Chapter 2: The Happy Reunion

I landed onto the soft desert sand with a small thud. Oh Boggy Jones, I hope I didn't get any sand in my bra! Sure enough, I didn't so everything was good to go.

I got up and brushed myself off. I found my duffel bag a few feet away from me and grabbed it before I forgot about in this excitement.

I turned around, and sure enough I could see the opening that led to the village. Hoopla in its highest degree! (If that's even possible)

With a happy scream, I started running towards the village. This was the best thing ever! I wonder all that's happened after I left. Did the sand sibs still want to be friends with me after I had just left them pretty much on a moment's notice?

Once safely inside the village, I made my way through the streets to their house, using the hazy memories in my mind. I can't to see all of them. What a zippiddy do da day! (Ah, the classics!)

I stopped at the sandy rock house and sighed. This was it. I gulped down the anxiousness that I was feeling and used all of my courage to knock on the door.

A few moments passed, and finally the door opened up. Temari was standing on the other side. She looked at me, and her mouth hung open like I asked her to model for Victoria's Secret. Oh joy.

"ESTHER?!" she screamed, nearly shattering my ear drums. Oh skittles and pancakes..was she always this loud?

I smiled. "Hey Temari!" She screamed again, and gave me a hug. (More like a glomp, but meh...) She let go and started talking a million words per second.

I laughed, and she immediately shut up. "What are you doing here? When did you get here?"She asked, ushering me inside.

"I just got here. My uncle gave me another chance to come back. Isn't that awesome?!" She nodded. "It's more than awesome! Welcome back to our home!"

I looked around, and saw that no one else was home. "Speaking of home, where are the others? Don't tell me that you're living by yourself."

She laughed. "No, I'm not. Kankuro is out on a mission and Gaara is at the office, working on becoming Kazekage."

I nodded. Oh Tammy Dodger.. He was about to be Kazekage already? "That makes a whole lot more sense. When does Gaara come home?"

Temari sighed. "Pretty late on most days. Most days, it seems like he's forcing himself to stay so late. It's like he needs time to think about something. Nothing's been the same since you left here, Esther."

I sighed. "Same here."

She smiled. "You want to go see Gaara?"

OF COURSE I WANTED TO SEE GAARA!! I smiled. "That would be wonderful. You sure that he'd like a visitor?"

Temari laughed. "I don't think he'd really care. It's you after all."

I wasn't sure of what she knew, so I just nodded.

"Well, if you are ready, we should leave now. Do you feel okay?"

I shrugged. "I always ready to do something. You going to lead the way?"

She giggled and walked towards the door. "Of course, since you've been gone for how long? Years, maybe?"

I laughed and dropped my stuff down on the ground. "Yeah, I guess."

She nodded and led me out the door.