Hello all. This is the final chapter of Lunar Adversaries, and I promised you that I did something special for you. About halfway through this chapter you will have the choice of reading through the net part of the chapter like you have the rest of the book. Or you can take a more emotional journey and listen to it via a youtube video. Now, it's not anything grand, just a different experience for you to process the words that are being said. Now to be forewarned, the only day i had free to record this I was sick so i don't sound super cool. But I hope you enjoy it anyway. I'm also suppose to issue a massive tissue warning. see you at the bottom I can't post the link her so you might want to bring it up in a separate tab now and press play when it's time. go to youtube dot com and backslash watch?v=e2ZhOg5FQSQ&feature= (copy and paste it in the backslash is the easiest way.)

Chapter 32- Asima's Goodbye

Zach was gone, disappeared somewhere amongst the fighting and I had to find him. He was hurting, I could feel it. Nina had just died and I don't know how, but he knew it. He needed me.

I could feel Jake's wolf form gently tugging at my clothes, trying to stop me from going to him. Turning back around to see the saddest pair of big brown eyes almost made me waver. "Jacob… he's hurting, he needs me."

I didn't have to be in Jacob's head, our bond always being strong enough that he could communicate anything he was thinking with the simplest of looks—and right now he was saying 'I need you', 'We need you'.

He didn't understand, too much has happened for me to go back the way I was. I wasn't the same innocent wide eyed Renesmee, I've killed people.

"Jake… I can't just go back to the way things were anymore. I've done things, I've hurt people—I'm not the same. I'm too far gone." I explained as best I could.

The strained look in his eyes told me that he loved me, no matter how much I killed and strayed. I knew he honestly believed what he was trying to convey, but he had to know that it wasn't that simple.

Though I didn't have time to beg him to understand. My words were rushed as I scanned the fighters for Zach. "I love you Jacob, but I need you to understand. Zach is out there, his sister is dead and he's hurting. I have to find him before he does something he'll regr—"

"Nessie!" Asima's voice cracked over the grunts and growls of everyone else, and my eyes zeroed in on where she called from.

My mouth dropped when I saw her. She was facing off with Zach, her curly black mane wild as she weaved and whipped away from Zach's attacks.

They were going to kill each other. Without a second thought I took off running to interrupt their fight like I did with Zach and Jacob. "Asima! No don't hurt him!" She was too busy ducking and bobbing to pay me any attention, so I called to Zach. "Zach stop fighting please!"

My legs, weren't moving fast enough and though I could feel Jacob following me, I knew that something was wrong. Why wasn't anyone interfering? Why was she taking him on alone? Not too far away, I could see Seth, Jacob and Phillip screaming and fighting at nothing. She was keeping them out?

"Stop you'll hurt—" Asima rushed him and I stopped in my tracks when Zach's right hand crushed into her at full force.

Asima's eyes fluttered and went glassy her mouth hanging open in a wide 'O'. Her hands grabbed weakly onto him, her knees giving out.

My eyes stung blurring instantly with tears, and I covered my mouth trying to muffle my scream into my palm. The pain hit my heart like a Mack truck and I found my voice continuing to run. He didn't—he wouldn't. I thought in denial, forgetting I was a woman in her twenties, resulting in a six year old solution.

"Mommy! Daddy!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs so loud and high pitched I couldn't recognize it in my cries. I ran for them, Zach growling and releasing her, my arms extending to catch her before her body hit the ground.

A set of strong arms forced themselves around me, a velvet and familiar voice in my ear roughly trying to coax me out of hysteria.

"I've got you," My dad promised securing my head into his chest blocking my vision, turning me completely away after he assess the situation. "I've got you sweetheart."

I clutched his shirt but tried to push out of the hold, I needed to see. What little my tear blurred eyes could at least. My shaky body couldn't support itself, let alone push my father away. So I just begged, "Nononononononononononono! Daddy help her! Do something please! Help her! Mommy!"

"I'm right here sweet girl," My mom promised, her hand on my back sounding almost as anguished as I was.

My dad was still trying to soothe me. "We're here, we've got you." Then he rushed words over his shoulder before burning his head in head again. "Carlisle, please—do something."

I hiccoughed in-between sobs, the breath ripped from my lungs, the air getting somewhat thicker making me pant and struggle harder.

"Asima! Baby no!" Seth cried and I dared myself to steal a glimpse underneath my dad's arm. He was on the ground with her—holding her, not caring about his state of undress in the least. His hand was cradled gently underneath her chin trying to support her as best could with one arm. "Baby open your eyes….open your eyes!" He demanded his broken voice causing my eyes to sting in anguish. "Come on, damn it Asima open your eyes. I trusted you, you promised!"

Jabril was kneeling on the other side of her, taping lightly on the base of her jaw trying to persuade her back into consciousness.

"Seth…" Carlisle started gently, "lay her down and let me look at her." His voice was careful.

He did as he was told, both him and Jabril stepping aside and wiping their eyes. "Can you help her, Carlisle?" Seth anxiously asked, his hands jittering.

"She's going to be okay right daddy?" I cried, when Carlisle didn't respond.

My dad moved my head back into his chest obstructing my view again. "Carlisle's looking now. If anyone can help her, he can." He encouraged softly, still rubbing my head. It wasn't soothing me, nothing could help calm me until I knew she would be okay.

"Her lights gone, Edward." My mom whispered carefully.

And my head snapped up to look at her, "What do you mean? What does that mean?"

My mom's black eyes were sympathetic, but she didn't answer, and almost as if Carlisle decided to do it he apologized, looking up at Seth. "I'm sorry son, but there's nothing I can—"

"You have to help her!" Seth snapped in denial. "Look, her body's already healed a bit. There's no blood, or anything—"

Well if she healed, maybe we just had to wait. Carlisle gravely shook his head. "There's no pulse, no sign of life, she's gone Seth…"

"No" Seth and I cried at the same time.

I fell apart, unable to hear anything else. My stomach tied in knots, and pangs of shuddered wracked though my body and my dad held me tighter, my mom wrapping her arms around me from the other side. A pressure built in my chest, my heart racing so fast that it felt like my heart was going to burst it hurt so badly.

Controlling my weeps wasn't an option, my body wasn't going to tire, Asima's death causing a wave of new pain each time I thought of everything that lead to it. I was never going to calm, sleep was never going to take pity on my wretched soul, because I knew this was my fault. This was my torment.

Jinny was right. I was a plague, and I was getting everyone killed. Around me werewolves were dying, strangers were dying, my friends were dying all because of me.

"It's not because of you." My dad contradicted quickly hearing my thoughts.

I sniffled up at him, "How can you say that? She's dead Daddy, trying to fight for me."

Dad didn't answer me, the sounds of a struggle distracting us. Phil was approaching us, dragging a struggling human form our way. Somehow the man got out of his hold and fell to the ground.

"Get up!" Phil snapped, grabbing him roughly by the arm, his wild hair sweeping out of his face.

Zach.

I looked around us. The fight was over. It was in-between night and day, the moon gone from the sky but still fighting the sun away in some unseen location.

The vampires hadn't stopped though, now sweeping cleanly over exhausted human werewolves killing off survivors one by one.

I had wondered where Phil went after Asima got hurt, apparently it was after the one that hurt her.

For the first time ever looking at Phillip scared me, his red eyes were hard, his posture rigid and every word that released from his mouth was a snarl. "Seth, the way I see it. It's only fair you get the honors of taking this assholes out."

"No!" I shrieked before I could even think it through.

I pushed myself away from my parents and at Phil's side in the same second. My heart had been stabbed enough, I couldn't take anymore death today. "Phil…no."

Phil looked at me, like I had two heads, "He killed Asima. Asima!" He growled a bit more broken. If he wasn't a vampire he'd be crying right now.

"It hurt's Phil…" I winced honestly in a sob. I extended my hand, reaching for Zach slowly hoping Phil wouldn't make a rash move and end his life before I could stop him. "I can't—"

Zach's grey eyes were apologetic, but not for killing Asima, but the pain I was currently in. "She's breaking—you have to let me help her." He insisted.

"You don't get to talk!" Emmett snapped looking at the scene that unfolded in his absence no doubt wondering why he was still alive.

Alice had rushed to Seth's side, giving him a cloak, not that he cared. He was practically catatonic, holding Asima stroking her face softly. Even in death she was the only thing that mattered to him.

Jasper looked like he was about to jump at him but I stepped in-between them wrenching my eyes shut, "No! No more. Please!"

The pain of everything was rushing me, overwhelming my psyche, but I still extended a shaky hand to Zach—helping him up.

"Reenie…" He breathed, a bit more at ease now that we were touching.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't somewhat ease the pain I was feeling but it wasn't enough for me to fall back into his arms. "Zach…how could you? You know what she meant to me."

"She killed Nina, Reenie," He explained, in no way rueful for his actions.

I wiped my eyes with a jittery hand, "Is that all you have to say? She was my best friend Zach."

"Reenie, I'm not sorry for avenging my sister, but I am sorry that it hurt you." He admitted tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, making a few spectators behind me growl. But none of them would attack with me so close—I knew that.

"I—it, h—h—hurts Z—z—zach…" I sputtered unable to control my tears and grief. "She's dead and I want her back but I can't and it hurts!"

He pulled me into his arms, ignoring everyone around us burying my head in his chest the same way my dad did. "It's alright Reenie…"He cooed in a smooth voice. "I'm going to make it go away. Just tell me that you understand why I did what I did. Tell me that you forgive me."

The pain tore away another layer of my repressed emotions making me cry harder. I nodded in his chest, because in all honesty—I did understand. Zach was a very vengeful person, and in truth if someone killed my sister, I'd retaliate if I could.

"I…forgive you…" whispered forcing myself to stare into his eyes needing a fix of ease even if for only a minute.

Zach crushed his lips to mine without a second thought. And I felt it—the momentary rush that numbed me. That freedom I sought given to me with just a press of his lips. His hands wove in my hair, and in that moment I knew. If I wanted too, I could lose myself in him. Zach had the power to take away the pain from my heart, all past present and future pain.

I could free myself from feeling anything except the good. No guilt from the death of my friends, no pain, nothing. Now my dream made sense. I couldn't exist in the darkness, even if the light hurt, and if I kept trying to pull something that was darkness into the light, I'd be lost forever.

I loved Zach, but he was a detrimental drug and I had to separate any and all addictions to him.

Quickly, before I changed my mind. I used as much force as I could to pull my arm back and push as hard as I could into Zach's chest, damaging his heart with my hand.

Zach's eyes widened in surprise, and the moment it happened if felt like running a sword thorough my heart along with it.

Tears streaming full on I could feel his confusion and pain from my betrayal. Each revolving emotion pricking my heart with needles. The grey eyes I loved turned glassy and tear filled only one or two spilling over in silence.

"I'm s-sorry." I cried trying to free myself from his grip. "I love you…" I swore. I kissed his forehead again and he dropped to the ground in silence.

Staring at the blood on my hand made me lose it further. My heart feeling like a bruise aching and tearing with every beat. Strong arms were supporting my weight before I even knew I was falling.

"It's okay…" Jakes soothing voice whispered, sweeping an arm under my legs to hold me up entirely. I rested my head against his shirt—was the fight over already? "We need to get her out of here." He said to someone I didn't see.

"We still have a handful more," Maggie's voice announced.

Emmett agreed, "We have to take them out before they get away. Merit said no survivors—"

"Haven't enough died already?" I cried, my mind being filled with the deaths of people I knew and cared about. It was easier for my family to see this one sided, but I got to know them. They were the same as us in so many ways I could parallel them to my family almost exactly.

And awkward silence lingered in the air, but Benjamin spoke up. His voice a lot softer, "We can finish up here Carlisle, take your family home."

Carlisle sounded uncertain, "Are you sure, some of us cou—"

"You and your family have done enough to uphold your end of the agreement. We thank you, and we're sorry for your loss. Asima truly was a special spirit." Maggie pardoned. "We'll take care of the cleanup as well."

I heard the roar and crackle of a fire, a flash of heat and Alice's protest, "No, no, no!"

Clean up? Was he talking about Asima?! No! I pushed myself out of Jacob's arms and shuffled to the ground confirming my suspicions. Seth was holding Asima's lifeless body in his arms, Alice's tiny body in front of them with her arms wide.

Benjamin holding a flame in his hands with a look of utter confusion.

"We're not leaving her here to burn in a discard pile!" Seth snapped, the first words he spoke since he found out she was dead. He still held her protectively.

Maggie was just as confused. "Well you can't exactly take her with you…"

"Yes we can," Jabril disagreed.

Benjamin kept turning the flame over in his hands, "Carlisle, we can't leave behind evidence that this fight has happened, and it'll be sunrise soon."

"Then we'll leave now," Rosalie insisted. "But Seth is right, she's not just some unknown casualty. She's family to us."

"None of people that have died today are unknown to anyone," Maggie tried to reason, "But we have a job to do. Rules to follow. She needs to be properly disposed of. She isn't exactly human."

"You're not burning her here." Phil snapped crouching low and snarling. Ready to fight again if needed. Jasper put a hand on him, probably magically making him relax.

Maggie gave a frustrated red eye roll, "I'll excuse that as a pain from loss and the fact that you're new, but you can't exactly fly her on an airplane, and she isn't human."

"We'll run—" I sputtered in between cries. "Take the journey by land. But I can't leave her here."

"Maggie, Benjamin," Carlisle started, "You know we uphold the Volturi's laws more than anyone. The only thing we're asking is for some compassion. She has a family, waiting for her to come home. The least we can do is that." I noticed he was very careful not to mention her children. That was a secret even Maggie and Ben didn't know and we couldn't risk the Volturi finding out unsure of what they would do.

"You know how secret Jennah is." Alice added. "Let us have time to give everyone closure and we'll take care of it."

Ben looked at all of us before having a silent conversation with Maggie and shaking out his flame completely. "Fine—go before anyone else notices. I trust you to burn the body after they've said their goodbyes."

"We'll take care of it." Alice promised but something about her tone didn't seem quite right.

My dad swept me up carefully into his arms, "We've got to run sweetheart. Jacob go ahead and change back."

"Wait!" Another voice called in a hurry. It was Merit, wearing a backpack. "I'm coming with you."

No one argued.

"Here man…I'll take care of her." Emmett swore holding his arms out for Seth to pass Asima off to him and change.

Even doing that much looked like it pained him, but he nodded in surrender phasing back into wolf form. Merit found her way up, and was at his ear whispering things I didn't care enough about to listen.

Before I knew it, we were running, heading back east—head home. I stopped crying for a little while, only replacing it with a leaden feeling of hopelessness settling in my stomach. By day two of our journey, I ran out of tears feeling exhausted, but in no way better.

I turned into the crook of my dad's neck, ready for sleep to take me. And just when I felt it wash over me I heard my mom speak her first word in two days.

"Edward…we're not really going to burn her are we?" My dad didn't say anything and I couldn't force myself out of my pit of weariness long enough to make sure.

—

I didn't know we were back until I heard a sharp gasp from Esme, and I looked up to see her covering her mouth with her hand. "Oh no…"

Sami and Rami were a lot more vocal with their pain, sending more rippling waves through me on top of my own. But under Merit's instructions my parents whisked me away to the safety of my room.

Days went by where I didn't leave the room, hell I probably couldn't find the strength for it even if I wanted too. Someone from my family would come and check on my every few hours, attempting to talk to me, only to give up after sitting with me for an hour giving me a quick 'I love you and forgive you' and leave. None of them came back after their first visit, and I was running out of family sure that Sami, Rami, Seth, and Jabril were too angry with me to come.

But they weren't. As the hours went by they came too, all waiting an hour, all saying the same thing before leaving.

I wasn't even sure what day we were on anymore. The sickness in my gut made food unappetizing, and each heartbeat made my body feel like it shook with it—the whole function of my body was to remain a hollow drum for my heart to beat on.

"Hey." A soft voice greeted that I didn't hear come in.

I looked up at her, but didn't know what to say to her.

Not that it stopped her, "I'm not going to ask how you're holding up, because I already know. I killed Grey too. But what I am going to do is give you a reason to come back."

She pulled it out of her back, the sound of paper crinkling making me put my head up.

"Asima…she told me where I could find these before we headed out to Volterra." A thick pile of envelopes in her hand. She shuffled through all of them and I could see the names of my family written on the front of each. "There's one in here for everyone, but I decided I should give you yours first."

I took the envelope from her, it was definitely Asima's elegant script. "She knew that this was going to happen…" I realized.

Merit nodded weakly trying to force a smile as she shifted her charm bracelet. "She had an idea that there was a strong possibility. So she took the precaution to make sure no one mourned too long in her absence."

That made me huff a laugh, bringing my knees to my chin. "Then she honestly has no idea how much she meant to us." I sat the envelope on the bed next to me. "What does it say?"

"I'm pretty sure everyone is different seeing as they're addressed to individuals, and not you all as a whole. I even got one." She revealed pulling hers out of the stack giving it a wave before putting it in her bag. "But you need to read that, and if you're feeling up to it, come say your last goodbyes."

This shocked me, "I thought they burned the body when we got back."

Merit shook her head, "No, no one had the heart to do that. Sami, Rami, and Jabril have been preparing her for burial since we got back. Alice and the others have been preparing the town. The viewing was all day yesterday and the day before, and her funeral is today."

"They're burying her?" I gasped in disbelief, "But they told Ben and Maggi—"

"—What the Volturi don't know won't hurt them. No one here is going to tell, and Seth knows she'd want to be close to home." She interrupted standing. "Now, the funeral is at noon. That's two hours from now. I suggest you read her words, and decide if you're coming to say your final goodbyes."

I had one more question. "Wait—why has everyone been telling me that they forgive me and love me even though none of them have talked to me? Did you tell them to do that?"

Merit waited for a second or two before answering me, "Yes. Because nothing they would have said could get through to you, and right now you feel like you're to blame for all of this. It was Zach, not you. But you need their love, their forgiveness, and you have that from each of them. The only thing left is for you to love and forgive yourself."

And with that she left.

My room was too dark for reading, so I opened the shutters, the brightness of the sun stinging my eyes as I curled up in the window seat.

I opened the letter and began to read…

….And I could picture her, sitting at her desk like she always did, and writing these words…

And if I concentrated hard enough, I could hear her speaking to me as I read…

*This is the part that you can either read through or listen by clicking the link.

My Dearest Friend,

If you're reading this, then I couldn't find any other way to bring you back to us and sadly, I'm no longer with you. I won't ask you not to cry for me, because you're stubborn enough to do it anyway. But I will ask you not to be angry with me.

I promised you in Volterra that I would always help you find your way, no matter the cost. Hopefully it worked; that my death snapped you out of your connection with Zach and you're at home reading this.

If I died for no reason, I'm going to be really pissed—No—I have faith that it worked—It had to have worked—I saw it work. So— now I must make my confessions.

When I first enrolled in Hanover High, I hated myself. I had spent 1300 years seeking peace and predictability, boredom and solidarity. And just when I thought I found it; this bronzed haired half-vampire shows up.

Just strolled right in without a care in the world, sitting at my table without an invitation and started talking to me like we were old friends. She was everything I was and everything I wasn't and I hated her for it.

She wanted a friend? How dare she?! Didn't she know that I wasn't Asima Franklin?

I was Asima, daughter of King Choroses II and I didn't need friends. I didn't need to talk, I didn't need to feel, I just needed peace. And my gut told me that if I befriended this girl, peace, predictability, boredom—those things would never come.

But you sat with me every day your first week. Oblivious to my aversion to sharing, instead telling me everything about you. Well—Almost everything.

I kept hoping that you'd abandon me—befriend a more interesting crowd. Start actually caring about your social reputation like any other high school student, since you were so adamant on being one.

But you didn't, and when you cheerfully wished me a good weekend, and I went home— I felt lonely. It was a shock to me, because in over 1300 years, I had never felt lonely.

I needed to know you from that point on. And as we continued our junior year of high school, and things got better, you did the impossible—you made me love you. Then we went on to senior year, I met your family, and I loved them.

I didn't know it right away, but hindsight is always 20/20. I was hurt by their initial rejection, and resentment once they found out what I was, but I loved them all the same. And just when I earned their acceptance, I got my first vision.

You were in danger, you all were. The Volturi were going to take you away from me, and I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't. So I fought. And as many times as you told me it wasn't my fight—it was.

I loved you, and I loved the Cullens, but you need to understand. I wasn't fighting to save you, I was fighting to save me. Because I knew that if I lost you, I'd never feel that bond we had with anyone again, and I never wanted to not feel it.

I knew that if I chose to fight, if I wanted to walk the path that kept you and your family safe, I'd die. The way kept changing, and I never knew when, but I knew that I was on borrowed time the moment I ran for Ireland.

So why do it right?

Ness, knowing you helped me love, you helped me find love, and you gave me a family. If I never met you, if I never chose to fight with you, if I never loved you; I would have never met your family, or Phillip, Seth, or Jacob. I would have never fell in love—let alone twice. I never would have found my nephew, or started a family of my own with Seth. I have you to thank for that.

So now, I go into this fight, without fear, knowing what will most likely happen because bringing you back is worth dying for. I know you'll disagree, and there are times when you feel insignificant, but you are amazing Ness. You save people, and you'll continue doing so. My journey may be over, but yours is just beginning, and if you ever lose your way again. I will be there.

Take care of Seth for me, remind him of his promise he made. Don't ever let him give up. Keep an eye on Phil, help him control his bloodlust and accept a life in Jennah. His children are leopards, which make them family—never let a day go by that they don't know that.

Look after the children, all of them. Phillip, Ciyan, Asima, Kyle, and Rosabella are a new generation of magic. They're living proof that anything is possible. Don't let them spend a day hating what or who they are.

When they get older, and find themselves confused and hurt by the uncertainties that come with love—tell them the story about a girl that had to wait 1300 years to be swept off her feet only for it to not work out. Tell them the story about the boy that loved a girl so much, he was willing to wait a lifetime for her, just so that she could make a choice of her own.

When life brings them to a fork, and they can't make a decision— tell them the story about the bronze haired girl's tenacity. How she trusted her gut across oceans and to the ends of the earth, even when the people she loved thought she was nuts. Tell them what came of that.

When the time comes for them to explore and face all the adventures life has out there— you let them go, and you watch them run. Let them see the world and enjoy the ride like we did, because what a ride it was.

And once they've seen the world, experienced love and friendships, and all of the unbreakable bonds that come with it; when they're old enough to truly understand. You tell them about my sacrifice, that what we had was worth dying for… and you give them my love…

Asima Clearwater

As much as I tried not to cry as I read, tears found their way. It was a lot to take in, and I couldn't imagine what it would have been like to know you were going to die, but love someone enough to do it anyway.

I stood up, carefully folding the three page letter back the way it was and sat it on the bed. It hurt, all of it, but I knew if I missed seeing my best friend put to rest, I'd never forgive myself. Walking into the closet and looked around, my mind automatically flashing to the massive collection of custom made garments at Zach's.

I rushed into the bathroom without deciding, hoping that I could at least get through that.

The hot water soothed my body, but didn't give the rest of me much relief. Tears ran down my cheeks as I tried my best to let everything out while they could still be hidden under the stream of water.

It was nowhere near enough, but once the water got cold, I forced myself to get out. Nowhere near ready to go back in my closet, I tightened my towel around me, and focused on my hair. My locks were a tangled mess that hadn't been touched in well over a week, and I prayed I could get it at least manageable before noon.

A tiny knock on my bedroom door made my head snap up. "Come in."

My aunt opened the door carefully, holding a garment bag in her hands. She have me the tiniest, and bravest smile as she sat it on the bed. She was wearing a lilac colored sundress and sandals, in no way dressed for a funeral. "We heard the shower running, so Rose and I thought…maybe you were coming today…and you'd need something to wear."

I unzipped the bad and looked over the dress. It was a simple peach colored knee length dress.

Alice took my silence as requesting an explanation. "No one's going to wear black today. We figured Asima would hate making this anymore sad than it already was…You can wear that—or—or something else if you don't want anything we picked out." She rushed trying to encourage me to do whatever I wanted.

"Thank you Alice, I'll wear it." I whispered just catching on to her saying 'we heard the shower on', "Who else is in my house?"

"Jacob, Edward, and I. Everyone else is getting ready and we're going to meet here."

Without knowing what else to say, I just nodded. "Thank you Alice."

She nodded sadly, I guess finding a dismissal in my tone, heading towards the door. "Did you read your letter from Asima yet?" I asked before her hand touched the knob, I didn't want to be alone yet.

She smiled backing away from the door and taking a seat next to the bed while I get ready. "Yes, I read mine a little while ago. Jasper is saving his until all of this is over."

"Can you help?" I asked, offering the brush to her once I slid into the dress. She took it graciously and I took a seat at the vanity. "Where is Jasper now?"

Alice started brushing though my hair as she spoke, "He's off to himself, trying to gather strength until later. It's hard for him, being around so many people in mourning, all the while dealing with his own. But he's doing a really good job of staying strong for everyone else."

I noticed she didn't mention anything her letter said, so I offered a part of mine, hoping she'd elaborate. "Asima knew…what was going to happen…"

"I gathered as much…" She sighed parting sections so that she could French braid it. "All done."

Alice definitely wasn't going to reveal anything Asima said to her, so I gave up. Standing and following her out of my bedroom I ran into Jake and my Dad, just as she said.

Not knowing what to say I started to sputter, "Jacob—I"

He crushed me into a hug kissing my forehead and for the first time since any of this happened, I felt warm, "I know. It's okay. We'll have plenty of time to talk, but let's just get though today alright?"

I nodded, wondering how I even began to deserve people like Asima and Jacob in my life. When he released me, my Dad's arms replaced his. "It's going to be alright sweetheart… One day at a time."

The three of us sat with each other, and the closer it got to noon, everyone started to join us. Mom was first, then Jasper, then Rosalie and Emmett, Carlisle and Esme bringing Rosabella by the hand. My heart rushed when I saw my little girl in tears.

"I've missed you so much, mother." She cried locking her arms around my torso wearing a pretty yellow dress I'd never seen before. "Don't go anywhere else okay?"

I didn't even bother trying to unhook her to get a hug of my own. "I missed you two sweetie, I promise, I'm not going anywhere."

The sound of horses interrupted our reunion and I gave my family a puzzled look.

"It's time baby." My mom explained squeezing my hand for comfort.

Without even thinking about it, I opened my front door stepping out to see Seth, with tears in his eyes holding the hands of Ciyan and Phillip. Phil was close by with Kyle and little Asima, all of them wearing cheerful pastels, standing next to a carriage.

I got closer to get a view of my oldest friend. Her coffin was bronze and glass so that everyone could see her. They put her in a white lace dress with gold embroidery along the bottom and top. It flowed to the length of her ankles, her feet bare. Inside she was surrounded by lilies, and roses of different colors, her long black hair only restrained by a braided crown keeping it out of her face.

She looked beautiful, peaceful her hands rested on her torso holding a small bouquet of white lilies wrapped in ivy. She smelled like a blend of rose oil, cassia, and some other aloe. She wouldn't have fussed over any of it. It was simple, and gorgeous—just like her.

"You okay?" Phil whispered grabbing my shoulder. I nodded not really feeling like crying. "Walk with me okay?"

I nodded walking beside him, taking Jacob's hand. The rest of my family falling into small groupings behind the carriage as one of the other citizens guided the horse deeper into the city.

When we passed the main palace the carriage didn't stop, but Jabril, Sami, and Rami joined in close to us, wearing white linen similar to the first day I met them. Jabril gave me an encouraging smile and nod before as we followed. Leah and Merit came out of my family's house, holding hands and wearing pale blue dresses.

That was everyone and we continued on. Much to my surprise, a man joined us, playing an instrument that was almost like a flute, only held vertically. The music was docile, and calming, and he played with us as he walked behind us.

Continuing our journey up the hill, others joined us. Many I knew, some I didn't but all of them knew and loved Asima.

In fact, as the carriage made its way through the city and to the oasis, I don't think there was a citizen left in their homes. It was amazing to see how many lives she touched, exactly how many people loved her.

The funeral itself wasn't typical either, there was no real eulogy, no parting words, only a set of prayers in ancient Arabic lead by Sami, Rami and Jabril. I recognized a few of them as requests to the Egyptian Gods for the deceased to find peace.

When the prayers were over, the crowd dispersed quietly, leaving the main family to view the burial itself.

Once she had been laid to rest, we all went back to the main palace, no one ready to end the day just yet. Rami, and Jabril talked about their letters from Asima, finding oddly specific requests in them even though they had no clue what it meant yet.

"My guess is that these letters were to serve as a last piece of guidance, her last gifts to us." Carlisle summed up.

Esme agreed, "We shouldn't stress about their meaning, for now be happy that she cared enough about us to write them."

"She was an extraordinary person," Merit sighed putting down her glass, "I wish I'd known her better."

"I think you knew her at her best," Seth sighed looking painfully exhausted. Like he cried himself into nothing and was forced to carry on anyway. "Have you decided on if you're going to take Asima's offer to stay in Jennah?"

"Not yet, but I do plan to stay for a little longer. Make sure everything goes back to somewhat normal." She thought.

Rosalie held a sleeping Rosabella in her lap, she didn't want to go home and rest like the others after being away from me for too long and I couldn't' fight her on that. "Things never were really normal around here."

"Normal for us at least." My mom specified. "She helped us find all of this…"

Jabril nodded understanding what she meant squeezing Leah's hand. "I'm never going to forget a minute of it."

His words hit my chest like a knife, and before I knew it, I was on my feet running into Sami's library and grabbing as much paper as I could. Tears stung my eyes for the first time since before the funeral but I forced myself to scribble quickly.

My dad and the others were standing in front of me in the doorway not even five minutes later. "Nessie what are you doing?" Jacob wondered watching me cry and write.

"Writing every single thing I remember since the moment I met Asima." I explained writing.

My parents looked at Carlisle who carefully sighed, "Renesmee, maybe that isn't such a good idea considering it's upsetting you."

"But I have to." I argued shaking my head and continuing to write.

Alice tried to help me understand, "But it's the first day you aren't locked away in your room. I don't think you should do anything to upset yourself and lead into another spiral."

"Let yourself heal first," My mom agreed.

I shook my head defiantly. "No! I have to do this, even if it hurts. I don't have a vampire mind like you, and I can't allow myself to forget any of it even if it's a hundred years from now. All of this, I have to etch the pain into me because it's the only way I'm going to know any of this is real."

"Okay," Jasper agreed, no doubt feeling my conviction. "Then we'll help you."

He grabbed a piece of paper and sat beside me on a cushion writing a lot quicker than I could.

"You don't have to," I dismissed, but Phil sat down and grabbed another.

"Nonsense." Phil breathed, "According to Carlisle, the longer I'm a vampire the more all of my human life is going to go away. I don't want to forget our early years."

Seth sat down across from me, finding another pen in a desk, "Asima used to write all the time too. She said it was a good therapy, and helped her to look back and remember what was worth it and what wasn't. We should do the same."

So there we sat, all sixteen of us writing in silence well into the night. Everyone wrote about whatever they remembered and loved about Asima. What they learned, and realized, some so private they'd most likely never show anyone else, and others exactly the opposite.

Everyone head shot in my direction when a small but genuine giggle escaped my lips while writing a memory.

"What is it?" Dad asked unable to hide his pleasure that something made me smile.

I shook my head feeling silly, but since everyone was looking I explained as I kept writing. "Remember the time Emmett and Jasper started a bet on who Asima would end up with?"

Rosalie nodded, "I remember that, a thousand bucks on Seth or Phil. I can't believe she actually though she could bet against an imprint."

"Best thousand bucks she ever lost," Seth defended, but with humor in his voice.

Jasper scoffed with wry humor, "Say's you."

"That was a bet that was lost before the money was even put down." Emmett grinned loving the bragging rights on that one after it was over.

"It's true." I nodded laughing trying to tell the story with borderline hysteria. "I remember when we all went sleigh riding and this girl we went to school with—Ashley—"

Phil groaned, "—Oh I hated Ashley—full on mean girl."

"—She kept flirting with Seth, and every time she'd touch him Asima kept shocking her and shocking her but swore she wasn't jealous—it was hilarious."

"And transparent if you ask me." Jacob nodded.

I wiped the first laughing tear from my eyes and started writing again. My family continuing as well, a bit more at ease, until someone else groaned.

"What?" I perked up looking in Emmett's direction.

Alice elbowed him playfully and explained, "He was looking over my shoulder at my memory."

"Don't share that…" He demanded trying to snatch the paper from her.

But Alice was already on it, "Nessie, do you remember when you and Asima got Emmett hooked into watching the complete box set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with you guys."

I snorted and nodded, my poor Uncle looked mortified. "Until he got caught by Rose."

"That little blonde girl kicked ass." He grumbled trying to make himself sound all manly.

Jasper cracked a grin a mile long, "Karate knowing bags of dust are a source of entertainment for you?"

"How do you know they turn to dust?" Emmett pointed calling attention to him.

Jasper's smile fell his voice grumbling, "They kind of got me too."

"And me," Jabril agreed in horror making Leah and my mom giggle in hysterics.

The rest of the night continued on like that. The more we wrote, the more we remembered and we shared the stories together. We had a long road ahead of us, and none of us were sure we were ready for it, but I like to think with every sentence we scribbled out started the healing process.

The End

I was actually sad to end this book. I took this long journey of creating characters and living in the twilight world and I didn't want to leave it. Most likely I'll write another fanfic, just not with this story line. I have an Epi after this, but I want to take the time now to thank you all for your words of encouragement and letting me entertain you.

DiNishaRob