I'm Home

Old friend and a surprise

Lydia had been living in Winter River for a month now and was settling into life nicely. One day, she was in the shops and got a surprise"Lydia?" asked a voice. Lydia whipped her head around and saw a young woman and a child approaching her. 

"Hello?" said Lydia, taking Victoria's hand in hers

"Lydia, its me Sky" said the woman. Lydia's mouth dropped opened and she quickly embraced her old friend.

"Oh my god" said Lydia, pulling back from the hug "Sky I missed you so much, how have you been?"

"I'm good" said Sky "I've missed you though. How about you? Keeping well?"

"I guess" said Lydia, grabbing Victoria's hand so she didn't wander off "As well as a mother of 3 children can"

"You have 3 now?"

"Meet my youngest" said Lydia, picking Victoria up "This is Victoria, she's 3"

"Ha! Twins" said Sky, she gestured to the child that was gripping to her leg "This is Luna, she's also three. My oldest, Matt, is probably around the same age as your son"

"Yes, Will mentioned a guy called Matt" said Lydia. She looked at her daughter "Tori, can you say hello to Sky and Luna?"

"Hi" said Victoria shyly

"Hi Victoria" said Sky, picking Luna up "Luna, say hello to Lydia and Victoria"

"Hello" said Luna. Victoria perked up "I'm Luna"

"I'm Victoria"

"I think they'll be friends" said Lydia, lowering her daughter to the ground.

"Want to organize some time for them to have a play? I could have them at my house sometime. Any day you busy?" she put Luna down so she could talk to Victoria

"Thursday I'm having my parents over for lunch" said Lydia "If you could take her for a few hours that would be amazing"

"Of course" said Sky, she checked her watch "Oh, school ends soon, want to head off together"

"Sure" said Lydia. They smiled and led their still chatting daughters towards the check outs. 

Sky had just picked a very excited Victoria up and left Lydia alone with her 4 parents. Beetlejuice had to look after something in the Netherworld that day and the 2 older kids were at school, leaving the 5 adults to have some quality time together.

"We haven't done anything like this in ages" said Delia, leaning back in her seat after finishing her second helping of food "Great cooking by the way Barb, as always"

"Thanks Delia" said Barbara with a smile. Charles phone buzzed and he gave an almost indistinguishable nod to Barbara. She understood and stood up, gathering the plates up. "Adam, want to come help me get desert?"

"Sure hon" Adam stood up and picked up the dish in the middle of the table, following his wife into the kitchen. Lydia watched the Maitlands go and the doorbell rung. Lydia stood up to get it. Charles and Delia watched her and noticed the Maitlands doing the same thing from the kitchen doorway. Lydia opened the door and let out a gasp.

"Liam!" she cried. 

"Surprise honey" he said. Lydia jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back, picking her up a little. Lydia was crying into her husbands shoulder and he just hugged her back tightly. Lydia pulled her head away from his shoulder and looked at him

"Oh my god, its you" she sniffed, running her hand over his face "really you"

"Its me" said Liam. Lydia scratched the stubble of his beard with her hand and let out a small laugh. Liam lent forward and kissed her. Lydia kissed him back, wrapping her hands around his neck and resting one in his hair. Liam had his arms wrapped around her waist and was holding her small frame close to his large one. 

"I missed you so much" said Lydia, breaking the kiss and smiling at him. 

"I missed you too" said Liam. Lydia kissed him lightly and looked over at Charles and Delia "Did you know about this?"

"Planned it" said Charles "Surprise sweetheart"

"Dad..." Lydia smiled gratefully at her father "Thank you"

"Where's my sister?" asked Liam, putting an arm around his wife's shoulder and looking for Barbara. Lydia pointed to the kitchen, where the Maitlands were watching them with a smile, Barbara had a few ghostly tears in her eyes. Lydia pushed Liam toward the kitchen and Barbara met him halfway, throwing her arms around her little brothers neck. "Hey Barb"

"Hey" she hugged him tightly, having to go up on her toes because he'd grown so tall "Don't go away for that long ever again" she pulled away and failed at looking stern "Lydia's been so amazing, but she's missed you"

"Don't worry" he squeezed his sister tightly and released her "I'm staying her for good, I miss my family too much to go away anymore"

"Really?" asked Lydia

"Really" confirmed Liam. Lydia broke into a huge grin and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Don't worry, I'm never leaving you again"