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?"

it is quicker

"But isn't that naughty?"

"Very naughty."

their conversations, I couldn't help but

of you

snapped in my direction, and we looked each other in

as she jumped out

"Broth—!"

recalled something, the excitement on her

"Hmph."

turned her head and

"W…what?"

as I felt something pierce my

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

did, she would repeatedly turn her

her reaction made me once again feel a piercing

I know my hair has changed but

"Hmph."

this to

in an attempt to meet her gaze, my father's

her

"...Okay."

the end, worried that she might

I gazed at my father in hopes of

"This is on you."

me as he shook

that your back, but you best listen to your mother. Go and take a

"…Alright."

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

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

loves

headed to the bathroom to take a shower. Before that, I took

Clank—

behind me, I ended

doing this

***

his wife had died

Fifteen years.

human, fifteen years was a frighteningly long time

long come to terms

But…

eyes, Edward finally realized that

was still alive, and she had

her cheeks, a smile soon formed

as the last time I've

She truly did…

look that would leave anyone

the same as in the

was hit by a sudden wave of nostalgia as he couldn't help but think of the

when he

had thought that those days

what the future held for

tried his best to stop whatever was going to happen. Alas, he

"Y..you too."

her head, tears started streaming from

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

"You think so?"

embarrassingly scratched the back

to be here.

the tears from her eyes, Natasha's eyes fell

are fine

trembled as she reached out

forgot to button this one

neither of them blushed. They just felt it was natural. It was as if this were the way things

"Done."

was done, Natasha took a step back

"You look much better."

a couple of seconds, Edward realized they were in

her. Wiping

arrives, why don't I show you what your daughter has been up

Edward's face changed and

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

her hand,

be going back to my room