Orbs filled the Halliwell manor before Wyatt and Reese appeared in the kitchen. She looked around her quickly while asking, "Are you sure he isn't here?"
Wyatt rolled his eyes and nodded before stepping out of the kitchen with Reese in toe.
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop fussing." Wyatt assured her, grabbing her hand and leading her up the familiar stairs of the manor before stopping in front of a closed door.
"I'll be downstairs if you need anything." Wyatt said in a low voice and she nodded and watched him disappear down the hall. Reese hesitated momentarily before knocking, stepping back and nibbling on her lip nervously as she waited for the door to open. The handle turned and Melinda peeked her head out, her eyes puffy and red and her hair a mess. When she saw Reese standing outside of her room, she pushed the door all the way open and wrapped her arms tightly around Reese's neck, sniffling as tears clouded her eyes, her body shaking with guilty sobs.
"I'm so sorry I left things the way I did." Reese said into Melinda's ear before kissing her hair and rubbing her back reassuringly.
"I just couldn't be here, Mel. I had to figure things out." She continued as Melinda finally pulled back, wiping tears from her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper and nodding before another wave of tears began running down her face.
"I'm so sorry, Reese. I should have stopped him. I should have done something to help you." Melinda said all at once, her eyes filled with responsibility and regret.
"No, Mel, this was not your fault. You did the right thing. You did the only thing you could do." Reese tried to explain, pushing matted hair back from Melinda's tired face and grabbing her hand, pulling her to lie down on her bed where Melinda rested her head against Reese's shoulder and wept openly.
"I was so scared, Reese. So scared he would kill me too. I'm so sorry I didn't stop him." Melinda mumbled against Reese's shoulder, tears staining her top as she continued to sob, letting out all her guilt and worries, everything she had been holding in for the past year. All the pain and all the regrets, how she wished every second of everyday that she could have done more, that Reese could still be here with her. And when she had finally found out that Reese had been returned to them the guilt had again welled up inside of her, tormenting her those three long weeks she had spent wondering whether Reese's absence from the Halliwell manor had been her doing and whether she blamed her for dying.
"Melinda Halliwell, stop blaming yourself this instance!" Reese chided, squeezing her shoulders reassuringly.
"But-" Melinda tried to protest.
"No buts! You did everything you could in such a hopeless situation. I never ever blamed you for this, Mel. It was my destiny, it was something neither of us could change, okay?" Reese said, pulling Melinda into a sitting position so they were both leaning against the headboard of her bed, her arm still slung protectively across Melinda's shoulders. She looked back up at Reese and saw the sincerity and love shining in her eyes and she couldn't help but smile.
"I'm just so glad your back, Reese. It was so hard without you here." Melinda said, squeezing her friend's hand tightly.
"Oh, c'mon, you had Brad. Give the guy some credit!" Reese said, her lips curling up into a cheeky grin and Melinda glared at her and punched her shoulder.
"I can't believe Wyatt spoilt the surprise!" She replied in disbelief, shaking her head.
"Talking about me?" Both Reese and Melinda looked up and saw Wyatt peaking his head in the open door, a smug grin across his face.
"Wyatt Matthew Halliwell, were you eavesdropping on us!?" Reese queried, a mock hurt expression coming across her face.
"Would I do such a thing?" Wyatt said, a shocked expression crossing his face. Both Melinda and Reese merely rolled their eyes before the three of them squashed in together on Melinda's bed and chatted and laughed like Reese had never been gone.