Chapter 16: Welcome to wherever you are.

'Ruby?!.....is this one of your jokes?'
Jon tried to hold in the laughter, 'Fraid not babe'.
'Ruby......I didn't think i'd ever say this but i prefer Shorty!' she said laughing, 'that is going to take some getting used to.'
Jon smiled moving to go inside aswell, You'll always be Shorty to me.

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The car ride was quite a short one despite the stint on the infamous M25, and it didn't take long until they had arrived in the small village that was her home.
'Is it okay if we just wait a bit?' she said looking out of the window as they passed the welcome to Shere sign.
Jon pulled the rented mercedes into a small gravelled entrance to a field.

'Want to talk about it?' he offered.
She looked across at him before looking down at her hands that she was nervously wringing.
'I just don't know what to expect. What if i don't like them? plenty of people have horrible families, all sorts goes on.'
Jon smiled 'it's okay if your scared.'
'I'm so not scared.'
Jon laughed, 'alright so what do you call it then?'
'Can we call it apprehensive? Makes me sound less of a wuss.' She replied.
'Okay well let's do this, It'll be fine, believe me. Say they are a bunch of morons, i'll keep 'em occupied while you make your getaway. Okay wuss?'
'HaHa very funny' She said punching Jon on the shoulder, 'Fine lets do this. They have to be nicer than my present company.'
Jon put both his hands on his heart in mock offense. 'I'd be hurt but i know you love me really.'

Jon turned the key in the ignition and drove deeper into the village.

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'Nice, and whaddya say? Quaint' Jon said as they passed the village green surrounded by small cottages.
'How do i say? Boring!' She replied.
'Well we're here, time to suck it up. Let's go.'

Jon was first out of the car and stood hands in pockets waiting as she trudged up the gravelled driveway reluctantly.
When she was a metre or so away from him and the door he knocked three times.
The door opened fast, and out burst a woman, blonde hair was all Jon saw as she ran straight past him. 'Ruby! Thank God you are okay.' The woman said as she grabbed her up in a tight embrace.
Holding her out at arms length looking at Ruby she smiled, before fussing over her nasty bruise.
Seconds later they were joined by the rest of the family.

A hand was thrust Jon's way, 'Pleased to meet you, i'm Ruby's father. Mike' said the tall almost burly man, with a softer voice than you would think to credit him with.
'Likewise' Jon said taking his hand and shaking, 'I'm Jon.'
'Shall we go inside? The curtains will be twitching.' Mike laughed as he put his arm around his daughter's shoulder ushering her in.
Ruby still didn't say a word.

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'This is Anne, my wife and of course Ruby's mother' Mike said as he started to introduce the family to Jon.
'This is Ade, my son, Laura his girlfriend and over there is little Angie.'
Jon shook Ade and Laura's hands, he didn't fail to notice their shell shocked faces, obviously they had recognised him. He looked over to see a little girl the spitting image of Ruby, same blonde hair and cute face. She obviously doted on her sister, she just next to Ruby looking up at her.

'Jon it's so lovely to meet you, i just want to thank you ever so much for taking Ruby under your wing' Anne said as she shook Jon's hand before pulling him in for a hug.
'That's no trouble Mrs....'
'Call me Anne, please.' She offered.
'You're welcome Anne, really' Jon said with a smile.

It hadn't gone un-noticed to her mother and father that Ruby still hadn't said one word.
'Is everything alright Roo?' Anne asked her daughter after finally releasing Jon from her embrace.
'Fine. Thank you' She smiled politely.
Jon interupted, 'I'm sure it's temporary really.'
Mike turned towards him confusion on his face, 'What is?'
'The, amnesia....did the police not tell you? I thought...' Jon replied.
Hell how did they not mention that?

'Amnesia? Roo?' Anne looked at her daughter with concern on her face.
She nodded, 'i'm sorry i don't remember any of this...any of you.'
'Jesus' Mike whispered.
Anne went to hug her daughter again with tears beginning to fill her eyes. 'It'll be fine. It will come back.'

As they sipped on tea and biscuits provided by Anne, Jon filled them in about the what had happened at the concert and what the paramedics had told him of Ruby's condition.

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After about half an hour Jon stood from the sofa, 'I should go, you all have to get to know each other again.'
The family all stood, thanking him profusely, telling him he was welcome back any time.

She followed him out of the house.
There was this wrenching feeling in her gut as she walked out with him to the car.
When they reached the mercedes she took Jon's hand and looked in those eyes, 'Jon i..' Don't want you to go.. 'i...know it's been said. But honestly thank you. I felt so alone, not knowing anyone, anything. You took that away. So, Thank you.'
'There's no need to thank me babe. I wanna thank you. Spending time with someone who just treated me as a normal guy, no airs no graces. You saw me, Jon, and took me on face value. You don't know how i miss just meeting someone who doesn't assume they know me.....'kay i'm rambling now.'
He pulled her in for a hug.

She held on tight, not wanting to let him go, and have to restart her life all over again. She couldn't help the tears that started to flow.
'Come on now' Jon said pulling away from her embrace as he heard her sniff.
'It's not goodbye, just, see ya later.' he smiled, wiping a tear off her face with his thumb.
'Friends right?'
She sniffed again and nodded. 'Friends.'