*~*Kamalei's POV*~*

I was so excited that Zacky came back and asked me if there was something I wanted to do. I had one last place I NEEDED to go before I left my home on Maui, and honestly I only wanted to take Zacky there because he was someone special to me. Kelly had been there plenty of times with me, but I knew taking Zacky there would be a special memory for both him and me.

I pulled him down to the hotel lobby and was about to call a cab when Kelly pulled up in her truck to the valet.

“Hey, are you okay? You look like you've been crying...” she said as she got out and looked me over.

“Uh... yeah I was. It's okay though. Can I use the truck?” I asked her.

“Sure. Where are you going? You know we leave in a few hours right?” she asked.

“Yeah. I want to take Zacky somewhere special. Don't tell anyone that we left though please?” I pleaded with her.

“Why? What are you going to do?” she asked raising her eyebrows suggestively.

“Nothing. I just don't want Matt on my ass. I'm gonna take Zacky to see 'the family'.” I answered.

“Oh. Okay. I'll keep my mouth shut. Be careful with my truck please.” she promised as she dropped the keys in my hand.

“I will. Come on Zee.” I said getting in and pulling out down the road.

“Am I going to get to meet the rest of your family? Shouldn't Matt be doing this too since he is your brother?” Zacky asked after about 10 minutes on the road.

“I'm taking you somewhere special to me. It's my family's land, or at least what's left of it. Most of it my great uncle lost in a drunken poker game many, many years ago. It has a graveyard where lots of my relatives are buried. It's actually a beautiful place. I thought you of everyone would appreciate it the most. As my best friend, you have to come with me. This is probably the most special place in the world to me.” I told him as I continued driving onto the highway and towards the north shore.

“Well, I must say you know me pretty well to know that I would appreciate a good graveyard. I feel extra special that you would bring only me to your most special place.” He replied.

I drove alongside the ocean for probably another half an hour before turning down a small dirt road, across from a church, and next to a Japanese mission and cemetery.

“Wow that's a big cemetery.” Zacky said as we turned down the small road.

“That's not the cemetery I was talking about Zee. Ours is on our land.” I said as I stopped at the big metal gate.

I jumped out of the truck and went over to the gate, entering the code into the lock box and retrieving the key to the gate. I opened the lock on the gate before replacing the key into the box, and opening the gate wide, setting the block down in front of it to keep it from swinging in the cool breeze. I got back in the truck and we headed down the bumpy, windy, dirt road. Coming around the last turn, the house came into view along with the mausoleum and other gravestones. I pulled the truck onto the other side of the house, next to the fence where the neighbors had their horses peacefully grazing the grass.

I stepped out of the truck and inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of the ocean. Zacky got out of the truck and I could see his amazement at the beauty of this place.

“Lei, this is beautiful. The view here is incredible.” He said as he walked over towards the edge of the cliff-like drop off to the ocean.

“This is where I come from Zacky.” I said holding my arms out, displaying the land around me.

“No wonder you're so beautiful then.” he said and I felt myself blushing a deep crimson.

“Thank you Zee. I'm not beautiful like that though.” I said trying to brush off his comment more for myself to stop blushing than anything else.

“You are.” he said quietly as I walked up next to him at the edge.

“You know this is where we spread my grandma's ashes... she was one of the strongest women I've ever known. Whenever I can't take the pain of missing her, I would come down here and visit her in the last place we left her...” I told him, feeling another pang in my heart realizing this wouldn't be an option anymore.

“You know she's always with you in your heart right?” Zacky said wrapping an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side.

“Yeah, I do. It's just different when I'm here though. I feel rooted here.” I replied.

“You'll always be rooted here. This is your family. This is where they all are.” He said turning us around to look towards the graveyard, “Show me your family. Tell me about them.”

I took him through the graveyard, stopping at the stones with names on them and telling him a little about them. Most of the people in the graveyard had unmarked stones, so I had really no idea who they were but just that they were there. Others, I didn't know personally being too young, but my mother had told me stories of them that I shared with Zacky. We wandered through them, picking up the dead flowers and windblown trash, throwing it away in the trash bins by the house.

“So, who lives here now?” Zacky asked me as I walked around to the large porch.

“My aunty. My mother's sister. The one my dad said threw my mom out in Texas. She's at work though, so it's fine.” I said going up the 4 stairs and opening the small dog gate.

Zacky followed me up the stairs and joined me at the small patio table. I lit a cigarette and he followed, as we looked out to the ocean.

“If you look really good, you can see turtles sometimes. They hang out over here and find food in these rocks.” I told him after a few drags of the cigarette.

He stood up from his chair and went up to the railing of the patio, looking out at the water. I got up and made my way next to him, instantly feeling at ease with both my special place and this special person in my presence.

“This is really amazing Lei. Thank you so much for bringing me here.” He suddenly turned to me and said.

“I wanted you to see where I come from and why it's so hard for me to leave. Zacky, this wasn't an overnight thing for me either. I've been thinking about today and leaving for weeks now, dreading it. All because of this.” I said motioning out at the view.

“I know my Lei girl. I wish you didn't have to leave this place, but if you stay, I can't live with myself knowing that you aren't safe. I care about you too much. I love you too much.” Zacky said.

My eyes grew wide in shock and I quickly turned to him, my face burning red.

Did he just say he loved me too much!? What the shit is happening!?

“Zacky? Did you just say-” I started but was cut off by his lips crashing into mine.

It was soft, gentle, and passionate. His hand cupped my face as he brought me closer to him, wrapping one arm around my waist. I kissed him back and let my fingers tangle into his black hair as I lightly tugged on it, earning a small moan from him. He ran his tongue along my bottom lip, begging me for entrance, which I gave in instantly to. When our tongues danced, I could taste his cigarette and what tasted like Jack Daniel’s on him.

Was he fucking drunk again? Is this another drunk kiss?

He pulled away after another minute looking deep into my eyes.

“Zacky… are you drunk?” I asked him.

“No. Why?” he said as he blushed a little.

“You taste like Jack and I’m just wondering if you are only being like this because you’re drunk like last time.” I replied.

“You DO remember!? In Hana!?” He exclaimed.

“Yeah I do… I thought maybe it was a dream. We were drunk though Zee…” I said trying to justify our actions, scared that this could ruin the great friendship we have and just fixed.

“So what?” he questioned.

“Well, people do stuff they don’t mean when they’re drunk.” I answered.

“Well I meant it then, and I mean it now.” He said closing the gap between us, pulling me back into his arms as he kissed me again.

This time his kisses were deeper and more filled with need. His lip rings teased at my bottom lip as he explored my mouth with his tongue. As the kissing got more intense, my hands tangled in his hair slowly made their way down his shoulders and rested on his toned chest. His hands slid down my body gently, to rest on my hips as he pulled me up against him on the railing. I could feel his excitement in his shorts, and it honestly turned me on even more. One of his hands made their way back up to my cheek before he tangled his fingers into my long hair. He pulled gently at it, causing a reaction that not even I expected.

I pushed him away from me, “Zacky. I can’t. We can’t.”

He reached his hand out to me, “Lei, I’m sorry.”

I turned away from him, holding back tears, looking down at the water crashing on the rocks just off of the patio’s edge, “Zee, I’m not ready for this. I just can’t. It’s just too soon.”

“I’m sorry Lei. I didn’t mean to push you. I just couldn’t help but kiss you again.” He said, putting his tattooed hand over mine on the railing.

I lightly squeezed his hand back, “Zacky, I’m just so confused. I just can’t right now. I’m sorry.”

He put a hand on my cheek, turning me to face him as he stared into my eyes, “Don’t ever be sorry for how you feel. I don’t want to ever make you uncomfortable. I’m not like Micah. I’ll never make you do something you don’t want to do. I’m sorry that I overstepped my boundaries. Can you forgive me?”

I stared into his green eyes and saw his insides pleading with me, “Of course I do. I just need to sort out my life right now Zacky. I’ve gone through a lot. I’m sorry I pushed you away like that. It reminded me of something bad that happened…”

“It’s fine Lei. I just want you to be okay. Can I hug you?” he asked putting on his puppy dog eyes and a little pout as he opened his arms wide.

I wrapped my arms around his torso as he wrapped his around my body, careful of my ribs. We stood there hugging for a minute or two before his phone started going off in his pocket. We broke apart for him to get it out.

“Vengeance residence?” he answered smirking.

“Vengeance! Where the fuck are you?! Do you have Lei with you?!” I could hear Matt screaming from the phone as I shook my head not to tell him where.

“Why yes I do and we are in a very special place that I was directly instructed to not tell you of…” he replied trying not to laugh.

“Dammit Baker! You fucking bring my sister back now!” Matt shouted on the line.

I grabbed the phone from Zacky, “Matt, we’re fine and we’ll be back in a little bit okay?”

“Lei! Are you alright?” Matt asked eagerly.

“Yes brother. I am actually a lot better now…” I said glancing up at Zacky, as he hugged me to his side, before looking out to the scenery.

“What’s going on there?” he asked me suspiciously.

“Just some healing. Lots of healing… don’t worry Matt. We’ll be back in another hour. Love you and see you then. Bye.” I said and quickly hung up before he could answer back or ask more questions.

I handed Zacky back his phone and he slipped it back in his pocket, “Well now he’s going to be pissed. You do realize we have to ride a 6 hour flight home with him right?”

I giggled at the thought of my brother being annoyed beyond belief, “Yeah. I’ll sit with him so he’ll shut up. Don’t worry about it. He’ll be fine.”

“I’m really sorry about everything Lei. Not just what I did to you, but everything. I wish I had killed Micah.” He said looking down at me.

“It’s alright Zacky. I just need some time to get over everything. I’m glad you didn’t kill Micah. Then you’d be in jail and I would lose one of my best friends. Thank you for coming with me here one last time. This place means a lot to me.” I told him.

“Let’s take a picture then. If you get sad and miss it when we are in Cali or on tour, then you can look at it.” He suggested taking his phone out and turning the camera on.

He took a few pictures of the scenery, the house, and the graveyard. Then he had me stand on the patio while he went down on the bottom and took a picture with the wind blowing my colorful hair out behind me. I had to admit it was a cool picture. We took a few more pictures with the two of us having the ocean behind us. After he was done, he sent them to my phone and we got back into the truck to leave.

I pulled out down the road and Zacky jumped out and closed the gate behind us. I sat in the truck watching him in the rear view mirror, as a tear escaped my eye, as I watched the gate close on my special place.

Zacky got back in the truck with me, glancing over at me before grabbing my hand from the middle console, “Hey, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’ll be alright. Thanks…” I told him wiping my tears with the back of my other hand.

“Anytime. Again, I’m sorry about earlier. I promise I’ll never be so selfish again.” He apologized.

“Promise?” I said, letting go of his hand and sticking out a pinky.

“Promise.” He replied locking pinkies with me.

“Zee, can you promise me something else?” I asked him as I drove.

“Maybe… what is it?” he said curiously.

“Can you promise me you won’t say anything to Matt or anyone about what happened with us back there?” I questioned unwillingly.

“Yeah, I guess so. If that’s what you want?” he said and I could tell he felt a little defeated by it.

“I just think it’s best for everyone if we keep it between just us. My brother would go crazy. Especially after earlier today… I guess we could think of it as our little secret.” I said smirking at him.

He looked over at me smirking back, “Alright. Our little secret.” We shook pinkies again, “I’m sorry about that too.”

“It’s ok Zacky. I just need to get myself together. Let’s just pretend nothing happened… I don’t want things to get weird, I love having you be my best friend and I don’t want it to get ruined.” I said and I felt my own insides be dampened by my words.

He nodded his head, “Yeah, if it gets weird then your brother and the guys will definitely know something is up. I don’t want to ruin what we have either. You’re too cool for school girl!”

I giggled at his comment as I drove us back towards the hotel. On the way, Zacky told me of some of the other places he wanted to show me when we got to California before we would have to leave for tour. He told me about how my dad wanted to visit more with me as well, since it was cut so short the last time I was there. I had talked to my dad on the phone a few times since I had been home in Maui, but it wasn’t the same as doing stuff with the man.

“I’m going to have a party at my house the week before we leave for tour. I’m going to invite some of the bands that are coming along, that way we can introduce you to them. Sound like fun?” He said as we pulled into the hotel’s valet.

“Yeah, it sounds awesome! I’m excited.” I replied as I got out of the truck, handing the keys to the valet.

“Good, I want you to be excited to come to Cali with us. It’s going to be fun and I think you will be surprised at how much happier you will be. Then the tour… oh Lei, it’s going to be so much fun with you there.” He said happily as we walked into the hotel lobby and into the elevator.

“Thanks Zee. You made me feel so much better about going. You’re the best.” I said wrapping my arms around his neck in the elevator.

“What the hell?!” I heard an annoyed Matt say as the elevator door opened.

“We made up.” I answered as I broke away from Zacky.

“I see that.” He said with a raised eyebrow as he rolled his bags in the elevator, “Go get your stuff from your rooms and lets go. We have a flight to catch.”

The door closed and Zacky and I looked at each other shocked.

“Wow… I wasn’t expecting him to be so calm. I really pissed him off earlier.” Zacky said.

“I know… well, at least it won’t be a miserable 6 hours with him on a plane…” I said as we walked down to our room.

Notes

So sorry I have been sooooo busy that I haven't been able to update! Please check out the picture links that I put in the story. This is really my family's land and I apologize for the darkened pictures, it's rainy season here plus it was evening. If I could get some good day pictures I would have used them, but it is kind of out of my way house. I hope you guys liked the chapter! Please comment and let me know what you think! I hopefully can get some more chapters up soon. Holidays are in full swing! Much Mahalos and Love <3 <3 <3