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Kathryn stares at her front door. The Pogues arrived back home at the break of dawn, and split to get back to their respective houses. Some were happier than others, namely Kie, who flat out refused to have any of her friends with her when she'd walk inside her house. Pope and Cleo were thick as thieves, after the former told her she could stay with him. Very strange that when Kathryn proposed the very same thing, Cleo said no... Sarah went to the Château, either to greet John B, or to wait for him there.
Kathryn and JJ have been staring at the Palace's door for at least five minutes now. Her throat is dry, her stomach in a knot. Her heart is trapped in her ribcage and fights against it to break free. She thinks about all the things she's put her uncles through. Sneaking out, shoving herself in front of danger, getting kidnapped, disappearing for nearly two months, throwing her dad's accident at Henry's face every time he'd so much as mention him, because she was angry. And now that she had vowed to be soft, she found that being mean had always been the easy way out. Henry, she thinks, had held her even when she was burning. Then, she abandoned him... Voluntarily or not, it made no difference.
Henry might very well hate her. And she might forgive him for it, too.
JJ scratches his temple, nervous too. On her behalf, and also because he isn't quite sure how Henry will react to him being here. He could be mad at him. He could pin Kathryn's disappearance on him. JJ isn't an idiot, he knows the kind of reputation he has. Any good parent would probably hold him responsible for their own child's misbehaviour. It doesn't help that Henry knows exactly who his dad is.
He eyes Kathryn. "Henry doesn't hate you."
She rings the doorbell. "Yet."
They wait in silence for a few seconds, Kathryn starting to feel sick to her stomach at the thought of her last remaining family hating her, which she was now convinced of. She was always good at telling herself that people disliked her.
She sees through the reflection someone tall, coming to answer the door. She braces herself. The door opens.
Henry looks down at Kathryn.
Nothing happens for a few seconds, the two Darcys staring at each other, JJ standing to the side in apprehension.
Then tears welled up in Henry's eyes. His hands reach for her, then move to his mouth, in shock, then back to her. Kathryn fears for a second that he's too full of anger to hold her.
