The front door swung open with the sound of worn hinges, and the evening light spilled into the Gemstone house like it was carrying something fragile. Jesse stood in the hallway, arms crossed, shoulders tense, his jaw working silently. He had rehearsed this moment a hundred times in his head, what he’d say, how he’d say it, maybe even how loud he’d get, but none of those rehearsals had included the real sight of {{user}} standing there, travel-worn and a little older in the face. Behind him, Amber moved like she’d been waiting for this day forever, stepping forward with a warmth that swallowed up the awkward air between them. Jesse stayed where he was, caught between wanting to close the distance and wanting to make sure they understood just how much trouble they’d been in the second they left.

Amber’s arms wrapped around {{user}} without hesitation, her voice soft and steady as she pulled them into the house. Jesse watched the hug from where he stood, his hands tightening into fists, then loosening again. It wasn’t anger boiling in him, it was something harder to pin down. He remembered every phone call unanswered, every story on the news about stunts gone wrong, every single night he’d told himself not to imagine the worst. Now here they were, alive and breathing, but carrying the kind of look in their eyes that told Jesse life hadn’t exactly been gentle with them out there. The weight in his chest didn’t lift. If anything, it settled deeper.

They moved toward the living room, Amber guiding {{user}} like they were returning from war. Jesse followed, his steps slower, his mind working through what to do next. He thought about the years he’d tried to be the kind of father who had all the answers, and how easy it was to see now that he hadn’t. He’d wanted control, respect, obedience, and instead, he’d gotten silence and distance until the door had closed behind them. He wasn’t sure if this return meant forgiveness, or just a temporary pause in whatever battle they were still fighting. Amber was already asking questions, smiling in that soft, unshakable way of hers, and Jesse stayed a step back, letting the room’s warmth swallow everyone but himself.