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, I

of you

direction, and we

react was Nola as she jumped out of the

"Broth—!"

sentence, as though she recalled something, the excitement on her

"Hmph."

turned her head and

"W…what?"

shocked as I felt something pierce my heart.

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

no matter what I did, she would repeatedly turn her

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

big brother. I know my hair

"Hmph."

this to

to meet her gaze, my father's voice

leave her be for

"...Okay."

worried that she might twist her neck,

as I gazed at my father in hopes of receiving

"This is on you."

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

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

"…Alright."

a brief moment of time, our eyes met, but she quickly turned her head and crossed her

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

one loves me

head, I headed to the bathroom to take

Clank—

the door behind me, I

doing

***

lived over fifteen years believing that his wife had

Fifteen years.

fifteen years was a frighteningly

to terms with

But…

Natasha's eyes, Edward finally realized

was still alive, and

her

as the

She truly did…

crystal clear eyes, and a look that would leave anyone speechless,

same as in

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

when he

that those

would've known what the future held

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

"Y..you too."

head, tears started streaming from her

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

"You think so?"

his clothes, Edward embarrassingly scratched the back

you were going to be here. If

eyes, Natasha's eyes

they are

step forward, her hand trembled as she reached out for his top

forgot to button

They just felt it was

"Done."

done, Natasha took a step

"You look much better."

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

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

we still have some time before Amanda arrives, why

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

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

her

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