Cassie placed the last picture in the box and closed the lid. She barely glanced around the room that had once been hers as she hefted the box in her arms and carried it to the front door. Julian took it from her and carried it out to the RV they had purchased for this journey. Chris met her in the hallway with another box full of photos. He'd been avoiding going to his house, but there was no avoiding it anymore.

"Are you ready?" she inquired.

He frowned as he glanced anxiously across the street. "Yes."

"I'll stay here." Devon kissed her cheek and took the box from Chris.

Cassie nodded and took hold of Chris's hand as she braced herself to face his mother. "There's nothing over there I need," he muttered.

"I know, but you have to talk to her. Maybe offer to let her come with us. She at least has to know you're still alive."

"She's probably barely noticed I was gone, I don't think she cares if I'm alive."

Cassie wanted to argue with him but she wasn't sure he was wrong. They walked across the street and climbed the steps of the dilapidated porch. The screen door creaked as he opened it for her to enter the screened porch. A strange car was parked in the drive, but that was nothing new. There didn't appear to be a party going on though as music didn’t shake the foundation. Chris hesitated before knocking on the door.

"Chris..."

"This has never really been my home."

Cassie braced herself as footsteps hurried across the worn rug within. The door was flung open, and Mary's smile faded when she spotted them. Waves of distress radiated from Chris, Cassie had to shut herself off to the emotions he emitted before she was buried beneath them. Mary's hazel eyes widened; for a moment Cassie thought she would slam the door in their faces.

Chris's shoulders hunched like he was preparing himself for a blow. "Hi Mom," he greeted.

"What are you doing here?" Mary glanced over her shoulder before moving a little closer to them and closing the door more. Cassie's nose scrunched as the stench of whiskey wafted over her.

"I came to see how you were doing, and to see if you would like to come with us?"

"Am I in danger?" she demanded.

"No, this is probably the safest you've ever been. The safest we've all ever been," Chris assured her.

"Then why would I go with you?"

Cassie was half tempted to bite her, but she was fairly certain she'd get drunk from just one pull of her blood. "We probably won't be coming back," Chris informed her.

"I'm surprised you came back now, this has never really been your home. That," she nodded across the street. "Was always more of your home, with her."

Mary's upper lip curled as her gaze raked Cassie from head to toe. "I wanted to say goodbye," Chris said feebly.

"I thought you might be dead," Mary continued as if he hadn't spoken.

"We survived."

Mary didn't bother to ask what they had survived as she took a step back. "Well, goodbye."

It took everything Cassie had to keep her displeasure hidden as Mary closed the door on them. Her hand tightened around Chris's as he stared mutely at the door before turning away. "Let's go home," he muttered.

Cassie would have done anything he asked to take away the kicked puppy look he had going on right now. The creak of the door caused her to turn back as Mary poked her head out again. "I'm glad you're ok," she said.

Chris perked up a little as he took a step back toward her. "I'm glad you're ok too."

"I'm happy you'll be safer now. Maybe... uh... maybe you could ah... call once in a while."

"I will... Mom," Chris's voice broke a little as he ran his hand through his hair. "I promise."

"Good. Stay safe."

She retreated quickly and closed the door on them again. Cassie couldn't stop herself from smiling at him as she leaned against his side. He continued to stare at the closed door as if it were a portal to another world. "That's the nicest she's been in years."

"She does love you Chris, the best she can."

"Yeah, I know."

"I love you," she told him as she bumped against his hip.

"I love you too, Solar."

She glowered at him as he finally smiled again. "I really don't like that one," she muttered as he laughed at her.

He took hold of her hand and led her into the cold. Devon and Julian were standing outside the RV. She could see the shadows of Melissa and Luther moving around within. Gabriel was sweetly curled up within Devon's arms, sucking on his thumb as he watched them approach. They'd decided it was best for the rest of the children to stay with Annabelle and Liam on the lot of land, and farmhouse, they'd purchased in Canada. Gabriel had simply refused to remain behind, and Cassie had been more than willing to bring him.

Cassie rose up to kiss Devon's cheek. He grinned down at her as Gabriel straightened up and began to play with the collar of his shirt. Though the child had been distrustful of both him and Julian in the beginning, he'd quickly become comfortable around the two of them. He'd taken to following them around almost as much as he followed her.

"Everything go ok?" Devon asked.

"Better than I'd expected," she replied honestly.

Chris climbed into the RV and immediately began to argue with Julian over who was going to drive the first leg of the trip back. Cassie rolled her eyes; Devon placed Gabriel in the RV as he began to squirm. He tottered over to where Julian sat and climbed into his lap. Gabriel wasn't remotely intimidated by Julian's scowl as he pulled at Julian's ears. Cassie couldn't help but smile as Julian gave up on trying to appear daunting and started to bounce Gabriel on his knee.

Devon pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "That's good. How are you doing?"

She shrugged as she glanced back at the house that had been her home for so many years. There were hundreds of good memories there, but it had stopped being her home when her grandmother died, and she was ready to move on. Ready and excited to start this next journey in her life, or afterlife.

"I'm ready to go home," she told him.

He smiled as he drew her closer. "Me too."

She savored her last view of the house before she closed the door on the RV and locked it. Chris and Julian appeared to have lost the driving battle to Luther, who was sitting in the driver's seat. Devon pulled her into his lap and cuddled her against him as Luther pulled out of the drive. Cassie watched the town she'd loved, and grown up in, fade into the distance as she rested her head against his chest and let his soothing, powerful aura lull her into a peaceful sleep.