Crossing Borders

Reunited

Astrid and Albert were already in the car going to the Matthews' Mansion.

She looks at the familiar buildings that she had longed for so long to see again. It'll be hours before they reach the house, her eyes were closing, but she was fighting off sleep. She had been awake for more than 24 hours, she didn't even close her eyes during the 11 hour flight from Russia to US.

She sat in first class, having to occupy two rows as per her grandfather's instructions, just reading and looking out the window every once in a while.

"Astrid."

A memory of her last ordeal at the House of Duchovny ran through her mind and she tries to push it out, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. By instinct she moves away, pulled out her gun and loaded.

"Astrid!" Albert shouts moving back. "It's just me."

"Albert..." she drops the gun to her side and covered her eyes with her hand, What's happening to me?

"Are you ok, young Miss?" Albert asks again.

"I'm sorry Albert, I was... I..." she sighed looking up at him, "I'm just tired I guess."

She secretly curses Father Chzarles.

"Well, why don't you get some rest?" Albert picks up the blanket that he had put over her lap earlier and put it over her again, "We don't want you to be so jumpy when you go see the boys."

"I'll be fine by then." She says, more to herself, "They're different."

"Different? What do you mean young miss?" Astrid doesn't answer, "Astrid, please-"

"I just want to see them, Albert..." she turns to Albert, looking so weak and tired; sadness was present on her face. "I want to see my brother, Damien, Jared and Derek... That's all I ask."

"And you will, tomorrow." he says. "For now, your mother and father are excited to see you."

He glances outside the window, Astrid did as well. The car stops and she sees her mother and father at the top of the stairs waiting for her. Tears were in her mother's eyes. She smiled a genuine smile for the first time in a long time.

Albert stepped out and opened the door for her.

"Astrid!" Mrs. Matthews gasped and ran to her, throwing her arms around her.

Astrid hugs her as tight as she could, smell her perfume and sighing at the comfort it brought her.

"Mother..." she whispers, hiding her face on the crook of her mother's neck as she feel tears form in her eyes, "Mother I'm home."

"Yes you are princess, yes you are." Mrs. Matthews says back as she run her hand through her daughter's hair.

"Astrid..." Astrid flinched and held unto her mother tight.

"Master Ashton..." Albert steps in to warn him, but he sees Astrid look up to her dad.

"Princess..." he says.

"Daddy," she ran to Mr. Matthews and threw her arms around him. "Daddy..."

"Shh..." he whispers as he held her close to him, his hand on her crown, her face buried on his shoulder as she cried. "Shh, its ok princess, daddy's here."

"I'm so sorry daddy... I'm so sorry..." she says.

"Shh, you don't need to apologize Astrid..." he says, "You're home, that's all that matters."