31 Day Writing Challenge: Day 23 - 'Mother-In-Law'

"You ready, sweetie?" Selene looked at the only mother she'd ever really known, Cleo was smiling at her with encouragement and affection. It had been seven years since Cleo and Luca had rescued her and kept her safe. Now they, and Rafe, were her family: legally as well as emotionally. 
She looked out of the car window at the unremarkable house, which contained another family; one which she didn't know but was permanently linked to by genetics. Living in the house was the family she had been stolen from. This was it, after over five years of searching, the moment was finally here, she was going to meet them and, hopefully, get the answers that she had waited a lifetime for.
Selene looked at her husband.

"Ready to meet the In-Laws?" After years of steadfastly refusing to rely on any other person, it still felt weird to lean on Cleo and her boys for support, but it felt good to know she could, it was getting easier to let them in. She looked over at her own mother-in-law and knew that, no matter what happened today with her biological mother and father, she would never again be parentless. 

"Hell yeah." A smile spread across her husband's handsome face. He had been her biggest support and strongest rock during her search. She was more grateful for him than she could ever convey. 

Without another word, Selene got out of the car and as she walked, a strong hand grasped her's, she was relieved that she didn't have to do this alone. The approached the door and Selene knocked. As they waited the seemingly never-ending moments for the door to open, Selene considered running for the first time. When the door opened, a girl, who couldn't be much older than ten, with features reminiscent of Selene's was revealed, upon seeing the pair, the girl screamed with joy and threw her arms around Selene, clinging as tightly as she could.

"Daddy." She yelled without looking back into the house. "I thought you said Mummy was never coming back."

"Nova, we've been over this, Mummy can't ever come back. Now, who is at the door?" A male voice that instantly seemed almost familiar to Selene yelled from some unseen location within the house.

"It's Mummy. She's here." The little girl, Nova, was still clinging to Selene. At this, movement could be heard from inside the house. 

"Nova, there is no way your mother is..." Leo Asola stopped dead in his tracks as her looked upon the spitting image of his beloved wife. His daughter had returned to him. Leo fell to his knees and began to cry. 

"Daddy, what's wrong, Daddy?" Nova let go of Selene and ran straight into her father's arms.

"Nothing's wrong, honey. Daddy is just really happy." He couldn't take his eyes off Selene, who was still hesitating at the door. Leo stood up and took Nova's hand, walking her to the door. When they reached Selene, who's grip was almost causing her nails to break the skin on her moral support's hand.

"Selene? Is that you? Is that really you?" Leo's hand was extended towards Selene's face, like he wanted to touch her to make sure she was really there. Tears began streaming down Selene's cheeks.

"Yes, I'm Selene. I'm really here." Leo reached out, pulled Selene into his arms and cradled the back of her head. Her right arm was extended behind her, she hadn't let go of her husband's hands. She still needed the physical link. 

"Daddy?" Nova's small voice broke through to Leo and brought back his awareness of his surroundings.

"Oh Nova, honey, Everything's OK. Why don't you go get some biscuits and take them into the family room. We have guests." Leo said gently to his young child.

Turning back to face Selene and her companion he invited them in, enthusiastically extending the invitation when his eldest child mentioned her mother- and brother-in-law were in the car at the end of the drive.

Once the entire group were seated comfortable and provided with their choice of biscuit, Leo pulled Nova onto his knee.

"Baby girl, remember how I told you that you had a big sister who was taken from us before Orion was born." The little girl nodded. "Well, this is her. This is Selene." Leo gestured to the daughter who was stolen from him, the girl he thought he would never see again. 

"She looks like Mummy."