As the snow continued to trickle down over Swindon, Uno and Denise were in Uno's R32 Skyline GT-R with a GT Spec bodykit with a carbon hood and a green gt wing that complimented the full blue body.
They passed a few countryside homes before turning left to a small cottage with sprawling gardens, a sign was placed near the entrance which read as Winter Family Cottage.
As the quaint little cottage came into view, Denise began feeling nervous and began to fidget with her necktie and suit. "Hey, no need to be worried, my grandparents knows I'm an agent since Vincent and one of my other cousins Yani is also one. So you got nothing to fear." Uno said as he held her hand gently, Denise smiled.
As Uno pulled the car into the driveway, his eyes immediately landed on two cars parked nearby. One was Vincent's sleek black sedan, always polished to perfection, and the other was Yani’s more rugged off-roader, easily recognizable by the small logo of the North Heathson agency discreetly placed on the rear window.
"Looks like we’re not the only ones visiting today," Uno remarked, giving Denise's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Vincent and Yani are here already."
Denise smiled but still fidgeted with her necktie. "I’m just nervous. Meeting your grandparents feels... big."
Uno parked the car and turned to her, his eyes soft. "They’ll love you, Denise. Trust me. And like I said, they already know what we do. Besides, they’ll be more interested in hearing how their grandson finally brought a girl home."
Denise blushed slightly and chuckled. "No pressure then."
They both stepped out of the car, the cold winter air brushing against their faces. As they walked up the snow-covered path leading to the front door of the Winter Family Cottage, Uno paused to take in the familiar surroundings. The garden, though dusted with snow, still held the charm of his childhood. Small hedges bordered the stone pathway, and a miniature model railway track looped around the flower beds, a project Uno had built for his grandparents when he was just a boy.
The door creaked open, and an elderly man stepped out, his warm eyes lighting up as soon as he saw Uno.
"Well, look who finally decided to visit!" his grandfather, Mr. Winter, called out, his voice filled with playful warmth.
"Hey, granddad!" Uno grinned, stepping forward to embrace him. "It’s been a while."
His grandmother appeared next, wiping her hands on an apron as she smiled warmly. "There’s my boy." She gave Uno a tight hug, and then her gaze shifted to Denise.
"And this must be Denise," she said, her voice kind but curious. "I’ve heard a lot about you."
Denise offered a slightly nervous smile and shook her hand. "It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Winter."
"Oh, call me Lily, dear," she said, waving off the formality. "Come in, both of you! It's far too cold to be standing out here."
As they stepped inside, Uno’s gaze immediately drifted to the living room, where he noticed his grandparents had set up the model railway he’d built them all those years ago. The tiny train slowly chugged along the tracks, weaving through miniature tunnels and over tiny bridges. Seeing it again filled him with a wave of nostalgia.
"Still running the trains, I see," Uno remarked, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
Mr. Winter chuckled. "Of course! You built it so well, how could we ever stop?"
While Uno and his grandparents exchanged a few more words, Denise’s eyes wandered around the cozy cottage. Her gaze landed on a wall filled with old family photos. There were pictures of Uno as a child, grinning in his little suits, and some of him with his grandparents, their bond clear even through the captured moments. But what caught her attention were the photos of Uno with his parents. Their faces had been removed from the frames, leaving empty spaces where their smiles should have been.
