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 this

"But isn't that naughty?"

"Very naughty."

listened to their conversations, I

the two of you

both heads snapped in my direction, and we looked each other

jumped out of the sofa with

"Broth—!"

on her face

"Hmph."

then turned her

"W…what?"

something pierce my

"Nola? Nola?"

"Hmph!"

matter what I did, she would repeatedly turn her head and avoid making eye contact with

of her reaction made me once again feel a piercing

it's me. Your big brother. I know

"Hmph."

this

I circled around Nola in an attempt to meet

leave her be for

"...Okay."

the end, worried that she might twist

as I gazed at my father in hopes of receiving some

"This is on you."

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

listen to your mother. Go and take a

"…Alright."

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

"Hmph!"

"Ah…"

loves me

bathroom to take a shower. Before that, I took a spare

Clank—

the door behind me,

never doing

***

fifteen years believing that his wife had died

Fifteen years.

fifteen years was a frighteningly long time despite

come to

But…

into Natasha's eyes, Edward

was still alive, and she

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

as the last time I've

She truly did…

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

same as in the

him, Edward was hit by a sudden wave of nostalgia

when he still

those

known what the future held

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

"Y..you too."

Natasha nodded her head, tears started

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

"You think so?"

at his clothes, Edward embarrassingly scratched

didn't know that you were going to be here. If I did, I would've

tears from her eyes,

they are fine as

taking a step forward, her hand trembled as she reached out for

you forgot to button this

neither of them blushed. They just felt it was natural. It was as if this

"Done."

was done, Natasha took

"You look much better."

Edward realized they were in the middle

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

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

was mentioned, Edward's face changed and he lowered

"…It's all my fault."

"It's alright."

his cheek with her hand, Natasha raised her

I'll be going back to my room for a