Upon Lily's return to school, she had a gift for Aly. It wasn't technically a gift, but Aly treated it as if it was. It was simply an envelope with her name scrawled across it. However, the fact that it was written in Mrs. Evans handwriting is what made Aly tuck it safely under her pillow. She had yet to open it when she had headed to the library with Lily.

It was only after she had broken up with Sirius, if there was really any sort of relationship to break off, that she tore open the letter. She was sitting on her bed, crying, unsure why she was so upset about no longer being Sirius Black's secret girlfriend, feeling pretty sure he'd move on without any regrets (except maybe that he wasted a week or so of his time without hooking up with anyone), when she slipped her hand under her pillow and found the letter.

She sat up straight and stared at the letter laying in her hands. With a giant sniffle, she turned it over and gently opened it up. She gingerly spread out the creased paper to view the handwriting of one of her favorite people.

The letter greeted her with a: "Dearest Alycat,"

The tears began to pour instantly, and Aly had to hold the paper straight out in front of her to save it from the water.

"I realize that when you get this that I will probably be gone. I cannot even begin to think about when that will happen without first worrying about my children, all three of them.

My Petty is strong and will handle herself with the fortitude of the solid person she is.

My Lilyflower is smart and amazes me everyday. She will continue to amaze the world even without my pride and praise from sidelines.

But then we reach my Alycat. My brave, charismatic, and stubborn to the core Alycat. What will become of her once I am gone? She was born into a broken shamble of a world, raised by a man who knew little of parenthood but always tried his best. I remember when the tough, little thing showed up at my house for the first time. She was broken, lost, and in desperate need of a mother.

I was lucky enough that she allowed me to be that surrogate mother.

See, Aly, my children mean the world to me. Each of my two daughters is a wonder and a gift to me every single day. They represent the very best of me in very different ways. I wanted them. I expected them. I raised them. I picked them. What makes you special is you picked me.

I am honored to have been a mother to you for the past 5 years. You have opened up your heart to me and allowed me to be a part of your very special life. It amazes me everyday that you have grown into such a beautiful woman and that I have been so privileged to get to witness it. You may not be my biological child, Alyson Patricia, but you will always be a blooming flower in the garden of my life. And that garden would not have been complete with just a Petunia and a Lily. I needed a bright, sunny daisy, skittish of the sunlight some times but happy to show of its petals.

As it is, it has been decided that I should leave this world much earlier than I had intended. With that, I am leaving my three girls the advise they will need on the very important days of their lives that I will have to miss.

First, for you and Lily: Graduation. I was lucky enough to watch my oldest bear the cap and gown, but I fear that I will miss yours. Know that I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. Bottom or top of the class, at the end of the day, the student who got the medical degree with the lowest GPA is still called 'Doctor.' Be proud of your schooling and move on with all the hope you can stand in your eyes. You will do great things. I can feel it to my very bone. This is not just something I am telling you. This is not something you will see written in Lily's letter either. My Lily is so smart, and she will do amazing things, but you, Aly, I have always just felt it. I have always looked at you and thought, 'That girl, she's going to be remembered.'

Next is your relationships. Not that any of you share any of this with me now while I'm alive, but I do have some advice I would like to share. Take it was you want.

Pick a man who makes you laugh, who challenges you, who makes you think. These are what love are built upon. Lust will fade. So will looks. Don't pick the one you are happy with. Pick the one who makes you happy to be you. No man will ever be good enough for you. But pick one who will come pretty close.

I won't be there to cry on your wedding day. So I will cry now thinking about you in a long, white dress (I assume magic weddings are similar to non-magic ones), dark curls framing your sparkling blue eyes, a huge, happy smile on that gorgeous face of yours as you walk down to that man who will never be good enough for you but is pretty darn close. I offer you these word of wisdom: Love one another. Trust one another. But above all else, respect one another. This is what my grandmother told my mother who told me and I now share it with you.

The day that breaks my heart the most to think about is the day I miss my grandbabies being brought into this world. You reach a point in your life where you start thinking happily of those little feet that belong to your once own little feet. I will miss getting to help you all prepare and worry. I'll miss suggesting names that none of you will take. I'll miss holding my babies' babies. But know this, it will be the scariest and most fulfilling thing you ever do. That baby will be your life and do everything in your power to make that baby's life the best it can be. I'll be watching, so I'll know if you're doing your job right.

With that, my Alycat, I have come to my ending. Take care of yourself. I know you've done that for so long, and it tears me up to know that I can no longer try to help ease that burden on you. You have made my life better by simply existing. Never forget that. When all else seems to fail, which does happen sometimes, remember that you made an old woman happy. Did I say old? Well, I feel old. Dying does that to a person. But I want you to grow old. Die an old lady. You have so much to give. Don't let this world miss out on one single minute of your greatness. Live every day to the fullest. Have no regrets. You can't wait for life to hand you want you want, sometimes you just have to reach out and take it. But be patient. Some of the best things in life are worth the wait. Or is it that they're free? It's complicated. But that's life. Everything makes sense and absolutely no sense all at the same time. Be happy in all that you do.

And know that I love you. Always.

This isn't goodbye. It's a 'See ya later.'

All of my love forever,

Mom