Jade could do nothing but stare for a few long moments, then suddenly her mind seemed to awaken and she launched herself at her mother. The two embraced, and Jade felt a tear squeeze itself out of her closed eyes. She breathed in deeply her mother's smell. Ivy June smelled like roses, coffee, and a type of old perfume that Jade couldn't name—the scents were strange, but they seemed to blend perfectly together.

After a while mother and daughter broke apart. Jade smiled up at Ivy June, and then broke down sobbing with happiness.

"Jade!" Ivy June bent down quickly, worried, "What's wrong?"

Touched by her mother's kindness, Jade hiccupped and buried her head in her mother's shoulders, "Nothing," she choked out, "I'm just so happy that you're back!"

"Oh, Jade," Jade felt her mother tremble slightly, "I've missed you too."

Again they both stayed still and silent for awhile but then Jade jumped up, her mood changing quickly. "I can't wait for Granny to see you!" she squealed, dancing around, "She'll be so happy! You know she's always been talking about you..."

As Ivy June chuckled, Jade suddenly remembered something, "Mother," she said slowly, cautiously.

Ivy June looked down at her daughter, noticing a change of mood. "What is it, Jade?" she asked softly.

"Well..." Jade decided to just spit it out, "You know that potion, the one that I used to bring you back to life?"

Ivy June nodded slowly, her hazel eyes flying to the glass vial in Jade's hand.

"Well, I didn't make it. I got it from Witch Gwyneth, this local witch-lady in town. I sneaked into her backyard and asked her for the potion. And she gave it to me, Mom! She did! But she did say that the reason she gave me the potion was because you—"

"I was her apprentice?" Ivy June finished, smiling softly down at Jade.

Jade looked up in disbelief, "Wait, wait, you are?"

Ivy June just sighed, "Long story short. I was a young girl, just leaving home, yearning for adventure. I came to this town, and instantly, I knew what Gwyneth was. I, well, I wanted to be a witch too. So I asked her if I could be her apprentice. She said yes."

"Is Granny a witch as well?" Jade blurted out, interrupting her mother, wondering if her whole family were witches.

Ivy June simply shook her ehad, and continued on with her story, "Then one day, when you were three, uh," Ivy June licked her lips, "I was brewing a potion. And I made a mistake."

"It was the fire, wasn't it?" Jade murmured, her mind wandering to a particular event that took place three years ago. It was a mysterious event, and the citizens rumored that Witch Gwyneth had tried to burn down the town. No one knew that Ivy June was her apprentice.

"Yes," Ivy June nodded, "The cauldron exploded, killing me in the process." The woman let a light smile appear on her pale pink lips, "No wonder good old Gwyneth invented the potion. She felt guilty for my death. She wanted me back."

"So-so," Jade stammered as mother and daughter started towards the parking lot of the cemetery where Jade's bike was parked, "You're staying? You'll be okay?"

Ivy June laughed, her voice sounding like wind chimes, "Yes, honey," she beamed down at Jade, whose smile was growing bigger every moment, "I'm here to stay."

THE END

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A/N:

And, yes. After much procrastinating and re-writing, Jade has finally ended. I hope you have all enjoyed this book, and learned to love Jade, Ivy-June, and Witch Gwyneth as much I have.

Until next time,

Rose