EPILOGUE
THE DAWN WILL COME

JACOB was bedridden for at least a week.

The battle was won, but that didn't mean Jacob was left unharmed, just as his imprint had predicted. He tried saving Leah during the fight, not noticing the newborn charging forward towards him, who almost cracked his stomach in two. It was a good thing for Jacob that healing was never an issue, but he was still scarred and beaten down. He survived, though, enough to allow him to walk again. Nothing kept him down.

Not only did he suffer with the pain of his wound, but the pain regarding his separation from Margo was even worse. He relished in the thought of being tied to her for eternity, but this was one of those times when the imprint became a true curse. He also missed her, and he wondered if she was truly okay. His father had taken his phone away from him after the battle so Jacob could get proper rest. He was dying to know how Sacramento was, and the pessimist inside told him that she liked it so much that she was never coming back.

When Billy finally permitted him to walk again, the first thing Jacob did was drive the bike over to her house. She had to be back home by now. She just had to. Jacob had never driven his bike so fast in his life. It usually took eight minutes to get to Margo's house from the reservation. This time, it took five.

As soon as he arrived, Jacob ripped the helmet off his head and hung it on the stilled bike. He parked it horribly, but he didn't care at that moment. It stood shakily by the side of the road, right near Margo's mailbox. While approaching the door, Jacob thought that it would've been more polite to call first, but he was so excited just to leave the house that he barely had time to think in general. He rapped his fist on the oak door, waiting impatiently for an answer.

For a split second, he imagined her face opening the door. Her hazel eyes sparkling at the sight of him. Her light brown hair pulled up in ponytail, so she could remember the California heat. The necklace he made her hanging delicately on her chest. He wondered if she was wearing that raspberry lip gloss he loved so much.

Finally, the door opened, and Jacob was taken aback at the sight of Jenny standing there. Of course, he should've expected it. Jenny Fowler was her legal guardian and she usually answered the door. But everything seemed uneven today, which was why his voice was hoarse as he greeted, "Hi, Jenny."

"Jacob," the aunt breathed awkwardly, "I didn't expect you here. Sorry for the lazy outfit." Jenny brushed her hands across her stained sweat pants.

"How are you?" He asked quickly, eager to get to the next question. "When did you get back?"

Jenny wrinkled her nose. "I've been good. My plane back from Sacramento landed almost a week ago."

Jacob stiffened when he noticed she used the word, my, instead of, our. "Is Margo home? Can I see her? I've been on bed rest forever, and I haven't been able to call or text her."

Jenny licked her lips as she paused. Her grip on the wooden door went white. "Margo isn't here, Jacob." She swallowed hard. "She's actually still in California."

"What?"

Jacob said it before he could even think. Her answer simply didn't make sense to him. Why would she still be in California? Was she okay? How could she leave him out of the blue? He felt a quiet rage swift through him, but he controlled it by digging his nails into his palms.

"I thought she would've told you," Jenny murmured.

"I haven't had any contact while on bed rest."

Jenny nodded slowly, feeling a tinge of guilt at breaking the news to her niece's boyfriend. "She ended up staying in California with my brother – her uncle. I know you won't see her for a while, but this was better for me financially, Jacob, especially with the first bill for her tuition coming up. She didn't want me to pay for another plane ticket when she has to move into her dorm in August."

The answer seemed simple to Jacob, and it made complete sense. But he was still left in agony at the thought that he would have to wait longer to see her again, and the pain would get worse and worse throughout each day. He had to be happy for her, and he still would. Their perfect summer was ruined because of those dreaded newborns.

Jenny bit the inside of her cheek when she realized Jacob was lost in his own thoughts. "I'm shipping the rest of her clothes and little trinkets to her in Sacramento. It shouldn't be that much money. She doesn't have a lot more clothes left." She then reached out and placed a hand on Jacob's shoulder. His head perked up. "I'm sorry, Jacob. She told me that you both had all these great summer plans before she had to move, and ... it didn't get better. Call her as soon as you get home, okay?"

Jacob nodded and rubbed at his eyes. "Yeah, okay. Bye, Jenny. Thanks for telling me."

Jenny watched him walk away to his bike quickly. Rain started to pour down in tiny droplets, as if to symbolize Jacob's sweeping sadness. The last thing she wanted was to give him the news, and Jenny was just as upset as Jacob was. Hopefully, her niece would be home before they knew it.

•••

Margo tried explaining to Jacob her stance the best she could, but she could hardly get a word in without crying. When Jacob finally got his phone back from Billy, he found fifteen missed phone calls waiting for him. Margo thought Jacob was mad at her, and truthfully, he was, but only because he had just found out hours ago that she wouldn't be back for a while. He couldn't be mad at her for very long though, for he knew it wasn't her fault.

The problem with Margo Richards was that the imprint had changed her whole being. Her heart was now three sizes too big, and she simply wanted to help all parties involved, which meant she had to stay in Sacramento for the summer. She wished that she could've been with Jacob then, holding him tightly in her skinny arms as she inhaled his musty scent. But life didn't always work out the way they wanted it too, and both Jacob and Margo were the butt of the joke this time.

"Maybe this will be good for us," Margo said through Jacob's cellphone speaker. He heard her sniffling on the other end, even through the static. "We can learn to be apart from each other gradually, rather than me coming back and then leaving just as quickly. Christmas vacation will be here before we know it, Jake."

And she was right, but months could go by in the blink of an eye for a human like Margo. Jacob didn't expect the pain to ever get better, but surprisingly, it did. Margo called him everyday, suggesting that a source of communication will help with the imprint inflicting pain. Webcam calling through Skype helped the most, and Jacob was shocked to find the pain lessen as soon as he saw her face on the screen of his laptop. He was with her from her uncle's home in Sacramento to seeing her new dorm in college. Things would be better for them. She promised that.

Margo also made an effort to Skype Melinda every week. She found it difficult to make friends again on campus, seeing as she was still known as the annoying smart girl from the first day. (She knew she had to stop asking so many questions on the first day of classes.) Melinda was still her best friend, and she finally found it easier to tell her the truth about her parents' abuse. The bond between the two girls was stronger than ever, even from across the country.

Her calls with Jenny didn't cease either. She usually called her every week, or every three days, depending on if she was feeling lonely or not. Jenny had to fight the urge to call her every day. The house just wasn't the same without her niece sleeping in the next room over.

Despite her issue with finding friends, Margo enjoyed college to the fullest extent. She didn't go out as much as a normal student would, but she was addicted to her studies. She was just getting settled into her program during the first semester, and Margo could already tell she was going to learn a lot. She was really excited to get to know her professors in the education major and what they had to teach her. Margo was going to be like them someday. She just wished she had her family alongside her then.

•••

Margo had booked her flight back to Forks as early as possible, and she had been counting down the days until her departure. Now that it was finally the end of the semester and she was on break for a month, she was ready with packed bags. The drive to the airport was difficult, seeing as taxis were difficult to get in California and the closest airport was one of the most packed on the coastline. Once her bags were set and she was checked through security, Margo waited by her gate anxiously. It wouldn't be long now.

The plane ride was smooth sailing. No bumps in the road and only a full two hours and twenty minutes. Margo began to sprint once her plane landed in the Port Angeles airport. The scent of a snowy, dewy morning in Washington floated back into her nostrils like a breath of fresh air. Margo thought she missed the heat once she was back in California. No, she missed the cold rain.

It took forever to get her bags back. Margo was sure she'd never get them after waiting two minutes. She tapped her foot eagerly along to a Green Day song blasting through her headphones. Once she had her suitcases, she bounded into the rest of the airport, pushing past the small crowds blocking her away. She reached the outside entrance in under a minute, spotting a tear-stained face waiting for her in the parking lot.

Margo's arms wrapped around Jenny instantly. Her suitcases fell to the ground. She was sure she lifted her aunt off the ground, but the two remained planted where they stood. Jenny moved their laced bodies side to side, squeezing Margo with every bone in her body. "Oh, god, Margaret," she sniffled against her niece's shirt. "You smell like a palm tree."

Margo grinned, noticing then how tan she had gotten compared to her aunt.

"You're going to stick out like a sore thumb with that complexion," Jenny chuckled, pointing to the freckles that now spotted her niece's face.

Margo shrugged nonchalantly. "I missed you so much, Jen. Nothing has changed."

Jenny gave her one last squeeze before grabbing her suitcases and lugging them into her car's trunk. With a heavy huff, Jenny shut the trunk and turned to her niece. "I'm glad nothing has changed for you, Mar," she mumbled and ran a hand along Margo's face, "but things have definitely changed around Forks."

"What?" Margo lifted a brow.

"You'll find out soon."

During the hour trip back to Forks, Margo noticed nothing out of the ordinary in the tiny town she called home. Besides the fact they put just one more street light on the road that went everywhere in town, she called out Jenny on her bluff. Forks was just as rainy and gloomy as ever, and now with winter drifting in, the town was covered in blankets of snow. Californians rarely got to see this type of weather, and Margo forgot how much she missed it.

As soon as her suitcases were pulled inside the house, Margo inhaled the fresh scent of her aunt's home. Jenny lit a cinnamon apple candle when they arrived, making the air smell peaceful and serene. But it wasn't time for Margo to sit around and unpack. She had other plans, more important than packing her things in their rightful places.

She picked up her keys from the small dish near the door. They hadn't moved an inch since she left. "I'm taking the van out," she smiled, turning around to see Jenny's worried expression. "Promise I won't speed. I just ..." Margo bit her lip. "I have something important to do."

"Well, I want you home for dinner later. We have so much to talk about." Jenny pointed a stern finger her way. "Seven o'clock. Sharp."

Margo saluted her. "Aye, aye, captain."

She ran outside quicker than lightening. Margo tripped slightly on the slippery steps, but caught herself by the roof of her van. Soon enough, she had the key turned into the engine and she revved it excitedly. The familiar feel of the van humming gave her a sudden sense of adventure, but Margo knew where she was going.

It didn't take long to get to La Push, per usual. Margo almost forgot how quick the Forks road went, and she didn't even speed this time. She passed by a few Quileute kids by the border corner store, but none she recognized. Margo gripped the wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and they finally loosened when she pulled up to that familiar red house sitting on top of a grassy hill.

Hooking her keys to the belt loop on her ripped jeans, Margo sprinted as fast as she could up the hill. She hadn't broken in her new sneakers she bought in California, and this trek definitely didn't help her. She found her mouth forming into a wide smile upon seeing Jacob's bike and Rabbit parked in the dirty garage.

She heard commotion coming from the backyard. Cocking a brow upwards, Margo headed in the direction of the sound, feet squishing underneath the soggy, snow-covered weeds. Despite it being near afternoon, the cloud hadn't let up, and the sun still loomed over the horizon to peak out. She pushed a branch out of the way that was blocking her view of the backyard, and her eyes went wide at the sight before her.

The first thing she saw was a small fireplace on the outer edge of the yard, where a small bonfire sent sparks into the sky. A small group of people sat around it, only about four to five people. A tall brunette wearing all black hugged a small figure in her arms, while a male with dark bronze hair wrapped one arm around her shoulders. As if sensing her presence, the male turned, and Margo locked eyes with Edward Cullen for the first time in months. The female beside him looked over his shoulder as well.

Bella Swan grinned big in all her glory. Her skin was as fair as the snow around them, and she looked more beautiful than ever. Her now bright, golden eyes burned into Margo's as the child in her arms looked over. The child had gorgeous, bronze locks and flushed red cheeks. Bella picked up her child's hand and waved it towards Margo, who stood idle with a shocked expression. This was Bella and Edward's daughter. They had a child.

Margo hardly noticed Jacob bounding her way until his large body crashed into her. The familiar warmth caused her arms to instantly tighten around him, and his scent made her want to bury herself inside his chest. "Mar," he breathed into her hair, as if she were some kind of goddess sent down from heaven above. She felt his arms lift her in the air, and then she was looking down at him with utmost gratification. He grew a slight beard and it tickled Margo's face when she kissed him.

When he let her down, Margo leaned back, hands moving to his cheeks. She caressed them, feeling every inch of his exposed skin. Even in the cold, he wore nothing but a t-shirt. "Hi, Jake," she muttered with a large smile.

His grin was nothing compared to hers. "I didn't know you were getting back so early. Why didn't you call or text me?"

She shrugged. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Well, you're just in time," Jacob said, looking over his shoulder at the small crowd he had around the fire. Bella glanced over with a warm smile. "We're celebrating. I'm finally the Alpha of my own pack, amongst other things."

Margo's face lit up as she kissed him once again. She smiled from ear to ear. "That's ... insane, Jake!" She shook her head happily. "And amongst other things? You mean, like Bella now sporting vampire eyes and the kid in her arms?"

Jacob laughed as his imprint lifted an eyebrow. "Can't get nothing past you, Mar." He sighed, and his thumb moved in circles across her cheek. "Quo pat," he hummed quietly.

She could only guess what he meant, and she took a few moments to reply. Even with her good memory, it was difficult to remember the string of Quileute words Jacob had told her at the airport months ago. After a minute, Margo recited, "Kwop kilawtley."

"Forever," Jacob promised, bring her close again. The imprint tied them together like a strong rope, as if they were both magnets connecting together. Margo nuzzled her head close to his neck, feeling the connection deep inside her bones. This imprint hadn't just changed his life for eternity, but also her own. She forgot how much his touch could ease her anxiety and pain, as it did for him. Right then, she knew eternity would be long enough for them.

As dawn began to break amongst the constant clouds, Margo whispered, "Forever."

THE END