Here is another update, when my beta can she will look over the last few chapters and revise them.

I had too.

No choice…

I had to see her before she went on to her next adventure…

It was dark, the weather chilling me further but I remember how to get to the tunnel, and my heart sunk thinking of Jesse. He would be very angry when he returned and found me missing, Celia and Mae would worry but if I went back and tried to explain it all in no way would they allow me to leave. Even if they understood, they would protect me at all cost.

I just had to and nothing was going to stop me, it was freezing as I made my way through the forest leading to the tunnel. A gaping hole in the mountain, littered with tiny sparkling crystals, not unlike the stars of the night sky, yet it was so mysterious... Inside the tunnel, darkness was an eternity. It was like an invisible force, crushing your body, squeezing the life out of you...But I walked on even as it creeped me out not having time to stop, time was not my friend now.

All I had to do was get out of the tunnel and into town, get a taxi to the airport without being seen. This was a very dense place in the dark, but soon the moonlight is bright as I exit the tunnel and now it is walking into town through the forest avoiding the roads. I alter each footfall just a little to watch the effect, anything to not think about where I'm heading, where I will be when there are no more steps to take... I'm sure behind me are soft prints in the dust, slight movements of grit and stone that prove I am really here on this path...

The town is still twinkling below me, and now it was time as I crept into town the boys would be here and wouldn't return home for another few hours. I just locate a small cab company who will take me to the airport, the taxi was warm and the woman was sweet as she drove off.

Her voice babbled happily like a mountain river, "So, where you headed sweetness?"

"Alabama," answering her as I watched the town slipping by, and by chance, I do see Jesse. It looks like a bundle of Rose's and candies in his hands as he was laughing. This made me feel so much worse this was stupid to put myself in danger, but it was too late now. No turning back.

The drive was long nearly two hours, but now back home life was a mess because of me. Saddie spoke, "Here we're sweetness," with this she was paid and tipped before my body bolted into the airport. It wasn't as packed but packed enough as I finally found a straight flight into Alabama via Fairline Air. After it would be a two-hour drive to Treetop.

Luck, was on my side when not but thirty minutes later my body was buckled into my seat traveling to the place of my birth. It was a Boeing 747, a jumbo jet, I felt better knowing that. I'd never heard of one crashing. I looked forward to snoozing in the upper deck first class seats, just due to fatigue and the long hike I just endured. The clouds move constantly, flowing as sheets hundreds of feet apart, yet giving the appearance of one dense layer from the land below.

"Care for a drink, ma'am?" the flight attendant asked in a pleasant voice.

I sighed, "Orange juice. How much longer is the flight," knowing time has gone by and trying to not think of the fright I just gave the Tucks. I felt this horrible pain in my chest, at first it was a slight tingle, then a harsher tinkling now it is painful. I wanted to panic and run back to him but this was important and I was still my own person. Some are scared of clowns, some of heights or falling. I am not scared of any of that - not spiders, not snakes, or the dark. What scares me is being forgotten. You always have someone there, whether it's family, friends, strangers or professionals. Now, I was scared of losing meemaw and it was nothing that I could stop, not anymore.

Not but three hours later, softly splashing water droplets hit the car windows as we drive onwards. The skies are overhung with a blanket of grey, so much so that I can barely tell the difference between the sky and clouds. Despite car rides feeling tedious, the rain commonly calms me - I watch raindrops race down to the windows. The occasional wave of a puddle can be exciting, but I'd rather be outside in those puddles than stuck in this car. The taxi service was great, now I stared out at the morning sky. Mellow blues and pinks blurred together in a silver mist to create another gorgeous scene. Even when the world was drowning in grief and hardship, the sky remained beautiful. That was the one thing that had kept my hopes up—if the sky remained vivid and powerful, then so could I.

I prayed that she was still with us as the taxi sped off from the large manor, "I'm home," was all I couldn't muster. Like I still was young the feeling of Treetop and home overcame me as I walked through the iron gates and up to the double doors of the manor. I was not a guest this was my home, so I let myself in seeing it as if I never left.

Running my fingers over the banister as my feet carry me to meemaws room, the familiar scent of jasmine and honeysuckle filled the rooms. Kelly looked at me in surprise seeing me healthy and standing before her.

"Is she awake?"

Kelly just opened the door, "Yes, Miss. Finley. You go on in Doc, said she doesn't have but two days," the grief in her voice was evident. Meemaw was seated up in her bed, the doctor had come yesterday, and said nothing could be done. Her skin was white as a sheet, she looked washed -out but then her eyes fall on me standing at the door.

"You shouldn't have come back, Finley. They will find you here out in the open," but her tone was lacking, it was not angry it was nothing.

Sighing, "I made my choices, meemaw. I am here the need to see you one last time was more than I could bare and knowing you have days left. For now, I am here with you," using a stern voice, I was not the sick child anymore.

"Oh, my dearest. Come here," her arms are frail and weak, like toothpicks. She just looked at me. "You look so healthy now, so happy. Please tell me how it has been for you,"

Starting on my tale, "It is something I never imagined. The Tucks are beyond what you've said, Miles and Celia treat me like a daughter and have helped ease me into this new life. Angus and Mae are just so down to earth and warm, they make you feel like their own. I have never been happier even with the attack and learning so much, I can cook now," so proud of myself and by her smile, she was too.

"This is everything I needed to hear, in truth now I can pass and be happy. Miles, well it brings me peace he has loved you unlike he did me. Now what about Jesse, you near speak of him,"

This was what my mind was trying to avoid.

"Jesse, well, what can I say. He is all that you talked about, but in honestly, he is so much more. Things are new now, but not with him it seems as if it was meant to be," her smile was what would fill my mind when she did pass. Today while she napped I would take what I wanted and have the rest in storage before signing the house over to our butler, he has been a saving grace in every way.

"He finally found you, it was always you and never me," Kelly walked in with medication and a green slime looking drink. I spoke, "I will be back must make a few calls,"

I knew what I had wanted in the house, knew what I could take back to the Tucks for myself. Knew what could be left for when I signed the house over, now I had two days to get it done as a unit was rented and movers coming today and tomorrow. But meemaw sleeps nearly all day as I sit beside her, her cold hand in mine. I could hear Kelly and Gerry our butler handing out orders as I already had a large bag packed filled with our memories.

By the next morning, her time was nearly at an end. "Please, stay. I am not ready for you to go,"

Her voice frailer than before, "You have to be my dearest, my time is up. I am going to go have some more grand adventures with your pop. You just know that I have loved you beyond all reason and logic, but now that's Jesse's job," she couldn't just leave me.

I sobbed my head on her shoulder, just relishing in her fingers trailing in my hair. A small knock was heard on the bedroom door a signal from Kelly she was comin in. "Miss. Finley, you have three angry people here for you," oh no, they found me.

"Angry people," Meemaw snapped out her fire back.

I sighed, "I never told the Tucks that I was leaving, just left in the dead of night while the boys were in town getting supplies," now her eyes are turned to me in disbelief.

"Oh, dearest,"

"Let them up, Kelly. I am sorry for their actions," but she smiled walking off but now I could hear the heavy pound of them coming, the pain in my chest was less but the pain from hurting him was worse.

There Jesse stood looking very livid with me, Miles just sighed coming up and snagged me up and to him. "You ever pull a stunt like that again, my god I will kill you," his voice deep and hurt making me wallow more and more as Celia just kissed my forehead her tone light and understanding. "I understand why no worries we're here and you're safe," her eyes landed on Meemaw.

Jesse though never spoke he stared at me and the woman behind me, but in the end, he walked forward like a ghost, his face pale white. "You don't understand, the pain and worry. I come home and you're missing all we found was your phone," it was so clear in his eyes, even the pain that I had caused.

"Jesse, she wears her heart on her sleeve. I don't have another day in me, she came to say her goodbyes. Now, come sit and let me see you," frail but stern and protective.

"Winnie, I can never say how sorry I am, but for what it is worth I am now glad you didn't drink. I found my mate in your Granddaughter," but now we leave them to talk.

Kelly smiled, "Kelly, are the movers done?"

"They're and the deed is done, all you need to do is sign it over to Gerry and me,"

"Bring me the form. I have arranged her cremation and burial she asked for me not to be there. She wants me safe away from here, I know she alerted you of something. You promised to make sure the rest or her orders are done and once there I will wire you the money. But for now it looks like this is the end," and it was as she died with a smile not but an hour later. She was in heaven now with my mother and pop living an endless adventure.

I was still sad but as two weeks passed and Jesse refusing to talk to me, life was not what it was. I understood how I hurt him and knew how wrong it was and took my blame with grace, he had every right to be hurt and angry. But this was now too much.

I need to dress and face the day as the green light alerts me it was only five am.