Thursday (Day Fourteen):

"Everly…Everly…Everly…"

Everly shifted in her sleep, pulling the blankets further over herself. She was so comfortable and so warm and couldn't remember the last time she had a proper sleep. She felt like a cinnamon bun.

"Everly….Everly…Everly Camille Algren. Get. Up. Now!"

At the violent shaking, Everly cried out and shot out of bed, struggling against her attacker, kicking her legs and swinging her arms. Not again…

"No, no! Everly, Everly, stop, it's me! It's Vanessa! It's Vanessa!"

Hearing her friend's voice, Everly stopped struggling as Vanessa seized her wrists. Her heart was pounding against her chest and she could feel herself shaking all over as her breath came out in pants.

She blinked furiously as Vanessa's face came into her blurry vision and she blinked a few times to clear the sleepy haze.

"I'm sorry!" Vanessa said, releasing Everly's wrists, holding her hands out and showing her palms, "I forgot. Are you okay?"

"Oh, gosh," one hand went to Everly's heart and the other went to rub her eyes, "Um, yes," she breathed, "Yes, yes, I'm fin—wait!"

More panic seized her and her head whipped around to her alarm clock. It was 10:30AM. Vanessa was here—here in her bedroom and not in the hospital.

"Wait!" she turned back to Vanessa and started to cry, "Why are you here!? Oh—no, what—

"No, don't start!" Vanessa cut her off, "Listen, Kit's fine. Didn't I say I would call you? Look, we have a—

"Then, why are you here!?" Everly interrupted, looking around frantically. Indigo was no longer beside her and neither was Blake. She couldn't hear the shower running, either.

"Esme is with her," Vanessa snapped, "Indi's at school. Where's Bl—

"You left her!?" Everly yelled. She wiped away tears and tossed aside her blankets, rolling out of bed, "How could you do that!? You were supposed to stay!" she ran to her dresser and yanked the first one open, "I should have stayed, I knew it, I knew—

She gasped when Vanessa grabbed her shoulders and shook her. Hard. Knocking the breath out of her and stopping her tirade.

"Shut up!" Vanessa snapped and Everly wrapped her hands around Vanessa's wrists to steady herself, "Kit is fine. Esme is with her and it's not like she hasn't been alone with Kit before."

"That's not the point!" Everly growled back and she felt like she was going to cry again. She liked Esme and Everly thought that they got along really well, but it was the principal. Vanessa had promised to stay until she or Blake came back.

"No, listen to me, Everly, I mean it!" Vanessa said firmly, "Look at me. Now, I'm being serious!"

'So am I,' Everly thought, but held her tongue.

"What?" she demanded bitterly, continuing to eye her dresser. She had never been able to think this straight before and her head didn't hurt as badly.

"Where's Blake?" Vanessa asked, "Something's come up."

Everly glanced at her bedroom door, "I don't know. I'm assuming he's…" she shrugged, "At work or making breakfast. I've been sleeping. Why?"

Vanessa shook her again, but much more lightly, "No, I need to know where Blake is. Work or making breakfast!?"

"Um, breakfast?" Everly guessed. She could feel a headache coming on, "I really need to go to the hospit—ahh!"

Vanessa had yanked on her arm and was dragging her down the hall, towards the stairs.

"Be quiet and don't say anything," Vanessa warned, "Don't freak out and just—I'll stall Blake."

Everly sighed at her friend's odd request. She was still so tired. Indigo had been so happy when she had gone to Melody's front door. Upon seeing her mother, Indigo had cried, Everly had cried and Blake got a little teary.

Everly had missed Indigo very much, even if it didn't come across that way. That night, Indigo had slept between both her parents and seemed in much better spirits.

After much begging, pleading and a borderline temper tantrum, she had agreed to take Indigo to the hospital, but she would have to wait until Friday, after school. Everly didn't want to take Indigo on another weekday and have her get upset at school. At least, over the weekend she would have time to ask questions and come to terms with what she saw.

Everly would have to explain to Indigo that it might be scary and that she didn't have to go in if she didn't want to. Making Kit a card would be just as good as Indigo going into the room.

"Vanessa," she frowned, "I really don't have time for…for…"

She trailed off slowly, her mouth dropping open as she stepped off the last step, her eyes widening so big, it was painful.

"Wha—what—how did—I don't—

Marcus Algren smiled warmly at her and Everly had to grasp Vanessa's shoulder to keep from falling over.

She stared at Marcus open mouthed. Her brain formulated no thoughts other than to register that she was shocked and too tired to deal with this. It was too much for her and she forced her mouth closed, looking at the floor, then up at Vanessa.

"How could you?" she whispered. Deja vu hit her and she recalled Blake whispering the same thing to her.

Vanessa's eyes widened, "No, no! I-I didn't—

"I showed up at the hospital on my own accord," Mark interrupted smoothly, "I can explain everything—

Everly didn't listen and walked right past Marcus and Vaneesa to go into the kitchen, the latter's whispered protests.

Sure, she had been the one to suggest that Blake call his family, but that had only been a couple of days ago and Blake hadn't wanted that. As his wife, she respected his decision and could see how uncomfortable it made him. So, she had dropped the subject.

There was a reason Blake didn't talk to his family anymore.

"Blake," she said and he turned from his place at the stove, surprised.

"Darling!" he went to hug her good morning, "What are you doing up? I wanted you to sleep in."

She smiled grimly, "I did. It's almost eleven."

"Yes, but I wanted you to sleep in more," Blake clarified, "I really wanted you to rest and I was going to bring you breakfast."

"How sweet," Everly drawled, "Thank you."

"Sit down," Blake urged, kissing her temple, "Try to relax for a little bit. Then, we can go to the hospital, okay?"

But Everly remained where she was standing, "Your brother is here."

Blake wasn't looking at her, but setting silverware on the table when she said this.

"I don't know what that means."

Everly sighed softly, "Right now, I mean. I swear, I didn't call him. Marcus is here. In the living room with Vanessa."

She figured it best just to tell him. It was better than Blake walking out into the living room with no warning. She wanted to be the one to tell him. Alone. And she wanted him to know that she would never betray him like that. She had not called Marcus.

The silverware in Blake's hand fell, clattering loudly against the floor. The sound made Everly wince.

"What?" he whispered. His face had paled and he still wasn't looking at her.

Everly didn't say anything and went to place her hand on his back, but Blake jerked away from her.

"Don't."

She couldn't keep the hurt from her face, "Blake, please," tears welled up in her eyes, "Vanessa brought him over and she came upstairs to wake me up. I didn't know. Blake…" she said his name desperately.

"I don't have time for this," Blake made no move to pick up the silverware, "It's been two. Weeks."

"I-I know," Everly gasped and wiped tears from her cheeks, "I'm aware."

Finally, Blake moved from the table and Everly saw that his fists were clenched. In one sweep, Blake had moved his arm, sending the plates and silverware that had been laid out crashing to the ground.

Everly jumped and took a few steps back. The noise had scared her, but she wasn't afraid. Blake had never hit her or laid a hand on her or their children. He had never slammed doors or yelled at her.

So, she understood the violent reaction. With everything going on, Blake's brother dropping in like that was something his brain couldn't handle.

Biting her lip, she mumbled, "Those plates were a wedding present."

Blake choked out a sound that was in between a sob and an unwanted laugh. He brought a hand up to cover his eyes and pressed his lips together.

Everly stepped forward again and this time, Blake allowed her to comfort him as he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight.

Blake was so beat, Everly knew. He had to be way more tired than she was. Not only did she know he wasn't sleeping, but he wasn't eating a lot. He was still working and was stressed out all the time, worrying over everything and everyone. He was the one handling the legal stuff and trying to figure out a plan for after all of this.

It troubled her. What if he had a heart attack?

"I'll tell Mark to leave," she told him, "Then, why don't you go rest and I'll bring you breakfast. How does that sound?"

"No," Blake declined and Everly pulled back to look at him, "You should go to the hospital. "I can talk to him," he said and sniffled, "I'll talk to him."

For once, Everly actually hesitated. She was scared to go. What if Blake snapped and beat Mark to a pulp? Then, he'd get arrested, be sent to prison and he wouldn't do well in prison.

"You don't have to force yourself," Everly said, "We have a lawyer. If it's too much, right now, then that's fine. How many times have you told me to take care of myself? Well, you have to take care of yourself, too."

She hated how small her voice sounded. She had meant to sound firm and strong.

"Trust me, I will be," Blake assured her, "Telling Mark to get out of my house is just what I need."

Everly closed her eyes when Blake began to rub circles into her shoulders.

"Okay," she whispered, "I love you."

She felt Blake move closer to her and gasped when his lips pressed against hers.

"I love you too," he mumbled against her lips, "C'mon."

Everly let him take her hand and, breakfast forgotten, they went out to the living room, where Vanessa was still standing with Mark. Neither looked like they had particularly enjoyed each other's company.

She looked up at her husband, fearing he'd lash out again, but she was surprised to see that he was looking down at her, his face grim.

"You and Ness should head to the hospital," he suggested.

Everly opened her mouth to protest, but it was cut off when Blake kissed her head.

"Go ahead, darling," he urged, "I want you to go and be with Kit."

Again, Everly hesitated. Barely half an hour ago, she had been so frantic to get to the hospital and now she was trying to stall.

When she didn't move, Blake's smile became tighter, "Tell Kit, that I promise I'll come by later. I promise. I promised Indi I'd pick her up from school."

This eased some of Everly's nerves and she nodded, "I'll tell her," she said firmly, "And I'll see you later."

"Yes," Blake nodded and Everly inched towards the door, allowing Vanessa to gently touch the top of her arm.

"I love you," Everly reminded.

"I love you too," his voice was raspy.

Mark said nothing to her as she passed to leave the house and she blinked back tears, pressing her lips together as she closed and locked the door.

Hate and enmity welled up in Blake's heart, anger boiled deep in his system and his hand twitched by his side, with the urge to punch the person standing across from him. The pressure of this anger would force him to do things that he would regret.

Because he had told Everly to promise his little girl—both of his little girls—that he would see them later.

In conclusion, he could not punch Mark in the face.

"I swear," Blake said, his voice trembling, "If you don't get out of my house, away from my family, you'll regret it."

Mark nodded slowly and he rocked back and forth on his heels before he put one of his hands in his pocket.

"I see," he said. His voice was deeper than Blake's and held a hint of a Danish accent, "For you're information little brother…I was invited here."

Blake's face has become rigid, jaw clamped tight. That couldn't have been any further from the truth. His brother was stalking him, perhaps his brother's parents had Mark try and track him down because they could never mind their business.

Either way, only a small handful of people had been informed that they were moving and none of those people had the contact information of his estranged family.

"I don't care if the president invited you here," Blake marched over to the door and wrenched it open, "Get out of my house or I'll call the cops. I don't ever want to see your face again."

He wanted this man that he despised so much, out of his house. Then, he was going to pretend like this had never happened, go to the kitchen to pick up the breakfast he had made, store it in the freezer, go to work, then go to the hospital to be with his family.

"Blake—

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Blake roared.

"Your daughter's the one who invited me here!" Mark shouted back, "Now, close the goddamn door before your nosy neighbors actually call the cops."

Blake wanted to tell his brother to screw off or use other words that Everly would have scolded him for.

But he didn't. He was confused and would've happily allowed the neighbors to call the cops, if Mark hadn't mentioned his kids. Whether it was Kit or Indigo, Blake couldn't allow Mark to leave here now that he had brought his children into this.

So, while it pained him to do as Mark had suggested, Blake closed the door and took a step away from it. One step.

Mark was watching him with a stupid look on his face. In fact, his whole face was stupid.

"You have five seconds," Blake looked at a nonexistent watch, "Go."

"Your eldest, Kit," Mark started, taking his sweet time, "Tracked me down to my office in Boston. Apparently, you didn't tell her you cut us all off—

"You're five seconds are up."

But Mark continued, "I'm your birthday present, moron," then, he smiled bitterly.

Blake was silent, looking off to the side as he tried to digest this information. He had never talked to Kit about his family. When she was little, she had asked, with the usual curiosity that every child possessed. Why didn't she have four grandparents when everyone in her class did? Why did everyone else have aunts and uncles? Was he an only child? Did he not have parents?

He had brushed it off every time. It was grownup stuff, he would say and as Kit got older, she understood that she wasn't supposed to ask those questions and stopped.

Now, Blake was starting to think he should have answered them. He could have just said that she, Katherine and Everly were his new family or something that would satisfy her constant questions.

If he had done that, this could have all been avoided.

It was so his Kit to track down his family and invite them here. He could picture the glee on her face as she probably imagined how happy and joyous he would be when Mark showed up.

"I know, it's a little early," Mark continued when Blake didn't say anything, "I had actually called to bail on her, but then someone—it sounded like a little girl—answered and told me what had happened. I showed up because Kit's a nice kid, who seriously values family. Unlike you."

Fury returned and Blake felt his cheeks redden, "Screw you!" then, another thought hit him, "Wait, did you…"

"Tell our parents?" Mark clarified with a smirk, "No and to my knowledge, your kid didn't contact them. They're on some kind of cruise for their retirement and have been for awhile."

"So, then this never happened," Blake decided. He nodded towards the door, "Get out."

Mark stood his ground, "You have a cute family. I haven't settled down. Job keeps me busy."

Blake pushed his glasses up in response. He had no idea what Mark was doing, now. Mark was three years older, thirty-seven and when Blake had been eighteen, waiting for the birth of his daughter, Mark had already been at Harvard Law for three years.

Mark was always supposed to be a lawyer of some kind and Blake was supposed to be a clinical laboratory technologist or some other kind of fancy-sounding medical job.

Obviously, that hadn't happened.

"You've done well for yourself," Mark made a show of turning his head this way and that, "Small town, though? I mean, really, Blake is this the best place? Isn't your wife into girls? Small towns don't like that."

In his life, Blake had only punched someone once and that had been when he was eighteen. It had been a long time ago.

He wasn't thinking when he let his anger take over and swung a tight fist, letting it connect with Mark's defined jaw.

Pain blazed from his hand, up his arm. The only was that he could describe it: it hurt.

Mark fell backwards, knocking over the table and the lamp that Blake had almost destroyed with Indi's soccer ball. This time, it shattered.

Blake, himself, had stumbled with the force of his punch and his breath came out it loud rattles. His hand really hurt.

Everly had never cared to label her sexuality and Blake never pressured her to. He was aware of her past. The good and the bad. Everly, in her middle school and high school years, had been with both girls and boys, but none of that mattered.

She was with him and strictly him and he, her. They were in a monogamous relationship and had been for almost eighteen years. Who they had dated or been with in their pasts was nobody's business but their own. Blake, had his own share of experiences, but that was another story, for another time.

"You bastard," he choked out, cradling his hand, "You don't get to talk about my wife, like that. Get out of my house and stay away from my family."

"I-I came…to help you jackass," Mark panted, cupping his nose, "Kit's—

"Don't. Say. Her. Name," Blake growled, "We don't need your help," he headed for the kitchen, needing ice for his hand, "Goodbye, Marcus."

He almost felt bad. Almost. His Kit Kat probably wanted him and his brother to get along and make nice, but that obviously didn't happen.

His brother just…irritated him. They never had much of a relationship. When Blake was fourteen, Mark was away at college. Mark was the favorite of their pa—Mark's parents and it was again, irritating.

"Whatever," Blake mumbled, opening the freezer. Sure, maybe he was a little bitter, that his parents had paid Mark's way through school and couldn't bother to send a card or a pair of booties when Everly had been pregnant.

Everly, being the person that she was, had made some kind of fancy greeting card with Kit's picture when she had been born. Everly had sent it to his parents and did so for the next five years, only to get nothing in response.

Blake shook his head frantically, grabbing a bag of peas. He needed to stop going down that path. He was not a child anymore. He was not fourteen, nor was he nineteen.

He was a grown man with his own life, his own career, his own happiness and his own family. His family.

He did not need those who were no longer considered family to him, trying to wedge their way back in and screwing that up.

'But Kit Kat will be so disappointed,' his thoughts scolded him, 'She didn't know any better, you never talked to her about it.'

Closing the freezer door, he sighed heavily, resting his head against it.

Friday (Day Fifteen):

Everly's heart sped up when Vanessa pulled into the parking lot of the hospital.

Today was the day she was finally going to allow Indigo to see Kit. After fifteen days.

"I'll be in that family room," Vanessa said, making a move to get out of the car. She passed Everly the keys, "I'll let Esme know you're on your way up. Dr. Cullen, too, if I see him."

Everly nodded and took her time getting out of the car. Indigo was all too eager and before Everly could tell her to slowdown, Indigo was racing around to Everly's side, throwing open the door before Everly even had her seat belt off.

"Are you coming?" Indigo asked impatiently as if they hadn't been at the hospital less than a minute.

"Yes, Indi, be patient," Everly said, getting out of the car. She took Indigo's hand and locked the car.

Everly had thought that Indigo would whisper all the way until they entered the hospital—Indigo knew better than to use her outside voice in a hospital—but she didn't. She was oddly quiet and there was a lack of pep in her step as she huddled close to Everly's side.

Everly took Indigo up to the ICU and stopped right in front of Kit's room, a few feet away. Before Indigo could see anything, Everly knelt down in front of her, blocking Indigo's view.

She rubbed small circles into Indigo's shoulders, "Are you sure you want to go in?"

"I want to see Kitty," Indigo declared, pouting.

Everly bit her lip and nodded, "Okay," nervously, she looked behind her and spotted Dr. Cullen in Kit's room, his hand on Esme's shoulder.

Esme caught her gaze and Everly saw her lift her head and say something to Carlisle who turned and smiled softly at her before he began to approach.

She was so glad. She had agonized over what to say to Indigo and how to explain things. There were no parenting books on this and this was something she never thought she would have to deal with.

When Carlisle got close enough and knelt down beside her, Everly straightened up and went to stand behind Indigo, placing her hands back on her shoulders.

"Hi, there," Carlisle smiled warmly and held a hand out, "You must be Indigo. I've heard a lot about you."

"Hi," Indigo shook his hand, "You're Carlisle, Emmy's daddy."

"That's right," Carlisle chuckled, "I'm also taking care of your big sister. Are you gonna go in and see her?"

Everly bit her lip again when Indigo nodded, "Mhm."

"Okay, then," Carlisle said, "Do you understand what's going on?"

Everly jumped in, "She understands that Kit's sick and needs to sleep."

Indigo bobbed her head up and down obediently, "Daddy says she has to be in a really deep sleep so that she can get better."

"Right," Carlisle agreed, "Now, it might look a little scary, but because she's sleeping, she's hooked up to a few machines. The tubes and things are so she doesn't need to wake up to eat or go potty. You can talk to her—she can hear you, but she won't answer back and she's not in any pain, okay? Just sleeping."

"Okay," Indigo said with some hesitation, "And she really can hear me?"

"She can hear you," Carlisle confirmed, "You can even hold her hand. I bet she'll like that. You just have to be careful and not touch any of the machines."

Everly felt Indigo shift under her hands as she nodded, looking up at her.

"Don't worry," Everly smiled a little, "I'll come in with you. Come on."

"Thank you, Carlisle," she said sincerely, speaking quietly.

"You're welcome," Carlisle nodded, "I'll update you on Kit later."

"Please," Everly didn't want Indigo to hear those things.

With that settled, she took Indigo and gave her some hand sanitizer before going into the room and Esme rose silently, leaving to give them some privacy.

Everly kept her eyes on Indigo the whole time as she led her over to the bed and stopped when they could get no closer.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Whoosh.

Everly was about to suggest that Indigo hold Kit's hand, when Indigo suddenly turned around and threw herself into Everly, knocking the wind out of her as Indigo attempted to hide her face.

"I don't wanna be in here, anymore!" she cried, her voice muffled, "I wanna go home!"

She wasn't crying, but she sounded very upset.

"What?" Everly breathed, cupping the back of Indigo's head, "Indi, I thought—

"No, now!" Indigo demanded, "Take me home!"

But Everly didn't comply with Indigo's request. She stroked Indigo's dirty blonde hair. For two weeks, now, Indigo had begged to see Kit everyday and now she was finally here and hadn't barely been in the room five seconds.

"Tell me what's going on," she said gently, "Are you scared?"

"Noooo."

"Then, what?" Everly pressed, but Indigo shrugged, "Are you sure you wanna go? Carlisle said you can hold her hand…you can talk to her."

Indigo hugged her tightly and Everly mumbled, "Tell me what's going on, honey."

"Kitty's not gonna die, right?"

Everly felt her eyes grow wet, "No," she rasped, "We're gonna get Kit home, okay? She's gonna wake up."

"Okay…"

Everly tried again, "Do you want to hold her hand?"

"Kind of," slowly, Indigo pulled away from her and turned to face Kit, biting her lip.

When Indigo looked up at her worriedly, Everly nodded and placed a reassuring hand on Indigo's shoulder.

Very cautiously, Indigo slipped her hand under Kit's.

"Wake up, now," Indigo demanded, "I want you to come home."

Everly slapped a hand over her mouth as she felt her face crumple, but she tried to keep in any noises, knowing that if Indigo saw her mother cry, she would start crying.

"Daddy broke his hand," Indigo told Kit, "You should have seen it, he has a cast and everything!"

Everly quickly wiped her tears and put on a brave face when Indigo looked up at her again.

"Doesn't he?" Indigo asked.

Everly gave a watery smile. When Blake had come by the hospital, Thursday evening, she had spotted a brace encasing his left hand.

"There's a couple were a couple knuckle fissures and it's sprained," Blake had said, like it was no big deal, "But Carlisle says I just have to keep this on and it should heal up nicely, if nothing disturbs it."

Blake hadn't wanted to talk much about it when Everly had asked, but Blake had given her the gist: Mark had crossed a line, resulting in Blake punching him in the face.

It had been a very short explanation, but Everly knew when to push her husband and when to give him space and let him process.

Besides, they didn't want to speak of stuff like that in front of Kit. She never liked violence and Blake wanted to keep his short visit positive before he went back home to be with Indi.

"Sprained, honey," Everly corrected her, "He's going to be fine."

"Yes," Indigo continued, going back to Kit, "Oh, and I wanted to tell you…Emmy said I could—that you'd like to know that Alice and Emmy took me out for the day and we got ice cream and went shopping, but we didn't buy anything. Alice said you need a new blanket, but I couldn't find a good one and Emmy kept making me laugh. He has your necklace, you know, so, don't worry."

Everly began to stroke Indigo's hair again and she exhaled softly. It was painful, watching her two girls like this. Indigo was handling it better than she thought.

"Are you gonna stay at home, tonight?" Indigo asked hopefully, looking up at Everly again.

"Um," Everly hesitated. Yesterday, she had slept at the hospital again.

"Please?" Indigo begged, fixing her mother with a big, sad stare, "I miss you."

'What kind of mother am I?' Everly grimaced, 'My child is begging to have me home.'

"…Yes," she said and placed her hand atop Indigo's head, "Yes, baby, I'm coming home, tonight."