#cap marvel

The weight of ours bodies was too much for that piece of gear and my side hurts for trying to move. I was holding Natasha with everything I could, and my heart was leaping from my throat seeing Nat’s hand slowly slipping from mine. Little by little.

“C’mon Nat, don’t do this to me.” I pleaded at her. I’m sure my eyes portrayed how heartbroken I was, how desperately I wanted that this wasn’t happening at all. She looked up and damn, all I could see in her eyes was peace and resolution. Still, I pleaded.

“It’s okay.” Her voice was soft, but it did nothing to ease the agony growing in my heart. “Let me go.” But I couldn’t. I couldn’t let go of the person that was always there for me. I knew this was a selfish thought, but I couldn’t live in a world where there is no Natasha. So, I tightened my grip in her arm, I wasn’t ready. I’d never be.

Noticing that, she moved her body and kicked the rock propelling her body out of my grip, out of my grasp and she dived into her fate made of rocks. I didn’t know that I was screaming until there was no air in my lungs. I closed my eyes; I didn’t have the heart to look at her reaching the ground.

I opened my eyes again, a dull ache in my chest and I looked down half expecting that this could be a nightmare or that, somehow, she managed to fall on her feet. I prayed that she’d be waiting with the stone in her hands, laughing at the scene we pulled.

But no, life was never that easy with me. I looked down and all I saw was her lifeless body, laying on the cold ground. Just as cold as my heart was. Once again, I see myself asking the same question: How many times can your heart break before it is completely shattered beyond repair? I wonder if I’d ever get the answer for this.

Then an outlandish energy surrounded me. It was dark and an overwhelming feeling weighted over me, making almost impossible for me to breathe. I opened my eyes, I was laying surrounded by some sort of a liquid and the unmistakable purpleish sky of Vormir could be pretty, if I didn’t despise this place.

I looked to my flesh hand to see a yellow gem that was heavier than I thought possible, for it held the burden of trillions of souls and each one of them was crushing over my heart. I was confused and hurt. “Oh God, Nat. What have you done?”

I closed my eyes again when I felt a strange wave of something washing over me, maybe it was the magic in this place, maybe it was my sorrow ingulfing me, or maybe it could be a god of something disappointed at my weakness in letting my sister die.

When I opened my eyes again, I was falling into my knees back at the compound. All the laugher of their succeeded missions made me sick, and I felt my bile laced with guilt climbing up my throat. All their voices were a background noise that I couldn’t distinguish, my own scream was still ringing in my ears.

I think I heard someone asking about her, but all I could do was to hug my sides and rock myself forth and backwards. Without meeting their eyes, I just shook my head, and my sobs delivered the most painful news I’d have to in my life. She was gone.

I tossed the Soul Stone to Steve as if the piece was burning me, as if it taunted me. I couldn’t even look at it. There was a disgusting feeling in my guts that maybe, we shouldn’t be messing with this. Suddenly, I don’t think that billions of people worth Nat’s life, even though I know it does. Even though she thought it did.

My heart was torn and all I wanted was to crawl on my bed and wait for the world to end.

---

Thanos was pushing Stormbreaker into Thor’s chest, and I heard the god’s screams from where I was laying, defeated on the ground. That was it. This is what fate is, then. No matter how hard you try, you can’t undo or overpower something this big.

As if lighting up a fire, that overwhelm feeling of losing and bending for this monster one more time, turned into some sort of determination, lighting that familiar, yet foreign fire in me. I wouldn’t let Nat’s death be for nothing. I lost so much today, and I couldn’t fail her.

I tried to concentrate in that energy roaming through my body, somehow trying to activate it like I did against Blofeld, but I also felt something else. It resembled a call; it was another energy that matched or, better say, complimented one another.

Without even understanding what I was doing, I lifted my hand and shock took over my features when my eyes landed on Mjölnir right there, resting in my flesh hand right after hitting Thanos’ head on its flight towards me.

Never have I felt this powerful and boy this felt good. So this is how a god feels? More than just powerful, but indestructible, like I was a full mighty entity myself. The wave of energy renewed my strength, as if Mjölnir had refreshed my batteries.

I looked up to see Thor with an amused smile while the other two were looking at me and since I had Thanos’ attention, I spoke. “Like Cap likes to say, we can do this all day.” Then I started to roll the Mjölnir, like I’ve seen Thor doing one many times, and charged at him with everything I had

If this were a movie or a book, I’m sure it’d be an amazing battle scene: A god, a super soldier and woman created after a fraction of the space stone fighting against the Titan. However, even the three of us combining all our might, exchanging combos with Stormbreaker, Mjölnir and Cap’s shield didn’t seem like we could defeat him.

I was sent flying somewhere along the debris of what once was our home, but again, Thanos destroyed everything. He assembled his army of aliens and, even though Steve was still on foot, for a fraction of second, I thought that even trying our hardest we weren’t enough.

But then, some static started to ring in my ear. I wasn’t understanding a thing, maybe I was going nuts but I could swear I heard Sam’s voice. Nevertheless, I saw a light in the dark. Not a figurative one, but literally, some sparks started to shine behind Steve.

Those sparks started to grow and “Holy mother…” I whispered to myself when I saw T’Challa, King of Wakanda, walking outside that circle flanked by Okoye and Shuri. After that, those sparks multiplied, and they awfully looked like a portal.

It was hard to contain my emotions, I saw everybody coming out of those portals. Wakandans, Sam, Barnes, Peter… People that I didn’t even know who they were and, my God, Wanda. A dopey smile came to my lips while I walked to gather around my friends.

The forever invigorating battle cry from the Wakandans started while the others gathered around on the battlefield. “Avengers…” There was something about Steve’s words that filled my veins with fire, and that fire stronger than ever. “Assemble.”

---

After the ceremony dedicated to Tony’s memory, I paid my respects to Pepper and let her know that if there was anything, anything at all that I could do to help her with Morgan or anything else, I’d be there.

It was hard for all of us, but it be a bit harder on others. Morgan would grow up without a father and even though Tony was an egocentric idiot sometimes, I knew he’d be a good father and would love Morgan like a kid deserve to be loved.

I was walking towards the house where I could see Carol talking to Fury, but when I looked towards the lake and saw a single figure standing on its border. The cool air was messing a little with her hair when I arrived by her side.

She spared me a glance before looking back at the horizon, admiring the view or simply staring at nothing, I couldn’t know. I didn’t have many opportunities to talk to her after the battle, since everything was a mess.

We were trying to find place, clothes and food for everyone who returned. And with the compound completely destroyed, it was a bit harder than usual, to work without a place where to concentrate the operations.

“How are you doing Wans?” I asked her after a while. I don’t know if her mind was that far elsewhere, but she only nodded at me and after a few seconds I understood that would be the only answer I’d obtain from her.

“You know, I wish there was a way to let her know…” I looked to Wanda’s eyes, and she smiled softly, eyes heavy with sorrow. “That we won.” For us, who stayed, we had five years to deal with our losses. To Wanda it’s like days has passed.

“She knows.” She nods her head at me. “They both know.” Her chin starts to quiver, a sight that broke my heart a little more. I nodded at her and hugged her tight.

After Pietro’s death, Wanda tried to deal with her loss on her own. We supported her as best as we could, but the truth is that we’ll always hurt and carry our loved ones on our hearts. And that’s how grief works.

No matter how hard I tried or the others even, there wasn’t any one of us that could reach her isolated place, except for Vision. They shared a connection beyond my knowledge and somewhere along the road they fell in love.

And now she lost him too. She lost her loved one, the only other being that could understand her in ways that no one could. It pains me way too much to see her like this, specially that I didn’t knew how to help her.

“Your presence gives me the comfort I need, Lara.” She spoke in my ear. “I’ll be fine. I promise.” I was speechless for a little longer than usual. “Prying on my thoughts again, young lady?” I spoke while breaking our embrace and saw her small smile.

She nodded towards Carol who was standing on the lake’s path entrance. “She’s even prettier than in your memories.” Her lips held a small smirk. “I’m glad you found each other again.” She touched my cheek tenderly. “I’m happy for you. You deserve to be happy.”

“Thank you, Wanda.” I gave her hand a small squeeze and we started to walk towards Carol. As soon as we arrived, Wanda spoke towards Carol. “Take care of this baby, Carol. If you let her down, I’m going after you.” She halfheartedly glared at Carol during her promise.

“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to.” Carol chuckled at Wanda’s words. “Good.” She replied amused. I was baffled by their interaction. I’d never fantasize threating a strong being as Carol, but then, who would be mad enough to cross Wanda Maximoff?

“Do you have a place to stay?” I asked Wanda and she told me that Steve found a place for her already. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?” She nodded at me and after we bid Wanda goodbye, we entered the car we arrived in.

---

“Fuck.” I cursed the phone in my hand. “I hate when technology doesn’t work.” I was exasperated that even a simple thing as a phone call was impossible after bringing everyone back. Everything was a chaos.

“Nothing about Wanda yet?” Carol questioned me and I shook my head in response. “When was the last time you spoke to her?” While speaking Carol loaded her ship with our bags.

“Two days ago.” I answered her. “She said she was going to S.W.O.R.D. to try and retrieve Vision’s body. I asked her if she wanted me to go with her, but she refused.” I spoke while carrying some stuff to her ship myself.

“Do you want to check on her before we go?” I was about to say yes, but I remembered her words: ‘if I need something, I’ll call you. I promise.’ I knew that she was having a hard time but I didn’t want to overstep or not give her the space I knew she needed.

I shook my head again and finished our task and seeing everything we needed inside the aircraft, I signaled to Carol that we were ready to go.

“Will you be alright?” I asked Sam and he spread that boyish smile. “Don’t worry about us. What can go wrong?” I didn’t know if he was being rhetorical or ironic, but I smiled back, nonetheless. I hugged Sam and gave Barnes a handshake before climbing Carol’s ship.

“Be safe out there.” I waved at his final words and soon the ship’s ramp closed. I was fastening my seatbelt when Carol enquired. “Ready, my love?” A lump formed on my throat. The last time I went to space things ended in the worst way possible. But I had to do this.

“As I’ll ever be.” I smiled at her. It was a weak smile and Carol knew all my fears, she gave my hand a light squeeze. “We’ll bring her back.” I nodded at her and we took off.

I knew I shouldn’t leave earth, particularly in this complex, sensible moment, but with the heroes back, I could only hope that they’d keep things in place while Carol and I venture ourselves on this one last task.

Hence why we’re heading Takkan right now. After a lot of research and hints here and there, I found someone that could help me with what I needed. We were looking for Morgana La Fay known to be a relentless sorcerer with countless powers or skills, one of them being to bring back the dead.

I went after Stephen, a.k.a. Dr. Strange, looking for his help but, much to my dismay, he brought my hopes down in seconds. He said that this was some kind of magic that he didn’t want to mess with because it was dangerous.

Of course it was, but I didn’t care. I needed to bring Natasha back even if it was the last thing I’d do in my life. She gave her life in order to bring everyone back and we did. Everybody’s here, but she’s not and that’s something I am going to change.

Before going back in time to put the stones back on their original place in timeline, Steve and I had a big, important talk. He told me about his plans on staying behind with Peggy somewhere along the road and, mostly important, that he’d land his shield to Sam.

I couldn’t agree more. Sam was the perfect guy to yield the weight that the shield and its legacy would bring with. He would bring hope of greater days, not to a selected few, but to everyone who needed that hope.

Thus, Steve choosing to stay with Peggy was something kinda obvious to me. I’d do the same with Carol if it were to me. And when I told him about my intentions on spending efforts to bring Natasha back, he said he wouldn’t object to my efforts.

However, there was another matter in that conversation. One that I didn’t like.

Since I joined the Avengers, I always saw Steve as our leader with Natasha as deputy leader or the one skilled enough to organize and make things work. And I always saw leaders as people who’d give everything they have to the greater good.

After Thanos’ snap, Steve stepped back and Natasha replaced him as an effective leader. She’d gathered all the information we needed while we’d play with the bad guys. One could and surely would question, who’d be the new leader now they’re gone?

The very answer to that question was still too fresh on my memory.

“No way in hell, Steve.” I hissed at him, leaning on the counter behind me and crossing my arms, completely shutting his proposal.

“They need someone reliable, Mav. Someone they trust, someone that will be there for every single one of them.” Steve’s words hit me like a wave. “They need you.” I was shocked and my head started to shake on its own accord. Already dismissing his ideas.

“Are you out of your mind, Steve? How do you expect me to lead when I am completely lost?” I was looking directly at his eyes. “They deserve better, and you know it.”

“Better?” Was all he had to say. Grunting, I clarified. “Have you forgotten about Blofeld and what I did to him?” I moved my hand in a random direction as if pointing to a scene, or a place. “I lost my temper, lost my control and you and Nat came to rescue me. To clean up my mess.” I crossed my arms. “I think that shit is a damn good resumé, my friend.”

He smiled lightly and God I wanted to punch his perfect teeth. “I can’t take that mission into account.” Seeing my confused face, he elucidated. “He pushed your buttons, he threatened to kill Carol in front of you and to send you after us.”

His eyes were soft, seeing that mine were hard remembering what that man put me through. “Still. A leader should not be that vulnerable, Steve.” My tone was hard but a hand on my shoulder made me look up again.

“You saw what I did to Tony.” His eyes were sadder, and it pained me even more, because I knew he regret that fight. “We were both right and wrong. I wasn’t a good leader that day, yet you followed me.”

“We’re not always right, it’s impossible. But we can learn from our mistakes and do things differently. And I know with all my heart that you will do things differently.” His eyes shone with a pride that I knew I didn’t deserve.

“But Steve…” I sighed. “How do you expect me to lead, to stand tall, without Natasha? Without you?” I felt small, fragile… how could a leader feel that way? “How can I carry on without you guys to look up for?” I spoke like a kid speak to their idol.

His laugher made me look at him as if he had grown a second head. “Oh Mav. All this time, we were the ones looking up at you. You were the one guiding us.” He used his finger to touch my chest lightly stressing his words. “Especially after the blip, you were our light in the dark.”

I was confused and he saw it. “When things were all falling apart, you were there for us. You always had a smile; you’d always be a good company for me or Nat.” His eyes watered talking about Nat just as mine did. “You saw each other as sisters. Well, I see you as a little sister too.”

“And no matter how hard those years were, you did stand tall, Mav. You were our rock.” God, how I hate those perfect Captain America’s speeches. “That’s why I know you’ll be a good leader. You already are one, you just don’t know it yet.”

I was flabbergasted, learning how he saw things. During those five long years of blip, the three of us stuck together, trying to move on while holding onto each other afraid we’d fall into an abyss of sorrow and regret.

We were the three musketeers, as Natasha used to say, and even with all the heaviness of our grief, we managed to make it through. Except now, I’d be the only musketeer standing. “We helped each other” I explained to him and saw him shaking his head, disagreeing.

“You helped us more than you know. You were the stronger musketeer even with all the burdens you carry.” He touched my cheek tenderly, locking our eyes. “Only someone who really understands about burdens, can lead the Avengers to be what they’re supposed to be.”

“Natasha trusted you and so do I.” Tears were falling down my face just like were from his, this was way too much for me to deal with. I was still mourning my best friend, my sister, and a good friend all the while trying to help people to find a place to be.

He hugged me and we stayed like that for a while until I spoke again, my voice muffled by his shoulder. “I won’t give up on my plan of bringing Natasha back, though.” He took a step back. “I know you won’t.”

Steve assumed an attention position and gave me a perfect military salute. “It was a pleasure to meet and work with you, Major.” I laughed at his dramatic farewell. “Treat her good, my friend. And please, tell me you learned how to dance.”

It was his turn to laugh. “I think I’ll have plenty of time to learn now.” We nodded to each other, and he left the door, turning one last time to wave and flash me a confident smile. Tomorrow he’d go back in time to return all the stones where they should be. And he’d stay where he should be too.

“Okay, that’s our route to Takkan.” Carol showed me a console where I could see some sort of map and different coordinates. “And these are our stops before we reach our final destination.” She pointed to three red dots on said console.

Carol’s ship didn’t have the capacity to travel such length without stopping for fuel, food or water. Despite our main goal was a somber one and my first experience on space wasn’t a nice at all, we were both very excited with this “break”.

This quest was the perfect opportunity for us to spend some time together, especially because we’ve been apart basically since we came back from Wakanda. When I voiced her my wish about bringing Natasha back, Carol agreed but she was adamant that we’d enjoy our time in space while doing so.

Takkan was the planet where Morgana fled to when she was running away from the Ancient One. I don’t know what she did wrong, but there must’ve been some huge problem if she was banned from her order.

Good for me, though. I wasn’t looking for someone with scruples or whims, I just needed the job done. Necromancers were known to have expensive prices or requests to grant a person a wish, especially one like that. No matter the price, I was ready to pay it.

We’d travel the galaxy after this Lady Morgana, if we do not find her or she decides that she doesn’t want to deal with it, we’d come back to Earth and I’d look for John Constantine in any hellhole that he might have hidden.

I smiled at Carol and spoke softly. “Sounds good for me.” She was excited about our adventure, eager to show me all the amazingness that she discovered since her first time on outer space.

--- Six Years Later ---

“Good morning, love.” Carol’s voice was a little croaky due her sleep and when she opened her eyes, she saw the tray I had in my hands. “I brought you breakfast. I know last night was a little tough for you.”

Her smile was everything, brighter than a star itself, and I can’t get enough of it. I’d move worlds, dynasties or whatever, if I get to see that smile. “That’s so thoughtful of you.” There was this warmth emanating from her and I chuckled when she hummed into the mug of coffee.

“Thank you.” She said after taking a few sips of the precious liquid. Being away from Earth for so long made us both to crave caffeine like one craves a drug. I only smiled at her in response, admiring her beauty.

“Why that face?” She asked. “I’m admiring how happy I am and how you make me.” Her smiled mirrored mine, then she pulled me by my shirt to tell me how happy she was, but with her lips and I wouldn’t oppose to that.

She averted her eyes again to the tray with food and she was looking for the next thing she’d eat when her eyes landed on a small box on the corner. She looked at me as if asking me what it was, and I only nodded at it, trying and failing in hide a grin.

When she opened it, a small ring shone inside. And again, she asked her question with her eyes, and I spoke softly. “I know you lost your ring during that fight against those Kree last year, so I wanted you to have a new one.”

“Aw, I loved it.” Excitedly, she takes it out of its box to put it on her finger, admiring how it adorned her hand. It was impossible not to mesmerize at how her eyes shine when she smiles, it was beautiful.

“You know, I think this is becoming a pattern.” She had a grin on her lips, but my brows were furrowed in confusion. “You bringing me rocks like these when Krees are involved.” She complimented pointing to her ring, I was still clueless, though.

“What do you mean?” I questioned her and she answered right after finishing the contents on her tray. “I mean that this is the third time you give me a rock when we’re in the middle of something with the Krees.”

“This one.” She showed me her hand to indicate the oneshe was talking about. “The second was from 4 years ago when you proposed.” I nodded my head at her words to indicate her that I was following her train of thought.

“And well, a long time ago you gave me an awful big squared special blue rock.” She had that amused expression on her face, but I didn’t remember this event. Wanda did help me remember a lot, but there were still some blank spaces in my memory, like this one. “What?” I asked and she had the nerve to laugh at me.

“The tesseract.” She replied after her laugh died down. “This is a story from when I met you. Well, when I met you again, when I came back to earth and all…” She trailed off a little. “You were so cheesy.” She giggled and I caught myself smiling at her.

I don’t remember this ‘episode’, but she was definitely enjoying this piece of memory, so I let her have fun at my expense. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m not cheesy.” While I was speaking, she got rid of her tray and pulled me down into bed with her.

“Of course you are.” Her breath was hot and I could taste the coffee on her lips. “You brought me breakfast in bed today.” I snorted at her words and retorted. “If I’m not mistaken the word you used was ‘thoughtful’.” I kissed her lips. “I see it as romantic, not cheesy.”

Though a little muffled by my lips, her laughed filled the room. “You were always romantic then.” I, forcefully, rolled my eyes at her. “Are you going to tell me this story or not?” She was about to, but she was interrupted by a noise on the other room.

“Stay and rest. I’ll check.” I said to her when she started to move towards the edge of the bed. With one last smile, I left the room and walked to the other room on our house. When my hand touched the doorknob, I heard the comms chiming in.

“There’s an incoming call, my love, from earth.” Carol’s voice filled the house, and I could tell she was already on our living room, checking on who was calling. I was so lost in my sleep scheduled that I didn’t even know if it was early or late on Earth, or here.

I arrived on the room where our communication equipment was right on time to see an image that I’d never get tired of. That red hair was now past her shoulders, without a single trace of blond, and her smile was bright as ever.

“Where is my niece?” I smiled at her words and her raspy voice gets the attention of the precious package I carry on my arms. “Hi Nat.” Carol speaks, right beside me, and I can hear the smile on her words. “Say hi to your aunt, Natalia.” I whisper to my barely one-week-old daughter.

As if hearing and understanding what I said, my baby Nat shook her hands and emitted some sounds like saying hi in baby language. I looked up and saw that the three of us had the same lovingly smile.

Right on that moment I realized how lucky I was. I was married to the most amazing woman that existed in this universe and even though I almost died trying to get Natasha back, here she was. Alive. And with a dopey smile knowing that Carol and I named our daughter after her birth name.

It took more than a year to find Morgana, convince her to trade a favor for another. Carol and I went on a quest, a very hard and brutal one, where we dealt with powers beyond my imagination. But in the end, the sorcerer kept her part in the bargain.

The first days were odd, to say the least. Natasha was off, I can only imagine how bizarre being brought back from the dead must be but on our long way to Earth, we could see that she was pulling together. In due course, Natasha was herself again.

When we landed, though, things were wicked than ever and the update on what happened while we were on space made me anxious. Wanda created a parallel world called Hex, then Sam had a major problem with a terrorist organization and now was the new Captain America. Not to mention the whole multiverse ordeal created by Dr. Strange trying to help Peter.

There was so much work to do, and I was so glad that I had Natasha by my side to help us to get through those problems. Eventually, after a lot of trouble, things got calm enough and that’s when Carol and I decided to take a time for ourselves.

“My God, how come she has your eyes?” Another red head appeared on the other side of the screen and walked until she hugged Natasha from behind. Wanda suffered a damn lot, but when her grieve passed, Natasha and Wanda started some sort of affair. Only coming out as an official couple recently, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

Wanda deserved someone to love, someone that would be there for her. The same worked for Natasha. If there were someone in the world that deserved to be loved, to be cared of, to be protected and to protect, that someone was Nat.

I was smiling so bad that I could feel my cheeks hurting. I can’t remember feeling this happy in my life before. “Well, Wan, that’s because of technology.” I spoke softly, cradling my baby girl in my arms.

“In Illium, Horn Cluster, they can use mine and Carol’s DNA in a crazy scientific method that makes our baby, ours.” I smiled when Natalia waved her little hands, her eyes were lock in mine and they were indeed the same. “This way she has both our traits, despite Carol being the one to deliver.”

“And no, we don’t know if she’ll inherit any of our powers.” I spoke before Natasha could voice her question and by the smirk on her lips, I knew I was right in assuming that’d be her next inquiry. “I hope she does.” Wanda replied with smile on her lips.

I felt Carol’s hand sliding behind my back, that action bringing her closer to me and Natalia, while her other hand caressed our baby girls head, tenderly. During pregnancy Carol spent nights worried that she would hurt our baby, but damn, she was the perfect mother.

Somehow, her body knew how fragile our daughter was and it was as if it adjusted to hold and touch her. It was magical to watch how she glowed when she had our baby in her arms and I could swear that Natalia glowed too, but it was too soon to know for sure.

Carol planted a light kiss on her head before addressing to the former Black Widow on the other side of the comm screen. “When are you coming over to meet your Goddaughter?” I heard Natasha gasp covering her agape mouth in surprise with her hand.

“Don’t play with my heart.” Her glossy eyes bore her emotions and they were lock in mine. “I didn’t bring you back from the dead to take care of a bunch of blabbering adults with powers.” I nod to my precious star on my arms. “It was to teach her how to do those nice moves of yours.”

A laugh erupted from her chest and soon the four of us were laughing at it, when the laugh died down, I spoke, seriously this time. “Would you honor us and be her Godmother, Nat?” She didn’t even try to hide her emotions when happy tears shed from her eyes.

“I’d love to.” It was all she managed when she gave up and in a second, the four of us had happy tears staining our cheeks. “Let’s prepare the ship, moya lyubov. Looks like we’re going to travel sooner than I thought.” Nat spoke towards Wanda, who only nodded and kissed her cheek in response.

Another sound of comms was heard on their end, and I knew that they were about to get busy. “It’s from Wakanda, I have to get that one.” We nodded at them and with goodbyes and promises of calling soon, they finished the call.

The three of us stood there, in the middle of our living room, simply savoring and enjoying each other’s company and warmth. After a long moment, Carol walked away. “Want some coffee, babe?” And I only nodded, too entranced on Natalia’s features.

To a foreign, it’d probably be a silly scene. Me, dancing without music, humming nonsense while admiring my daughter’s eyes and how she tried to emit sounds similar to the ones I was producing.

Whenever she smiled, I smiled brightly, amazed how something so little, so small, could hold my heart on her tiny hands without even trying, just by existing. My first thought when I saw her for the very first time, was that I’d fight the whole universe to make her happy or to keep her safe.

Natalia Danvers was more than just another child in the cosmos, she was the product of a true love. An innocent flame that survived and perpetuated through time, space and the very notion of death. Twice. And that love culminated and transformed into this pretty little girl cradled in my arms.

I’m sure my chest could burst with love right then and there and when I saw Carol walking into the room with two mugs on her hands, already smiling at the scene in front of her, I felt like I belonged here, belonged with her. With both. I felt complete.

Even though my eyes never left Natalia’s, my smirk was directed to Carol. “Your moma might teach how to fly a ship.” I saw my baby opening her mouth in the cutest yawn I’ve ever seen. “But me? Mommy will teach you how to ride a bike properly.”