***Hello! I apologize for the weeks of being away from here. I was on vacation and am finally back with another chapter! Thank you for the patience and I hope you continue to enjoy my story till the end.***

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'I am beautiful.'

Luna realized that she was the person keeping herself from seeing her beauty and her worth. The beauty standards in society had been so strongly engraved into her mind at such a young age that she couldn't see past it. Because she didn't fit into the standards of what was being shoved into her face every single day, Luna didn't believe that she was beautiful; therefore, she didn't think anyone would love her unless she changed her physical appearance. She understands now that she should love herself first and things will fall into place.

That night after the kiss, Luna and Grayson agreed to not make any promises. They agreed to continue with their daily lives with no strings. When Luna returns from abroad, they will reevaluate their feelings and continue from there. The agreement was bittersweet for Luna, but she didn't want to ask Grayson to wait for her. It wasn't fair for either of them. Feelings change and Luna was well aware of that. She knew that the decision they made was for the best.

Luna was greeted at the airport by a representative of the UCCS who took her to the UCCS headquarters of Brazil in Sao Paolo. The representative assisted Luna with settling into her new environment. After the first month, Luna was starting to feel like she knew what she was doing.

Every morning at 5AM, Luna woke up to get herself ready for the day. She had to be at the Children's Center by 6:30AM to assist with opening up the center. She spent everyday from 7AM to 5PM with the children at the center. After the center closed, Luna helped around the center grounds, picking up trash, tending to the lawn and gardens, and prepared for the next day. There were some days when several children wouldn't stop crying so Luna would spend the nights with them at the center homes.

That was how Luna spent her four months helping the children of Brazil. As the last couple days in Brazil were nearing, Luna began experiencing feelings of sadness. She didn't want to leave. She has grown to love each and every child she had come in contact with the past couple of months while at the UCCS.

The final day inevitably arrived. Luna had packed all her belongings and was ready to leave, but she wanted to say goodbye to the children, men and women she had worked with for the past months. She left her luggage and backpack outside her front door while she went to say her final goodbyes.

Luna came back to pick up her luggage with red eyes. She looked at her front door and her luggage and backpack was nowhere to be seen. She looked around and noticed a black car parked at the side of the building. The front door opened and out stepped Sean.

"Sean!" Luna was overjoyed to see a familiar face. She quickly ran over to the car and jumped onto Sean with a hug.

"I'm happy to see you too, Miss." Luna loosened her grip and let go.

"What are you doing here?"

"Your parents wanted me to bring you home safely." He opened the passenger door for Luna. "And don't worry, your bags are in the back." He chuckled.

"Thank you!" Luna hopped into the car and Sean started driving.

Luna's parent canceled her flight and had Sean fly over with the Rose's private jet to personally escort her home. During the flight back home, many thoughts raced through her mind. The most pressing thought on her mind was Grayson.

"Welcome home!" POP POP POP!!! The front door of Luna's parents' home swung open after Luna knocked and out flew strings of confetti. After the confetti settled, Luna saw her parents and her sisters standing in the doorway. She smiled happily. Mrs. Rose immediately flung herself onto Luna and gave her a tight hug.

"Welcome home, honey."

"Hi, mom." Luna's voice choked a bit.

Mrs. Rose released Luna.

"Hi honey," Mr. Rose said. He gave Luna a long-awaited hug. "We missed you."

"I missed you guys too." Luna hugged her father tightly.

"Welcome back, Luna!" Both Celeste and Angel exclaimed in unison. After letting go of her father, her sisters both hugged her at the same time.

"I missed you so much!" Angel said.

"I missed you more," Celeste said as if it was a competition.

"Let the poor girl come in from the cold." Luna recognized Maria's voice. "She must be so tired from the long flight." Luna saw Maria behind her sisters. She freed herself from Celeste and Angel's hold and went over to Maria.

"Welcome back, Lu." Maria smiled sweetly.

"Thank you, Nana." Luna gave Maria a gentle hug. "I'm happy to be back," Luna whispered as she pulled away from the hug.

"This calls for a celebration!" Celeste shouted excitedly.

'Another party,' Luna thought, giggling to herself. 'I wonder if he will be there?'

Exhausted from the long flight home, Luna went up to her room to rest. She fell onto her bed and closed her eyes.

'I'll just take a nap,' she thought as she drifted off to sleep, snuggling beneath the warm blanket.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Luna heard her mother's voice. Luna immediately got herself up on the bed.

"It's morning already?" Luna rubbed her eyes and looked at the lit windows.

"You slept throughout the entire evening and night," Mrs. Rose said. She came into Luna's room and sat down on her bed. "I'm letting this time go because you are tired, but like I always say: A lady is up and ready by 7am." She patted Luna's crisscrossed legs.

"Hah," Luna scoffed. Mother is still the same. Luna glanced over at her clock and saw that it was barely 7AM. "I'm up." Mrs. Rose got up and headed out.

"Hurry up so you can join your father and I for breakfast."

"Okay." Luna got out bed and into the restroom to get ready.

At the breakfast table, Luna and her parents ate quietly, as usual. Not much seemed to have changed while Luna wasn't there.

"So," Mrs. Rose said. "Luna."

"Huh?" Luna looked up from her plate.

"I been conversing with Marilyn Vough, president of the UC's while you were away."

"Okay."

"Mrs. Vough has a son, Joshua Vough." Mrs. Rose didn't have to continue; Luna already knew what she was going to say.

"Mom," Luna said.

"What, honey? I'm just worried. You will be a year older in a couple days and you have yet to find someone. I just want to help."

"Mom," Luna said again. "I know that you mean well, but I can handle this myself." Luna noticed her father crack a smile.

"Well, is there someone you like?" Luna didn't reply. "Well, is there? Because, if there isn't then I will set a date for you with—"

"There is," Luna interrupted her mother. "There is someone I like." Luna saw her mother's face light up with curiosity. Her father was no longer smiling. Instead, an almost scowl was forming on his face.

"Who is it?" Mrs. Rose asked. "When can we meet him?"

"Mom. I will let you know." Luna whispered underneath her breath, "If things work out."