AN: The final chapter…here it is. It was an emotional one for me to write which is why it took me so long to release it. I didn't want to let my Taryn and Quil go but now it's time. I thank all of you who have followed and favorited me. Your words of encouragement helped me immensely with this, my first real story.

Chapter 32

TPOV

I'm standing at a window, looking out over at the meadow across the road where two bonfires have been lit. All of my friends and family are there surrounded by the autumn colors of the forest but my eyes are trained on only one person….my Quil. He's talking to Jake and Embry. They're laughing about something. I don't bother trying to actually listening to them. I'm just happy to see them all laughing and relaxed again.

A knock sounds at the door. Emily walks in as I turn. She's smiling brightly. "Quit daydreaming." She teases me. "Do you need anything before I go down?"

I return her smile. "No, I'm fine. Just send Sam up when it's time."

She walks over to me and gives me a tight hug and kiss before she goes back downstairs. I return to my spot by the window but Quil has moved elsewhere out of my line of vision. I can hear Sam and Jake laughing below me, making me smile…remembering…

The first signs of spring had come to the reservation and the Pack was restless to be shed of the constraints of winter. A bonfire burned on La Push for the first celebration of the year. Everyone was gathered around in groups all around the general area. The younger pups were throwing a football further down the beach. The mood by the fire was much more mellow and subdued with music playing softly. On the log by the fire, Paul sat with Rachel in his lap and Jared was whispering something in Kim's ear making her laugh.

Emily had pulled me aside to help with putting the last touches on the food table before we started to eat. She asked me to get the remaining cold items from the ice chest. I bent over to take out four trays of deviled eggs when I hear someone clear their throat. I stand up to find Quil standing on the other side of the table from me. He had Jake on one side of him and Sam on the other. Raising a brow at him, I have to ask "Quil? What are you doing?"

Emily smiles and steps away as Embry and Collin pick up the food table separating me from Quil, setting it down a few feet away. Quil stands quietly for a moment. I look around and notice that all eyes were on me. To cover up my discomfort at being the impromptu center of attention, I stick my hands in my pockets to hide my growing nervousness.

Quil steps forward to stand directly in front of me. He looks into my eyes and I know what is happening at that moment. My eyes go wide and my jaw drops. Again, I say "Quil….what?" but I can't manage anything else.

He gently tugs my hands from my pockets, holding them in his. He looks down at me, his chocolate brown eyes searching my soul as he begins to speak. "I never dreamed that I would find myself where I am today and yet here I am, looking at the single most precious person on the entire planet standing in front of me and I know that I don't ever want to let her go. She is my everything. We have walked through the fire together and made it through, stronger than ever. It is my deepest wish to keep her by my side forever and always so it is time that I do something to make this reality, no longer a dream." He drops to one knee in front of me, takes a box from his shorts pocket and shows me a beautiful diamond ring. "Taryn Walker, will you marry me? Stay with me forever?"

My eyes tear up at the emotion of the moment. My voice refuses to cooperate. I look into his eyes again. The tug of our bond pulls at our heart strings. I can see the slightest hint of tears in his eyes and my heart, that was already his, melts even more. His emotions were there for all to see. I open my mouth but my voice continues to fail me so instead I nod my reply as tears of joy slide down my cheeks. Emily squeals quietly as Quil puts the ring on my hand. The crowd surrounding us erupts into cheers and laughter as Quil pulls me into his arms, kissing me sweetly.

I feel the touch of a hand on my shoulder. I start slightly but relax as I turn to see Sam standing beside me looking out the window with me. "Are you ready to go down now Taryn?" he asks softly, so unlike the usual gruff manner he can have when around the others. This wasn't the Alpha speaking but my cousin….my brother.

I smile up at him. "Yeah, let's do this." He places his arm around my shoulders as we walk downstairs. The house was eerily quiet. Everyone else was out in the meadow, waiting for us. I stop before we near the front door. Turning, I look up at him "Sam, thank you for everything. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here today. You took me in and with Uma's help, taught me the meaning of what a real family really is." His face turns sad as he listens to me. Uma….

Not a week after the baby's arrival, I found myself cooking yet again in Emily's kitchen but this time, it was to keep the new mother off of her feet. After her frightening delivery, the doctor had prescribed bed rest due to her blood loss and the Pack was determined to enforce his wishes. We stayed at their place around the clock to do whatever needed to be done. My duty usually fell in the one place that I felt most comfortable which was perfectly fine with me. I had just checked on Emily and the baby so I decided to get a jump start on dinner preparations. With my sensitive hearing, I could hear the gentle, rhythmic breathing of the sleeping mother and baby. I opened a cabinet to take down a mixing bowl when I heard a fall and a gasp. Listening closer, I knew it didn't come from here. UMA!

I woke Quil up from his nap on the couch just before I ran up the hill to my grandmother's house at top speed. I found her. She was lying on the floor, a trickle of blood running from her nose. After a frantic check of her vitals and for any injuries, I pick her up, carry her frail frame to her bed and tuck her into bed before calling Sam and an ambulance. I sat by her side and waited.

She lays in the bed with a distant look in her eyes for the longest while before she inhales sharply and then turns to me. "Taryn my child…" I look up at her with worry and fear in my eyes. She smiles fondly at me. "No, I'll not have that. I've lived a full life. I'm not afraid of the next step nor should you worry for my sake. I am at peace." I take her hands in mine. They're colder than I've ever felt them. I fight to keep my tears at bay. She smiles again."You now have a strong family and a good man by your side. He will be your anchor, your rock. Never lose your trust in him or your abilities." I nod; biting my lip as I realize what she's doing….she's saying good-bye to me. "Taryn, I love you. You are talented, beautiful and strong. You make me and your parents very proud." She looks over my shoulder at something for a moment. "Yes, they are very proud indeed." Smiling, she tries to give my hands a squeeze. "I shall see you soon little one. We will be together again." With that, she closed her eyes, her breath caught and then she exhaled slowly. She was gone, my Uma. I laid my head on her chest and cried; deep heart wrenching sobs over took me. I have no idea how long I laid there in my grief when finally, strong gentle hands pulled me away, and into a chest, holding me close and murmuring soft words in my ear. I was lifted up like a child and carried out of the bedroom just as Quil came through the front door. His face dropped when he saw me so upset. He knew immediately what had happened. He took me into his arms and carried me down to the lake behind the house, to the tree where we first met. We sat there; cuddled into one another until the house had cleared out, until the stars came out and neither of us had any more tears.

Looking up at him, I make one last admission. "I miss her Sam….really miss her." I had vowed that evening by the lake that I would not cry again as it was Uma's wish that I not do so, but today was hard. She wasn't there to share it with me and it hurt.

He nods his head as we step through the door. "We all do. She was a special part of our lives, but she is never truly gone, is she? We both carry our own part of Uma in our hearts which is makes it even more special. She would say that you look every bit the part of a beautiful Quileute bride this morning Taryn." He grins at me, and we begin to walk towards the field.

The trees around us were beautiful in their reds, oranges and yellows. The air was crisp with a hint of the coming cooler weather. We passed by friends who smiled brightly at us, walking ever forward. To be honest, I wasn't able to focus on much of anything around me. All I could see was Quil. He stood there waiting for me in traditional tribal clothing. He looked handsome, strong and sure of himself. This was a role that he had always been trained for and he wore it well. Sam led me to Quil who stood next to his grandfather and on his other side stood Emily, my best friend, holding little Christina in her arms. The baby was sleeping sweetly in her arms. I took a moment to look out over my shoulder. I saw the tribe and the Pack surrounding us, smiling, all happy for us on this day. I turn back to Quil when a flicker catches my eyes. A single candle burned with a note beside it…at Uma's request…I let myself lose focus.

I was walking through the misty forest. I could hear the night time creatures stirring. My feet did not make a sound as I walked on. A set of golden eyes follow me, keeping a short distance from me but remaining watchful all the while. I soon find myself standing in my home. There's a thundering of little feet coming down the stairs towards me. I turn to see Quil trailing behind three very energetic little boys and carrying our youngest baby, our little Ana. He walks to me, kisses me sweetly and whispers in my ear."I love you forever and always my Love. The flames grow higher but they no longer frighten me as they had. Then, there's the silhouette of a man reaching his hand out to me. Reaching through the flames, I put my hand in his. I feel him pull me into his safe and loving arms, my man, my wolf.

I blink back to the present with a bright smile on my face. As always, Quil watched me and waited patiently even though we both know that my visions only last a brief moment. He leans forward and whispers to me. "Did you like what you saw Love?" I nod, looking up at him with love in my eyes. "Very much so." My lips tremble just knowing that what I saw was mine for the taking. All I have to do is say I Do. I take his hand in mine like I had in so many of my visions and we walked towards the flame of Life together, forever and always.