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

of you going

both heads snapped in my direction, and we

Nola as she jumped out of the sofa with an excited look on her

"Broth—!"

excitement on her face disappeared and she sat back on the sofa with her arms

"Hmph."

her head and

"W…what?"

shocked as I felt something pierce my

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

repeatedly turn her head and avoid making eye contact with

her reaction made me once again feel a piercing pain run through my heart as I started

hey, Nola, it's me. Your big brother. I know my hair has changed but

"Hmph."

this to

an attempt to meet

leave her be for

"...Okay."

she might twist her neck,

already done as I gazed at my father in hopes of

"This is on you."

on helping me as he shook his head. Raising his head, he patted me on

listen to your mother. Go and take a

"…Alright."

a brief moment of time, our eyes met, but

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

one loves

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

Clank—

the door behind me, I

never doing this

***

lived over fifteen years believing that his wife had

Fifteen years.

was a frighteningly long time despite the increase in

long come to terms with his

But…

eyes, Edward finally realized that

still alive, and she had

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

as the last time I've

She truly did…

clear eyes, and a look that would leave anyone speechless, she would be the envy of

was the same as in the

woman in front of him, Edward was hit by a sudden wave of nostalgia as he couldn't help but think of the

when he

thought that those days would've

what the

he known, he would've tried his best to stop whatever was going to happen. Alas, he knew that this was merely

"Y..you too."

nodded her head, tears started streaming from

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

"You think so?"

at his clothes, Edward embarrassingly

going to be here. If I did, I

tears from her eyes, Natasha's eyes fell on

they are

hand trembled as she reached out

forgot to button this one

top button, neither of them blushed. They just felt it was natural. It was as if this were the

"Done."

was done, Natasha took a step back

"You look much better."

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

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

before Amanda arrives, why don't I

name was mentioned, Edward's face changed and he lowered his

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

with her hand, Natasha raised

back to my room for a