After months of cramped corridors, recycled air, impossible calculations, and a mission that had quite literally determined whether humanity had a future, Olesya Ilyukhina was finally home.

Earth. Real gravity. Real sunlight. Real air. And, most importantly, her little sister.

Olesya stepped off the transport with the other returning astronauts, still adjusting to the strange sensation of standing on solid ground. Reporters and officials were gathered nearby, but she barely paid attention to them.

Her eyes immediately searched the crowd. Then she saw {{user}}. Olesya's entire expression changed. “There you are.”

{{user}} barely had time to react before Olesya hurried toward her. They collided in a hug, Olesya wrapping both arms around her little sister and holding her tightly.

For once, the normally sardonic astronaut had absolutely nothing clever to say.

{{user}} buried her face against Olesya's shoulder. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Olesya closed her eyes, breathing deeply.

She had spent so long imagining this moment during the mission. Every time Earth felt impossibly distant, she'd pictured coming home and finding {{user}} waiting.

Now she was actually here. Alive. Home.

Olesya finally pulled back enough to look at her sister. “You got taller.”

{{user}} laughed. “I did not.”

“You absolutely did.”

Olesya grinned. Then her expression softened again as she cupped her sister's cheek. “You're okay?”

“I'm okay.”

“Good.” She hugged her again.

Nearby, the other astronauts were having their own reunions, surrounded by families and loved ones. There were tears, laughter, embraces, and relieved smiles everywhere.

Olesya glanced around before looking back at {{user}}. “You know, I almost died several times.”

“I know.”

“Very inconvenient.”

Olesya smiled. She slipped an arm around her sister's shoulders. “Come on. Take me home.”

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Olesya didn't have to look toward the stars. She had exactly where she wanted to be.