*~*Matt’s POV*~*

My mother called everyone into the dining room and as hungry as I was, I wasn’t going to let Zacky get away so easily. There was something going on and I wanted to know what. I grabbed his arm, yanking him out into the hallway with me.

“I need to talk to you.”

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I should ask you the same thing. What’s up with you and my sister? Did something happen that you aren’t telling me?”

“No. We just got closer after I yelled at her. She took me somewhere with her that was special. It just brought us closer is all. I promise I’m keeping my word. She is totally in charge.” He answered without skipping a beat.

“And what is she doing?” I asked suspiciously, knowing my sister did whatever she wanted, whether it pissed me off or not.

He hesitated before answering this time, “Just being her regular self. Maybe a little more cuddly than before but nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Don’t keep things from me Zack.” I said sternly.

He nodded, “I won’t.”

“Matthew, you and Zacky come and eat. We are waiting for you!” my mother called out again.

We made our way into the dining room, “Sorry mom.” I said as we took our seats.

Mom began pulling dishes out from the kitchen and putting them on the table. She had made a feast for us all and it reminded me of back when we were a handful of punk ass teenagers and she would invite everyone to come over to the house and eat because she knew we had no money, Jimmy not even a home sometimes. It was better this time though because now my baby sister and Kelly were here with us. We began passing things around, making our plates, eating, and telling my parents about our adventure in Maui.

“So all of us guys were up on top of this rock cliff… what was it called Lei?” Johnny asked.

“Black Rock.” She replied.

“Yeah! So we were up on top of Black Rock and it’s kinda far down. So I was looking over the edge when Jimmy grabbed me and tossed me off and almost onto the rocks!” Johnny told my parents earning laughs.

“You were fine. I knew what I was doing…” Jimmy defended, “Well I didn’t but I kinda did. If those little kids were doing it then it had to be easy…”

“Remember when you guys were so drunk that we broke into the Tropical Plantation center and you guys tried to release the monkeys but they weren’t in there! I told you they put them away at nighttime!” Kamalei laughed.

“It was worth a try! Free the monkeys!!” Brian cheered.

“I remember Brian trying to be the Captain! He climbed up on that guy’s boat to the top of the mast and tried to do the Captain Morgan pose and almost fell off to his death because he was so drunk!” Kelly reminisced getting a fitful of laughs from everyone.

We continued telling funny stories about the trip as we helped clean up dinner. My father had attempted to talk about the more serious things, but thankfully my mother shut him down before he could even get anywhere. Before we knew it, it was already midnight and everyone was feeling the jet lag. Val was curled up in the recliner with me, Kamalei was lying on the couch with Jimmy rubbing her feet and her head on Zacky’s lap, Brian and Kelly cuddled on the love seat, Johnny lying on the rug like a dog, and my parents on the other couch.

All of the girls looked exhausted, struggling to stay awake as we decided it was time to go to bed. Everyone started to leave, Jimmy and Zacky hanging back from everyone else. Kamalei got up from the couch, pulling the two of them with her into the guest room. I got Val up from the chair and had her go upstairs and get ready for bed as I made my way down towards the guest room where I could hear my sister giggling.

“Zee… stop it… Jimmy!” she squealed.

I rushed into the room to see Jimmy trying to block Zacky from Kamalei on the other side of the room. He was reaching out trying to tickle her sides and I was a little concerned because she did just receive a new broken rib a day ago.

“Hey! Cut it out!” I raised my voice scaring everyone.

“Holy shit Matt!” Kamalei gasped, holding her hand over her chest as she giggled, “You scared us.”

“What’s wrong with you Zacky? She has a broken rib.” I scolded him.

He looked down at the carpet, “I know… we were being careful.”

“I wouldn’t let anything happen to my little Lei-Lei… plus its Zacky… he’s careful.” Jimmy added.

“You shouldn’t be playing around like that. It’s late. Lei you need to get to bed, you and Val are going shopping tomorrow.” I directed to her.

“I know Matt… I’m not a kid you know? Don’t yell at Zee… we were just playing.” She replied annoyed.

“It’s all fun and games until you get hurt more. I think it’s time for Jimmy and Zacky to go home. You can see them tomorrow when they come over to help me move the studio.”

“Can’t they stay with me tonight? Please Matt… Pretty please!” she asked.

“No. They need to go home. I’ve let you stay with everyone for too long. You need to sleep in your own bed, by yourself.” I answered.

“But Matt please! Please let them stay!” she begged and I saw her eyes start filling with tears.

“No Kamalei. Jim and Zee are going home. You are going to bed. You will be fine.” I said sternly.

“Matt please! I get nightmares. I can’t stay alone. Please!” she pleaded the tears now flowing down her cheeks.

“NO KAMALEI! That’s final! Say goodnight to them.” I yelled, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall.

“Shhh… it’s alright little one. You will be okay. We’ll be here in the morning before you go out with Val. Try and get some sleep. Don’t cry… we love you.” Jimmy said as he rocked her in his arms, kissing the top of her head before walking out the door.

She had giant tears running down her face when she practically jumped into Zacky’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. She held on to him for a few moments before saying anything, Zacky rubbing her back softly trying to stop her tears.

“You will be okay. Jimmy’s right, we’ll be here before you know it…” he said.

“I can’t sleep by myself Zee… I want you to stay…” she said between her sobs.

“I would if I could my Lei girl… Matt just wants what’s best for you… It will be okay. I promise.” He told her looking over at me for my approval.

“I don’t care… I want you to stay.” She mumbled into his chest.

He pulled her away from his chest, “Look at me. You are going to be alright. I wish I could stay to make you feel better, but I can’t. I have to go home and shave this off, remember?” he said rubbing his stubble cheek on her.

She giggled a little, the tears still streaming, “You told me you would never leave me behind…”

“And I won’t. You’re here with your brother and Val. I’m not leaving you behind. I promised you. I promise I will be here before you go off shopping with Valary to see how your night went. Just try and get some sleep.” He told her trying to calm her.

“I’m gonna miss you Zee.” She sniffled.

“I’ll miss you too Lei… I’ll see you in the morning okay?” He answered before kissing her cheek and heading out the door.

“Okay…” she said sadly before turning her back to me.

“I love you Lei. I just want you to get used to sleeping on your own. Tour is different. You can’t be with someone all the time.” I told her.

“Whatever Matt. I love you too. Just leave me alone, that’s what you wanted.” She said quietly crawling into the bed and curling up.

I slowly closed the door and as soon as I heard the door click I heard her start crying harder. I felt bad, but she had to get used to sleeping alone. I stood there with my forehead leaning against the door before someone cleared their throat. I spun around to find Val with her hands on her hips, eyebrow cocked in suspicion.

“Mr. Sanders, what did you do?”

I stepped away from the door heading towards the stairs, “I told her she had to sleep by herself. She wanted Jimmy and Zacky to stay over with her.”

“Matt, you know she has nightmares. You could have let them stay…”

“I know but she can’t do that forever Val… she has to get over it.” I said climbing the stairs.

“Well Matt I’m not sure that her crying herself to sleep is going to be any better. Your sister has a lot of problems to work thru. She was abused for years by someone she depended on. Not only that but she lost her baby and almost her life. Her nightmares, I can only imagine are not something she can just get over.” Val said as she shut the bedroom door behind her.

I sat on the bed, running my hands thru my hair, “I know Val but what am I going to do? She can’t sleep with someone all the time, especially on tour. What is everyone going to say about my baby sister? They’re going to think she’s a whore sleeping with different guys every damn night. I don’t want my baby sister seen as the band slut or something.”

“As her big brother, you stand up for her. The rest of the guys will too and you know it. Who cares what everyone else says about her? We know the truth and by the end everyone on tour will know her situation is something different. She needs love and support from all of us to get thru all of this. I’m telling you right now, she hasn’t even truly grieved properly yet, and when she does, this is going to be nothing. Think about it Matt. You might want to reconsider your decision to push her.” Val responded climbing into the bed next to me, clicking the light off.

“I’ll think about it babe. I love you. Let’s get some sleep.” I said rolling over in the bed and pressing my lips to hers.

“I love you too. I’m excited to take her shopping tomorrow.” She replied curling up and lying on my chest quickly falling asleep.

I stared up at the ceiling thinking more about what Val said.

Am I making a mistake in trying to make her get over the nightmares? The look on her face when I told her no was devastating. I pushed her… Oh my God. I pushed her. I’m telling everyone else not to push her, but I’m the one pushing her more than anyone! I’m such a fucked up brother. Fuck. What do I do? How do I fix my baby sister? How can I make her happy again?

I laid there for a few hours trying to sleep but I couldn’t stop thinking about what I should do. I had no solution. I carefully slipped out of the bed, deciding that I should get some water and maybe check on Kamalei. I padded down the stairs quietly and made my way to the kitchen getting a glass of water. I walked to her bedroom door and pressed my ear to the door. I could hear her crying still.

I knocked softly, “Kamalei? It’s me…”

“Go Away!” she screamed at me.

I hung my head, sad at the reaction she gave me. I really messed up with her and now she hated me. I made my way back up to bed in defeat. I crawled back into bed with Val and pulled her tightly to me, forcing my eyes closed and finally to sleep.

I was startled awake by a blood curdling scream coming from downstairs. I threw the blankets from my body, thankful that Val had shifted to her own side of the bed in the night, and ran down the stairs to Kamalei’s current room. I ripped the door open and found her kicking and screaming, punching the air as if she was trying to get away from something in her sleep. I ran into the room, and grabbed her body to stop her from flailing around, gently shaking her.

“Kamalei! Wake up baby girl!! It’s Matt! You’re okay! You’re at home with me!” I yelled, snapping her out of it.

She looked at me with red, puffy eyes full of tears, her shirt was soaked in cold sweat, her cheeks tear stained. I pulled her to me, hugging her tight as she just kept crying.

“Baby girl are you alright? It was just a dream… you’re home with me and Val. You’re safe here…” I said as I rocked her back and forth.

“Matt, it was horrible… Micah came for you and me and everyone… He came back for us…” she managed to say between her sobbing.

“Shhh… he’s not coming anywhere near you or any of us… You’re safe here with us baby girl… You don’t have to be scared anymore. I won’t let anyone hurt you… I promise.” I told her.

She broke away from me, “Matt, I can’t do this. I just can’t.”

“You can. You have all of us here to help you. You can do this. I’m sorry I was so hard on you earlier. I was wrong. How about tomorrow night someone stays over?” I said.

“Can Zacky stay over?” she asked and I knew that would be her first choice.

I hesitated, taking a deep breath, “Sure. He’s not to sleep in the bed with you though. Is that clear? He can sleep on the floor in here.”

“Okay brother… thank you.” She sniffled.

“You’re welcome. Now try to get some sleep…” I said kissing her cheek and standing to go back upstairs.

“Matt, I can’t go back to sleep. I’m too scared.” She replied shaking her head.

I ran my hand thru my disheveled hair thinking of something, “Alright, come on. Let’s watch a little TV, maybe it will help…”

She followed me out to the living room, dragging a blanket behind her as I sat on the couch. She laid her head on my lap and covered herself with the blanket as I turned on the TV to a movie. It was early in the morning, so there were very slim pickings as far as movies go but I managed to find something that she seemed to want to watch. I soothingly rubbed her forehead as she and I watched the movie. My eyes got heavy as I let the TV start watching me.

*~*Val’s POV*~*

The beeping of the alarm clock on the bedside table reminded me that we were finally home again.

“Matt… hit the button…” I mumbled as I reached over to shake his shoulder, finding nothing but cold sheets.

His absence made me open my eyes and look over to see an empty bed. Definitely not what I wanted the first day of coming home to our own bed. I sat up and hit the button, rubbing my eyes, and looked around the room searching for a sign of where he went. After a few minutes to fully wake myself up, I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and padded out into the hall. I walked down to where Kamalei’s new room would soon be, to see if maybe he was in there already starting the moving process, but found it empty. I made my way down the staircase and into the living room.

I found Matt and Kamalei completely passed out on the couch with the TV on. Even sleeping, I could see the red, puffiness of Kamalei’s eyes, telling me that she had a rough night full of crying. I thought about waking them but decided a good breakfast would be much more pleasant for her to wake up to after the first night in her new home. I turned the TV off and went into the kitchen and began pulling out things to make for breakfast. I was about half-way thru cooking when my cell phone started going off on the counter.

“Hello?”

“Hey Val. Is it cool if Jimmy and I come over yet? I kind of promised Lei I would be there before you and her left…” Zacky asked.

“Yeah come over. Just be quiet because her and Matt are passed out on the couch. It looked like she had a rough night and I don’t want to wake her yet. I’m making breakfast so just come over.”

“Alright, thanks Val. We’ll see you soon.” He replied before hanging up.

I had just finished cooking all the food when I heard the front door open and shut quietly. I was putting all of the food out on the kitchen island for everyone to serve themselves when Zacky and Jimmy came into the kitchen. Zacky had something hiding behind his back when they walked in.

“What’s that you got there?” I asked him.

“Oh, I got something for Lei… since she had a bad night…” he said as he pulled out a little stuffed big-eyed tiger.

“How sweet of you Zacky… It’s cute.” I told him, “Why don’t you and Jimmy go wake them up for breakfast?”

Jimmy bounded out into the living room, bouncing back and forth on his feet, not sure which one to wake up first.

I stood in the entranceway watching as Zacky bent down in front of Kamalei and gently ran his hand up and down her arm waking her up. I couldn’t help but smile at how sweet he really was to her. Even though I know Matt doesn’t want anyone near her, I think that Zacky would be the perfect guy for his baby sister.

Notes

Hope everyone had a fantastic New Year's celebration! I know I did, my cousin got married and it was a pretty awesome party. Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I know I have been seriously slacking on updates, but now that the majority of the special occasions are over, I can hopefully get back in action. Please let me know what you all think! Much Mahalo and Love <3 <3 <3 XoXo