Izzy stood at the top of the stairs. Her hand was turning white from the force of her fear. Fitz was halfway down the stairs, causing the hushed voices below to freeze. Izzy tried to breath, her lungs somehow unable to capture any air. The world was spinning. Was she really going to do this? Of course! She needed to. She deserved to. And yet if felt like her one year check up, when her aunt had to carry her kicking and screaming back into the hospital. But she was younger then. She couldn't break down and have a fit. She had to be brave. She pulled out an itchy eyelash, washing as it floated down the steps, making more progress than herself.

Someone asked where she was, it sounded like Della. Fitz made a reply, though her brain was spinning too fast to understand. She saw his bright teal eyes flash as the he glanced up at her before made his way back towards her frozen body..

"Are you ok?" He whispered, glancing towards his mother's hushed voice before searching her face. His face seemed too close, but so did the walls, the ceiling, her lungs, everything.

"Pull me down."

His face contorted in confusion. "I'm, sorry?"

"I'm not ok." She choked out between ragged, rapid breaths. "Pull me down." She held out her hand, feeling like a weight was attached to it, as if she would sink into the ground if he didn't help her.

He seemed understand though, because wordlessly he took her hand and half dragged her down the ornate staircase.

The wall separating their view disappeared, but she forced herself to not look for them. A few more seconds of fantasy and she would be ok. At least that was what she told herself. She could hear a gasp, a muffled squeak of disbelief. At least two people jumped up. She still didn't look, letting her hair cover her eyes. Somehow this was much, much worse than the hospital. It felt like her heart was burst at any second, maybe literally. Fear and panic and confusion and despair and everything all at once froze her feet to the carpet.

"Izzy." Fitz muttered.

She met his eyes, which were flooded with concern, and even more so, determination. She hoped he didn't notice that hers were filled with unbearable, impossible fear. He leaned closer, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, causing her cheeks to burst into flames.

Thanks Fitz. She muttered in her head as he put a hand on her shoulder. At least there was no way her heart could beat any harder…

"Don't be afraid." He whispered with a smile. Then, without a chance for her to reply, she realized why he was so determined. Suddenly she was facing the two people of her dreams, Fitz's hands leaving her shoulders.

She was pretty sure she squeaked, but it was hard to remember after the exact two faces from the pictures stared back at her. Every detail, every curve and edge, their smiles, they were exactly the same as she had imagined. It wasn't a lie. Her dream, her nightly wish upon the stars, they were true. She stood there watching them for what felt like a lifetime, and they did exactly the same. Then all too fast she was trapped in a giant, breathtaking hug.

In a blur of tears and sobs, and swirling emotions of warmth and comfort and belonging, she had a family.

Soon they were all sitting down at the dining table. Fitz sat across from her, giving her a knowing smile that seemed to say I told you so while Della sat out the plates. Izzy was starving, but… too much had happened to really be hungry. In two days she had lost her aunt, her childhood best friend, been a fugitive, was kidnapped, met a strange boy who told her she was an elf, and gained the family she had always dreamed of.

She glanced over at Grady, no, her dad. He looked like an action movie star, half young Sean Connery, half Robin Hood. His hair was exactly the same as hers. Edaline was just as beautiful with long, wavy amber hair and turquoise eyes. Izzy could find anything obvious she had inherited from her mom, but maybe she had gotten other traits. Her smile or her laugh? The way she seemed to light up a room? Definitely not her grace. But as the food came out, she decided not to worry too much about it. She all the time in the world to figure it out now.

The food was… strange. She ended up relying on everyone else's recommendations, which was utter chaos. Biana, who had entered in the midst of the hugging and crying, suggested the pink and purple spotted mush, while Fitz convinced Izzy to eat a dark blue wobbly jello like substance. Grady declared that the dark green and red striped tubers were his favorite, and Edaline just seemed to want to make sure Izzy got enough to eat. But through all of the chaos, the talking and laughing, and sour and spicy and sweet mush which was surprisingly amazing, and even the plate dropping, Izzy felt like crying. Luckily no tears would come out. She didn't want everyone to see tears, because she wasn't sad. In fact, she was happier than she had ever been. For the first time in forever she had the family she had dreamed of. No more nights sitting alone in the dark living room/kitchen in front of the tv, eating freezer burnt, half cooked microwave meals and pretending she lived in the shows. For once she believed she was an elf, because how else would this place feel so… perfect. The whole in her heart filled by all of the noises around her, filling it until it ceased to exist. She still had a lot of questions, but if her life was going to be like this for now on, she could handle it.

Finally, she knew she was home.