They had arrived at the outskirts of town where a familiar mill stood. Aurelia grinned.

"This is your home?" Lucas asked, in interest.

She nodded and went up to the door. Aurelia took a deep breath before knocking. She grabbed Luke's hand.

A woman answered the door. She had light brown hair and tired, blue eyes. She couldn't have been older than forty but the strained wrinkles said otherwise. The last time Aurelia had seen her those wrinkles weren't there. It was as if her mother had aged ten years in one month.

"Aurelia!" She gasped. Mrs. Miller threw her arms around her daughter. The woman pulled her daughter inside. Aurelia tightened her grip on Lucas, yanking him inside too.

"Lia!" A teenaged girl exclaimed. She had her mom's light brown hair and shared her sister's green eyes. A young boy sat next to her. He too had light brown hair. He couldn't have been older than twelve. The boy had his mom's ice blue eyes, but were full of innocence and youth. They sat at a table, eating bread and butter.

A man, who looked to be the same age as Mrs. Miller stood on the opposite side of the table. Lucas noticed that he was the only family member with golden hair like Aurelia. It was blond with streaks of gray, caused by aging. He looked to have aged just as much as Mrs. Miller over the month. His green eyes held no emerald luster, only guilt and regret. He looked like he had no clue what to say when his daughter walked through the door. A tiny glisten of light sprung in his eyes. Hope?

"Where the hell have you been?" Jadia Miller broke the hug, throwing her hands on her hips.

"It's a long story." Aurelia mumbled.

"Sunshine, we've missed you terribly." Mr. Miller threw his arms around his daughter. "I'm so sorry." He whispered.

Aurelia smiled softly. Her dad did care. She patted his back. "It's okay. I'm okay now. Everything was fine."

"Don't think you're getting out of an explanation, missy! We were worried sick!" Jadia frowned.

"Lia, I heard you met the king!" Ariana chirped.

Aurelia laughed. "Yes I did."

She glanced at Lucas, who nodded. Aurelia decided to tell them the entire crazy story. From the spinning straw into the silver fire and everything in between was said.

"And so now you know everything." Aurelia took a deep breath after the long tale. She told them the most basic outline of the adventure. The full tale would be far too much of a time consumer.

"Woah cool!" Alloy exclaimed. Aurelia laughed.

"Not cool! Aurelia, you are never leaving this house ever again!" Mrs. Miller screeched.

"Yeah that's not happening." Aurelia told her.

Lucas shared a look with Aurelia. Her family was certainly something. She shrugged.

Jadia glanced at Lucas for the first time since they walked in.  Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at him. Lucas gulped. He let go of Aurelia's hand and he gave a little wave.

"I'm sorry. We didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Jadia Miller, Aurelia's mother." Jadia held out her hand.

Lucas let down his hood. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Lucas." He shook her hand.

Aurelia pointed to each other member of her family. "Luke, that's my dad. That's my sister, Ariana, and that's my brother, Alloy. Family this is Lucas, my..."

How was she supposed to introduce him? Her fiancé? That might make her mother fret some more. Her best friend? He was so much more than that though.

"My... Uh... Partner in crime. Not literal crime, don't worry, Mom." Aurelia stated.

"Prince Lucas?" Jadia gasped.

Luke's face turned red. "So you recognize me?"

"What are you doing with our Aurelia?" Mr. Miller questioned.

"Well..." Aurelia bit her lip. "You see..."

"I'm in love with her." Lucas admitted. He didn't shy away or blush or mumble. Aurelia did though, her face a bright scarlet.

"Aurelia, are- are you in love with the prince?" Mr. Miller gasped.

Aurelia nodded, squeezing Luke's hand. "He's my best friend and we've been through so much together in the past month. He has a hold on my heart. We're engaged."

Her mother looked like she was about to faint. If she wasn't so worried about the situation at hand she probably would have found herself bursting into laughter.

"I think I need to sit down." Mrs. Miller wobbled into a chair. Mr. Miller looked, almost as equally shocked.

Ariana simply giggled.