I spent the next morning with my parents. We didn't do anything in particular, just had breakfast together and mooched about the house. The introduction of Tabitha was an obvious elephant in the room, but it didn't feel like there was any dreaded anticipation attached to her homecoming. More just a biding of time until it was to happen.

It reached 11.45am, and I said I'd better be heading off. No need to say where or why.

"Ok, darling", my mum said. "We'll see you when you get back home."

My dad, head buried in the morning newspaper, raised his hand to bid me adieu.

I headed out to Miss Snell's house at a leisurely canter. I didn't feel in a huge rush, like I usually did, to become Tabitha. And that wasn't because I was nervous about my parents meeting Tabitha in the flesh, but because I felt relaxed about the whole situation. I'd become Tabitha soon enough, so why not enjoy a nice stroll on a beautiful Spring morning.

I arrived at Miss Snell's house at just gone midday. The walk to her house from mine typically took around 10-15 minutes, but instead I had taken 20. She opened shortly after I knocked and led me inside. She offered me a drink, but I wasn't thirsty.

"Ok, then", she said. "Shall we get you upstairs and start getting you ready?"

I nodded, and she led the way upstairs to her bedroom. There was no need for shaving as it had not been long since I'd last done it, so we got straight down to the business of dressing. I was shortly stood in the middle of her room wearing my gaff and breast forms.

Usually, Miss Snell would have the clothes I was to wear laid out on her bed for me, ready to put on, but today was different.

"I think you ought to choose what to wear, Tabitha", she said. "After all, I won't always be around to help you."

Although she didn't have an outfit prepared for me, she did have an assortment of clothes for me to choose from, all of which were housed in a suitcase she pulled from under her bed. I sifted through the suitcase, amazed by how many clothes there were. Admittedly, there wasn't enough to constitute a girl's full wardrobe, but there was more than enough to cover a full week of different outfits.

My first port of call was choosing underwear. I selected the black bra and the bikini cut panties that matched. Underwear adorned, I set about choosing the right outfit.

There were a couple of skirts in the suitcase, as well as a couple of dresses. But I didn't want to wear anything like that the first time my parents were meeting Tabitha. Although they were clearly accepting of the situation, I just thought that seeing their son in a dress might be too much too soon (or maybe that was just me overthinking the situation). In the end I plumped for the ripped denim jeans. I realised I was more-or-less fully dressed up as I had been when Mr Phillips met Tabitha, but I did wear a different top this time: a lightweight brown knit sweater.

All dressed, I sat at the vanity for Miss Snell to do my makeup. But she didn't do it for me this time.

"I think you'll be Tabitha a bit more often from now on, so you need to learn to do things like hair and makeup for yourself. I'll talk you through everything you need to do."

She did just that. She ran me through everything step-by-step from moisturiser to concealer, from foundation to eye shadow, and from mascara to lip gloss. I wasn't made up to the extreme, I was just seeing my parents, after all, but it was just enough for me to learn the basics and to look pretty.

Makeup applied, I placed the wig on my head. Miss Snell taught me how to brush it out, and then how to put it into a ponytail.

"A ponytail is easy to do, but you can experiment with other hairstyles another time. There'll be loads of tutorials on YouTube and other such things. Same goes for makeup. And if you're really stuck, I'm only ever a phone call away. I am your auntie, after all." She said this last part with a wink.

With Tabitha all ready, we made our way downstairs and outside.

"I know you don't live far away, but I'll drive you home."

We arrived at my house and parked outside.

"You ready for this?" Miss Snell asked.

"Absolutely", I replied. "You coming in for a bit?"

"No, sweetheart, I think this is something you have to do on your own. Also, I'm going round to Mark's for the afternoon."

"Ok...I know I've said it before, but thank you ever so much for everything you have done for me. I'll never be able to repay you, but please know that I'm eternally grateful."

"Bless you, sweetheart, but you have already repaid me. Seeing you so happy is all the payment I need."

We both leant in for a hug.

"Now", she said, letting go, "I've still got all of Tabitha's clothes round my house. I didn't want to rush things today, but I'm sure you'll be keen to move them into your house soon. There's not a lot in that suitcase, but there is enough for now. You will need so more clothes, though. And when you decide that you want to go shopping to get some more outfits, I want first dibs on being your shopping buddy."

"I'll take you up on that offer", I said, beaming an enormous smile her way. "I can't wait for a bit of retail therapy."

"Fabulous. Well, give me a text and we can sort something out. For now, I think it's time for Tabitha to meet her parents."

"Yeah, you're right. Wish my luck", I said as I opened the car door and exited.

"You don't need it, sweetheart. I can tell love when I see it, and your mum and dad love you more than anything else in the world. Take care, and send me that text when you're ready."

"Will do." And with that, Miss Snell drove off. I stood waving her goodbye until her car turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

I took a deep breath, then began my walk towards the house. I knocked twice before letting myself in.

"Mum. Dad. I'm home."