Surprise home

Surprise home
Astrid POV

The cafeteria was noisy as usual, laughter and chatter bouncing off the high ceilings, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I had just finished eating and was walking out, my mind already drifting to the training I’d promised myself I’d do later. That was when I saw them—Killian, Jason, Odin, and Archie—standing there like they were up to something.

Killian had that mischievous glint in his eyes, Jason was trying too hard to look casual, Odin’s grin was far too wide, and Archie—well, Archie was practically buzzing with excitement like he couldn’t keep the secret to himself for another second.

I stopped, raising a brow. “What?”

Killian dangled a set of car keys in front of me. “Come with us.”

I frowned, folding my arms. “Where to?”

“Surprise,” Jason said smoothly, his lips quirking like he enjoyed keeping me in the dark.

“Surprise?” I repeated, suspicious. “That sounds like trouble.”

Odin rolled his eyes dramatically, stepping forward and patting my shoulder. “Relax, Astrid. We even have the Headmaster’s permission for this one.”

That made me pause. The Headmaster? Permission? For a surprise? My suspicion only deepened, but there was a flicker of curiosity now. “You guys are really bad at keeping secrets, you know that?”

Archie’s grin widened. “We’ll see about that. Just trust us.”

Against my better judgment, I found myself following them out of the academy gates. The rest of the team was waiting too, all looking oddly giddy. Whatever this was, it wasn’t just the boys—it was everyone. That sent a strange twist through my chest.

We piled into two cars, and I sat squished between Jason and Archie in the backseat, side-eyeing them both as we drove. They refused to tell me anything. The entire ride was filled with hushed laughter, exchanged glances, and Killian occasionally humming like he was enjoying my growing impatience.

After what felt like forever, we pulled up to an apartment building. Normal. Plain. Human. My brows knit together as I stared out the window. “Wait… the human world? What are we—”

“Shhh,” Jason cut in smoothly, already sliding out of the car. “No questions. Come on.”

Reluctantly, I followed them. The others moved like they had rehearsed this, which only made me more suspicious. My heart thudded, quickening as we walked up the steps and into the building.

When the door opened, the world stopped.

Standing there—framed by the soft glow of the apartment lights—were the faces I thought I’d lost forever.

My foster parents.

I froze, breath caught in my throat. My knees nearly buckled. It had been so long—so painfully long—that I thought I’d never see them again. And yet, there they were, smiling through tears, their arms opening wide.

“Sweetheart,” my foster mother whispered, her voice breaking.

I didn’t even realize tears had spilled down my cheeks until I stumbled forward, throwing myself into their embrace. The sob that tore out of me was raw, shuddering, unstoppable. They held me so tightly, like they were afraid I’d vanish if they let go.

“I—I thought…” My words broke apart. “I thought I wouldn’t see you forever.”

My foster father pressed his cheek to the top of my head, his own voice thick with emotion. “We thought the same. But look at you. You’re here. You came back to us.”

I clung to them, trembling, not wanting to let go. I had fought monsters, survived battles, bled for victories I barely believed in—but nothing compared to this moment. To being home. To being loved.

When I finally pulled back, my foster mother was smiling through tears, her arms cradling a small bundle wrapped in a soft blue blanket.

I blinked, breath hitching. “Is that…?”

“Our son,” she whispered, her smile radiant. “Your little brother.”

The sight of that tiny face undid me all over again. A baby. Their baby. My family’s baby. My heart twisted and ached and swelled all at once, the tears falling harder as I reached out to gently touch his tiny hand. His fingers curled instinctively around mine, and I broke into another sob.

“He’s perfect,” I whispered.

Behind me, I heard Killian clear his throat, Jason’s soft exhale, Odin muttering something about “wow, this is actually adorable,” and Dove sniffling loudly because she was crying harder than I was. But I barely noticed them. All I could see was my family.

The evening blurred into warmth and laughter. We all sat together around the table, my foster mother insisting everyone eat while my foster father pulled out plates of homemade food. My friends laughed and ate heartily, teasing each other, while I stayed close to my parents, listening to every word, soaking in their presence like sunlight I had been starved of.

They told me stories—how they had built a new life, how the baby came as a blessing after so much loss, how they had prayed I was safe even when they feared the worst. And I told them pieces of my own story, carefully chosen, enough to let them know I had grown, that I was stronger now.

The night passed in a blur of joy, tears, and laughter. For the first time in so long, my chest didn’t feel heavy with shadows. For the first time, I felt whole.

And as I sat there, surrounded by my two worlds colliding, my family and my friends, all under one roof—I realized something. No matter how much darkness I carried, no matter how many battles I fought, this… this was what I was fighting for.

For moments like this. For love. For home.