Chapter 7

Storms Brewing

"Caius to what do we owe the visit, again?" Carlisle asked watching as Jane and Alec shifted slightly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kaashaa and Elyshia shift as though it was a dance and only the four of them could hear the music.

"I came to tell you to back away from Kaashaa but I see that her father must have sent Elyshia to fetch the escaped bird and bring her home," Caius answered glaring at Elyshia though not giving in to his inner thoughts.

"I got your escaped bird Caius if you get any closer or keep spouting your mouth I'm going to pull one of my sister's stunts and sneeze and forget my manners," Kaashaa answered lowly enough that not everyone heard but just the right people.

"You little..." Jane started to say only to receive a glare from Caius to remain quiet. She huffed and glared at Caius but said nothing else.

"What cat got your tongue or does Caius have your tits in his cloak little girl," Kaashaa taunted grinning evilly at Jane before turning back to Caius, "I have news for you Caius the answer was no then and the answer remains no unless you need to hear it from my older sister then please by all means sis give him your opinion of the answer," she added grinning at her sister.

Elyshia's gaze was calm, but for her eyes which swirled a warning maelstrom in Caius' direction, "I believe I gave you my opinion a decade ago with a demonstration. This time I notice your dearly to-be-departed brother isn't here to save you nor is Theron here to stop me if I have to remove you."

"I have no quarrel with you Elyshia and yes your opinion still rings with me even to this day. However, Aro wants your family to back off from the Cullens since it is they that have a quarrel with us. There is no need for your coven to be involved," Caius answered turning back to look at Carlisle.

A snort broke through the tense stared down and Caius and his group immediately backed up, "I've got news for you little vampire. The Cullens are under my protection so if you wish to leave do so otherwise as my sister reminded you there is no Theron to save your sorry carcass from either of us," Kaashaa said her eyes gleaming and the glow on her forehead revealing part of her true heritage.

"We've grown braver since our last talk, haven't we," Caius crooned trying on Kaashaa's patience and Elyshia's temper.

"You're just about to find out that I have one nerve and you little boy are pushing the do not touch button. I said LEAVE!" Kaashaa yelled her body beginning to shake uncontrollably.

"Kaash," Elyshia said, already in motion to stand between Kaashaa and Caius, her shoulders rolling, "Control your temper." She said coolly leveling a glacial stare on Caius that backed even Jane and Alec away, leaving him standing alone, "As for you," She smiled darkly, "You are sadly mistaken if we have no quarrel, you know the laws. You broke them. It's by Theron's interference you're still intact." She said and gave a pointed look at groin-level. "There's no one here with the power to stop me."

"Then it is obvious that you back those that would break our laws so casually. I will inform my brother of your intentions and allow him to talk to your father about both of your intentions to continue to be involved in something that you don't need to be involved in. As for anything else you do understand that because of the laws and what I've seen it will draw close to time to fulfill your obligations to the agreement unless you've found someone," Caius said quickly retreating back into the forest leaving everyone stunned at the last of his words with the exception of Kaashaa, Elyshia and Carlisle.

Elyshia rolled her shoulders as she gave an exaggerated stretch and looked over at Kaashaa, "You know after all these years you'd think he'd have gotten the memo that I am involved. And, frankly without my seal he's screwed and not in the happy-go-lucky way he wants to do you." She sneered, "Frankly if he forced your hand I'm going to sneeze and pretend I feel bad about it later."

"That is sister of mine if I don't punt his ass across our baseball field pretending I'm playing football. Besides what makes him think for one damn minute that I'd honor something he broke ten years ago. What an idiot," Kaashaa snorted shaking her head at Carlisle then sighing, "Well now that entertainment's gone hunting for a new act anyone hungry," she added grinning at her sister.

"Depends on what's on the menu," Elyshia's smile was dark and warning as she shook her head slightly, "I could probably be talked into something cooked rare and bloody."

"Don't be gross," Kaashaa grimaced, "Your steaks barely count as cooked."

"This side of complaining," Elyshia confirmed putting her arm around Kaashaa's shoulders, "Besides that's the best way."

"No, it's gross." Kaashaa disagreed, "I don't mind rare but you bring to a whole new level of rare."

Esme cleared her throat, "I'm sure I can find something that will appease both of you if your both hungry," she said smiling and motioning both girls inside.

Both girls followed her inside leaving the others standing outside, "Jasper come take a walk with me," Alice asked quietly taking Jasper's hand and dragging him along the lawn so as to put some distance between them and Edward.

"Darlin' what is it that has you more hyper than usual that we're taking a long walk far enough so your brother can't hear our thoughts," Jasper asked when he realized they were over five miles away from the house and almost to their quiet little rock in the woods where'd they go to have alone time.

Alice smiled and sat down on the rock motioning for Jasper to sit down beside her, "Jazzy you know I love you right?" she asked not really waiting for an answer, "I know that I love you. Have you ever felt something toward someone else someone close like a piece of you that was missing was suddenly found."

Jasper gave her a confused look, "Darlin you know I love you very much but right now your emotions are over the top and you're not making any sense."

"Jasper, you have a connection to Kaashaa and even Emmett has noticed how you two act when you're around one another," Alice pointed out.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jasper said turning toward her to take both of her hands into his, "I don't and I haven't treated her any differently than I have any of our other guests." He insisted quietly holding her gaze.

"Jasper Michael Whitlock don't lie to me. I've seen the way if you come in a room she leaves fairly quickly and if your oaf of a brother can see it then so can everyone else. I don't mind it. I think you found that missing piece of you that you didn't know was missing," Alice admonished, "Besides I approve completely. I think it's cute. Besides, if you're worried about me and my feelings, you're worrying about nothing. I told you when we met in Philadelphia that it was about time, and it was. And now, it's just a new evolution of who we are, just we're letting in someone who I think really needs us both and doesn't know it yet either." she added thumping the end of his nose before kissing it.

"Alice," Jasper whispered, feeling his emotions spinning on a violent sort of tilt-a-whirl that left him dizzy and disoriented. He shouldn't feel this way, it was so wrong and yet some part of it felt so right. It was something he'd never experienced before; a part of him longed to leap into the air with joy at her words and immediately his emotions plunged into a pool of ice-water at the thought of losing Alice. His prized and beloved Alice was his anchor in an otherwise tumultuous world, his focus and his dream made to reality by some deity too kind for his soul. Losing her would unravel his world; she was too bright, too kind and so upbeat that even the darkest nights were filled with light. "Alice, how long ago did you see this happening to us?" He asked, forcing his voice to stay steady even though he felt nothing of the sort. His hyper, cherished 'little monster' rarely missed anything that had to do with either of them and less so when it affected them both.

"Long enough ago to have gone through all of the steps you're speeding through now." Alice said wriggling one of her hands free to touch his cheek in order to put her forehead to his, "And if I had any doubt it would be anything but positive for you, I'd have found a way around it and helped stir things another direction to keep you safe."

"How can you even be sure how she feels about me, let alone for me," Jasper had to work to keep his voice from trembling, which was an unusual experience as he kept his gaze focused on Alice, "I can barely get a sense of what she's feeling for longer than a few seconds at a time, and never the same ones twice in a row. One moment she's happy and upbeat and then the next it's like being near an arctic glacier with her on top of it. The icing on it all is this overwhelming anxiety that rolls off of her in waves so sharp that it could cut into my skin," Jasper shuddered involuntarily at the earlier memory, "Earlier in the car, it was like she was emotionally dead, as in there were none from her..." He trailed off looking intently at Alice, unwilling and in part unable to hide his turmoil from her.

"Jasper, why do you think she can't stand to be in the same room with you for any length of time. She's afraid to show her true emotions. I'm just saying that nightmare she had I saw the look she gave you when you were there to help her out it. I have a feeling that Caius tried something with her and it wasn't a pleasant experience for her. If I was you I know just the person to talk to about Kaashaa and that's her sister," Alice said standing up and helping Jasper to his feet.

"That's true," Jasper said slowly, "Though I've faced down muskets, cannon balls, trains, newborns, wolves and even the Volturi, but something about that female frightens me to the core. She's definitely ... different but not like us... almost feral and as mercurial as a thunderstorm in Tornado Alley."

Alice smiled faintly, "And if you have any desire to even know if the attraction you feel is reciprocated in any fashion you're going to have to go through Elyshia first. She's tough no doubt about it, but her soft place is the bond between her and Kaashaa, there's no doubt about it, I'm not even an empath and I saw that today. Her tone, Jazzy it went from soft and gentle-like to as hard as stone a deaf man could have heard it earlier."

Jasper sighed, "Then I suppose that maybe I should catch the kitten at a good moment and my best guess is when she's full she's easier to deal with." He took Alice's hand and they walked back to house. They entered and immediately heard laughing coming from the kitchen. "Wonder if there's a way to attract the kitten's attention without getting the sister's attention at the same time," He muttered softly as Alice skipped ahead into the kitchen. He felt like he was going in front of a firing squad and being around his brothers wasn't going to help at all.

In the kitchen it was clear that they were in the presence of a far more wily and dangerous predator much the way a raptor would give way to a T-Rex in regards to a kill whether they made it or not. Elyshia and Kaashaa were sitting side-by-side with the remains of whatever Esme had made, clearly some form of steak and potato dish that had sated hunger. He forced his attention away from Kaashaa, to focus on the other. Something about her made him uneasy, much the way a T-Rex intimidated a raptor. She didn't look particularly formidable, from a physical standpoint, but she wore gloves inside which he hadn't noticed before and the way her eyes swirled with ever-changing color was almost hypnotic in a way. Deciding to take the 'safe' route - not that he thought any path was safe - he slid into one of the kitchen chairs across from the pair to listen in on what they were currently discussing instead of inserting himself into the conversation.

"Sis just what did Allie do to make you turn her pink and how much trouble did you get into?" Kaashaa quizzed her eyes turning just slightly to find Jasper sitting across from her and Elyshia. She felt that pull towards him and that need to escape like the frighten colt scared of his own shadow. She stilled herself despite the feeling in order to hear her sister's answer.

Jasper saw the flicker of recognition of the same impulse to bolt the way a young horse would when spooked in the way Elyshia arched an eyebrow but instead of calling her sister on it, merely reached for the tall glass of what looked like cranberry juice to take a sip of it first. This move prolonged the time, and gave her time to assess both in a neutral setting before speaking, "One, I didn't do anything she's the one who went snooping through my basket of dyes looking for, so she said more ink." Elyshia shook her head, "It's not my fault the lid on the carnation pink dye wasn't exactly on tight and she shook it when she picked it up and the lid flew off."

Kaashaa laughed still from time to time keeping an eye on Jasper, "That's what you get for snooping and my best guess is she was trying to start a prank war and well the only prank was on herself. I wish I'd been there to see that. Oops, excuse me sis bathroom break time," Kaashaa said finally trying to excuse herself and feed the need to get out of there before she just bolted out. She left taking what Jasper recognized as the long way to the bathroom leaving him now alone with her sister.

The glance toward the direction Kaashaa had gone and tilted her head listening for a moment before turning her attention to Jasper. The immediate feeling of being in front of a firing squad returned as she shifted slightly, "The way I figure it we have about seven minutes before she bucks up enough courage to come back down here where it's just you and me and a pretty pink elephant in the room."

"Well, um about that pink elephant as you called it, I was wondering if I could talk to you about your sister. I might have the answer to why she bolted so quickly." Jasper ventured.

"We can do that," Elyshia's answer was unexpectedly mild, as if she hadn't been the least bit surprised by his suggestion, "Just as soon as I'm sure she's not going to do something stupid like get herself caught by that narcissistic ding-bat."

"Don't worry I'll make sure that Kaashaa stays put," Alice said giggling as she called Kaashaa's name, "Hey Kaashaa I need you for a second in my bedroom I wanted you to look at this dress I got two weeks ago." She hurried up the stairs when Kaashaa's voice filtered down the answer of fine.

"I think if we're going to have this discussion we'd better make a break for it while Alice, I think her name is has Kaash busy." Elyshia suggested bluntly, though her tone seemed to take some of the sting out of her words.

Jasper nodded and led the way out the back door and toward Esme's gazebo where they could sit in some semblance of comfort, Once both were seated Jasper took a moment to gather his thoughts, "Elyshia, about Kaashaa well, she had a nightmare a couple of weeks ago and she seemed pretty upset. I know I shouldn't pry but something about her has me," He stopped not sure if he should say attracted to Elyshia or not.

One dark eyebrow rose at him, an almost knowing glint in eyes that reminded him of a twisting kaleidoscope of color as she waited for a few beats to speak. Her demeanor was mild, non-confrontational even which let Jasper breathe in a little easier, her open hostility seemed to be reserved for Caius. "Like a band-aid," She smiled, revealing sharp pointed canines as she eyed him, "It's better to say it all at once it'll be easier if you do."

"I'm attracted to your sister but something about this attraction seems to make her bolt like a scared colt anytime I'm around and the dream, she gets where it's like she's dead emotionally afterward. I wanted to talk to you see if you might give me advice I want to show her that I am attracted without running her off," He said his words coming out in a rush.

Elyshia leaned back in her seat and took a deep breath and studied him intently for a full minute then another before she spoke. "So I wasn't just picking up on scattered emotions, you both leak," She said by way of casual explanation, "A question is where do you want me to start?" She countered his inquiry of one of her own, "With what I do know about her nightmares and why she responds that way to them or how to first deal with your own attraction and how to express it without her going all spooked horse on both of us?"

Jasper took a deep breath, "I guess the last question first on how to deal with my attraction and express it without her disappearing on me." He fidgeted a little bit not a common habit with a vampire. He could feel the other's amusement in his fidgeting as well.

"Well that's gonna depend on a couple of things, not least how your hyperactive energizer bunny on crack feels about it," Elyshia said referring to Alice with a faint smile, "But if she's wanting to play dress-up I figure she's probably not pissed off about it. Which leads me to how do you deal with it?" By accepting it, whether it's a flash-point attraction or something deeper first of all. And that means putting the guilt you feel to bed." She grinned at his thunderstruck expression and continued, "Second is being yourself, which shouldn't be too hard I would think."

Jasper nodded still amazed at this woman. "I'll try to do that. What about the nightmares, she's hard to talk to afterwards but I know something's bothering her and it's like her motions turn to ice when she's around me," He continued.

"Well that tends to happen when a female, no matter their race relives the most terrifying night of their lifetime." Elyshia's voice softened though there was a knife's edge of controlled rage that sliced the softness to a fine line, "There are a few fates worse than death, and she looked one of them a hair's breadth away from reality." She said lowly and the rage ripped the softness away, "If we hadn't been able to get through that door within the next ten minutes..." she trailed off darkly, "We would be having a very different conversation."

Jasper's face showed all the horror he was feeling, "You mean Caius almost raped her." He kept his emotions in check but the major inside of him, the one that had been in control of the newborns, screamed inside of him to find Caius and rip him to pieces for daring to lay a hand on such a beautiful creature. "How far did he get?" he asked finally after several deep breaths to refocus his thoughts where they should be.

"Close enough I'd like to shave him and I don't mean his face," She said naming one of the cruelest ancient punishments in recorded history, "And close enough she'd been hand-shy with everyone with a penis that isn't Clan and therefore not stupid enough to piss Theron off or cross me." She said darkly, her eyes flashed with restrained temper, "If Theron hadn't made me stop I'd have killed him that night."

Jasper nodded his own thoughts now a whirl wind. "So how do I show her that I would never do that to her?" He finally asked concerned how to go about showing her that not all males were so cruel and heartless. He knew in his heart this might be what kept her at bay from understanding his feelings for her.

"Unfortunately that's harder to do than people might think," Elyshia's voice showed her concern, "And I'm probably the last person anyone should ask a relationship question about even a maybe-relationship question for that matter. The most important thing will be to be yourself, because if you're anything but authentic I'll know and so will she. I can say this much, I've never seen her react like this to anyone and I've known her basically our entire lives."

"She's never been truly in love?" Jasper asked amazed that someone like her hadn't at least been in love at least once in her life.

"Not the kind of love she wants and needs," Elyshia said softly, her gaze showing the concern she felt about it. "What she needs is someone who will love her as she is, not for what she can do. That's something Caius is utterly incapable of doing, one of many reasons I didn't sanction the relationship that doesn't exist except in his head."

"I don't care about her position or who's her father I just want to be with her for her that's for sure. She intrigues me. I don't truly understand why anyone couldn't love her for who she is," Jasper answered quietly his thoughts wondering from happy to utterly disgusted with Caius.

"I really don't know why that is," Elyshia shook her head, "Furthermore this law he's attempting to blackmail the Clan into something I can't and won't allow doesn't exist except he thinks he's the only one who knows he's full of shit. I'm the monkey wrench in his plans and he knows it, the problem is there's not jack nor squat he can do about my butt being in his way and I like it just like that."

Jasper nodded feeling Kaashaa's presence before she came into his view, "Hey sis was wondering where you got off to," she paused feeling the sudden awkwardness from Jasper.

"I needed of breath air and he was kind enough to sit with me," Elyshia said moving her booted foot off of the bench, "Have a seat, I don't bite, often anyway." She invited knowing that her sister most likely would, "We were just discussing among other things my dislike of the fact Caius is still breathing, sort of."

"Oh," Kaashaa said sitting carefully by her sister not quite meeting Jasper's eyes. "Yeah well your love for Caius is about like my love for brussel sprouts only I don't want to play football with the brussel sprouts and well you, we may have to invent a new kick the vampire game," she added.

Elyshia's smile widened, "Well probably since the natives here probably get a little edgy about sudden cases of flaming vampire, which by the way is a really good alcoholic drink in Siberian taverns." She added with a chuckle, "Too bad Theron still seems to think that roasting Caius is out of the question. Unlucky for Caius I'm here and Theron's not which means it's my judgment call not his."

Kaashaa laughed her eyes meeting Jasper's just briefly before she looked away, "She means it. She'd flame Caius just on the principle that he's too close to her. But I don't think Esme and Carlisle want to explain to Bella's dad why half the forest caught fire so let's not and just make plans for doing something later."

"Speaking of planning to do," Elyshia said giving Kaashaa a look, "Why didn't you tell me the nightmares were starting back up?" She wasn't angry, but concerned about the effect that frequent nightmares could have on her sister's general disposition.

"I was going to," Kaashaa said squirming, "But its spring and I know how upsetting spring is..." She trailed off as Elyshia fixed a hard stare on her, "Come on, someday I'm going to have to deal with it on my own..."

"Don't even go there," Elyshia said shaking her head with a hint of annoyance, "I told you when we were little, you were stuck with me until the end and if someone doesn't like it they can attempt to bite me before I break their teeth for it."

Kaashaa sighed, "Well it's not been as bad as it was before. You know that this is around the time," she stopped mid sentence not wanting Jasper to hear what had happened, "Besides who told you that I was having nightmares again, anyway?" she quirked an eyebrow at Jasper.

"In his defense, being an empath - which you knew already since you read the same reports I did," Elyshia said jumping in on Jasper's behalf, which in itself was something that had Kaashaa's attention since that wasn't ordinary behavior on her sister's part, "The dreams tied into another question of his which didn't give him a lot of options but to tell me. However," she leaned over and poked Kaashaa in the ribs, "You should have told me regardless of what's going on for me. I can take it, you don't have to."

"I know I should have told you sis sorry I didn't earlier," she turned toward Jasper actually meeting his eyes, "I'm grateful that you were kind enough to want to look out for my health cause the nightmares have made me sick before." It then hit her what else her sister had said, "What what other questions were you wanting to know about me?" she looked between her amused sibling and an embarrassed Jasper.

"That's between me and him at this point," Elyshia said smirking as it dawned on her what was going on between them, "What you need to know is I think you're in exactly the right place at the right time. You leave dealing with the dipstick brigade to me; I'll have more fun than you anyway."

Kaashaa shook her head, "Fine so I take it I need to leave again because he's still got questions?" She looked over and smiled realizing for the first time she was feeling something of an attraction and dare she actually label it love from Jasper. While part of her was nervous she felt herself being pulled even more toward him and it actually comforted her.

"Nah, you're welcome to stay unless that is you're leaving to get something to eat and come back," Elyshia said nudging her with one foot lightly.

"There is no way you're hungry unless you're not eating again," Kaashaa protested giving her sister a hard look, "You're doing it again, just freaking great."

"I haven't been hungry lately," Elyshia said with a shrug, it'll pass just like last spring."

"Yeah and you said that last spring and the spring before it and the spring before it too," Kaashaa answered shaking her head but since your answering questions then can I ask one then," Kaashaa added.

"You just did," Elyshia pointed out mildly, leaning back into the railing of the gazebo, "But if you've got another one, go for it."

"Smart ass," Kaashaa muttered, "My question is to both of you," she looked over at Jasper, "Why do you want to know about me Jasper and why is it I feel such a pull towards Jasper sis." She finished getting both questions in at once before pulling her feet up and tucking them underneath her.

Elyshia gave him a look and smiled, knowing she wasn't about to bail him out three in a row; she had aroused enough of her sister's suspicions with two simultaneous ones, he had to go to bat at some point and it might as well be then, "Partially curiosity," He answered, the calmness to his voice betrayed by his expression which was far less calm, "And partially to try to understand a pull I felt and some of the responses I was picking up on."

Elyshia jumped in to answer her second question before Kaashaa could pounce in with another question for Jasper, giving him time to relax again, "As for the exact pull, I don't know I haven't been here long enough to see anything clearly yet. It could be a pull for you both because you're both empaths, you slightly less so than him or it could be something else. The only way you'll get that answer is for you both to buck up and interact without wimping out."

Kaashaa nodded, "Okay so the pull is strong enough that it scares me sometimes. As for being curious about me," she paused understanding now why the pixie had made comments about needing nice clothes as well as, the other comment about Jasper being a nice Southern gentleman and it not something one sees very often anymore. "So Jasper," she paused to gather her thoughts knowing she could feel the amusement of her sister in her mind, "What about you makes you curious about me?"

"What's not to be curious about you?" He blurted the question so suddenly that even he looked startled at himself, "Other than a select few hybrids I've never met anyone like you and even that's not even that close of an approximation."

"So you're saying you're just curious about me because I'm a hybrid or you're curious because you want to find out why we seem to be attracted to each other or," she sighed, "Or just say it Jasper you're in love with me and you want to know if I feel the same way."

Uncomfortably, he fixed a steady gaze on her, "That's been part of my dilemma since you arrived here; I can't quite figure my own thoughts about you let alone my emotions for that matter. As for what they are I wouldn't insult you by saying they're one thing when they're actually another."

"So just tell me what you're feeling," Kaashaa said staring intently at Jasper. She felt his emotions plainly and the confusion was ever present first and foremost.

Jasper's attention flicked between the two women, keenly aware of the way the swirling almost chromatic eyes of the darker one were taking in every nuance of his behaviors, and the open nearly innocent quality of the fairer blond before forcing his mind to quiet and center on the words he needed, "Besides torn and confused because I can't and I won't leave Alice - she's well Alice," He said lamely as there weren't words that sufficiently summed up his feelings about and for Alice before continuing before he could talk himself out of it, "And yet when you walk in a room, or out of it," he amended wryly, "It's like looking into the sun - you know you shouldn't but you're going to do it anyway." The words came faster almost as if he stopped speaking they would falter and die away, his voice picking up speed as they tumbled past his lips. "What do I feel in no particular order about you? Confusion, attraction, possessiveness, affection, desire, protectiveness and care." A wry smile curved his lips slightly, "Does it come close to summing it up, by far not. Nor does it in my estimation come near to matching the love you deserve." He looked away from both, fighting to stay seated, "And you, of anyone I have met since my time in the army are deserving of a love that will last you a lifetime."

"Have you talked with Alice then about how you feel?" Kaashaa asked understanding the pull Jasper had toward Alice. It wasn't a sexual pull toward her that Kaashaa had but more a pull like a little sister toward a big sister. There was just something about being around the tiny vampire that made her comfortable.

Jasper nodded, "Alice and I have talked actually more like I listened and she talked." He kept his eyes adverted back toward the house now wishing the ground would swallowing him up. He didn't see the silent conversation between the two women in front of him.

"Jasper if you feel uncomfortable then maybe I should leave. I don't want you to feel torn about Alice and I don't want you uncomfortable with me being around. However, I'm not sure about the love I deserve I've never felt the way I feel about you to anyone other than love towards my family," Kaashaa said quietly.

"No," Jasper said quickly and the note of panic in his voice made it clear that he meant it, "That part is completely on me; even Alice has told me that the only one with a conflict there is me. Furthermore, you're more than deserving of that kind of love, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either a fool or jealous."

"I meant what I said too," A voice behind them said as the tiny vampire showed up out of nowhere. "I have no problem with you two being together. I feel just as protective as Jasper feels a love toward you," Alice finished smiling at both girls.

"Cart and horse," Elyshia said smirking at Kaashaa's dumbstruck expression, "Let's let them hitch the horse to the cart before they try to drive it."

"Oh I know that. By the way Esme's made you a bed up in one of the spare bedrooms when you're ready to rest Elyshia," Alice said grinning then turning and leaving heading back toward the house.

"Well guess we really should go and get some rest and let this conversation rest for another day," Kaashaa said standing up and stretching slightly waiting for her sister and Jasper to get up.

Jasper nodded, "Then shall we all retire into the house?" He offered Kaashaa a hand to help her down the steps to the gazebo, which she took lightly but dropped his hand once she was safely on the ground. "Are you coming Elyshia?" he asked turning slightly to look at the other who was still on the top step of the gazebo.

"In a moment," she answered evasively, aware that her sister saw far too much in her expression that others would miss. "I'll be along, just don't lock the door." She said hopping down the stairs to the landing and turned toward the descending sunlight.

"Just don't be too long there sis and if I don't see you before you get back have a good night," Kaashaa said motioning Jasper on toward the house as both turned and started off neither looking back at the young woman standing there.