The retreat was over and Dani was at her home. It was the weekend. She had decided to visit her parents. Though, she had to admit, she was kinda worried about Shelby. She walked into the living room. She saw three people on the couch. She sighed, Shelby was one of them along with her parents. "Dani!" Shelby shouted racing over. She wrapped her arms around her sister.

"Hi, Shell," Dani murmured. She gazed at her sister. Her eyes were bright and she looked much happier than when Dani'd last seen her. The two sisters walked over to their parents. Dani gazed at her parents. They smiled.

"Welcome home Dans," said her father. "Though on Monday you go back." Dani walked over to him and gave him a hug. Her mother gazed at her.

"We were so proud of you in the play!" She commented and Dani smiled. "You and Ryker had great chemistry!" Well, of course you'd think that, Dani thought, you were a performer, at school at least.

Dani blushed. "Yeah... uh... speaking of Ryker... Rykie!" Ryker entered as an eagle shifting back and landing in front of Mr. Wolfe. Ryker was smiling.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe!" He said, in a slightly nervous tone. "I'm Ryker!"

"We know. She couldn't shut up about you throughout her grade 8 school life. Or well, her entire school life." Ryker looked at Dani with a slight smirk.

"And you told me they disappeared at the end of  Grade 7." Dani returned her boyfriend's gaze. She was blushing.

"Rykie, we've talked about this," she mumbled. Shelby glanced up at them.

"So.. why is Ryker here?"

"Oh I almost forgot! Rykie, care to do the honours?" He grinned.

"Gladly." They kissed, in front of Shelby and her parents. Mr. Wolfe's eyes widened and Mrs. Wolfe gasped. Shelby smiled widely. She already knew. They broke off and turned toward Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe.

"Oh... my..." said Dani's mother, shocked expression turning into joy. "My ship.... oh my..." Ship?! Did I hear that right? Dani gazed at her parents. "What my daughter.... wanted for.... the longest time.... happened..." Dani could tell her mother was trying to suppress her joy, she moved her gaze onto her father. He was frozen with a neutral expression. Expressionless, his eyes moved to meet his daughter's.

"How did this happen..?" He said eventually. Dani smiled.

"He... uh... he serenaded me." Mr. Wolfe walked over to Ryker. Ryker gulped.

"You serenaded her?"

"Yes." Mr. Wolfe smiled.

"Welcome to the family, Ryker." Ryker blushed.

"T-thank you sir." He walked back over to Dani who entwined her arm with his. That went better than I thought it would, she thought. She gazed at her parents again before walking Ryker to the door. "I felt a bit apprehensive meeting your parents," he admitted and Dani just smiled.

"It's fine, I'd be too."

"Speaking of.... you need to meet my parents." Dani nodded.

"I will, just not today." Ryker smiled. "See you tomorrow!" She called after his Uber. She was sure Ryker had heard her.

~~~~
The next morning she awoke and walked into the living room which was joined into the kitchen. She walked into the kitchen and started making herself toast. "Wow, Dani, I didn't expect you to be up at this hour!" A voice said. She rolled her eyes.

"Dad, it's 7:00, most people are up at around this time." The toast popped up and she took it out.

"It's nice to see you making breakfast for yourself."

"I'm not helpless."

"Could you make me some toast?"

"I'm not your slave. Make it yourself." She looked at him before returning to her room with her toast and changed out of her pajamas into casual clothes. She ate the toast and checked her phone. She scrolled through some messages. She opened her chat with Ryker.

Hey, about meeting my parents... how about 14:00?

Okay. I'll see if I can make it.

Dani checked with her father if she could go over to Ryker's. After some hesitation, Her father answered with a simple,"yes."

I can make it, she texted back.

Cool, see you there

At 14:00 she walked outside and waited for the lift. It arrived a few minutes later. She got in and remained silent until she reached Ryker's place. "This is my stop," she said and got out. Ryker met her at the door.

"Dani, wait here." She waited and soon he returned. "They're ready, come." She followed Ryker into his house. The house was quite small but not to small. "Over here." She followed him. Two figures were in the kitchen. They both turned to state at her. "Mom, Dad, Dani. Dani, Mom, Dad." The smaller of the two walked closer.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Wolfe."

"Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Talon," she replied, smiling. Mrs. Talon shook her hand. Mr. Talon walked up.

"Yes, it's a pleasure to finally meet Ryker's longest-running crush."

"Well, I'm now his girlfriend," she said. Ryker's parents faces remained neutral.

"We know. While you're good at keeping big things secret, Ryker is not. His crush on you was probably majorly obvious."

"Guys!" Ryker said, irritated and embarrassed.

"Well I had no idea he did actually have feelings for me, until he serenaded me, though everyone else did. I was pretty oblivious I guess..." Ryker gave her a 'you think?' look.