The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the living room. It was quiet, except for the occasional groan or stretch from the dishevelled group who had crashed on the sofas after a long night of laughter and drinks.

Erin stirred first, blinking in the unfamiliar light, her head pounding slightly from the mix of gin and too much laughter the night before. She sat up slowly, rubbing her temples as she surveyed the room. Dax was slouched beside her, his shirt slightly askew, snoring softly. Rev was sprawled across the coffee table in a way that looked painful, his feet hanging off the edge, while Jinx was curled up in a chair, his face hidden in his hoodie, looking just as wrecked as the others.

"Ugh," Erin muttered, pulling her hair into a messy bun as she stood up, stretching. Her head felt like it was in a vice, but the smell of food in the air made her stomach growl.

The soft clatter of dishes broke the silence as Ethan appeared in the kitchen, pulling plates from a cupboard. He gave a half-smile when he noticed Erin awake, his eyes a little bloodshot but a grin still in place. "Good morning, everyone," he said, his voice light. "I ordered breakfast. You all look like you need it."

Rev, who had only just managed to open his eyes, groaned and stretched. "What time is it?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"Early enough for breakfast," Ethan replied, not skipping a beat. "Should've seen the look on the delivery guy's face when I asked for breakfast burritos and hash browns. Anyway, it's all in the kitchen. I'll be there when you guys make it out of the couch pile."

Jinx let out a low groan, pushing himself up from the chair. "I swear, I haven't been this hungover since my last birthday." He rubbed his temples dramatically before yawning.

Dax finally stirred next to Erin, blinking up at her with a lazy smile. "Morning," he mumbled, clearly still half-asleep. He stretched and leaned over, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before getting up to join the others.

Erin chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You're all a mess," she teased, her voice light despite the hangover.

"You're not much better," Dax teased back, winking at her as they both made their way to the kitchen.

The room quickly filled with the smell of food as the group gathered around the table. Ethan had gone all out: there were breakfast burritos, scrambled eggs, sausage, crispy bacon, hash browns, and even some fresh fruit. Rev grinned as he grabbed a burrito, the food clearly hitting the spot.

"Good call on the breakfast, Ethan," Rev said, taking a bite. "I didn't think I was going to survive this morning."

Jinx nodded, mouth full of food. "This is exactly what I needed."

Ethan chuckled as he sipped his coffee. "I knew you guys would be thankful. It's the least I could do after the night we had." He paused for a second, looking around at the group. "By the way, I was thinking, how about I show you guys my garage after breakfast? It's nothing like what you're used to, but I think you'll appreciate it."

Erin raised an eyebrow. "You have a garage too?"

"Of course," Ethan said, grinning. "I may not have the shop space you all have, but I've got a couple of fun projects I'm working on."

The crew seemed excited by the idea. "Hell yeah," Dax said, already finishing his plate and ready to go. "We definitely want to check it out."

After breakfast, Ethan led them out to the garage, a short walk from the house. As they approached, Erin couldn't help but smile. It was a smaller setup than the one at the shop, but there was something cosy about it. The garage had a different feel from the hustle of the workshop; it was more personal, more intimate. Ethan's passion for cars was evident in the way the space was organised. There were a few unfinished projects tucked away, as well as a couple of polished vehicles, each one a work in progress.

"Welcome to my little slice of chaos," Ethan said with a grin. He moved over to a well-maintained 1989 Toyota Celica GT-Four, pointing at the engine bay. "This is one of my current projects. I'm aiming to do a full rebuild with some upgrades, some help from Hunter."

Jinx immediately started poking around, inspecting the car's details. "Man, this thing's got potential," he muttered, admiring the setup.

Rev raised an eyebrow as he looked around, inspecting the space. "Not bad. Not bad at all," he said, clearly impressed. "I'm guessing you don't have a lift like we do at the shop, huh?"

Ethan chuckled. "Nope, no lifts here. I work with what I've got. I've learned a lot of tricks to get by. Jacks and axel stands all the way." He moved over to another car, a 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX. "This one's my baby. I've had it for years now, and it's my pride and joy."

Dax nodded, admiring the cars. "This is nice, Ethan. It's cool to see how other people set up their garages."

Erin smiled at him, enjoying the moment. "It's different, but I like it," she admitted. "It's personal. Feels like home."

After a few more minutes of talking cars, Ethan's phone buzzed. He checked it quickly, then smiled. "Megan and Hunter are heading out for the day. You guys are welcome to hang out, but if you're looking to get out, you might want to join them."

Erin looked at Dax. "What do you think?" she asked. "We could go get some lunch, or maybe just chill here for a while?"

Dax gave her a small smile, clearly content with the idea of spending the rest of the day just relaxing. "You know what? Let's just enjoy the day. We've got time. I'm good with whatever."

Jinx and Rev were already heading towards the door, ready to go explore, but Erin stayed behind with Dax, feeling at peace. The calm of the garage, the smell of oil and engine grease, mixed with the comfort of being around people she could trust, felt like the perfect way to spend a Saturday.

"Let's take it easy today," Erin said, leaning against Dax. "No rush."

Dax smiled at her, wrapping an arm around her. "Agreed."

The evening air was crisp as Erin led the crew into a small, cosy seafood place just off the main street. The comforting smell of fried fish and saltwater mixed with the bustling sounds of the local town. They all grabbed seats at a large table, and Erin quickly ordered scampi and chips for the group, her smile never fading as she watched the others try to figure out the British menu.

Rev, always a foodie, had already scoped out the options before Erin could even speak, while Jinx was more curious about how their meals would differ from the typical American takeout he was used to.

"Alright, alright," Erin chuckled, watching the two of them compare menus. "You're both going to love this. Best seafood I've had, especially the scampi."

"I hope it's better than the fish and chips I had the last time I was here," Jinx grinned, a glint in his eyes. "But, let's see if you Brits really know how to fry food properly."

Erin rolled her eyes but grinned. "You'll be pleasantly surprised. You just have to trust me."

As the crew dug in, enjoying the rich, golden fries and crispy scampi, the laughter and chatter seemed to fill the room. The night was comfortably relaxing, and after the chaotic events of the past few days, it was exactly what everyone needed.

Halfway through their meal, Ethan leaned in, his eyes lighting up with an idea. "Hey, there's a car meet later tonight," he said, making sure everyone heard. "It's just a casual one, but I think you all might enjoy it. Come on, let's head over."

Erin raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "A car meet? You've got to be kidding me." She shook her head with a grin. "We've literally just gotten here, and you want to drag us to another car meet?"

Ethan shrugged with a playful smile. "You know the deal. We don't miss meets. And besides, this one's pretty chill. You guys will like it."

"Alright, alright," Dax said, putting down his fork and glancing at Erin with a grin. "You up for it?"

Erin sighed, feigning exasperation. "I'm still full from all this, but sure, let's go see what kind of meet you've got for us."

The crew all finished their meals quickly, and Erin led the group out into the cool evening. They piled into Ethan's car; all three lads in the back with Erin taking shotgun. Rev and Jinx immediately getting excited as the sound of engines revving filled the air around them.

The meet was set up in a large, open parking lot on the outskirts of the town. As they arrived, Erin noticed a mix of cars from all over. There were old school imports, modified street cars, and even a few vintage classics. The atmosphere was relaxed, with people talking shop, admiring the cars, and revving engines in friendly competition.

"Alright, this is definitely more like the meets we're used to," Rev said with a grin, his eyes scanning the cars around them. "This is where the magic happens."

Jinx quickly wandered off, gravitating towards a group of girls who were admiring a lowered Civic. They giggled and tried to match his accent with their own, asking questions about the cars while flirting with him, much to Jinx's amusement. Erin shook her head with a knowing smile as she walked with Dax.

As they moved through the crowd, one of the girls from the group caught sight of Dax and immediately began to flirt. She sauntered up to him, eyes twinkling as she spoke.

"You're American too, right?" she asked with a soft laugh, her voice light and flirtatious. "Your accent's so... different. You like cars?"

Dax, a little caught off guard, was about to respond when Erin stepped in, her protective instincts kicking in unexpectedly. She'd never really acted jealous before, but something about the way the girl was looking at Dax just didn't sit right with her.

"He's with me," Erin said, cutting in before Dax could say anything. Her tone was firm, though her smile was still polite, her gaze slightly narrowed. She wasn't about to let some random girl get too close to him, especially when she knew the look in her eye.

The girl blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, giving Erin a quick glance. "Oh, I didn't realise," she muttered with a slight shrug, backing away a little.

Dax looked over at Erin, his eyebrow raised in surprise but also a little impressed by her boldness. "I didn't know you were that protective," he teased, his tone playful but with a hint of admiration.

Erin shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"I get it," Dax said, stepping closer to her with a soft smile. "You've got me, don't worry."

Erin softened a little, smiling back at him. "Good."

Jinx, having noticed the interaction from across the parking lot, came strolling over with his usual cocky grin. "Everything alright here?" he asked, trying to hide his amusement.

"Yeah, just taking care of some things," Erin said with a smirk. "Don't worry about it."

Rev joined them, looking around with a slight smirk. "So, what's the plan? You guys going to race, or is this just a social event?"

Ethan, overhearing the conversation, smiled. "Maybe a little of both. There's a casual race at midnight, but for now, it's all just fun and talking cars. But if you guys want to have some fun, I can hook you up with a few people for a quick run."

Erin raised an eyebrow. "You really can't take us anywhere without trying to drag us into some street racing, huh?"

Ethan grinned, hands in his pockets. "What can I say? It's in my blood."

As the night continued, the crew mingled with the local car scene. Erin found herself laughing with Dax, watching as Jinx and Rev chatted with the local enthusiasts, and generally enjoying the laid-back vibe. But deep down, Erin couldn't help but feel a little protective over the people she cared about, especially when it came to Dax. It felt like things were moving forward in ways she hadn't quite expected, and she wasn't sure whether to be happy about it or worried. Either way, the night was theirs to enjoy.

The quiet hum of the night settled over Ethan's house, with the sounds of the car meet still echoing in the distance. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a bedside lamp, casting gentle shadows across the walls. Erin and Dax lay in bed together, the warmth of their bodies intertwined under the thick blankets. Dax had his arm around Erin, pulling her close as she rested her head against his chest. Her usual smile had faded into silence, and the light pressure of her hand on his side told him she was deep in thought.

Dax shifted slightly, brushing a lock of hair away from Erin's face, his fingertips grazing her cheek. "Hey," he said softly, his voice low and comforting. "How are you feeling about all this? Being back home, I mean."

Erin was quiet for a moment, her eyes tracing patterns in the dark as she tried to find the right words. She wasn't sure how to explain the swirl of emotions that had been building ever since they landed in the UK. There was nostalgia, a sense of missing the familiarity, but also a weight of the past she hadn't fully unpacked yet.

"I don't know," Erin finally admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "It's strange, being back here. Everything looks the same, but... it feels different, you know? I didn't think it would hit me this hard."

Dax tightened his arm around her, letting her know he was there, but didn't press her further. He knew Erin was strong, but he also understood that there were moments when even the strongest people needed a little space to process.

"It must be hard," he said gently, his thumb tracing small circles on her arm. "You haven't been back in a while, right? I can imagine it must stir up some memories. Good or bad, they're all mixed up."

Erin nodded, her breath catching slightly as she shifted to look at Dax, meeting his gaze. "Yeah. It's weird... I love being here with you, but... there's a part of me that can't shake this feeling. Like there's something I'm supposed to remember, or maybe something I haven't fully let go of yet."

Dax didn't say anything at first, simply watching her with understanding in his eyes. "You don't have to figure it all out now. You've been through a lot, Erin. It's okay to just take it one day at a time."

"I know," she said, letting out a long breath. "I don't even know why I'm so caught up in it. I've been in LA for so long now... this should feel like a trip, right? But being here... It's like a part of me still belongs here, even though my life's moved on." She paused, looking up at the ceiling as if the words were trying to find their way out. "It's hard to explain."

Dax gave her a reassuring smile, his thumb brushing the back of her hand. "You don't have to explain anything to me, Erin. I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together."

Erin smiled softly, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders at his words. She knew she could always rely on Dax, but it felt good to hear it, especially now. "Thank you," she whispered, turning into his chest again, the quiet comfort of his embrace easing the tension that had been building in her chest.

He kissed the top of her head, settling into the pillows, both of them sinking into the quietness of the room. "Anytime," Dax replied, his voice barely above a murmur. "Whenever you're ready to talk, I'm here. We'll figure it out together. No pressure."

Erin let out a content sigh, her mind slowly unwinding as Dax's presence wrapped around her like a warm blanket. She didn't have to have it all figured out, not yet. She had time, and she had Dax. And for now, that was enough.