After getting a totally weird and awkward explanation that Emma called her mom's families house, pack house. I left them with there son to take a very needed shower.

The stitches were cover by bandage and then a tape were the water couldn't get in.

The shower felt incredible, my skin even though tan looked whiter as I scrubbed the dirt off. It felt nice to be fully clean again and to shower with hot water! After about an hour I got out, carefully making it back to the room I woke up in. The bed was remade and some clothes were placed out on the bed but my bag was left alone.

Reluctantly I put on the washed out jeans and an over flowery long sleeve. Not really my style. The pants were still big on me and I had to use a belt to keep them up. I didn't really mind the shirt because it kept the burns on my arms hidden. I put on my once dirty boots but it looked like they'd only been a few weeks old now.

Wow, they really went all out here...

Making my way downstairs, Emma was having her mom tie her shoes, "We have to go grocery shopping and Ray has to go into work." I nodded, following them out to the car.

"We never really got properly introduced.. I'm Julia.." Ray's wife said as she pulled out of the drive way.

"As you know, I'm Nicki." I replied.

"How come you decided to come to Ray instead of a hospital? He's a veterinarian not a doctor." She questioned but not take her eyes off the rode.

I hummed, "Ray's been patching me up since I was a kid. I knew he was going into something medical.. Besides hospitals cost money, and they don't stop on just one injury -they're nosy and have to know everything."

I could tell she was looking at me from the corner of her eye, actually taking a look but she didn't pry. Then again who knew how much Ray told her about our childhood, about me? Maybe she didn't need to pry because she already knew..

"How old are you? Seventeen?"

"Pretty sure I'm eighteen now."

She nodded lightly before pulling into the parking lot. Getting out of the car, she stopped me, "Can I have you go and grab these?" She asked carefully ripping her list in half while balancing her son on her hip and handing the bottom half to me.

I grabbed it, "Yeah sure.. You must have a big family with all this food."

"Not big just hungry." She stated but before I could leave, Emma grabbed onto my jacket.

"I want to go with you!"

I knelt down to her size, "You have to ask your mom, kiddo."

Instantly she turned to her mom, giving her the best puppy dog eyes I've ever seen, "Pwease, mom!"

Julia seemed super uncomfortable, I mean I understand. I'm some stranger and her kid wants to go with me. Except it seemed like she was weak to the eyes because she gave her a reluctant nod and gave me a stern look, "Meet in the front when you finish."

I gave her a reassuring smile and took Emma's hand just to show her I'd keep her kid safe.

I grabbed a basket and had Emma read my the list. We made a pretty good team -at least in grocery shopping.

When we finished, we headed to the front, catching Julia on the phone, "I'm just letting you know," It seemed she hadn't seen us, "She has to come, no one can stay home with her- No I know that but we will leave her in the car and talk to Liam tomorrow. It's when they get back anyways!" It was pretty clear I was the her, she was talking about. She hung up before turning to us, her cheeks instantly lighting up pink.

"Ready?" I asked a simple enough question but Julia still seemed embarrassed that I heard was she said.

I just rolled my eyes, moving to get in the check out line, Emma still clinging onto my hand and soon Julia was following, bringing the cart and her son.

The ride to her families house was awkward, of course only on her part, considering I just really didn't care.

When we arrived, Emma quickly ran inside while Julia was still getting her son and his car seat out of the car.

"I'm sorry that you hear-" She began but I quickly cut her short.

"Stop. I get it, I'm not some stupid angsty teenager that's gonna cry because you don't trust me in your house. Honestly, it's better that you don't and I really don't trust you either. But I do trust Ray, more than anything. I'm not going to steal or hurt anyone in that house, I owe that to him and way more. Just do what you gotta do but don't be sorry for being cautious."

She nodded giving me a soft smile, "I'm gonna be helping cook, do you mind keeping an eye on Emma and Teagan? Theirs a small group of little boys that she plays with but they can get a bit rough."

"Sure, but.. nevermind." If I told her she'd ask why and then I'd have to remember..

I hurry and made my way to the house, Emma calling for me to meet her friends.

The house was pretty big but also really old, I wonder how long it's been in the family.. Entering it with Emma pulling me into what I assume the living room. Their were four boys around the same age, playing some game with a tablet. Their was a guy around my age sitting in the middle of them holding it.

He had this cute look to him with his dark skin, black shaggy hair and these huge violet eyes. He was pretty small and thin and fit in pretty well with the kids.

They all looked up at us, the guy instantly stood up, standing in front of the kids, "Are you Nicki?" His tone had sort of a growl to it and his stance was nothing but protective in front of the kids.

It felt kind of awkward but Emma didn't seem to notice, "Leo!" She instantly let go of my hands and ran hugging his leg, "This is my new friend, Nicki! She fights pirates, got a wound from one on her side to prove it!" 

He seemed to calm a little, ruffling up her hair, "Pirates huh? Can't say I've ever seen one." Once Julia entered, he completely relaxed around me, at least enough to let me join him and the kids.

"How come you got stuck with babysitting duty?" I asked sitting on a chair that seemed to just suck me in.

He smirked, "Kind of my job.. it's hard to explain.. What about you, what brought you to Kingston?"

"Like Emma said, pirate wound. Ray's my brother, had him stitch me back up." I explained lightly.

"Sounds exciting.." He gave me a half smile before standing up, taking the tablet, "Enough virtual, time to go outside and be active." He stated making the others frown but they only muttered a few things before filing out of the room. Leo shrugged at me and grabbed the car seat with Teagan inside. I followed after, going into a huge kitchen seeing Julia with a man and a woman.

They watched me with squinted eyes but luckily Julia came to my rescue while Leo kept the kids out of the food. "Austin," She placed her hand on the freckled brunettes shoulder, "Ava," then the slightly taller women with thin blonde waves and small blue eyes, "This is Nicki, my sister-in-law I mentioned."

It was silent for a minute and it seemed like they were sizing me up, "Hi.." it seemed like the only thing I could say to make the awkwardness go away.

The lady named Ava seemed the first to make a move, "Hi there," She gave me a polite nod, "As Julia said, I'm Ava Myles and this here is my husband Austin Myles." She had a strong country accent.

"Hi." Was the only thing her husband said but the tension finally dropped and with a few polite nods they continued working and I made it outside the back door with the others.

Leo was laughing, making his way towards me, "They were the nice ones!"

I rolled my eyes, "You mean their's more?"

He scoffed, "If you thought that was bad, just wait till you meet Cameron, she'll eat you alive."

"Your all a protective bunch, aren't you?" I questioned, taking a seat in a lawn chair.

He shrugged, "We're family, we have each others backs."

"Sounds nice.."