"This is it." Grace said - stopping the car and turning to face Andy. She looked back with an almost blank expression. She blinked a few times, smiled sadly, then opened the door.

Edward watched her walk up the driveway from his seat in the back of the car. They had decided it would be best for him and Grace to let Andy meet up with her parents again without them. And, he reasoned in his head, they would likely be frightened - especially of him.

He watched Andy approach the front door, and he leaned closer to the window in anticipation. She held up a hand to knock, hesitated, then gave three sharp taps. She waited with her head down.

Then, the door opened and the face of an old man appeared. It turned a pale white, a look of absolute shock overwhelming it - he staggered back to where Edward couldn't see him.

Andy put her head in her hands and her shoulders shook.

The next few minutes were a blur. There was frantic yelling full of relief - then running and hugging and an old lady holding Andy's face in her hands.

Then there was a gap in the reunion - Andy said something to them, and they all turned to the car, eyes searching for faces. Edward shrunk down in his seat. He didn't need to meet another family - another disaster. He knew what would happen if he did.

But Andy smiled at him and Grace, tilting her head and thinking before coming back to the car. She leaned down to Edward's door and pulled it open, sticking her head inside.

"Hey," she said.

"Yes?"

"They want to meet you." She opened the door wider and stepped aside for him to get out. He rose and looked out at the pastel house as Grace came to stand beside him. His eyes then locked onto the two figures standing by the doorway. They looked back with curiosity.

Andy grabbed his wrist and started to lead him up the driveway, but he resisted, and she looked back.

"It's okay,' she reassured him, "I'm not gonna let anything else happen."

Edward nodded and as they walked he kept his eyes on his hands. It was only when they stopped moving that he lifted his gaze and met the eyes of the couple.

He could tell what was about to happen - they were going to frown, look him up and down, and say, "those are his hands?" - but it never did.

Instead, Andy's mother took a step closer and put her arms around his shoulders.

"Thank you for being there for her." She said softly, and they stared at each other until she let go.