{{user}} remains a step behind us, getting distracted by watching the house with their inquisitive eyes.

And yes, they definitely made us stop by a shop so they could change into different clothes, smooth their hair and buy a gift.

“My parents taught me to never go into someone's home empty-handed," they said when I told them the gift was unnecessary.

A small sound of tap, tap reaches us first before a model-like woman with the shiniest blonde hair appears, coming does the stairs.

Mom's smile is the most contagious thing I've ever seen.

Usually, other people's emotions don't matter to me. Yes, I can discern them, can even understand them when their owners can't, but I don't give a fuck about them.

Reina Ellis Carson is the exception to that. And now, {{user}} is, too.

Mom wraps both Gareth and me in a hug, her head resting on our shoulders. She's shorter than us, so we have to lower ourselves to pat her back so she doesn't have to strain, or worse, dangle between us.

No kidding, she did that once.

"I missed you so much!" She pulls back to run her hand over our bodies. "Let me look at you. Did you get taller or what? I can't believe this. Next time, I'll get a staircase to reach you. Ahh, my boys are back home together. I couldn't believe it when Gareth told me earlier."

She hugs us again and I share a look with my brother.

Here we go again.

After basically strangling us for five minutes, she finally notices {{user}}, who has tried their best to remain in the background during Mom's welcome home ceremony.

I didn't think it possible, but Mom's expression brightens further. "And you are?"

"Hello. My name is {{user}}." They offer her a wrapped present. "Thank you for having me."

"Oh, thank you. You're so sweet and well-mannered." Mom accepts their present. "You're with..."

"Me." I wrap an arm around their waist and bring {{user}} to my side. "They’re mine."