Madi, but she'd slowly come to accept that at this point there was not much they could do. Food and supplies were almost exclusively obtained through their deal with Freemont, and piracy – which was utilized three months out the year, with Silver leading the effort, who was aided by several men on the Island and beyond.

It was not the life they'd planned, to be back on the Island, with Silver again being a pirate and the Cause being nearly abandoned, but this was not to be their path for long. For though they cherished their life on the Island, loved that their son was living his heritage everyday, they had begun to grow restless and desired to explore again, the possibilities of living in lands beyond. They'd heard of some places across the Atlantic, port cities in England, perhaps Silver's past home of Bristol, that could offer them a comfortable life, while also providing an interesting opportunity for them to resume the Cause. However, it was only an ember of a thought and would take much consideration before they'd make such a move.

"Big Fish!" Silver heard a small voice excitedly exclaim, his 4-year old son, drawing him from his thoughts, making his heart warm. He followed his tiny finger which was pointing behind them, revealing a large fin moving quite a distance away in the opposite direction. Silver had then explained to his son that yes it was a fish, but a different type than the ones they'd just caught. "It is a shark." He'd revealed, then detailed its danger if they got too close. The boy had then asked many questions, curious about everything from why sharks were so big to why they had fins that stuck in the air. Silver had patiently answered every inquiry as best he could then watched as Kijani continued to stare in awe at the gigantic fish that he was seeing for the first time in his young life.

Everyday Silver was amazed when he looked at his son and saw a mirror image of himself. For Kajani had his curly dark hair, that hung to his small shoulders, every feature of his face, including his blue eyes. His skin was different, in that it was more honey than tanned, a perfect blend of he and Madi's coloring. Nonetheless, he had his mother's mind. He was acutely intelligent, curious and strong, yet somewhat like him in his mischievousness and chatty persona. Silver smiled as he continued to watch the innocence that was his son, recalling what he'd felt upon learning Madi was with child, his happiness and subsequent fear, his thoughts that he would have nothing of value to give as a father. However, Madi had quieted those doubts, and when their son was born, it had been one of the most joyous moments of his life, as had been his role as a father. He loved teaching him, watching him grow and learn. He loved taking care of him, observing him in play and peaceful repose, and adored seeing Madi being the wonderfully caring mother that she was. Being a father had been fulfilling in a way he'd never imagined, and had inspired his strong desire for another, but that was a desire he kept secret, for now, for he was uncertain if Madi desired the same.

Silver aided his crew in rowing the boat ashore, next to the others who'd taken part in the fishing expedition. When he spotted his wife in the distance, exiting the thick foliage that lined the beach. He smiled at the unusual sight of her being there, upon his return from his daily task at sea, knowing that it was due to their son for the first time being on the ocean since he was a toddler. His mirth deepened within, while love heightened in his heart, when as soon as the boat stopped his son, moved to quickly leave the jolly. However, Silver gave his son a stern warning, instructing him to be careful, which Kajani immediately obeyed, cautiously climbing over the side of the boat, then running to his mother. For the briefest of moments, Silver eyed them with wonder as Madi picked up their son, kissed his cheek and gave him a hug, finding the scene unbelievable, that there stood his wife and child, the family of John Silver, something he never fathomed he would have. He then cast his bag of catches over his shoulder and strapped his fishing spear across his back, then slowly departed the boat to join them across the way…

"He desired we catch it for tonight's meal." He quietly interjected as he came upon Madi and their son, the latter of whom was delightedly recounting the new discovery he'd made in the ocean.

"But father said it too big and bad." Kijani innocently explained to his mother, making his parents smile at his oversimplified response.

"As it is." Madi agreed. Silver then directed their son to retrieve the mini fishing pole that he'd left in the boat. The boy had happily obeyed, running to the jolly that was now being dragged from the ocean, after his mother put him down. "It sounds as if he had a good first voyage." She then commented, as she turned her attention from their child, to lovingly eye her husband.

"Do you now trust that he is ready for the lesson?" Silver posed as he held her gaze with tenderness, thinking how she had not been keen on the idea of their 4-year-old son taking to the sea, but he had argued that now was as good a time as any for him to commence the lesson, being that they lived surrounded by water. Madi had reluctantly conceded, but only agreeing to him being on the ocean once a week until he was older.

"I trust that he is ready to follow his father where ever you may go." She lightly countered.

"I know someone else who was once willing to take that journey." He huskily uttered as he hopped closer to her, leaving hardly an inch between them.

"I do as well, and she has strangely found herself still on it." She softly replied as their eyes tenderly held.

"Is that so?" Silver feigned surprised. "Has she found it a tedious or pleasing experience?" He then asked.

"It rather depends on the day." She quipped, brightening his smile, then chastely kissed his mouth, yet teasing him with a heat that he was certain she would satiate later. When their son cheerfully rejoined them with his fishing pole in hand, and in that short time had discovered some new wonder he wished to ask them about. Silver and Madi had listened with intent to his query, amazed at their son's intellect, and childlike curiosity, then took turns answering his questions, as they headed for the forest and back to their home in the village.