Rabb Household
Virginia
Jay grabbed her bag from the trunk before joining Jase on the porch. "You ready?"
"Yep. Let's see how much has changed." Jase said, turning the knob.
They stepped inside and looked around. It almost looked like the old house, but without the feel of familiarity. Jase almost felt as if he walked into a stranger's home. Almost. Then he heard laughter come from upstairs followed by loud thumping from above them. Jase only looked over at Jay and smiled. They set their bags down simultaneously and ventured into the living room. Jase supposed that it looked like any typical living room in any typical house. There was a couch, a chair, and the Christmas tree. The tree is what caught his attention, not the lights, but the ornaments on the tree. He noticed the traditional ones like Santa and the star on the top, but he also noticed the ones that were always on the tree, even if they weren't traditional ornaments. He walked over to the tree and lightly touched the F-14 ornament that he had given his father when he was ten. He smiled as he remembered the pride he felt of having picked it out himself.
"Hey, Jase, come look at this." Jay whispered from somewhere behind him.
Jase turned and walked over the where she was standing peering around a corner and into a different room. "What?" He whispered.
Jay pointed and when he followed her gaze he saw what she was looking at. Their parents were in the kitchen locked in a passionate embrace. He glanced down at Jay and smiled, knowing she knew what he was thinking. He counted to three with his fingers before…
"Get a room!" They said loudly at the same time.
Harm and Mac broke apart and looked in the directions that the voices had come. Jase and Jay only had time to laugh before they were enveloped in hugs. Greetings flew back and forth, excited and surprised. Happy tears were wiped from cheeks and kisses were exchanged. When all had settled down Mac stepped back and smiled.
"You guys are early. We weren't expecting you for another hour and forty five minutes."
"Jase insisted on waking me up to leave at eight in the morning so we could get here earlier and surprise you guys." Jay explained, hugging her mother again.
"Hey, where are the monsters?" Jase asked looking in the direction of the stairs.
"Oh, I'll get them." Harm said as he started to move toward the stairs.
"No, I'll do it. Just tell me how to get there." Jase said.
Harm smiled and answered, "Up the stairs, first door on the left."
While Jase went up stairs to get the kids, Harm, Mac, and Jay took the bags to the guest rooms.