End and Beginning part 4

I replaced everything so no one could tell I had been at the house, locked up, and took off.
I'll never get tired of this! I thought as I delighted in trying some aerial acrobatics, especially barrel rolls. I looked down at the countryside below, with the spots of forest and farms forming a ragged patchwork quilt. It was surreal.
I touched down at my house, scared out of my mind.
What would they think? What would they say?
What if they reject me?
I reached for the doorbell with one shaking black claw.
That's when I realized it was still night.
I decided to let my parents sleep.
I waited until I could see the first faint light of dawn. I guessed it was about 6:00.
I closed my eyes and rang the doorbell. Then I stepped aside so I couldn't be seen through the door.
I heard the door open. "Hello?" My mom called out.
"Please don't move. Listen and don't look at me until I ask you to."
Mom recognized my voice. "Kyle?!"
"Yes Mom, it's me, but please wait."
"Fine, I trust you." She sounded shocked, happy, and confused. An odd mix to say the least.
"I'm no longer human."
"What?" There was no mistaking that tone. She didn't believe me, and was annoyed that I would make something like that up.
"It's true. I'll show you what I look like now. Please don't scream."
She took a deep breath. "I'm ready."
"Then come out here." I jumped over the railing and walked into the yard. I walked over so she could see me some distance away. I wasn't invisible anymore because the sun chose that moment to come up over the horizon. My scales shimmered, and I welcomed the warmth.
I looked at Mom. Same as ever, wearing a nightgown and slippers, still 5'2", still overweight, still brown-haired and brown-eyed. Some things never changed. Now I was not one of those things.
"Oh my God," she said quietly. Her eyes were wide with shock, but no fear. Unconsciously my forked tongue flicked out. The air was sweet. There was no fear, no sweat.
"I'm still me, Mom, I can prove it!"
"Do so." She commanded, still disbelieving what her eyes showed her.
I told her passwords only I know, and she went inside for a minute, presumably to test them. I heard clicking.
There was quiet, "He is…"
She walked out, took one look at me, then ran up and hugged me tight. I was so surprised I could only hug back.
She looked up at me as she stepped back. "What am I thinking? Come inside, you have to be cold, tired, and hungry!" She was dead on, as usual. The events of the past twenty-four hours came down on me. I was exhausted, the cold November air chilled me, and I hadn't eaten since before my transformation.
We went inside.
"Honey, Kyle's back! He's changed, but he's back!" Mom called out.
Dad came around the corner. He was middle-aged, with thinning brown hair, and stood about 5'10". He was dressed for work. When he saw me, I said, "Hi Dad," quietly and calmly. I was surprised I could speak so calmly, when inside my emotions were in turmoil, but then again I was always good at hiding my true feelings.
"We'll talk after work." That was it. No "Thank God you're alive!" or "Are you ok?"
I knew he was upset and didn't know what to think. He left. It felt the same as if he had stabbed me in the gut instead.
"He'll come around," Mom said, trying to soothe me.
"I hope so," I said. "Now, what's for breakfast?"