Tanya blinked her eyes several times, watching Eleazar march down the hallway with Maddie in tow and then descending the stairs. Maddie wasn't fighting back or complaining, she just stumbled along.

Her heart broke for her niece and she felt that the girl might just need someone to hold her until she'd be able to let go of her pent up emotions. Eleazar was taking action, he was doing something, which was a good thing, but the blonde was scared of what he might do.

"What? Hey! El-"

"It's okay, I think he knows what he's doing," Carmen said calmly, walking up to Tanya and coming to a halt right next to her.

"Didn't you hear what he said?" she queried in disbelief, but did not wait for an answer. Instead, she hurried after them.

They were already out the door when Tanya had made it to the stairs, and just before she could descend, Carmen spoke again.

"Don't disturb them now, Tanya, please. Just watch them from the living room, you can still go outside if you think something's wrong."

"Oh, trust me, I will," she retorted while making her way downstairs, then walked up to the window front facing their large back yard. She had a clear view of the wood shed from here, and could see the two still marching towards it.

Tanya was nervous – she did not know what Eleazar had planned for the girl. She trusted him, of course she did, but she wasn't sure if he fully understood the situation.

Maddie had destroyed furniture out of anger or frustration, just what Tanya had expected to happen ever since she had entered the house. She refused to talk about what was tormenting her in her mind, and now she hadn't been able to contain it any longer.

This was the right moment to talk to her and find out what was going on, show understanding for her outburst, not just punish her for breaking some meaningless pieces of furniture. Everything could be replaced, it actually was no big deal. She wanted her to open up and confide in them, because that was the only way they would actually be able to help her. Not punish her for her desperation.

Maddie was still young, not very experienced and she didn't know how to handle intense emotions. Especially when they were caused by something she couldn't or didn't want to talk about, being harsh with her would be nothing but counterproductive.

But why didn't she trust them enough to tell them what's going on? Tanya had thought about that again and again and was convinced that fear was holding her back. The fear of someone or of consequences for someone, maybe she would betray someone's trust if she'd talk about it? Or risk to be in a lot of trouble?

They had reached the shed and Tanya tensed.

Eleazar let go of the girl's arm and opened the door, pointing a finger at her in warning to make her stay where she was. The girl was still so shocked, she did not move from the spot.

Then he emerged a moment later, something long and wooden in his hand.

Was that a club?

Eleazar led the girl by her arm out the house and they headed for the old shed. She didn't show any reaction at all, no crying or whining, no desperate apologies and no digging her heels into the ground and trying to twist her arm free of his grasp.

She either knew what he had planned and was okay with it, or she had no idea and was still too shocked to actually express herself and show or tell what she was feeling at the moment.

He stopped in front of the door and let go of her, quickly opened it only to turn back towards her again and point his index finger at her. "Stay where you are," he ordered, then disappeared into the shed to look for what he needed.

He found the item, picked it up and walked back outside again.

Maddie had not moved, she hadn't even breathed. He doubted that it was from nervousness or anticipation, no, she was still in a kind of trance. Looked like her mind was completely blank.

He pitied her, but a simple hug would not fix this now. This was something deep, some gashing wound that a simple band-aid of hugs and kisses couldn't heal. She needed to let go of it first before he could offer her a shoulder to cry on and an open ear. Oh, and some special Eleazar advice, of course. He knew he would be able to help her eventually.

"Here," he said casually and held the axe out for her to take.

She looked at the item in his hand, then slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. It took a moment until the tiniest of frowns appeared on her forehead.

"Take it," he just said and offered it to her again.

Maddie slowly reached out and took the axe by the handle that he was holding towards her, and then she just stared at it like she had no idea what it was and what it was good for.

"You know what to do," he remarked, but the questioning look in her eyes almost made him shake his head in disbelief. Wood shed - pile of wood - axe.

Maddie still needed a moment.

Did he want her to chop him up? Or just attack him so he could strike back?

She had absolutely no idea what he wanted from her.

With a little smirk he shook his head, then took a few steps to the side and grabbed a wooden log.

He placed it on the chopping log to her left side, then took a step back and placed his hands on his hip, waiting for her to start.

But when she did not move, he motioned towards it.

"Get started," he said to her and nodded his head in an encouraging way.

That didn't seem to help her along. "What do you want me to do?"

He suppressed a groan. She wasn't dense, but this was just a very odd question considering what lay in front of her and what she was holding in her hands. At least she was talking and back in the here and now. "Chop wood. I want you to chop wood."

She blinked at him. "Why?"

"Because you, my girl, have a lot of pent up anger and aggression in you. Take it out on the wood, not your furniture. Chop it, rip it apart, turn it into saw dust, I don't care. Just do something."

He must think she was so stupid, but Maddie still did not wield the axe. She stood there motionless. "I don't want to."

Eleazar thanked the heavens that she was finally coming around and unfroze from her state, but was not too fond of her immediate obstinacy. After everything she had done just mere minutes ago in her room, he felt that this reaction of hers was not very smart. He wasn't going to force her to chop the wood, but he would have expected her to be a bit more cooperative now and less defiant.

"Too bad, we'll be out her all night then. And tomorrow, and maybe even the day after that."

Maddie cocked her head to the side. "Are you kicking me out?"

He blinked his eyes in disbelief, not having expected to have her ask a question like that. It had never crossed his mind to send a child away, especially not a child in need. Ever since she arrived, they all felt that something was off. She wouldn't talk about it, which in fact only confirmed their assumption. She needed them, now more than ever, and they would do their best to help her through it.

"Does it look like I'm kicking you out? Of course not. I merely want you to chop wood, preferably now."

"Why?"

"Why? I already told you."

Slowly she turned to the side, and after a moment of hesitation lifted the axe and let it fall onto the log.

It fell off.

"Don't do that. I know that you know how to do it correctly. I showed you when you were younger," he admonished, picked up the piece of wood and placed it back on the chopping log.

"Concentrate."

She released a breath, then lifted the axe back in the air and let it fall down on the upright piece of wood. It looked similar to her first try, but this time she was determined and put some effort into it.

It split in half.

"Well done," he praised. "Grab another piece."

Maddie gave him a long look, but when he didn't relent, she marched over to the pile, grabbed a piece and placed it on the log.

It also split in half when Maddie hit the axe down on it.

And the dark haired man was proud of himself. She seemed more at ease now as she had something to focus on, something to take her mind off of her sorrow, and he knew that they were slowly getting somewhere. Or maybe not.

With the axe in her right hand, she now looked at Eleazar again.

"Continue."

She did not move.

Now he frowned again. Maddie did not move, but looked like she was expecting something. Whether it was good or bad, he wasn't sure. "What is it? Grab another piece and continue."

"I think you should kick me out instead." She looked dead serious.

"Why would I ever do that? You will stay here and chop wood like I told you."

"Please kick me out."

"Madelina, no me vengas con pamplinas." He was growing impatient now. This was not up for discussion - Maddie was supposed to work off some of her frustration, right here, right now. But instead, she basically asked him to abandon her. She should know him better than that.

"But this is boring," she whined in response and flung the axe in his direction.

It landed right next to his left foot, the blade buried deep into the ground. His jaw clenched for a moment, but then he decided against berating her about throwing things at people. Because now, the true reason was revealing itself. She was being her stubborn old self and decided that she didn't like physical labour.

"Destroying your interior is more entertaining to you, huh?"

She swallowed and averted his gaze. "I'm sorry."

"I don't think you're sorry, because if you were, you'd do as you're told."

Maddie distorted her mouth at his logic, but eventually sighed and grabbed another log from the pile.

"You'll never get finished with this speed, but by all means, take your time."

He turned around and walked back into the shed, then came back out with an old wooden chair and a book wedged under his arm.

He placed the chair next to the door then sat down in it, crossed his legs and opened the book.

"Stop staring at me and continue with your work," he admonished when she just didn't move and he could feel her eyes on the book in his hands.

"What happens when I'm finished?" She was biting her bottom lip, nervous while she was waiting for an answer.

"Then you are finished obviously," he replied and shrugged one shoulder while still reading his novel. "If you need more wood, I will gladly bring you more."

"This pile is huge."

"I'm just offering."

"Eleazar, I'm really sorry."

"Don't apologise to me, you damaged your own furniture," he explained to her, then added, "And I'm not going to replace it."

This was important. He would not buy a new one, or try to fix the broken one. No, he wouldn't spent a single cent on what she had just destroyed with her own hands. He did not care if it had happened on purpose or out of boredom, for example, or to vent her anger. He did not care if it had happened accidentally and if she wouldn't remember clearly - it was broken, Maddie did it, and he would not come and replace it. She wouldn't learn anything from it. Besides, a shelf was not essential for life.

His reaction hurt her. She knew she deserved it for being so short with everyone at home, not telling them why she was so withdrawn, but after this immense shock in her room and scaring herself by acting out like that, she would have liked to have someone hold her. Or at least be a little nicer.

"Are you mad?"

"No."

Maddie wasn't sure if she could believe him - he sounded mad and she didn't know how to deal with it. People had been mad at her countless times, but it made her feel kind of forlorn now. "So you're not going to smack me when I'm done with this?"

"No. But I might if you don't stop stalling. This pile doesn't chop itself, so make an effort."

Quickly she reached for the next piece.

"I'm a girl, you know," she tried to start a conversation again.

"Yes," he said. "I know that."

"Girls don't chop wood."

He gave a short laugh. "Spoilt girls like you don't, but other girls do."

"I'm not spoilt..." she countered, before adding a muttered, "I wish I was though."

"You wish?"

He knew she would have blushed if she were still human. Apparently her little remark hadn't been meant for his ears. But she swallowed her embarrassment and tried to explain. "If I was, I would get my will, always. I don't ever get to do what I want, I just get pushed around and yelled at."

That little piece of information reminded him of something and he couldn't keep himself from asking. "Are you referring to Tanya?" They had been arguing a short while ago, and while he wasn't entirely sure what it was about, he guessed that she was referring to that.

Maddie shook her head.

Oh.

"Do you feel that I am pushing you around or yell at you?"

Maddie could see that in his mind he was going through past arguments and how he had treated her to see if he had maybe been too harsh with her.

"No," she dismissed his worries and shook her head. "Well, you sometimes yell a little bit... but I always know why."

Of course she knew why. He only ever raised his voice with her when she was in the middle of doing something she was not supposed to do. Or when he found out that she had not followed the rules and instead just done whatever she felt like. She didn't care whether it was dangerous for her, or something that might draw attention. Sometimes it was just plain disrespect, like taking and damaging something that wasn't hers, or simple backtalk.

"Who is yelling at you for no reason? Or making you do things you don't want to do?"

She look right back at him, her eyes somewhat distraught. He could see that there was an inner battle going on as she was probably deciding on whether to tell him or not, and in the end she just shrugged her left shoulder and turned around.

"Maddie? Talk to me. Who is treating you that way?" He was alarmed. He was getting closer to the truth as she was just about to open up about what had chased her away from her family and forced her to come to Denali. Not that Denali was bad, but the sudden necessity of her getting away from them was odd to say the least.

"No, just forget that I said anything. I should have never brought it up."

He got up from the chair, dismissed his book and came over to her, placing his heavy hands on her shoulders. He tilted his head a little to meet her eyes when she looked up at him. "You brought it up for a reason. All I want is to help you."

And she looked to the ground. "I'm good, no need to bother." Then she shrugged his hands off.

"Girl," he breathed and rubbed his right hand over his forehead, "you are giving me grey hair, do you even know that?"

"You always had that grey lock, it has nothing to do with me."

His hand shot up to his jet back hair, like he could find the mentioned lock just by touch. He'd have Carmen check the back of his head for grey hair later, but now it didn't matter.

"Let me know when you need anything, all right? There is not a single problem in the world that we cannot solve, Maddie." And with that, he returned to his chair and picked up his book only to take up his previous occupation.

"Can I take a break?" she asked the moment he sat down.

"¡que no!"

"But I need one."

"No, you don't."

She cocked her head to the side, looking at the book in his hand. "What are you reading?" She loved to distract people when they wanted something from her. Especially when that something was work.

He glanced at her, then continued to read. "Just a novel," he replied casually.

Maddie bit her lip. She tried to evade the work lying in front of her, but she also needed something to keep her occupied. She clearly remembered what had happened upstairs in her room, remembered the voice she heard, the sudden anger. She remembered using destruction as an outlet, and she remembered that Eleazar had came to her and was trying to help and distract her. He could continue to do so. "Is it any good?"

"I read it many times."

Why was he so short with her? Just chopping wood wouldn't distract her enough, she needed more. "What's it about?"

"About what happens to girls who ask too many questions and refuse to do as they're told."

Maddie distorted her face. A sense of fear was suddenly washing over her, and while she did not know where it was so suddenly coming from, she desperately needed some reassurance to make it go away. "El... would you send me away?"

"No, never. Why do you ask?"

"I mean... against my will."

"Like I said, no." He frowned. Her questions sounded like she was scared... scared of losing a place to be? Of losing them? It sounded like she thought they'd part in anger, but no matter what she'd do, they wouldn't turn their backs on her.

Against her will... getting sent away would always be against your will, or it would be called leaving.

No, she was asking something different, she just didn't use the right words for what she actually meant.

Eleazar realised that there was a connection between her behaviour, her leaving home and her questions just now. She wasn't straight forward about what was bothering her, but now he had enough information to have an inkling of what kind of battle was going on inside of her.

She was asking if they would let her be taken away, even though she wanted to stay. She was asking how they would react if someone else would want her to leave Denali, against her will.

There weren't many people who could want that. Humans had no say in her life, and her siblings did not have that authority about her to decide for her where she'd belong.

This was about Carlisle and Esme, and that was why she refused to talk to them. She wasn't angry with them - she was scared.

"Maddie, if you'd ever be in any real danger, we protect you. No matter from whom or what, remember that. Always."

"But what if you don't have a say in it? When it doesn't matter what you think?"

"Don't worry about that, we got you through your newborn years and we've done a very good job if I might say so myself. We, too, have a say in your whereabouts, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. But first and foremost: You decide."

"Promise me."

He started smiling. He should get an award for connecting the dots and getting the girl to open up, even if it was just a little bit. "I promise that you are safe with us and we won't ever let anything bad happen to you."

"I think I'll chop some more wood," she replied with an air of relief around her. The atmosphere had changed, it wasn't as tense and suppressing anymore, but the worst seemed to have passed. Maddie was getting better.

"I'll help you," he said and put the freshly split wood into a wheelbarrow so that they could stack it later at the side of the shed.

Thank you guys so much for reading and reviewing and Merry Christmas Everyone!