His adventure home had been a long and arduous one, but one which had also brought him a large measure of peace so far.

When his relationship with Jacinta ended, it had been so explosive it was like a bomb where everyone got damaged by the shrapnel. Everyone was wounded and no one wanted to admit just how deep they went. The dust settled and so much was healed improperly, misaligned flesh and infection bubbling under the surface.

Jacinta's visit had purged the infection and all had begun to properly heal. What had been hurt and animosity at the situation— even a feeling of anger turned inward— was rising from putrid ranks. When he saw her or thought of her there was no longer that weight on his heart and shoulders. He smiled, he thought that she would have a good life in this world. His turned the cross-charm in his hand and hoped that he had restored to her as much as she had to him.

The weight upon his shoulders was not yet in a position of release. There were still two active issues to attend to, but he would have to handle those without outside interference or support. The issue of Maria and Trina.

Shane didn't talk about the fact that he had been married to someone for the past five years. It was a situation that had to be delicately handled. Maria had been his wife when he was eighteen and it had been, initially, a good marriage. When it went south, it did so quickly and for reasons outside of cheating or money or lust or lack of interest in the other. When he left his wife and family, his young sister Trina had been deeply hurt by it. He had loved both of them, abandoned both of them and it seemed the time had come for him to do something about the wrong he'd done.

When he stood outside of his childhood home, he noticed the small things about it which had changed. One of the hinges had the glow of new metal and the bottom of the door looked more scuffed that he remembered it being. Shepard's pie always reminded him of home— and hot hay's steam rising into the air of a darkening day.

The light was on and he could hear all the motions inside that told him dinner was fast approaching and everyone had come in with the fall of the sun in the grey day.

He opened the door and smiled when he stepped in, surveying all of those who he knew and had loved. Most of his siblings and....her.

There were subtle differences to her face, but he recognized her immediately. Her lips, her cheeks, the way her eyes moved in her expressions. He smiled weakly and made toward the kitchen table, taking his seat by his quiet father. Maria, of course, was off to his right with his father at the head of the table on his left. He looked over at Maria with his lips pressed thoughtfully together and then said, in a raspy, tired but....relieved way.

"Hello love."