Miranda was trying hard to organise her sister and cousins into a tidy row, ready for the moment her mommy would be coming through the front door.

Spike was standing to a smart attention, his welcome home card firmly in his grasp and an excited grin on his face.

Gabby had taken her place beside him but was a little distracted by the pattern on the sofa throw. She kept flopping forward to play with the tassels whenever her big sister turned her back.

Ian kept disappearing. Miranda would have him nicely lined up but then he was off again, clambering on the sofa, or running off to hide, giggling manically. He thought it was a great game. Miranda just found it annoying. He was making her cross and she didn't want to be cross when her mommy was coming home soon.

"Ian." she cried close to tears, "You're ruining it!"

Spike put a comforting hand on her arm.

"I'll go get him." He said.

Miranda looked at her younger cousin. His happy smile didn't change for a second.

"You just have to know how to make him stay still." he explained.

It turned out the best way to keep Ian in one place was to give him a juice cup. He may have been sat on the floor making loud slurping noises, but at least they were all now in a smart row.

"Has everyone got there cards?" Miranda asked, and everyone held their creations over their head, accept for Ian, Miranda had hold of his one. He had already torn a corner off it while messing around. Francoise, their nanny, and roll of tape had saved the day and together they had been able to fix it back together, but Miranda was keeping it safe now just in case.

She had a quick look at the clock. Mommy would be here at any moment!

…

"Will AJ and Ma-wissa be coming too?" Gabby asked.

Her sister had been starring at her shoes deep in contemplation, but was now she looking at her sister with the same intensity.

"No. AJ said his daddy wouldn't let him come and I don't think Marissa remembers us." said Miranda sadly.

Gabby looked sad too.

"I miss Ma-wissa." she sighed.

Gabby looked back down to contemplate her shoes again. Miranda turned back to the clock to check the time, just as the sound of a door latch broke the quiet.

Miranda turned back to the door, her heart pounding in her chest.

The first person through the door was Aunt Kendall, carrying a suitcase. She smiled when she saw the welcoming committee lined up behind the couch.

Then mommy appeared in the door way. She had a frown of concentration on her face as she negotiated the door on crutches. Then mommy looked up and gave them a wonderful smile.

"WELCOME HOME!" chorused the children.

It didn't go quite as well as they had rehearsed it, Gabby lagged a little behind as usual.

"Thank you!" said Mommy her smile brighter than ever.

"We made cards." said Gabby, rushing forward for a hug.

"Whoa" cried Aunt Kendall, intercepting Gabby and whisking her up into her arms. "I think we need to give your mommy a moment to sit down first, and then we can all welcome her properly."

Miranda bit her lip nervously as she watched her mom take a seat on the couch. She was very slow on her crutches and her bad leg was moving awkwardly. Miranda really wanted to help, but didn't know what to do.

When mommy was finally settled on the couch she took a deep breath, her smile still wide and bright.

"So let me see these cards then." she said.

Gabby handed hers over first and mom pulled her onto the seat beside her as she looked at it. Spike was patiently waiting to go next.

Miranda hung back, now mommy was home she realised for the first time that things wouldn't be the same as before. She had been waiting months for this moment, the moment they could be a family again, only now mommy couldn't run, dance and play with them anymore and it made her sad to think about it.

As always mommy seemed to know exactly how Miranda was feeling.

"And finally my big brave girl," she said, concern in her eyes. "Don't I get a hug?"

Miranda gave her mom a watery smile, the cards forgotten as she flung her arms around her mommy's neck.

"I missed you so much Mommy!" sobbed Miranda, not sure if she was crying because she was happy or sad.

"I missed you too." sighed mommy. "I missed you so much."

Mom was crying too.

Miranda felt more arms on her as Gabby joined the hug.

"My two beautiful girls!" said mommy, fighting her tears. "I love you so much. Always remember that I love you."

"I love you too mommy." said Miranda.

"Me too." said Gabby, her voice muffled in Miranda's shoulder.

The brightness in Gabby's voice broke through the sorrow and Miranda felt mommy laugh.

"Look at us." said mom, sitting back to wipe the tears from her eyes. "This is supposed to be a party."

"It is indeed." said Aunt Kendall. "Who's for some cake?"

"Me!" replied the excited chorus, as the children all tore off towards the kitchen.

Miranda hung back so she could help her mommy with her crutches after Aunt Kendall helped her up from the couch.

"I must warn you." said Aunt Kendall, as they made their way to the kitchen. "The children did the icing."

"Hey." protested Miranda. "We made the cake pretty with flowers and it's not my fault about the spelling, Spike did the writing."

In the kitchen, Bianca was presented with a colourful cake, with the message emblazoned on it.

*WeLcowE HowE*

"Spike wrote 'wurrs' instead of 'murrs'." explained Gabby.

"Well it looks amazing." said mommy, very diplomatically, before added with a grin, "Or should that be a-W-azing… or even w-agnificent?"

"Or w-arvellous!" suggested Kendall.

"Or w-agic!" said Miranda and she began to giggle.

"I like that." said mommy, laughing too, "It's w-agic!"

The sound was wonderful and soon the kitchen was filled with laughter. Miranda found she was smiling so hard her mouth ached.

Mommy was home at last.

…