Kalakaua House.

Leia studied her face in the mirror. An unattractive purple bruise had formed on her face overnight, adding to the previously inflicted bruises that covered her ribs and arms. Leia went to grab her foundation to cover the ghastly sight, when she heard the sound of the doorbell. Placing the foundation back in the bag, Leia went to answer the door to her nephew.

Chin Ho Kelly embraced his auntie as he stepped through the door. The strapping seventeen year old was particularly close to his aunt and baby cousin, coming to collect Kono every Wednesday to take her to school. Chin immediately noticed the marked skin of his aunts eye, reaching out to sweep her hair aside to get a closer look. Leia flinched and moved away, praying to avoid any awkward conversation with her inquisitive nephew, but knowing he was fully aware of the story behind the bruising. Just as Chin was about to confront his aunt, the sound of tiny footsteps jumped down the stairs. Kono ran into her cousins arms, flinging her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. Leia smiled at the sight before her.

"you got so big surfer girl!" Chin exclaimed

Kono giggled at her cousins, caricature facial expression. " I grewed big as you Chin"

"One day little one, one day."

Kale had heard the exchange among his family members, rousing him from his sleepy state. He stood unsteadily, still wearing yesterday's clothes, the smell of alcohol still evident. Chin noticed his aunt stiffen and his cousins tiny hands clasp his neck tighter.

"Uncle." Chin acknowledged bluntly as he pulled Kono impossibly closer.

Kale nodded his head gently in acknowledgment also, grabbing a glass of water and heading upstairs to shower. Chin looked at his aunt's face, as it visibly relaxed at the loss of Kales presence. He went to speak, but Leia beat him to it.

"Make sure you walk her right into school Chin and see she gets to her classroom safely. Your mother will collect her and bring her back to yours tonight as I have a late shift."

Chin wanted to protest his aunt's crazy work load and confront her on Kale's recent actions, but knew from the look on her face that it wouldn't be a good idea. Especially in front of Kono.

"Bye bye mommy" Kono said softly as kissed her mother.

Leia sighed as the door closed behind them. She hated leaving Kono with her sister and cousins so frequently during the week. She knew it was unsettling for the young girl. Her kindergarten teachers had mentioned that Kono's behaviour could change suddenly. She would cry unexpectedly, refuse to join in with the class, and she had even hit another class mate earlier on in the week. Unfortunately for Leia, she had no other option. She wouldn't leave Kono alone with her father, and she couldn't cut back hours as they needed the money. Leia stiffened when she heard the stairs creek.

"I'm going out. Don't expect me back anytime soon." Kale sneered, as he wrapped his arms around Leia's waist. Squeezing hard enough to cause pain. Leia held back the moan of pain, as she watched her husband leave the house.

Kelly household.

Chin walked through his front door at six that evening after football training. He smiled as he saw his cousin cramming a chicken nugget into her mouth in one go. For someone so tiny she could pack away the food. Chin placed his bags on the floor as he kissed his mother's cheek and greeted his father and sisters. Kono glared at him when she noticed him in the room, realising he had said hello to everyone else first. He grinned at her as he approached, kneeling down in front of her and hugging her close. He noticed she sat alone at the dining room table, facing away from the television. Unusual for Kono, as she normally persuaded her aunt Layni to allow her to eat on the couch.

"She misbehaved at school today." Layni stated simply, having seen her son's curious eye.

Chin frowned at his mother's words. Noticing Kono drop her head and push her food around on her plate.

"Come Kono, let's get you bathed and ready for bed." Layni said soothingly. She was very well aware of her sister and niece's circumstances, understanding the change in Kono's behaviour, but still not condoning her actions.

Kono jumped from her seat, not looking her cousin in the eye, and grasping her aunt's hand. Despite being only four, it was clear Kono hated to disappoint Chin.

Later that evening

"So what did she do?" Chin questioned his father as they ate there food.

"Hit another student in the face, also using some hefty expletives." Kam said with just a hint of anger, directed at his brother in law.

Chin sighed. His baby cousin was so young and impressionable. She looked up to those around her, always wanting to do well. Chin realised the affect her home life was having on her and he knew it wasn't fair.

"Dad, someone has to help aunt Leia. Clearly she needs it."

"It's not that easy son. Leia won't leave Kale, god knows why, but there is only so much we can do. Your aunts very independent and hates to ask for help."

"He's hitting her. She said it happened once and it was a mistake, but it's not. Clearly she's been hiding the bruises but I saw them on her face this morning." Chin pleaded.

Kam didn't know what to say, as he looked his son in the eye.

Layni returned at that moment, with Kono in her arms, wrapped in a fluffy white and blue dressing gown, her head resting on her aunt's shoulder.

"She wants a story before bed, but only her Chin can read it apparently." Layni giggled.

Chin smiled, standing to take Kono in his arms. She immediately snuggled into the crook of his neck, sobbing softly. Chin, Layni and Kam crowded around Kono, stroking her hair away from her face and asking what's wrong.

"I, I, I'm sowie" Kono hiccupped, snuggling deeper into Chin's arms.

Kam lifted his nieces chin to look him in the eye.

"sweetie, we love you no matter what, and so does mommy. You know what you did today was wrong we don't need to tell you that. Why don't you and Chin go upstairs and read a story and get some sleep. Sound god?"

Kono nodded her head, with a hint of a smile showing. Chin took his cousin upstairs, and read to her, where she swiftly fell asleep in his arms.