A/N: Well, here we are again. Thanks so much you guys!

"Is that?-" Carolyn stepped forward, and Cassie handed the brass intstrument to her.

George bent over to look at it. "Looks like a World War 1 compass," he chimed in. "An heirloom for sure."

"Michael's father passed it down." Carolyn said. She sat down and held it up to the light. It caught Bailey's eye too and the toddler crawled on her lap to get a look himself. Carolyn held the compass so he could see and touch it, his little chubby fingers pressing against the hard metal case.

Zola, Carolyn observed, quietly kept an eye on the whole situation from her position on the floor where she colored away.

"I found it years ago," Cassie continued. "Jake and I were renovating the basement. I couldn't part with it, so I kept it with some other keepsakes. A few days ago, I was doing some cleaning, and re-discovered it. I had this feeling… so I had it sent off to get fixed." She pulled out a paper from the box and read the note. "Dear Cassie," she began, "A wonderful little antique you have here. I didn't charge you anything, because this compass is not broken!"

Carolyn opened it to confirm. "It's not spinning now," she said.

"Daddy!" Bailey reached over Carolyn, his little fingers grabbing at the small tool.

"Hmm, that's not North." George said.

Cassie's brow wrinkled. "Strange, I did think it was broken. The arrow kept spinning when I found it the first time." Even as Bailey grabbed at it, the arrow continued to point west, toward the door.

"How can possibly think it will help us now?" Carolyn asked, staring at the finicky device.

"The compass isn't broken. It's charmed. I believe it will take us to our missing friend."

"Wait-" Brandon interrupted. "Someone's missing?"

"One of my guests went for a walk in the woods. She hasn't come back yet." Cassie said.

"Then I'm helping."

Cassie looked around. "Well, the more the merrier."

"What are we waiting for?" Carolyn stood up. "Let's go."

Zola, who had been listening intently the whole time, looked up from her drawings. "Are we gonna find mommy?"

"We're going to find her," Carolyn said most assuredly. "But perhaps you and Bailey should stay here. George-"

"No, I want mom!"

"Mommy!" Bailey demanded too. "Want Mommy!"

"It's alright," Cassie said, "They can come. George can help."

Carolyn was unsure for a moment. Bringing along a toddler and a five-year old for a trek seemed a bit much, but then she nodded in agreement. The kids needed their mother. The sooner the better.

xxx

Cassie and Sam led the way with Carolyn trailing lightly behind her, holding Zola's hand. Behind them, 'the boys' Brandon, Bailey, and George followed them. Cassie led the way down to the bridge and stopped. She could still feel it. A pulse of energy, as if from an unseen fissure. Maybe...

"Zola, come here sweetie," she said.

The little girl stepped forward boldly. "Mommy was here," Zola pointed. She looked down at the water. "And daddy."

"How do you know that?"

"I dreamed it."

"That's wonderful," Cassie said, sneaking a glance up at Carolyn, who only raised a brow. The open nature of children often led them to better see the universe's hidden signals, Cassie knew. She caught a look of disbelief from Sam, but paid it no mind. "Zola, can you do something for me? Can you hold this?" She opened the compass and put it firmly into her dark little hands.

Zola held it tight, as if she held great treasure.

"Close your eyes," Cassie said. "Think of your mom."

The little girl's body expanded as she drew a sharp breath. Her dark fingertips turned white and her lips pouted in concentration as she squeezed the compass.

After a second, Zola released her breath, slightly panting, and held the compass up. Cassie opened it. The arrow wavered for a moment, then pointed beyond them. The opposite direction of the trail she and Sam had previously traveled.

"Okay," she said. "This way."

"I'm not so sure about this," Brandon adjusted his belt, gazing uneasily around. "Should I call for backup?"

"Cassie knows what she's doing." George said as he lifted Bailey onto his shoulders.

Cassie looked around, and everyone seemed to be in agreement. So they continued, following Zola and the compass. Brandon and Sam scouted ahead, calling Meredith's name and checking the area to the left and right of them. The trail of the arrow weaved them along an invisible path through the woods.

Carolyn walked in step beside Cassie, and George hiked behind with Bailey on his shoulders.

"This is starting to feel familiar," Carolyn said. "I… remember this."

"Hmm," Cassie agreed. Of course she was familiar with this land, but as she stepped, she felt as though a mirror lay beside her, reflecting her journey in a strange deja vu.

"Michael and I went for walks this way. He never followed the damn trail," she said, glancing at each passing tree.

"You must miss him," Cassie said.

"It's been years. Decades… I've moved on with my life. But I'll always miss him. Michael made me feel…" her teeth flashed in a wide grin. "Like I was the only woman in the world. And that's saying something, considering we had four daughters together."

"Hm." Cassie murmured. "Jake made me feel special too. He never dismissed my unique 'talents'. He always stood up for me, even though I know he sometimes had doubts."

"I miss him. To turn back time…" she shook her head. "But, then what? Would my son have met Meredith? Would I live to see him pass on the Shepherd name? Would Zola be with us?"

Cassie sighed. "Everything, everyone is so connected in ways we do not recognize."

"Gramma, look!" Zola pointed.

"My god," Carolyn exclaimed, looking up.

A massive, dead oak tree reigned over their heads, gnarled and naked branches twisting like sinewy muscles in all directions. Carolyn stepped past Zola. "Oh, heavens, it's dead," she said, patting the trunk.

"No, look," Brandon pointed. "Up there."

Up there, a few young branches had erupted from the dead wood, their leaves stretching wide to catch the vestiges of sun that filtered through.

"Amazing," Cassie whispered in awe.

"It's- Oh, it's-" Carolyn stuttered.

Cassie looked over to the older woman. She was staring at a point just above her head. A carved out heart surrounded a pair of initials was carved in the bark. C.M + M.S

Carolyn reached and touched it. "Michael," she whispered. "I forgot about this."

"Hmm," Cassie said. She blinked when she saw Jake leaning against the tree, thumbs in his belt loops.

He gazed at her with loving mischief. "Warmer," he said.

"It's the kissing tree!" Zola exclaimed. "Grampa showed me."

"Grampa?" Carolyn turned to Zola.

"She's not here," Sam said. "I don't see her anywhere."

"Wook!" Bailey pointed from George's shoulders..

Everyone looked. Something was nestled in the new green branch. Cassie bit her lip, considering her options. Her gaze rested on her stepson. "Brandon, when was the last time you climbed a tree?"

It took some doing, but Brandon climbed like a big monkey up the old tree. Everyone held their breath as he reached for the item.

He pulled it out. "It's… leather," he said. He stuck it into the back of his pants and shimmied down. Bits of mossy bark and wood splintered under him until he jumped down. Brandon walked over to an old stump and unraveled the tanned hide. Everyone gathered round to look. "It's a map."

"A treasure map!" Zola exclaimed, eyes wide.

"Well," said Cassie, sliding her finger from the big tree to the X marked out above the creek. "X marks the spot."

"You really think she's there?" Sam asked

"Yes," Cassie replied with certainty.

"I don't know… this doesn't make sense." Sam said. "We could be wasting time. What if she's not there, and she's fallen off a cliff or something?"

"She'll be there," Cassie repeated. "I have a feeling."

xxx

And so they traversed the woods, map in hand. Cassie held it out for Sam beside her, who pointed toward the noted landmarks as they led Carolyn, Zola and Bailey toward the X. Astride them, Brandon and George, her 'boys' kept a lookout.

Jake also walked beside her. Somehow, in this moment, he was there. She didn't quite understand it, but accepted his presence for the balming comfort it was. The group continued on, now marching alongside the creek and the ever rising bank.

"Mommy!"

Bailey's shriek startled everyone from their focus. Cassie looked left, right, and then up, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw a familiar figure on the high outcropping.

Meredith.

A/N: More coming! Big thanks to you all. I really cherish writing this story.