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Tegan's heart was pounding before Juliette even showed up. Her mind was filled with the feeling of that kiss—their first kiss—and all the questions that had come with it. She hadn't wanted Juliette to leave.It was early the next morning, and Tegan was waiting at a quiet spot in a small park they'd agreed to meet at. She'd come here before she could talk herself out of it, before she could let her nerves run away with her and convince herself she'd messed everything up.Then she saw her: Juliette, walking across the park, looking down at her feet like she was equally nervous but trying to hold it together. As she got closer, Juliette finally looked up and met Tegan's eyes, and for a moment, everything in Tegan's mind went blank. She was all she could see, and every other sound—the breeze through the trees, the distant hum of cars—faded away. It was just them."Hey," Juliette said, a little shyly, but her smile was so warm, so inviting, that it felt like a balm to Tegan's jittery heart."Hey," Tegan replied, her voice sounding way more tentative than she'd wanted.They both sat on a small bench, a comfortable silence stretching between them as they gathered the courage to talk about what had happened the night before.Finally, Tegan took a breath and turned to Juliette. "So... about last night."Juliette's face softened, her eyes meeting Tegan's with a mixture of curiosity and... hope? "Yeah. I've been thinking about it all morning."Tegan swallowed. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable, or... do anything that you didn't want."Juliette shook her head immediately, reaching out to take Tegan's hand. "No, Tegan. It wasn't like that at all." She bit her lip, glancing down at their hands. "I... I think I've liked you for a while. I just didn't really know what that meant until recently."Hearing those words from Juliette filled Tegan with such a warmth, a feeling she could only describe as pure relief and joy. She hadn't dared hope that Juliette might feel the same way, that maybe there could be something more than friendship between them."Me too," Tegan admitted softly, giving Juliette's hand a gentle squeeze. "I didn't really know what to do about it, but being with you last night just... felt right."Juliette's smile widened, her cheeks turning a soft pink, and Tegan's heart leaped. They sat there for a little while longer, hands intertwined, saying everything they needed to without words. Tegan felt something settle in her chest, like a piece she hadn't realized was missing had finally fallen into place. This was her new normal, and she was more than okay with it.But soon, she remembered the rest of her plans for the day. "Hey, um... my family's actually coming over from England this afternoon," Tegan said, trying to sound casual even though she was buzzing with excitement—and nerves. "It's been a while since I've seen them, and I think they're all cramming into my aunt's apartment, so it's going to be chaos."Juliette's eyes lit up, and Tegan felt her heart race at the warmth in her gaze. "That sounds amazing. Are you excited?""Yeah," Tegan replied with a grin. "It's been too long. I didn't think I'd miss them this much, but... I really have."Juliette gave her hand another gentle squeeze, and Tegan felt a surge of warmth, a feeling that no matter how chaotic things got, this was exactly where she wanted to be.
By the time they reached the airport that afternoon, Tegan's nerves had returned in full force. She'd been replaying every memory of her family since moving to Paris, every hug and laugh and argument, and every little thing that made them who they were. She was practically bouncing on her toes as she waited near the arrivals gate, her aunt Jen beside her, trying to keep her from getting too wound up."Deep breaths, Tegan," Jen said, laughing as she put a hand on her shoulder. "They'll be out soon enough."Tegan glanced at the screens, which still showed her family's flight as "Arrived," then glanced back at Jen with a mix of excitement and worry. "What if I don't recognize them? What if we don't get on?"Jen just laughed, patting her on the back. "Tegan, I don't think there's a chance of that."Finally, the flood of people started coming through the gate, and Tegan strained her neck, her heart pounding faster with every second. She scanned the crowd, feeling her excitement build until she thought she might explode.And then she saw them. Her dad first, his face stony as per usual. Her mum just behind. All at once, everything else faded, and Tegan's heart swelled as she watched her family make their way toward her, their faces breaking into smiles the moment they saw her."Dad! Mum!" she called, rushing forward to meet them, a huge grin spreading across her face. She practically flew into her dad's arms, holding onto him tightly, barely able to believe they were really here."Oh, cupcake, we've missed you," her dad said, his gruff voice choked with emotion as he hugged her back.Tegan could hardly breathe from the relief of having her family close. She pulled back, her mum wrapping her in a tight hug, and Tegan felt the familiar warmth of her mother's arms around her, a feeling that brought a wave of comfort she hadn't realized she'd been missing so much."Alright, let's get home!" Jen said with a grin, glancing over at Tegan with a warm, knowing smile. "We've got lots of room... and a feast waiting!"
Back at Jen's apartment, the air was filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the delicious smell of food. Tegan's family filled the space, their voices overlapping as they caught up, shared stories, and filled Jen in on every little thing that had happened back in England. Jen listened, laughing along with them, her eyes shining with a mixture of amusement and pride as she watched them reconnect.Tegan felt a sense of warmth and belonging that was almost overwhelming. She sat between her mum and dad, leaning back against the couch, her heart brimming with joy. At one point, her mum reached over, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

"You look so happy here, Tegan," she said softly, her eyes shining with pride. "Paris suits you. I think this has worked better than any of us could have hoped."

Tegan smiled, feeling a little lump form in her throat. 

"Thanks, Mum. It's been... it's been amazing. Different, but amazing."

As the night wore on, the apartment was filled with the sounds of Tegan's family catching up, sharing memories, and making new ones. Tegan couldn't have felt more content; she had her parents back with her, Jen's warmth surrounding them, and thoughts of Juliette filling her heart. Finally, as the evening began to wind down, Tegan walked her parents to the door, feeling a little pang as they prepared to head to their hotel for the night.Her dad pulled her into another hug, holding her tightly for a moment before stepping back and resting a hand on her shoulder. "We're so proud of you, Tegan," he said, his voice filled with pride. "You've grown up so much. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and... it's clear you're exactly where you're meant to be."Tegan felt her eyes well up, and she smiled, nodding as she blinked back tears. "Thank you, Dad. That... that means a lot."After a round of hugs, her family finally stepped out into the hallway, her parents promising to come back first thing in the morning. As the door closed behind them, Tegan leaned back against it, her heart still pounding from all the excitement, her emotions tangled in a beautiful, overwhelming mess.But through all the excitement, one thought rose above the rest: she couldn't wait to tell Juliette all about it.