Pain.

She groaned and rolled onto her back, covering her eyes with the heels of her hands. She took several deep breaths, swallowing hard, trying to keep her throat from closing. She could make it through anything right? Absolutely anything. The traitor sun poked through the clouds, shining through the cracks of her fingers. Growling and sliding out of bed, her feet met the cold floor. She stood, the throbbing in her head, ribs and legs pounding worse than before.

Stumbling to the bathroom, she cringed at the woman who looked back at her from the mirror. Her lip was busted, her temple bruised, cheekbone purple. She touched her cheek gingerly. It hurt but didn't seem to be broken. She reached over and closed the bathroom door. As if that'll stop him. Sighing she peeled off her tank top, cringing at what lay underneath, her tattooed side was bare of bruising but the right side of her body was scattered with aging bruises. Fractured ribs would be hard to explain to anyone who happened to catch sight of them. She rubbed at her eyes again.

Her legs were no better but those bruises were a day away from fading. Turning on the hot water she climbed in and began to scrub gingerly at her sore body. She didn't bother biting back the tears that streamed from her eyes. She rested her forehead against the cold tile. Faintly she could hear the sounds of the baby beginning to wake up. She sighed as she quickly finished her shower, shutting the water off, and twisting her hair up in a bun. Dressing quickly in jeans and a long sleeved shirt, she padded down the hall to the nursery. Opening the door, she could see the near toddler standing on her tip toes, peering over the crib.

She chuckled and swept her life into her arms. Her life line. Her only hope. Her throat closed again. She buried her nose in her daughter's hair, inhaling her sweet scent into her lungs. He daughter tangled her little fingers into her mother's clothes, her toothy grin lighting up her small face. Her mother stroked her cheek, cradling her closer. He daughter's fingers trailed down her bruised arms, her little brow scrunching as she looked up at her mother. She kissed her daughters forehead.

"I love you." The phone broke through the morning silence, it's loud screech sending fright through her as she raced down the stairs, setting the young girl down in the kitchen. She picked up the phone, almost breathless, her voice shaky.

"Hello?" She heard a relieved voice on the other line

"Ashlyn!" Her heart swelled and she clutched onto the sink.

"Emily..." Ashlyn's throat closed thick with emotion.

"Oh my sweet girl you're safe. You're okay. Honey where are you?" She felt the tears finally start rolling down her face thinking of her cousin on the other line. Schuyler peered curiously at her mother. Ashlyn bent down and settled the young girl on her hip.

"I can't tell you that Em. You know that. I just... I don't know if I can come home yet." She started to pull the phone away from her ear.

"WAIT. That was reflex. This is about the Clearwaters." Ashlyn froze, the phone barely away from her ear.

"What about the Clearwaters?" Her eyes slid closed as she thought of them. Thought of it. Thought of home.

There she was. 16 years old and running barefoot through the trees, laughing. The green forest enveloped her like a comforting blanket. She let her boots kick up the soft earth. She paused and took in the beauty around her. The sun was barely rising, it's first rays glinting through the canvas of the trees. She smiled, the cold morning air resonating in her soul as she ran faster and faster.

"Ash are you listening?' She shook her head, trying to clear the memories. The good times.

"Yeah I'm listening Emily. What do you want me to do? I don't think I can make it down there." Ashlyn's heart broke upon saying the words. She knew where she was needed. With her people. She needed to say goodbye to one of the men who had been like a father to her. Harry Clearwater had had a heart attack while helping the Forks Police Department search the woods. For what, she didn't know. Schuyler squirmed, finally letting out a loud screech of protest upon hearing the front door slam open.

"Emily I have to go. I love you. I'll call back in a while and let you know." She hung up the phone without waiting for Emily to say goodbye. Holding Schuyler tighter she raced up the stairs, quickly going into the baby's room and setting her down in her crib, locking the door from the outside with the key she kept hidden in an air vent next to it. Racing back down the stairs she came face to face with him.

"You're home early." He grunted in response, eyeing her angrily.

"Who was that?" She tried not to show that she was shaking, turning her back to him and beginning to make coffee.

"That was my cousin Emily. You remember her right?" His eyes turned murderous. He set the cup of coffee she had handed to him down on the counter. She looked down at her boots.

"I thought we agreed not to turn back!" His voice shook the house. She closed her eyes tightly as she hear Schuyler scream upstairs. In an instant he had her in his vice grip, twisting her arm behind her back, her stomach meeting the wall. Ashlyn cried out in pain and felt the air leave her lungs. She gasped, her wrist aching in his grip.

"Please. Just this once. Harry Clearwater had a heart attack. He passed away. I'm needed at home. We're needed at home."He spun her around and before she could run, had one hand around her neck, dangling her a foot in the air. His grip tightened for a split second and she tried not to choke.

"Please. Chayton." Ashlyn let the name roll off of her tongue and he looked at her, his face twisting in pain. He let her go quickly and she dropped the foot that he had lifted her to. Landing on her knees she gasped for air.

"I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry Ash.. Pack. We'll leave in the morning." Chayton kissed the top of her head and she tried not to flinch as he trudged up the stairs and into their bedroom. She finally let the tears flow freely as she slowly made her way back up to Ashlyn's room. Unlocking the door and placing the key back in it's hiding place, she lifted Schuyler out of her crib.

"I love you. And I promise I will never let anyone hurt you." Schuyler looked up at her mother with sad eyes. Ashlyn pushed her dark hair back, staring down into her daughter's dark brown eyes. Kissing her forehead and cradling her closer, she sat in the rocking chair next to the window.

"We're going home tomorrow baby. Home." Ashlyn cried openly, thinking about where the past two years had taken her. She clutched Schuyler closer. She couldn't believe it was true. Tomorrow she would be headed home. To La Push Washington.