Home Coming

Taptaptap.

You use your knuckles to knock on your mom's front door. It's been over a year since you've been home, and just letting yourself in didn't seem right anymore.

It was late afternoon, a few days before Halloween. Plenty of fall colors could be found in your old neighbor, and added with the cooler weather it took your right back before the days of hunting. Reminding you, as you patiently wait, that Halloween had once been your favorite holiday; before the ghost and ghouls of the season had made up your daily life.

The door swung open, and your mother's look of surprise makes you feel a little guilty that it's been so long since you've come to see her. But the smile that spreads across her face lets you know your spur of the moment decision to visit was a good one.

"John!" She pulls you quickly in to the house; like she's afraid you might run away again. Then she's hugging you fiercely. "I had no idea you were coming home. I've missed you so much!"

You hug her back just as tight, because even though you don't say it you've missed her too. "Hey mom."

"I'm so glad you're here." She steps back from you after a long moment. Keeping her hands on your shoulders she looks up at you. "How have you been?"

"Pretty good." You answer and smile for the first time you can remember since Lottie's death. Which was a little more than eight months ago, and the last time you've seen your mom.

With a critical eye she looks you over. "Have you been taking care of yourself? You don't look like you've been eating enough."

"I'm fine." How have you been?" Because you really didn't know. For so long you've been wrapped up in grief and guilt, focusing solely on hunting. Looking at her now you see a few lines in her face that weren't there before. The circles under her eyes worry you a little. Was she not getting enough sleep?

She smiles, and then says the sappiest thing ever. "I'm great now that you're here."

You blush a little but your smile turns into a grin. Who cares if it's saccharine? You're just glad there's someone who's glad to see you.

Then she puts her hands on her hips and glares up at you. "Now we need to talk about your inability to use you a phone. I know you know how. You spent way too much time on the phone as a teenager talking to your girlfriends not to know how to dial one up. So you better have a darn good excuse for not calling me at least once a week. Is that really too much to ask that you let me know your still alive?"

Your face turns even redder, because you know she's telling the truth, and even though you're a foot taller than her and weigh twice her size, she can still intimidate you.

"I'm sorry." You say with honesty. "I'll do better. I promise."

"You better. And I do mean once a week."

"Yes ma'ma."

"Good. Now let's get you something to eat." She herds you toward the kitchen, and you can't help but feel how great it is to be home for awhile.

A/N: Come one guys, please leave a review. I need some feedback.