John and Emma drove to where Ben's ship would arrive. Biting at her nails, Emma told herself to stop being so nervous. What if Ben didn't like how she looked anymore? What if he had changed? She reassured herself with the remembrance that he had seemed just like himself when he had called.

John smiled over at her as they pulled up. "Don't be so nervous. You'll be fine." Emma squeezed his hand before they stopped the car and got out. Emma scanned the harbour for Ben, and her heart caught in her throat when she saw him, standing looking lonely.

Emma walked slowly up to him. When he had been reached, she tapped his shoulder. "Benjamin?"

"Yeah?" Ben muttered, turning. He stared at Emma for a moment, not seeming to recognise her. Then his whole face lit up and he kissed her right on the lips.

Emma hadn't been kissed for so long. She embraced her husband until she felt like she would explode. "Daddy is down there waiting."

Ben smiled. "All right." They walked hand in hand down to John, who held his son for a very long time.


The whole family was together again.

John and Olivia sat together on the couch, whispering every once in a while. Grandma had claimed one of the armchairs, and John Boy took the other. Mary Ellen and Erin took the other two seats on the couch, and Jason, Jonsey, Paul, Ben and Jim Bob sat on the floor. Emma, Elizabeth and Toni joined them. As she held Charlie on her lap, she could hear Ginny's squeals as she played outside with the other kids.

"I've missed you Ben, more than I realised." Erin giggled, her eyes teary.

"Missed you too Er." Ben laughed, taking his son from Emma and rocking him. "I guess you all wanna know how I got out?" Echoes of 'yes' sounded. "Well, I didn't think I was gonna make it. I was starving, weak, and tired. But one day this Japanese guard brought me further from a camp than he was supposed to. I guess he took pity on me, so he helped me escape."


That night, the question of who slept where came up again. Grandma of course had to stay in her own room, and John and Olivia in theirs. Elizabeth, Serena and Erin until she was married had the girls' room. Jason, Jim Bob, Jeffrey and John Curtis filled the boys' room. John Boy said to Mary Ellen that she could take his room, but she protested and said she would sleep in the girls' room again. Ben and Emma stayed in the shed.

"Ben, what are we going to do about our sleeping condition?" Emma whispered to Ben as they lay in each other's arms that night. "It's so squished in the house even with Erin going."

"I know. And I've been thinking, would you wanna move into a house in Rockfish? We could get a place in the same area as Erin and Paul. We still have all our savings. " He offered.

"I'm not sure. She's ready to leave, but I'm not." Emma mumbled and sighed.