To Love A Space Pirate (19 page)

Finally, when they had had their fill of each other, they fell into an exhausted sleep. She dreamed of the happy days to come and the babies that would fill their home. Carden was a changed man, and hopefully, his family would be happy to see him again.

Their life together was just starting out, and she couldn’t be happier.

Epilogue

Carden couldn’t believe how perfect they were. His son and his daughter lay quietly in each of his arms as Faxon attended to Elizabeth. Her labor had been long and hard but in the end, she gave him two perfect children.

A knock on the bedroom door caused him to look over at his wife who was already asleep. “Come in,” he called out as quietly as he could.

The door opened and in walked Elizabeth’s parents as well as his father. “We thought it was safe to take a peek at our grandbabies,” his father said as he strode in with his chest puffed out.

“Most definitely! Have a look,” he said as he stood up.

Elizabeth’s mother quickly relieved him of his daughter and started to coo to her. His father and her father both stood there admiring his son as he peeled away the blanket hiding him from their view.

“What a fine looking baby! Good job, son!” His father slapped him hard on the back and laughed.

“I am afraid Elizabeth did all the hard work.” He blushed as he thought of the way they made these two gorgeous creatures. His son had a head full brown hair like he did and eyes to match. His daughter looked just like her mother with the red hair and green eyes.

“May I hold him, son?” His father asked shyly.

“Certainly.” Gently he placed his son in the arms of his father. He moved to sit on the bed next to Elizabeth, who was barely awake now with the noise of the extra voices in the room.

He was so proud of the scene before him. Elizabeth shifted her position until she was able to lay her head in his lap. Her hair was still damp after eighteen hours of labor. Faxon checked her pulse one last time then left the room to give them some family time together.

A year ago he would have never thought it would be possible to be this happy. A year ago, he didn’t have a real purpose in life other than to take care of those he brought to Sheannor. One tiny human female changed all that for him. He loved Elizabeth so much that sometimes he thought it was all a dream and would vanish the moment he opened his eyes. Sure enough, each day she remained there with him as he built the little world around them. Over the course of the last six months, he went out in search of more people to bring to his moon. Misfits and those who didn’t have someone to care for them. He never left for very long, a week at the most, and always came back with another addition.

He also stopped raiding ships. He and his men now salvaged ships they found drifting in open space. If anyone was found on board, they immediately helped them fix the problem and sent them on their way. The feeling of helping others rather than taking from them was so much more fulfilling. Tarwick also gave him, and Elizabeth severance pays mainly for the trouble their former employee, Gunyo had caused them. The much-needed money went to buy supplies and food to see his people through the coming months. Periodically, Tarwick called him to make a special delivery they trusted with no other.

Elizabeth was happy with her parents coming to visit as often as they could. As she grew larger and larger with the twins it became too much of an effort for her to travel to them, so they came to her.

He stuck to his decision to contact his father too. The initial call was nerve wracking and filled with the unknown. Martin Riley communicated his father to inform him he would be reaching a video-call soon from someone who wanted to speak with him. He was grateful his father-in-law had not told his father it was him. When the day came to make the call, Carden was a basket case. He barely slept the night before and shook uncontrollably as he placed the extremely long distance call.

He was glad he recorded the event because of his father’s face when he saw him for the first in over ten years. There was no hesitation or anger on his father’s part. He immediately understood why Carden did what he had to do to protect them. His father just wished things could have been different. Before the call was over, his father was making plans for moving to the moon. His brothers were grown and had lives of their own on different planets, and his father was lonely. He was sure the smile on his face expressed his feeling at the thought of his father coming to live on his moon. A week later his father showed up with open arms.

Carden Swien Sr. adored his wife. He constantly referred to her as his daughter and made sure she wanted for nothing when he was around. A small house was built for him near the main house, and he already had a few admirers among the older single females.

Bork’s trial went ahead as scheduled and he received several life sentences in a prison colony in a remote part of the universe. He would never again prey on the innocent lives he terrorized.

Gunyo received a sentence much the same as Bork. After all the investigating was finished, Tarwick lost over one hundred ship and millions of credits because of their former employee. He was sentenced to ninety-seven years at hard labor in one of the mining camps where less violent prisoners were sent. He too would never hurt anyone again.

Carden was never able to discover who put the Loto juice in Elizabeth’s food. Soon after their return, he had a meeting with everyone who lived on his moon. He made it known if he ever discovered who did it that person would be expelled from their home and would never be allowed to return. He would not tolerate anyone hurting his wife or another being all for the sake of jealousy. Be it man or woman, Carden would never forget his promise to see his threat followed through if he found out the truth. 

Carden drew in a deep breath as he surveyed his bedroom. His wife lay curled into his side and was sleeping once again. She deserved this much-needed rest after bringing their two babies into the world. His father sat in the chair near the window talking quietly to the baby he held in his arms. Across the room, Elizabeth’s parents spoke quietly to each other as they watched their new granddaughter sleep.

He smiled to himself as he thought about the life he could have had if he had not come upon Elizabeth’s disabled ship. Who knows what would have happened to him if he had continued with his pirating ways. The woman he held close him turned him into the man he was meant to be. He had her to thank for saving him. He had her to thank for loving a space pirate.

The End

Author’s page

  Rebecca Lorino Pond lives in Ponchatoula, La with her husband of 24 years, 2 children, 6 cats, and 5 dogs. She is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies and 2 minors, English and History. Writing books has always been a dream of Rebecca’s, so in January 2013, she started to write and release her books. It is a full-time job that she enjoys and loves to do. Her imagination is always on the go and is constantly seeking new ideas for more books.

Other books: Series

Theron Destiny (Brides of Theron 1)               

Theron’s Hope (Brides of Theron 2) written by Rebecca Anthony Lorino

Emma’s Heart (Brides of Theron 3)

Theron Residency (Brides of Theron 4) written by Rebeca Anthony Lorino

Finding His Treasure (Saving Earth 1)

Rescuing His Treasure (Saving Earth 2)

Lost among the Stars (Sky riders 1)

Living among the Stars (Sky Riders 2)

Lonely Among the Stars (Sky Riders 3)

Loving Among the Stars (Sky Riders 4)

Forced Handfasting- (A Brave New World 1)

A Bridge to Somewhere

Stand-alone books:

Love Across the Universe

When Worlds Collide

Through the Looking Glass

Saving Adike

Uncage Me