Valerie took a deep breath before approaching Grady as he fixed one of the fences on the verminion's cage.

He didn't notice her.

Not entirely sure what to say, she cleared her throat.

Grady turned and almost jumped when he saw her. "Valerie. It's been a while." He was stiff and his smile was forced.

Valerie tugged on her sleeve, still hiding the scars from the ambush at the Neverseen base. "I know I'm probably the last person you want to see, but..."

Grady cut her off with a hug. "I missed you around here."

Valerie leaned into the embrace. "I missed being here."

They pulled apart, refusing to meet each other's gaze. It was awkward. They were the same people, but everything was different. They had no idea how to act around each other anymore.

Grady finally cleared his throat. "I'm sorry about how I reacted. You just caught me off guard. I never even considered that I..."

Valerie shushed him. "It's not your fault. I'm not sure what else I was expecting. How else would you react if someone came up to you and said they were created with your DNA?"

Grady lifted her chin so she would look him in the face. "Experiment or not, you're my blood and I couldn't have asked for a better daughter." He smiled.

Valerie smirked. "Now Grady, don't go picking favorites."

He chuckled. "That's the Valerie I know."

She gave him a mischievous grin.

"Well, that's a sight for sore eyes." Edaline appeared from across the field carrying a basket of roots. "I take it you two have made up."

Grady wrapped an arm around Valerie's shoulders and squeezed. "You could say that."

Edaline set down the basket and put her hands on her hips. "Does that mean you're ready to tell me what actually happened?"

Grady and Valerie looked at each other nervously.

"Well..." Valerie started.

"It's... complicated." Grady finished.

Edaline rolled her eyes. "Well, all that matters is you're finishing each other's sentences again." She pulled Valerie into a hug. "It's good to have you back."

Valerie squeezed Edaline tightly. "The feeling is mutual."

Edaline pulled away and picked up her basket. "Now that you're here, you can help me with the chores."

Valerie made a face.

Edaline grinned. "If you come here, you come here to work."

Valerie shook her head, but followed Edaline across the grass to another pasture to try and feed Verdi.