Cole got up with Blake and Tim in their bedroom in the house of Tim's aunt Dinah. Even though she was loaded, Dinah was certainly strict and Tim's cousins were not making their stay all that fun. With three boys and two girls, it was no picnic. Tim's cousins Jerry, Mike, Andy, Marsha, and Kelly were all in elementary and even though they were only in the range of eight to ten years old, they still could be a little intrusive. Cole had just gotten up when the door suddenly opened to reveal Tim's cousin Jerry who looked ten years old, but paused when he saw Cole standing in his underwear and pajama bottoms.

"Good morning.", Jerry said pleasantly.

Tim got up and when he saw his cousin, he frowned.

"How many times do I have to tell you and your siblings to not enter my room without knocking?", he asked trying not to yell.

Jerry looked a bit thoughtful.

"What day is it today?", he asked.

Cole walked over to his suitcase and got a fresh shirt on before Tim answered his cousin's question.

"Thursday."

Just then a loud train whistle rang out and Blake was awake as Tim's cousins Andy and Marsha who looked like nine-year-olds ran past with Andy in front with a toy train while Marsha ran behind him.

"Drop it, Andy!", she whined, "You're bending it!"

"Make me!", Andy shot back.

Jerry turned just in time for Andy to run past him and grip his sister's toy loosened enough for it to go flying into the room and almost hit Cole in the face if Cole hadn't raised his hand and caught it. Tim rolled his eyes as his cousins came in.

"Andy, apologize to your sister.", he said.

Andy frowned and crossed his arms while turning away.

"No!", he snapped.

"What is going on at this hour?"

Everyone turned to see Dinah standing in a bathrobe and fluffy slippers while a sleep mask was on her forehead and a foul look on her face.

"Mom, Andy took my train!", Marsha whined, "He's not supposed to do that!"

"She wouldn't leave me alone!", Andy shot back.

Dinah gave a sharp whistle and her kids settled down before she put her hands on her hips and looked to her kids with a firm expression.

"You are going to apologize to each other or Heaven forbid it, I will ground you all for a month. Understand?"

Either her kids had a good idea what she ment or they were just plain scared of their mother's angry look cause they suddenly looked more humble.

"Sorry Marsha.", Andy said giving his sister a sympathetic look.

"Thank you, Andy.", Marsha said smiling.

Cole gave Marsha back her toy as the kids walked out before Dinah turned to Jerry.

"Jerry, did you clean your room like I asked you to?"

Jerry quickly ran off and Tim was relieved until his aunt looked his way.

"What are you doing still in bed?", she asked sharply, "Breakfast is served until nine every morning and it's already eight forty."

/

By the time Cole, Blake, and Tim made it to breakfast, Cole was feeling a little more than a bit tense.

"You'd think that woman would be teaching her kids some manners.", he muttered.

Tim just rolled his eyes as he got into his plate of pancakes and eggs alongside Blake and Cole who were getting their share.

"She's probably just like that since my uncle died.", Tim stated.

Sounds of breaking glass and fussing came from the kitchen which told the trio that Tim's cousins had gotten their breakfast and were horsing around like they usually did.

"Don't make me come in there!", Dinah barked in the direction of the kitchen.

That quieted things down before Dinah turned to the trio.

"Tim, I have to go over the funeral details with Cole's parents and make sure Blake's family has their return flight in order so you'll have to babysit your cousins while I'm out."

Tim looked her way firmly as he set his fork down on his plate.

"Aunt Dinah, I've done it for so long.", he said to her, "You know they're always getting into my stuff."

Dinah looked his way just as firm.

"Are you saying you won't do it?", she asked.

Blake and Cole could see the tension building and they had to act fast.

"We'll help out.", Blake put in, "Three adults are better than one."

Dinah looked amused.

"My point exactly.", she answered in a calmer tone.

Just then, another round of screaming came from the kitchen and Dinah got to her feet and headed to the kitchen as Cole, Blake and Tim watched in silence until she disappeared into the kitchen. That was when they heard the arguing.

"What happened in here?", they heard Dinah yell.

"Mike pinched Kelly!"

"I did not! Andy threw his potatoes at me!"

"Only cause you spilled juice over my pants!"

"Tattletale!"

Cole looked to Tim confused.

"Is there a meal where those kids actually get along without fighting?", he asked, "You'd think that they would learn by now."

Tim rolled his eyes as he swallowed his mouthful of pancakes before using his juice to help it go down.

"That would be a miracle.", he answered, "But that will hopefully work its way out."

Blake sighed as he turned to Cole as the trio got their dishes collected.

"I'm really sorry about your grandpa.", he said.

Cole knew Blake was being understanding when they went to the kitchen to find all five of Tim's siblings cleaning up and looking a bit scared while a couple were rubbing their backsides which told Cole that they might have been spanked. Dinah was standing nearby looking firm and clearly not amused about what she found when she had come in earlier.

"Place dishes in the sink if you please.", she said firmly, "Jerry and Andy will handle them."

/

Cole was a bit on edge as his parents drove him to the hospital where his grandpa Harold was. Even though he was near death, Cole's parents insisted on him being there. Cole's father pulled into the parking lot and as they all got out and got across to the front doors of the hospital, Cole tried not to think about Blake staying behind to help Tim with his cousins while he had to visit his grandfather, but he still felt pretty bad. Once inside, they went to the registration desk where the nurse on duty looked their way.

"Three to see Harold Silver.", Mr. Marty answered.

The nurse looked at the clipboard she had and then looked his way before setting it down.

"Room three twenty.", she said.

Cole felt his heart skip a beat as his parents and him made it to the elevator before heading up to the second floor. Once there, they made it to the room where Harold was and after a knock on the door, they entered to see Harold on his hospital bed. His white hair laid brushed across his head while his beard was just as white. He looked with his tired green eyes and gave a small smile.

"Dad, are you okay?", Mrs. Marty asked looking worried.

"I'm fine.", he told her as she held his hand and turned to Cole, "Hey Cole, it's good to see you again."

Cole couldn't help but come forward and hold his mother's hand which held his grandfather's without taking his eyes off Harold's.

"Grandpa, I know I wasn't always so grateful for all the summers I spent with you, but I just want you to know that I'm sorry for all the times I gave you grief."

Harold looked amused and a light chuckle.

"I knew you'd come around.", he said lovingly, "Your mother tells me you made some more friends at college."

Cole couldn't help but look a bit embarrassed.

"Well, I just thought I'd let them know I'd be a great listener and the rest followed I guess."

Harold's smile didn't fade as a doctor came in with what looked like a tray of medication with a couple nurses.

"Time to take your medication Mr. Silver.", the doctor said to him.

Harold sighed as the nurses helped him into a sitting position in bed as Cole and his parents backed up so they could do their job. After the medication was administered, the doctor and nurses left leaving the family alone again.

"Dad, we're here for you.", Mrs. Marty said as she returned to holding Harold's hand.

Harold didn't look bothered.

"I'm fine.", he insisted, "Soon, I'll be where there is no pain, sorrow, or loneliness."

Cole felt his heart skip a beat as he recalled a service at church that he had attended where the pastor had decreed that as long as they had faith and believed that Jesus had died for them and were willing to admit their sins, they would be given a chance to enter Heaven. Cole even felt tears come to his eyes as he held his grandfather's hand again.

"Grandpa, don't go.", he said.

Harold put his other hand on Cole's without losing his smile.

"Cole, I will always be with you.", he answered.

/

Cole felt his grandfather's hand, but he couldn't hold back the tears that now were streaming down his face as his father hugged him.

"How I wish I could bring some of those night flowers back so I could help.", Cole silently prayed.

Mrs. Marty looked Cole's way and tried smiling.

"Cole, let's not make a fuss.", she said, "He'll be waiting for you when it's your time."

Cole tried to pull himself together knowing his mother was trying to help him feel better about the whole thing before he spoke to his grandfather.

"You'll make it, Grandpa.", he said, "I know you will."

Harold's smile grew a bit bigger.

"Thank you, Cole.", he said weakly.

Cole felt his grandfather's grip lessen before his grandfather coughed a couple times, but regained his smile.

"My chemotherapy helped with the pain, but I'm happy that you came for my final days."

The door to the room opened and a nurse looked in.

"Ten more minutes Marty family.", she said.

Cole's parents looked understanding as they helped Harold back into bed with Cole still holding his grandfather's hand.

"Cole, take care."

Cole really didn't want to leave, but his parents knew he had to. After a good-bye and "I love you", Cole was soon heading out with his parents leaving his grandfather Harold behind in his room though Cole was still feeling sad as a doctor came by as he and his parents stopped by the reception desk.

"How is he?", Mrs. Marty asked the receptionist.

The nurse looked at her clipboard, sighed and gave a knowing look.

"Not long.", she answered, "A day I'd say. Two at the least."

Mr. Marty put a hand on Cole's shoulder and Cole was comforted as they went back outside to the parking lot. As Mr. Marty got the car back up and running, he paused so the car could warm up before they drove out. It didn't take long to get back to Dinah's home.

"We're going to do some shopping.", Mrs. Marty said to Cole, "Need anything?"

Cole wiped the remains of the tears on his eyes that had begun to freeze solid and gave a weak smile.

"I'll be okay.", he answered starting to feel his pain and worry fade away, "Tim and Blake must be overwhelmed with Tim's cousin's by now."

Cole watched as his parents drove off and he started heading back inside when his thoughts began to recall Nava and how old he was and yet Nigaq and Sura stood by him even though it looked like he wouldn't make it over the ice bridge. He couldn't help but smile at the thought that Nava was able to go with the clan and his family. He would make a wonderful teacher for Aleu until she was able to lead the clan herself. Of course she would have Nigaq and Sura to help and support her, but she would always be Balto's girl. Then he remembered Nicodemus and couldn't help but wonder how he was doing right now.

/

Just as Cole walked up to the door, he felt a slight chill on his back. Thinking it was just the outside cold air, he walked in and noticed that nobody seemed to be around which suggested that Blake and Tim had taken Tim's cousins outside or something before the feeling came again. Cole's mind recalled the last times he had felt like this and that only made him more tense.

"Another adventure.", he said to himself, "I wonder what it is this time?"

He started walking up to his room remembering the mirror he saw on the dresser before catching his reflection in a nearby reflective surface to see a charm lit up. Which one it was, he didn't know cause it was hard to see and the sound of ocean waves came to his ears.

"That's a new one.", he said to himself.

As he passed a room near the room he shared with Blake and Tim, the door opened and revealed Blake and Tim walking out looking exhausted.

"Whew, finally got them to sleep.", Blake sighed.

Tim was about to answer when he turned to their room just as Cole finished quickly and quietly closing the door. He chose to forget about it as he turned to Blake.

"Hey, you want to grab some of our stuff and get an ice cream?", he asked.

Blake didn't look so sure.

"I think something's up with Cole.", he said, "He looked like he was in a rush."

"He's probably upset about his grandfather dying to cancer.", Tim said, "You know how people get when someone close to them is passing on."

Blake shrugged as he thought that was probably it while Cole had gotten out of his winter gear since he was inside and stood before the mirror on the dresser to see the amber charm on his necklace shimmer which gave him a feeling about which world he was going to.

"Well, another adventure with Littlefoot and the gang.", he said to himself smiling, "I wonder what will happen this time?"

Just as Cole felt a warm breeze come from the mirror as it started lighting up, he heard footsteps outside his room which made him pause.

"Cole, you okay in there?"

Cole recognized Blake's voice, but then Tim's voice came to his ears.

"We're getting ice cream if you'd like us to bring you back one."

Cole had to think fast cause if Blake and Tim saw the magic happening, who knows what could happen? Would something go wrong or something very bad? He didn't know nor did he want to find out.

"Yeah, uh…get me a cotton candy cone if they have it.", he called back.

"You got it.", Blake answered.

Cole heard the footsteps going away and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Whew, that was close.", he muttered before taking a breath and walking to the mirror that was now fully lit, "Well, here it goes."

He saw the amber charm light up and it stayed lit as the mirror did which told him that it was ready.

"Well, here it goes.", he said bracing himself closing his eyes.

He raised a hand and one touch on the mirror, he was gone instantly without leaving a trace.