AN1: Sorry that I haven't put a disclaimer on my first two chappies. I will this time promise. Want to give a shout out to IcePrincessFireQueen, you rock chick. Her stories are awesome and she just might be able to take over the Meyer's spot one of these days.

Disclaimer: I am not the mother of any of the characters you recognize. Just the unknown ones.  I did disclaim see

AN2: Sorry that I haven't updated in a while… First year college student and all that. I checked and so far I've had about 20 hits. YAY! So, where were we? Oh yeah, Even and Kelsie just arrived at the Cullens house and Carlisle was waiting at the door while Emmett was chasing Seth around the yard… okay here ya go:

Chapter 3: Devastated Heart

Even and Kelsie arrived at the Cullen mansion at the happiest, or saddest, time of day. The journey was long; they had to make more speed adjustments this half of the race. But here they were. Even turned to her cousin still sitting in the car. Kelsie just stared and stared. Even smirked and leaned into the car.

"Kels. Are you going to get out of the car or not? Did you decide to sleep in there or something?" Even chuckled under her breath. She slowly made her way towards her adopted uncle. Carlisle just stood watching her in amazement. She looked completely different since the last time he had seen her, nearly two years ago. Then she had been very lean and tones, with long hair that was a shade too light to really be considered brown. Then her eyes had shown as she approached his steps, now they looked hesitant and filled with regret. No joy was there. The smile on her face stopped with her cheekbones. Carlisle made his way down to her, and embraced her.

"Ah, Even. It's so nice to see you again, even under these circumstances." He held her at arms length trying to gage her health by sight alone.

"Well, Uncle Carlisle, they can't all be weddings and frivolity. I'm glad that Alice called me. I couldn't stand losing my cousin here. If she ever gets out to the car." Even looked back towards the car to see Kelsie jump out and race toward the house.

"Excuse me. Hi I'm Kelsie, do you have a bathroom," Kelsie was doing the unforgettable 'potty-dance'. "'Cause I like really have to go."

Carlisle chuckled. "Of course we do. Take a right at the end of the first hall. Even won't you come inside?" Something was definitely off with the girl. She was very, very reserved, not her typical self at all.

"Okay, let me get my-"

At that moment Alice and Jasper burst out the door. Alice threw her arms around Even's neck and held tight. Jasper patted her back and walked to the car, pushing the trunk open. "I'm just so glad you made it Even! I mean, when I saw Jane killing you, I thought the world was coming to an end. Which reminds me, why would she be coming after you? It's not like you two have history. And she was definitely coming after you. Esme and I have fixed you and your cousin, who has really cute hair by the way, bedrooms. Only she and I have been in there. We know you like things a certain way and--"

"Alice I'm sure whatever you've done is fine. But if you continue talking I won't be able to understand you." She turned to Jasper, and shook his hand. He'd already dropped the bags off in the appropriate rooms. "How are you my fellow southerner?"

"I'm doing just fine ma'am. And yourself? I trust the journey went well?" Their game of southern accents was a way of bringing laughter to the whole family.

"Hey I'm from Mississippi, doesn't that count?" Alice looked from one to the other. Jasper pushed the question off to Even. "No, because you don't remember living there. Jazz does."

Esme, Edward, Bella, Rosalie and Kelsie all walked into the living room from various directions. Kelsie was still staring in wonder, the interior was so extravagant. Some of the paintings were so intricate it looked as if someone had hand painted them out of the faces of the family. The color scheme was complementary shades of tan with accent colors found on fall trees in the Smokies. Rust reds mixed with burnt oranges. The furniture was plush micro fiber couches, loveseats, and E-Z boy chairs. On the wall around which all the furniture was situated, hung the largest Plasma TV that money could buy. Connected to it were all three play stations, an X-box, and the original Nintendo. Laptops were spread around on coffee tables of deep mahogany.

Rosalie dashed to Even and hugged the girl. Even patted her back and held her close. The two had worked well together at Edward and Bella's wedding. "How are you Cousin? Are you tired or can you stay up and chat a while?" Rosalie too noticed that something was not right with the mermaid.

"Hi Rose. I really am quite tired and I know Kelsie is. She kept falling asleep on me. And if she asks you for a giraffe, don't let her have one! She has been plotting to steal one from the zoo and hide it at her grandparents' house." Even pulled Kelsie to her and wrapped her arms around Kelsie's shoulders. "Kelsie, this is Carlisle and his wife Esme," the couples had all stood together minus Emmett, who was still intent on proving to Seth that he could, in fact, catch the young wolf. "And Alice, with her husband Jasper, Edward and Bella, and Rosalie with her husband… Um, is Emmett still outside?" Even finished with a question.

Edward laughed. "An hour ago Bella bet that he couldn't catch Seth. Seth sort of cheated because he has a low tolerance for sugar and had a few cans of Mountain Dew. They won't be back for a few hours. Don't worry Even, we'll let you both sleep and talk in the morning." Edward threw meaningful glances around the room at his family, especially Rose, who would keep Even up all night just to catch up. "If we don't get back to the cottage, Bella, Nessie will be up and into something in no time."

"Nessie?" Even slowly shook her head taking an incredible amount of time to blink. "Okay I am dead on my feet. We'll catch up in the morning. Come on Kels. It's after eleven and I have this feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day." Esme came up to Even then.

"Come dears, I'll show you to your rooms." They went up to the second floor. The rooms were painted in bright, happy blues, greens and reds. The furniture looked new, and it probably was. The floors were carpeted in an incredible soft Berber. "Good night, and I hope you sleep well. The rooms should be sound proof for you. We aren't sure because we can still hear through them. Oh! I almost forgot, what would you like to eat in the morning for breakfast?"

Kelsie looked as if she was asked if she'd like to run for next megalomaniac. Even shook her head. "You know me Esme. I can't decide what sounds good 'til I'm ready to eat. And I think food is a foreign concept to Kels right now. We'll talk in the morning. Good night." They went into their room and shut the door. Quickly they change out of their day clothes and into their pajamas. Fast asleep they fell.

JfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjF

"Aw. Come on! Emmett it's ten o'clock, why can't I wake them up now?" Emmett and Rosalie were standing outside of the girls' door. Well, standing isn't really the best description. Emmett had Rose in a bear grip to keep her away from the door. They had started out at the base of the stairs, and when Rosalie made a comment about the time, Emmett began fighting with her using everything in his arsenal to keep her away from the door.

"Rose, baby, you know how humans are. They need sleep. Wasn't that what Edward was always saying? Bella needs sleep, Bella hasn't been sleeping enough lately. They have had a rough couple of days. I would love to have them up too, but a sleepy Even is one thing that I am scared of! That girl can be mean." Rosalie continued to push him down the hall. "You know if you mess up Mom's floors, she is so going to kill you."

"Nope Emmett. I'm waking them up. They have been asleep for over twelve hours. I have who knows how long to catch up for two years. Plus they have to eat and meet Nessie. Alice! Help me! Please!"

"No, they are waking up on their own. You know what Mom and Dad said. They need to sleep. And Nessie wants you to do her hair. She's very insistent, and she won't let me near it. It won't take them long." Alice responded up the stairs.

Rosalie sighed and slowly walked down the stairs to her niece. There was very little that she wouldn't do for Renesmee, such as make-up. That was one thing they all agreed wouldn't happen until she was grown.

Reaching the bottom floor, Rosalie sat on the couch behind where Nessie and Bella were playing Monopoly at a breakneck pace. "How do you want your hair done today Messie-Nessie?"

Nessie glared at her aunt when she mentioned the dreaded nick-name. "I would like it to look very pretty and grown up and not messy for when Jake co-, Jake and the Pack come home."

Rosalie looked at Edward questioningly. How much trouble will I be in if I do the exact opposite? She is in quite a mood today. Edward nodded and smirked. His indication that, since Nessie didn't ask, Rose could do what ever she wanted to. She started pulling her fingers through Nessie's mop of copper curls, trying to decide whether or not to do regular pigtails or braided ones. Shall I do Princess Leia buns? Edward could not contain his mirth at that one. One little chuckle slipped through.

All the heads in the room jerked to see what he laughed at then, CLICK! They all looked upstairs at the sound of a door closing, snapping their heads back to Edward for him to explain. Humans would have pinched a nerve trying to move their heads that fast.

Humph. "Even is going to the bathroom and would love for someone to try and stop her. She is not in a good mood yet." Being the liaison in a large family wasn't his favorite thing. "She said that we should probably get Kelsie up before she gets a crick in her neck. And to stop listening to her thoughts. Even, if you weren't so loud in the mornings I could ignore you better."

Esme headed up the stairs to Kelsie's room. She arrived at the door and knocked softly only to hear a grunt from inside. Carefully pushing the door open, Esme crept inside and saw that Kelsie had all the covers in her room piled on top of her. Kelsie grunted again trying to roll over and not succeeding due to the weight of the blankets. Esme sat on the side of the bed and began folding blankets and talking the girl awake.

"Kelsie, sweetie its time to wake up. You've been asleep for quite a while and need to get up for a little bit. I have a fully stocked pantry so anything you want for breakfast we can fix." She was interrupted by a sleepy teen mumbling about hippos. "Okay, I don't have hippos, but I can make hippo-shaped pancakes."

"NO! I will not eat Teddy!!! What is the world coming to!?!" Kelsie shouted then fell back in the bed after sitting straight up.

Even rushed into the room nearly tripping on a bottle of Germ-X. "Kels! Are you okay? Why are you shouting? And why is there Germ-X on the floor?" Even looked Kelsie in the eye. Kelsie frowned and hit her on the head with a pillow. "She asked if I wanted to eat Teddy. OF COURSE I don't want to eat him! You would shout too." Thwap. Another hit with the pillow.

"You hit me with that thing again and I'll make you pay little missy-moo." By this point all of the family was waiting out in the hall knowing that things were about to get good.

THWACK!

GASP!

"That's it! You asked for it." Even lunged for Kelsie fingers out stretched. What occurred next would best be described as an all or nothing pillow/tickle fight. Even was winning. Nessie had never seen a pillow fight, though she had been on the receiving end of tickle-monsters many a time. She was completely enamored with the sight they made.

"NOT NICE! NOT NICE!" Kelsie was squirming and lost her pillow along time ago. "CAN'T BREATHE! KEL—EVEN I CANNOT BREATHE!"

"You sure aren't convincing me of that fact. Now who has won? And if you say Teddy I'm going to tickle you again."

"Fine. Humph. You win. Now can I go pee? Please?" Even let her up and turned to Esme.

"What's this I hear about pancakes?" Even had more life in her eyes than last night, but was still very reserved. "Peanut M&M's like last time? No problem dear."

Rosalie grabbed Even's arm and led her out of the room, down the stairs and out to the patio. The landscaping was gorgeous. Perfectly sculpted bushes were placed around a rock/ flower garden. The different flowers were in perfect health, and grouped so that there wasn't but a plant's worth of color in one spot. The patio furniture was plush. The design was Neo-Romantic with a subtle leaf pattern in a lighter brown than the dark brown background. (AN: I do not know if this is a style but it's a new take on the Roman style of furniture.) Rose led Even to a swing and they both sat down.

"Even, I know something is wrong. Would you please tell me what it is? Last night Edward said that if Bella was using her shield you wouldn't be better protected. Please I'm worried." Rose held Even's hand and stared at her with the utmost concern.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Even began looking more and more tormented. Her lips starting getting blotchy red and her eyelids started tightening. She was fighting off tears. "I guess I wasn't fooling y'all at all, huh? I can't talk about it. Not now. I have to stay strong for Kelsie. She thinks it great being away from her family, but I know that it won't last forever. She's going to regret coming with me. But I couldn't let her die. She is family. You always protect family." Even began shuddering and Rose pulled her into a hug.

"It's going to be okay. You can come to me or anyone of us when you're ready to talk. Okay?" Even nodded. And the two just sat for a while.

Seth was excited. Jake told him last night that Colin and Brady were coming back with the rest of them. And he got to drive Bella's Ferrari. He loved being sixteen. He was parked waiting for the rest of the pack to show up outside the airport. They had left the truck in the long term parking that way no one would have to pick them up. Then the two youngest of Sam's pack had decided to come for a visit, and there wouldn't be enough room in the truck for Jake, Leah, Embry, Quil, Colin and Brady. Thus he got to drive the Ferrari.

He saw his sister first. Leah was letting her hair grow out a little. It was a short bob. Much more flattering than the pixie cut she had had since she phased into the pack. She looked annoyed. Jake was behind her looking smug. Uh-oh. He won a bet. This was going to be a fun week. NOT! Colin and Brady were pushing each other and focusing his attention on their familiar voices, he could tell that they were teasing each other about the flight attendant that apparently had been flirting with them. Embry and Quil brought up the rear. The morose members of the pack. Embry tries to hide the pain of not being with his imprint, Quil just lives with it. He was grateful to be able to move to New Hampshire when Claire's family moved to New York. It wasn't the closest distance, but it was better than across the country.

Jake started looking for him now. Seth got regretfully out of the car and the air-conditioning. He waved them over.

"Hey Boss!" Seth used the epithet knowing Jake hated it.

"For the umpteenth time Seth, I AM NOT LEROY JETHRO GIBBS!!! You cannot call me BOSS!" Jake exclaimed capturing the boy in a head lock. Jake then proceeded to give him a noogy. (AN: Leroy Jethro Gibbs is the boss on NCIS a great show if you have never seen it. And if you don't know what a noogy is, its where you rub your knuckles into someone's head. Not very fun. Especially if you have short hair.)

"Hey! Leah! Help me! This is Child-Abuse! I'm calling Charlie! AAAAHHH!"

Any onlookers would of course think that it was anything but child abuse. Seth looked as if he was 25, same as the rest of the pack. He did manage to elbow Jake in the ribs. Not that it hurt him. But it was enough to make Leah break it up.

"Okay Jake, enough beating my baby brother up." She shoved her alpha away. "So Seth, staying out of trouble? Making life miserable for Emmett?" She wrapped her arms around his waist.

"He now owes me a hundred bucks, Nessie 150, and Bella, Alice, Rose, Jazz, Edward, Carlisle and Esme 350. Bella bet that he couldn't catch me. Everyone ante-upped and Alice had been giving me Mountain Dew's all day so I was really pumped up. We ran for like an hour before he got bored and gave up. And Esme started complaining that we were ruining her lawn." Seth hugged his sister back. He'd missed her, oddly enough.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The entire pack laughed drawing startled stares from passers- by.

"Way to show him Seth!"

"Rock on dude!'

"Okay, Okay. Lets continue this back at home. I, um, am getting a little, er, hungry." Jake actually started to blush.

Snap! That's what picture phones are for!

"Yeah, I bet your hungry Jakipoo. We all know what you're getting hungry for. You miss Rosalie so just go ahead and admit it." Leah was fast on her feet as she quickly dodged "Jakipoo."

"Hey Jaki—UM—Jacob, can we ride with Seth?" Colin and Brady looked at Jake hopefully.

"Are you going to be good and not distract him? He hasn't been driving that long. Hmmm. Maybe I should drive the Ferrari." Jake started like he was going to take the keys. "On second thought, yes you can. I don't want Leah to crash the truck." This time he was the one quickly dodging.

The car ride home was not quiet. They had the AC blasting full tilt. They had the local rock station blaring and they were singing at the top of their lungs. Seth was driving carefully though, Rosalie was vicious when it came to the cars in the household.

"So, how'd Embry hold up on the trip?" Seth was worried for his friend. It had been two years since he'd seen his imprint. It was a fate most men couldn't have handled. But Embry survived. If you asked him about it, he'd say "As long as she's happy". It was a hard thing to watch.

"He smiled the most with his mom. Still morose, but at least he tried for her. When Jared dared him with a game of tag, he accepted on principle, then left off the chase as soon as they crossed into the old Cullen territory. He did joke with Billy about who was going to be taking care of whom. He tried, but didn't really succeed. Don't worry, though, he'll pull through." Colin was very empathic for such a young boy, but having an autistic little sister can do that to you. Colin put his hand on Seth's wrist. "He will survive."

Yeah, he'd survive, but who had just arrived at the Cullens house, the pain might get worse. It was always worse when the imprinted was in pain. This was going to be one fuuuun week.

AN: If the writing style seems different in Seth's part I was trying to get a feel for how he would see things. Let me know if you like it. I may or may not do from his perspective again.

Peace out, the monk.