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Mother - Part 1

She wasn't a warrior, nor was she a scholar. She was adept at many mundane tasks, and did her job without complaint or criticism. She thought it was the least she could do to serve the empire, to do her job well.

Never did she expect to be acknowledged the way she was, or given such a high honor.

"This is the young princess, Anelle." Her superior explained as they watched from afar how the baby princess was tended to, now that she finally hatched. Doctors and caretakers surrounded her, ensuring that the newborn monarch was well and comfortable.

"She will be your charge from now on."

A gleeful wave of ecitement washed over her, and she tightened her fists at her sides.

"The empress showed particular interest in you. Do not disappoint her."

She bowed deeply, and humbly accepted her role as the princess' nanny. She swore then to raise the princess with more care than she would her own hatchlings.

–

Many years passed since. The hatchling grew into a fine Skrull woman, a proud princess of her people. Her nursemaid was still by her side, a most loyal attendant for the princess. As she swore to herself, she loved Anelle more than the children she never had, and knew she would be by her side no matter what - or so, she hoped. Reality rarely was that kind.

"I'm pregnant." Her charge admitted to her quite simply. It was shortly after the two Earth Avengers and the Kree hero Mar-Vell were no longer in captivity, and things have calmed down.
It wasn't completely unthinkable, as the princess had many suitors, but somehow, the nursemaid knew none of them were the father. She knew well her princess' opinion of them, and knew none had much of a chance. One man alone did, but the maid was uncertain as to how to feel about it.

Mar-Vell, man of the Kree - an enemy of their people. The thought alone was akin to blesphemy.

"Will you tell?" Came the simple question, and as many times before, the princess looked into her matron's eyes as though they were equals.
The princess' opnions about the war were no secret - she opposed it, as did that man of the Kree. She acted on those beliefs, as one would expect a worthy leader. And she seemed satisfied with her actions, even if unsure of the consequences that would no doubt follow.
It was how her nursemaid raised her to be, and so all she found in herself was pride.

"It is not my place." She said at last with a bow of her head.

"My father demands loyalty."

"My loyalty is to my princess, as it always was."

She felt her charge's eyes on her as she bowed, and then, without looking, knew there was a tired smile on her child's face.

"Thank you."

–

She never told, and yet it was known - the hatchling's father was Kree. The death sentence was declared as soon as the emperor heard of the matter, and it was to be carried out immediately.

"His own grandson-" R'Klll hissed bitterly as she watched her daughter hold tightly onto the pink skinned hatchling.

She was with them, the humble nursemaid, lone witness to this exchange even as the four huddled in darkness, away from prying eyes. And yet all knew - time was short.

"That blind fool-"

"Mother, please!" Anelle begged as her mother's unrest was causing the hatchling to move about uneasilly. The princess was a bit at a loss, and so reluctantly relented her son to the matron's care. She regarded the boy with sad eyes, and let her mother try and comfort her.

"It's best this way. He will be with his father - and Earth's heroes will keep him safe."

There was no time for any to come to terms with this - the soldiers were fast approaching, and time was scarce. Tears threatened to to stain Anelle's eyes as she regarded them, the one who raised her, and the doomed child who represented all of her hopes and dreams for her people.

"You're the only one I can ask this of-" She whispered, eyes set on her beloved nanny. "Raise him as your own."

"No-" The maid replied, adamant in her decision and held the hatchling to her chest.
"I will raise him as I would my princess' son."

It was with that oath they parted, never to see each other again.

–

Earth was less forgiving then she had hoped. She never once expected to be welcomed with open arms, or given things for free, but she was but a nursemaid - she was never taught infiltration, espionage, or even survival skills. It was all she could do to try and get by, often giving up on her own provisions so that her young charge could feed and drink.
If only she could've contacted Mar-Vell, she thought. Surely he'd understand - at least be sympathetic, and they both could bathe, and eat properly, and rest…

"I'm so sorry, my prince…" She whispered one time, her spirits all but gone. The hatchling moved weakly in her arms, tired and hungry, too much so to even cry anymore.
She held him tightly, wishing to offer him at least what little warmth she had left in her body.

"This is all I can do for you." She apologized and pressed her dry lips to his pale forehead.
"Forgive me."

A loud skidding sound tore through the air, followed by frantic honks and a scream. A loud thud - a fall. Then, another skidding sound, and the car sped away.
She saw it all, how the young woman with the baby cart tried to cross the street. The driver was at fault, crossing a red light, it was him to blame, she knew, and in what defied logic itself approached the scene. She held her baby's head against her shoulder, refusing to let him witness the horrid sight.

"My… baby…" The fallen woman gasped, her hand reaching for the overturned cart. She looked as well, only to close her eyes.
The baby was still and quiet, too much so.

"Please-" The woman begged again, tears in her eyes as her voice failed her. "My baby, my- Teddy-"
She fell silent as well.

She was no stranger to the tragedies of Earth by then, and was all the more sympathetic to this event. And yet, all she could see in this was - a chance.

The bodies were hidden, their belongings - taken. When next she stepped into the street, no longer were her clothes tattered and ruined, her skin - no longer green. The baby was wrapped in a blanket, and seemed for a moment almost content.
Shivers rocked her body as she tried facing the reality of what she had done, of the tragedy she hidden, and the names she stole, but the young prince moved about in her arms again.
Her fears were stilled, and she smiled at him.

"Let's go home… Teddy." She whispered, and carried her charge towards the house she claimed for their own.

Sarah and Teddy Altman died that day, but no one ever found out.

–

If she had to be honest with herself, she wasn't certain she wanted to find Mar-Vell. The life she acquired for the young prince - for Teddy - was a good one, and the child lacked nothing. He was safe and happy, and she wished to protect that fragile tranquility.
But she promised to her beloved Anelle, and vowed to R'Klll, and so she did all she could to try and reunite the child with his father.
She only hoped she'd be able to do so before the child was old enough to ask about his parents.

Unfortunately, this was not to be.

She was on her way home, Teddy in his baby cart and a bag of groceries hanging off the cart's handles. She took the same road she always did, and came across a gathering, a small crowd huddled in front of a television shop's display window. All items on display showed the same channel, broadcasting what to most of the world was saddening news. To her, there was nothing worse than what took place.

It was a special bulletin, a mournful one, broadcasted at least nation-wide. The images flashed across all the screens, showing glorious moments of he who was one of Earth's masked protectors, one of their greatest heroes - an Avenger. Captain Marvel's image was displayed on every one of the screens, along with the devastating news captaion at the bottom -
Captain Marvel was dead.

–

She couldn't return home. Evening found her on a bench in the park, Teddy snoozing in her arms rather than in his cart.
She failed. She was to bring the child to his father, but now that father was gone forever - dead. A sense of emptiness filled her, and she found herself at a loss of what to do. There was no longer an actual reason to stay on Earth, but where would they go? Even if they returned to the princess, the death sentence was still in effect.
Should she contact the rest of the Avengers? A likely story she had to tell them, right after Mar-Vell's death. Why should they believe her, much less offer help?
No one would help her. Stranded on that desolate world, with no right to go home… she was alone.

"—mma."

The odd, clumsy sound came from the bundle in her arms, and the baby wiggled almost in discomfort.

"Mmmama." He moaned again.

Ever so slowly she released her hold and lowered him so she could look down at her charge, this helpless creature she swore twice to protect. He looked up at her with big, blue eyes, chubby cheeks red red from the chilly air. His small hands flailed in the air, fingers closing and opening in an attempt to reach her.
For a moment, she was sure he seemed concerned.

"Ted-"

"Mmammaa." He gurgled.

It was a word he picked up from one of his babysitters that she never felt comfortable being referred to as. She wasn't his mother, not really, but right then, Anelle was so very far away, while she was there, with this precious child in her arms, relying on her wholly for survival, for anything and everything he needed. And he, much like her, was alone.

Or was he, she wondered and reached to hold his tiny hand between her fingers. A giggle followed, and the boy reached his other hand to tap against her fingers, happy with the warm plaything he was given.

"Mama!" Teddy exclaimed again, a wide smile on his face.

A breath hitched in her throat, and finally, she nodded.

"If that's what you want, little prince." She whispered, only to look at him thoughtfully.

"No… Teddy." She concluded to herself with a small smile.

She couldn't go back home, and she had no one else. If that was the case…

"Let's be alone together, alright, Teddy?"

The boy laughed and wiggled in her arms, bringing a renewed sense of purpose and calmness to her troubled mind. It wasn't over yet - she still had him, and would do all in her power to make sure he grew up into the fine young man she knew he could be.