Disclaimer: Same as always

Author's Note: This is the end of "In Dreams and In Pictures." However, I might do a short epilogue depending on the reviews that I receive. I hope you have enjoyed the story thus far.

"Arianne? What are you doing up this late?" Her father gently probed as he came in the door at 3:30 am, just off a shift at County

His daughter was sitting on the arm of the sofa, looking at the only family picture that the Carter's had.

"Thinking about Mama. That's all." fifteen-year-old Arianne answered

"You'd best be getting up to bed. You have to get up in a few hours."

Carter sat his things down on the chair by the front door, and walked over to his daughter. She had never asked him about her mother, but he did know that she asked Chuny about her.

"You know, Poppa, I've been giving it a lot of thought. I think I know what Momma is doing now."

"What is she doing?" her father asked

"Well she is sitting on a wooden yard swing, with Ella's poppa and your med student Lucy."

Carter gulped and tried to hold back the river of tears that was forming in his eyes.

"They are looking out on a field of golden long grass, drinking Mai Tai's and remembering all the good times they had with all of us. Then when the sun goes down, Momma comes to me, and every night she sits on the edge of my bed. She'll sing this lullaby to me and stoke my hair, until I fall asleep."

"You see her at night?"

"Every night since I can remember. When she's with me, all my fears melt away, and I fell all warm and safe."

This just sent Carter over the edge, and the tears started to flow. He cried for Arianne; he cried for Ella, Rachel, Jen and Elizabeth; and he cried for Lucy's family; and he cried for himself. Three people that should still be living were gone, and he couldn't have saved a single one of them. In fact, Lucy died because he didn't listen to her and Susan was dead because she had his baby. The pain of dealing with that guilt had made his eyes look much older than they really were.

"Poppa, oh Poppa, I'm so sorry for making you cry."

"Don't be. I feel your momma too. Every night, she gives me a kiss on my forehead. Every night for the past fifteen years."

Arianne and John Carter were up until past dawn talking about Susan. During those few hours Arianne felt that she now had an idea about who here mother truly was. She loved her job, her life, and her baby. Susan was a person who loved her job, even though at times she said that she despised it. Carter told his daughter about how grateful that she was alive today, because he could have lost Arianne along with Susan.  He then realized that his baby was becoming a young woman, who needed something to tie her to her mother.

"I think you should have something."

"What, Poppa?"

"It's upstairs."

John got up and Arianne followed her father up the steps into his bedroom. He then walked over to his wife's jewelry box. Gingerly he took it over to the bed were Arianne was sitting. Taking a spot next to her, he opened the carved, wooden box.

"If you want to, you can take something to have."

Arianne looked through the many earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Finally she saw one that she loved.

"I'd like this one." Arianne said, while pulling a sliver chain with a flower formed from little pearls.

"Ahh… yes. This is the first gift that I bought for you mother."

"It's so pretty."

"She thought so too. Now, what if I call the school, and say that you're sick and we spend the day together?"

"Sure, Poppa, that sounds great."

John Carter walked out of the room and down the kitchen. Arianne put the necklace on, and looked out the window. She saw a mom getting her child off to the school bus. Then it hit her. John, Susan, and Arianne Carter were a family. Just one that existed in dreams and in pictures.