Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind.

(If anyone notes anything odd like a chapter missing or something, please let me know. I think I may of made a goof somehow.)

Chapter 11: Breaking Away

Unsure of what troubled Avalon over Edward's strangely docile state, Nakeesha met her sisters' curious look. Her eyes had paled in comparison to the usual amusement she shared with the younger girl. It meant she lost her sisters concentration and it was focused on their new friend.

"Avalon, what are you thinking?"

Glancing down she tried to smile but failed. "About Edward's story…he's far too troubled and sad." She nodded in agreement with her. "I considered talking to a woman I met in the suburbs below, but I fear that she might not be able to handle it. She's probably in her late seventies, early eighties."

"You mean you think she knew Edward when he was a kid?"

Avalon balked slightly before meeting Nakeesha's eyes, she wasn't sure how to share her thoughts on Edward's true existence, or his actual age. She had the oddest feeling that Kim Smith knew more than she explained.

"Perhaps." It wasn't an answer and she didn't want to share her thoughts, she wasn't the only one that could overact on occasion.

"You're hiding something." Nakeesha's displeasure was shown in her expression, Avalon just smiled softly and shrugged.

"I'm only hiding because I need to be certain."

Nakeesha knew better than to argue with her sister in these moods, she would get a question with a question for hours and no straight answers. She did have something to look forward too though, if Avalon could convince her mother to let her stay the summer at the very least she would be happy. Spring break would just be a plus.

She successfully got her sister and friend to meet; now all she had to do was glumly look forward to going home and not seeing them for several weeks. She decided to go see what Edward was doing in the gardens; she needed to take her mind off her depressed mood.

In the back of the house the gardens were much larger; they stretched for almost what seemed miles. Eyeing the colorful assortment of bushes, flowers and taking note to the forest in the distance, Nakeesha had to pause. "Where do I start?" she wondered trying to make a decision on where to begin. She listened hoping, even praying she heard anything of Edward and luckily with her intense study she heard the familiar sheering sounds off to her left.

Navigating past rows of different shaped bushes, including some that looked like scenes from a fantasy garden, she found him pruning a tall fountain like bush. It even appeared to be spouting water, until she realized he had trimmed the moss and ivy around an actual fountain. A smile lit up her expression, seeing he was lost in concentration and appeared to have a few guests which she had frightened off.

Aware of the disappearance of wild life Edward paused and turned. Nakeesha was admiring his work, this particular aspect of the sisters made him feel very good about what he did and made him feel special at the same time. He moved a finger in her direction that made a soft clicking sound among his others, she complied walking to his side and peered at the fountain with interest.

Many questions had been troubling Edward that day, mostly he felt this profound need to protect both of his new friends. He could see she was in pain, secretly hiding more from Avalon than she had even shared with him. Nakeesha was a private person; her secrets were so deep they fumbled over one another to survive. She had grown to survive life instead of live it.

Suddenly aware of dark eyes staring at her she turned, within those eyes she could see the concern, the need to protect and understood much to her discomfort, Edward could see more into a person. He could see into her and she didn't like it much, not at all.

"Yes?"

She had just opened up the conversation for questions she could have avoided, she mentally cringed waiting. He just studied for a brief moment and turned back to his work, he didn't care to make her uncomfortable and chase away the first human contact he had in years. He was still very troubled by how well she hid things, how easily Avalon didn't see how much pain she was in.

He didn't realize that because he had such an intimate understanding of pain that he was almost hyper aware of theirs, he also didn't pay attention to the fact that he wasn't the only one that could see things. Nakeesha could tell he liked their company, she also was intensely aware of his need to protect her sister.

She knew assumptions were dangerous so kept her thoughts to herself, she just hoped that maybe the two people she liked most could learn to see past their own issues and move on with life.

"Ask." Edward stopped pruning the tall twisting tree nearest the fountain and glanced over at her inquisitively.

"I don't understand." He had an idea but he didn't wish to press matters, he didn't want anyone upset with him.

"You obviously have questions to ask me, best do it before Avalon comes to get me and take me to the bus station." It hadn't been meant as a jab, but his slight wince made her realize her tone was on the bitter side.

"I just have one, I don't want to press the others." She turned lifting a brow wondering why he sounded amused, it wasn't what she expected.

"What?"

"Why are you so defensive when someone understands you aren't what you seem?" her gaze lowered suspiciously before she dared to speak.

"I have to be; otherwise I wouldn't be able to deal with my life at home. I may be being childish about recent situations, but it isn't like listening to my parents and siblings bicker all the time is fun. Avalon doesn't know the half of it, I don't plan on telling her either…" she saw he was about to say more and sighed. "…she doesn't need any more blame than she already puts herself through." He silenced, Edward understood now why Nakeesha kept her secrets.

She protected her sister, this sixteen year old may have been physically that age but deep within herself she was much older and wiser.

"Who protects you?" he managed uncertain of why he asked the question.

"I protect myself." Nakeesha found she didn't want Edward's company any more, she was concerned that the quiet insightful man would eventually find out something she didn't want him too.

He was humble but was far too aware of her and it made her uncomfortable for the first time since she met him. Edward may have very well understood her much more than she wanted.