James and Michelle grimaced as they walked to Erin's house. It was a very foggy, very cold Thursday morning. Regardless of how many steps they took, it seemed as if it didn't matter. The Quinn house could have been 2 metres away, but they still wouldn't see it. The need to tread carefully was as annoying as enduring the cold. James' mind was racing. He seemed to miss everything Michelle had been saying to him as they walked. Normally, the sole need to focus on where he was going would be more important than listen to Michelle going on about her latest rendezvous with Jason. But this morning. He was a mixture of emotion. Excitement and concern all rolled into one.

"Do you reckon Jim across the road has a spare foghorn?" James asked suddenly.

"For fuck sake, James, I was in the middle of talking... I wouldn't put it past him, why?" Michelle scowled.

"Well, if he does, I wish we bloody had it. I can't see a thing."

"Why ye being such a fucking weirdo this morning? It's not that bad. It's the cold that fucking melts my head."

"How am I being weird?"

"Ya trying to act all comical. I mean I know it's second nature to ye, James; Given the sight of ye. Christ! I dunno what Erin sees in ye sometimes." Michelle scoffed.

"Erin likes it when I'm comical." James said in his own defense.

"Does Erin like it when ya face goes all awkward, and ye act like a fanny like ye are now? Seriously, James. It's embarrassing."

"Oh, and that little quip the other night about MadStab wasn't embarrassing, was it?" James shot back.

Michelle went silent. James had learnt to spot the ever so rare moments where he bested Michelle. But then he felt that was a little too far, even for him.

"Sorry, I was only joking." He said. Michelle crooked her lip to a half smirk.

"Nah; Well played, James." Michelle admitted. They glanced at each other and smiled. No offense was taken.

Their attention was drawn to the bitter cold again. They gasped out large puffs of air as they trenched through the cold, damp fog. Their coats were just about keeping them warm as they finally got to the Quinn's house; James and Michelle were not completely surprised to find Orla standing outside peering through a pair of binoculars.

"Oi, ya didn't answer the question. Why are ye acting so weird this morning?" Michelle asked.

"Is there anyone out there?!" They heard Orla call out.

"Is there anyone in there?" Michelle joked to herself, tapping her head. Orla then spun and spotted them.

"Ach, morning Michelle! Morning James! This fog is cracker. Hi?" Orla waved excitedly, still looking through the binoculars.

"A little over the top, isn't it, Orla?" James laughed as he smiled at her.

"Can ye see my breakfast with those, Orla?" Michelle opened her mouth and "Ahhhh'ed over one of the lenses.

"Urgh! That's manky Michelle!" Orla said. She lowered the binoculars to wipe the lens clean.

"Come on, let's shift. I just heard Uncle Colm is on his way round." Erin said as she came out the door, handing Orla her coat and bag. She hurried to put her own coat on.

"Hold on. Is your Grandad in?" James asked.

"Aye?" Erin was puzzled.

"What do ye wanna talk to Joe for?" Michelle quizzed.

"Nothing you need to worry about. I just need to talk to him." James replied, going to walk in.

"Uh, James?" Erin called.

"Yeah?" James answered, walking back.

"Good morning?" Erin said. Shrugging her shoulders.

"Good Morning, Erin." James smiled briefly and pecked her quickly on the forehead before darting into the house.

"OK.... What was that about?" Erin asked.

"Well, I'm fucked if I know. He's been acting really shifty this morning. Fucking English! Always up to something." Michelle snapped.

"Ach, Michelle. Guess what?" Orla said excitedly.

"What?" Michelle awaited the answer, her hands raised.

"Marco rang last night! He said he'll be here in 2 weeks." Orla beamed happily.

"Are ye fucking joking?" Michelle gawked happily.

"Nope. He"s got an interview date." Orla couldn't hide her excitement.

"Thank fuck for that!" Michelle sighed.

"Maybe everything will have calmed down by then?" Erin suggested hopefully.

"Right, all sorted." James said as he came out the door.

"Oi, Dicko, did ye hear?"

"What?"

"Marco's gonna be here in 2 weeks!" Orla beamed again.

"Noooo waaaay!" Clare shouted happily, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Orla bounded in excitement towards Clare. "Ach, that's class, Orla!" She said as she mirrored Orla's excitement. "Morning you lot!" Clare called.

"Alright ya little lezzer?" Michelle called as she went to join them.

"Ye don't seem too excited, James?" Erin spotted.

"I am, just... not gonna get all weird about it." James said casually.

Erin squinted her eyes with suspicion and confusion as James walked down the pathway to join the others to greet Clare. The group of five friends smiled amongst themselves as they were reunited after what seemed like forever, as they made the familiar walk to our Lady Immaculate college where they gradually all began to squint their eyes as they struggled to see the road ahead. Only Orla had been resourceful enough to bring her large flashlight and binoculars with her.

The sound of loud echoing car horns and revving engines had grown more distinct as Marco stirred from his slumber. As he awoke, the mixture of noise became deafening to himself and the Jack Russell puppy that barked loudly in unison with the cars. Marco shook himself awake and checked the time. 12:32pm. Marco reached over and held the excitable puppy before he managed to jump through the gap in the car window. The gap was small, but Marco didn't want to chance it. The puppy yelped with excitement as Marco laughed while attempting to calm him down. Marco quickly placed the dog in the travel carrier and zipped it shut as he noticed the cars were preparing to disembark from the ferry.

The dog had been a parting gift from Alfonso. It was the same runt of the litter which Alfonso had been unable to sell. In the past three weeks, Alfonso couldn't help but notice a bond develop between them. Marco would always make sure that the runt got its fair share at feeding time, and the runt would always perk up whenever Marco came round. It had been a long journey from London to Liverpool. The hotels wouldn't allow dogs into their rooms, so Marco had no choice but to sleep in the car that his Dad had bought as his own parting gift for him. A 1994 Black Renault Cleo. Marco had thought to himself for the hundredth time- Thank God I learnt to drive before Dad bought me this.

Everything that had happened in the past few days had been chaotic to say the least. The only sense of sanity he found was when he finally touched base with Orla after 3 weeks. Marco hoped that the little white lie he fed Orla would be taken the right way. James certainly hadn't told him otherwise. Marco couldn't believe how nervous he felt. Not for the impending interview in Strabane; but for seeing everyone again, especially Orla. Marco could then feel everything inside the car shift around as the ferry journey came to an end. Soon enough, he could see the cars in front of him begin to move. He drove cautiously and followed the flow of traffic. Marco harked back to the horizon he had seen when he departed nearly 3 months ago but smiled as he saw the sign "Welcome to Derry/Londonderry", the plethora of flags was evident once more as Marco drove further away from the ferry, he surveyed the thick fog in front of him and drove with caution.

Mary breathed long and slow as she searched for the inner strength to listen to Sarah about her tarot cards. -God help me! She thought, looking upwards.

"I'm telling ya Mary. I've been getting these strong vibes lately. Something is on the horizon, so it is." Sarah proclaimed.

Mary heard the doorbell go.

"Sarah, for the love of God. My brain is half melted what with Uncle Colm being round here this morning.... Da, could ye get the door, please?"

"Aye, I will, Love. No problem." Joe said. -Praise the fecking lord He thought.

Joe took his time to answer the door. Choosing his wily skills to steal as many minutes as possible away from the conversation in the kitchen. He pondered the idea of shooting across to Jim across the road. He opened the door slightly to see a hooded figure with his back to him. He shot a cautious look.... Joe kept a firm grip on the door as he opened it slowly, preparing himself to slam the door shut should the stranger at the door be unfriendly, or even a Jehovah's witness. But his suspicions relaxed, and his eyes widened with pleasant astonishment as the figure turned round to face him, Joe McCool smiled as if he'd seen an old friend as he saw Marco standing in the doorway.

"It's a bit cold out here."

"Sweet merciful Jesus!" Joe laughed. Marco laughed emotionally in unison.

"We've been expecting ya, Marco! Get over here ya wee English prick!"" Joe beamed as the two hugged warmly.

"Alright, Joe?" Marco replied.

Marco stood slightly to his side, as if he was hiding something under his coat. Joe threw his arm around Marco, bringing him in. Marco took in the familiar surroundings of the Quinn house; as they walked towards the kitchen, Mary and Sarah were still debating the legitimacy of Sarah's tarot cards. Joe stole the moment to break the conversation.

"Ach, girls. Look who I found on the doorstep!" He announced. The two sisters stopped as they saw Marco peek his head round and smiled as he saw Mary and Sarah again.

"Ach, Marco! So ye got here!" Sarah beamed happily.

"Hi Ms McCool."

"Ach, none of that, it's Sarah!"

"Sorry, Sarah." Marco said as she brought him in for a warm hug.

"Grand to see ye again Marco." Mary approached him for another hug.

"Thanks Mary."

"How bout ye, then lad?" Mary asked.

"I'm good. Thanks.... You don't seem too surprised to me, do you?" Marco quizzed.

"Well, we have our ways ye know?" Sarah said, waving her tarot cards.

"Ah, Derry's answer to Mystic Meg, right?"

"Aye, in a way. See Mary, my tarot cards said that something was on the horizon. Did I not say so?" Sarah insisted.

"Ya sodding tarot cards didn't predict this, Sarah! We all knew Marco was coming today." Mary revealed.

"Did you?" Marco quizzed.

"Aye...James told us so." Mary said.

At that point, as Marco tilted his head back, there was a ruffled bark inside Marco's coat. He unzipped his coat and out popped the head of the Jack Russell Terrier. Joe, Mary, and Sarah gawked in amazement.

"Awwww. Marco, Who's this?" Mary asked, melting at the sight of the dog.

"He's a.... Last minute stowaway." Marco said.

"Ach, maybe this is what ya tarot cards predicted, Sarah." Joe quipped.

"Doggie!" A little voice said.

"Aye, Anna love it's a little doggie!" Mary said.

"Hello Anna! I see you." Marco called; Anna clapped happily.

"Let's have a look at him. Where'd ye get him, son?" Joe said, taking the dog in his hands.

"My friend Alfonso. It was a parting gift. He was the runt of the litter, but no one wanted him."

"Ach, bless the wee critter." Mary said.

"He's a runt? I wouldn't have said that!" Joe said, inspecting the puppy.

"No, he's grown a bit." Marco agreed.

Joe stoked the dog with affection, Mary brought Anna over to see the small dog that Joe was holding. Anna beamed happily when the runt licked her little fingers. Anna then waved at Marco, who waved back.

"Awww. He's truly precious, so he is. I can't imagine how the wains are gonna be when they see him?" Sarah said.

"Speaking of which.... There's something we need to tell ye, Marco." Joe said in a more sober tone.

"What is it?" Marco asked, the mood shifted.

Joe handed the dog to Sarah and took Marco into the living room. When they sat down, Joe began to fill Marco in with what had happened a few days ago with MadStab and Shannon O'Driscoll. James had heeded his own advice and had privately informed Joe, Gerry, Mary and Sarah about the incident. As Marco listened to what had been said, he initially felt an incredible burden of guilt for what Orla, and the others had endured because of him. As Joe explained in more detail about what Orla had gone through because of this one girl, and now that her older male cousin was involving himself; Marco's guilt slowly began to shift to anger. -Who does this bastard think he is? He thought. Joe could sense the anger that was brewing within the young lad and cautioned Marco to tread carefully.

"Now listen, son. We're all happy that ye stayed true to ya word; Ye got back here. But right now, I see that look in ya eyes, and I know how ye feel. It's the same as me when James told us, but getting angry about it isn't going to make it any better, remember what I said? Also; don't think anyone is blaming ye for any of this." Joe said.

"Aye. Da's right, Marco. Don't throw away everything ye worked so hard for. Not for some brainless eejit, i mean, a grown man getting all riled up over some concert tickets is one thing, but trying to start something with a wain..... Anyway, Ye need to think more clearly. Not just for yeself, but for Orla as well, do ya hear me?" Mary said. "When Orla comes home from school, we'll talk to ya both."

"She's missed ya so much. She has." Sarah said.

"Yeah... i've missed her too."

Marco let out a deep breath and nodded in agreement. He remembered how upset Orla was when things didn't go well with Belfast College, and when she got into trouble for defending him. Joe's advice of letting go of his anger had also come in handy back in England. The advice was more potent now he was back in Derry.

"OK. OK..." Marco took in another deep breath. "Well... since we're talking about things.... There's something I need to talk to you about, Joe." Marco said.

"Ach, go ahead son. What is it?" Joe asked.

"I don't know how you might take this. But I've been giving it a lot of thought, you've been so great to me...well, you all have...."

"What? Even Gerry?" Joe joked.

"Da!" Mary snapped.

"Just a joke."

"....Yeah; Even Gerry..." Marco chimed in. Joe smirked; "Anyway.... I was wondering... if... you'd be able to help me.... I still need to name a trustee to my inheritance. I wondered if you'd do it, Joe?" Marco asked.

"Are ye serious, lad? Ye want me to be your trustee?" Joe was shocked.

"Yeah." Marco replied.

"Why?" Joe asked softly. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Because when I was back in England, I found out a few things. I found out who my real father was." Marco revealed.

"..... Was?" Sarah quizzed. Who was now sitting next to Marco, with the dog in her arms.

"Yeah, he died in a car accident before I was born." Mary and Sarah stared with sympathy.

"My mum was besotted with him, but he didn't have the best track record with women.... He was a bit of a...lothario. A player." Marco said.

"Ach, I see." Sarah answered heavily.

"My dad says I'm nothing like him, but hearing how he was.... With women, I can't help but think what if...."

"You're afraid that you might end up being the same as him?" Mary answered for him.

"Yeah." Marco admitted.

"So; What does this have to do with me being ya trustee?" Joe asked.

"I guess, it's just my way of wanting to earn your trust. Orla... means a lot to me. She means more to me than anything. But... knowing what I know now... I just wanted to show you that... I wouldn't hurt her. For the last 3 months, I've thought about nothing except getting back here, and I'm not going anywhere now. But.... I would gladly let you keep the money and give it to charity or something... Because if I ever hurt Orla... I wouldn't deserve any of that money."

"Ach, Marco Love. If ye have to question that. Then ye got nothing to worry about. I think ye really need to take on board what Orla, and James, and ye Da' said. Because they're right. Yer a good person." Sarah said kindly.

"And let me tell ye about us, Marco. It doesn't matter to us if ye English, Italian, Irish, ye could be fecking Chinese for all we care. The only thing that matters is we take care of each other, and we know that ye care. Just like Orla cares for ye." Mary said.

"If ye need a trustee, Marco. I'm more than happy to do so; But ye didn't have to make such a gesture to earn my trust, lad." Joe started and then turned to Sarah.

"Because ye already have it." She said. Placing her arm around Marco who began to choke up, and he let out a sigh of relief..

"Thank you." Marco said.

"Ach. Christ, look at the time." Joe said. 1:22pm. Marco glanced at the clock, and then back at Joe who smiled at him.

"Go get her, son." Joe said. Marco smiled back.