Kate looked up at her grandfather. Confusion crossed her face before recognition filled her eyes and she smiled weakly 'Hey. You came back He could barely hear her as she whispered.

'Yes, I came back. Don't talk. Save your energy he said swallowing back tears as he reached for the phone. 'We'll have you right as rain before you know it.' Lifting the handset he started to dial for the emergency services, but her weak and frail hand settled on top of his and with all the strength she could muster she pushed his hand back down.

Shaking her head she looked into his eyes and simply said 'No' her hand fell back down onto the bed 'let me go. I'm so tired

Barely able to talk past the tears and the painful lump in his throat, Stirling begged 'Oh Kate please, don't

Kate raised her hand, brushed away a tear and cradled his cheek. 'I can't do this anymore, Grandfather. I'm so very tired and the pain...' she tensed as another stab of pain shot through her chest knocking the wind out of her. Taking a deep breath of oxygen she steadied herself before continuing, 'I just can't. I'm sorry She smiled through the sadness and could barely contain the pain and guilt of not being able to see her sweet Laurie just once more before she died. Just as her mother had done, she would leave her six-year-old daughter behind, wondering what she had done wrong to be left all alone. The pain in her chest grew and a pressure that she couldn't ease threatened to overwhelm her as she struggled to draw the next breath.

'Tell Laurie that I will always love her and I'll keep an eye on her. Tell her it isn't her fault and she shouldn't blame herself Tears filled Kate's eyes and she felt her body begin to grow cold. Shadows had begun to fill the room.

'Grandfather, are you still there? It's grown so dark. I think I must have left the window open. It's so cold The pendant blazed with a bright green light as Stirling held her hand 'I'm here, my sweet. Don't be scared it will all be alright

Kate smiled as she no longer felt the pain of her failing lungs. Her voice barely audible she managed to say 'Tell Laurie I'm so proud of her. Tell her I love her. Please tell her Her chest slowed and she passed into unconsciousness.

Stirling held her hand in his. He stroked her forehead gently and felt her body relax back down into the bed. Tears stung his eyes as he blinked them away. 'I'll tell her, Kate. I'll tell her, I promise, my sweet He wiped his face and sighed 'I'll take good care of her. I promise

Through misty eyes, he could see that the emerald was shining at its brightest. Kate had finally run out of time and Stirling knew he had to collect her essence. It was now or never. He lifted up the pendant by its silver chain and stared into the bright emerald core and hesitated. There must be something else he could do. There was, he was sure of it. He knew now what he must do. He chose. Stirling shouted out 'NEVER!' He took what would be the biggest gamble of his and Kate's lives. Hoping the gift of Roy's Energy that resided within him hadn't had enough time to regress the tumor and that the emerald would sense cancer in his head and be tricked into believing he was the one on the cusp of death and transfer what little of his life was left and all of Roy's energy into Kate. Only then would she have a chance of survival.

With the speed of a desperate man, Stirling laid himself down by Kate's side and placed the emerald pendant into her hand. Closing her fingers tightly over it, he wrapped the chain around her fist. Kissing her tenderly he said 'I will always love you and Laurie, my sweet

Kissing her cheek one last time he whispered into her ear 'When the time is right, you must remember me. Kate, do you hear? You must remember me. Only then will your questions be answered, my sweet Taking her empty hand in his, he relaxed back into the pillow and placed her open palm against his forehead. He could feel the warmth of her hand and the thrumming sensation of the pendant against his skin. He closed his eyes and relaxed as visions of his past blossomed behind his eyelids. A euphoria he had waited for all his life filled his mind. Stirling watched with joy and sadness as his memories passed from him into Kate and the pendant. He could see the bright light of the emerald shine through his eyelids, and he watched as it began to fade and a comfortable sleepiness soothed and clouded his mind. Stirling happily surrendered himself to the long sleep. His hair faded back to his distinguishing gray, losing its recently acquired color, and spidery lines re-appeared around his eyes. Old age reclaimed him little by little. After so many years wishing for release, Stirling finally came to rest.

A broad smile lit his aged face as he watched the beautiful woman walk towards him through the woodland dell full of wildflowers. She giggled in delight as she picked the bluebells, and looking over at him, she held out her hand and said 'Humboldt, my love'

Tears of happiness rolled down Stirling's face. He reached a hand up off the bed and spoke, 'Jessica, my sweet

Humboldt Stirling Granger's final breath left his body and he journeyed at long last down to his river's end, passing into the Emerald's living memory.

  (The end of the bonus chapters. From here the story continues with the prologue) Thank you so much for reading.