A/N: NOT EDITED.

Chapter 49.6 - Ben POV

Walking past Oakley's room I listened knowing that she was grieving, she hadn't spent a week or so with Kieran since he turned her away and I wished there was something I could do. You're doing more than she expects just by spending time with her, Saxon told me, but somehow this wasn't enough to me. I don't think I'd seen a true Oakley smile in nearly four days, and it worried me, made me a bit nervous, when I remembered last time she looked the way she did now.

Her wolf wouldn't let her do that again, Saxon whispered, and I don't think Oakley would do that again Ben, I trusted my wolf on many things but this? Pursing my lips, I knocked on her door, waiting for her to open, my violin case in my hand, ready to head to Kayla's for dinner.

"What's up?" she asked quietly when she opened the door. Like me Oakley had showered and was once again clean, her face no longer dirtied but her eyes still a bit empty, she had Aunt Julia, Uncle Grant, Tera and Kiley now, not to mention Chelsea as well, but right now I was the one in front of her.

Giving her a small smile I lifted my case, "I'm going to play for Kayla," she lifted a brow, once side of her lip quirking upwards. "Really?" she asked skeptically.

I snorted, rolling my eyes, "I know I - we - do not sound great but practice makes perfect," I shrugged.

"Anyways you wanna go with me?" I asked brightly meaning it, "It'll give us more time so we play together like how Nora was saying," I gave a small pout.

"Plus you're a bit better than I am," which isn't much, Saxon added. Honestly Oakley and I were not cut out to play the violin, that or we were just setting our goals to high.

Too soon.

"No it's okay," she answered monotone, "I know you want to-"

"I want you to come with me, and spend time with someone that means a lot to me Oakley," I snapped, not sure what was really bugging me.

Blinking, her eyes widening probably at the tone I used, she nodded, "okay, let me just change," I nodded woodenly going downstairs, that surge of fury that washed over me leaving as quickly as it came.

"Hey aunt Juju, Oakley is going to Kayla's with me," I smiled.

She returned it, "That was very nice of you to... invite her?" she said but kind of asked. I just nodded, "Yeah, I thought it would be nice to spend time together with Kayla, we'll both have a bit of practice..." I lifted the violin case and watched as her smile turned into a grimace.

"Hmmm," aunt Juju nodded, her smile still forced, "Well... that's... uhm... nice," her face scrunched like she sucked on a lemon.

Our playing tended to bring out the wind in her, I thought as Saxon sniggered in my head.

Behind me Oakley came down, her own case in hand, "Ready," she chirped and without looking around I knew the pep in her voice wouldn't match her expression.

"Make sure you both let Lux walk you home," my aunt said, turning her self towards the stove, stirring the pot of sauce she was making.

Nodding I said goodbye, going outside and walking the short distance to the road where Lux had been waiting... After so many little things, Chelsea wanted us safe wherever we went and that meant someone walking with us at all times. Tonight I know we had Lux; since she decided it had been him and a man named Noah.

"You sure it's okay I tag along?" Oakley asked, her voice unsure.

I nodded smiling brightly, "Yep... plus I have a small gift for Kayla and since I don't think that I can do this one thing with her, maybe you can... I'll just watch." I shrugged.

"Oh?"

"What'd you get her?" Lux asked seriously joining the conversation.

Even in the slight darkness, I knew my cheeks were bright red, "Nail polish," I muttered, "It's this blue color, like green too, it's - Kayla likes that color so I asked for a few different kinds like that." I wouldn't be giving her them all at once though.

"That's very thoughtful of you Benny," Oakley said throwing her right around my shoulders as we walked up to the gate in the back.

"Thanks for walking us Lux, come back maybe at eight-thirty?" I asked him, knowing it was probably annoying to walk us the short distance but still.

"Phsaw, I was invited to dinner too tonight," Lux teased us entering first and like the big teddy bear he was once you got to know him, stuck his tongue out at us before striding ahead.

Entering I smiled brightly at Kayla the minute I entered the kitchen, her smile wide when she saw me, somehow every time I came back, she would be surprised that I was coming to see her. "Hey Ben," her brother Bailey said when he entered the room, bringing in a few empty plates. While the kitchen table had six places set and with Oakley next to me, Kayla's grandma Grace added one more.

"Oh you both brought your violins," Chris entered, "sit - sit..." Lucy chirped.

"Yeah, we suck at it buttttt," Oakley held the word for a few beats, "I guess... eventually if we keep at it, we won't..." I snickered.

Taking Oakley's case and mine I placed the in the corner so no one would bother them, and went to sit right to the left of Kayla, taking the gift from my pocket I slid it from my spot to near her, "you did a good job today with the sand," I whispered, truthfully because Kayla was amazing. Unlike myself she seemed to be able to mold the sand to the shape she wanted rather quickly.

"Ohhh a present... what did you get Kayla?" her aunt Lucy asked in a singsong voice. Avoiding everyone's eyes, she carefully unwrapped the small nail polish.

"It's the color of what the water looked like, and you said it was your favorite color, it's for your nails," I rambled my eyes darting from Kayla to Lucy, and back.

"It's a pretty color... if you want I can paint your nails for you Kayla?" Oakley offered. Kayla looked up at her, her eyes round, lips parted.

"Wow... my niece has great taste... maybe I can borrow that Kayla?" Lucy said bringing dishes to the table.

Nodding Kayla gave it to her reluctantly, but all Lucy did was untwist the bottle top and painted her left pointer finger, holding it out to Kayla, "ohh it looks like the water," I smiled nodded. And when Kayla finally broke out into a smile, I sighed heavily.

Sharing portions of food onto the plates we all sat down, Oakley, Lux, Kayla, Lucy, Chris, Grace and I all began eating.... Chris and Lux conversing while Lucy and Oakley spoke quietly.

"So Ben, what did I hear about my granddaughter doing something with the sand?" Grace asked, looking to Kayla I wanted to give her a chance to answer for herself, something Lux said I should let her do so she knows it's okay to speak her mind. I didn't quite understand why she wouldn't want to say what she was thinking but he said that in her life before that wasn't allowed.

I hated thinking about her life before she was on the island, before her uncle Logan saved her. All the healed cuts on her body, knowing that someone hurt her. Many many many had hurt her. I knew that from listening to everyone. With my new hearing... I think sometimes the adults forgot for minor moments that those that had shifted early could hear them sometimes.

"What's got you brooding over there young man?" Grace asked and I noted that Kayla hadn't answered her grandma.

"Nothing..." I muttered, but made sure I sent a small smile towards Kayla.

Grace nodded but it wasn't because she believed me, her eyebrow was lifted and she looked like Dad, Sarah or my aunts and uncles when they knew something was wrong but they just - they were letting it go.

"So Kayla you gonna tell me?"

Looking away from me she played with her food a bit, "I - I made the sand into a box... and I could put my hand between the sand on the ground and the sand in the air," Kayla whispered so quietly that everyone had to stop chewing to hear her.

"Really?" Lucy asked a big bright smile on her face, utter pride, the same I know was on my face, now I nodded.

"Yeah she was - I tried to make the water into a shape, any shape... no luck here. But Kayla made a square and - and she can make it like swirls too," I couldn't even begin to explain what I saw when Kayla worked with the sand.

"Maybe you couldn't make a circle out of the water because you were watching Kayla..." Oakley said under her breath.

I scoffed, "You were watching her too bumblebee!" I teased her right back, smiling wide when she smiled a true free smile after days of nothing.

"Yeah, you were doing some pretty cool things Kayla," Oak said with a smile, and Kayla just smiled down at her plate. The rest of the night going smoothly, Oakley and I playing for the same small group before Oakley, Lucy and Kayla painted each other's nails.

Grabbing the two violin cases on our way out, Kayla walked me to the gate, "thank you for coming over... see you tomorrow?" she asked shyly, still unsure.

"Of course," I replied, and when she went back inside the house, Oakley, Lux and I walked back home. The smile from earlier still on her face as we went home, I wrapped an arm around Oakley, "thank you for coming Bee," I whispered.

I knew she was still sad and still wanting to see Kieran, but at least for a little bit of time she smiled...

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So it's pretty obvious what Ben fears... right? Vote, Comment, Share and Until next time,

Roxann.

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