The Author's POV

'…I should probably take my leave.'

As Edward and Natasha stood by the door in silence, I took this moment to finally enter my house.

Didn't want to get in between the reunion of the two.

As I stepped into the house, my body unknowingly began to relax. It was the same old corridor, the same old smell, the familiar voices in the distance, everything was the same as it had been before.

A thin smile spread across my face as I took out my shoes and placed them on the shoe rack.

Afterward, my shoulders stiffened a bit, but I still gathered the courage to walk into the living room.

It was now or never.

...and, just as I managed to gather my courage, a familiar figure emerged from the kitchen and met my gaze.

"Did something happen to Natasha? It's taking her—"

Both of our feet came to a stop as we stared at each other. At that moment, silence enveloped the corridors of the house as neither one of us spoke.

'She looks the same as always...'

As she wore a nice blue apron, my mother looked exactly as she did half a year ago with her blonde hair falling to the right side of her shoulders that perfectly complimented her blue eyes.

Her deep blue eyes, which bore a striking resemblance to mine, scrutinized my body carefully as a variety of emotions flashed across them.

I could definitely feel hints of anger coming from her, but above all else, I could feel the relief in them as she looked at me.

Breaking the uncomfortable silence, I waved my hand in the air and smiled awkwardly.

"I..it's been a while mom. How have you been?"

"…"

As she stared at me, I was only met with deep silence.

After a while, wiping her hands on her apron, she subtly nodded her head.

"You're back…"

Her voice sounded rather monotonous. I inwardly groaned when I heard the tone of her voice.

With her head raised, she nudged me.

"…What happened to your hair? Did you dye it? A new style?"

"Ehm…"

I started to scratch the back of my head.

'How should I explain this…'

I definitely couldn't tell her that this was a result of my body suffering a trauma due to accessing a power that was far above mine…

"Circumstances happened…"

In the end that was all that I could mutter. Although I could've lied about my circumstances, I decided against it and just decided to be vague.

My mother was a living lie detector. There was no point in lying.

"…Okay."

In the same apathetic manner as before, she turned to the kitchen. Before entering the kitchen, I was able to hear her last words.

"Go and take a shower. Dinner will be ready in half an hour."

Staring at her disappearing back, I raised my armpits and smelled them.

"Ugh…"

My head recoiled back as I thought.

'I really do stink.'

"Haa..."

Letting out an exhausted sigh, I proceeded to head for my room. But just before I did so, I stopped by in the living room to greet my father and Nola.

After turning right in the living room, I noticed the two sitting together on the sofa.

As Nola scooted close to dad, she pointed at the screen of the tablet he was holding. Her eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Why did he jump the fence?"

is

"But isn't that naughty?"

"Very naughty."

conversations, I

you going to greet

both heads snapped in my direction, and we looked each other in the

was Nola as she jumped out of the sofa with

"Broth—!"

on her face disappeared and she sat back on the sofa

"Hmph."

then turned her

"W…what?"

sight left me shocked as I felt something pierce my heart. Moving up to her, I poked

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

repeatedly turn her head and avoid making eye contact with

feel a piercing pain run through

brother. I know my hair has changed

"Hmph."

do this

around Nola in an attempt to meet her gaze,

her be for

"...Okay."

might twist her neck, I decided to

I gazed at my

"This is on you."

didn't seem too keen on helping me as he shook

you best listen to your

"…Alright."

to glance at Nola. For a brief moment of time, our eyes met, but she quickly turned her head

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

loves

bathroom to take a shower. Before that, I took

Clank—

door behind me, I ended

doing

***

fifteen years believing that his wife had

Fifteen years.

was a frighteningly long

come to terms with

But…

Edward

was still alive, and she

tears that were dripping down her cheeks, a smile soon formed on his

the same as the last time I've

She truly did…

would

same as in the

in front of him, Edward was hit by a sudden wave of nostalgia

he still

thought that those days

would've known what the future

stop whatever was going to happen. Alas, he knew that this was merely something he could

"Y..you too."

her head, tears started streaming from her

"Yo..u also haven't changed."

"You think so?"

Edward embarrassingly

didn't know that you were going to be here. If I did, I would've opted for better

her eyes, Natasha's eyes fell on

are

trembled as she reached out for his

forgot to

them blushed. They just felt it was natural. It was as if this

"Done."

took

"You look much better."

at her for a couple of seconds, Edward realized they were in the

for a moment, Natasha looked behind her. Wiping her eyes, she looked back

arrives, why don't I show you what

Edward's face changed and he lowered his

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

her hand,

be going back to my