Daryl felt like he was truly up shit creek without a paddle. Why had he been so certain that their family could offer Michelle what she needed? Here he was, waiting for her and Aaron's arrival; no longer certain that he had made the right decision in offering the two-week visit. Would the fortnight be enough time to help with Michelle's voyage of self-discovery? Christ if he knew. He only knew it had been the right call at the time he had offered it up. He only hoped it proved to be the right call to help illuminate Michelle's future path of self-identity. He knew the Dixon's would do anything to help Michelle find the right path, the truest path – even if it broke their hearts.

The fact that he and his family were referring to the young woman as Michelle rather than Sophia had seemed to be the right thing to do. She had only even known her birth name for a short time; thus he and Carol had just gone with the name she had lived all her life knowing. For Carol it seemed a bit difficult not to refer to her as Sophia, but she had quickly gotten on board with the direction that Daryl had plotted out. They both knew from speaking with her that she was seriously considering which name to go by. The fact that she was even considering the name Sophia at all was truly humbling to the Dixons. It gave them hope that they may be able to somewhat reclaim a portion of what they had lost eighteen years ago.

Daryl paused in his thoughts to consider the three people who were about to arrive at their home. Milton had been nice enough to travel to Michelle and Aaron's home in Alexandria. He had been wonderful in preparing them for and accompanying them to the visit, there to listen to any worry that they would inevitably feel in regard to spending so much time in Georgia with the family. With all the rooms in the house spoken for, he would be staying at a nearby hotel the entirety of the visit, close by to offer all of them a sounding board if and when they would need it. Daryl knew that they would need it. Who wouldn't in their unique situation? After all, there were no hard backed books to serve as guides for navigating all that they were going through. That thought brought him back to his earlier misgivings.

What were the Dixons going to do once their visitors arrived? How were they going to navigate the trials that were sure to come? Nothing was going to be simple in their lives together. There was too much history, to many wounds to heal completely. Maybe acknowledging that would make their paths easier, but he couldn't be certain.

Daryl and Carol had spoken to Milton about how Michelle's mission of self-discovery had not only changed her but had changed the parents as well. Although they had spent their adult lives grieving, they had also adapted to their life of loss. Through the pain of loss, they had built a life. That life had revolved around their two youngest children. Now they were adapting to the knowledge that their oldest was in fact alive and now ready to meet them. If Michelle was having a gigantic journey of self-discovery, Carol and Daryl were on their own journey of re-discovery.

Their journey hadn't been easy, and he doubted that it would get any easier during this visit. He remembered what he had said to Michelle on the phone about choosing the path that was right for her. He didn't know what path she would choose after this visit, but he knew no matter what that if he was allowed to, he would walk that path with her, beside her, encouraging her the entire way. All he could do now was hope that he was allowed to accompany her on her journey.

He glanced at the clock, nervously moving on the balls of his feet, pacing the length of the room. Milton had texted when they had landed. Now they were just awaiting their arrival from the airport. Daryl had offered to come pick them up, but Milton had expressed his belief that Michelle would need a bit of travel time to prepare. The half hour drive to the Dixon home would provide that. Daryl could understand that but that didn't mean he wasn't anxious.

The doorbell rang. Carol rushed to join Daryl at the door, nodding at him that she was ready for this. Mika and Luke were trailing behind their parents, waiting in the wings in curiosity about the sibling they had grown up knowing about but had never met. He took a deep breath before opening it up, ready for whatever came next. The sight before him was enough to take his breath away. It was one thing to see all the photos in the magazine and to hear her voice over the phone. It was quite another to see Carol's doppelganger standing there on the threshold. Her shy greeting resounded as her mother's echo.

"Hi. Daryl? Carol?"

"Michelle. I —." He wasn't sure what he was intending to say, but whatever it was refused to pass his lips. The look on his face must have been readable to the young woman before him, because she immediately responded in kind.

"I don't know what to say either. Except hi. Pretty lame of me, I know." She nervously chucked at herself, self-conscious of the attention of all four Dixons directly on her at the moment. She couldn't form any further words past that, so she just closed her mouth and watched those watching her.

Carol was watching this exchange, not being able to speak a word. After a moment of silence, she couldn't hold back anymore. She rushed towards Michelle, enveloping the woman into a tight embrace. Caught up in her arms, Michelle wasn't sure what to do. She stood there a moment before she decided to just let herself feel it. She felt hope. She felt compassion. She felt … dare she say … loved. She knew then that her days of feeling like a black-market baby were over. That would never again be her forever.