Jessica slouched in the hard plastic airport chair, her body aching from the battle with Ivan. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sickly glow over the waiting area. She glanced at her friends - Kevin dozing with his head tipped back, mouth ajar, and Salina engrossed in a well-worn paperback. Mr. and Mrs. Lebowski chatted quietly a few seats away.

What a way to end a vacation. Jessica's lips quirked in a wry smile. At least they were all alive. She shifted, wincing as her bruised ribs protested. The events of the past few days felt surreal in the sterile airport environment. Had she really fought a resurrected serial killer on a tropical island? The weapon that defeated Ivan was now locked away in her suitcase, wrapped in beach towels. She'd have to figure out what to do with it when they got home.

Home. The thought filled Jessica with equal parts longing and dread. Moon Valley had been blessedly monster-free lately. What if her return disrupted that peace? What if-

"Jessica!" A familiar voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.

Jessica's head snapped up to see Frankie and Damon striding towards them, looking far too chipper for 6 AM. Frankie had tied her long dark hair into a messy bun, a few strands escaping to frame her face. She wore loose linen pants, and a cropped tank top that showed a strip of tanned midriff. Damon slouched along beside her in board shorts and a faded t-shirt, his dreadlocks pulled back with a bandana.

"Hey guys," Jessica called, nudging Kevin awake. He snorted and flailed, nearly smacking Salina.

"Wha- huh?" Kevin blinked owlishly.

"Our vampire princess and her prince are here," Salina said dryly, not looking up from her book.

Kevin perked up immediately. "Oh, hey! Didn't think we'd see you guys again."

Frankie grinned, flashing perfectly straight teeth. No fangs in sight. "Couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye. How're you holding up?"

Jessica shrugged, then immediately regretted it as pain lanced through her shoulder. "Been better. Nothing a few days of sleep won't fix."

"And maybe some industrial strength painkillers," Kevin added.

"Please," Jessica groaned. "I'd kill for some Advil right now."

"Speaking of killing..." Damon glanced around furtively before lowering his voice. "Any word on the, uh, cleanup situation?"

Jessica shook her head. "Radio silence so far. But from what we overheard, it sounds like they're treating it as a 'dangerous fugitive situation.' Guess that's not too far from the truth."

"Yeah, just leave out the part where the fugitive was a zombified serial killer," Salina muttered.

"Well, I for one am glad it's over," Frankie declared. "Though I have to say, as far as vacations go, this one was pretty memorable."

Kevin snorted. "That's one word for it. I was thinking more like 'terrifying' or 'traumatic.'"

"Aw come on, it wasn't all bad," Damon said, slinging an arm around Frankie's shoulders. "We made some new friends, right?"

Jessica smiled despite herself. "True. Though next time, maybe we can skip the near-death experiences and just hang out on the beach?"

"Deal," Frankie laughed. Her expression sobered slightly. "Listen, Jessica... I wanted to apologize again for, you know, going all feral vampire on you in the jungle. I should have had better control."

Jessica waved her hand dismissively. "Water under the bridge. I'm the one who should be apologizing - I did try to rip your throat out with my teeth."

"Eh, what's a little attempted murder between friends?" Damon quipped.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "You two are ridiculous. Most people bond over shared interests or hobbies. You bonded over mutual attempted manslaughter."

"Hey, being teenage monsters is a shared interest," Frankie protested.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"And a hobby," Jessica added. "Gotta keep those claws sharp somehow."

Salina finally looked up from her book, fixing them with an exasperated stare. "You're all insane. You know that, right?"

"Says the girl who casts magic spells," Kevin retorted.

"Excuse you, I prefer the term 'witch,'" Salina sniffed haughtily.

They dissolved into giggles, drawing curious looks from other travelers. Jessica felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. After everything they'd been through, it felt good to laugh.

A crackling announcement echoed through the terminal: "Attention passengers. Flight 237 to Pittsburgh is now boarding at gate C12. Please have your boarding passes ready."

"That's us," Kevin sighed, stretching.

Jessica's good mood dimmed slightly. She wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

Frankie seemed to sense her reluctance. "Hey, this isn't the end, you know. The Monster Girl Squad gotta stick together." She dug in her pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper. "Here's my number. Text me when you get settled back home?"

"Definitely," Jessica said, taking the paper and tucking it carefully into her wallet. She hesitated, then impulsively pulled Frankie into a hug. The other girl stiffened for a moment before relaxing into the embrace.

"Take care of yourself, wolf girl," Frankie murmured.

"You too, Dracula," Jessica replied, her voice thick.

They broke apart, both blinking suspiciously bright eyes. Damon clapped Jessica on the shoulder, then seemed to think better of it when she winced.

"Oops, sorry. Forgot about the whole 'recently battled an undead maniac' thing," he said sheepishly. He held out his fist instead. "Stay cool, Jessica. You guys ever need backup, call us. I'm always down for a road trip."

Jessica bumped his fist with her own. "Will do. Try not to let any more ancient vampire pirates out of cursed chests while we're gone."

"No promises," Damon grinned.

Last goodbyes were exchanged as the Lebowskis gathered their carry-on luggage. Jessica slung her backpack over her uninjured shoulder, casting one last look at Frankie and Damon. They waved as Jessica and her friends joined the boarding line.

The flight passed in a haze of fitful dozing. Jessica kept jerking awake, half-expecting to see Ivan's leering face. Each time, she was met only with the back of the seat in front of her and Kevin's quiet snores from the next seat over.

When they finally touched down in Pittsburgh, Jessica felt a curious mix of relief and apprehension. On one hand, she was glad to be back on familiar ground. On the other... what if Ivan wasn't the only monster out there? What other horrors might lurk beyond Moon Valley's borders?

As if reading her thoughts, Salina leaned in close as they waited for their luggage. "Stop catastrophizing. We handled Ivan, we can handle whatever else comes our way."

Jessica managed a shaky smile. "When did you become the voice of reason?"

"Someone has to be," Salina retorted. "Lord knows you two are useless."

"Hey!" Kevin protested from Jessica's other side. "I resemble that remark."

Jessica snorted, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. Whatever came next, at least she wouldn't face it alone.

****

The drive back to Moon Valley from Pittsburgh passed quicker than Jessica expected. As they crested the last hill, the familiar skyline came into view. Jessica pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the car window, drinking in the sight of home.

Mr. Lebowski pulled up in front of Jessica's house first. "Here we are, kiddo. You need help with your bags?"

Jessica shook her head. "I've got it. Thanks for everything, Mr. Lebowski. Sorry the trip didn't quite go as planned."

He chuckled. "Ah, what's a family vacation without a little excitement? Though next time, maybe we'll stick to Disneyland."

"Probably safer," Jessica agreed. She climbed out of the car, wincing as her bruised body protested the movement.

Kevin rolled down his window. "Text us when you're settled, okay? And don't forget, we've got a horror movie to watch this friday.”

Jessica groaned. "Seriously? We just battled an undead serial killer and you're worried about a dumb movie?”

"Horror movies can be educational for us," Salina said solemnly.

"I hate you both," Jessica grumbled, but there was no heat in it. She waved as the Lebowskis pulled away, then turned to face her house.

The porch light was on, a beacon of warmth in the gathering twilight. Jessica took a deep breath, savoring the familiar scents of home - freshly mown grass, her dad's herb garden, a hint of smoke from someone's firepit.

The front door flew open before she could reach for her keys. Her dad stood there, relief etched across his face.

"Jessica! Thank God," he breathed, pulling her into a crushing hug.

Jessica bit back a yelp of pain, not wanting to worry him further. "Hey Dad. Miss me?"

He pulled back, holding her at arm's length to look her over. His brow furrowed as he took in the bruises and scrapes. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Jessica forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a little banged up. There was an... incident at the resort. I'll tell you all about it, but can we go inside first? I'm beat."

Concern warred with curiosity on her dad's face, but he nodded. "Of course, sweetheart. Come on in. Are you hungry? I can whip up some dinner..."

Jessica let her dad's worried chatter wash over her as she followed him into the house. The familiar sights and smells wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. She dumped her bags at the foot of the stairs, making a mental note to deal with the weapon hidden inside later.

For now, all she wanted was a hot shower and her own bed. The rest - explanations, consequences, cover-up stories - could wait until tomorrow. She was home; she was safe, and for the moment, that was enough.

Later that night, Jessica lay in bed, staring at the glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to her ceiling. Sleep eluded her, her mind too wired to settle despite her body's exhaustion.

She replayed the events of the past few days, analyzing each moment. Could she have done something differently? Acted faster? Been stronger?

With a frustrated groan, Jessica rolled onto her side, wincing as the movement aggravated her bruised ribs. This kind of second-guessing wouldn't change anything. What was done was done.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Jessica grabbed it, squinting at the bright screen in the darkness. A text from an unknown number lit up the display:

"Hope you made it home safe. Don't let the bedbugs bite... or any other creepy crawlies for that matter. Sweet dreams, wolf girl. - F"

A smile tugged at Jessica's lips. She quickly saved Frankie's number in her contacts before tapping out a reply:

"Home sweet home. No creepy crawlies here... yet. You be careful out there, Dracula. - J"

She set the phone back down, feeling some of the tension leave her shoulders. It was oddly comforting to know she wasn't alone in this. There were others out there like her, trying to navigate the murky waters between human and monster.

As Jessica drifted off to sleep, her last coherent thought was that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay. . . For now.