I am sitting on my porch with my two youngest as I see the formation of Sky Wagons pass overhead. I see both Coffee and Clementine point at them. Coffee smiling says, “Mama, someday I am going to do that.”

I hear Clementine say, “I wants to be an explorer like Epona and Ginger.”

I smile as they say this, but I am afraid of what this means for the 2^nd regiment. Probably raider or gang problems somewhere. I think to myself. Then I realize, at least they have been built back up enough to be able to be used to fight the so-called fires again. This leads me to think about Badger, and as I sit there Millie comes out of the house, looks up, and says, “Dad would have loved to have seen that.”

I nod my head and tell her, “Your right, he loved to fly, whether he wanted to admit it or not.”

Coffee looks at me and asks, “Why wouldn’t Papa Archer be able to see it?”

Millie sits down next to him. Puts a hoof around his shoulder and tells him, “My biological father was the one in the pictures we call Papa Badger. He was with the 2^nd Regiment and loved to fly.”

I see both Coffee and Clementine think about what she has said and Clementine asks, “So, your biological father is not alive, just like us?”

Millie smiles sadly and tells her, “Yep. I was lucky and I got to know him until I was about your age.” I hear her sigh. When I look over at her, she still has a hoof around Coffee and she tells me, “Remember Ma, Rain and his parents are going to be coming for dinner tonight.”

I smile, “Dear, you know I would not purposefully miss having dinner with them. Besides, Windy is getting ready to retire soon too.”

I see her nod her head, “Yeah, that’s right, she almost has her 20 in now too.”

“But dear, you seem more concerned than normal that I will miss it. Why is that?”

She blushes and looks down, but I can see she is smiling. “Ma, I think he is going to officially propose tonight.”

I raise an eyebrow and ask, “You mean Rain to you?”

She quickly nods her head. “Yeah, not sure, but I heard some of his buddies talking about it.”

I put a hoof on her shoulder. “Ok, Dear. I will make sure I am home for dinner. No matter what.”

I see her smile widen and she tells me, “Thanks Ma. I really appreciate it.”

Then I am surprised when I hear Clementine ask Millie, “Sis if it is something this big, can I braid your mane for you?”

I see Millie get excited and she tells her, “Little sister, I would love that. Thank you so much.” This is followed by her getting up and coming over to Clementine and giving her a big hug.

Soon after this I excuse myself and walk into White Cloud to make my normal before-dinner patrol. As I am walking into the pub, I see Two Caps has gotten back from his latest deployment. I know Epona will be thrilled to hear that. Whenever he is around the three of them seem to relax and just enjoy being with each other. Though they have never made it public that they are involved, so honestly, I don’t know, and I don’t care. I am just glad that they are happy.

“Hey Scratch, welcome back,” I tell him.

“Oh, hay Colonel, thanks, it’s good to be back with everyone again.”

I take the barstool next to him and I motion for my normal cup of tea and as I wait for it, I ask, “So where were you off to this last time?”

He grins and tells me, “Oh, out on the plains again. We helped establish a base near someplace called Maredora. Pretty country, but I can tell you the winds come whipping down from the old Crystal empire during the winter. I swear I have never worn so many clothes before in my life.” He stops and then he turns to Purchase and tells her, “That reminds me, I need to thank you Purchase for the scarf you made me as well as the hat Epona made me. Those were really lifesavers.”

I hide my grin with a sip of tea as I see her smile warmly and give him a quick peck on the cheek. “You’re welcome, both Epona and I thought it would be a good idea for you. Besides, it lets you know you have us waiting back here when you came home.”

I talk with them for a bit more, then I see Dull Beak come in with Summer Solstice. They see me and wave and then take a booth by the window. I excuse myself and I go talk to them both briefly. I smile as I approach and I ask, “Mind if I sit with you for a couple of minutes before I head back home?”

They both indicate for me to take a seat. Once seated I tell them, “Summer it is great to see you home again, I hope the deployment went smoothly.”

I see her sigh at first then she answers, “Mollygirl, it went well enough, but honestly, I have enough headaches normally with raiders and such. This time we had buffalo to worry about too. They were particularly distrustful of me, being a dashite and all. Seems about twenty to thirty years ago a couple of dashites brought the Enclave down hard on ‘em. So, I can see where they are coming from, but still. That and we had a few of our cattle wanting to date some of them. Made it rather fun when I was talking about how hard it could be for a cow to birth a beefalo calf and have it thrown in my face about my children being half griffon.”

I see Dull Beak blush slightly and he tells her, “Sorry about them doing that dear.”

She shakes her head and puts a hoof onto his talon, “It is nothing love, I would not give up you or our children for anything. Besides, it is them that will be in physical danger with that large a calf.”

Again, I talk with them briefly, then I pull out my pocket watch and check the time. “Well, I best get going, I have to be home for dinner tonight, “Windy, along with her husband and Rain are coming for supper. Millie wants me there something fierce tonight.”

Dull Beak grins at me the best he can and tells me, “Well in that case Constable, we best let you get going.”

As I get up, he does also and he gives me a brief hug. Then Summer gets up and I repeat the gesture with her. She then tells me, “Have a good night and if it is anything special let us know.”

“Ok, will do, take care and have a good night you two,” I tell them, then I am on my way back home. I just make it to the door as Rain, Windy, and Squall Line all land in the farmyard and begin to approach the house. Windy sees Xavier sitting in his rocker on his porch and she waves to him as she continues to our main house.

Our families enjoy a nice meal prepared by Sumac with the assistance of Millie, Woodrow, and Clementine. Both Archer and Squall line sit at each end of the large table. Sutures is on Archer's right. As Windy is on her husband's. The rest of us fill in the middle areas with Millie and Rain sitting next to each other.

After dinner and dessert, we retire to the parlor as the youngsters clean the dishes. They finish just after DJ Pon3 comes on. We all make ourselves comfortable as we sit around listening to the show. Finally, during one of the breaks it happens.

Rain shifts enough so that he is now directly in front of my daughter and he holds out both wings to her as he tells her, “Millie, for as long as we have known each other I have loved you. I have never felt this strong about anyone else.” He pauses, and I see him blush slightly as he looks down, then he asks, “What I guess I am trying to say, Millie, is, would you marry me?”

I see her excitement and hear her quickly say, “Yes, Yes, YES!” as she jumps up and almost knocks him down as she hugs and kisses him.”

Everypony is so excited. Myself, I can only smile and feel a tear fall from my eye as I see my little filly has taken the leap into being a mare. I know Badger would be so happy for her too. From my side, I feel Archer put a hoof around me and he tells me, “Hard to believe she has grown up so much.”

I nod my head, “Yeah it is, it seems like only yesterday I was carrying her everywhere. While I am so happy for them, it is still hard to watch them grow up.”

Sutures is on my other side and she tells me, “That’s ok dear, she will always be your little filly, and need her mother.”

Six months later both Rain Dancer’s and our family gather together with our friends and neighbors for the wedding in the farmyard. I cannot help but smile as I see Archer next to Millie ready to walk her from the barn to the porch. Waiting for her there is Rain Dancer and his best friend Warm Front, as well as her mare of honor, Moon Lily.

I look at those seated around us and I see Trouble with his family, sitting next to Grey Water, who is now a widower, as well as Great Aunt Purple Haze. Tar is there and I see her tear up as she looks at Millie.

Choo Choo and the rest of the Repair ponies are all here as well. Beside Epona are both Purchase and Two Caps along with both of their foals. I also See Sunny is there with all three of his and Morning Stars foals.

The wedding goes off with no problems. Tek performs the ceremony for us, at Windy’s request. When Rain finally kisses his bride, I feel my heart swell with both happiness and sorrow that Badger can’t be here to see this with us. Afterward, I hear Rough Water tell them, “As a wedding present to you both, Rusty and I have decided to give you free passage on the Baltimare Colt, round trip to any, one destination you would like.”

I see Millie’s eyes go wide and she almost squeals as she asks, “Really Cousin Rough?”

He smiles kindly and tells her, “Yes dear, congratulations to both of you.” Then he holds out a hoof to Rain and tells him, “Welcome to the clan young stallion.”

A little while later the band is playing. I look up and I see a black crow in the rafters. I swear it waves a wing at me and I wave back. Then it goes back to watching those of us below it.

As I take it all in, I just smile to myself at all the times this old farm has been used for this. Most of the foals are playing together outside. However, I notice that both Clementine and Coffee instead are sitting with their brother Lieutenant Cake. At first, I cannot see what they are doing, then I catch a glimpse of a book and realize, they have asked him to read a story to them and he is obliging them.

Soon, I notice several other foals and some calves are sitting there listening to him too. I smile to myself as I realize that some of the foals and calves are Site Paddock babies. Then I smile wider when I realize not all of them are.

Then it hits me. Like Quick Trot having her's be those who trained at the camp named after her, those from Site Paddock are the "children" of the ghouls who ensured they survived to have a chance at life.

I also notice most of the adults are hesitant to hang around the old ghouls, but some, such as Baily Bridge, and a few others are sitting around talking with those from Site Paddock and Dead Quiet. Well with the exception of Sewing Bobbin, whom there are several mares talking with about her skills with the needle and as well as what it was like to learn them from some of the top designers in Equestria when she was young.

Over by the table with the alcohol on it I see Archer and Two Caps talking. As I approach, I overhear Two Caps saying, “Sir, I know it is not common for earth ponies here to ask this, but where I come from it is the norm, so sir, with your permission I would like to ask both Epona and Purchase to marry me.”

I see Archer nod his head as if in thought. Then he tells him, “I have no problem with the idea of you marrying them. But remember they may still say no. If so, what then?”

I see a smile come over his face as he says, “Well then sir, we stay friends.”

Archer gives him an approving look and tells him, “In that case, let me know if I can help set it up for you to ask them,” as he extends a hoof.

I see the younger stallion smile as he extends one of his and I overhear him say, “Thank you, Sir.”

I talk to them for a while, then I go across the road to my old love and our daughter's grave to talk to them briefly. I tell them all about Millie’s wedding so far, and how I so wish they could be here for it too.

“I know you both along with Badger were with us, but I wish I could just share this time with you physically too.”

As I am sitting there, I am joined by Sumac. As she walks up, I really notice for the first time that she is now walking like an old mare. Once she sees me there, she smiles and comes over to me. She puts a hoof on my shoulder. She then says, “You’re missing them too I see.”

I nod my head, “I understand, but when I see them again, I will let them know for you,” she tells me.

I am concerned when she says this and I ask, “Are you ok Sumac?”

She smiles sadly and tells me, “Yeah, but dear, I am getting old. I figure I will see Shadowbuck get married and maybe have a foal or two before it is my time though.”

I smile at this and nod my head in silent agreement. Then she sits down with me and we both talk to our buried loved ones.”

Once I am done talking with them, I get back up and cross back over to the farmyard. As I come around the house, I hear Archer ask Rain Dancer, “So Rain, how do you like the new job?”

Rain grins broadly and replies, “Honestly Sir, while I like it, I am really worried. I mean we are just a test run for regional weather control again. Even my boss has never tried to do it on this scale.”

Archer nods his head, “Have you been able to do much research on it yet?”

Rain Dancer shakes his head no, and replies, “Most if not all was kept by the Grand Pegasus Enclave. What is left of the Enclave does not seem to want to let such publications out.”

Archer nods his head and says, “You may want to ask your new mother-in-law Magpie to see if she can find any. Failing that we can send out expeditions to see if we can find any in some of the debris from cities like Cloudsdale, or maybe Manehatten.”

Rain Dancer nods his head and then asks, “Do you think she would really do that?”

I see Archer grin as he tells him, “Oh, she lives for stuff like that.”

Less than two months later Windy and I get the surprise news that Millie and Rain are going to be parents. Sutures and Duala make sure she receives the best prenatal care we can give her. It is funny to me though that during her entire pregnancy the foal was able to hide both its gender and the type of pony it would be. At one point we are all certain it is going to be an earth pony.

I am walking my normal beat when Moon Lily flies up to me, “Mama Mollygirl, where is my mom?”

Her manner and tone of voice have me worried and I ask, “She was in her office with your grandmother just ten minutes ago when I passed by, why?”

Still worried she says, “Millie, she is foaling and there is a problem!”

Now I am panicking, if Moon, an experienced midwife can’t handle it, I need to be scared for my daughter and I ask, “Where is Mills?”

“She is at home in their kitchen, you go find mom, I am going back to her.”

As she zooms away, I run back to Sutures and Doulas office. As I enter, they are just finishing up with a checkup on another patient. She sees the look on my face and says, “Doula, could you take care of this?” then she comes over to me and asks, “Mollygirl, what is wrong?”

I quickly tell her and she then turns to Doula, “Ma, we need to grab our kits, it Mills, and Moon says there is a problem.”

I see the expression of worry come over Doula’s face too and they quickly grab their kits and all three of us run to the small one-bedroom apartment that they share above the hardware resale store.

As we enter, I see Moon is holding one of Millie’s hooves and has a worried expression on her face. As I begin to go to my daughter Sutures moves me to the side and tells me, “Let me see my patient.”

I quickly move to the side and I watch as Doula moves to the other side and begins to talk soothingly to Millie in a quiet reassuring voice.

I motion for Moon Lily to come to me and ask her, “Where is Rain?”

I see her face go slightly pale and she says, “At work, I forgot to let him know.”

“Ok, Moon, I know she is your sister and you are very protective of her, so try to calm down. Then go over to the weather warden’s office and let him and his boss know she is in labor, ok?”

She nods her head and I see her blush. “Thanks, Mama Mollygirl, I have done this for so many others, but Millie is different.”

I give her a brief hug and I tell her, “I know dear, she is your sister, that changes things.”

She nods her head then tells me, “I will be right back.”

After she leaves, I see both Sutures and Doula’s horns glow. Then I hear Sutures say, “Ok that is it, got the umbilical cord out from around the wing.” She pauses and tells Millie, “Ok dear, now we can do this.”

Millie smiles briefly and says, “Thank you both of you,” and then she screams as another major contraction hits her.

A short time later Moon Lily returns with Rain. I can see the worry on his face as his wife goes through her labor pains. Only a couple of hours later, when I am in the next room making some hot water for tea. I hear a foal begin to cry and Sutures says, “Well Mills, Rain, you have had a healthy pegasus colt. Congratulations.”

As I step into the room to see my first genetic grandchild, I see my daughter feeding her own foal for the first time. The look of love for both her child and her husband that I see melts my heart and gives me almost as much joy as when my foals were born.

I just stand there and enjoy the moment for a while. Finally, I ask, “So what are you going to name him?”

I watch as she and Rain look at each other and he nods his head, “Ma, we want to name him Winter Wind after our ancestor. Do you think that would be ok?”

I smile and nod my head, “Yes dear, I think that Winter Wind is a good name for a colt.” But I also think to myself, just like his ancestor, he is already hiding things and causing trouble. But then again, look what that ancestor wrought in the long run, not only the recipe for Old Overmare, but also his family legacy.

Then I go over to him and as I get close, he stops feeding and looks up at me. I smile at him and I tell him, “Winter Wind, I can see great things in your future. Welcome to the family.”

It has been over Thirty-five years since the skies have cleared. Where have the years gone? I ask myself silently. I still remember when DJ Pony let us know that the pony responsible was the Stable Dweller. He also told us her name was Little Pip. We found out a lot more about her and those days in The Book of Little Pip, well that and from Taser, Sweet Apple, and Cookie Cutter.

We all owe her a lot. She set events into motion that helped to change Equestria forever. While we should thank her, we should not forget all of the others, ponies, cows, dragons, ghouls, and such that all rallied to her call. Not just to fight, but to help others, especially Velvet Remedy and her Followers of the Apocalypse.

It took many years before peace was reestablished and order once again stabilized. Our little co-op, our borderland, was part of it. We were more than happy to join the New Canterlot Republic. To be part of history in the making. Honestly, I find reading it much better than making it, now that I look back.

As I lay in my bed petting a young enfield pup and looking out the window, I see the neighborhood foals as well as mine, Sutures, Magpies, Sumacs, Archers, and Badger's grand foals playing under the trees and in the grass of the paddock. As I look at them, I cannot help but look at all the fescue. There is so much of it now. It is still my favorite though. Sometimes it all seems like a dream to me. Except, except for the pain. I am so tired and Luna knows how much I hurt. All the wounds and injuries over the years have come back to haunt me.

I also hurt spiritually. So much has happened to me and I have done so much. Much of it, I am not so proud of and fear how I will be judged. I can only hope Sweet Cream will forgive me for it.

I miss so many of my friends, comrades, and family. I have had to say goodbye to so many of them over the years. Now, those who are left seem to be coming to say goodbye to me. Most of my family has stopped by in the last couple of days also. Just yesterday, Clementine and her foals stopped by. Coffee was here this morning, but he had to get back to the regiment. His company 1^st Sergeant was covering for him for the day, but he has duty tonight, so he had to be back. Raven was here yesterday too, but today she is preparing her battery for their next deployment.

Two years ago, Archer died in his sleep. He is buried in the family cemetery along with Sumac and Magpie, Thank Celestia for Sutures. I do not think I could have made it without her being there for me. Who would have imagined that day so long ago that the mare who first saved my life would end up being the love of my life? She and Archer were always there when I needed them. I so do not want to leave her, but I do not know how much longer I can hold on.

In the next room, I hear voices. One of them is my beloved Sutures. I also hear our sons Shadowbuck and Woodrow as well as our daughters Mille and Epona.

I hear Millie ask, “Woodrow, how can you worry about crops when ma is in this rough of a condition?”

I can hear the brittleness in his voice as he says, “Because I know she would want me to. You know since Mama Sumac passed; I took over running the farm for the family. It is what I do, it is what I am good at. Just like you and the enfield search and rescue teams you created for the Followers.”

Next, I hear Shadowbuck tell her, “Sis, we all love her, believe me. Sometimes talking about our jobs is what keeps us bucks from losing it when we are hurting. I don’t think I have talked about the S. Glimmer to others as much as I have this week since cousin Rough Water passed a couple of years back.”

I almost laugh when I hear Slip Stream tell him, “Come on dear, really? I mean I think everyone in White Cloud knows about you being her chief engineer and how she has been getting ready for the latest inspection.”

This brings a slight laugh to Moon Lily’s voice as she says, “Hard to tell you two are married.”

Finally, I hear Millie ask soberly, “Moon,” she pauses, “Do you think it will be soon?” no verbal answer, but then I hear Millie ask, “Are you ready to perform the blessing?” again only silence, interrupted by the youngsters playing outside.

After a while, they begin to talk again. Then I hear one of them tune the radio in to the local station. This covers up their conversations some, but at least I can still hear my family is nearby, even if I cannot hear what they are saying.

Soon there is another voice though that I have not heard in years. George. Her voice is coming from outside through the window as my old dragon friend is too large to fit through the door.

“How is she?” George asks, then she says, “I got here as soon as I could.”

Epona answers “She is holding on George, but we do not know for how much longer. Today is a good day for her though”.

“Damn it, I should have visited more, I always thought there would be more time, I just cannot imagine her being gone,” George says as she chokes up.

I hear somepony get up and cross the room. Sutures then tells George “Let me hug you, George. We all know how busy you are and that you would have if you could of. There just never seems to be enough time. Here, let me wipe this tear” Sutures says.

With that, I hear her approach. I know it is her from the sound of her hoof steps. Just seeing her makes me smile.

“Hi love,” I tell her.

“Hi my dearest,” she tells me with a sad smile, “You have a visitor. George has come to say hello”

“I heard, please let her in and stay if you will,” I ask.

“Are you sure you do not want to be alone with her? she asks.

“Sutures, remember, TIME, we both know I am running out of it. I don’t want to waste any I could spend with you, please,” I weakly beg.

After opening the window, she comes and sits in the chair by my bed and holds my hoof with hers. Reminding me of those days so long ago. George puts her head into the room. It is so good to see her again. Goddess knows it has been too long. The three of us sit and talk. We remember the old days and laugh at the good memories, and even share a few tears together. We talk until the sun begins to set.

“I best be going for now,” George says “I will be back to see you tomorrow, ok?”

“Sounds good to me George. Have a good night my friend” I tell her this with a smile, though I have a feeling I will not be able to keep my end of the bargain.

Sutures gets up and goes to close the window. “No, please, please leave it open for me,” I ask. “I love the smell of the flowers outside our room.”

“Ok Mol, I better go get us dinner now,” she tells me.

I watch her leave the room. I have to smile at her as she goes. She is such a good mare. She has given so much. It hurts thinking of my having to leave her and hurting her again.

After she gets back in the room with dinner we eat. She has made soup for me. Nothing too fancy, a bit of fescue and dandelion greens in it as well as a couple of bits of radhog bacon in it. I smile at her for adding this reminder of times gone by. We rarely have eaten meat in the last ten years. Then I smile again as I remember our poor sweet Magpie and how she never did try it. Then I laugh lightly at how much Sumac came to enjoy it with us.

Sutures looks at me and lifts an eyebrow at me in a questioning way and I tell her why I laughed. She then smiles sadly at the memories too.

She then tells me “The kids all left a while ago and will be back in the morning. Well, all except Memory Dawn. She begged to stay, so she and her mother Mille are in the spare bedroom, Rain Dancer has taken the rest of their children home for the night.”

We talk for a couple more hours in the light of the lanterns. Then she falls quietly falls asleep in her chair. Smiling I finally allow myself to fall asleep in my bed.

They are so rare to find these days that you cannot help but enjoy them when you find them. I have just bitten into a perfectly ripe apple. The sweet juice starting to fill my mouth. It is nearly heaven. Suddenly I am bucked in the side. My eyes pop open and I am looking into the face of a middle-aged yellow pony with a graying mane, my corporal named Bullet.

“Come on Molly, time to wake up and get ready to take the watch”. He says as he taps me in the side with his forehoof.

Celestia how I hate having such a good dream interrupted

“Ok Bull, I am getting up,” I tell him and he catches me as I start to lay back down. This time he grabs the thin blanket that is shared by those of us in the watch post and pulls it off of me.

“Dang it Bullet couldn’t you have let me have had at least a few more minutes of sleep?”

“Sorry Molly, but you know better than that, besides what kind of example would you be setting for the junior troopers”.

Then it hits me. Bullet died 6 years ago. Next, I hear another voice. One I have only heard in memory orbs, but it never addressed me personally before. I hear my great grandmother Mille tell me “Mollygirl, you did good young mare, but it is time to hang up the harness and come home.”

“Wait, can I say a few quick goodbyes first?” I ask as I try to remember getting out of bed and standing up.

“Of course, dear” they both answer.

I walk over to my Sutures. I gently nuzzle her face and I whisper in her ear “Goodbye my love, I have to go now. Remember I love you.”

Talking in her sleep she replies “I know love, I will be here waiting for you as always, I love you too, be careful.”

I look around my room briefly. I see my body in my bed with the green and white checked neckerchief around my neck that I bought in Harness. I guess it's Millies now. Sutures is still holding my hoof and our enfield pup sleeping on my chest.

I turn and I smile as I see my copy of Cloud Seeder’s poems on the nightstand. My old helmet from the expedition is on the bookshelf. The copy of the recruiting poster with Epona, Millie, Moon Lily, and Tater, framed and on another wall. My discharge and retirement papers are framed and hung next to it. I see my Millie’s old stuffed pony next to Moon Lily’s. The various bric-a-brac we accumulate through our lives. I nod as if to say goodbye and turn for the door.

I step out of my room and walk into the next room. I lightly run my hoof through my daughter Millie’s mane. Then I kiss her forelock like I did when she was a young filly. I tell her “I love you, Millie, you have made me proud.”

“Thanks, mom, I love you too,” she says back to me in her sleep also.

Finally, I cross to the other side of the room. Again, I lightly touch my loved one, I run my hoof through her mane and then gently caress her wings. Then I carefully hug my youngest granddaughter Memory Dawn. “Goodbye my little one. Gam Gam loves you. I will so miss you”.

She sighs and says “I love you too Gam Gam Mollygirl.”

As I go to leave the room to follow Bullet and Millie, I hear behind me Memory Dawn get out of bed and wake her mother.

“Mommy, Mommy, Gam Gam Mollygirl just left,” she says.

“Go back to sleep Memory, she is still there,” Millie says.

“NO! we need to go to Gam Gam Sutures” she tells her mother and runs out of the room, her wings half spread in startled surprise.

I watch her go and am stunned to see my Sutures and my Archer, as they were when we first met, walking up to me.

Bullet smiles, then he looks at me and says “Now you know why Millie and I were not in a hurry. So now it is really time to go Mol.”

“Ok, Dad,” I tell him as I smile at him and then the two greatest loves of my life. We walk outside onto the porch and I see my beloved Ivy with her young filly Epona, Emerado, and Nugget all waiting, they come up to greet us. We walk up to them; Ivy approaches me, takes me in her hooves, and gives me a kiss that I have long waited for. I then watch Ivy go and kiss Sutures just as deeply as me, “Thank you for loving her for me until I could be with her again.”

“I was more than glad to Ivy, thank you for understanding.” Sutures tells her.

I look down and little Pona is smiling at me. “I knew you would be a great momma, Momma Molly. It is so good to see you again.”

I give her a big hug that I have wanted to for so long and tell her, “Thank you little one, and thank you all the times you helped me before Millie was born.”

She simply smiles back at me and then she looks off into the distance behind me.

I turn to see where and what she is looking at. In the distance I see others coming to greet me also, Badger, Magpie, Chance, Memory, Sumac, Milo, Kettle Belle, Kicker, and even my mother. Oh, so many, it has been so long since I have last seen them all.

“Where do we go now?” I ask. It is then that I see the sun coming up over the horizon. Together we turn toward it and we all walk toward what comes next.

Whatever it may be, I will face it with My Friends, My Family, My Herd.

Dear DJ Pon3,

Today I lost one of my few, and best friends, Mollygirl, and her beloved wife Sutures. Could you please play for me in memory of them, The Parting Glass?

Thank you very much.

Sincerely

George, from Emerald Grove and Harness

We have finally come to the end of Mollygirl's story. Like all lives, it has had both its ups and downs. But also like all lives, it has influenced the lives of those around her. Thank you for having shared it with me.

The final scene was first written on Christmas Eve of 2018. While it changed some, it was not as much as I had expected. The biggest change being which spouse survived with her till the end. But somehow it just seemed right to me that she and Sutures be together at the end.

For those who would like to listen to this chapters dedication, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F4Cz8q_S2A