Family is not Always what You Expect.

The early morning sun streamed into the window waking a very tired and warn blonde haired woman. Things were so foggy, where was she again? Last thing Shan had remembered was the bitter cold, and the gentle words of a woman saying almost singing, "It is alright, the warmth will come, rest now, your safe". She must have found them, only a cold blood could sound as if they were singing when speaking. Pain shot though her as she rolled up into a sitting position, the woman must have washed and dressed her, she wore a lacy gown, in place of her wet and muddy jeans. Her broken ribs were properly wrapped, a sling held her bruised and torn arm, the gash over her eye had been stitched, and her ankle was bandaged. Looking into the antique vanity mirror she could not help but wonder if she would ever recognize those hazel eyes that looked back at her. Who had she been? It was hard not remembering who you where or where you had come from. What memories that she could recall only dated back a few years and most of those she wished that she did not remember. They were filled with the stench of musky old mold, excruciating pain, and the knowledge of just how cruel man could really be. Perhaps it was for the best not knowing who or where she had come from. "U..gg I need a brush.."

"You can try on the cloths there on the dresser, I think they will fit you." Came a cheery voice from the door, "my name is Kate, glad to see you up, we were getting worried. Do you need help dressing?"

"U..mm no thank you, I can mange, how long have I been a sleep?"Shan's accent was always more pronounced when she was nervous and it seem that Irish slur was at it's worst this morning. "Me name is Shan."

"Nice to meet you Shan, about five days now, you were a mess when Eleazar brought you in."

"Eleazar? Brought me in? I am sorry, me memory is a bit foggy."

"I would think so, you were really out of it. Any ways get your self dressed and come meet the family," smiles Kate as she leaves the room.

"Good morning sleepy head, I am Tanya, looks like the jeans were a little long, I told Kate that they would be, but she knew better. I tried to get the shorter ones ..."

"Tanya... Don't mind her come sit down, I am Carmen and this is my mate Eleazar. You certainly look much better than when we brought you in."

"Hi, it is nice to be meeting all of you. Thank you kindly for me cloths and to who ever did me minding. I am sorry, but you are the Denali's right? You knew a gentleman by the name of Zedekiah?"

"Yes, I've known him for years. I meant Zed when I was still with the volturi. To this day I have not meant a better fighter. We had a lot of good times. Even got into trouble a few times," laughs Eleazar," What is he up to these days, last I spoke to him, he was going to speak with Carlie. He was interested in our way of life and wanted to know more about the medical side of it. Carlisle says he has not seen him."

"Talk about your handsome men, will he be meeting up with you here? Perhaps for the festival?" as always the mention of men had gotten Kate's attention. "It would be nice to dance with him."

Tears swelled in her eyes as the memories began to run though her head, of him sitting on the floor up against the wall, he was smiling even though the pain. His words echoed in her ears, her heart tugged with confusion, regret, remorse, he gave his life for me, why? He could have escaped many times, but no he stayed knowing it would only lead to his death " No, I am sorry to be saying, he.. he is no longer with us. He died because of me."

"Than he died the way he lived," came the comforting words of Eleazar, "he believed that one fights for what they believe in and dies for it if that is what it takes. It's hard to loss a friend, but if we must I can think of no better way than if they go fighting for what or who they believe in. You are welcome here for as long as you like. Any friend of Zedekiah's is most certainly a friend of ours."

"I tell you that your friend died because of me, and you open up your home to me?" More confusion, more painful emotion, how could they want her there, it was her fault?

"Let me ask you, why did you come here? "Eleazar's genital words were so kind and understanding

"Because I knew of no other place to go."

"But you knew to come here? How?"

"It is where he said to come. He said to tell you that I be his daughter", the Irish slur now so thick from emotion that it was hard to understand.

"Daughter? Well that changes things. It seems my old friend Zed has sent us not a friend Carmen, but a daughter."