Review(s):

Darweiner7 - Yay! I'm excited that you're excited! Also I do hope this chapter will keep you intrigued. I don't want to spoil anything for you so all I can say is that the answers you seek are indeed coming! Thank you so much for your review, this chapter is for you! :)

Elements of Change
Chapter Four: Meet & Greet

The door creaked open and there stood a lanky male. His eyes matched Abbey's almost perfectly and sat behind horn-rimmed glasses. "Greetings, I'm Nugah Bominable, one of Abbey's two brothers. Please come in." He pulled the door open further and stepped aside to let them enter.

"You have gotten taller." Abbey told him, ruffling up his white hair slightly. He had a light blue peek-a-boo bang prominent in his hair. "And dorkier."

"Thanks," he narrowed his eyes. "you are?"

Heath removed his boots, coat and winter accessories. He hung them up appropriately and Abbey did the same. "I'm sorry, I'm Heath. Heath Burns." He held out his hand.

Nugah stared at it in wonder.

"We do not do handshake, love. We give a nod." She taught, giving him a demonstration.

"Oh! Okay, cool. I can do that." He smiled. Nugah noticed that this… Heath, had a nice smile.

Heath took a moment to look around. It wasn't huge, but it wasn't exactly small either. It was a nicely sized home. Didn't exactly look like it was made of all ice either, which was probably a good thing. She giggled. "Not everything is made of ice."

He blushed. "I wasn't sure what to expect."

"You don't talk about us on your travels?" Devance leaned in the archway between the kitchen and living room, where they had just entered. He bounced a rubber ball in his right hand nonchalantly.

"Devance," Abbey glared. "this is Heath. Heath, Devance, the rude brother."

"How dare you curb his opinion before he can form one? Talk about rude." He shrugged his shoulders. "What's up, Heath?"

"Not much, a bit nervous. I apologize if it shows."

Devance smirked. "You have every reason to be nervous. Abbey is the only female child in our dwelling. You will need luck."

"Mother? Father?" Abbey called out. "Devance is annoying me already." She took Heath's hand and brought him into the kitchen where her parents were busying themselves with making one of her favorite meals for dinner.

"That confirms you are home." Kanelia said without looking up from her stove. Heath found it interesting that despite it being a cold climate, they used heat to cook food. He supposed it made sense after all. "Excuse me," she left the stove momentarily to hug Abbey tightly. "My daughter, you are home again."

Heath took a moment to notice how Abbey was almost a spitting image of her mother. Their white hair with a hint of tri-color, their posture, demeanor… it was quite similar. "Hello mother, this… is Heath Burns."

"Hello," he gave a quick nod. "pleased to finally meet you."

She gave a smile and studied him. He was tall enough, but just shorter than Abbey. It was cute. He had strong, chiseled facial features, he was lean. He cleaned up very well indeed. Certainly not who she was expecting Abbey to bring to them. "We, ahem," she attempted to get her husband's attention. "are pleased to meet you as well."

Kunchen heaved a sigh and turned around to study the boy that entered their home. Abbey tried to read her father's facial expression, but he lacked a specific one. He wasn't displaying any clues to how he was feeling, or if he was feeling anything at all towards Heath. "Welcome home, Abbey." he said finally, returning to the dinner that needed tending.

Kanelia waved him off and looked at her daughter and her… mate. "Dinner will be ready shortly, head to the living room you two."

Heath and Abbey exited the kitchen and she walked over to her husband. "You will attempt to be nice to him, yes?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders. "I am unsure of him, the clothing Abbey has chosen to wear is far too revealing. What sort of magic does he have her under?"

Kanelia rolled her eyes. "I think our daughter has never looked better. She has a chest, Kunchen… she has a bottom… where she's studying abroad, this is part of their culture. It's been her way for over two years."

"I feel like the only studying going on there, is the eyes of everyone on her physique." He chopped harder than he had been before.

"Mrs. Bloodgood is principal of the school she attends, Kun. She is doing very well in her academics." She took the sharp object away from her husband, he let out an irritated growl.

"But-"

"No Kunchen, you will attempt to be nice to this young man your daughter has chosen. That is an order." He felt a moment of outrage, how dare his wife influence how he was going to act? However, he often took her advice because she was always more level-headed than he.

"Alright. I will try."

She kissed his cheek lightly. "That is all I ask. Thank you."

He grunted in return, knowing his wife was right and hating it at the same time.

: : ~ * ~ : :

Nugah was taking in everything. His sister, her chosen mate, his parents and brother all in the living room. Attempting conversation. They knew that it was custom for those to waste their breath with words, where Abbey was studying from, so they were prepared to do as such. "What is Monster High like?" Nugah asked suddenly, he didn't recall Abbey mentioning much of anything in her letters. If she did, he didn't have the pleasure of hearing about it.

"Monster High is wonderful," Abbey began, resting her hand on Heath's knee. Both Heath and Kunchen eyed her movement. "I made so many good friends in short time."

"I see that." Devance was talking specifically about the interaction between Abbey and her mate.

She narrowed her eyes. "There are lots of extra-curricular activities and the curriculum is challenging. Exactly what Abbey wanted, then some."

Heath cleared his throat, he didn't want to sound hoarse from being silent so long. In this circumstance, he didn't mind remaining quiet. Because being quiet meant he would have less chance to screw up. "Monster High is a great school for sure! I'm not the best athlete there but I do make it onto the sports teams."

Abbey waved it off. "Heath is being modest. He does well at casketball and all other sports they do."

"So you're into sports, that's nice." Kanelia interrupted. "All the boys in our home enjoy a good game."

Heath gave a nod. "Hey, my dad and I do too. And my best friends, they'll come over and we'll have food and watch whatever game is playing on the weekend."

"What are your plans after Monster High?" Kunchen asked his daughter. "This is your last year, no?"

Abbey gulped and she took a deep breath, sharply exhaling. "I was going to apply to further my education. Mrs. Bloodgood is fine with me staying with her..."

"You're not coming home afterward? I hoped this phase was done."

"It's not a phase!" Abbey argued, now squeezing Heath's knee. He took her hand in his, which she continued to squeeze. "I do not wish to stay here in this village living a boring life until I rot."

Heath cringed and felt a nauseous pit begin to form within the center of his stomach. He never wanted to imagine something like that, especially if it had to do with his Abbey. He caressed her tense hand. He spoke to her softly. "It was only a question babe, it's alright. It'll be okay."

"This village is where you were born, this village is where you were raised. This village should be what you call home!" The volume of Kunchen's voice raised ever so slightly. Everyone in the room had a feeling the volume would escalate soon.

"What if home is not location to me?!" Abbey yelled out, glaring at her father intensely. "Home is where Heath and I choose. Not you, not mother, not these nimrods-"

"Rude." Devance commented to himself, though he understood where Abbey was coming from. She must really adore him to feel comfortable wherever he is.

Heath felt a nauseous wave hit him, he didn't want to re-taste the dinner he had. Once was very much enough. He gasped lightly when he felt aching… within his legs. He figured they might have been sore from the hike down here… but it wasn't a satisfying muscle ache after a work out. This was… different. His arms began to feel the same way. What the hell? What was happening?

He shifted his gaze to Abbey who seemed to be yelling, he then heard her father yelling, perhaps her mother too? Heath reached out and grasped at her hand, it stopped her and they connected their gaze. "Heath!"

Abbey was spooked by the fact that Heath's nose was bleeding. She hadn't dealt with such thing, as much of a klutz as he was, this was something different. "Abb...ey?"

She wiped the blood from under his nose and cradled his face both her hands. Abbey lingered a kiss on his cheek to check his temperature. Immediately, she pulled back in shock. "He's cold… Heath isn't supposed to be cold… cold is bad for him!"

Nugah had run off to get something for Heath's nose, Kanelia ran off in another direction to grab blankets. Even Devance left to try and get some heat going in here.

Kunchen was frozen in place. His heart ached as he watched his daughter begin to panic. Was she… crying?

"Heath… why didn't you tell me you were sick?" She lectured him, wiping more blood from his nose. He held on to her, but his grip wasn't very tight. She hugged him. "We would have stayed home… you would be alright…"

"Abbey… every...thing… is spin-ning." He was trying to fight off the nausea that was slowly creeping up on him. He swallowed hard. "I-I might be si-ick…"

Kanelia rushed back to the sofa with three blankets bunched up in her arms. She arranged the pillows on the sofa and Nugah came back with a warm damp cloth.

Abbey took one of the pillows and set it on her lap. "Come… rest, Heath. Right here. Abbey will not go anywhere."

Heath shakily moved to lie down where Abbey was directing him. Once he was down, he knew he would not be getting up for awhile. "I...I'm sorry..." He breathed, between shivers.

"Shh, it's alright." Kanelia draped blankets over him quickly as Abbey tucked him in with her. "It will be okay, just as you said."

"Thank you, brother." She took the warm cloth from Nugah and folded it neatly, putting it on Heath's nose. He instinctively adjusted it and pinched the bridge of his nose, hoping it would stop soon. "Shh, Abbey's right here..."

Once his nose had stopped bleeding Heath drifted off to sleep.

: : ~ * ~ : :

It had been a few hours and Abbey sat in the living room, Heath's head on her lap, nestled into a pillow. She had been clutching the ice crystal on her necklace, fidgeting with it, staring off into space. She had mittens on his hands, Devance and Nugah found lanterns that gave off heat to put around him. "He's not one of us..." Kunchen realized he wasted his breath by stating the obvious. "what is he?" His question was greeted with silence. "Abbey!"

"What?!" She roared back, she instantly filled with regret when she made Heath jump. "Shit." She cursed. "Am sorry, Heath. Shh… go back to resting..." She caressed his cheek and he settled once again. "What do you want, father?" She asked him, much softer this time.

"He is not like our kind Abbey, you go to this Monster High, what is he?" He questioned yet again.

Abbey swallowed what seemed to be a lump in her throat and she bit down on her lip. "Heath is… a fire-elemental..."

"What?" Kanelia gasped, their entire home was a snowy white tundra. "Abbey… of course, it makes sense why he needs heat… he needs heat to survive like you need the cold."

Nugah interrupted next. "Wait… he willingly came out into the bitter cold to meet your family?"

Abbey nodded, a small tear rolling down her cheek. "I… I was not light when I said that he holds a heart hostage… mine. I wanted him to meet you because… I see Heath as potential forever mate."

They were just as shocked as when they first saw him a few hours ago. "Oh Abbey… my child, you… really like him."

She was tired of them using the word 'like'. She did more than like him… she truly, deeply cared for him. He was her love. Her entire world wrapped up in a single person. The last thing she wanted was for her love… to be gone. The very thought made her tremble.

"Abbey… Kanelia, Nugah… you stay here. Devance, come with me." Kunchen ordered.

Devance looked at his sister and his heart ached for her. He had no idea she cared about him as much as she has displayed. "Father-"

"We're going to find Binsa, we desperately need her help."