𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐘 [MONTGOMERY DE LA CRUZ AU]

ONE ૐ HOME SWEET HOME

"SO, ARE YOU EXCITED?" Her older sister, Elizabeth, asked. Both hands on the wheel and an excited grin on her face as they pass the familiar 'Welcome' sign to their hometown. She haven't been at California in quite a while now, being buried with work.

"Of course I am," Olivia says, letting out a chuckle. She turns from her seat to look at her baby, asleep at the backseat on his navy blue baby car seat. A small tuft of brown wavy hair on top of his head have grown for the past year. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, so serene, the face so familiar that it sends a shoot of pure happiness and excruciating pain in her heart. "though i am a bit nervous because I haven't been here for a year and a half now."

"I actually kind of miss this place, you know? Like, this was where we were born, we grew up here. When we were kids, this was what we consider our whole world." Elizabeth reminisces, a nostalgic feeling setting place on her chest. "Why are you nervous? Dad doesn't hate you and besides, he loves baby bubba, including you."

"Doesn't feel like it, Beth. He and I aren't the same anymore ever since he found out I was pregnant.. even way back when he found out I was dating Montgomery.." Olivia sighed.

The sisters passed by stores and shops they've come to be familiarized with for their entire lives, passing by the same old houses and driving on the same old road until their house came into view. Noah, their younger brother, is at their front yard, trimming the grass with a gardener's shears. He sees the familiar car of his oldest sister and shouts for both of his parents to come out of the house.

"Don't worry, Liv." Elizabeth says while unbuckling her seatbelt. "Everyone's gonna love you and your son. And if they give both of you shit, they'll have to go through me."

Olivia smiles, feeling light with her sister's support and together, they stepped out of the car. She hears her Mom's excited squeals from the porch Olivia gently cradles Grayson in her chest, careful not to disturb his sleep.

Noah and their Dad, Michael, unloads their baggages from the trunk and carries them inside while Owen and Dom tried to help, opening doors for their brother and dad to come through and picking up light suitcases. Their Mom catapults herself to her daughter, Olivia, and engulfing her into a side hug.

A small agitated cry was heard from Grayson, not accustomed to the heat and Harriet eagerly took Grayson from Olivia's arms . She cooes at her grandson, softly running her fingers through his thin hair. "He's grown so much since the last time we saw him, look at this sunshine!" Then she says to both of her daughters: "I cooked both of your favourites, you two must be starving. Come on, let's get inside."

Harriet had prepared herself and the entire house for days only because of her two daughters' return. It had been a painful stab in her heart when her firstborn, Elizabeth, left to chase her dreams in Los Angeles and it had been more painful when Michael had sent their second child off with her sister when they found out about her pregnancy.

They all went inside and Olivia's eyes watered with happiness and nostalgia as she roamed her eyes inside the house, absorbing every detail it had and hadn't changed. She hadn't been back here ever since a year and a half ago right before her father had sent her away.

She was finally home.