There are so many voices that need to be heard in this scene, but I didn't want to tell it more then once. So it moves fast and switches quick. I hope it works.

Guest,

Thank you for the review. No that request was not to greedy. I hope this chapter lives up to all expectations.

You know how it goes... mistakes mine, Skins not.

"You wait here. Once we see it is just her then you come out."

"She has no idea who you are, or any reason to trust you."

"I will explain it to her. I have to know you are safe."

This was the same discussion, no argument, that's what it was an argument, that we had on the boat, on the bus, and now for the last half hour standing behind the roses in front of the Empires Hotel. It was so cute, she was worried about me. I know she had been having nightmares, she didn't talk about them and I didn't ask but if I had to guess they were about this meeting.

...

I don't think I really got her to agree, but she was going to go along with the plan. I hoped. I had to know she was safe, and that I had done every thing I could to make that so. This would not end like my dreams. It just couldn't. I pulled her close kissed her and then worked my way around the roses and toward the main walkway. I stopped in the middle of the walkway that lead up to the hotel and started looking around. This shouldn't be that hard, I mean she looks like Emily with brown hair.

After about five minutes I came to conclusion that I probably looked like I was waiting to jump someone, so with one quick glance around I walked down towards the water. I turned, looked back and there she was, Emily but not Emily. Replace the red hair with brown, the trainers with very high heals, add animal prints and a lot of attitude, even from here it looked like it was turned all the way up to eleven.

I slowly started back towards her. She looked past me as I approached, and was almost facing me when I stopped next to her.

"Katie?"

…

Standing just inside the front door of the hotel I had good view of the walkway down to the water front. No sign of Emily but there had been a blonde about my age milling around being very suspicious. She turned and headed for the harbor so I started down the steps to see where she was going. As I got about half way down the walk she turned and came back. I stayed put to see what she would do. She walked right up to me and called me by name.

You are not my sister. I don't see my sister. And as far as I know we have never met, yet you know my name. Game on bitch.

Dad had taught us how to defend ourselves. Neither Emily or I were big enough to be intimidating or win an all out brawl, but he made sure we knew how to handle an unwanted advance.

A fight in the middle of the street was not the best way to solve things, a harsh word and a not so veiled threat often went a long way. But this time something more was required. I needed to know where my sister was and that she was okay.

I reached out an grabbed her by the thumb and slipped my arm under her hand so as I pulled down it rolled her hand outwards and used her hand as leverage against her.

"You have about 2 seconds to explain your self, and if you have hurt my sister that hand will be the least of your worries."

…

"Do you think she will hurt your blonde friend?"

I had been standing there totally alone and then her voice came out of nowhere; I almost jumped right through the roses. I turned and looked into the piercing eyes of the person standing next to me. 'Where did she come from? She wasn't there a moment ago.'

"Based on the kiss I saw you share you might want to stop your sister before to much damage is done," she tilted her head towards the scene being play out on the other side of the hedge.

It was all I could do to look away. And even then I had to keep looking back to see if she was really there.

"It's okay, I am a friend of Katie's."

I wasn't sure I really believed her; those eyes were still creeping me out.

…

She looked back and forth between the blonde and I about three times and then finally made her decision and ran for the end of the hedge. About half way there she had the presence of mind to yell at her sister.

"KATIE STOP"

Based on the look of pain on the blonde's face, that had caused Katie to twist her hand a little more. I had guessed Katie was not one to mess with, but I filed away the ease with which she had disabled the girl in front of her. Emily ran up to her sister and started trying to get her to release the other girl. This was going to end badly if they didn't tone it down.

I started around the roses before it escalated further.

…

I heard her voice and turned in that direction, ignoring the yelp from the blonde. Emily looked none the worse, but I was still not letting go until I was sure of what was going on.

"Katie, let her go!"

"Please, that hurts."

"Quiet, or it will hurt a lot more."

"Katie let go of my girlfriend!"

" What?!"

I still did not release my grip. At some point Effy moved up beside the three of us and tried to be the voice if reason.

"At least two of you are holding foreign passports and are standing in front of one of the more expensive hotels in this city, less then two blocks from the provincial capitol, making a scene. Would you like to rethink this?"

She did have a point, not that I was ready to let this go.

I gave the blonde one final look to make sure she knew who was boss, and then let go.

…

I tried to work some feeling back in to my thumb, and make sure she had not dislocated it. Katie gave me this look like she ruled the world. I gave her my best "get over your self" look, and then checked to see that Emily was alright. Next my eyes fell on the thin brunet standing between the twins. Her eyes were the most striking part of her looks at first glance.

We all just stood there for a few moments trading looks, and stares. Each trying to establish a standing within the group. I tried to brake the silence, "So this must be Katie, I am Naomi."

"Whatever," rolling her eyes at me. "Em are you alright?"

"Yes Katie. You could be a little nicer."

"It's okay Emily, she has no reason to trust me yet."

"Wow you are smarter then you look... Em does your friend know how to be quiet?"

"That is enough Katie. I did not run half way around the world because of you to be treated like this. Noams, we are out of here." She turned and started to walk away. Katie just watched her sister in disbelief while the other one gave me this creepy look with a half grin like it was all some big joke. I started to follow when Katie called out to her sister.

"Emily, I'm sorry. Please wait."

Emily stopped and turned towards Katie with her arms crossed, and a look that could melt stone. I made a quick check that I was out of arms reach of Katie. "So far you have hurt, insulted and belittled my girlfriend. While I appreciate the apology it is Naomi you need to say sorry to."

"Alright. Naomi, I am sorry. But it still stands, if you have hurt or do hurt my sister they will find you floating in that harbor."

"Katie..."

"No Em, it's okay. She is just looking out for you."

"Well if that is settled," I think we all jumped. She had been so quiet we had almost forgotten she was there. "Shall we go in? We have a table reserved for tea."

I couldn't take it any longer I had to know. "Who are you?"

"Effy. We share a place in Vancouver. She tried to steel my boyfriend." She turned and headed towards to hotel.

Emily and I traded looks of confusion, while Katie's air of superiority melted. Emily gave her that "what the fuck?" look she had used on me. Katie's response was simply "It's a long story."

We all turned and followed Effy into the hotel. She walked up to and had a quick conversation with the hostess and then turned to us as we approached.

"The reservation was for three, but we seem to be four. They are fixing the table."

Almost as she finished speaking the hostess returned and showed us to our table. Katie sat across from Emily while I was seated across from Effy. As soon as she got her barrings back Emily looked across at her sister and asked, "You share a place in Vancouver?" Effy seemed to find it all too amusing, but did not laugh out loud, or offer any help in explaining.

"It's Effy's place, she is just letting me stay there."

"And you stole her boy friend?"

"Well yes and no. I did go out with him, but they couldn't figure out they were together." Katie continued and told her story of what had happened since they last saw each other in London.

Emily and I shared the story of our travels, less some of the more private moments.

Towards the end of the meal Katie asked the question that would start another long conversation, "Do you think we can go home?"

"We have some news from home, and a possible solution," Emily replied.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are always welcome. Let me know if I made it to hard to follow who's eyes we were looking through.