Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyers, my OCs belong to me

Summary: Billie Black suffered at the hands of the League, but now finally freed she can go back to her normal life. To the life she'd lived for those few glorious weeks with her wolf Kekipi, when in hiding from the League she could pretend. Now this normal life can be hers, but only with time to heal can she truly feel normal again.


The sound of the plane engine droned in my ears. Normally I'd buy the earphones to listen to the in-flight music or watch the movie. I'd bought the earphones and even put them on my head. As they covered my ears I already felt my heart rate pick up and the sweat spring up on my body. I tried to control my breathing, I mean, what was so scary about earphones? I managed to control my shaking hand enough to press the button to turn on the first channel. It was golden-oldie pop songs. I felt the bile rise to my throat but I choked it back and forced my finger to press the button onto the next song. I went through a load of channels but I couldn't find anything that seemed to calm me down and now my ears were ringing and if I didn't get a control on myself people were gonna notice.

I took a few calming breaths and brought my shaking hands up to my head to pull off the earphones. I didn't feel completely better, but at least I wasn't teetering on the edge of becoming a shuddering mess on a plane full of strangers. And I didn't want to lose it in front of Isla either. I had to keep it together for her. If I broke down in front of Kekipi once we were alone on our island then it wouldn't matter, I was allowed to break down in front of him. I couldn't break down in front of Isla though. I had to be strong for her.

"You ok?" Kekipi whispered to me.

I forced a smile to my face and nodded my head.

Kekipi frowned, he didn't believe me but he didn't question me. He didn't want to make a scene in front of Isla as much as I didn't. I took his hand and leant my head on his shoulder. I inhaled his scent and that made me feel a little better.

As soon as the seat belt sign went off I whispered to Kekipi that I needed to use the bathroom and I got up and walked along the aisle to the back of the plane. Just being able to walk around on my own accord helped me feel in more control so I didn't feel so trapped.

I stepped into the toilet cubical and I took a deep breath as I closed the door but I was in control so it didn't worry me. Thank god. It was a good sign for the future, as long as I could control my environment I'd be ok. Hopefully.

I didn't really need the bathroom, but I sat down anyway for a minuet. Then I stood up, pulled the chain, washed my hands, and left.

"Is there anything I'm not supposed to press?" Isla asked me in a whisper and I managed to stop myself from jumping at her suddenly in front of me.

"What do you mean?" I replied with a frown.

"I've heard stories about people pressing the wrong buttons in plane toilets and they end up getting their insides suctioned through the system or they drop a block of frozen pee on the people below." She said with a worried frown.

"They're just stories." I assured her with a smile. "Everything is labelled anyway."

"Shaka." She said with a grin before she stepped around me and into the bathroom.

I considered waiting for her, but there was a line forming and the air attendant was getting highly strung so I made my way back to my seat.

"That's better." I said with a happy sigh as I sat down.

"You look better." Kekipi said as he took my hand and I smiled at him.

"Yeah. Just needed to stretch my legs." I said with a shrug. "Talking of which."

Isla'd just reached our seats so me and Kekipi both got out into the aisle so she could squeeze back into the window seat. She wanted to look out as we flew, although we'd soon hit darkness so there wouldn't be much to see but the reflection of the inside of the plane. I'd let her enjoy it for now; the kid deserved a break after the crap she'd been through the last week.

"I can't wait until we're home and we can put this whole thing behind us." I whispered to Kekipi. "Curled up in bed with your arms around me as we drift in dreamland."

"Sounds ono." Kekipi whispered as he went to kiss my head, but I lifted it quickly so he met my lips. That bastard Ritchie would not take Kekipi from me.

The rattle of the trolley pulled me away from any thoughts of losing myself in Kekipi. It was time for the in-flight meal. It was as good as you could expect from air food, well I managed to choke it all down before they came around to collect our trays.

It was fully dark by then and as I looked across to Isla I noticed that her head was sagging, but it was clear she was fighting it.

I leant across Kekipi so I could whisper, "Just recline your seat and if you use the blanket make sure your belt is showing or the flight attendants will wake you up."

She looked warily over to me for a moment before nodding her head.

"Ok." She said, before she frowned. "But do any of you wanna go by the window?"

"It's too dark to really see and if we need to get up we won't have to squeeze past you." I said quickly, I really didn't want to be on the window seat where I couldn't get out quickly if I needed to. I'd feel trapped there.

"Ok." Isla replied and I smiled at her as she reclined her seat and curled toward the window with the blanket around her shoulders. It wasn't long before she was snoring lightly.

"I wish I could do that." Kekipi said with a tired laugh.

"Why don't you?" I asked.

"Nah. Not on the flight. I'm looking forward to my bed." He said with a wary smile.

"Yeah." I said, and wrapped my arm around his as I leant my cheek on his shoulder. "Sleep in our own bed and get back to normal."

"Whatever normal is?" Kekipi joked.

"For us? It's you working at your garage and coming home to me in the evenings. It's me getting a permanent job to go to every day and return home with you. It's weekends spent enjoying the waves, going to Susie's for dinner or just spending it in bed. It's just living without too much thought." I said seriously.

"I like that version of normal." Kekipi said with a smile and he reached his left hand across his body to stroke my cheek.

"Come on plane. Hurry up home." I said with a laugh.

"Yep." Kekipi agreed.

"Then we can have a good dinner and rest up in bed." I mused.

"And sleep until tomorrow." Kekipi added as he played with the ends of my hair.

"Then you'll have to open up your garage and we'll get back to normal." I stated.

Kekipi nodded.

"So, what do you think about my mom and dad?" I asked.

"They seem ono, but I guess I'll get to know them better next time we visit the main land."

"Yeah." I replied. "In a month?"

"Well you promised everyone so yeah. And I'll get to see the rest of the w… my father's family." Kekipi said, catching himself as one of the air attendants came by offering drinks.

I had a coffee to perk me up a little and after a moment of hesitating Kekipi had one too. The caffeine and sugar made me feel a little better and it helped me through the rest of the flight.

Going through Honolulu airport actually felt good because I could really stretch my legs and I didn't feel so bad about the half hour wait for our connecting flight because it meant we could take it easy and sit for a while in the airy departure lounge. The flight from Honolulu to Hawaii itself was short, more or less straight up and down so the space hardly had time to register with me. Not to mention it was a smaller plane with more legroom and it was light out so the sky went on forever. At least Isla got to see more out the window this time.

Susie was there to pick us up from the airport. I saw the look of sympathy in her eyes before she hugged me and I tried not to feel angry about it, but at least she didn't say she felt sorry for me. I guess there wasn't much she could do about her emotions though.

"Thanks for coming to pick us up." I whispered.

"I get to see my grandchildren, I'm not about to give up on that chance." Susie said as she gave Isla a big hug and seemed to not want to let her go in case anything bad happened to her again.

"I guess we'd better get you home. To Hilo right?" Susie asked.

"No." Kekipi said. "I need to go to Honomu to get the boat keys off Will."

"Honomu it is." Susie said as she released Isla from her hug but kept a hand on her shoulder.

Susie led us to a SUV, a seven seater, but it was something she needed with her big family. Despite all the seats available, Kekipi, Isla and me took the seats that would normally be the back seat of the car. We needed to sit together at the moment.

It was another long journey and we managed to keep up a conversation. I participated as much as I could, but the coffee was starting to wear off and I just wanted to be back on Wolf Island away from everyone but Kekipi and be allowed to fall apart a little.

When we stopped at Drogo's apartment complex Isla looked anxious. I took her hand and tapped it gently and she turned and smiled at me. I watched as Will came out and spoke to Kekipi for a few moments before Kekipi came back to the car with a set of keys in his hand.

"To the harbour?" Susie asked.

"Yes please." Kekipi replied.

As we got closer to the harbour the thing I'd been trying to ignore became hard to unless I wanted to walk around with my eyes closed. The big expanse of moving blue water. Last time I'd seen these waters a vampire was carrying me over his shoulder after I'd just watched Kekipi die. I took a deep breath and dug my nails into my palm so I wouldn't lose my grip on my breathing.

When we reached the harbour we got out of the car and said goodbye to Susie before Kekipi led us, luggage and all, along the wooden walk way. I started to feel panicked when I couldn't spot his boat, but I couldn't ask about it or risk Isla knowing I was about to freak out. Kekipi stepped down into a new looking speedboat with actual seats and room for our luggage. Kekipi stowed our bags first before he held his hand out to me.

I took it as I clenched my teeth and stepped down into the boat. But as I took one of the seats in the prow my anxiety melted away. The slow bob of the boat and the splash of water against the wharf were lulling, calming and I was out in the open air not down in some stinking hull.

"What's going on?" Isla asked.

"I don't know if my boat is still at the island or if the vamps sunk it, but whatever, Will and Marlin said I can keep this one." Kekipi said as he held his hand out to his sister.

"Shaka." Isla said as she got in and sat down next to me.

Kekipi cast off and started the engine and we glided away from the harbour. I looked out over the water and felt surprisingly calm as Wolf Island came into view. I didn't feel my heartbeat rise or anything as the little jetty came into view and Kekipi steered the boat up next to it and moored us up.

Kekipi took out his and my bag but left Isla's in the boat since there wasn't any point hauling it up the cliff just to bring it back down later. Isla had dashed off across the beach and up the path ahead of us. As we came to the little flat bit just before the last rise to the plateau where the house was located, Isla was scrambling back up from the bushes on the little ledge below. She had a backpack on her back.

"I need to check everything is still in there, but then I need to head back. I need to see Mom." Isla said firmly.

"What are you gonna tell her?" Kekipi asked.

"For now? That I spent an awesome week with my big brother Jimmy, but I don't know if I can keep the wolf thing from her forever. I guess I'll see how it goes first." She said, looking worried and I guessed it had to do with the whole wolf thing, it was hard going into the human world for the first time when you had knowledge of this whole other world that most people thought was make believe.

"If you need to tell her, we'll work out the right way to do it." I assured her.

"Thanks." She said and hugged me, before she turned to Kekipi. "I can row your canoe to shore."

"It's ok. I'll take you back. Need to check on the garage anyway." He said with a shrug.

"I'll stay. Make a start on the clean up." I said, figuring there'd be some to do after our battle.

"Are you sure?" Kekipi asked, cupping my face with his and looking into my eyes.

"I want our house to be hale again, and that won't happen if we're not fixing and cleaning." I pointed out.

"I know. But half hour won't make much difference. Maybe we should go up over the cliff, see if there's anything we might need to get in town?" He suggested.

I was gonna argue, I was ok here on my own and didn't need wrapping up in cotton wool, but then I realised that was being selfish. I was thinking about it from my point of view, but Kekipi was gonna have issues over this whole thing too. After all, the last time he left me here, he came back to me being kidnapped. I wanted to just drop down as soon as we got in the house, but I could wait a little longer for Kekipi's peace of mind.

"Let's go see." I said, and kissed his cheek before I took his hand.

We climbed over the last bit of cliff and I felt shocked by what I found. There was no indication of our fight. It looked as it had since I first got here, well apart from the wooden decking I'd put down for our hot tub.

"Guess there isn't much to do out here. But there might be some food we need to dump." I said, pointing to the house.

"Yeah. We should check on the milk and bread and dump it if we have to. Get more in town." Kekipi said.

"Yeah." I agreed, maybe a walk around a supermarket would do me a little good, to get out among people rather than shut myself away.

We went inside and Isla sat checking the content of her backpack while Kekipi and me went through the cupboards to find anything that was spoiled so we could dump it at a pig feed collection point. We had a bagful before we went down to the boat.

I didn't feel the anxiety this time as we got in the boat, being up in the air and being able to see the ocean helped a lot. I actually felt happy when we reached Kekipi's little jetty, like we were coming here in the morning for work. It felt like normal.

As soon as we were moored Isla said goodbye and headed home. I could understand why she was in a rush to see her mother. The kid had been through a lot.

"Do you really need to check on the garage?" I asked.

"Well I'll check the ocean hasn't flooded it or anything, but mostly I wanted to make sure Isla reached Hilo ok."

"Thought so." I said with a smile. "So let's check your garage is still in one piece then let's go dump this food because it smells bad."

"Ok." Kekipi said with a nod and we went to the door so he could unlock it.

We stepped inside and he flicked on the lights. It didn't look any different from the last time I saw it, but Kekipi went around checking things in the garage before he came back to me.

"All ok." He said holding up his thumb.

"Ono." I replied and kissed his lips and then lingered them there until it turned into a passionate kiss that left me a little breathless as I pulled away laughing. "We really should get rid of this garbage now."

"Yeah. Don't want my garage getting a reputation for smelling like a dump." Kekipi replied as he took my hand.

I was feeling light as we left the garage to go around to the little sectioned off area where Kekipi kept his car. We got in, making sure to dump the bag in the trunk, before Kekipi drove us to the nearest pig food dumpster. We emptied everything out of the packaging and dumped that in the bin next to the dumpster.

After that we went to the supermarket to get some bread and milk and a few other things we might need out on the island. As we got back on the boat I felt good, glad that I had come out shopping. At least I wasn't anxious in crowds and I'd be able to function on some social level. My life wasn't completely lost to the League.

We climbed back up to the house and I was feeling exhausted. I wanted to sleep, but maybe I should have something to eat first. Some blood wouldn't go amiss. I'd have to see to that in the morning. There wasn't any blood available on the island.

"What shall we have to eat?" Kekipi asked.

"Can we make it something quick so we can sleep? I don't know about you but I'm fit to drop." I said and yawned.

"Ain't gonna argue with that." Kekipi replied and he yawned too.

"As easy as sandwiches." I said.

"Yeah." Kekipi said with a nod.

"And you need an early night so you can be rested enough to open up the garage tomorrow."

"What?"

"Well you were due to open up tomorrow, right?" I asked.

"That was before everything happened." Kekipi said.

"Yeah, well I don't want to be the reason you lose your customers. They're expecting you back tomorrow and you have to be there." I said firmly.

"I should be here with you." Kekipi said as he leaned in closer to me.

"Look, I know everyone is waiting for me to crack up, but I'll do that whether someone is here or not." I said as I stepped away from him. "I don't want you to put your life on hold waiting for it to happen. I want you to keep your reputation so we can get back to normal, so there's a normal left for us to get back to."

"I just…"

"I know you're worried, but we won't know how I'll handle being here alone until I am here alone. Also, I can use my phone now so I'll check in with you every hour if you need me to, but you need to go to work." I said firmly.

"I won't be able to concentrate." Kekipi said in a low voice.

"Yes you will. You need to. Kekipi, my mental state is gonna be shaky for the foreseeable future, but it'll be a big help for me to know that you're getting back to normal. I need you to open your garage tomorrow and succeed in being you and I'll have more chance of getting back to being me."

"If you're sure?" Kekipi said, and he didn't look sure.

"I'm not sure, but we have to try." I said with a shrug.

"Then I'll open up tomorrow and we'll have an early one tonight. If you want I'll sort the sandwiches and you can go have a shower."

"Let's make the sandwiches together." I said as I stepped closer to him and wrapped my fingers around his. "I need to be doing stuff too."

"How about I make your sandwiches and you make mine?" Kekipi suggested.

"I like that." I said and kissed him before I smiled up at him. "What do you want?"

"See if you can guess." Kekipi said as he grinned at me. "I'm gonna make your favourite."

"My favourite?" I asked, frowning

"I might have got talking to your sister. Or she talked to me." Kekipi said blushing a little.

"Yeah, Liza does like to talk to people." I said with a smile. "Go ahead. See if you get it right."

"I will." Kekipi said with a confident grin as he stepped into the kitchen area.

I followed him and we set about making sandwiches. I made him ham salad, simple yeah, but it was his favourite.

Kekipi had been working with a sandwich toaster but wouldn't let me see what he was putting in, although I knew there was cheese involved. It turned out to be a pizza sandwich. Basically a grilled cheese sandwich with pizza sauce and pepperoni, and it was one of my favourites.

I gave it a critical look as Kekipi placed it before me. I picked up a slice and sniffed at it before I took a careful bite. Kekipi was watching me with a worried smile on his face to I chewed slowly while I kept my face blank. Then I swallowed and smiled.

"Perfect." I said as I placed my hand on his. "My favourite."

"Great." He replied with a relieved sigh and he lifted my hand to his lips before he picked up his sandwich and bit into it. "Good."

I smiled before I finished off my sandwich. Then I had a shower while Kekipi cleaned the cheese off the toaster. Then I made us both milky hot chocolates while he showered. We carried them up to bed and sipped them as we watched a movie.

By the time I'd finished my hot chocolate I was feeling sleepy so we turned off the TV, put our cups out of the way, and settled down into the bed. I snuggled closer to Kekipi and put my hand to his cheek. I smiled and moved closer for a kiss. Kekipi met my lips and we kissed for a long while. I could feel my body warming up and I really would have gone further, but I had to wait until Carlisle had replaced my coil and I was absolutely sure it was working. I didn't want to go through the bleeding even if we used a condom to avoid pregnancy.

We settled down to sleep and I did sleep without any dreams. I felt good when I woke up and I checked the time, it was half past six. I woke Kekipi up and he smiled at me.

"Time to get up." I said. "I'll make you breakfast while you shower."

"Shaka." Kekipi said with a smile and I kissed him before I got up out of bed, grabbed our cups from the night before, and went downstairs.

Kekipi followed me down and wandered into the bathroom while I got on with breakfast. I wanted to eat good today, and that would start with a breakfast of bacon, pancakes and fruit. I had it all on the table by the time Kekipi came out of the bathroom.

We sat down to eat and it was good if I did say so myself. Kekipi looked like he enjoyed his breakfast too.

"I'll do the dishes." He said as he stood up.

"No." I said. "It'll give me something to do today. I am gonna stay here and clean up. It's the best thing for me and for you. I need to know that I can spend time on my own and you need to know that I'll be safe here if you leave me."

"Are you sure?" Kekipi asked, frowning.

"Yes." I said and kissed him.

"Any problems you ring me and I'll be straight here." He said firmly.

"I will." I promised.

"Ok." Kekipi said but he didn't look like he was moving.

"You want me to walk down to the jetty with you?" I asked.

"At least I can see you're ok as I sail away." He said with a frown.

"Come on." I said and took his hand before I led him down to the beach.

He got into the boat reluctantly and I had to untie it and push it away from the little wooden platform. Kekipi sighed then started the engine. I smiled and waved to him to encourage him on. He smiled, waved and sailed away. I waited until he'd rounded the rocks before I went back up to the house.

First things first, I showered and dressed before I got on with cleaning. I washed the dishes, made the bed, and did all the other little cleaning jobs that kept a place looking liveable.

I was just settling down to a cup of coffee and decided to catch up with my reading when I was sure I heard something. No, it was someone calling my name.

"Billie! It's me, Isla! I came to visit!"

It sounded like Isla so it wasn't someone pretending to be her so I left the house to investigate. She was just coming up the path with a bag over her shoulder.

"What's with all the shouting?" I asked.

"Just thought I'd let you know it's me." She said with a smile, and it looked a little fixed and I suddenly felt suspicious.

"Did Kekipi ask you to check up on me?" I asked.

"No. I need to talk to you." She said, and that seemed truthful enough, but I still had a feeling Kekipi had asked her to come here too.

"Oh. About what?" I asked, then realised we were outside and as Dad always said, conversations are much less hostile when you sit. "You wanna come inside, or we could have cold drinks on the veranda?"

"Whatever. But I got us salad for lunch. I should probably put it in the fridge to keep it nice." She said, tapping her bag and I heard the echo of Tupperware.

"Yeah. Come on in. We'll grab some drinks then sit out here." I suggested because it was nice outside and I wanted to be comfortable sitting out here again.

"Sounds good." Isla observed.

We went in the house and I made up some lemonade with a lot of ice while Isla put our salads in the fridge. Isla grabbed two glasses as we left the house and sat down at the table. I took a deep breath as I took in the paradise around me. I liked it here and those League vamps had not stolen it from me. That was a relief.

I poured out two glasses of lemonade.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked as I picked up my drink and put a straw inside to sip at my lemonade.

"I can't lie to Mom about all of this." She said as she stabbed at her drink with her straw. "She knows something's up with me and I don't know what I can say. There's just so much to say, but I have to tell her everything to even tell her some."

This was really eating Isla up and the kid had already been through so much. I tried to imagine what it would be like not being able to tell Mom about any of this. It would be a nightmare. Well Isla was a wolf and Elise was her mother so that meant there'd be no penalty, especially since I was sure she wasn't the type of person to gossip about something like this.

"Then tell her." I said.

"Just like that?" Isla asked, looking shocked.

"Well maybe not just like that." I conceded.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to give Isla a little back up on this, and she'd need the support if it went wrong. There was only one thing for it. "We may need to get her out here and then tell her. So you can show her too."

"Ok." Isla said, but she still looked worried. "How would I do that?"

"We can work something out." I said as I sipped at my drink, then I had the perfect idea, it would require a little subterfuge, but I was sure we could pull it off. I just had to go talk to some people. "How did you get here?"

"On my Kayak." Isla said.

"Can it carry two?" I asked hopefully.

"Not really." She said as she shook her head.

"But Kekipi's got a canoe." I remembered and Isla nodded.

"We'll row to Hilo and then I can pillion with you to Susie's." I said, kinda liking the thought of going pillion on her little scooter.

"Why Susie's?" Isla asked with a frown, and I guess it would seem weird without knowing my plan.

"We'll need the help of some of your cousins." I said, deciding not to say too much at the moment in case none of them could do it.

"For what?" She asked.

"We need to get your Mom and Dad out here right?" I prompted.

"Dad too?" Isla asked and she looked doubtful of that development, but I had my reason to include Kimo, even though he really didn't deserve the benefit of the doubt.

"It'll look weird if we tell Elise and not Big Jim. For the sake of the harmony of their marriage we need it to seem like he knows nothing about it." I explained, although I didn't sound that enthusiastic myself.

"Ok." Isla said despondently, but then she snorted. "But can you see Dad climbing that hill?"

"You'll get him up there." I assured her.

"I will?" She asked and I remembered I hadn't actually told her the full plan yet.

"Well me and Kekipi will have to be up here obviously." I said as I stood up and started walking toward the path and realised she wasn't following me. "You coming?"

Isla nodded and got to her feet. I waited until she'd caught up with me before I started walking again and we headed down to beach. Isla had pulled her kayak up onto the sand beyond the tide line and it was at this point I realised that Kekipi hadn't checked if his canoe was still here. I tried to remember back if the vampires had mentioned it but I couldn't recall. The only thing I could do was to look in the bushes where Kekipi usually kept it and thank god it was there. Guess it was too well hidden for the vamps to spot it accidentally.

I carried it out onto the beach and checked it for any holes, it was perfectly fine and the paddle was with it so I didn't have to search that out at least. I smiled at Isla as I picked up the canoe and carried it out into the surf. I climbed into the canoe as Isla brought her kayak up level with me and she climbed up too. Then we started paddling. It was a lot of work, and took twice as long to cross the channel between Wolf Island and the Big Island, but we finally pulled up next to the jetty by Kekipi's garage.

We pulled the boats up out of the water, we were gonna carry them to Isla's house to store them but I wanted to let Kekipi know what we were doing.

"Howzit brah?" Isla called as we entered the garage.

"You back already?" Kekipi asked, which made me think more that he'd asked her to check up on me.

"We both are." I said as we both stepped into the garage.

Kekipi rushed to me and grabbed me in a hug and I hugged him back.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. "You said you wanted to stay on the island today."

"Yeah, but Isla asked for my help and that means a trip to see Susie. We're gonna leave the boats at your parents and then I'll pillion on Isla's scooter."

"All the way to the other side of the Island?" Kekipi asked. "I don't think so."

"We're going." I said firmly.

"I know. But not on the scooter. It'll take choke too long and it's not safe all that way." Kekipi said firmly.

"Then how are we gonna get there?" I demanded, feeling disgruntled that he was being such a roadblock.

"You can take my car." He said as he reached to the board by his desk and took down the keys and I felt the anger subside.

"Fo' suah?" Isla asked in disbelief as she reached for the keys.

"And you passed your test when?" Kekipi asked, moving the keys out of her reach while he kept his arm around me.

"Right." Isla said, looking down and I realised something I could do to occupy my time over the next few weeks, she was sixteen after all and I was a good driver.

"Billie will drive." Kekipi said as he gave the keys to me. "And no eating or drinking in my car."

"I kine the rules brah." Isla said a little moodily.

"Ok. We'll take the car." I said as I wrapped my hand around the keys. "But what about the boats?"

"Put them up on the roof." Kekipi said, but he led us out to the jetty where we'd already pulled them up out of the water and he lifted them up onto the roof. "They'll be there when you get back."

"Thanks." I said, and kissed him. "See later."

"Drive safely. You got my baby sister in the car." Kekipi said as he stroked my arms gently.

"I will." I promised and kissed him again before I stepped away. "Bye."

"I'll behave myself." Isla said as she past Kekipi and followed me around to the back of the garage where Kekipi kept his car.

I had to adjust the seat a little when I got in, but not too much, as Isla got in beside me. She waited until we were away from the garage when she whispered, "I can't believe Kekipi lent you his car. He don't normally let anyone in it never mind drive it."

"I know." I said. "But I think he wants us to be safe and this is safer than your scooter."

"Yep. And it's more in style. Plus we can wind the windows down this time." She said happily.

"Well yeah we can, but the window thing was my rule. Vamps can track your scent, but if you go in a car and keep the windows up you can limit your scent getting out into the air. If the windows are down there's more chance the scent can be picked up." I explained.

"That's good to know." Isla said. "You'll have to tell me more of these tips."

"Of course I will." I promised. "And I might even teach you to drive."

"A car?"

"Yep." I confirmed.

"When can we start?" She asked with an eager grin.

"As soon as you get your provisional." I replied.

"I'll be on it once we sort this stuff out with Mom." She said with a nod.

"Ok." I said, and figured I could buy myself a car in that time so I wouldn't give Kekipi a heart attack by using his car.

We drove onto Susie's and I figured this time of the day she'd be out at her garage so I pulled onto the little paved patch in front of her garage. I got out of the car and Isla got out too while I poked my head in through the garage and Susie was there with her head under a hood.

"Aunt Susie?" I called as I stepped inside so I didn't scare her.

Susie ducked from under the hood and came from under it.

"Hey girls, I didn't expect to see you so soon." She said as she wiped her oily hands in a rag. "Come in and have a coffee."

We followed Susie over to where she had a little desk and a coffee machine. She put it on to heat up before she dropped into her chair and gestured for us to sit too. We sat opposite her.

"Not that I don't mind the visit, but I doubt this is just a social call." She said.

"No." I admitted. "Well not completely. I do like to visit you Auntie Susie."

"Yeah I know." She said with a grin and shrugged the matter away. "So, what d'ya want?"

"Are any of your clan available Friday?" I asked.

"I'll have to ask them. How many do you need?" Susie asked, without even asking what I'd need them for.

"Not sure yet. Any of them good at cooking? They'll have to run the Diner for a few hours." I stated.

"Why?" Susie asked, and now she looked curious, I guess she hadn't thought it would be about something like this.

"Isla wants to tell her mother about the wolf, that means telling Kimo too. So we thought it might be better to get them out to Wolf Island where it can be show as well as tell. Nothing proves a point than turning into a huge ass wolf." I stated.

"At least Dad can't deny it then." Isla put in.

"You think he might?" Susie asked, looking surprised.

"We're gonna give him an out." I said solemnly.

"Yeah." Isla confirmed, although she seemed despondent about it.

"It's up to him if he wants to put his foot in it with Elise." I said with a shrug, after all, I could only give him an out; it was up to him if he wanted to take it.

"Elise? That's her name?" Susie said, looking sad, and I realised that was the first time Susie had even heard her name. "Would love to know her."

"Well we can get her in touch with you once she knows everything." Isla said eagerly, and I didn't want to deflate her enthusiasm with the possibility that it might not be all plain sailing once her mother found out two of her children were werewolves. "Mom always wanted a big family and she'll go crazy over our tribe."

"I hope she does." Susie said sadly, but then she smiled. "Always room for more at our table. Can bring your no-good half brothers too if you wanna."

"Let's just leave it at Mom first. Lim and Odell are a pain in the okole. You're better off not knowing them." Isla said with a snort.

"Well I can't exactly exclude them if they're your brothers." Susie said as she got to her feet and poured out three steaming mugs of coffee before putting them in front of us.

After a moment where Isla asked for milk and sugar and got given a carton of chocolate milk instead, which she preferred to coffee anyway, Susie got back to business.

"Ok. So I'll talk to my lot. See who's available. Anyway I can get hold of you?" Susie asked as she sipped her tea.

"I can use my cell now." I said as I wrote my number on the corner of the newspaper.

"I'll be in touch later tonight." Susie promised.

"Thanks Aunt Susie." I said as I got to my feet.

"Thanks Gran. See you soon." Isla said as she got to her feet too.

"Hopefully with your parents in tow." Susie said, but she stayed sitting sipping her coffee.

We waved before we left the garage and got back in the car. We were on the highway and Isla had been quiet for ages, but finally she asked, "What happens next?"

"Just hold tight and I'll let you know as soon as I know more." I promised.

"Ok." Isla replied and then looked out the window for the rest of the journey. I guess she was thinking over what my plan could actually be.

It was around twelve when we got back to Hilo and I was hungry, but Isla had made a salad for us and it was back home. It would mean we'd have to row back out there and Isla would have to row back. I didn't really feel up to it and I had no idea if she did.

"What's wrong?" Kekipi asked me when I went into the garage to give him the car keys.

"If I'm honest, I don't feel like rowing back out home." I admitted. "I'm still a little drained. I really need a good hunt."

"Where do you go for that?" Isla asked, and I forgot she had really good hearing. "Maybe I could come with you. It'll give me a chance to run."

"I'll go running with you another time, but this hunt I'd have to do alone." I said. "And I'm not even up to that right now. I just need to rest some beforehand."

"You got your boat licence with you?" Kekipi asked.

"Yeah." I confirmed.

"Then take the speed boat. You can come back for me later when you bring Isla home." Kekipi said as he stroked my arms and I looked up into his eyes.

"Thank you." I said and kissed him before he stepped away from me and went to get the keys for the boat.

"Phone me when you get out there?" Kekipi asked as he dropped the keys into my hand.

"I will." I promised and kissed him again before I left with Isla so we could get in the new speedboat.

I inspected the helm and I was familiar with the set up so I cast off and started the engine. I pulled away from the dock and headed out to sea. Isla sat up front looking out over the water with the wind whipping at her dark hair. Usually she seemed older, but in that moment she looked like the sixteen year old kid she was. I don't know why, maybe because she looked unsure now and before last week she'd always seemed so sure of herself. I'd have to help her back to that point of view. Letting Elise know about the whole wolf thing was a step in the right direction.

We reached the island and I moored the boat to the jetty.

"Don't tell Kekipi this." Isla said as she stepped out of the boat. "He's a choke good sailor, but that was the smoothest boat ride I've ever had."

"I won't." I promised. "If I do I'll have to drive from now on, and I much prefer to just sit in the prow and enjoy the view." I added with a wink.

"Can't argue with that." Isla said with a shrug.

"Les go hale. I'm starved." I said as I put my hand to my stomach.

"I'm right there with you sister." Isla said as she looped her arm through mine.

We laughed as we made our way across the beach and climbed the little path to the house.

"You don't have to eat the salad if you want something better." Isla said as we crossed to the house.

"Isla, if I wanted something else to eat do you think I would have rushed back here for lunch?" I asked as we stepped into the house.

"I guess not." She said.

"Why you so doubtful?" I asked as I pulled the two tubs out of the fridge and carried them to the table.

"I always get nervous when someone new tries my food. I know this is only salad, but the dressing is my own invention." She said as she sat down by the table and pulled one of the tubs toward her.

"I ate your food back in Wyoming." I pointed out as I grabbed two glasses and a carton of orange juice from the fridge.

"I know." Isla said as I sat down. "But the one time I was cooking with your dad and the other time, well how can you go wrong with breakfast?"

"How can you go wrong with salad?" I asked as I opened the tub to find a mixed leaf salad with tomatoes and mango pieces. There was a small round tub inside that contained the dressing. I removed the lid and sniffed and it smelled good so I tipped it over the salad.

Whatever was in the dressing brought the whole salad together and I ate it quickly.

"You have to send that recipe to Dad." I said before taking a big gulp of juice. "And Liza would probably like it too."

"Sorry, it's a house secret of Isla's Island Puka." Isla said with a grin.

"I guess it wouldn't be right to threaten your business like that." I said with a shrug.

Isla chuckled.

"So, you need me to run you back right now or do you wanna hang for the afternoon?" I asked.

"I got nothing on." She said with a shrug.

"Ok. Then we'll do something here. Shall we go hang on the beach? I ain't done that for a while." I suggested.

"Why not? I always wanted to swim here." Isla said seeming like her old happy self again.

"Then let's grab some stuff and we'll go down." I said.

After grabbing some towels, snacks and drinks we headed down to the beach. We hung out there until five when we had to head back to Hilo ready for Kekipi to come home. I enjoyed hanging with Isla and it was a good thing that I got on with my future sister-in-law. When we got to the garage Kekipi was finishing up for the day.

"Do you need help getting your boat back home?" I asked Isla as she pulled it down off the roof.

"Nope. I'm gonna paddle across the breaks and glide into shore at the end of my street." Isla said as she carried her kayak to the edge of the jetty.

"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling worried.

"Sure. I do it all the time." She said as she climbed down into the kayak.

"See you tomorrow." I said and waved her off.

"Aloha." Isla said, and waved before she started paddling away.

I watched her as she headed parallel to the beach before she finally turned left and let the tide carry her in.

"What are you doing?" Kekipi asked as he came to stand beside me.

"Making sure Isla gets to shore safely." I said as she reached the beach.

Kekipi put his arm around me and pulled me in close to kiss the side of my head.

"Thanks for looking out for her." He said.

"Well, she's my sister too." I said as I turned to him and kissed his lips. "Just the same as my siblings are your siblings." I added as I wrapped my arms around him.

"Does that mean you get my brothers too? I get it if you don't want them." He joked.

"I guess I should meet them before I make that decision." I said as I kissed him before I stepped away. "What are we gonna do about the canoe?"

"I'll strap it to the side of the boat." Kekipi said. "I'll just get some ropes."

"I'll get it down."

Half an hour later we were back on the Wolf Island and heading up the path to the house. We cooked dinner between us and were just settling down to eat when my phone went.

"Hello?" I answered carefully because I hadn't recognised the number.

"Hi Bills, it's Susie." Susie said.

"Hi." I said, in warmer tones now I knew who I was speaking to.

"So I got four of mine available Friday. Will that be enough?" She asked.

"Yeah." I replied.

"How about you and Kekipi come by tomorrow evening and you can talk to them and plan?" Susie suggested.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll just check Kekipi hasn't got anything on a mo." I said, since I didn't want to commit him to something he wasn't interested in, if it came to it I might have to go alone.

"What's up?" Kekipi asked.

"You fancy going to see Susie tomorrow evening?"

"Sure." He said.

I nodded then put the phone back to my ear.

"We'll be there about seven?" I suggested, because we wouldn't get there much earlier if Kekipi wanted to close up at his usual time.

"Perfect. I'll make us up some fish." Susie promised. "Let Kekipi experience the old Clearwater fish fry."

"I'm looking forward to it." I said. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Susie said and hung up.

"What's the plan exactly?" Kekipi asked as we started eating.

"I was thinking of a way to get your parents out here. Well if I can get some help well we can pretend that Isla entered them in a competition that means a day trip out on a boat and they bring them here and then we tell them."

"I hope it goes ok." Kekipi said, looking down at his plate.

"It will." I said as I rounded the table and sat in his lap and nuzzled his ear. "And you can be a son to your mom again."

"Yeah." He said as he wrapped his arms around me. "But what about you? Mom's gonna know you lied to her."

"I did and I didn't. I couldn't exactly tell her my real name but I can now I can reveal to her what I am. I think Elise will understand why I couldn't give her my real name at the time."

"Dad's not gonna be so agreeable." Kekipi grumbled, I knew that, but he deserved the benefit of the doubt. For the time being.

"Well I'll give him a chance. We'll make it look like we're telling both of them. If he's smart enough he'll play along." I stated, and that's all I could do, I couldn't save Kimo from himself.

"And if he doesn't?" Kekipi prompted.

"That's his problem." I said flatly. "Anyway, let's leave that until Friday. Tonight, I just want to think of us. Just us together without anyone else in the world."

"Ono." Kekipi said with a grin and I stroked his cheek before I kissed him.

We made out a while before we cleared the table and then we went to bed where we slept as close together as possible. It was gonna be a difficult month without any love making, and I felt anger settle in my mind over what the League had done to me and annoyance that I couldn't get my personal revenge on Ritchie, Laci or that doctor that ripped out my coil. My only consolation was the memory Mags had given to me where she ripped through a lot of my captors including Laci and especially Ritchie. I could almost pretend it was me getting the revenge I desired; now I was feeling the consequences of what they'd done to me. Again and again that night I repeated the moment Mags ripped through his smirking face and each time was better than the last.


Thank you for reading

Please review

Gemma x

P.S. I will continue with the other stories, but I want to get everyone to the same point in time. Once everyone is caught up with Isla (especially Billie) then I'll continue with 'A Taste of Paradise'.