Thanks to Jean- Modalle for reviewing.

Hello everyone. Sorry for the long wait in between chapters. I have finished one more story called I still love you, but there are still too many to work on at once and I leave my readers hanging for months at the time. Either way, just like I've said before, several of my stories- including this one are about to be finished. Which should mean that I can update faster next time.

I have also started a new story, called too much bitten off to chew, because one- I broke a tooth and two- I have a friend who loves dentist! Fics.

And after all, there's only this chapter, Jackson's, Captain Bob's and then an epilogue left of this story. Then it will be finished.

I was thinking Harold, Melissa's dad looks like Daniel Dae Kim.

Melissa Wu

I could have been one of the first ones off the plane, even though I was almost sitting in the back- except for Jory and Ian, but when we had landed and the doors opened and everyone wanted to get out at once…

Jacks…. I mean Cody was sitting right across the aisle from me. But he had been watching out the window during the whole flight- I could only imagine what thoughts were moving inside his head. After all, I knew whom I would be coming home too… But did he?

At last, letting Ian and Jory make their way past me and noticing how Captain Bob wasn't moving from the back I got up and faced Cody.

"Are you coming?" I asked carefully. "Will… someone be meeting you here?"

I didn't even know where the question came from. I must have known it was really none of my business whoever came to meet him, whether it would be his mum or his foster family or his social worker. But after we had spent all of that time together on the island, then left and during the whole way back to land and the whole night sat side by side without saying a word…

I had probably never been quiet for an as long while straight as I had now…

Cody on the other hand just shrugged and seemed to know about Captain Bob whom sat a few lines behind him and hadn't yet moved neither. But I was quite certain that if I just left now these two would be staying here until some flight attendant came up and made them leave.

I was in loss of what to do. Had this been earlier a week or so ago, I wouldn't have hesitated. But then Cody had been closer to Taylor. And no matter how jealous I was of hers, it was I and Cody that had been sitting side by side on the ship, and on the hospital. While there must be something that spoke in between us more than words could have.

At last I laid my hand on his shoulder- he didn't pull away. For a moment everything stood still, then he stood up and when I walked down the aisle he was right behind me.

"You know…" I said, just as a last thing to say before we were back. "…You did a lot for the rest of us on that island… more than I think you know actually…" Cody didn't answer. "…There was a reason people wanted you as their leader and not me nor Daley."

"I think…" Cody started at last while we slowly made our way down the runway towards the doors. "…You and I, Daley, Lex…. We all had different parts of where and how we lived. You're not so bad yourself Melissa Wu. And, while Daley and Lex came up with what got us from that island I don't think we had made it through without you neither."

Finally we made our way inside, where people were standing all around clapping their hands. Cody disappeared from my side. But I could only see the three people that were actually right in front of me.

I was barely aware of the fact that my feet touched the tile floor until I stood with my mum's arms wrapped around me.

I had always been a daddy's little girl growing up. But become more and more mummy's as I grew older and came into puberty. Yet I didn't quite know well until now, standing holding tight in the middle of the entrance hall of the airport how much I had needed this.

"I've been so worried…" At last when I and mum took a step back she kept a hand tenderly towards my cheek. "I was so afraid I'd never see you again."

"Now come on." Dad interrupted as all of a sudden. "I want a hug too." Dad had never been an as much worrier as mum was, but I could hear the shiver in his voice and he held on hugging so tightly it almost hurt. "Of course, I knew you would return…"

No he didn't!

And we all knew that he didn't. He was just pretending that he did so he wouldn't have to act toughly like always.

"I want too." Along with Nathan, Meg was one of my best friends and she had come with my parents here, she too held me so tight for a couple of seconds it almost hurt. "But I knew it. I just knew, deep inside that you would come back." I didn't feel like correcting her or anyone. "And I mean, the whole school's been a mess, to say the least since you left. But I just knew you'd have to return. I just knew it."

Meg, mum and dad silent all three at once. I opened my mouth to say something but couldn't figure what and closed it again.

"I…." Meg was the first one to speak again. "…I don't think I've ever seen you quiet for this long… But I could also see that you walked here side by side with Jackson…"

"Cody…." I corrected, after I in several more seconds of silence could say something out loud. "…His name is Cody… I have got… so much to tell you… First… maybe I should help someone with something…"

I looked around the big hall, people were picking up their bags from the rolling band, some were making their ways towards the door. I could see Lex' dad carrying him and wasn't surprised in the slightest that after everything he wasn't able to stay on his feet. Just as little as I was surprised when I saw guards taking away Nathan and knowing there was nothing, I could do about it. Even though I knew for a fact Nathan would never want anything more now than to just get home.

Cody was right, I had done a lot the last few weeks and maybe the people wouldn't have made it through if I wasn't there.

"I know what you're like Melissa." Mum came closer to me again. "I know you really want to help someone now. And I think I know that you have helped all of your friends with a lot the past four weeks." She squeezed my hand in hers. "They don't need your help anymore… We can go home now…."

It was like the thought that maybe someone needed me and my help had caused a pressure over my chest and forced all of my words away. Because hearing mum saying what she said right now made everything pass by for my inner vision.

While I knew there were no more tents to be put up, I knew we could do something as simple as going to normal toilets instead of a hole in the ground. While I knew from now on I could take ethe longest, warmest shower I wanted and then eat myself full of whatever I could find in the fridge or in the cupboards.

I even knew that if I wanted any food I couldn't find in the kitchen, my dad would go right off and buy it for me…

I knew that even if I only stayed standing right here we would all have to eat today, tomorrow and all days in the future. I knew we had all come home and the past month was over with everything we could have wished to happen.

I even knew that tonight I'd have a bed to sleep in…

Knowing everything we had been through, and hearing what mum said.

And everything, everything, everything…

I couldn't help it as all of a sudden, tears were streaming down my face and sobs running through my body. I barely knew what happened before I knew that both my parents and Meg had wrapped their arms around me from each direction.

"Th- this…" I stuttered through the crying at last. "…I-is everywhe-ere I-I wan-ant t-to be-e…" I took a few deep breaths until my voice was steadier and all of me was trembling slightly less. "But I really can't wait to go home now… anyway… It started when Captain Bob was steering the plane to go around a storm…"

Random facts

What Melissa thinks about her parents and herself- she used to be a daddy's little girl but grew closer to her mum too during puberty and as she got older, is literally my and my parents relationship. And upon that… I guess Melissa is the character in the series I'm most alike myself.