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."

to their conversations, I couldn't

two of you

both heads snapped in my direction, and we looked each

to react was Nola as she jumped out of the

"Broth—!"

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

"Hmph."

her head and

"W…what?"

pierce my heart. Moving

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

I did, she would repeatedly turn

feel a piercing pain run through my heart

brother. I know my hair has changed but

"Hmph."

do this to

attempt to meet her gaze, my father's

her

"...Okay."

she might twist her neck, I

damage was already done as I gazed at my father in hopes of receiving

"This is on you."

helping me as he shook his head. Raising his

but you best listen to your mother. Go

"…Alright."

shoulders slumped, I turned to glance at Nola. For a brief moment of

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

loves

lowered my head, I headed to the bathroom to take

Clank—

door behind me,

never doing

***

believing that his wife had died protecting him and

Fifteen years.

human, fifteen years was a frighteningly long

to terms with his wife's

But…

eyes, Edward finally realized that she

and she had just

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

same as the last time I've seen

She truly did…

a look that would leave anyone speechless, she would be the envy

same as in the

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

he still

that those days

known what the future held for

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

"Y..you too."

nodded her head, tears started streaming

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

"You think so?"

clothes, Edward embarrassingly scratched the back of

to be here. If I

eyes, Natasha's eyes fell

think they are

forward, her hand trembled as she reached

forgot to button this

was natural. It was as if this were the way things were

"Done."

she was done, Natasha took

"You look much better."

her for a couple of seconds, Edward realized

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

time before Amanda arrives, why don't I

Edward's face changed and he lowered

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

with her hand, Natasha raised

I'll be going back to my room for a couple of