Disclaimer: I do not own Switched at Birth. Abc family and the producers get full credit for the wonderful show.

Talking and signing

Signing only

Chapter Three:Home

"Don't be so nervous," Stark said, intertwining her fingers with his. "This is your family after all."

Bay looked out the window of the car. Soon they would be at the Kennish manor and to be honest she couldn't be any more nervous. It had been two years since she went home. Up until Daphne surprised her with a visit they didn't know Stark existed. There was a lot of things they would learn about her. She was a different person. She was not sure if they could like the new her.

"It's just been a while," She said finally. "You can't understand because you have known me as I am, but I was different growing up. I am like two different people comparatively."

He gave her hand a light squeeze. "You are over thinking this. They are your family. They love you no matter what." He said.

"How could you possibly know that? You have never met them." Bay said skeptically.

"That's what family does. They love you no matter what." Stark replied.

"Yeah," She said looking back out the window. "I guess we will see."

"Bay!" Kathryn called out going to her quickly. She hugged Bay tightly. "I have missed you so much." She said in Bay's ear.

"There she is." John said as he came down the stairs. He too took Bay into a tight hug. "I was worried you were going to back out." He said as he let her go.

Bay shrugged. "I said I would come when I had some time. I have time."

"Well we are glad you are here honey." Kathryn said with a smile.

"Me to," Bay said then looked over at Stark. "Guy's this is my friend Stark. Stark this is my mom Kathryn and my dad John."

Stark took both their hands. "Its a pleasure to meet you. I have heard good things." He said.

Bay could tell by their smiles that he was charming them. Which was good since they were all going to be in the same house for two weeks.

"So you know you are more than welcome to stay in the guest house." Kathryn said. "I mean if you want." She said with a smile. "I just want you guys to be comfortable."

"Thanks mom." Bay said. She hated this awkwardness.

"Well I need to get to the office." John said kissing Bay on the forehead. He nodded at Stark before leaving.

"He wasn't going to go in, but you know how it is." Kathryn said with a smile. "Are you guys hungry? I was getting ready to make lunch. Bay was about to say they needed to go unpack, but stark beat her to the punch. "We would love to."

"Great," She said with a smile.

Bay sat at the table as she listened to Stark and her mom carry on as if they were old friends. It was odd and kind of cool. That was Stark though. He had charisma. She supposed that's why he was so successful.

"She always works." She heard him say pulling her from her thoughts. "I always end up grabbing her on my way home." He added giving her a wink.

"It's not like my job is nine to five." She said in defense.

"It makes me so nervous the thought of you in that big city. I am so worried you will cross the wrong person." Kathryn said concern heavy in her voice.

Bay smiled. "I know, but all is well." She said standing. She really did miss her mom. "This smells amazing." Bay said as she walked to her mom.

"I still know how to cook." Kathryn said. "I have not changed."

"I know mom." Bay said. She was the one who has changed.

After lunch Bay went to the guest house. It was better they were staying here. She would have more privacy this way. She got to work setting up her boards and getting the folders all sorted. She felt good here, looking at her boards. She felt more at home. At ease with being here. All she was missing was that up of coffee.

"You didn't take long to get back to work. Stark said when he walked in. He went to her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

Bay nodded and sighed. "I know, this makes me feel less nervous and out-of-place. It's so odd being back here."

"I know, but you need it and from the look of things your family needs it too." Stark said rubbing her arms.

"I don't know. Maybe things will be less weird in a couple of days." Bay said as she went to the coffee pot. "Coffee?" She asked him. As she suspected he would his head. He only did coffee in the morning.

"Your mom is a lovely woman. How is it she could cook like that, but you haven't a clue?" He said teasingly.

Bay laughed. "Because I did not learn that skill. Daphne got all the cooking skills. She is amazing." Bay said, pouring the coffee into her cup.

"Are you aware that your mom is throwing you a welcome home party?" Bay looked at him suspiciously over her coffee cup. Stark Shrugged, "I over heard her talking on the phone."

Bay took a deep breath in. "You know what? Its okay. I am a homicide cop. I can handle a part." She said determined.

Stark smiled at her. "That's the spirit."

Bay turned her attention back to the board. "Mace is supposed to keep in contact if anything comes up." Bay leaned on to the counter as she studied it once again. "I still need to keep my mind sharp."

"What is this board about?" Stark asked, pointing over his shoulder to the second board.

"That board is for the cold case I picked up. This person kills the victims in their homes. So far all the victims are between the ages of eighteen and fifty. There are thirty victims in all."

"How do you know it is the same person doing the killing?" Stark asked.

"Because of the pattern. All male victims had red hair and blue eyes. All female victims have blond hair and brown eyes. All crime scenes match. An empty bed stained with blood. All beds have had a rose left on the pillows. Male victims have all been moved to the kitchen, Their bodies tied to the chair to make it look like they were drinking tea. The female victims were all found in the bath tub, one of their hands dangling off the side of the bath. The wrist is always slit and there is always a razor blade on the floor." Bay rolled her shoulders as she finished. "Sick bastard."

"I would agree love," Stark said slightly sorry he asked.

Bay's phone went off interrupting whatever Stark was about to say. She held up her finger as she pulled out her phone. "Kennish." She answered.

"LT I have been in contact with the CBI and they tell me that the suspect tried cleaning up after himself. There is a blood trail from the bedroom to the front door. You can see it under the black light." Mace said. Bay figured that if she were looking Mace she would have seen Mace pale.

"Okay, Thanks Mace." She said.

"No problem LT. Oh and I have looked through my cold case, and I feel like maybe they were the beginning to a developing pattern."

"If you fax me the file I will take a look at it. It will have to be later tonight though." Bay said.

"Really? Thanks LT!" Mace said. "I have to go I am being paged, but I will send the file ASAP." She said then hung up.

Bay watched from the window of the guest house as everyone arrived. It was like they had incited the whole damn state. She felt her nerves build. "Melody is here." She said when stark walked into the living room.

"Who?" He asked. Bay turned to him and had to smile. How did he always manage to look so damn good?

"Melody, Emmett's mom," She said. "You, as always, look great."

"As do you. Where did you get the dress?" He asked with a wink.

"I would assume it was you." Bay said as she shook her head. "It's beautiful, thank you."

"Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it." He said as he went to her. He took her face in his hands gently. His thumbs ran in circles on her cheeks as he planted a soft kiss on her lips.

'Smile, smile, smile.' Bay kept thinking to herself as she received hug after hug. She was greeted by Daphne and her current boyfriend Logan. Angelo and Regina hugged her so tightly she was sure they were going to suffocate her. She was hugged by Toby who was accompanied by Lola, his wife to be. Bay had heard about her and seen pictures. Thomas, Toby's son from his marriage with Nikki, gave her a quick side hug before running off with a little girl she had not met. Some of her parents old friends were there. Travis and a few others she recognized were there.

Bay played her part. She greeted and smiled. She laughed when she needed to. She introduced people to Stark, who luckily did most of the talking. She walked around, making sure she got to everyone and most of all she did her best to avoid Melody.

She slipped silently into the house from the crowed about two hours in to the party. She just needed five minutes by herself. Everyone watched her like she might blow. She hated it. She was strong, stable. She didn't need their worries.

She climbed the stairs and flipped on the light to her old room as she walked in. She jumped back slightly. Melody, who was sitting on the bed surprised her. Bay stood in the door way unsure if she should leave or join Melody. She chose to stay where she was.

"You okay," Bay asked her. Melody looked as though she had been up here crying.

"I keep thinking it will be easier. That after a while I will think about him less. Yet here I am. Ten years later and I still think of him every day." Melody said.

Bay looked around as she thought about what she should say. "Losing someone is hard. There is no time frame for how long it will affect your daily life. You can go to grief consoling. Sometimes being able to talk to someone about it helps."Bay said trying not to acknowledge the fact that she had just given Melody part of her speech she would give when notifying next of kin.

"Have you seen a grief consoler?" Melody countered. She gave Bay the familiar 'well' look.

"I don't need one. I am fine." Bay said in defense.

"You don't need one? Really?" Melody said giving Bay a looked that told Bay she didn't believe her. "Is that why you gave up art? Moved miles away from home, became a homicide detective, and hardly ever come home?"

"We both now art wasn't going to get me anywhere. I love my job, and unfortunately it keeps me busy. I miss Emmett, but I can get on fine without him and consoling."Bay said wishing she could just disappear.

"Okay," Melody said as she stood. She passed Bay at the door and stopped. "He loved you." Melody said as she nodded. "Don't disrespect that with pretending his absents doesn't affect every decision you make. I know you loved him, Bay. I would have loved to have you as a daughter in law." With that Melody left Bay.

Bay stood in the opening to what used to be her studio. Everything looked the same. She would have thought that her parents would have cleaned it out by now, but it looks like they haven't even been in here since she left. She closed her eyes as she fought to hold back the tears. Melody saw way more than she wanted anyone to see.

"Who draws?" Stark asked, as he walked up behind her. He stood beside her looking at the different drawings and paintings.

"I used to. I wanted to be an artist." Bay said cursing the tears that spilled over and ran down her cheeks. She wiped at them as she went on, "That seems so long ago. I mean it has been years, but it feels like a different life. I feel like I have lived three separate lives," Bay said with a humorless laugh.

Stark took her hand. He didn't have to ask her what she meant. There was her live before she learned about the switch. She had told him about that life. Where she had always felt different from her family, but never thought she wasn't actually part of it. Then there was her life after the switch. This part of her life he knew little about. It involved Emmett. The man who held her heart even to this day. Then there was the life she was living now. The one after Emmett's murder. The one that put her on the path that lead her to him. He looked at her as she looked around the room. She was so glorious. She had started at the bottom with him and stood by his side as they both climbed to the top. He wasn't sure what he would ever do without her. She was the only woman who had ever completely held his heart.

"Bay," He said in a whisper. He would do anything for her, and there was many things he did do for her but the pain, he could never take it away. He could lessen it. He could make her smile and give her moments of peace, But in the end it was always there. The ghost of it was always in her beautiful eyes. "I so truly love you." He said, as she took her in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder. He knows he should walk away. He knew, and she has told him, that she was not sure how much of her she could give him. She had said it from the beginning. Yet here he was. Taking all she would give him. He knew this could end. The mutual agreement that they were "friends with benefits." Still it had been two years since either of them had been with anyone else. He kissed her cheek. She is and always will be worth the wait. Even if she is right and the can never be official he will always cherish the time she id give him. Her love would never be forgotten.

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