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She heard the tick of the clock, but barely registered it.
Haruka and Sora were gone on a mission, called to HQ. They would be back soon, because she got a text from them saying they were on the way back.
Everyone else… she was the only one in the house. No one else was home, and she didn’t know where they were.
It’s been like this for several months now.
Every day, she looked at the door, hoping they’d all come back safe. And every day, she was disappointed.
She stood up. Might as well get dinner ready for the kids.
She was about to enter the kitchen when she heard the front door open. They were back already?
“Mommy!” Haruka ran in, panting. Sora was right behind her.
“Haruka?” Chris raised a brow. “What is it?”
“She’s excited, Mother.” Sora said. “We have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” Chris asked. “What surprise-”
“Hi, Oneesama.”
Chris froze, looking in the doorway. Standing there with a smile was Shuri. She took a few steps forward, almost as if making sure she was really there, before putting her hands on her face.
“Shuri…?” Chris asked, voice shaking. “You’re… here…?”
Shuri put a hand on Chris’. “Yes… I’m here, Oneesama.”
The tears started to fall for both of them, as the siblings embraced one another in a tight hug.
“Shuri! I was so worried…!” Chris sobbed.
“I know… I’m sorry…” Shuri quietly said.
“Don’t! Don’t apologize, you’re here now…” Chris smiled. “And I guess this means Maia’s back too?”
Shuri chuckled. “Tsubasa devolved into tears when they reunited.”
“Of course she did.” Chris smiled.
“But I’m not the only one that’s back, Oneesama.” Shuri said. The two stopped the hug, and Shuri took a step back, turning towards the door. “You two can come in now.”
Walking in next were the loving couple that had been missing.
“Hey, Chris!” Hibiki waved. “We’re back!”
“Glad to see you kept the house tidy for us.” Miku smiled.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Chris’s tears were falling again, as she ran forward and embraced her two closest friends. “Someone had to keep things running for Haruka and Sora’s sakes.”
“Sorry we left you alone, Chris.” Miku wrapped a hand around Chris’ back, trying her best to keep her composure.
“We won’t leave you behind ever again. We promise.” Hibiki added.
“You lovebirds came back, that’s good enough for me.” Chris said. “Now get back to doing annoying stuff here at home, where you should be.”
“Hee hee, yes ma’am.” Hibiki grinned, gently slapping Chris on the back with her prosthetic.
“Ow, watch your arm strength, dummy.” Chris teased before she looked in the doorway to see another familiar face. One that wasn’t as happy as the previous three.
“...hi Aunt Chris.” Hana said.
Slightly frowning, Chris walked over to her niece. “Welcome home, sweetie.”
“I… I did some terrible things, Aunt Chris.” The tears were threatening the corners of her eyes now. “It was my fault… you were left alone…”
“I had Haruka and Sora, so I was holding out fine.” Chris wasn’t being completely honest there, but did know that those two were the reason she was able to keep going. “And it wasn’t your fault, kiddo.”
“But-”
“Shh.” Chris pulled the girl into a hug. “You’re home now. You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
Hana widened her eyes, sniffling a bit. She had missed the hugs of her Aunt Chris.
“Thanks… but there’s one more person you need to see.”
Hana stepped towards her parents, aunt and cousins, as Chris looked at the doorway, having guessed who was left.
…she was still waiting.
…okay, no one was coming. This would be one twisted prank considering who she was expecting.
“Oneesan! You’re keeping Chris waiting!” Hibiki called.
“S-Sorry.”
Rui walked in, wearing her normal jaw instead of the more presentable one (since she had left it before she disappeared).
“H-Hey, Chris.” Rui was rubbing the back of her head.
Chris was staring at her wife, almost as if trying to make sure she’s really there.
“Um… I’m home.” Rui said, with a slight smile.
“...what took you so long?” Chris’ voice was shaking.
“I uh, got lost, sort of.” Rui said. “My sister isn’t the best with directions, so that kinda threw things off kilter.”
“Hey, I was the one that had to look for you, Oneesan!” Hibiki pointed out, as Miku elbowed her wife.
“Then take… a map… with you…” Chris muttered.
“I mean, who needs a map-”
Chris tackled Rui mid-sentence, pushing her down. The kids were alarmed, but the adults had knowing looks.
Rui was staring up at Chris, who was sobbing freely now, letting all her emotions out.
“Chris, I-”
“Do you know how worried I’ve been?!”
“I can guess.”
“Every night, I kept hoping you were okay!”
“I had a feeling you did.”
“And here you still have snappy comebacks to everything I say!”
“I’m trying Maia’s coping mechanism.”
“You’re such a jerk! Sometimes I don’t know why I married you!”
“You’ve said that plenty of times.”
Rui sat up, letting Chris sit in her lap. The two leaned forward, their foreheads touching.
“...I missed you, Chunnigure.” Chris put a hand on Rui’s face, feeling both her skin and her prosthetic.
“I missed you too, Chris.” Rui put her hand over Chris’.
Chris leaned even closer, her lips an inch away from Rui’s.
“W-Wait, let me switch to-”
Rui didn’t get to finish, as Chris pressed her lips against hers. They kept that position for quite some time, before breaking away.
“Doesn’t matter to me.” Chris smiled, wiping away her tears. “You’re still the same girl I fell in love with.”
“Chris… I love you.” Rui wrapped her arms around her. “I promise I’ll never leave you again.”
“You’d better.” Chris muttered. “Or I’ll knock you into next year.”
Shuri helped usher the others out of the room. “Come on, we can talk about the family gathering to celebrate everyone’s safe return later. Let’s give them some room.”
“Aw, I wanted to tell Chris to do it at home.” Hibiki laughed.
“We are at home, Hibiki.” Miku reminded her. “All of us are now.”
“Seeing Mama smile again… it’s great, isn’t it, Sora?” Haruka asked.
“It is.” Sora smiled.
Hana watched her aunts embrace. In spite of everything, she smiled, seeing the two together again helped lighten her spirits. They were people she loved, and now they were with each other after being separated for so long; the reunion they had both been waiting for.
Once more, the family was whole again.