A woman

The lithe woman that stood behind the door bared little resemblance to the girl that had left the house but a few years ago. A pair of mud stained leather boots sheathed simple brown trousers, and though the belt had been lost along the way an officers saber was hung along the woman's waist with a string of cord. Over a plain white shirt and astride the woman’s shoulders rode a long black felt coat adorned with red seams and a gold star shining dimly beside a bronze pike and arquebus crossed over a vertical 303. Blake removed her officers cap, a finger over where the customary silver star should have been. “Sorry I took so long.”

Blake grunted under the strain of two bodies trying to suffocate her with hugs. Aria took the lead running her hands through Blake’s now shortened hair “oh my little girl!” Blake returned the twin hugs as best she could, she began to develop a sniffle as the warmth and peace of home washed over her.

Yet a ringing of metal broke the spell of home as all three turned to look at the robin blue door.