___________________________

"Yeah, we leave in a few hours."

"I'm sorry I can't be there."

"It's alright. And I won't be alone, Tommy's coming with me." Ryder said as she checked her bag to make sure she had everything.

"Travel safe, I'll let you know when I get back." Spencer said over the phone, his voice sounding tired.

"You doing okay?" Ryder asked when she picked up on it, stopping in her movements to give Spencer all of her attention.

"Yeah, it's just taking longer than we thought." Spencer sighed, knowing there was no point in trying to lie to her.

"I'm sorry," Ryder mumbled as she sat on the edge of her bed. "You'll figure it out, you always do."

Spencer only mumbled a weak agreement before changing the subject. "Let me know when you get there, okay?"

"Promise," Ryder smiled, standing once again to finish gathering her things. "I love you."

"I love you." Spencer repeated.

"Call if you need anything, Spence. I hope I see you soon."

"You will." The couple soon said goodbye and went on with their days. Spencer with his case and Ryder getting ready to go to New York. She had decided the other night and invited Tommy along with her as she didn't want to go alone.

"Hey, punk." Said brother greeted as he walked into her room, plopping down on the bed next to her bag.

"Hey, jerk." Ryder greeted back, sticking her tongue out at him in a very immature manner. "You ready?"

"Yup."

"Okay, I-I should be ready soon..." Ryder trailed off, taking a deep breath, the simple action harder than it should've been.

"Hey," Tommy started, suddenly serious when he noticed the struggle on his sister's face. "It'll be okay. We don't have to go, you can change your mind."

"I know, I know," She nodded, wringing her shakey hands together. "Why am I making such a big deal out of this?" She asked with a humorless chuckle.

"You're not," Tommy assured her. "And this is a big deal, you have every right to act however you want and I'd say you're being very mature about it."

"Not for a lack of trying." Ryder sighed as she took a seat next to her brother.

"I wonder about my parents too," Tommy stated, drawing Ryder's eyes up to his face. "You know, my real ones. I even asked mom after she told me I was adopted but she didn't tell me anything, I'm not even sure if she knew. I didn't grow up the same as you, I was a normal kid with normal parents my whole life, had a great childhood. But if my real parents showed up one day..." He trailed off while shaking his head. "I honestly don't know how I'd handle that."

"You never told me that." Ryder said after a moment of silence, watching as Tommy turned his head to smile down at her.

"I don't tell you a lot of things, Ry."

"What happened to no secrets?" She asked with a small smile, remembering the promise they made to each other many years ago.

"It's not really a secret, I just didn't tell you." Tommy shrugged.

"I think that's the same thing." Ryder said with a thoughtful look.

'Eh, I don't know." Tommy mumbled while shaking his head. "Doesn't matter anyway. My point is that I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Tommy." Ryder smiled, leaning into his side as he threw his arm over her shoulders.

__________________________________

The trip up to New York seemed longer than it was, Ryder's nerves getting the better of her. She told herself it was stupid, there was nothing to be nervous about. She could leave whenever she wanted and Tommy was with her.

Roy had offered to pick them up but Ryder had declined, deciding to rent a car and drive to her father's apartment on her own. It took a bit of navigating before they found the right building. Ryder had been to New York before but she wasn't too familiar with the city.

"You ready?" Tommy asked her after turning the car off, looking over at his sister's nervous face.

"As I'll ever be." Ryder sighed as she pushed the door open before climbing out of the car. Neither sibling packed heavy. They were only staying a few days and both were good at packing light. Ryder because she'd done it all her life, moving between homes. Tommy because of the army. And he was a guy.

"Just say the word and we're gone." Tommy told her as he closed the cars trunk.

Nodding with a deep breath, Ryder looked down at her phone to see her father had texted her back. She'd informed the older man when they arrived because she knew he'd need to come let them in. The apartment he lived in was a gated one and he'd mentioned before this would be the easiest way to enter.

Sending her brother an appreciative smile as he took her bag from her, Ryder once again looked to her phone. She'd promised Spencer to let her know when she arrived, best do it now before she forgets.

"Here we go." Ryder mumbled to herself with one last sigh as her father came into view.

"Hey, how was you're flight?" Roy asked with a smile as the siblings approached. Tommy chose to stay behind his sister but still close.

"Uh, fine." Ryder nodded before gesturing to her Tommy. "This is Tom, my brother."

"Nice to meet you." Roy said as he extended his hand towards the younger man.

Anyone who wasn't looking for it wouldn't have noticed the way Tommy's jaw clenched and the tightness behind his smile. He excepted the handshake with a nod. He was being polite but the man standing in front of him had hurt his little sister. Didn't matter who you were, that puts you immediately on his bad side.

"Well, the others are upstairs, excited to meet you both." Roy informed them as they started walking inside, the warm buildings interior washing over them.

Ryder had been in some awkward situations before. So had Tommy. But the elevator ride to the fifth floor would make it on her top five list. She only hoped the entire trip wasn't the same.

Even with the tension-filled box, Ryder hesitated when they reached their floor. If that was bad, how would meeting her biological father's wife and child be?

As if sensing her discomfort, Tommy used his free hand to give her shoulder a comforting squeeze. Ryder didn't even have time to think about the fact that her brother was holding both his and her bag in one hand before the door before them opened.

She wasn't sure what to expect. But as Ryder entered the spacious apartment, she'd be lying is she said it didn't feel like a real home. It had a coy vibe about it. Most Christmas decorations were still up, like the tree and a few things here and there. It was clean but not overly so.

Walking in a small hallway greeted you, the left wall going out further than the right, leaving a clear view of the living room. A fireplace sat on the far wall, a tree off to the left of it, sitting in front of a window.

"We're here." Roy called out, setting his keys on the small table next to the door.

Following behind him, Ryder stayed close to her brother, his presence behind her bringing comfort. "Hey, honey." A brunette woman greeted as she stepped from the kitchen, a friendly smile on her face as she turned her attention away from her husband. "You must be Ryder, I'm Lyla."

"Yes." Ryder nodded, trying for her own smile. "Uh, this is my brother, Tom."

"It's so good to meet you both." The woman told them, her smile still present as she looked past them and into the living room. "Bella, come here sweetie." She called out and not a moment later, a little girl with match light brown hair ran from the hallway and to her mother.

"Hey, Bella, this is Ryder." Roy told his youngest daughter, taking the girl's small hand when she held it up to him.

"Hi, I'm Bella. Daddy says you're my sister." The little girl said, her head tilted back to help her look up.

Sending a quick glance to her brother and father, Ryder knelt in front of the girl, becoming eye level with her. "Yeah, that's right. Are you okay with that?" It was silly to want an eight-year-olds approval but this was her sister, she didn't want to be rejected by any more of her family.

"Yeah, I always wanted a sister." The young girl said. "Do you like hugs?"

"Uh, I love hugs." Ryder had been running scenario after scenario through her mind ever since she texted Roy back. But opening her arms to accept a hug from her little sister moments after meeting wasn't one of them and she couldn't be happier about it. "This is my brother, his name is Tom but I bet he'll let you call him Tommy if you want."

"You're tall." Belle told Thomas, earning chuckles from all the adults. "Taller than daddy."

"He is, isn't he?" Ryder asked, standing back to her full height.

"Mommy, can I show Ryder my room?"

"Yes, dear, just remember lunch is soon, okay?"

"Okay." The child nodded before taking Ryder's hand and leading her away. Through the living room and down a hallway and into a room obviously meant for a little girl. The walls were purple, the bed covered in stuffed animals and toys scattered around. It wasn't messy though.

"Wow, purple is my favorite color." Ryder told the girl truthfully, letting her eyes go back to her once they'd swept the room.

"Mine too." Bella stated proudly, leading Ryder over to her bed. "This is Jack." Lifting the fluffy white and brown stuffed dog, Bella passed it to her sister.

"He's cute." Ryder commented, taking a gentle hold on the stuffed toy. "Is he your favorite?"

"I can't have favorites." Bella chuckled, picking up a zebra.

"Makes sense." Ryder mumbled, her eyes scanning the other stuff creatures. "You like animals, huh?"

"Yeah, I wanna be a vet when I grow up." Bella said proudly. "Like daddy but with aniamls."

"That's nice."

"What do you do?" The girl asked curiously.

"I'm a photographer. I take pictures of people." Ryder didn't think she needed to explain but felt the need to anyway.

"Hey, guys, how's it going?" Roy appeared in the doorway, watching his two daughters talk.

"Good." Bella responded, her focus more on the stuffed cat in her hands than her father.

"That's good. Take a break? Lunch is ready." Roy informed the girls, smiling as Bella took Ryder's hand to lead her out of the room.

"You can sit next to me." The girl told her after they got their food, pointing to the seat beside her.

"So, Ryder, Roy tells me you're a photographer." Lyla spoke first, wanting to break the awkward tension with a conversation.

"Uh, yeah, I freelance." Ryder nodded, elbowing Tommy in the side when he tried to talk with food in his mouth.

"Ow," He mumbled to her. "She's really good, you should see her paintings."

"Tommy." Ryder mumbled, the single word going unheard by everyone.

"I didn't know you painted." Roy put in from the end of the table.

"I don't really tell many people." Ryder said with a glare towards her brother. She loved painting, was good at it, even sold some before. The cafe she frequented, Lily's, the same one she met Spencer at, hung some up on their walls.

"I've never been a good artist, no matter how much I try." Lyla said with a shake of her head. "Is there anyone special in your life?"

"Yeah," Ryder nodded, smiling when she thought of Spencer. "My boyfriend. He couldn't be here because of work."

"What's his name?" Lyla asked, an almost teasing smile on her face.

"Spencer." Ryder found it easy to talk to Lyla, she was a kind woman.

"How long have you been together?" Roy spoke for the first time.

"I little over a year."

"And he's good to you?" He might not have been in her life very long but she was still his daughter, he worried.

"Roy." Lyla said in warning, shooting her husband a look. "She's a big girl."

"Yes, he does." Ryder still answered the question, feeling the need to step up for one of the greatest men she'd ever met.

The conversation steered in a different direction from there, much to Ryder's relief. It was a little stiff at first but after a while the young woman allowed herself to relax and enjoy herself.

There were moments she found herself taking a deep breath to keep any anger or annoyance down. It was only directed to her father though. Bella and Lyla were delightful and Ryder was often engaged with them. Tommy took to making conversation with Roy more often and everyone seemed okay with how it was.

The rest of the day went by smoothly and after dinner everyone settled in for the night. There was only one guest room so Tommy offered to take the couch but found himself in Ryder's room when she texted that she couldn't sleep.

"So?" The young man asked, taking a seat beside his sister on the bed. "What's up?"

"I don't know." Ryder sighed, folding her legs under herself. "I mean, everything went okay today, right?"

"Yes, it was great." Tommy nodded. "Something else got you bothered?"

"I mean, just sleeping in a new place and I know I was used to it as a kid but over the past years I've come to like sleeping in the same bed every night."

"You talk to Spencer?"

"Yeah, well, we texted. He's still working on the case. He's worried." Ryder mumbled. Whenever Spencer was on a case they tried to make time for a phone call but sometimes had to settle for a text, but something about this time made her feel weird.

"You got that from one text?" Tommy chuckled, poking his sister's shoulder.

"I know him, okay?" Ryder said, feeling defensive. "He's probably just tired, I'll talk to him in the morning."

"Any nerves about moving in together?"

"No." Ryder answered without hesitation. "Excited nerves maybe, but no bad ones."

"Good. Spencer's a good guy." Tommy nodded in approval.

"Thanks, Tommy. See you in the morning."

"Goodnight, sis."

"Goodnight."

_______________________________________________

Waking early the next morning, Ryder reached for her phone to check for any messages. She had a few notifications but nothing of interest. She knew he was busy but she was hoping for something from Spencer. She'll text him later.

Climbing from her bed, Ryder grabbed a change of clothes for the day and made her way to the bathroom and quickly got changed before heading to the kitchen.

"Goodmorning." Lyla greeted with a smile, her attention turning to the pan in front of her. "You like eggs, dear?"

"Uh, yeah, you don't have to." Ryder mumbled, rubbing her tired eyes as she sat next to Tommy who was nursing a cup of coffee. Ryder might not like the beverage but her brother loved it.

"Of course I do, it's no problem." Lyla said before opening the oven and pulling out biscuits. Ryder wondered how long she'd been up and how she was so cheery so early in the morning but then remembered the woman was a teacher. She probably had to wake early every day.

"It's to early." Bella grumbled as she came into the room, clad in pajamas.

"Tell me about it." Ryder leaned over and whispered to the girl when she sat next to her.

"I'm sorry sweetie, did we wake you?"

"No, it's okay." Bella mumbled, resting her forehead on the table in front of her.

"You can go back to bed if you want." Her mother offered, smiling over at the girl.

"I'm awake now." She grumbled, causing Ryder and Tommy to chuckle. "And I'm hungry."

"It's almost done, want to go find your father?"

"Okay." Bella cheered, suddenly completely awake as she rushed off from the way she came.

"That was the fasted mood change I've ever seen." Tommy said, his eyes slightly wide. "And I've seen your mood changes." He told his sister, earning him a slap to the shoulder.

"Do you need any help?" Ryder asked Lyla, standing from her seat to join her by the counter.

"You don't have to."

"No, I want to." She felt bad not helping, she hadn't done anything the day before.

"Alright, could you get some plates. Top right cabinet." Lyla told her, pointing to the dark wood cabinet.

Bella and Roy joined them soon after and everyone sat down for breakfast. At one point it hit Ryder who she was with. Sitting down to have breakfast with these people who were a family. She supposed she was apart of that family now and it felt weird. Her father was in her life now, even if she hadn't gotten over all her anger towards him. Lyla was a sweet woman and Ryder had no intention to see her as her mother but she was her father's wife. And then Bella, her little sister.

After finishing breakfast, Ryder and Tommy help wash and put away dishes, talking about whatever came to mind until a ringing cut them off.

"Sorry, excuse me." Ryder mumbled, pulling out her phone and furrowing her brows when she read the caller ID. "Derek?"

"Hey." Morgan answered softly and something in his voice made Ryder's heart drop. "Are you still in New York?"

"Yeah." Charlie said slowly, walking away from the others for more privacy. "Derek, is Spencer okay?"

"He's gonna okay." Morgan confirmed and Ryder let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "He's in the hospital, I think you should come home."

"Mhm, o-okay." Ryder stumbled over her words as her emotions pushed forward. "But he's okay?"

"I promise you he's okay. He's just resting."

"What happened?" Ryder demanded as she walked into her temporary room to collect her things.

"I'll explain when you get back, but don't worry." Morgan hated not telling her but he knew she'd only worry more to learn that Spencer had gotten sick from a deadly virus so he didn't. Then there was protocol and all that. "I can have someone pick you up."

"No, that's okay. My car is still at the airport." Ryder told him, throwing her bag over her shoulder. "I'll be there soon, thank you."

"See you then." Morgan mumbled before hanging up, leaving Ryder to rush from her room.

"Tommy, we got to go." She didn't mean to be harsh about it but her heart was beating way to fast and she just needed to get to Spencer.

"What's wrong?" Her brother asked, jumping to collect his things.

"Spencer was hurt, he's in the hospital." Ryder informed him, doing one last sweep for anything of her she's might leave as Tommy worked.

"Is he okay?" Lyla asked before anyone else could speak up, her voice holding worry.

"Derek, uh, his coworker," Ryder explained, elaborating when she realized they wouldn't know who she meant. "He said he would be okay but I have to go."

"No, we understand." Lyla nodded.

"Thank you, for everything." Ryder told the woman, trying her best to smile.

"When will you be back?" Bella asked, going forward to hug her.

"Um, I don't know." Ryder said truthfully. "I'm sorry to rush, but I'll see you again, okay?"

"Okay, bye." Bella waved before going to stand by her mother.

"I'll walk you guys down." Roy offered, walking ahead of the siblings to open the door. He led them to the elevator and pushed the button for the bottom floor. Ryder would have sworn it was the longest elevator ride of her life and any awkwardness that remained from last night was gone as worry overtook the girl.

"He's okay." Tommy whispered to her, giving her hand a squeeze before the door opened and they all filed out.

"Sorry for rushing out." Ryder told her father, unsure of what else to say. "Um, I'll text you, okay?"

"Yeah, have a safe flight." Roy nodded, also unsure of what to say.