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 this

"But isn't that naughty?"

"Very naughty."

I listened to their conversations, I couldn't help

two of you

direction, and we looked each other in the

Nola as she jumped out of the sofa with an excited

"Broth—!"

her face disappeared and she sat back on the

"Hmph."

turned her head

"W…what?"

shocked as I felt something pierce my heart. Moving up to her, I

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

I did, she would repeatedly turn her

feel a piercing

I know my hair has changed but it's still

"Hmph."

this to

circled around Nola in an attempt to meet her gaze, my

her be

"...Okay."

might

was already done as I gazed

"This is on you."

seem too keen on helping me as he shook his

back, but you best listen

"…Alright."

to glance at Nola. For a brief moment of

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

one loves

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

Clank—

me, I

doing

***

lived over fifteen years believing that his wife had died protecting him

Fifteen years.

frighteningly long time

had long come to terms with his wife's

But…

eyes, Edward finally realized that she wasn't

alive, and she had

were dripping down her cheeks, a smile soon formed

the

She truly did…

clear eyes, and a look that would

the same as in

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

when he

had thought that those days would've

what the future held

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

"Y..you too."

head, tears started streaming

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

"You think so?"

embarrassingly scratched the

that you were going to be here. If I did, I would've opted

tears from her eyes, Natasha's eyes fell on his

are

forward, her hand trembled as she reached out

you forgot to button this one

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

"Done."

took a step

"You look much better."

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

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

have some time before Amanda arrives, why don't I show you what your daughter has

as Amanda's name was mentioned, Edward's face changed

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

with her hand, Natasha raised her

back to my room