Layla jumped into the back seat of Aunt Lynn's car. Literally, jumped. Blaine was whiping tears of joy off his face and both of them were over the moon.
"Blaine we...we did it!" Layla gushed. "Granted, it's only temporary, but right now, I'm not their's anymore, I'm... I feel free finally. Like, now I can be with people who are actually there and I feel so much better. Holy shit, Blaine, we won"
Blaine reached back and tried to hug his sister, but it just ended up being an awkward embrace. But, they both felt the mutual feeling.
Aunt Lynn slid into the car, bright eyed and bushy-tailed. She was so overjoyed, she couldn't hide it, but she wanted to make sure Layla knew this wasn't just a 'free ride'.
"Well, we did it! Wow, we really did, we're a family now. A temporary family, but still, and family." Aunt Lynn gushed, "But, really we're a family and we have family rules and expectation, okay. Seriously, I expect you to be the best person you can, I'm new to all this, and I'll need your help, too. Blaine knows, right Blaine?" Aunt Lynn had to make sure everyone still understood her authority.
"Yeah, I have to get good grades, and I can't drink or do drugs. Well, I can't get caught. And no STD's" Blaine said, with a giddy smile.
"Well, that seems easy enough." Layla said with a nod.
"Okay, now let's go home!" Aunt Layla said, turning the car on.
Home. Home. This word stung Layla all through her veins. She finally had a real, true home with a real true family that loved her. Well, that loved her so far. She was going to the apartment that would now be her safe haven. A new place filled with happy people and so much support. She wasn't going back to a big fancy prison, all by herself to fend on her own. She was going to have waffles with Blaine in the mornings and cook dinner with Aunt Lynn, instead of the cook making her a five star meal. But waffles were so much better. She knew the waffles would be made with love, by someone who cares and not someone who was payed. She could ask a human for help with her homework now, and not have to rely on the anonymous knowledge of the internet. Now she would be able to have long deep conversations with her aunt, and not a 'Hi, how are you?" to the cleaning lady. This all amazed her and sent a rush of splendor through her body. Home.
Aunt Lynn blasted the radio and opened all the windows on their way home, and boy did the three of them belt. Blaine knew every word of every song off by heard, Aunt Lynn hummed the tunes and sang all that she knew and Layla belted out the choruses. It was hard for Aunt Lynn to keep her hands on the steering wheel, and even harder for her to concentrate on the road. She wanted to jump through the roof and dance in the middle of the streets. They were a family now, a messed up, strange, yet real family.
"Wait, I gotta call Kurt! He'll be thrilled with the news!" Blaine said, whipping out his phone. It was odd to hear him say that, seeing as Layla had only met Kurt yesterday and barely knew him. Hell, she didn't even remember his last name, but she knew that Blaine was probably the excited one, he just wanted to share his joy with his boyfriend.
"Hey Kurt! Best news ever! Kurt we have custody of Layla. Well, temporary custody, but still, we won! Kurt I have my sister back!" Blaine's voice got choked up at the end and he was grinning.
On the other line, Blaine listened to Kurt intently, "Blaine thats so amazing! I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to really meet your sister again, this time with no police hold ups!"
Aunt Lynn pulled into her parking spot outside their apartment. Well, this was it. Layla would be entering the apartment as her new home for the first time. She felt such a strange scared feeling, like a fear of the unknown. Really, all she was doing was entering Aunt Lynn's small apartment, but now it was her's. It was all different.
The door swung open to the usual sight of the couch, table and small kitchen area. This time it was so unusual, though. Just one more step. One more step to home. Layla thought.
"Well usually a parent would bring their kid home in a stroller with a big bulge of baby weight, but I think I like this bit better. Welcome home, Layla." Aunt Lynn said, as Layla took that first step to the beginning of her new life.
Blaine looked at his sister with a soft smile.
"Welcome to the family."
