#multitudes aftermath

It was an adult-only haunted house - deemed too intense for kids, the aim was to actually scare, rather than mildly startle.

Unfortunately, Yoshitsune and I had seen our fair share of true horror. Rubber masks and fog machines weren’t going to cut it.

But I played along, taking everything at face value, letting the dark corridors and flickering lights pull me into the illusion efficiently enough that when an actor in a zombie mask lurched out of an open doorway beside me, I yelped in surprise, the sound immediately dissolving into laughter as I clung to my fiancé’s arm.

“This is spooky,” I noted, grinning, earning an arch of his eyebrow.

“Really?” he deadpanned.

Elbowing him lightly in the ribs, I poked out my tongue. “Shut up. I’m trying to normal-scared, remember?”

He smiled, pulling me closer to his side protectively. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.”

We turned the corridor into another, and a fake chainsaw swung toward us immediately, the sound sudden and jarring, blades unmoving. I ducked smoothly while Yoshi sidestepped, moving back to one another after and glancing in unison at an actor with ghoulish face paint, who could only blink.

“Yeah, gonna have to get up earlier than that - we’ve got pretty quick reactions,” I snorted, offering them a grin. They waved the chainsaw again, a little uncertainly, and I patted their arm as we passed. “It was a good try. I’m sure the next ones will scream.”

Yoshitsune laughed under his breath as the corridor widened into a room, shaking his head with clear adoration.

There was a coffin at the front, the next door beside it. Rows of seats were arranged facing away from us, each one occupied by a motionless clown. Despite myself, I hesitated, a small, delightful prickle of unease travelling up my spine.

“Ten bucks one of these moves,” I noted, something indeterminate edging my voice. Yoshi only smiled, his hand on my hip lightly, keeping me close to his side as we started down the aisle between the chairs.

Sounds of shifting to our left had both our heads turning, but nothing moved as we watched for a moment. When we turned back towards the coffin, a clown was sat up inside, face pointed towards us, a wide smile on his face.

“Well, that’s mildly unsettling,” Yoshi noted, blinking once. I giggled at the thrill of the wait - knowing something was coming that would make my heart race, but not knowing where from or when, was proving to be more exhilarating than I had expected.

We took another step, and the clown’s head tipped to one side jerkily, complete with a gory crunch-crack, eyes locked on us, making us pause again.

“We’re being silly,” I noted, laughing softly, shaking my head. “It’s just a clown, what’s it going to-”

I was cut off by an air horn by my ear, and I shrieked instinctively, half whirling; Yoshi’s arm wrapped automatically around my waist as I reacted, smoothly pulling me far enough back that the actor cackling maniacally was out of my reach.

Heart pounding, I giggled breathlessly. “My fiancé has metal arms - you’ll lose!” I snapped, amusement clear in my voice. Yoshitsune flexed on cue, half-rolled sleeves showing his forearms shifting dramatically, and the actor instinctively took a half step back, eyebrows raising.

“… That’s really cool,” he noted, lips pressed into a line to keep from laughing. “I’m glad he’s not the one who almost punched me.”

Yoshi snorted, shaking his head. “Oh, trust me - she’s far more dangerous.”

The men laughed in unison, the actor extending his hand for a fist bump. When Yoshi had tapped his knuckles against the clown’s, the actor dropped to the ground and rolled backwards, springing to his feet with another honk of his horn and waving his arm dramatically to encourage us to continue before sinking into his seat at the end of the row once more.

Yoshi pressed a kiss to my hair as we passed into the next room; the coffin-clown had watched us go in a somewhat unsettling silence.

“Having fun?” he asked softly, and I grinned up at him.

“Having a blast,” I assured him, squeezing his hand appreciatively.

We moved around a panel, stepping into an endless repetition of our image, and I laughed, skipping forward to peer into one. “Hey, look, I’m taller than you,” I teased, arms folding over my chest, doing my best to mirror his intimidating, bulletproof energy, gazing at him with a serious expression that lasted for around a second before I giggled once more. Shifting to the side, he snorted, striking a pose.

“I think I have about three times as much ass in this one.”

We moved from mirror to mirror, laughing and teasing - ‘even with a head that big, you’re still a dumbass, Silver’, ‘Jesus, if your bump was actually that big, I’d be concerned for your health’ - until I paused, my mood ebbing just a little.

The reflection in the mirror was compressed - my height, but narrow as rake. Yoshitsune stopped, watching me quietly, poised to intervene if necessary.

But it wasn’t envy or longing that stayed me.

“I look ill,” I noted quietly, head cocked to one side. Distantly, I recalled protruding bones and sunken cheeks, and winced. “… I looked ill.” Glancing down, my fingers followed the curve of my bump slowly, passing over my hip idly. I was still slender, admittedly - but slender in the healthy way. Slender, not starved.

Yoshitsune’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close to his chest. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to my cheek lightly. I took one last glance at our reflections - both ghoulish, now - and shuddered, sidestepping without hesitation.

I’ve spent enough time staring at a skeletal version of myself.

The mood lightened once more as I we continued - not only with the amusement of the mirror maze, but also from the way I had handled myself. It was comforting to know that I could confront a version of myself I’d once longed for and turn away in disgust.

I snorted, leaning in, the warp in the mirror positioned precisely over my chest. “Hey, Yoshitsune, I think I found your dream g-”

The mirror shuddered under a sudden slam, a palm emerging beneath my face’s reflection with the crack of skin on glass.

“Focus, Natalia. Fear is a tool, not a weakness.”

My head snapped to the side again, the thin training mat beneath my knees doing little to cushion the hardness of the wood below.

Madame paces, her eyes cold.

Slap.

“You flinched.”

Slap.

“You hesitated.”

Slap.

“You are not allowed to hesitate.”

Each strike lands with perfect rhythm, alternating from one cheek to the other, leaving stinging skin in its wake.

“Fear makes you slow. Slow gets you killed.”

By the twentieth, I do not flinch any more. My face remains blank, eyes fixed forward.

Madame smiles, thin and approving. “Better. Again.”

I blink as I jerk back to the present, my back colliding with Yoshi’s chest, one arm passing around me protectively as the actor’s grin presses to the glass opposite.

“Okay, that got me,” I admit, my voice light - but my fingers tighten minutely on his jacket for a fraction too long, and he pauses, his head lowering a little.

“You okay?”

I nod once, my eyes raising with a small, but genuine, smile. “An old echo. But I’m okay - really. It’s a haunted house prank, not a sadistic lesson. I’m safe here.”

The words reassure him - and myself - and his thumb brushes my cheek lightly, a kiss pressed to my forehead. “I’m proud of you, Swan.”

I smiled again - a little wider, a little warmer. “I’m proud of me, too,” I admitted softly, and squeezed his fingers before tugging gently. “Come on - let’s see if the next room can do any better.”

We sat on hay bales with hot cider - non-alcoholic - and watch others emerge from the event, holding one another and laughing. Two men walked either side of a third, slightly pale, muttering about clowns and their creepy noses, their hands in his reassuringly. A woman in a leather jacket was talking about the maze scare as her partner watched, their lips pressed into a thin line to keep from laughing when her voice wavered minutely, adoration clear in their eyes.

I leaned against Yoshitune’s shoulder, head resting lightly with a contented sigh. “I vote next year we bring the kids. Artemis would’ve loved this.”

“Now her we might have to search,” Yoshi noted dryly, snorting. “The last thing we need is a clown bleeding out because it jumped out at the wrong kid.”

“Sammy might have to carry Appie,” I added, grinning. “He’d love it, but might need a little reassurance it’s not real.”

“Lexi might opt out. She doesn’t even like horror movies, after all.”

“I don’t know,” I replied softly, looking up at him with a tender smile. “You have a way of making people who love you feel quite brave.”

“What costume did you want to get?” I sighed, resigned, and my daughter lit up.

“Not get,” she emphasized, sitting straighter now. “Make!”

“Make?” I repeated, incredulous, earning a firm nod in response.

“They don’t do good costumes for kids! They’re all princesses and fairies; I want to be something scary!”

I snorted softly, eyebrow raising. “Scary, huh? What did you have in mind?”

Her grin grew wider, something mildly terrifying at the edges. “Billy.”

“Billy?”

“From Saw,” Sammy chimed in, leaning over my fiancé to grin at me. “She was talking about it the whole way home. You know, the puppet?”

I glanced at my daughter for confirmation, but her smile only grew wider.

“Should I ask who let you watch Saw, my beloved nine-year-old?”

Her hands found her cheeks again, the picture of childlike innocence. “I don’t think you’d like the answer, Momma.”

While Artemis was inclined to the macabre and the horrifying, my youngest was more prone to the fantastic and the adventurous. When asked, he’d quietly informed me that if at all possible, he’d like to dress as Legolas - the bow-wielding elf from Lord of the Rings.

“But my hair is wrong,” he added, frowning worriedly. “I don’t want to have it dead. Do I have to?”

I tried not to chuckle, scooping him adoringly onto my lap. “I think you mean dyed, sweetheart. D-Y-E-D dyed, not D-I-E-D, like dead. Different kinds. And no - not at all.” I trailed my fingers through his dark hair tenderly. His parentage was uncertain, in the biological sense, but his hair was so reminiscent of Bucky’s (though we often joked that the only one certain not to share his blood - Steve -  was most alike him in nature). I knew it didn’t matter to either Bucky or Clint who was Apollo’s biological father, but I also knew that they adored that the children we shared appeared to each have traits of both men.

There’d be no way I’d ever actively encourage Apollo to dye his beautiful brown hair if he was anything but eager.

“No. You can have it exactly as it is, and you’ll still be a wonderful Legolas.” He lit up, satisfied with the answer, and I turned my attention toward the sofa as I scooped my youngest onto my lap, his hand immediately seeking my bump for any ‘secret messages’ from his unborn sibling. “What about you three, hm?”

Sammy’s head raised once more, his grin just as wide and mischievous as Artemis’. “Oh, I already know exactly what I’m wearing.”

“You do?” Yoshitsune beat me to the question, his head cocking, and Sammy glanced down at him.

“Yes.” His grin grew into a childlike delight, and he looked between us once before continuing. “I’m gonna be Utseo.”

Unfortunately for me - and the eight-year-old perched on my lap - I’d chosen that moment to take a sip of my tea, which came spraying across us both when I laughed.

Fortunately - and naturally, with four children - it was a relatively tepid shower, and Apollo giggled, wiping stray drops from his face. “Momma!”

“Sorry, sweet boy,” I laughed, snagging the tea towel and gently cleaning off his cheek before turning my attention once more to Sammy. “… Utseo. As in… Utseo?”

“I can’t decide if you’re brave or crazy,” Yoshi muttered, shaking his head, but Sammy simply chuckled.

“I think he’ll love it!”

“We can be real people?” Lexi asked quietly, glancing at me for clarification, her expression thoughtful when I nodded. Discreetly, her eyes slipped to her dad, and my heart ached.

“You can be your absolute favourite person in the world, if you want to,” I added pointedly. She met my gaze, her cheeks turning pink, and nodded once.

Yoshitsune looked between us, one eyebrow raised. “I feel like I missed something.”

Yoshi tried to peer over my shoulder, curious about my diligent sketching, and laughed when I swatted him away.

“Stop being a pest,” I chastised, shaking my head fondly.

“Are you working on mine?” he asked, grinning as he sat opposite, neck still craning despite himself.

“Actually, no!” I replied, poking my tongue out playfully. His head cocked, curious, and I sighed, sliding the sketch across the table.

He beamed before looking down, pausing as he took in the details, while I squirmed at the silence.

“It’s just a sketch,” I defended eventually, reaching out to take it back. “I know it’s not very-”

He batted my hand away lightly, continuing to trace the lines with his gaze before looking up, smiling softly. “I love it.” My cheeks heated sheepishly, eyes lowering, and he reached out to squeeze my fingers gently. “He’s gonna look awesome.”

I laughed shyly, taking the page back to finish adding some details to the fluffy ears. “Well, I figured, you know… Everyone else is dressing up, Kodiak should be included in the festivities.”

My hand was lifted to his lips, a gentle kiss skimmed over my knuckles. “You’re a Goddess.”

Cheeks heating once more, I reached down to tousle the dog’s head where he sat beside me, glancing curiously between Yoshi and I. “Yeah, well… He’s easy. Little bit of dog dye, and we’ll be good.”

“Dog die?!”

I looked up, finding my younger son stood a few paces, jaw slack with horror. Shaking my head, I offered my arms to him, letting him climb onto my lip before I kissed his hair softly. “Not that kind of die. Remember how we talked about D-I-E and D-Y-E?”

His brow furrowed thoughtfully, then he nodded once, looking down at Kodiak. “You’re just gonna make him a different color?”

I nodded, pointing at the page in front of me. “Bits of him! Like this. What do you think?”

Apollo considered the sketch for a moment, then looked at the pup once more before beaming up at me. “He’ll be cute! I think maybe he’s gonna win the contest all by himself.”

I laughed, glancing at my fiancé adoringly, who simply grinned back, one hand extending to smooth over his youngest’s hair gently.

Thus began a frantic series of dashes to a variety of stores, endless sewing and measuring and editing.

I didn’t think dying the dog would turn out to be the easiest of the lot.

Kodiak, for his credit, was entirely relaxed with the process, lying perfectly still while I separated and slathered goop on his fur - no doubt in part to his head resting in Artie’s lap while she fed him a steady stream of treats and sausage.

My younger daughter was only too willing to help with the bathing process, too, standing my his head and murmuring encouragement and endearments. Not that he required it, his tail wriggling excitedly at the attention being heaped upon him.

When the water ran clean, I went to wrap a towel around him and lift him out of the tub, but Yoshitsune cleared his throat pointedly behind me. With a sigh, I turned, hands on my hips. “Yes?”

“Your son is one thing,” he admitted, eyebrow raised, “but please let me pick up the dog.”

Instinctively, I baulked at the implication, any suggestion of inability always received with an immediate desire to prove the opposite.

But this wasn’t because he didn’t think me able - this was care, plain and simple.

With a soft, reluctant sigh, I relaxed my stance, letting my arm extend, towel in hand, as I nodded. “Okay.”

He smiled gently, stepping forward to press a kiss to my forehead. “Thank you, Swan,” he murmured, holding me close for a moment before shifting around me. I stepped aside to watch, finding our daughter grinning at us broadly.

“What?”

“You’re cute,” she replied, beaming, and I laughed aloud, shaking my head.

“You’ve been listening to your Mommas too much,” I teased, then paused. “… Though they’re right. We are cute.”

With our first finished creation lying in front of the fire contentedly, blow-dried, fluffy, and full of snacks, I turned my attention to the finishing touches on the kids’ costumes - Yoshitsune’s and my own safely tucked out of his sight, having managed the better part of a week thus far without being seen. I was determined to keep it a surprise, and so far - as far as I could tell - I’d been successful.

The dark green of Apollo’s cloak complemented his eyes beautifully, clasped with a small leaf pin I’d been fortunate enough to find at a market. I’d crafted arm guards from faux leather, and they’d been all but glued to him since I had presented them proudly, his fingers endlessly circling the light etchings in a rhythmic, comforting motion. I’d been required to explain to him that, no, it wasn’t really practical to take his actual bow to a costume contest, because some people might frown on a child his age owning weaponry, to which he had reluctantly agreed, permitting me to trade out his prized recurve - with its lovingly hand-crafted vibranium riser, a gift from Shuri - for a toy, albeit with a small scowl.

Artemis’ costume was the most straightforward, simply requiring a child-sized suit and red bow tie, as well as the careful application of some makeup. The tricycle proved harder to find, though we eventually sourced one the next province over, which Yoshitsune diligently went to collect, our daughter skipping along beside him when he returned, her face split in a broad grin.

When asked, Sammy had opted for Fancy Utseo - which turned out to mean a traditional samurai look. We’d had to reduce the armor involved a little for practical reasons, though I was fortunate enough to have the kind of life where armor wasn’t the hardest thing to get a hold of. At my request and a flutter of lashes, Clint had been willing to raid the SHIELD armory, pulling anything that may prove useful and was approximately Sammy’s size.

Armor donned and wreathed in silks, he’d loudly proclaimed that he looked awesome, and squeezed me tight, grinning, before brandishing his sword proudly, earning a fond snort from his dad.

“Yeah, I don’t think they’ll appreciate that at the contest, either,” he noted, shaking his head. “Sorry, kiddo. You’re relegated to wood.”

With a dramatic sigh, Sammy slid his sword back into its sheath, arms crossing over his chest. “What’s the fun in owning weapons if you can’t use them to win a friendly competition?” he complained - but the subtle grin and amusement in his eyes betrayed him, and I reached out to tousle his hair with a chuckle.

In some ways, Lexi was both the easiest and the most complex. In terms of her outfit itself, she simply dressed the way Yoshitsune did most days - dark jeans, boots, and a t-shirt.

It was the arms that were the problem - which, when I had lamented aloud, made Sammy chuckle.

“Don’t let Dad hear you say that,” he teased, earning a soft laugh. I’d made no secret of my undying adoration for my fiancé, inclusive of every inch of him, metal arms and all.

However, trying to replicate them in anything close to faithful proved a challenge. Paint seemed flat and unrealistic. Bands with interconnected metal wires looked too simplistic, and I was dissatisfied.

In the end, I’d turned to one another one of my found family, plotting and planning - with Lexi’s input - until we found something that not only looked good, but exceeded all expectations.

When all that remained was mine and Yoshi’s costumes, I found myself sewing silently in the night, determined not to let him discover the surprise I’d carefully kept secret. Fortunately, there was not much work to be done - it was more accumulation than craft itself, but I was happy with the result.

The majority of the team gathered in the same room where Yoshi and I had been quizzed, pockets of conversation layering over one another, punctuated with laughter. Wanda was animatedly regaling us with gossip – “I think Matt – you know, Yelena and Kate’s boyfriend? I think he has something going on with this guy he works with-” – when Tony cleared his throat, getting to his feet, a glass of soda water in hand.

“You all know why we’re here,” he began, looking around at the gathered groups with a fond smile. “Most of you know why this month is so important to me – why I began hosting the gala at the end of the month in the first place.” His eyes moved instinctively to his husband, while Stephen simply gazed up at him, enraptured. “Those of you who have known me for some time are aware that I haven’t always had the most… Straightforward relationship with my sexuality – if you’ll pardon the pun,” he added dryly, earning a ripple of laughter. “But the queer community, and my endlessly patient husband, showed me that I could be loved for exactly who I am. And I had the ability to give back to the former – though the latter’s just kind of stuck with me.” Eyes shining with pride, he reached out, fingers teasing through Stephen’s hair adoringly as the wizard sighed, leaning into the touch with a small, contented smile.

Despite the years that had passed, the pair still made my heart swell with adoration, and I blinked back tears at the sight of them. Yoshitsune’s arm passed around my waist to hold me closer, chuckling fondly. “Because they’re cute?”

“They’re so cute,” I whined softly, lower lip protruding, earning another quiet laugh, his cheek resting lightly on my hair. “I remember the first time we found out Stephen had a thing for Tony. He was so shy about it. And they went through so much to get where they are… But they still look at each other like that. Even after everything.” I sniffed, the boys still gazing at one another with adoration so intense it was almost tangible, and Yoshi brushed his lips against my temple gently.

“I’ll look at you with even more love until the day I die,” he vowed softly, and I sniffed again, turning to press my forehead to his.

“I’ll never get tired of your adoration, my sweet boy – or of loving you just as much.”

By the time I drew my attention away from my fiancé once more, having spent several moments simply inhaling him, Tony was wrapping up his toast, telling us all to have a great evening, and an incredible month. No sooner had he taken his seat, however, than Steve stood, clearing his throat shyly. “While we’re- I suppose, given the situation… That is-”

He was interrupted by a flash of colour from the doorway, and Chiyo darted past us with a squeak, launching themselves happily into his arms, their lips pressed to his. The stunned silence was deafening, but Chiyo simply giggled, leaning back in his embrace to consider us, an upside-down grin plastered across their face. “Sorry I’m late! Did he tell you yet?”

“I’d ask what you meant, but...” Sammy shook her head fondly, eyebrow arched. “How long has this been happening?”

Steve cleared his throat, gently lowering Chiyo to their feet, their head barely brushing his shoulder. “Ah... A few, uh...”

“Months,” Chiyo finished, a broad grin plastered across their expression. “About four.”

I raised a pointed eyebrow, and Steve blushed, shrugging a shoulder. “I didn’t want to steal your thunder.”

“Steal my- Oh, Ace. You’re an idiot,” I snorted, shaking my head fondly. “Your happiness only adds to mine. It could never take away from my joy to know you’re just as blissfully content as I am, dumbass.”

He grinned sheepishly, his arm passing around Chiyo’s waist to hold them closer, gaze shifting to their profile, soft and adoring. “I am,” he confirmed quietly, making their own eyes flick to his as they beamed.

Sammy spent the next half an hour grilling her best friend for details, and I ducked out right around the time Chiyo began waxing lyrical about how gentlemanly he was. I was in no way envious – my own relationship of a similar nature with Steve had long since run its course, after all – but there was still something strange about hearing someone outside of our own Farmhouse Family acknowledging his romantic behaviour. Yoshitsune tracked me with worried eyes, but I offered him a reassuring smile, lacing my fingers through his.

“It’s... Nice, but still a bit weird, you know?” I noted, leaning my head against his shoulder, and earning a soft nod in response. “I’m so happy they’re finally together though – we’ve been expecting it for years.”

“Oh, yeah,” he agreed, chuckling. “They’re such an unexpected couple, but it kinda works all the better for it.”

“What – because one’s energetic and a little insane, and the other is calm and thoughtful?” I deadpanned, fixing him with a pointed stare, and he opened his mouth to reply, a snort behind me smothering his words.

“My brother is full of a lot of things, but I don’t think thoughts is one of them.”

A grin was pulling at my cheeks before I turned, unable to retain any semblance of a stern expression for the comment at the sight of Yoshitsune’s sister before us, smiling fondly. “Yeah, she got all the brains. I’m the hot one,” Yoshi added, flexing playfully.

“Sure you are,” she deadpanned, winking at me, and I laughed, shaking my head at the interaction.

“You're so mean to each other,” I snorted fondly, and Yoshi grinned.

“We bully with love,” he clarified. “Speaking of bullying with love – did you bring Tao?”

“Have you seen what I'm wearing?” she snorted, gesturing theatrically at her backless top and tight jeans.

“I try not to think about it,” Yoshi deadpanned, and she rolled her eyes.

“Like he’s going to let me out of his sight when I’m so hot. He’s at the bar - probably staring at us, looking all broody.”

I followed her gaze as she turned, and snorted, finding her husband exactly as predicted; he was propped on a stool by the bar, muscles bulging beneath the dark crimson of his shirt, his dark eyes locked on his wife and his fingers curled tightly around the glass in his hand.

“Nomi... Your husband scares the shit out of me,” I noted flatly as we fell into step behind Yoshi, and she grinned.

“I know. Isn’t he great?”

Letting out a soft laugh, I shook my head fondly, eyeing my future sister-in-law. She had her brother’s complexion and dark hair, and something in the press of her lips that spoke of the blood they shared – but that was where the most obvious similarities ended. Her eyes were silver, like his – or at least, had been before they were replaced by high-tech cybernetics. Her gaze roamed constantly, doubtless telling her everything she could ever want to know about both the room and the people in it. They were blue today, a soft aquamarine that shone against the dark clothes, but she could change them at will, and I’d seen every hue at one time or another – it was Apollo’s favourite ‘magic trick’.

I watched her quietly, and she shot me a grin, those intelligent eyes flicking back toward me once more. “What?”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “I was thinking about your eyes,” I admitted, and she beamed.

“I know, they’re awesome,” she nodded, chin held high with pride. “But I’m more than my eyes, you know!”

“Yeah, there’s also the liver, and the heart,” I deadpanned, then chuckled. “You’re like Tony, but so extra.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she laughed, shaking her head fondly.

Watching Utseo and Yoshi verbally eviscerate each other as only brothers can, Nomi and I caught up, laughing readily as she regaled me with stories from her own life. Her other husband, Dima – the softness to Utseo’s hardness – appeared with her twin, Kit, joining us in watching the pair of soldiers bully each other.

“Some things never change,” Kit snorted fondly, shaking her head as she took her seat with us.

They caught me up on their own comings and goings – the twins mostly speaking in terms of tech that went entirely over my own head – and asked after my family. While neither of the two were particularly inclined towards kids, it was no secret that they loved the four I shared with their brother, blood or not, and both were just as eager to meet our next one. I found myself smiling absently in a rare moment to myself, fingertips trailing unconsciously over the swelling of my abdomen that seemed to grow with each passing day, until an arm wreathed around my waist from behind, metal fingers catching mine and pressing gently to the bump.

“Having a nice time?” Yoshi murmured in my ear, the warmth of his breath on my skin sending goosebumps scattering across my body, and I giggled, leaning back against him.

“It’s good to see everyone,” I nodded, letting my muscles relax with a soft sigh. “I won’t be as active in the festivities this year as I usually am, so I’m glad we could do this.”

Yoshitsune hummed his agreement, his lips brushing lightly against my temple, before pausing for a heartbeat. “You know… I’ve been thinking.”

“Sounds dangerous.” He snorted, shaking his head fondly, pressing an adoring kiss to my cheek, and I grinned. “Go on; what’ve you been thinking about, sweet boy?”

His hand shifted lightly on my stomach, chin resting on my shoulder. “I- Hm.” He cut himself off with a soft sound, and I turned my head slightly to glance at him, finding his gaze pointed downwards and a goofy grin on his face. Following his eyeline, I arched an eyebrow.

“Really?” He cleared his throat, eyes meeting mine once more, and smiled sheepishly as I laughed. “Yoshitsune, you know you can see me without a shirt on whenever you want, right?”

“It’s been several hours since that was a possibility, actually,” he noted, pouting slightly, earning a snort for his sweet complaints. “I- Hm. Where was I? Oh- Thinking. Right.” He nodded, grinning, and brushed a thumb over my abdomen lightly. “This little one still needs godparents.”

I hummed thoughtfully, resting my head back against his shoulder. “Something tells me you have ideas.”

“Well… I’d like Utseo to be their godfather – or at least, one of them.” I nodded as he spoke, entirely unsurprised by the information. “I’d quite like Steve to be one too.”

My head snapped up in surprise, and we cursed in unison as my forehead collided with his, both wincing and rubbing the offending spot. “What?”

“Are you oka-”

“Why Steve? I mean, I don’t object, I just…”

He shrugged, holding me closer once more and pressing a kiss to the tender area on my head. “If it weren’t for Steve… Well, he got you through some tough spots. He’s part of the reason this little one is here at all, and he’s a good man. Plus, he’s tough enough to keep Utseo in line, if it ever came to it,” he added, grinning a little.

I pursed my lips thoughtfully, considering. “… I don’t want godmothers.” His eyebrow raised, and I smiled. “I’ll still have pairs, but – I want Mars.” Nodding quietly, I glanced across the room at my best friend, who was being spun dramatically by James, laughing happily. “I know they’re not the most kid-inclined, but… If push came to shove, I know they’d guard our child with their life.”

Yoshitsune nodded slowly, thoughtfully. “Well… If Steve is the balance to Utseo, how about Chiyo for the fourth?” He smiled, inclining his head to where the happy, pastelised ball of energy was allowing – or rather, encouraging – a rather excited Apollo to draw on their arms, eagerly pointing out clear patches of skin whenever he paused. “Mars may be the more practical one in a situation, but… Chiyo would definitely keep them entertained!”

Shaking my head fondly, I looked about myself, taking in the room full of friends and family. “Our child is going to be so loved,” I breathed, hit by a wave of gratitude for those who had made it their mission to be in my life – even when I pushed them away.

Yoshitsune rested his head once more against mine, a smile pulling fondly at his lips. “Just like their siblings – skin and fur alike,” he added, and I snorted as I followed his gaze, finding Tony energetically tussling over a toy with Kodiak.

The wind over the open sand was surreal, stirring up grains that wreathed around my legs and immediately pulling the loose plait from my hair, leaving me laughing as the world became red around me.

Broad hands closed around my hips, holding me close against his chest, before he chuckled along with me, fingers coming up to gently guide the errant locks from my face. “Beach,” he declared, and I sighed happily.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, leaning back against him as I took in the golden sand and calm ocean spread before us. I was surprised by how sparsely populated the space was, assuming that the entire Canadian populace would be cramming themselves into these few square miles, but there were only a handful of people in sight, reclining under the summer sun peacefully. “It’s… Wow.”

His arms around my waist, cheek pressed gently to my hair and the scent of the sea flooding my senses had me letting out a quiet giggle of joy, eyes closing briefly. “Almost as beautiful as you,” he murmured, grazing his lips against my temple tenderly and earning a soft blush for his efforts, fierce love thrumming in my veins. “My Swan Goddess... I worship you.”

“Worship, huh?” I giggled, turning in his arms to drape my own around his neck, grinning broadly. He nodded, his smile soft, and pressed his lips briefly to mine before dropping to his knees reverently.

“May I?” he asked, extending his hands to me. My head cocked in confusion, fingers sliding into his obligingly. He paused for a moment, thoughtful, before pressing tender kisses along my hands in an act of utter devotion. “Lia, my Aurelia... I love you so much. You are the most incredible woman I've ever known. You're sweet, wickedly sharp, kind, passionate, fierce, deadly, adorable, elegant, graceful, beautiful... I start running out of words about there. My jarhead vocabulary has trouble keeping up with you.” He paused to offer me a crooked grin, and I blushed softly. “I'm honoured that you've always trusted me so instinctively, and I would do anything I ever needed to in order be worthy of that trust. There is nothing in the world, or any world, I wouldn't face for you. You brought me to life, so maybe it isn't surprising how much I want you to be my life. Aurelia, my Swan, my precious girl, my goddess... Would you do me the honor of also being my wife?”

The world passed away as he spoke, the wind and the rush of the waves disappearing until the only thing that existed was the man on his knee before me, gazing up at me with adoration in his eyes. Somewhere beneath the shock was a fierce, raging love, too intense to feel at once for fear I’d go mad.

Distantly, I realised he was still staring at me, tongue darting out to moisten his lower lip nervously when I failed to respond.

“... Me?” I whispered eventually, gazing at him with an awestruck reverence so profound that I could barely force out the word. He chuckled softly, one side of his lips curling up.

“You, my Swan.”

“Like... Me?”

Snorting and shaking his head fondly, he squeezed my fingers, bringing me slightly down to earth. “You!”

I sank to my own knees, hands shaking in his, tears already forming along my lash line. “I- Yes. Yes. Yes.” His face split into a wide grin, and the reality hit me at last, sending me hurtling into his arms with a deafening shriek, both of us sprawling into the sand at the impact. “Yoshi!”

Laughing, his arms wrapped around me, the metal cool against my sun-warmed skin even through the weave of my dress. “Lia?”

“Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes,” I giggled, drawing back only far enough to kiss him deeply, eyes closed as a wave of joy crashed over me, breath arresting in my chest. His fingers wrapped lightly in my hair as he kissed me back, a happy groan rumbling in his chest.

“Be careful,” he murmured against my lips, half shifting me off him, his free hand resting gently on my abdomen. “Gotta keep my future wife and child safe and happy...”

Future wife.

Wife.

“Mrs. MacCennedi,” I breathed, toes wriggling with joy. “Aurelia MacCennedi.”

He beamed, kissing me again. “It has a ring to it, doesn’t it?” He hummed, his fingers leaving my hair to dig into the pocket of his jeans. “Speaking of which...”

The soft velvet box had my own smile growing ever wider, scrabbling to sit upright, wanting to dedicate my entire attention to the moment. With an infinitesimal shake of his fingers, he opened the lid, and I let out a barely-audible squeak.

My fingers silently followed the curving lines and delicate folds etched into metal, the gold exterior giving way to a silver inlay that pulled my smile higher. A sloping, swooping line curled up on one side, reminding me immediately of a dancer's legs, toes pointed high, punctuated with a red diamond in the centre, and three rubies nestled around, catching the sunlight in a breathtaking display.

Tears ran freely down my cheeks as I offered him my hand, breath coming in unsophisticated hiccups as he slid the ring into its rightful place, leaning in to kiss me softly.

“A perfect fit,” he murmured, pulling me onto his lap, his arms wrapping around me easily to hold me close.

I alternated between staring at my ring, thumb following the graceful edges; the ocean; and my beautiful partner – fiancé, I reminded myself frequently, letting out a tiny giggle each time. Yoshitsune walked along the shore with his hand in mine, thumb caressing the back of my hand adoringly. His free hand carried my heels, carefully removed from my feet when we’d cleared a stretch of stones, his hands on my skin sending a gentle shiver down my spine.

Occasionally, I darted away, twirling over wet sand as the water receded and giggling with delight when it returned, washing up my calves and making me shriek with the cold.

It was on one such departure when hands closed around my hips, lifting me bodily free of the water and making me cackle with delight. “If you want to swim...” he purred, a smile in his voice, and I gasped.

“My dress!” I squealed, batting playfully at his hands, squirming as he took a few steps further into the waves. With a hum, he paused, setting me down, his fingers wrapped in the material and pulling it up as I descended. A flash of red and a moment of blindness, and I blushed as his hands trailed over my bare skin, my dress tossed carefully free of the waves. His eyes raked my body, fingers trailing the strap of my bikini hungrily, and I trembled beneath his touch.

With a soft throat clear, he let his hand drop before pulling his own shirt over his head. Automatically, my own hands raised to trace the line between metal and flesh, leaning up to press my lips gently to his. “You’re so beautiful,” I whispered, smiling when his jaw twitched – as close to a blush as I would ever elicit from my well-disciplined soldier.

“You’d know, my expert in beauty,” he breathed, catching my hand gently and pressing his lips to my knuckles. His fingers closed against the bottom of my back as he drew me into deeper water, sliding beneath my bikini bottoms when the waves lapped around my waist. I arched an eyebrow, smirking.

“Yoshitsune, there’ll be scandal,” I gasped playfully, but any teasing objection died in my throat when he pulled me flush against his body, my hands meeting the firm muscles of his chest. Fingertips running reverently over his skin, I let out a soft, happy sigh, eyeing my ring admiringly; the process was interrupted when he lifted me easily, my legs finding his waist as the hardness in his trunks pressed against me pointedly. A low whine escaped me, and his fingers shifted to pull my bikini to the side as his mouth found my throat, digits slipping between my legs to probe at my already-slick entrance.

“My pretty fiancée, always so wet for me…” he purred, and I half-nodded, opening my mouth to agree, instead letting out a soft gasp as a metal finger slipped inside me readily.

“Fuck,” I breathed, my head falling back to press myself closer. With a growl, he carried me a little deeper, letting the water take most of my weight to slide his free hand up to my breast, his thumb skimming over my nipple reverently.

“How did I get so lucky, hm?” he whispered, a second digit joining the first and pumping into me slowly, his eyes alight as I squirmed and panted with pleasure. “My beautiful goddess…”

“Yours,” I rasped, fingers tightening around his shoulders as my hips shifted hungrily. “Please- god, please, Yoshitsune…”

He smirked, the pad of his thumb dragging slowly over my clit as his fingers moved inside of me. “What can I do for you, my Golden Swan?”

“Please,” I mewled pitifully, clenching around him. “I need you – fuck me, Yoshitsune, please…”

His mouth found mine as he patiently drew his hand free, the tip of his cock nudging against me a heartbeat later. His resolve was impressive, but my own was dissolving into the ocean, and I jerked my hips nearer, taking him inside me with a stuttered moan. With a grunt of pleasure, he buried his face against my clavicle, his arm around my waist to hold me to him as he pressed himself deeper inside me. “Fuck, Aurelia, my beautiful girl, you always feel so good,” he panted, fingers digging into my skin as he drove himself into me needily.

“All for you,” I whined, rutting needily, one hand snaking between us to caress my clit. With a low groan, he drove himself into me harder, the hand on my breast slipping beneath my bikini top to touch me directly.

“Mine,” he grunted in agreement, nipping a harsh mark into the soft skin of my throat hungrily. “My fiancée… My wife… My Swan… My Aurelia…” Each phrase came with a rough thrust, his muscles quivering, until he was rutting into me frantically, his pace becoming stuttered as his own restraint crumbled. “Fuck, my sweet girl, fuck fuck fuck…”

“Please,” I whimpered pitifully, my own hand moving faster. “Please, Yoshi – please, I can’t-”

His lips skimmed my ear, warm breath washing over my skin. “Come for me, my beautiful fiancée. Give me everything.”

With a desperate cry, I tangled my free hand in his hair, tugging frantically to press my mouth to his, his lips on mine muffling my wails of ecstasy as my body convulsed. His own low groan sounded against me as he buried himself to the hilt, twitching as he emptied himself inside me.

My skin was still pink from our day at the beach by the morning after, earning a laugh from my partner- my fiancé.

“How do you burn so easily?” he chuckled, smoothing his thumb over my lightly peeling shoulder, and I blushed.

“I grew up in Russia!” I argued in my defence, crossing my arms in mock annoyance. “I’m not made for the sun!”

He quirked an eyebrow, his arm draping over the back over the sofa to draw me closer, his free hand gesturing at our surroundings in amusement. “Meanwhile, I grew up in Canada, which is obviously known for its scorching sunlight,” he deadpanned, and I scowled until I couldn’t hold back my laughter, shaking my head fondly.

“I’m a redhead,” I offered, shrugging. “I’m prone to it.”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my temple lightly. “You’re my beautiful redhead,” he replied readily, “burned or not.”

Chuckling, I opened my mouth to reply, but the blaze of sparks before us had me falling quiet, watching with impatience as the portal opened.

Our kids piled through enthusiastically, Apollo riding on Sammy’s shoulders, Artemis cackling at a joke she shared with Lexi. Stephen offered us a fond grin, shaking his head with adoration. “How you handle the four of them alone, I will never know,” he laughed, eyeing the children warily. “It takes an army to keep them contained at the farm.”

“They’re good kids,” Yoshi chuckled, shrugging. “Just a bit… Chaotic!”

The last word came as Sammy scooped Appie over her head, dangling my youngest by his feet as he shrieked with delight.

“Papa Yoshi, help!” he cackled, hands waving imploringly. My fiancé lifted my son into his arms, squeezing him gently.

“Hey, kiddo. Having fun with Sammy?” he laughed, shaking his head. I took in the scene quietly as Apollo regaled Yoshi with stories of his antics, a soft smile gracing my lips.

The two kids I shared with my polycule – Bucky, Winter and Temnota, who previously possessed the same body, in the manner I had with my sisters; Steve, and Clint – had been carried by my sisters and I before our separation into bodies carefully crafted by Shuri’s ingenuity, made possible by another of her incredible feats. Artemis Yelena Barton-Barnes, our oldest, was quickly closing in on ten years, while her brother, Apollo Steven, was a year younger.

Meanwhile, Sammy, Yoshi’s genderfluid 16-year-old, was his former wife’s final act, while Lexi – Alexis-Faith, more formally – was his adopted 14-year-old daughter, taken in when he’d discovered the orphan’s hardships and decided immediately that she was now his to care for.

And the four got on with very little issue, each finding aspects in the others with which they found familiarity. Lexi and Apollo, and Sammy and Artemis, were the readier pairs – the former quieter and more peaceful, while the latter relished physical challenges and could typically be found several feet from the floor. But Artemis was happy to while away an afternoon dancing with her brother, and Sammy was not unlikely to go out with Lex and look for things for her to photograph.

I was blessed, without a doubt. Not only did I have the family I’d come from, I had a new one that was developing before my eyes, and the two fit together seamlessly.

Lexi scampered onto the sofa to sit beside me, gazing down at my barely protruding stomach with a grin. “Have they kicked yet?” She asked every time she came back – which was most weeks, with Artemis and Apollo, typically accompanied by Sammy – and I never tired of it, even when her face fell just a little as I shook my head.

“Not yet, kiddo,” I replied, chuckling and wrapping an arm around her shoulders when she pouted. “Won’t be long now, though!”

With a dramatic, world-weary sigh, she flopped back against the sofa, rolling her eyes. “I’ve been waiting forever,” she grumbled, and I laughed, tousling her dark hair fondly.

“What’ve we all been summoned for?” Sammy asked, flopping beside me with a smile. I eyed my partner’s daughter fondly, offering her a tender grin.

“Never thought we might just want to spend time with you all?” I teased, gently elbowing her in the ribs and earning a laugh. Her eyes glittered, lips pinched together, and I arched an eyebrow, making her cheeks flush. “I see,” I snorted, shaking my head fondly. “Your dad spoke to you first, huh?”

She nodded sheepishly, glancing at Yoshitsune, who was chatting to Stephen animatedly, one of my children tucked under each arm. “He wanted to make sure I was okay with it,” she murmured softly, leaning against my shoulder.

“And are you?”

She glanced at me, arching an eyebrow, and grinned. “What do you think?!” she laughed, shaking her head.

“What’s Sam laughing at?” Artie demanded, flailing theatrically until Yoshi set her down, my daughter moving to stand before us with her arms crossed over chest. I laughed, glancing at my husband-to-be, who nodded and shook Stephen’s hand gratefully, moving to sit beside me as the portal dissolved once more, leaving us alone.

“We have a good family, don’t we?”

Yoshi and I were sat on either side of the sofa, with Artie on my lap and Apollo on his, Sammy and Lexi wedged between us.

“We do,” Lex agreed warily, glancing between us uncertainly. Sammy’s hand found her sister’s, squeezing reassuringly, and I smiled softly at the sight. Lex’s upbringing had been a challenging one – her parents had divorced when she was five, and her mother’s new husband had treated her horrendously. The idea that yet another family could be dissolving before her eyes was understandably concerning, and we didn’t intend to leave her in limbo for longer than necessary – but it was heart-warming to see how Sammy cared for her when her younger sister’s anxiety spiked. Yoshitsune reached out, too, wrapping his arm around her comfortingly and murmuring reassurance.

“You love Yoshi, right?” I clarified, glancing at my kids in turn. I was as sure of their love for him as I was of my own – they’d taken to calling him Papa Yoshi a long time ago, and never expressed anything but delight with his place in their lives. But I had to clarify before I made this choice; my children had been through enough in their short lives, and I would never make a decision like this against their wishes.

As it was, each nodded eagerly, Appie reaching up to pet my fiancé’s cheek gently. “Pretty Papa Yoshi!” he declared, and I laughed. The name had stuck since I’d called him my pretty soldier – the former-special-ops serviceman had been declared the pretty one of our pair, and it made his jaw twitch with embarrassed delight every time.

“He’s our Dad,” Artie agreed, looking up at me with her typical, calculating stare. “Why?”

“And you guys love Lia, huh? Lex?” Yoshi added pointedly, squeezing his younger child a little closer, exchanging a quick glance with Sammy, who simply grinned knowingly. Alexis nodded slowly, brow still furrowed in consternation.

“Are you guys breaking up?” she murmured, hooking a fingernail between her teeth, eyeing us even as Yoshitsune shook his head quickly.

“Not at all.”

“Quite the opposite,” I added, barely able to contain my glee. “We were wondering how you’d feel...”

“... If Lia and I got married.”

Lexi broke into a broad grin, equal parts relief and joy, and nodded quickly, squeezing her dad back. “That would be cool.”

Artemis was staring at me intently, and I met her eyes uncertainly. “... Artie?”

“Do I get to dress up like a Princess? ‘Cause I know you dressed up like a Princess for Auntie Wanda’s wedding. I’ve seen the pictures.”

I laughed, shaking my head fondly as I squeezed her. “Sure, Little Spider. You can dress like a Princess if you’d like to.”

Apollo was looking between the two of us, a small frown furrowing between his eyebrows, and Yoshi’s smile flickered worriedly as I leant forward. “... Ap? What's the matter?”

He glanced from my fiancé to me once more, his frown deepening. “... I thought you already got married? You live together!”

As predicted, my family at the Farm were ecstatic with the news – though Roma’s eye carried a similar glint to that of Sammy, and she admitted that Yoshi had approached her some weeks before, seeking her advice as my closest sibling, wondering if he should ask the rest of the polycule for their blessing. My sisters and I had, after all, married Clint, back when the four of us were a part of one another; despite the new life I had made for myself since our separation into our own forms, he still worried it would be a misstep. Roma, however, had reassured him – evidently, it had been discussed many times over the years, with each just as happy to see us wed as the next. Even Steve – the one I had found myself drawn to by strings of fate when I was we - had found his place in the new way of things and was happy for me in mine.

It rang true in their behaviour, too. When news of our engagement flooded the farm – by, at her insistence, my daughter demanding everyone’s attention and nudging her shy younger brother, who bashfully informed the group that “Momma Li is gonna get married with Papa Yoshi” – my family broke into raucous celebration, clasping the pair of us tight, insisting on seeing the ring (Roma), asking when the stag would be (Clint), and informing us that the traditional pathway was pregnancy after marriage (Ashe). Nat, who had become surprisingly level-headed and peaceful now that she no longer shared her brain with uninvited - if cherished - others, simply held me tight and told me how proud she was. Nat knew the depths I’d found myself in better than most, our interwoven minds allowing her an access to the spirals I had followed with intimate familiarity, and her words left me teary-eyed, clinging to her gratefully.

But I was constantly aware of the role Stephen had played in facilitating my new reality whilst keeping my family intact, and – with my soon-to-be-husband’s permission – I opted for a small display of gratitude, knowing I could never repay the kindness he had done for me, but only too willing to do what little I could to be kind in return.

“Are you sure this is okay?” Tony murmured, frowning once more, one hand curling against the side of his dog’s neck uncertainly. I offered him a gentle, reassuring smile, reaching down to scratch Saffie’s ears.

“You and Stephen haven’t had an evening to yourselves in forever,” I reminded him softly, my free hand squeezing his forearm gently. “You don’t have to do this, of course. It’s definitely understandable if you’d rather not be without her. But you asked for a reason, Tone.”

He nodded once, kneeling before his dog – a beautiful, if enormous, bull-breed, her head rivalling the size of his own – and placing a light kiss on the end of her nose. “You be good for Aunt Li and Uncle Yoshi, okay? And they’re going to be very nice to you,” he added, glancing up with a warning edge to his voice, and I snorted.

“Are you kidding? She’s going to have the best time ever,” I laughed, shaking my head fondly. “Yoshi was planning out where he’s going to take her exploring last night. She’s probably going to be yelling at a moose before you’ve even left the Tower.”

“And eating homemade meals,” Yoshi added, beaming, his arm snaking around my waist and pulling me against his side with open adoration. “She’s in good hands, Stark. I promise.”

With a soft sigh, Tony nodded, getting to his feet once more. “You’ll call me if you need me?” he clarified – for the fifth time in half an hour – and earning a fond chuckle in response.

“Cross my heart,” I vowed, mimicking the gesture theatrically, “and Stephen would have you here in an instant. She’ll be fine, Tony. Promise.”

With one last, longing look, he slid his hand into his partner’s, letting his husband leading back through the portal, the dog beside me wagging idly.

“She’s out for the count.”

I looked up from my knitting, finding Yoshi fondly watching Saffie snoring in front of the fire, her fur long dried, belly offered up to the warmth as she twitched and huffed in her sleep. Grinning, I laid the needles in my lap. “Did you have fun?”

“So much fun,” he agreed with a chuckle, shaking his head adoringly. Tony’s service dog lived a pretty blessed life – her duties were largely limited these days, though she still performed flawlessly when required, helping to counteract the worst symptoms of his PTSD when they arose. But it was still unusual for the pair to spend any prolonged time apart, meaning Stephen and Tony had long since become accustomed to accommodating things like evening plans around bathroom breaks and feeding times; when Tony had approached me to ask if we would mind taking care of his pup for a night, I was only too happy to oblige, perfectly willing to facilitate a little of the joy that he - and particularly Stephen – had helped to bring into my own life.

Though that hadn’t stopped him from messaging me half a dozen times, demanding updates and photographic evidence of the joy of which I spoke.

He had, however, finally fallen silent at the latest delivery – his dog sprawled out on her side (a reasonable distance from the flames), snoozing off a day bounding through the mild weather with my fiancé until the rain had started to fall, and her own helping of warming stew, minus the onion. Her clear bliss seemed to ease him, and he was, in all likelihood, busy with other things; we’d all spent enough time in proximity to Tony and Stephen to know how single minded they could be when they were focused on one another.

“Would you ever want one?” I mused, thoughtful, and he shrugged, taking the question at face value.

“Probably not of the same breed – not that I have anything but love for a bully,” he added quickly, only too aware of the controversy and immediately quashing any indication that he may agree with it, “but I don’t think they’d approve of the Canadian winter!” With a snort, I hummed my agreement, and he shrugged. “But I like the idea. I love the idea. I’ve never really had a dog. My mom wouldn’t have gone for that- too messy.” He looked down at the pup sprawled out beside him, smiling fondly, and toyed idly with one sleepy ear.

I lowered my eyes once more to the needles in my hands, forcing myself not to grin.

After being adoringly deposited on the sofa, a striped blanket wrapped snugly around me and a mug of tea in reach, both my forehead and my slowly-swelling stomach were kissed, and I shivered at the blast of cold air that entered the house as Yoshitsune headed out, Kodiak dancing excitedly around his feet. Part of me was sad that I was missing the pup’s first experience of snow – but Yoshi knew better than to try and rush me when it came to snowfall, and had offered without prompting to take plenty of pictures and videos for me to enjoy, which was a comfort.

I flicked idly through a variety of my comfort shows, the crackling of the fire easing the slight flare of my anxiety. Normally I’d have been better prepared – as the weather turned colder, the knowledge that the snows were coming before too long meant that I could be ready for the worries and fears that the weather would elicit. But this had been entirely out of the blue – while no season was off-limits for snow here, it was, as Yoshi said, something most people experienced only a handful of times in their life, and with decreasing regularity. I hadn’t had chance to steel myself against the thoughts of frozen wastelands and ice castles that the endless white elicited.

So while I was remorseful that I was missing the experience, I was also glad to stay in the warm – to protect myself against the messy after-effects of an ill-prepared experience. I’d teased Yoshitsune as I stood gesturing out at the swirling white beyond the window, trying to make light, but we both knew that no matter how far I’d come, snow was still one of my biggest triggers.

He'd asked me once – why, given the way that the snow had historically affected me, did I want to move to the middle of the Canadian wilderness?

I smiled to myself as I recalled my response, sipping my tea and gazing sightlessly into the flickering warmth of the flames.

I’m tired of letting him dictate my life. I want to know where you come from, and he’s taken enough from me.

It wasn’t quite mountainside, where he would have ideally settled, but we both acknowledged the impracticalities of such a setting with four – at the time – children, two of which were younger than ten. We needed some form of local population, and so we’d decided on the quaint town, surrounded by forest and wildlife. It was peaceful, and quintessentially Canadian, and everything we were looking for.

And, despite the occasional wobble, I adored it. I felt at home in a way I’d never known, even when the blizzards swirled beyond our walls. I felt safe here, and I had never regretted my choice for a moment.

I was stood by the window when Yoshi returned, the dog plodding in his wake, tongue lolling happily, and grinned at the sight of the pair of them together. He looked in his element here, and I was once again struck by the incredulity of his offer to stay in New York for me, a stone’s throw from one of the most populated cities in the world, and shook my head fondly. As if feeling my gaze on him, he looked up, his own silver eyes crinkling at the edges as he lit up. He broke into a lope, our dog ambling along behind him companionably, and I opened the door in time for him to scoop me up into his arms with a broad grin.

“Hey, beautiful,” he purred, kissing me tenderly, and I giggled, wriggling in his grasp.

“Your lips are freezing!” I chided – then dissolved into a shriek of laughter as he peppered frigid kisses along my fire-warmed cheeks, ducking into the soft skin of my throat as I squirmed. “No- Kodiak, help! Attack! Save me!”

The dog simply stared at the pair of us before bouncing up, barking animatedly, seemingly delighted by our play and wanting to join in. “Oh, you want some too, huh?” Yoshi teased, bending to place a loud smooch on the fluffy white fur – and almost being headbutted by the excited puppy for his troubles.

With a final cackle, I slid free from his grasp, picking up the blanket I’d dropped when he lifted me and draping it around his shoulders, nudging the door closed. “Boots off, and I’ll make you some tea.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed readily, lowering his head to kiss me once more – soft and sweet, despite the chill still on his skin. With a happy little hum, I trotted off, adoring my role as his dutiful housewife. It wasn’t one I would accept being forced upon me, nor one he would let me undertake permanently – but occasionally he allowed me to do things for him as he did for me, and it warmed my heart to be able to offer him small comforts. My fiancé had always seemed such a solid and unshakable man despite his own demons – rarely did he wake shaking in the night, or have an intense reaction to something as commonplace as the weather or a flash of green eyes in a crowded room. I didn’t feel able to provide emotional comfort often - it just didn’t seem needed – so being able to comfort him physically was a joy for me.

We spent the day lounging lazily, curled up against one another, our happily exhausted dog lazing across my bare feet and following me dutifully whenever the growing life in my stomach pressed a little too hard on my bladder. By the middle of the day, the TV had briefly outlived our interest, and the house was soon awash with the scent of freshly baked cookies. We settled back in with our haul, chewing our way happily through a dozen delicious concoctions of lemon, white chocolate and macadamia nut, letting the remainder of the day pass by without much further movement than the bathroom or the kitchen.

By the time the sun set, the snowfall had stopped, and I stood by the window, gazing out across the unbroken whiteness, glowing eerily in the moonlight. A flash of sharp green drew my eyes to the treeline, breath catching minutely at the gaze locked on mine.

“Lia? Everything okay?”

Yoshi’s voice sounded behind me, my fiancé having reappeared from the kitchen, undoubtedly waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs and watching me with concern.

I took a slow, stabilising breath, not blinking as I nodded. “Everything’s fine.” I turned away, offering him a warm smile and an extended hand. “Shall we head to bed?”

I could feel his gaze searing into my spine, but I didn't look back as I followed my fiancé upstairs, my free hand resting lightly on my abdomen.

When he settled me in bed, disappearing briefly before sliding in beside me, a steaming mug on my bedside table, I curled against him once more, purring gratefully.

“Gonna get some sleep, sweetheart?” he murmured, tucking a loose curl behind my ear and kissing my forehead gently. I nodded, then hesitated, fingers trailing quietly over the slowly-expanding bump between my hipbones. Despite my defiance, Loki’s reappearance had me rattled – like my beloved fiancé had noted, it had been a while since that particular spectre had manifested itself in my life, and I couldn’t help but worry.

He tipped my chin up gently, his brow furrowing minutely in his concern. “What’s the matter, my sweet Golden Swan? Can you talk to me?”

I paused, chewing on my lip uncertainly before letting out a soft sigh. “What if I go crazy again?”

His thumb rose to gently ease my lower lip from between my teeth, head cocked. “What do you mean, sweet girl?”

“When we were pregnant with Artemis… Well, you’ve heard what we were like just after she was born. Paranoid, and seeing things, and… Convinced that if we let her out of our sight, terrible things would happen to her…” I winced at the memory of the all-consuming terror that led to us isolating the others from our daughter – James in particular, for no apparent reason. “We were adamant that they were going to take her from us. That they were trying to hurt us, or drug us – that they only had us around to get Artemis, and they’d take her…”

Yoshi held me tighter, fingers curling against my spine. “Oh, sweetheart…”

“It was horrible,” I admitted softly, tears pricking at my eyes. “We almost lost everything because our brain couldn’t hold itself together…”

“But you were okay with Apollo, right?” he prompted gently – not minimising my concerns, but attempting to gently remind me that I had carried a baby without losing my sanity.

“I was,” I conceded, frowning minutely. “We were fine, but…”

“But Appie wasn’t well,” he finished, a note of realisation in his voice, and I nodded weakly.

“If not me, then the baby…” My arm wrapped protectively around my stomach, and he sighed sympathetically, holding me tighter. “Or worse – both. If they’re sick, and I’m sick-”

“Then we’ll get through it,” he interjected, soft but firm. His fingers shifted to my chin to guide my head up once more, his silver eyes locked on mine intently. “You listen to me, my Swan. Even if the worst happens and both you and the baby are unwell, we will manage. We have a lot of people around who love us – people who are dedicated to seeing you live the best life you can, and who will love our little one as if they were their own.” He touched his forehead to mine, holding me close and tender. “I’m not saying it wouldn’t be the fight of our lives, or that it’s wrong for you to be scared. Hell, I’m scared too.”

“You are?” My voice was laced with surprise, eyes widening minutely, and he offered me a crooked grin.

“‘Course I am, sweet girl,” he replied softly, his hand resting gently on the back of my neck as he breathed me in. “Sammy wasn’t exactly born in a conventional way, but he was pretty uncomplicated; even then, I was scared as hell. My dad was the best. I worried I could never live up to that.”

With a shaky smile, I pressed my lips to his. “George is an incredible dad, for sure. But he’s so proud of you. He knows you’re every bit the dad he was. I’d argue better,” I added at a whisper, earning a soft chuckle.

“I don’t know about that,” he replied, jaw twitching shyly, “but I’ll do my damndest to make sure this kid has the most blessed life, just like I do with you, and Sammy, and Lexi, and Artemis, and Apollo. I’m afraid, for sure. But I also know that we can do this.”

Sighing softly, I shifted slightly to grab my mug, wrapping my hands around the warm porcelain and inhaling deeply. “You promise?”

He sat up beside me, his arm wrapping around my waist once more, nestling me against his side as his other hand found my stomach gently. “I promise. Both of you,” he added quietly, thumb smoothing my bump beneath the thin weave of my tank top. “I will never let anything happen to my family.”

We stood in a circle around the table, the room silent as we carved, punctuated with the ocassional mutter or annoyed grumble when something didn’t quite go to plan.

Artemis finished first, much to nobody’s surprise - our youngest daughter’s skill with a knife was unparalleled. Only once had her enthusiasm needed to be curbed - used as she was to less delicate maneuvers, she held the knife in her fist, like she’d learned in her defense sessions with any one of her parents. Extended digits were unideal in situations where anything that protruded ran the risk of being removed, after all. Yoshi had knelt beside her, his large metal fingers dwarfing hers as he showed her how to use the knife more precisely, before stepping back with a grin.

“You got it, Little Soldier.”

Appie watched carefully, and immediately copied the grip, tongue poking out in focus as he positioned his thumb. “Like this, Papa Yoshi?”

Yoshi squatted by his side and grinned, pressing a kiss to our youngest’s hair. “Perfect form, Little Spider. You’re both naturals - not that I’m surprised.”

When all knives were laid down - with all fingers intact, mercifully - we looked at one another, smiles ranging from shy (Lexi) to chaotic (Artie) to simply happy (Sammy).

“Alright - who wants to go f-”

“I made a wolf!” Artemis interrupted proudly, making me snort. She turned her pumpkin around, complete with a muzzle wrinkled in a snarl and three long claw marks down one side, tinted dramatically with red marker in places. “Like my Dads. And, you know - they’re fierce and loyal and they run in a pack, just like us!”

I smiled, leaning down to kiss her head adoringly. “Terrifyingly accurate. Great work, Little Spider.”

Sammy’s kite was simple and clean, and she shrugged, glancing at her sister with a small smile. “I was thinking about teaching Lex to fly a kite last spring.”

Lexi beamed, leaning in to hug her tight. “You’re the best big sister ever.”

Apollo had painstakingly carved a spider - complete with a huge grin. “It’s a friendly-scary spider! It gives hugs - like Mommas!”

With a laugh, I ruffled his hair and scooped him into my arms, squeezing obligingly. “That’s my boy.”

Lexi was quiet and pinked-cheeked as she turned her pumpkin around, and we all murmured appreciatively. She’d carved a delicate bird, wings spread wide, tiny feathers detailed with care.

“Why a bird?” Artemis asked - blunt, but not unkind - and Lexi grew redder as she shrugged.

“Freedom.” She looked at Yoshi and I, smiling shyly, and my heart ached for her, fingers finding hers to squeeze her hand softly as Yoshi pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

“This is the best feather detail I’ve ever seen on a pumpkin,” he encouraged quietly. “You’ve got the hands of an artist, Lex.”

She smiled, small but real, and I saw the adoration in his face at the motion.

I’d carefully detailed the outline of a sniper rifle, encircled by crosshairs, and Yoshi laughed, his arm passing around my waist. “Cute.”

“Yeah, I was thinking about the time I out-shot you,” I replied innocently, and Sammy snorted, grinning.

“Burn, Dad.”

He arched an eyebrow in silence, and I blinked in surprise, tears welling in my eyes.

“You carved… Me?” I clarified incredulously, taking in the outline of an arabesque, delicate arms and pointed toes - surprisingly intricate for a man who typically worked with more heavy-handed hobbies.

He shrugged a little, jaw twitching at the eyes on him, and grinned. “Yeah, well. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I figured I’d put that on display.”

Appie and Lexi awww’d as I leaned in to kiss him softly, while Sammy and Artemis fake-gagged, exchanging a look of playful mortification, and I laughed as I drew back, shaking my head.

“Alright, alright. Let’s clean up a little, and then we can put these out, okay?”

‘Clean up’ involved the kids chasing a panda-patterned dog carrying a chunk of pumpkin around the table while they cackled, Kodiak tossing his head and barking with excitement, and Lexi tugging my sleeve gently to ask if we could possibly save some pumpkin and maybe I could show her how to make pie? (The answer was yes, of course.)

To their credit, the kids did pitch in, carefully wiping stray pumpkin seeds into the bin from the table, newspapers folded to contain their guts and deposited into the compost heap that Apollo had encouraged us to start in the back yard.

When the table was clear, Yoshi snagged our youngest, wiping hands and face like a military operation: “You’ve got pumpkin in your hair, soldier.” Apollo giggled, standing still with his eyes screwed shut and a grin on his face. When he was clear, my fiancé turned his gaze to Artemis, who’d evaded Lexi and Sammy washing up at the sink. Our daughter grinned challengingly and moved to dart past, screeching in surprise when his arm latched around her waist and pulled her close, chuckling. “Not so fast, menace!”

I watched it all from where I leaned against the counter, my chest aching with adoration.

“He’s such a good dad,” I noted softly to Sammy. With a small smile, she dried her hands, coming to stand beside me with her head on my shoulder.

“He is,” she agreed quietly, pulling Lexi into her side. “But it works, ‘cause you’re such a good mom.”

Tears pricked at my eyes once more as Alexis nodded in agreement, and my arm wrapped around my eldest daughter, squeezing her in silent appreciation.

Our pumpkins were lit and placed on the porch, flickering softly in the low breeze. Yoshi had laughed when I placed mine beside his, arching an eyebrow as he smirked. “Yours looks ready to take mine out.”

“Only if she steps on my toes,” I teased, grinning.

Lexi snapped a few photos of the display, and one of all of us in front of them, turning pink and setting up a timer when Yoshi encouraged her to get herself in one. She took a lot of photos these days - but she still stayed behind the camera most of the time, needing gentle persuasion to include herself in the shots.

When she showed it to me afterwards, quietly proud, I’d pressed a kiss to her forehead and told her it would need to be printed. It was a beautiful photo - arms around one another, blankets around shoulders, eyes alight with happiness and gently backlit by our own creations, the entire scene perfectly encapsulated the joy I had felt over the course of the evening.

Once we had all retired to my and Yoshi’s bed, a movie playing on the TV, my fingers carding gently through Apollo’s dark hair as he dozed, I rested my head on his shoulder softly, perfectly at peace. “I still can’t believe this is my life,” I murmured quietly. Artemis was lay with her head on his thigh, hand absently toying with Kodiak’s ear, while Lexi was curled under his free arm, with Sammy leaning against mine. “This is exactly the sort of thing I never thought I could have.”

His lips pressed to my forehead, and I felt him smile softly, mouth curling against my skin. “We’re just getting started, Swan.”