Authors Note: Kind of an angst-y chapter. Tissues may be needed.

J POV

I felt like I was floating in a huge swimming pool of ice cold water. My body floated along on the surface, as my eyes were trained above on the midnight black sky. The stars were so bright that I thought if I could just reach my hand up, I would be able to touch one.

I was almost positive I was dreaming. I also had the strong sense that Edward was holding me as I slept, hence the ice cold water in my dream. My body temperature sat at a toasty 108 degrees, and the cold water felt wonderful. The water gently lapped around my naked body as floated. I had no idea why I would be floating in a swimming pool, in the middle of the night, without Edward, but for some reason I didn't care.

Suddenly the picture changed and I was standing in the middle of a dark street. I was fully clothed this time as I stood, turning in a circle trying to take in my surroundings. I didn't recognize this street, and wondered how or why I ended up here. The pavement seemed to be damp from a passing rain storm. I reached both hands down to pat my jeans pockets to find my cell phone. I wanted to call Edward and tell him to come and pick me up. The phone wasn't there though, so I started walking down the street. I could have phased and ran through the Forrest but I had no idea where I was. I decided to keep walking and find a rest stop so I could use the phone.

A shriek, that could rival any teenage girl, erupted from my lungs when I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I whirled around to see who was there and nearly passed out cold. My body froze, and I am sure my face wore the shock my body felt.

"Hello, sweetheart," The beautiful woman standing before me spoke very softly. Tears sprang hard and fast to my eyes, and I seemed to be gasping for air. I couldn't get enough air into my body to control my breathing. My hands were trembling, but not from anger, it was from the utter impossibility of what I was seeing. It couldn't be...it was impossible.

"Mama?" I whimpered, trying to hold the sob that was threatening to break free.

She slowly nodded her head, and almost glided closer to me. She was still smiling as she looked me over. When her hand gently reached out to touch my cheek, my eyes closed and a tear slipped from the corner.

"Please don't cry sweetheart. Everything is going to be fine.," My eyes opened again. "I am so proud of you Jacob. You have grown into such a wonderful young man." I tried to open my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. My body was frozen in shock. My mother, who had died in a car accident when I was young, was standing in front of me. Was I dead too? Did I have a car accident and die and she was here to take me to heaven? Where was Edward?

I tried to push the shock away so I could say something to my mother. She stood in front of me in a flowing white dress. Her hair was still very long and her beautiful brown eyes looked at me the same way she used to when she was alive. Here I stood, a large werewolf - a hunter of vampires and yet, when she looked at me I felt like I was a kid again. The way she smiled lovingly at me made me remember the way she used to smile at me and hug me close. My eyes stung and the tears started flowing freely from my eyes, my breathing ragged.

"Oh, baby come here." She spoke softly, holding out her arms for me. I walked forward slowly and let her wrap her arms around my body. I cried freely against my mother's chest. I missed her so much and I didn't know how or why she was here. I just wanted her to hold me.

"I miss you, mama" I cried brokenly against her. Her hand came up to stroke my hair and she kissed my temple. "I know baby, I miss you too."

When my breathing calmed and my tears were under control I took a step back. I needed to know why she was here and how long she was going to stay.

"How are you here mama? I-I mean I though you were..." I couldn't say it.

"I am here to check on you and your sister's. I am also here because your father needs me to show him the way."

"Show him the way? I don't understand...What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"I promise Jacob, you will understand soon. I just wanted to make sure you know that we both love you and we always will."

I thought about my father and the way I had left things with him when I left to find Edward. I haven't called him in almost 2 years, and I was pretty sure he wasn't proud of me at all.

"Mama, I don't live in La Push anymore. I left the pack and Dad when I imprinted on..." Oh no, would she hate me when she found out about Edward?

"On Edward?" She finished for me. My eyes snapped up to hers. She already knew? Her face wore a soft smile when she said it so she must not hate me.

"Yeah," I whispered. "Um..he...he is a...Vampire and Dad and the pack didn't approve of us being together, so I left to be with him." She smiled pulled me in for another hug.

"I know sweetheart. You fought for the one you love and I am very proud of you. Your father didn't understand at the time, but he will very soon. Edward was put on this earth to love you, and you are exactly where you are suppose to be."

I sighed deeply. "I feel bad sometimes that I left La Push. I know that I was suppose to become the Alpha when I was old enough, but I didn't want to be the leader of the wolf pack, and then I just left. I remember the look on Dad's face everyday. Will he ever accept me again mama?"

"Honey, I only have a few more minutes with you, but I need you to understand something. Your father loves you as much as I do. You have grown up to be a wonderful young man. I promise you, I will see you and your Edward again someday. Please tell him not to worry about his soul so much. God loves all his creations and would never deny someone with a soul as pure as his."

She floated back a little ways away from me.

"I need you to be strong honey, and lean on your family when you are feeling sad. They will help you, and give you comfort. Please remember Jacob that we love you very much." She floated further back

"Wait, mama where are you going?" I yelled out as I started to fallow her.

"My time here is over baby, I need you to be strong for me, can you do that?" she asked getting further away.

"Yes...but why?" I shouted confused.

"You will understand soon, I promise. I love you." She said as she slowly vanished before my eyes.

Suddenly my eyes opened. I was gasping for breath, and my heart was racing. Looking around at my surroundings I found that I was alone in bed. Edward wasn't in the room and the sun was shining bright outside. I looked over to the clock on the wall to see that it was just past 7 in the morning. My eyebrows furrowed because I never woke up this early. Edward always had to drag me out of bed at noon everyday. Sitting up in bed, I threw my legs over the side and stood. I made my way to the bathroom. I could very faintly hear the family moving around downstairs.

Walking over to the sink I washed my hands and found my toothbrush. I turned on the water to wet the bristles and started to bring it to my mouth. My hand froze half way to my mouth because My eyes had subconsciously looked into the mirror and what I found confused me. My eyes were red and puffy. My cheeks were stained with dried tears. I was confused and wondering what happened. Had I been crying?

The memory hit me like a ton of bricks. My mom. She was in my dream. She looked beautiful in her flowing white dress. She had hugged me and I cried on her chest. She said she came too show my father the way...

"Oh no" I gasped out loud.

The toothbrush slipped from my hand and clanged into the sink.

In only boxing shorts I turned and sprinted from the bathroom, I threw the bedroom door open and sprinted down the stairs. I didn't notice Alice and Jasper sitting on the couch together, I didn't notice Bella standing at the kitchen doorway, I didn't notice Edward at his piano. I did however notice Emmett when I slammed into his at the bottom of the stairs.

"Whoa, Where is the fire Jake?" he asked with a smile.

I pushed passed him. I ran past a very confused Esme and Carlisle just coming out of his office.

"Jake, slow down honey, What's wrong?" Esme asked me.

I didn't answer though as I made my way to the house phone. My heart was beating out of my chest as I dialed my dad's number in La Push. Edward was suddenly in front of me looking worried, but I couldn't worry about him at the minute, I had to know if it was true. The phone rang once, twice, three times and then...

"Hello?" A voice that was not my father answered.

"Sam, let me talk to my father" I spoke into the phone.

"Jacob?" he asked

"Yes, now let me talk to my father" I said again, angry that he hadn't done what I said.

"Why are you calling now? I thought you ran away with your bloodsucker to live happily ever after" He sneered back at me.

Now I was pissed.

"Sam, you don't own me anymore. I don't need your permission to call my father. Stop being an ass and put my father on the phone right fucking now" I all but screamed into the phone.

My heart was thundering, and my body was starting to tremble. I knew I was panicking, but I could also feel every one of the Cullens standing around me.

"Jake" Sam's voice was softer now and I was almost positive I knew what he was going to say.

"Jacob, your father...he...he passed away about an hour ago."

My eyes slipped closed, and my lip started to tremble.

Your father needs me to show him the way. My mother's words came back to me from my dream.

"What happened?" I choked out.

"Three months ago the doctor diagnosed him with Cancer. It was too far along too have chemo. Sue and the pack took care of him Jake. We did things around the house for him and Sue drove him to his doctor's appointments. He wasn't alone Jake. The whole pack was here when he passed."

My knee's gave out and I hit the floor with a cry. The phone was taken from my hands and suddenly a cold pair of arms surrounded me. I knew it was Edward. He held me as I fell into uncontrollable sobs against his chest.

"Sam, this is Dr. Cullen. What's happened?" Carlisle asked.

Carlisle listened for a long time as Sam explained.

"I see" he said "Please accept our condolences" Carlisle's sad voice said into the phone.

"Yes...Yes, I'm sure he will...That is very generous of you...Thank you Sam, I will have Jacob call when he feels up to it...Goodbye.

I listened to his conversation but I didn't know what Sam said. Everyone was standing around Edward and me on the floor, but it was totally silent. My sobs had slowed, but the tears were still sliding down my cheeks. Edward kept rocking me back and forth and kissing the top of my head. We sat on the floor for a long time, my eyes closed as I tried to remember everything that my mom said in my dream.

"Jake" someone whispered my name. I opened my eyes to find Esme kneeling down in front of me.

"Honey, I have a shirt and some pajama pants for you. I don't want you to get cold sitting on the floor. Do you think you can stand long enough to get dressed?"

I could tell Esme was worried about me. Her eyes were very sad, and when I looked around the room I could see that everyone looked sad. Seeing Esme sad though made the tears well in my eyes again because she reminded me of my mother. She was the only mother I had now.

"Edward, I want to go back to bed" I said in my head. I didn't trust myself to talk without breaking down.

"He wants me to take him back to bed Esme. Thank you anyway though" Edward said, and then he helped me stand.

Edward let me up the stairs and into our bedroom. He stopped me and came around to stand in front of me. His beautiful golden eyes held worry and sadness. His hands came up and very gently cupped both sides of my face. He leaned his forehead against mine and kissed me very softly.

"I love you, Jake. I am so sorry" Edward whispered against my lips. I nodded.

"I love you, too. Will you lay with me for a while?"

"Of course"

Edward pulled the blanket back for me to crawl in the bed, and then tucked the blanket around me. He walked around the bed and lay down behind me. His arm draped over my side and lay flat against my torso, pulling me back against his cool body. His head lay on the pillow right behind mine, where I could feel his cool breath on my neck.

We laid in bed for hours. I drifted in and out of consciousness, but we never spoke. Edward held me occasionally kissing my neck or humming to me very softly. I knew I should get up and call Sam so I could deal with my father's death, but I couldn't make myself move. I just wanted to be held. I wanted to back to my dream and talk to my mom again. I wanted to tell her all the things I should have said to my father. I wanted him to forgive me. The last time I talked to my father he said he was disappointed in me. I wondered if he understood now. Did he know that I didn't leave because I didn't love him. I left because I had to be with Edward. Would he be proud of me for going back to school? For having a job?

When the sun had set for the day and the roomed turned dark again, I started speaking to Edward, just not with words.

"I knew he was gone before I even called Sam. My mother came to me in a dream and told me she was there to 'show my father the way'. I didn't know what she meant at the time. When I woke up and went into the bathroom I saw that I had been crying. That was when the dream finally made sense to me."

"She is very beautiful, I can see her in your head. You look a lot like her." Edward whispered.

"She kept saying they both loved me, I guess I should have put the pieces together then, but I was just so excited to see her again."

"At least you know your father and mother are together again. They are both at peace now"

"Yeah, it doesn't make me miss them any less though"

"I know baby" Edward said, kissing my neck.

"Do you think he has forgiven me for leaving the way I did?"

Edward sighed. "I don't know for sure, but I am pretty sure that he understood why you did what you did. He has been around the pack long enough to know that an imprint can't be ignored, and you had to fallow your heart. I know it was probably difficult for him, knowing that you were going to be with a vampire. But, now that he is in heaven, reunited with his love, I am pretty sure that he understands now.

"I have to go to La Push. I have to at least go say goodbye."

"I know. Sam said that Billy had everything in order. He wanted to be cremated and buried next to your mother. Everything was paid for ahead of time. Sam said they want to have a memorial bonfire in the next week or so."

I turned over to face Edward so I could look into his eyes.

"Sam also said that he will amend the treaty for one day, to make an exception for me to accompany you to the funeral memorial." My eyes widened at that.

"Sam is letting you come to La Push with me?" I had to ask

"Yes, he said it was your right to come and say goodbye to your father. As your imprint and rightful mate I should be allowed to accompany you. He said I had to stay with you at all times when on the reservation and when the day is over, I have to leave. If you want to stay longer to go through your father's things, I will have to stay in our house in Forks.

"Do you want to come with me?"

"Of course I do. I don't want you to have to go through that alone. I can respect the pack and keep the peace. I know most of the pack disapprove of us being together, but they all respect your father. I doubt any of them will start trouble. Maybe if we arrive early that day, we can spend the whole day on the reservation and I can help you sort through the stuff you want from the house, and after the funeral and bonfire we can spend the night at the house in forks before coming back home.

"That sounds like a good idea. I don't want to be there alone. I haven't been there in so long, and I don't think I can handle them by myself. If we go early we can sort through the house before the funeral. We can leave together after the bonfire. My dad didn't have much but there are a few of my moms things that I want to bring back with me. I need to get the rest of my stuff from my old room and my sisters can have what is left.

"OK, baby. Go back to sleep and we can start making plans tomorrow."

I wasn't tired since I had been in bed the whole day, but I didn't want to leave the warm bed or Edward's arms.

When I woke up in the morning Edward was still with me. The minute my eyes fluttered open Edward kissed me gently and whispered "Good morning" against my lips. I was still extremely sad, but I knew I had to get up and take care of business today. I needed to call Sam and make sure that everything was being taken care of. I needed to call my sister's, if Sam hadn't done that already. Edward and I needed to pack and make plans to have the Jet ready when we were ready to leave.

Sitting up in bed, Edward told me to take a shower while he went and made me some breakfast. My muscles were sore from being in bed for so long, but the scalding hot water loosened them up quickly. With my teeth brushed and clean clothes on, I made my way downstairs. I was met with hugs from all the ladies, with exception to Rosalie. She kept her distance, but gave me a sad smile from across the room. Bella's hug was long and tight. She knew it was hard on me, she knew how close my father and I were after my mother's death. I was all he had for the longest time after my sister's both moved away.

After breakfast I called Sam. His attitude didn't make an appearance this time, which I was grateful for. He told me that my father wanted his house donated to the reservation after my sister's and I cleaned out the house. Sam said after hearing me break down on the phone that he had Emily call my sisters and they were on the way. He understood that I wouldn't arrive until the day of the funeral because I wanted Edward with me. Plans were made and times were confirmed. The pack would be in their wolf forms when Edward and I entered the reservation and they would escort us to the church.

For the next two days my family crowded around me. They didn't smother me, but they made sure that they were here for me. Carlisle and Esme both sat me down and made sure I knew that I did have parents. They told me they would never replace my real parents, but they would always think of me as their son. I cried pretty hard during that conversation, and Esme held me like I was her own child.

Edward never left my side. He held me when I cried. He didn't try to make me talk out loud when I just couldn't. When I told him that my mother talked about him in my dream he was interested. When I told him she said he did have a soul, I thought he was going to cry.

The night before we were to fly back to Washington, we made love for hours. It was slow and sweet and just what I needed. I had been feeling really alone since my father died, and when Edward took me in his arms and made love to me, I knew I would never be alone again.

"You ready to go baby?" Edward asked as I zipped my over night bag.

It was 5 am and we were flying out at 7am. We had an hour drive to the airport. The family stood on the front porch seeing us off as we drove away to the airport and possibly my last trip to La Push.

End Note: Next chapter will be the funeral and saying goodbye to La Push, for now anyway.