My desperate endeavor to find my whoever

19) Babe...

As instructed, I waited until I got into the airport to open Alex's envelope. When I did, there were several smaller envelopes with numbers on them. There was also a handwritten note:

Babe,

I promise you this will be worth it, you just have to follow everything I say to the letter okay?

You can go ahead and open the first envelope now. You'll love it

Love always,
Alex
(Mush)
Xx

He was fucking adorable. I found the number 1 envelope and opened it carefully but quickly. A compass fell into my hand as well as the note.

Head east from this point and ask the following: excuse me, which gate is flight BAE716382 coming in to?

Sure enough, I looked to my right (to the east) and found the help desk. There was nobody else there, so I went over. "Excuse me, which gate is flight BAE716382 coming in to?" I asked, exactly how he told me to.

"It's gate 3." She smiled. "I presume you're meeting somebody? They'll be coming from that way so I'd get over before it gets crowded."

I thanked her and headed in the direction she'd pointed. As I did, I noticed 'PTO' in the bottom corner of the note; there was more of Alex's scrawl on the back.

'Hey you found the other side! 20 points to Hufflepuff! You can go ahead and open number 2.'

"Idiot." I giggled. I love that he remembered I was a Hufflepuff at heart. I opened number 2 and a tiny Union Jack fell out along with the new note.

Some time to kill for now!

'Ello guvna! In case you hadn't noticed, we're awaiting a Brit! Head north and buy the following from the store. Use the $50!

I looked down the list and recognised a lot of what was on it, as I was instantly reminded of a special someone. Still, I daren't dawdle, so I got straight on with it. This whole thing could be a decoy for something a lot more special.

"Right," I breathed, checking the list. "Bottle of Jameson's...Rolling Stone mag..." I listed off, grabbing each thing as I passed it. There was about 3 other things after that, but I got everything. The little shit failed to account for me going slightly over, so I had to throw in another $20 myself...moron.

"Partying, are we?" The guy behind the counter smirked, bagging my stuff.

"No, just meeting somebody. My boyf- my friend sent me on a wild goose chase and wouldn't tell me." Judging by the heat coming from my face, I was blushing. He giggled at me, just proving I was blushing.

"Is he not that important?"

"What d'you mean?"

"Well, you went to say 'boyfriend' but then settled for 'friend'." He pointed out. "I mean, that to me says that he loves you but you don't reciprocate."

I sighed. "I love him to death," I said quietly, leaning over the counter. "I just don't want to rush things, we've only just reconnected. His family left the UK when we were young and we've just met for the first time in nearly 20 years. I don't want to rush but he's being so mushy with me..."

"Shit..." He gasped. "Well, I hope this helps you decide."

"Me too." I chuckled.

I heard something about the flight I was waiting for over the tannoy system, so I went to where I was supposed to wait. People started to arrive, immediately engulfed in hugs from their loved ones while others simply squealed in pure excitement. I was that engrossed in everyone else I didn't even notice somebody walking up to me.

"Fancy seeing you here..." A familiar voice chuckled.

I froze. I was convinced I was hearing things, so I didn't turn around.

"You're not hearing things, babe." He sighed. "I'll just stand here like a fool until you look at me."

My lips curled into a smirk; I knew he was really here now. "Daddy?!" I said excitedly, slightly questioning him. "What the hell?!"

"One word: Gaskarths." He said quickly.

"What, all of them knew?"

"They paid my bloody fare!" Dad chuckled. "I nearly collapsed hearing Isobel on the phone. She hasn't changed at all!"

I knew there was a reason I loved that family! I could swing for every single one of them right now, but I could also hug them and never let them go for bringing my dad here. "So how long are you staying?" I asked, taking one of his bags. "And where will you stay?"

"Don't worry about my sleeping arrangements, lover boy has arranged everything." He told me. "I've got an open ticket, so whenever you get sick of me," Dad smirked.

"Highly unlikely, dad." I sighed. "I'm just so happy you're here." We were now out in the car park again and Alex was leaning against the car, arms folded with the signature smirk on his face. "I could kill you right now," I told him, mirroring his smirk.

"I know." He said cheerfully, taking dad's bags for him. "I just wish I'd done the envelopes thing a little better."

"It was perfect," I told him.

"Aw baaabe..." He cooed, leaning down to kiss me.

"Alright, give it a rest," Dad said impatiently. "This old man needs a nap."

Alex blushed as I giggled at my dad, and we climbed back into the car.  "You're in a hotel for tonight, Mr Costello," Alex told him. "I hope that's okay?"

"Less of the formalities, it's John." He sighed: he hated being called Mr Costello.

"Sorry." Alex blushed. "Just force of habit. We're heading towards Baltimore tomorrow, so my parents can come to collect you from the tour bus."

"Tour bus?!"

"Dad we're not leaving ourselves til early tomorrow." I laughed. "We'll take you on the bus so far, then Peter and Isobel can come meet us."

"How did they react to you?" Dad asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Pretty well, actually." I nodded. "They were shocked, and it took a minute for the name to ring a bell, but they got there in the end."

"I'm just amazed you found each other." Dad smiled fondly. "I can't imagine how difficult it was for you to be away from each other. I can't tell you how happy I am you've reunited."

"Ditto." I smiled fondly, glancing at Alex.

The conversation soon moved on to how tour was going, so this was my chance to fangirl to dad about how amazing everything had been so far. I caught Alex smiling fondly but I continued as I started. Right now I was the happiest I've ever been and I didn't really give a shit what anybody thought.