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 quicker

"But isn't that naughty?"

"Very naughty."

their conversations,

two of you going to

my direction, and

jumped out of the

"Broth—!"

though she recalled something, the excitement on her face disappeared and she sat back

"Hmph."

her head and

"W…what?"

my heart. Moving up to her,

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

she would repeatedly turn her head and avoid making

feel a piercing pain run through my heart as I started shaking her

it's me. Your big brother. I

"Hmph."

this to

circled around Nola in an attempt to meet

leave her be

"...Okay."

she might twist

as I gazed at my father in hopes of receiving

"This is on you."

seem too keen on helping me as he shook his head. Raising

your back, but you best listen to

"…Alright."

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

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

one loves

my head, I headed to the bathroom to take

Clank—

door behind me, I ended

doing

***

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

Fifteen years.

was a frighteningly

come to terms with his wife's

But…

Edward

still alive, and she

dripping down her cheeks, a

look the same as the last time

She truly did…

look that would leave anyone speechless, she would be the envy of anyone who saw

the same as in the

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

when he still

those

what the future held

his best to stop whatever was going to happen. Alas, he knew that this was merely something he could only dream about and

"Y..you too."

head, tears started streaming

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

"You think so?"

his clothes, Edward embarrassingly scratched the back of his

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

the tears from her eyes, Natasha's eyes fell

they are fine

forward, her hand trembled as she

forgot to

them blushed. They just felt it was natural.

"Done."

took a step back and

"You look much better."

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

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

Amanda arrives, why don't I

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

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

with her hand, Natasha

my room