Kay couldn't believe how nervous she was as the gate of Tanner Ranch opened. It was late at night and the kids were hopefully asleep, but they could still see them, meet up with Christine and Sarah, and Max.

"They don't know I'm not dead, do they?" Kyle asked, as he pulled over in front of the garage.

"Nope," Tom said from the backseat. "Since you are now conveniently dead, we didn't see the point to spill the beans over a potentially unsecure line."

Tom had a very good point, which was why the only message Sam had given Max was to get everyone there as inconspicuously and as fast as possible. Which of course translated into sending his private jets across the country and paying people off to shut up about it.

The moment Kyle cut off the engine, Angie hopped out form the backseat and headed for the house. Tom followed her, whistling like he didn't have a care in the world. Kay got out too just as Jimmy pulled up next to them.

"Let's do this," he said, getting down. "Step one out of a million."

Truer words had never been spoken, and yet Jimmy and Kyle grinned at each other because they were both the best kind of insane. All of them were. Kay's nerves twisted into anticipation at being back there, seeing her kids soon.

"Oh, yes, let's go shock some people into a heart attack," Jessie said, joining them.

"I'd chastise you, but I miss my wife," Jerry said bypassing them and heading inside with Sam.

They followed and indeed, the moment they entered the living room, Sam and Christine and Jerry and Sarah were already hugging.

"Kyle?" Max stood from the couch so fast, he almost toppled over.

Kay's heart filled with joy at the sight of him and Sophie. Before they could move, Sarah let out a cry of both joy and surprise and she and Christine left their husbands to throw themselves at Kyle.

He caught them both in a tight hug, a wide smile on his face. "Yes, yes, how foolish of you to believe anything could ever kill me."

"But wha--?" Sophie stepped closer and started a very fast tirade in French.

"Oh, Maman, it's such a long story." Kyle let go of her sisters-in-law and walked over to hug the woman who had truly raised him.

Sophie hugged him back, tears streaming down her cheeks as she, like all of them, tried to compute that Kyle hadn't left them, that he was still there despite all the crap life loved throwing at them.

And speaking of which, Kay glanced over her shoulder. Of course they'd brought Maxi back with them. After everything that had happened, it didn't feel safe to leave her on her own. No one had had an outright conversation with her yet, and Kay hoped it would stay that way a bit longer. She'd had enough drama concerning that woman to last her a lifetime.

Fortunately, Maxi didn't seem interested in speaking anyway, and had kept to herself during their journey. Even now, she leaned against the back wall as if hoping no one would notice her. Kay couldn't blame her, really. After the truth had come out and she'd killed her husband, there didn't seem to be much left for her to do. A part of Kay felt sorry for her and the drama in her life. The other much bigger part blamed her fate on her own choices and weakness. After all, Kay had managed without having an amazing mother like Sophie and a rich brother she could fall back on.

"What the hell is going on?" Max asked, hugging Kyle tightly, too. "You said you'd be away longer, and now you're all here and..." His voice faded as he finally caught sight of her sister. "Millie, what the hell happened to you? You have blood in your hair!"

Everyone froze, and not because of the question or the obvious blood, since Maxi had refused to clean herself up, but because of the name Max had suddenly dropped on them.

"When's the last time you called me that?" Maxi asked, traces of a smile in her voice, obviously knowing what everyone else was thinking.

Max faltered, his gaze still focused on how beaten and broken his sister looked. "I... I don't know. A long time, I guess."

"You haven't called me that since I left Kyle with you," Maxi said, pushing herself off the wall. "You've never called me Maxi either. I was just 'sis'. And to you, I became Maximilliane again." She nodded towards Sophie.

"You are the one who asked us to stop calling you Millie," Max pointed out. "But that doesn't explain the blood."

"Are you hurt?" Sophie asked, her hands trembling.

"Look, no one is physically hurt, it's a very long story, and it's late," Kyle said, thankfully drawing the attention back to himself. "Why don't we clean up and get some rest and talk about it in the morning?"

"You're too tired for answers?" Max asked in disbelief.

"Not really, but I want to be here for this and right now I want to see my kids."

"Yeah, good point," Max muttered, glancing around. "I guess you all need to do that. And we can talk more tomorrow. For now, I'm just so happy you're back, and..." His voice trailed off as his gaze moved to Kyle again.

"Don't worry, we'll catch up," he said with a wink.

No one contradicted him, and Kay could tell that Jessie and Angie were just as antsy to see their kids as she was. The boys were much better at hiding it, but she guessed they felt the same. Even if they hadn't been gone long, the last day alone felt like forever. Kay hadn't even began to process everything that had happened and she wasn't sure she wanted to. Fortunately, the beacon that was Kyle kept the monsters away.

"We'll talk in the morning," Kyle said, taking Kay's hand and leading her out.

"People need more time to look at you," she said the moment they were out and heading for the car.

"I know. I'm also aware we won't be lingering here much longer, but I can't help it. I need to see the kids. The adults can wait."

She gave him a smile and a squeeze of the hand then got in the car. Unlike her, he'd been away from them for over a month. If she missed them the way she did, she couldn't even imagine how he felt.

They were silent as he drove through the dark town, sticking to the speed limit, trying not to bring any attention to themselves. She was technically riding with a dead man, and it was an advantage they didn't want to lose. So getting pulled over by the police was probably not a good idea.

They stopped in front of her house and Kyle cut off the engine. He glanced at the building as if he couldn't recognize it anymore.

"Come on. Nostalgia?" she tried, putting on a smile. "Though I promise no one will come out at you with a gun this time."

The fact that he had no reaction to the joke made her realize things were a lot worse than she'd thought.

"Kyle?" He stayed silent and Kay's heart started hammering. "Is something... Are you...?" She didn't know how to ask because something was obviously wrong and he wasn't okay.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, leaning his forehead against the wheel. "It's just... So much, I guess. I'm doing my best to sail through it because I have to, but..."

But that didn't mean it didn't break him inside. She reached out under his seat and pulled the leaver to have it sliding back as much as possible, then slid into his lap. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, sinking his face in her hair. It oddly reminded her of how he'd held her after she broke up with Donnie, the way he'd put her back together. She hoped she was doing the same for him.

"I know it's a lot," she whispered. "And, honestly, I feel the same way. All the information, everything that happened, it's somewhere in the back of my mind and I'm keeping it there for now."

"I have to process it," he mumbled. "Because it changed everything."

Kay hummed. "It changed a lot, but not everything. It didn't change us or the fact that we're about to see our kids."

"I'm afraid it might have changed me."

He made such a good point and downplaying it wasn't helping. To be fair, it had changed everyone on some level, shifted the dynamics in the extended family. But she knew, in the end, it only made them stronger. Davyn had been right. He'd broken them down and built them back up more powerful than ever.

"It made you stronger," she said.

"I'm a bit sick of getting stronger, really."

"Yeah, can totally relate to that." This drew a smile out of him and as he pulled away, he looked more like himself. "You know, you once told me something about strength. When you got hurt and I was yelling at you for putting yourself in danger."

"You'd have to be more specific than that. That has happened a lot over the years."

That was unfortunately true. "You said that you could bear more than most men, and that was why you had to." She'd hated it then, the truth in those words, nd she hated it now, but she hoped he still believed in them.

He let out a long sigh. "That's still true. I know I can take this. I just wish..."

"That you didn't have to?"

"You know what? Not even that. I just wished that I didn't have to witness all of that. Know about it, sure. Just not see it."

Kay couldn't agree more. She was trying not to think that she'd seen three murders and a bunch of other people shooting each other in just one day.

"Let's just add that to the list of stuff to give us night terrors."

He huffed. "I've been having a lot of weird dreams lately rather than night terrors. Hope it stays like that."

"I'm... Let's just say that finding you alive has managed to make this a win?"

He squeezed her tighter against him. The light outside the front door turned on and drew their attention. For a moment, nothing happened, then the door cracked open and the barrel of a gun appeared.

"I thought you promised no guns," Kyle mumbled, opening the car door and helping her down.

The moment she was outside and in view, the gun disappeared and her father came out with cautious moves.

"Kathy?"

"Yes, Daddy, I'm back."

Jonah opened his mouth but his attention was drawn by Kyle who decided it was the perfect moment to join the party.

"She promised me no guns," he said with a shrug.

Kay fought the impulse to laugh at how flustered her father was, how he glanced from the gun to Kyle as if he couldn't understand what was going on.

"Oh, no, this was just... I noticed the car's been parked out here for a while and I became suspicious."

"It's okay, Daddy," she said with a laugh.

"Of course it is. You're both here! Both..." He glanced over his shoulder. "Cassandra! Come in, come in. The kids are sleeping, but we were still awake. Cassandra!"

Kay pursed her lips together as they stepped inside the house into the dim light coming from the kitchen. The smell of apple pie greeted them.

"Huh, don't think I've ever stepped inside your house through the door."

"Kyle!"

She knew that her parents no longer held a grudge against their relationship, so she really didn't want him creating one. And the way her father glared at him showed that old habits died hard.

"I just very respectfully helped her with her college applications," Kyle said, still sounding amused.

The noise drew her mother out of the kitchen. She froze in the doorway, staring from Kay to Kyle, then her husband.

"Hi, Mom," Kay said, trying to sound cheerful.

Cassandra was just as speechless as she had been when Kay had first showed up on her doorstep a little over a week ago. Fear made its way through her veins as Kay wondered if she'd just imagined her parents' good will. But no one was shouting and her mother decided Kyle was a lot more interesting so she kept staring at him.

"I know I'm a little messy, but--" he started.

"Nonsense!" Cassandra walked over and caught Kay in a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm just shocked. I wasn't expecting you back so soon. I was baking a pie for the kids. Alex said apple pie is his favorite."

"It is?" Kay asked surprised.

"That's what he said."

"I think it has to do with the quality of the pie. No offense, sweetheart, but your mom's pie smells much better than yours."

Kay turned to him, hands on her hips. "Hey. I happen to be a great cook!"

"Cook, yes. Baker... eh, not so much."

The conversation was weird yet familiar enough to continue. "Strange. You ate everything I ever baked without complaining."

"I'd eat dirt if you put it on the plate in front of me just to keep you happy."

His words had her melting for how childish and honest they were.

"Not that your baking is dirt," he clarified.

"You're right, Kathy," Cassandra whispered. "He is lovely." She took a step towards him. "Can I... May I hug you?"

Kyle shrugged, though Kay could tell he was a little nervous. "Sure. I've received weirder hugs lately."

"He's joking," Kay added, even if she was very aware he was not.

It didn't stop her mother who caught Kyle in a tight hug. Then her father came over to shake his hand and it was so weird having her parents accept him, ask him to step into the kitchen, join them at the table. Her mother served them all fresh pie and Kay just wanted to cry that she could have this.

The photo album was still on the kitchen table and Cassandra explained that the kids loved to look at it.

"We did it over dinner," she said. "They especially love the pictures of themselves as babies and they have so many stories about their birthday parties and their cousins. I had to learn all of their names." She let out a content sigh. "They were a delight. So well behaved. You've done an amazing job with them, both of you."

"Thanks," Kyle said, stuffing more pie into his mouth. "And I think apple pie is starting to be my favorite as well."

"I don't know about that," Cassandra said jokingly. "Your grandmother is a mean pastry chef herself."

"Sophie came over?" Kay asked, though she had no idea why that surprised her.

"Yes, and brought over a tray of the best eclairs I have ever tasted."

"Oh, right," Kyle said. "Maman does make the best eclairs."

The small talk was delightful, as was the ease with which Kyle talked to her parents, as if they hadn't hated him for ten years and suddenly decided no to. But for Kay, it was a blessing. She had her family back and there was enough innocence in that house to wash away some of the trauma that bathed her.

When her father suggested to wake the kids up, she couldn't say no and waited with her heart racing for them to make their way down the stairs. Next to her, even if he still looked calm, Kyle bounced his knees under the table. She could already hear their grumbling little voices and it made her heart sing.

"Why do we have to come down?" Jenny said, her voice whiny. "We were sleeping!"

"Grandma Cassie made pie!" Alex said, sounding a lot more excited.

Once they entered the kitchen both of them froze. Kay's eyes filled with tears. Even if it had been a little over a week, they both looked so much taller. Jenny shrieked and threw herself in Kyle's arms.

"Daddy!"

Alex whooped and joined her. Kyle picked both of them up, hugging them against him.

"I missed you guys so much!"

"We missed you, too! Where were you?" Jenny demanded. "Mommy was so sad without you."

"I was on an adventure. I'll tell you all about it later. But I'm back now and no one needs to be sad anymore."

"We love you too, Mommy," Alex said over his dad's shoulder. "We'll come hug you in a second."

"You don't have to." Kay walked over and hugged the kids and Kyle at the same time. Tears streamed down her face and her heart beat to burst, but it was the right type of emotion. They were together again.

"Spend the night," Cassandra said, watching them with a fond smile. "We have more than enough room."

"Yes, stay!" Jenny and Alex both said at once.

"We'll let Max know," Jonah added.

"Well, we can't say no to that," Kyle said, his face all smiles. "We can have some warm apple pie and then head on to sleep."

"Yay!" The twins said at once, leaning over to Kay to hug her harder.

She didn't think she'd ever been happier in her life.

🧭

"Remy, come back to bed."

Jerry wished he could, but every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the twisted snarl on his father's face, the hatred in his mother's eyes after she shot him. Davyn dying. He had to remind himself of the good things just to be able to function.

Kyle is alive. My family is safe. We have the jewel.

In all its twisted glory, their mission had been a resounding success. And yet, after learning everything, he felt like he had no energy left to be glad.

"Jerry?"

"I'm technically in bed." Because he was still siting on it, leaning his elbows on the railing of Michael's crib.

I promise I won't be like him. I'll love you and be good to you and teach you everything I know. I will never lie to you, never disrespect you, never make you feel as though you are weak or inappropriate or not enough.

Sarah shifted in bed and hugged him from behind, leaning her cheek against his back.

"I'm sorry, Ria," he whispered. "I just don't think I could sleep. And I've missed you and Michael so much, I'd rather just watch over you."

"We've missed you, too," Sarah whispered back. "I'm so happy and relieved to have you back. To have you all back. And Kyle, and your mission being successful..."

"That's true. I just wish..." He didn't want to say the words again. Of course he'd told her what had happened, all the dirty, traumatizing details. But, just like he was trying to, she had decided to focus on the good things.

"You hadn't seen so much death," she said.

"It's not even that, really." Which was maybe strange, but he was already used to blood and death. It was hard to top off the pain he'd endured in Japan. "It's all the hatred that gets to me. How my father could despise his own brother so much. Enough to ruin his life, to let him ruin our lives."

"His pride. I can't understand that when it comes to both your parents. How their own prides could be more important than their children."

Jerry shook his head. After their long conversation with Davyn, he'd understood something which he maybe couldn't have pick up from his parents alone. "I don't think it was just pride. I think it was fear."

"Fear?" She scooted next to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Yes. My mother admitted that she was terrified that we'd judge her. And I think it's what might have motivated my father as well. Fear that the image he'd built of himself would shatter and he'd be forced to face that he was the bad guy. Maybe this is why Davyn was the only one brave enough to come forward. He was already the bad guy. He had nothing to fear. Nothing to lose."

"I'm so confused about that whole thing."

"Honestly, me too. He was so different, so... Human. And I have no idea what happened and when, but he really did seem to adore Kyle even before he knew."

Her grip tightened. "How's he taking it?"

"I don't know." And that scared Jerry more than anything, the idea that Kyle was hurting over everything. After all, it was his life that had been turned upside down the most.

"He's strong. You do know that, right?"

He nodded. Of course Kyle was strong. But that didn't mean he couldn't feel pain.

"So are you. This sucks, but we'll get through it. You'll see that we're going to win this."

"The odds are more in our favor now than they ever were before."

Hell, Davyn had delivered on his promise. They really had an army at their disposal. An army made out of people who had been in the shadows their entire lives. They had Phillip, the only survivor of the original Jewel Project team. They would win against the Agency. And then, they could live.

"We're all together, and that's all that matters."

Jerry squeezed her against him, grateful beyond belief that he had her. She always knew just what to say to make him feel better, more powerful. She'd proven time and time again that she loved him, that they were in this together, even if she could have walked away and avoided the danger. And he loved her with all her heart.

They weren't his parents, or hers who had divorced. They were them and they would rise above their parents and be better. Blood, betrayal and foolish pride would not be his legacy. Hatred would not touch Michael.

He wouldn't let it happen. Because after everything, he was strong. He had become his own person and hadn't let his mother or his father use him and blackmail him.

Davyn had been right. He had shaped them into who they were and he wouldn't have liked the boring life either. Not when the alternative was to be who he was now.

"We are going to be fine. I promise you. I'll take care of it."

And he'd never been more sure of anything in his life.

🧭🧭🧭

After all the drama and chaos, things are settling down a bit. And I think you were all ready for this. I decided to actually write these scenes out instead of rushing through them to give our beloved characters a proper send off.

Of course, there is still the matter of the Agency, but they at least have the upper hand this time. Let's see how that goes.

I hope you enjoyed this. I'm getting more and more nervous as we reach the end. The book will have 52 chapters and an Epilogue, so we are basically five chapters away from the end.

Vote and comment for support!