When we pulled into the harbor, I saw my family waiting for us at the dock. Xander had sent them a letter saying that we were coming to visit, but I asked him not to mention our surprises. I wanted to see their faces.
Xander and I went in the first rowboat with Quynh, Thrax, and Luna, and I had Haemon go with the others in the second.
When we pulled up to the dock, my father was there with tears streaming down his face. “My girls! My flowers!”
I started climbing the ladder, but my father reached for my hand and pulled me up so that I could hug him. His embrace was so comforting, so familiar, that I started to cry.
My mother’s arms went around us, and I pulled her into the hug.
Then my father let go so that he could reach for Quynh. Doria and Kallisto joined us and we stood there on the dock, reunited at last. Xander and Thrax got out of the boat and waited for us to finish.
“I have a surprise for you,” I said, my voice muffled.
“What kind of surprise?” my father asked.
I pulled away and said, “Look.”
The second rowboat had arrived.
No one in my family moved or breathed. They all stared.
“Is that—” My father stopped speaking, unable to believe what he was seeing.
“Is that how you plan to greet your long-lost son?” Haemon asked with a wide smile as he climbed the ladder.
Doria pushed through us, going straight to Haemon. “I knew it,” she said, tears falling down her cheeks. “I knew you were alive.”
He pulled her into a long kiss and then said, “I love you. I missed you so much.”
“I love you,” she said.
My parents’ tears only got worse. They fell on Haemon’s neck with loud sobs, and a moment later Kallisto was there with them, crying every bit as hard.
My entire family was together again. I had returned Haemon to them, making us whole.
Xander came over to put his arm around me. “This must make you happy.”
“It does,” I said, wiping my own tears away.
When they finally released Haemon, I took the opportunity to introduce Xander and Thrax to my parents, explaining that Quynh and I were married to them.
They got pulled into the family hug. Thrax was delighted, while Xander looked uncomfortable but endured it for my sake.
We all went back to the palace and nobody even asked about Luna—they were so focused on Haemon’s return and our marriages.
I knew that we would have time during our visit to explain everything. I could be patient.
My father declared that we must have a feast, as I knew he would. I had made sure that the ship was packed with supplies so that we could celebrate. Everything was brought to the palace, and I took the opportunity to take my husband on a tour of my first home.
When we got to the courtyard with the ancient olive tree, he laughed and brought me over to it.
“Who could have guessed that we would come full circle like this? Back to where it all began,” he said, pressing soft kisses to my neck.
I leaned my head back to give him better access, tingling from his touch. “Not me.”
“You aren’t going to try and stab me again, are you?”
“For your own safety, I would advise you not to ask me that question when I’m vomiting in the morning.”
