Chapter Seventeen: Welcome home

Alex stirred awake when she felt the plane land.

She was confused on where she was for a moment before seeing Dan.

She realized they had landed and gently shook his arm. "We're here."

Dan woke up and glanced towards the window. "Oh, good...I think Jemma is going pick us up." He told her.

She nodded. "Alright." She grabbed her stuff.

Dan grabbed his bags and whatever Alex couldn't carry and went to the parking lot to find Jemma.

Alex trailed after him, looking around curiously.

Jemma saw them and came over to help. "Hey!" she greeted as she ran over.

"Hi! Jemma, this is Alex." Dan said, gesturing towards her.

Alex smiled and gave a small wave with her spare hand. "Hi."

Jemma smiled. "Hello! It's so nice to finally meet you!" she replied.

Alex smiled wider. "You too!"

"Let me help with the bags." Jemma offered, taking some from Dan.

"Thanks." He said, relief from carrying the bags for so long.

"Welcome." she brought them over to the car.

Alex followed her.

Dan placed the bags inside the car. "How are the girls?" He asked Jemma while taking the bags from her.

"Good. Missing you I'm sure." she replied as she helped load the stuff.

Alex tilted her head, curiously. "The girls?"

"Ellie, Darcie, and Peggy." Dan answered back before opening the car's door. "You're going to love them."

"The pugs." Jemma added, sensing she was still kind of confused.

Alex smiled. "Oh! I'm sure I will." She replied as she got in.

Jemma laughed. "I'm sure they'll love you too."

Soon they arrived at the house and the unloading of the bags began again. "Ah. So, good to be back." Dan said with his arms full.

Jemma smiled. "It's good to have you back." She replied, carrying some bags as well.

She unlocked the door and opened it.

Barking immediately started going off.

She laughed. "Girls! Calm down!"

Alex grinned as she saw the pugs who ran up to her as soon as she was inside.

She set the bags out of the way and greeted them. "Aw! Hello!" She knelt so they could sniff her, and she could pet them.

Dan smiled down at the four and closed the door behind them. "Alex, this is Ellie, Darcie and Peggy."

"They're so cute!" She replied as they licked her hands and let her pet them.

"Oh. Alex, I think we might have to clean a room up for you." Dan told her, carefully walking by.

Alex smiled up at him. "It's alright." she reassured him. "I don't mind." She stood up and picked the bags back up. "Where should I put these?"

"Ok. You could probably bunk on the couch." Dan said. "I'll take your stuff upstairs."

Alex nodded. "Alright. Thanks again." She told him gratefully.

Jemma helped bring them upstairs.

Dan placed most of her bags in a small room that was connected to his office. Although it was big enough for someone to live inside.

Alex was in the living room on one of the couches.

The pugs were snuggled up with her.

Dan walked into the living room with some blankets for her and place it on the couch. "There we go. Some blankets, pugs, now you just need a pillow...which I think it also has a pug on it."

Alex laughed, noticing Ellie laying on the pillow contently. "Thanks." She replied.

Jemma came downstairs. "We can show you around more later. I'm sure your exhausted."

"I think we all could use some rest. Seeing that's it's 1 am in the morning." Dan said, glancing at the clock.

"Yeah..." Alex agreed with a nod.

Jemma smiled. "Our room is upstairs if you need anything." she told her.

She nodded. "Alright."

Dan started to leave. "Goodnight Alex."

"Goodnight." she replied with a tired smile.

The pugs followed Jemma up the stairs.