* Lora Croffard's POV *

I held my breath as we made contact with the ground. We're here. I'm finally home. It took everything in me not to shout it out loud and to kiss the ground.

"I can see you're already happier," River said beside me.

"I already feel at home."

"Come on, let's go find your happily ever after, Cinderella."

"Hey, watch it. Only Liam can call me that." Okay, I know, this is weird. But these last few days I've gotten to know my brother. He actually isn't all that bad. I've learned so much about him, though he's really charming and flirts with every girl he sees, but other than that he's kind of cool.

"Lora? You coming?" 

"Yap. Let's go." We went to find our bags and stood in the cue to go through security.

"You ready?"

"Hell yeah." We walked through security without any complications. We walked along a hallway that lead to big doors that slid open. On the other side of those doors, I knew,  families were waiting.

I looked all over until I saw a familiar face. I ran foward. Halfway to him I dropped my bags and ran into his arms. He lifted me up in the air and twirled me around. I placed my lips on his and I hugged him again. We stood there for a long time, not one of us saying a word. We were hugging each other so tightly it's almost to impossible to breathe. But it didn't matter.

I heard River clearing his throat behind me. That brought me back to reality.

"Oh, sorry. Liam, this is my brother River. Riv, this is Liam," I introduced them to one another.

"Nice to meet you, Liam. She can't shut up about you."

"I hope that's a good thing."

"Okay, you two can bond later on. Can we please go home now?"

"Sure, let's go."

**********

Wow, my home's actually still standing. The gardens were greener than ever and they've repainted the walls. There's also a new doorbell. Yes, a new doorbell, don't ask how I've notice that.

I'm here, I'm finally back. I rang the doorbell and wiped my hand against my jeans.

A strange woman opened the door. "Can I help you?"

"Um, is anyone home?"

"Depending on who's asking."  She said in a snobbish way.

Liam stepped closer. "Can you please close the door. We'll ring the bell again and ask one of the kids to open it."

"Oh, Liam. Um, of course."  She closed the door and I looked over at Liam.

"Go on."

Yet again I rang the bell. I could hear the girl ordering the children around. Then the door opened.

"Lora? Lora! Oh my gosh! It's Lora? Chloe! Mom! Nash! Alex! Come quick! Lora's here!"  Tears filled my eyes.

"Hi Daniel." His arms went around me and he hugged me  tightly.

"We've missed you so much!" Within a second everybody was here.

"Lora!" It formed into a grouphug. Everybody was in the hug and tears were all over. That's when I knew it. I was back with my family again.

**********

"I can't believe how much you've grown. Look, I'm sure you're you've gotten higher, or did I just shrink."

Chloe giggled. At least her giggles didn't change. "No! I just became bigger."

"Yap, there's no doubt about that."

"How long are you been planning to stay?"

"If it's okay with you, Mary. I was hoping forever."

"Forever is a long time, but until you get married or something, it's fine with me. It's good to have you back."

"Thanks. It's good to be home again."

"Can we go play?" Chloe was very excited.

"Maybe later, Monkey. I think River and I must get some rest so we can  collect some energy to play with you later. Is that okay with you?"

"Oh, okay. You promise that we can do something when you got your energy back?"

"Yes, I promise." I stood up and River followed my lead.

"Wait! Lora." Mary said.

"Yes?"

"The children and I have cleaned a room for you upstairs. We decorated it for you a while back for when you returned. We want you in the house because you're part of the family now."

"Really? You did that?" Tears filled my eyes. How is it possible for me to be so lucky? To have these people in my life? I never did something to deserve this life, these people!

"Yes, although I think River can have your old room. Don't worry, River, it's a nice room."

"It's true. I still think that room is a miracle worker."

* Liam Lockwoods POV *

"Where is she?" my mother asked as I entered the house."

"She's home, that's the most important."

"That's great news."

Amber came running down the stairs. "Where is she?"

"Calm down, will you? She's at the Evens', where she lives. Remember she've just travel across the word to come back, she's exhausted."

"Ah, but I want to see my little sister. You know, I've always wanted I smaller sister and since you two are kicking it off so well, I finally can have one. I want to see my sis."

"As weird as that is, I can assure you that she won't be leaving any time soon, I'll make sure of that. And besides we're all meeting up tomorrow, so you can see your little sis then."

"Oh, thank goodness!"

**********

My phone started to ring and I quickly tightened my towel around my body before answering. "Yes, hello?"

"Don't sound so impatient with me, mister." A smile creeped up my face.

"Cinderella, hi."

"Hello."

"Are you alredy settled in?"

"Liam, you should see this room. My walls are a dark grey. My furniture also dark with red and maroon curtains and bed coverings. Oh, and there's music notes all over the walls and so many shelves with books everywhere. I have a television and a stereo and my own freaking bathroom. Can you believe it! And did I mention that my closet is a walk-in and it's bigger than my entire room at my grandmother's house?"

I laugh. "Yes, Lora, I know. I've been helping with the preperation of that room and between the two of us, that was my room when I was staying there for a few months. Also I picked the colours for your room."

"No ways! But how did you know my favourite colours?"

"I guess I know you better than both of us thought."

"I guess so."

"Have you gotten any sleep?"

"Not really. I'm to excited for anything. It feels so unreal, almost like a fairytale."

"Most probably  because you're Cinderella."

I could feel her smile through the phone. I could see her white teeth shining in the moonlight and I could smell her, even when she's not near. Let me rephrase that, she might not be close now, but al least I know she's only a few minutes away.

We talked for hours and hours. It felt good. It felt right. We had fun and laughed until midnight. Everything's just perfect. Nothing was wrong. There's no space beteen us anymore. The only thing that's wrong now, it the fact that she's not in my arms at this moment.

That's when I made my decision. I needed to make her mine. And soon.

A/N

Helooo

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