Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, I don't own! Song credit to We the Kings

Thanks for the feedback on the last chapter, I really appreciated it. Just to let you guys know…this story is going to come to a close soon, but as of right now I have plans on continuing on with Jamie and Jake's story…if you're interested.

"When the lights go out

We'll be safe and sound

We'll take control of the world like it's all we have to hold on to

And we'll be a dream."

We'll Be a Dream

The day of Grams' funeral was hard for me as I predicted, but the day after was worse. Jamie had to go back to school and Paul had to go back into work, which left me all alone in the house with Rex with nothing to distract me from the empty place Grams had left behind.

She was everywhere in the house. Every way I turned was another reminder of her until I finally decided to quit trying to hide from the memories and embrace them. So I decided to go into her bedroom. I'd only been in the room once since her death and that was to pick out an outfit for her to wear in her casket.

It was just as she left it, the bed neatly made, the clothes hamper situated in the corner full of unwashed clothes. With a small smile I went to lie on the bed and breathed in the smell that was so clearly Grams. It would fade over time and I would never smell it again, so I knew I needed to savor it while I could.

I laid there for a long time, enveloped by her scent until I finally sat up and looked over at her nightstand. There was a picture of us kids in the middle. Paul and I had to be ten, our arms slung around each other's shoulders, and Jamie in the front sticking her tongue out at the camera like the little brat she was. Next to that picture was a picture of Buck, Grams, Jamie and I at my wedding. A quick glance around the room showed that there were no pictures of Finn in sight, when I knew for a fact that she had had a few before. I laughed at that; Grams never was one to cause awkward situations.

Looking back at the nightstand, I reached out and opened the drawer. Inside were some pill bottles, a pair of old glasses, a notebook, and a letter addressed to me. My heart started to race as I carefully lifted the letter out of the drawer and unfolded it.

My Dearest Granddaughter Marilyn,

If you are reading this then I have obviously not made it through the surgery. Know that my death is not your fault and there was nothing you could do to prevent it. My time has come and I have to say that although I would love nothing more than to see you and Jamie have children, my heart longs to see my husband again.

There is more to why I have written you though. You are a strong intelligent young woman, but I feel like you need a push in the right direction. If you ever had any doubt whether or not I knew the truth behind Paul, know that I did know just as I do about Jacob Black and Jamie. As for Jamie it is your job to see that through. However, you and Paul have always been my responsibility.

Buck and I were friends before we started to date; we were very good friends. And from that we formed a fantastic marriage. You need to do the same; you need to move out of this limbo you have stuck yourself and Paul in. I know that you know you will be with him like that someday, but if you look deep inside yourself you will see the truth. You are ready to take that step with him, Marilyn. Don't waste any more of your life waiting. Be happy and loved while you can, sweetheart.

All I ask is that you do the same for Jamie as I have hopefully done for you. She'll need the push more than you.

Love,

Grams

Tears were rolling down my cheeks when I finished reading the letter. I folded it back up carefully and left her room and into my own where I placed the letter in my bedside table.

As usual Grams was right.

Xxx

That night I had a dream. I had many dreams that night, but only one stood out in particular. Most of my dreams were weird. Like the one time I dreamed about swimming through the Appalachian Mountains with my crush of the time, or the time I dreamed about pirate ninjas. However, this dream was weird in a much different way.

In the dream I walked into a crowded restaurant where Buck and Grams stood up at the front of the line waiting for me. They quickly summoned me over and I fought my way through the crowd to their side. To the waiter Buck said very clearly that there were three in their party now that their granddaughter had joined them. The three of us shared a smile and then my dream switched away from them and to something weird once again.

"I dreamed about Buck and Grams last night." I told Paul as he walked into the house with Belle trailing along obediently behind him. She immediately ran over to greet Rex, who in turn sniffed her butt. We left the two of them in the living room and headed into the dining room where I had some food laid out for him and myself.

"I think it was them communicating with me." I continued. "Like to kind of tell me fair well and that everything is going to be okay...that they're together."

He was quiet for a minute as he scooped some food into his mouth.

"You think I'm being silly."

"No, I don't. I've heard that sometimes that does happen; the dead showing up in your dreams like that to make a last contact with you."

"She left me a letter. I found it in her room."

"What did it say?"

"That I needed to allow our relationship to progress like it's supposed to."

Paul was strangely quiet after that, but he held my gaze. In his eyes I could see his hope that I would do as Grams suggested.

"She's right. What reasons are there for us to continue on the way we are when we both want something more? When nature wants us to have something more? I'm over Finn; there is no reason to stop us."

Paul smiled widely at that and scooped some more food in his mouth. I shook my head at him; the wolf boys and their food.

"So then…what do we do? Date?" Paul questioned once his food was swallowed.

"The point of dating someone is getting to know them and we already know everything about each other."

"Well, we can't just get married."

"Technically we could."

Paul's eyes grew wide.

I laughed, "We could, but we shouldn't. We need to have some sort of courtship, but I've done the whole dating thing before and really don't want to travel down that road again."

He was thoughtful for a minute before he spoke: "How about from this point on we are a couple and when the time is right we take it to the next level. If you don't want to go on dates that's fine, I prefer just hanging out with you anyway."

I smiled, "So should we kiss to seal the deal?"

"This isn't a business transaction, Mar."

I chuckled and got up out of my chair. I walked over to him and sat down gingerly on his lap. A small smirk appeared on his lips as I wound my arms around his neck and leaned in towards him.

"So I can call you my girlfriend now?"

"Yes, now kiss me."

He did not disappoint.

Xxx

"Hey Mar."

I looked up to see a very satisfied Kim walking my way pushing her cart with Ben seated in the front. I immediately knew what her grin was about. It had only been a few days ago that Paul and I had our relationship discussion that had ended in a ten minute make out session at the dinner table. The only thing that interrupted us was the dogs, otherwise I was sure it probably would have lasted longer and possibly become more heated.

"So I heard some good news."

"Yeah, I'm sure you have." I chuckled.

"You guys are official now."

"Yup."

"Now we have to wait for your sister and Jake to get together."

"I think we may be waiting a while for that, they're both really stubborn."

Kim rolled her eyes, "Yeah. Well, on another note I wanted to tell you that if you need help going through your Grandma's room and stuff I'm willing to help."

"Thank you Kim, I think I'll take you up on that offer. It's probably best that I'm not in there alone while I do that."

She nodded her hand in understanding and grabbed Ben's wandering hand before he could grab some candy off of the shelf beside us. He pouted, but said nothing as his mother continued to look and talk to me. "I helped Jared's Mom after her Mother died two years ago. So I know a great place we can donate her things."

"Thank you, I really appreciate everything you guys have done."

"You know it's no problem, we're all one family."

I smiled in return, "And remember that I'll be your babysitter any time."

"Speaking of babies…there is nothing stopping you and Paul from starting on your own."

"Well there is the fact that we aren't married." I pointed out with a smile.

"That never stopped anyone before. Let me just warn you, one time with one of the wolf boys is enough to do the job if you get my drift. If Finn's swimmers were weaklings, Paul's will be freaking superheroes fighting for the right to fertilize your egg."

"Kim! Keep your voice down." I hissed as I frantically looked up and down the aisle to make sure no one had overheard our embarrassing conversation.

"I'm serious Mar; it only took one time without my regimen of prevention products to get me pregnant with Ben and this baby!"

"What do you mean regimen of prevention products?"

Kim shot me a look, "I mean that we girls figure that if they're super human, then one simple product isn't going to deter their swimmers."

"How many do you use?" I asked with a quirked brow. When I was married to Finn I'd only taken birth control, which I went off as soon as we decided we wanted a baby. I still had yet to go back on it, but judging from the things Kim was saying I knew I probably needed to fix that soon.

"Well I may have over exaggerated a little bit. We use two preventatives and I make him withdraw."

"That sucks."

Kim nodded in agreement, "It'll get better when he quits phasing though. He told me he wants to retire after this baby is born just like Sam did. And according to Emily, they get by with only her on the pill now."

"Well that's a relief." I sighed. "But I don't think I'll need to worry about any of that for a while anyway."

Kim shot me a skeptical look, "Hmm okay."

"Shut up Kim."

A few minutes later the two of us went our separate ways; Kim to the front of the store to check out and me to the dairy section to pick up some milk. I was looking through expiration dates when I felt a pair of warm hands rest on my hips.

"I heard your conversation back there with Kim." Paul whispered into my ear, his hot breath fanning across my ear and neck which caused a shiver to race down my spine. My face flushed at the thought that he had heard what Kim had been saying. Stupid Kim.

"Yeah, what of it?" I asked nonchalantly.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'll quit phasing whenever you want me to."

I smiled at his thoughtfulness, not only for turning the conversation away from something embarrassing for me, but for offering up a major piece of his life for sacrifice.

"I don't think you need to worry about that any time soon."