CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

(JPOV)

Rana spent hours digging through the many piles of books she had in search of the spell she needed. She had skimmed through page after page, her eyes growing heavy more than once as she tried to ward off her exhaustion. She wasn't giving up and when the night crept in, I hunkered down on the floor with her, helping her search through more books and insisting she rest when her eyes struggled to stay open.

I reached for her, taking the heavy book from her tired hands and gesturing that she let me help. Rana shook her head to me in protest at first, her sorrowful gaze lingering on mine.

"I have to find it-"

"You have to rest, Rana." I argued.

"There isn't enough time for me to rest."

"You can't keep going. You're not a vampire anymore. You need sleep."

She looked at me in confusion, her eyes widening some in response to my words.

"You're right. I haven't needed sleep... Not for a very long time."

"Well you need it now, Rana. Go lay down. I'll keep looking."

She stood on weary legs and soon curled up on the cot in the corner, her frame appearing so small and delicate to me. I listened closely to the sound of her steady breathing as she slept through the remainder of the night, my sole concentration now on finding the book that held the spell for her. When I reached the fourth stack of them, my eyes caught sight of a photo album close to the bottom and I pulled it out, flipping through its contents and stilling when a photo of my mother as a child came in to view. I stared at her face, seeing the wide smile she wore with her hands full of shells and her feet in the sand on First Beach. She looked to be only twelve or so when the photo had been taken. I turned the page, seeing more photos of her with Rana when they were mere teenagers. My eyes stung and I sucked in a sharp breath when my gaze landed on the last picture in the album. It was a photo of my mother holding me as an infant in her arms, her face full of peace as she looked out at the crashing waves. I couldn't take my eyes from it. The image had captivated me.

I swallowed hard as I carefully removed the picture from the album, flipping it over to read the inscription on the back.

Rana - I miss you more than words can say. Please know that you are forever my closest friend. I love you.

My mothers hands had touched this photo and my heart ached from the thought. I placed it down, returning to my search when a startling cry from Rana stopped me. The sound of it shrilling to behold.

"Sarah!"

I immediately drew closer to her, seeing her face was pained as she let out a gasp and suddenly bolted upright. I stilled where I was in response, her panicked expression evident as a sob left her. She got to her feet with her tears falling down her cheeks and stumbled over the many piles of books on the floor, frantically tossing dozens of them aside until her tiny hands took hold of one with a red cover. She pressed it to her chest, slowly raising her head to meet my concerned gaze.

"It's. This. One." She breathed, holding tightly to it. "She showed me."

"She? My mother?" I asked, taking a tentative step toward her.

"Yes." She cried, her words choked with emotion. "I saw her. Just now- in my dream. She was there, Jacob. She really was."

Her shocked tone told me she truly had seen her. That my mother had shown her where the spell was for me.

"She looked- just as beautiful- just like she always had." Rana continued, her tearful gaze meeting mine with urgency now. "We can do this. I have what I need. I can help you, Jacob."

Her eyes soon wandered to the photo album I had looked through and she drew closer to me.

"You kept all her photos-" I asked, seeing her retrieve the album and offer it to me.

"Of course I did. Here- Take it. They are rightfully yours. You should have them to show your children one day. Sarah would want it no other way."

I nodded, taking it from her with trembling hands. "You two really shared a closeness, didn't you?"

"Yes, Jacob. She was my very best friend and when she died- she took a huge part of me with her. I would give anything to have her back."

"Me too." I admitted, cursing away the tears that threatened to spill from her words.

"She is proud of you, Jacob. I know this without question. I have seen the way you care for your father and the way you lead your pack. The way you love Bella. She would be over the moon for you. She always said that the two of you were written in the stars. Even when you were so little. I used to think she was an eternal optimist or a hopeless romantic, but she was right- about everything. Your mother had a gift of seeing things before they happened. Call it premonition from the spirits if you will. Her father wanted to have her put away for it but she always stood her ground, never backing down to those who thought she was crazy. She would just smile and keep on going."

I went silent upon hearing this, my mind running wild with memories of her chasing after me at sunset on the beach - Bella not far behind us.

"She knew... Even then."

"Yes she did." Rana sighed. "Your mother loved all of you. Your father and your sisters, but she truly treasured you, Jacob. There was something so special about the bond you two shared. You never wanted to be away from her. She took you just about everywhere with her. She used to call you her little sidekick. Just like right now- She knew we needed her and she came through."

I nodded, seeing Rana reach out for my hand. "Are you ready? I won't lie to you, Jacob. The spell is long and requires a lot of strength from me. It is painful- for us both. But I will do my best to free you so you can return to where you're meant to be."

"I want you to come with me." I stated, hearing her gasp of shock in return.

She stared up at me in disbelief, as if I had just spoken wrong.

"I can't-"

"Yes you can. You're the only connection I still have to her besides Billy and I want you with me- With my family, Rana."

Jacob... There is no way that I could go back to La' Push with you. Once this spell is complete, our time will come to an end. We will have to part ways. It's what's best."

"For who?" I countered, taking a step closer to her.

"For everyone. I do not belong-"

"My mother loved you. Like her own sister. You do belong with us. You deserve to have a family again. Don't you want that?"

"I do." She softly admitted, touching my arm with half a smile. "But it's been so long. My only desire right now is to free you. Bella needs you back with her, Jacob. I know you feel the pull to return to her."

"I need her, too," I sighed, as Rana placed the book on her small table and began to thumb through the many pages it held.

"Then lets get you back to her."

"I want you to promise me that you'll come back with me."

She slowly nodded, careful not to make eye contact with me when she did so.

I knew that her promise to me was empty right now but I had hope that it wouldn't remain that way. Something told me to bring her back home with me. That she was meant to be with us now and I couldn't ignore this feeling. She had shared too much with my mother for me to turn away from her and not look back.

A/N: Hello all my fantastic readers out there :-) I am sorry this is two days late! Please forgive me and feel free to review and tell me your thoughts! Should Rana take Jake up on his offer once the spell is finished? Would she be welcome back in La' Push? Love hearing from you! Look for another update tomorrow! And yes I will be posting it on time. HAPPY READING. Till next time...