A/N: sorry it's been so long! Here is the next chapter, Enjoy!

Chapter 24: Ceremonial Emotions

Maggie POV

"You okay Yahzi?" Jacob asked from behind me.
The flight was so much longer than I thought it would be and as we all piled in the rental four Wheeled Drive, my stomach churned.
Collin and Dad were taking the suitcases out the truck, and i stood legs frozen in front of my grandmother's house.

"I'm scared." I whispered.
My grandmother had always lived with us in the granny flat behind the main house. The house belonged to mom, but when we moved, we gave it to her. The house was filled with memories of my mother, and none of us could bear the thought of other people living in this house.
"I'm right here." Jacob crooned, grabbing my hand and entwining his fingers with mine, "It's just how I remember it." He mused.

He was right, the house was exactly how we left it, down to the last pot plant, and rock next to the tiny stream. Dad wheeled Billy towards the house, eyeing me with worried eyes, and I knew he too felt the same feelings as I. Collin followed, with all our bags hung under his lengthy arms, and walked into the house, returning five minutes later.
"You guys coming in or what?" He asked, walking up to us.
Something in my body twitched and forced my legs to move. Slowly Jacob and I made our way to the front door, with Collin now worriedly walking next to me. The door creaked open, and a gush of wind crashed into us like a tidal wave. The smell hit me like a ton of bricks. A smell that I had been away from for over a year.
The smell of my mother.

My chest rose and fell in the same heartbeat, and I squeezed Jacob's hand tighter. Jake squeezed back, stepping in front of me and pulled me into the house.
"Where is Magdalene?" A woman asked, her voice sweet and aged.
"She was on her way in Ma." My dad said, just as Jacob pulled me into the kitchen.
My grandmother sensed someone behind her, and turned around. Her eyes widened in shock, as she took in Jacobs large from, which i hid behind.
"Sweet ancestors is that you Jacob Black?" She gasped. Jacob chuckled in response.
"In the flesh" He smiled.
My grandmother laughed out loud and ran to Jacob with arms wide open. The height difference was comical, as she had shrunk since the last time I saw her and was half the size of Jake.
"You are simply the most handsome boy I've ever seen. You were tiny when you were here last. What do they feed you over in La Push?" She joked grabbing his muscle arms.
"I eat nothing but your granddaughter's cooking, Jacob laughed, stepping aside revealing me.

My heart beat 100 miled per hour, and the room was filled with silence. My eyes welled up with tears, as I looked upon my grandma's face.
Her face was worn, aged a lot more than her 70 years of age. Her eyes were a tired, pale green, and colour which both my mother and I had inherited. Her short grey hair was unnaturally curld, her ears wearing the same earring my mom gave her for mother's day twenty years ago.
"My darling little girl." She whispered, crashing into me.
Her body was warm, cushioned and gave me a feeling I thought I lost.
I let go of Jacobs hand and flung my arms around her, laughing through my tears.
"You are so beautiful, more beautiful than your mother I dare to say." She winked.
"I've missed you so much." I sniffed.
"So have I." She kissed my forehead.

Paul POV

Things had been very melancholy since Maggie left. Emily and Sam had returned, making us all sick with their PDA every damn second.

The other factor that worried me was the lack of things that were happening around here.
Not one peep had come from Leon. Not one scent and certainly no leads.
Before Jacob left, he briefed the Cullen's on everything that had happened, much to my displeasure.
But I had to admit, it did have its perks. Edward had come and gotten the Leon's scent and face from Seth's mind. The Cullen clan now knew if Leon was hiding away in their territory, and they would notify us within the minute of anything. They also gave us permission, in the event of finding Leon, to cross the boundary to find him. The only leech giving me a hard time was that doctor of theirs, Carlisle.
"I don't think this is the best way." He had said,
"Let the authorities deal with it." He had begged
"You don't like it, don't help." I had warned.

The last time, the 'authorities' had let him walk, as there was not enough proof. Of course we couldn't prove it, because we couldn't exactly go and say, "Hey! We know he did it because we are actually werewolves and he leaves his gut wrenching stench all over the place. And when we patrol the boarder as wolves we saw him inside Maggies house."

Hello Looney bin.

It made me anxious and even more threatened to know that he hadn't tried anything. What was he waiting for?
Well when he does come? I'll be ready.
When he does come, He'll wish he'd never been born.

Maggie POV

"I am really sorry," My grandmother said," but someone is going to have to share a bed."
We all looked around, wondering who it was going to be.
"I wasn't expecting so many of you. There are only two bedrooms in the house, and one in the flat outside."
"Well I sure as hell aint sharing no bed." Dad scoffed, "I'll take our old room Ma." He said quickly grabbing his bags and disappearing.
"I am not sharing with Dad." Jacob said in disgust, Billy looked at him disapprovingly
"Well I don't want to share with you either," Billy said like a little boy, "You kids can go in the flat outside. Work it out for yourselves." Billy smirked, placing his bag on his back, and wheeling himself down the hall.
Jake, Collin and I looked at one another.
It was like a cap gun had be shot because we all ran at once, squeezing three abreast out the back door, and into the flat outside.

"Dibbs on the couch!" Collin shouted taking a humongous dive on the couch, Jacob halted to stop himself from landing on Collin. He growled before looking at me.
I laughed as I ran to the bedroom and bounced on the bed.
"Where the hell do I sleep!" he shouted.
I leaned in the doorway looking at both him and Collin starring at each other.
"Well you went AWOL for months, so I'm sure you can sleep in the kennel outside." Collin laughed out loud.
Jake scowled punching him in the chest, leaving Collin gasping for air.
"Stop it now!" I shouted, slapping Jacob on the back of the head.
"You can share with me Jake. We did when we were kids and we can do it again now. End of story." I said walking back to my bedroom.
"Hah. I get an actual bed." Jake smirked.
"Hah. I get to watch Paul rip your throat out." Collin retorted.
Jake's face turned serious in an instant, "Maggie wouldn't let that happen." He said, before kicking Collin, and stepping over him. "Would you?" he asked me.
"Of course not." I laughed.
"Dinner kids." Alex shouted from the main house.

"So how long have you lived here Catherine?" Collin asked at Dinner.
"Sweetheart, no one ever called me Catherine except my husband, and he is long gone, rest is soul. Call me Ma." She smiled.
"You cooking is exceptional." Billy commented,
"Taught me everything I know." I grinned at Ma.
"I kept some secrets Yahzi." She winked, "I'm glad I coooked enough, you two boys have hardy appetites." She giggled, looking at Jake and Collin stuffing their faces.
They smiled in response.

It had been two days since arriving back here in my old tribe. Yesterday Collin, Jake and I explored the rainforest a little.
The town was small and not very exciting. Besides, the forest was so thick, Jacob and Collin could phase and play fight, while I sat and sketched various scenery.
It was so refreshing, the wind in my hair, and the smell of the pines and the sound of the birds. I felt so calm, and yet i stil felt pain in my chest. I was so scared of coming home, and now I realised that it was the fear feeling the pain of missing my mother. It brought back so many memories, and not all of them were good. And to make it worse, tonight was the night of my mother's ceremony.

Ring, Ring.
My phone went off in my bag.
Ring Ring.

Jacob suddenly came running from behind the bushes zipping up his cut off shorts and halted in front of me.
"Don't answer that!" he shouted, just as I pressed the button.
"Hello?" i said, wary of Jakes anxious face
"I hear you sleeping in the same bed as Jake." Paul's angry voice greeted me.
"Oh hello Paul. Yes I'm doing great being back here, where I am confronted with all the memories of my dead mother. Oh don't worry, I'm fine, thanks for asking." I retorted equally as pissed.
I was met with silence.
So, I continued.
"Yes Jacob and I are sharing the same bed. It was either him or Collin, Which would you like it to be?" I asked, Collin sprung up from a tree in his wolf form, barking to show he fake feelings of offense.
"Neither." Paul growled.
"Well they are not sleeping outside. Collin took the couch, so I told Jake to share with me. And as i have been told before, you were quite the love rat and slept with countless women before me, so don't you dare tell me what I can and cannot do. I knew Jake well before I knew you existed, and we have shared beds before. Get over it." I said rudely, hanging up on him.
I exhaled loudly, feeling liberated for some strange reason.

Jakes face was amused, "I cannot believe you just said that."
"Neither can I." I said, liberation gone, guilt taking over.
"No! It was great. If it had of been one of us, he would have ripped our throat out. I wish I got the on a recording." He laughed.
Collin rolled on the floor, huffing his wolf laugh. It was contagious as I too began laughing.
Jake put me under his arm and we walked back to the house.

"How did he know?" I asked, my hand resting on Collins furry side walking beside me.
"When we phased, Paul was on patrol. We filled him in, and uh, Collin seemed to think it would be funny to show him everything."
I looked to Collin disapprovingly. "So it's your fault?" I said, his big dark chocolate eyes glassing over in sorrow. He nudged his head in my shoulder.
"You're forgiven." I surrendered, squirming when he licked my face.

When we got back to the house it was twilight. Collin had phased back, and we were greeted with Ma pacing on the back porch.
"There you are!" She scolded, "We are going to be late!, it starts in 15 minutes!"
Ma hurried back into the house, and Billy wheeled out, with a disapproving look on his face.
We hurried into the flat, and changed quickly. I wore, dark jeans, a white top and black blazer. I left my hair down as it was curly from the bun I had it twisted in earlier.
Jake and Collin both wore long jeans, Jake in a Grey jumper, and Collin in a crimson red hoodie.
"It's really weird to see you guys in clothes." I said, taking in their appearance.
"Tell me about." Collin squirmed, "this jumper is itchy."

We drove to the national park about five minutes away. The car park was packed out, and there were cars all the way down the street.
Walking into the Park, i looked at all the old faces that i had forgotten about. School friends, Shop owners, family friends. They stared at me with wide eyes, taking in my appearance. It had been so long.
"Maggie Suarez." A male voice came from behind me. I turned around to see a gorgeous man grinning from ear to ear.
Collin and Jacob flanked both my sides, unsure if he was a friend or foe.
"Nate Flanagan!" I shrieked running and jumping into an embrace.
Collin and Jake moved in closer, watching us protectively.
"Nate you look amazing! This is Jake, and this is Collin, friends from La Push. Guys this is Nate, one of my best friends in primary school AND high school."
Jake and Collin rearranged their faces to look pleasant and friendly, as they shook hands with Nate.
"Nice to meet you." They said to one another.
"What are you doing now?" I asked,
"i live in Boston now. Got a got offer on a book deal and I took it." He smiled, "Besides the wife wanted a change."
I froze. Wife? He was 6 months older than me and he was married? Nate laughed at my shock, and called to someone talking to Mrs. Windup, the supermarket lady.
My mouth dropped open as Lindy Seahart walked up and linked arms with Nate. Lindy Seahart, Well i guess Lindy Flanagan now, was one of the painfully beautiful girls in our year, but very shy, and conservative, making her one of the outcasts of the school.
"Wow, congratulations guys." I smiled, they looked so happy together.
"It's great to see you again Maggie," Lindy smiled, "We were told about your mom's ceremony, and she was such a beautiful person, we felt we owed it to her to be here."
I hugged them both, and thanked them for coming, before Jake Collin and I made our way threw the greeting crows and followed the trail up one of the mountains. Everyone held a candle as the sun rested upon the horizon.
It was simply magical, as i looked up th mountainside and saw an endless line of tiny flames, and behind me the trail continued.
One of the tribes old hymns were gently sang as the whole town walked up the mountain.

Our mind thinks of death, but our hearts beg for life,
As our soul breathes immortality.
My darling, death is not the end, it can never be the end

Death is the road, and life is the traveller.
The soul is the guide, bringing you home.
The soul is the guide, bringing you home.

Reaching the top of the mountain, there was a large area of flat rock, leading to a cliff. At the edge of the cliff, lay masses of flowers, letters, and candles surrounding a plaque with the face of my mother.
I gasped, upon seeing her face as it felt like forever since I had seen her face. The candle light flickered on her face, and her smile shone brighter than the moon behind her.

"I thought i was ready for this." Dad said standing next to me, "Now I'm not so sure."
I looked up at him, and tears glistened in his eyes, starring at the picture of my mother.
I nodded my head, "Neither. Just being here hurts."

Everyone was seated in a semi circle around the cliff edge, a large bonfire in the middle.
The trees were decorated with flowers and fairy lights, the moon shone down in all its magnificent beauty.

"I am sure you all know why were here tonight." Anthony Dex began; he was the leader of the tribe, and a wonderful man." We are here to honour the tenth anniversary of Christina Suarez's tragic death."
Sitting in the front row, with my family beside me, I breathed deeply, holding Dad's hand in one, and Jakes in the other.
"Ten years ago, Christina abseiled down this very Cliffside, doing what loved and certainly what she did best. Although her roots do not originate here, her marriage to our very own Alexander Suarez, made her one of us, but even more, her generosity, her kindness, and the amount of love she put into this National Park, made her permanently wielded to our hearts."

After the chief's speech, I had tears running down my face. I didn't notice until a gush of wind froze the watery trails down my face. The Tribe dancers liturgically danced around the fire, in magnificent display, a chorus of angelic singers, sung some of her favourite songs, and lastly, my mother and father's wedding song was sung:

Never knew I could feel like this,
Like I've never seen the sky before,
Want to vanish inside your kiss,
Everyday I love you more and more.
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing,
Telling me to give you everything,
Seasons may change winter to spring,
But i will love you, until my dying day.

Come what may, come what may.
I will love you, until the end of time.

It was then that when I saw my father's head hung low in Billy's comforting embrace that I burst into tears. People all around me were crying, and the emotions in the air was so thick couldn't breathe.
Standing up, i excused myself through the crowds, and walked down the mountain a little. A loud cry escaped me, and i hunched over in pain. My chest felt so heavy, it throbbed with the absence of my mother.
Large arms wrapped around me, and I struggled at first, not knowing who it was,
"Shh, Maggie, It's me." Collin soothed. I rested in his hot embrace, letting him sit behind me and rock me. Jacob walked around and sat in front on me. Grabbing both my hands in his. My hysteric sobs, became gentle sobs, as my eyes were streaming tears of grief.

Jacob POV

Man was I glad that Paul wasn't here.
Seeing Maggie like this was like torture, seeing Paul see Maggie like this would be unbearable.
He was the toughest, grumpiest, scariest man I had ever met. But when Maggie was concerned, he was just like the rest of us. All through the ceremony, i could hear her heart beat faster, He hand was gripped so tightly to mine, it was like her pulse was beating inside my hand. I heard her quet sobs, and looked to Collin, who wore an expression the same as mine: Worry.

So far the ceremony was beautiful and even Collin who never knew Christina got a bit emotional. Me however, my heart ached tenfold. My heart ached for missing my Nessie, my heart ached for Maggie, and my heart ached for Christina. A wonderful woman, with the world at her feet. I never once saw her without a smile. Her presence made you feel happy, because her own happiness was radiant. My heart grieved for her presence, as I thought about how much she had missed. She had missed most of her only daughter's life. And a life she would have been so proud of. I looked at Maggie, and saw my sister. I saw this magnificently beautiful person, who had so much love in her heart, just like her mother.
When Dad and I heard she had died, it was like I had been dunked under a ten foot wave. My sisters came to the funeral, and noted that Maggie had been so quiet, and didn't cry once. Rachel had said she was probably in denial. Billy had always been worried about Maggie since then, especially when Alex went away for work. We frequently called, but Maggie was different. Like she was still holding something inside her. And right now, looking into her pained, scared, grieving eyes, I realised she never really believed what had happened. What she should have gone though ten years ago, she was going through right now, and I had no idea how to help.

Giving her hands a squeeze, I motioned for Collin to pick her up. She tried to stand, but her legs buckled underneath her. Once again, she tried to stand, this time succeeding. Closing her eyes she breathed in and out slowly. I placed my large hands either side of her face, wiping her tears with my thumbs. I kissed her cheek, and she smiled a silent thank you.

We walked back to the ceremony, just as the tribe's chief, finished his speech, Alex was standing next to him. Taking our original seats, in the front row.
"It is with great pleasure that we have officially named this peak, after the one who loved it so much. Welcome to Christina Peak."
The crowd erupted with an applaud, and cries of joy, and I watched both Maggie and Alex, take it in. Their shocked faces were replaced with joy.

"Thank you," Alex said through his tears, shaking the chief's hand," Thank you so much Anthony."
As everyone slowly began to trail down the mountain with their candles, we were blessed with the heavenly voices of the tribal choir:

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die.

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