Gabriel Reyes sat at his desk, using his computer to produce a 3D model of McCree, designing a uniform for him. He had worked on it for several hours, working to make it right for him. It was a process he was familiar with, as he took the liberty of creating the Halloween costumes for his fellow Overwatch agents in the past. He was a great craftsman, and they were often so impressed with his work that they expressed their interest in having him create their actual uniforms. He was flattered and humbled, and dismissed their wish...yet...here he was. Creating the third uniform for his friends, after Angela and Torbjorn.

"He likes the Wild West themes, maybe I should add a cowboy twist" He thought.

Yes...maybe he could add a cloak of some sort, and a hat with shells strapped on? Jesse would like that. Reyes though...he wasn't a fan of such flashy things. A simply hoodie would do him just fine, but the others were more dramatic...however he was happy to oblige them.

"The vest should fit with his bionic arm" He said to himself as he studied his generated model. "Shouldn't have the cloak be too loose and distracting"

He sipped from the mug of coffee at his side, and his eyes caught the attention of all the photos on his wall. Pictures with him and McCree, or him and Mercy, or him and Jack, Ana...and so on. The occasions in which they were taken were different, whether it be Halloween, Christmas or Thanksgiving. Many years of memories, all hanging on his wall.

It offered a certain amount of motivation in his work, and he smiled to himself as he continued modelling.

Those pictures were no longer on that wall. The memories were gone, and in many ways, so was the man who once hung them. Reaper sat at the desk, tapping a keyboard with his pointy clawed hands...but still modelling, and producing a new costume.

"She's quite tall, need to make sure it's long enough on the legs" He thought. "And to make sure there's adequate space for her waist"

A costume for Widowmaker. That's what he was making now. The assassin was often sent on many covert missions, and it was bad for Talon if she became a recognisable figure. With her blue skin and yellow eyes, it was quite hard to accomplish that without excessive makeup.

But the task of creating her clothes for the operations came down to Reaper. He offered to do it, of course. He was passionate about his textile work.

"Modelling more stuff, huh?" Sombra asked as she entered the room and stood behind Reaper, slapping his shoulders. "Oh, for your girlfriend no doubt!"

"Sombra, what do you want?" He demanded to know, already sick of her presence. "And she's not my girlfriend. Just because we both don't find your little pranks amusing, doesn't mean there's anything going on between us"

Too many times, Sombra has forcibly placed her own shipping agenda on them. She seemed to have a fascination of trying to bring them together. Instead she often just made things awkward. Reaper couldn't see Widowmaker as anything more than a friend...and maybe that was pushing it, because he didn't know if Widowmaker liked anyone at all. He had too much respect for Gerard to have a relationship like that with her. Even if he was dead, and it had been years since that day. It just wouldn't have felt right.

"Hacking losers on the internet can sometimes get boring even for me, was curious to see what you're doing" She replied. "But I get it, you're doing hard work"

Reaper took a lot of care in textiles, and he was able to produce some high-quality suits and outfits. He even put together Sombra's clothes. A lot the time, his palette of colour consisted almost entirely of black, purple and grey. It was an edgy thing.

"Been doing this for years, it's not hard...its just..." He began. "Time-consuming. Gotta get it all perfect"

Perfecting his crafts in textiles was a quality he prided himself in, when he saw the smiles of his friends when he showed them their Halloween costumes...it was always worth it.

"Perfect clothes for her, eh?" Sombra nudged him, then placed a picture she found in front of him. "This was in your drawer along with all the other photos you gave stuffed away. Not creepy at all"

It was a picture of Amélie, along with her husband Gerard. Their wedding photo.

"It serves as a constant reminder to the past, nothing more" Reaper told her, unamused as he stopped working for a moment. "Now there's the door. Leave, so I can finish up here"

Sombra decided to let him have his way and be a grumpy edgelord. She left the picture where it was, and went about her business elsewhere.

"Widow will be here soon" She thought. "I bet Gabriel changes his tone immediately when he sees her"

Being left in peace, Reaper was about to return to sticking and modelling. Instead however, his eyes trailed onto the photo of happy memories...and soon they were fixed to it. He picked it up, studied it further...then sighed and put it down.

"A constant reminder"

At a gathering on the thirsty-first of November, Gabriel Reyes chuckled as he conversed with Angela. He was donning the well-crafted costume of a vampire, complete with fang too. Angela was wearing witch-attire, as she did nearly every Haloween. Torbjorn was a Viking, Ana was a ghoul, Lena was a zombie. All their costumes were made by him, and he was glad to see his handiwork was receiving very positive feedback.

"It must've taken you so long" Angela said as she handled his oversized collar. "And you went through it all for us, as you do every year. Thank you, Gabriel"

She kissed him on the cheek, and he nodded with a smile.

"My pleasure" He said as she went off to socialise.

Things were not all that pleasurable though. Winston and Jack were also present for the party, but the mood between them was already fouled. Gabriel had not made them costumes, because there were grudges between him and them. While it wasn't evident for now considering this was meant to be a friendly gathering, it still felt awkward for them.

"Quite a gathering you've helped spruce up..." A man with a French accent said to him. "...bonjour, Gabriel"

Reyes turned to see Gerard, and his wife Amélie, approaching him as they held hands. He didn't see the two that often, but the married couple often made sure they were present for these events. While Amélie was not a member of Overwatch, Gerard often insisted she come. She was friends with some of the people here, after all.

"If it makes everyone happy, it's all worth it" Gabriel insisted. "But how have you been, Gerard? It's been some time"

The man nodded.

"Yes, too long" He agreed, then turning to his darling. "Amélie, why don't you go chat some folks up? Wouldn't want to bore you with Overwatch details"

Likely hearing his request, Lena approached Amélie from behind and placed her arm around her shoulder, walking her off.

"Hey luv, enjoying the party?" The Brit asked as they wandered away. "That's a lovely shirt you're wearing, what's the make?"

Gerard smiled then turned back to his companion, and they began walking together, a little ways from the others for some discretion.

"Talon operations are growing more consistent" He began with a lowered tone. "Many attempts have been made on my life, also. It seems they are now aware that I am leading the charge against them"

That was rather troubling news to Gabriel. Talon was known by Overwatch to be one of the most discreet yet deadly terrorist organisations. Gerard had undertaken a very dangerous role, but thankfully his efforts have been a success.

But still, Gabriel was rather uncomfortable at the risks still present for him.

"You've done more than enough, Gerard" He told him. "You should step down, let me and Blackwatch take over the fight against Talon"

"Why?" Gerard asked.

Gabriel looked back at Amélie, who was laughing as she talked with Lena.

"You have obligations" He said. "You have a wife-"

"Yes, Ana has told me this before" Gerard interrupted. "I understand your concern, my friend. However, no one understands Talon better than I do, and I know I'm getting closer to putting a stop to them...I simply need more time"

Mr Lacroix was clearly determined in his fight against Talon, and wasn't going to quit until he saw it through until the end.

"I can assure you, my dear Amélie will not wake up one day to find herself a widow" He made clear. "I intend to make our marriage a long one"

The husband looked over to his wife. She was gorgeous. He loved her, very much. Amélie strengthen his determination to make the world a better place.

"She wants to start a family" He said softly. "She's still so young, only twenty-five...yet it's what she wants. I had to keep her from leaping on me in bed last night"

The two men chuckled, then Gerard sighed. It seemed this conversation had shifted from the important topic of Talon, to his wife.

"One day, I'm going to give her that family" He promised in a murmur.

The planning, the future that he saw before him, it placed hope in Gabriel. He was happy for Gerard and his wife.

"But if I'm wrong? If I really do end up dead one day..." Gerard theorised. "You would look after her, wouldn't you Gabriel?"

Reyes looked at Gerard, then slowly back at the man's wife. He was already occupied with McCree most the time, but...

"Let's hope it never comes to that" He said. "Besides, I can feel it in my gut. You two are going to be very happy together, my friend"

Gerard smiled. And before long, they went back to focussing on the gathering. With their friends and family. With Angela and Lena and Torbjorn and Wilhelm and Ana...

With all of them.

Those happier days were gone, of course.

Gerard never got that family with Amélie. Talon really did catch up with him one day, and they dealt with him in such a way that none of Overwatch know the true nature of what occurred even to this day. They all think that Amélie did it willingly, that she wanted it...or that perhaps she never loved Gerard in the first place and was a Talon agent the whole time. To them, she was a traitor...just like Reaper.

"It's quite impressive, Reaper" Widowmaker said with hint of delight as she took the recently-finished costume from the craftsman who made it for her. "Thank you for making this for me"

She held out the outfit before herself. It was black and red, with small metal decorations on the arms and legs. It certainly looked very different from the rest of her wardrobe, which consisted of the same suit she always wore...but merely in different colours.

"I hope it fits you" Reaper said as he watched her place the suit against her body to check size. "I couldn't exactly take any measurements or anything"

"You could've" She informed him. "I would've let you, I mean"

He shook his head. Oh boy, Sombra would find a way to blow it out of proportion if she saw Reaper placing measuring tape around Widow's waist or thighs.

"Hm" He hummed as he looked at her.

Every single time he saw Widowmaker, all he saw was Amélie. She didn't act like her at all, but this WAS the same woman that Gerard planned so many hope-inducing things with. Yet they were not to be. To know, that this numbed lady once someone else's sweetheart...

"Anyways, thank you again...it's a lovely gift" Widow said. "Do you...want to go out later? Perhaps have a drink or just...walk?"

Her offer was unusual for her. It...didn't sound right. Maybe she felt she owed Reaper for the work he did for her.

"Why? You know you're not fit for public appearances" Reaper told her. "Or...for normal things in general"

"Well, Sombra...she-"

Bingo. Sombra probably told Widow that Reaper has a massive crush on her (which wasn't true anyways) and now the assassin has been softened up by Reaper's presenting of a new choice for her wardrobe. She feels she needs to repay his kindness.

But Reaper doesn't want anyone's kindness.

"Sombra is a master deceiver, Widowmaker" Reaper stated over her. "Don't trust everything she says"

"So...no?"

Reaper paused for a moment.

"...no" He confirmed. "But thank you for asking"

Thank you? She hasn't done anything. She was the one thanking him.

"I look forward to wearing it on my next mission" She said with a nod, folding up the outfit. "Good to see some things don't change, I suppose"

She was referring to the old Overwatch days. Even after dying and becoming a very different man, Reaper's stitching and threading hand was still in point.

"Only some things..." He muttered. "But that was a different life for me. For me...and for you"

Very different for her.

"Yes..." She slowly nodded. "Though I...somewhat miss the get-togethers. Those were always fun"

A basic housewife among the world's greatest heroes? Being married to an Overwatch agent had its benefits.

"I can't imagine they'd be much fun for us, anymore" Reaper supposed. "Changed relationships and all"

Reaper and Widowmaker were enemies to Overwatch now. Reaper had a vengeance against them, and Widowmaker...was a victim of circumstances. But everyone doesn't know that, Ana especially.

"Yes, you're right" She agreed. "Hm, do you remember the time Lena got intoxicated and tried to kiss me in front of Ge-"

Widow stopped. She was about to delve into a more...sensitive part of history regarding herself. She had good memories, but the good memories often led to the bad ones. And she would rather not remember the bad ones.

"Never mind" She muttered. "I should get going. Thank you once more, I'll see you soon?"

Reaper looked at her in silence. If he just adjusted her skin tone and the colour of her eyes in his head...he got Amélie. It's quite amazing what neural reconditioning can do, because Widowmaker was hardly like the woman he saw at those parties with Gerard.

Amélie was sweet, and was the kind of person you could easily approach and have a nice conversation with.

Widowmaker was...cold. The spirit that she once had? It had been ripped out of her...and this was what was left.

Gerard asked Reaper to look after his wife should he die. It became apparent to him that he really was obliging that request, to this day. Now, Widow was perfectly capable of handling herself...but everyone needs a little support. Reaper was the only person she could really communicate with outside of the assignments they had together. She had no social time, it was all work for her.

"Sombra brought this to my attention earlier" Reaper started as he pulled out a small photo, delaying her leave. "I figure you should have this"

He handed her the picture, and she looked at it with interest...then with surprise...then Reaper watched her face go blank, before she lowered the picture from her eyes and sighed. The photo of her wedding day, one of the most important days of her life...her old life.

"Where did you get this?" She asked quietly without making eye contact, looking down at her feet.

"It came under my possession after...Gerard died" He explained, wary of mentioning her husband. "We thought you had been kidnapped again, I decided to hold on to it for you. I suppose it's something that took a while to get around to doing...but when I saw what you had become, I wasn't sure you'd want it"

And he could tell that she didn't like the memory being returned to her. It seemed he reopened an old wound. Still, she took another look at the photo and this time for a longer period. She absorbed her appearance, of that white dress styled after a bird, her long brown hair, her smile...you'd swear she wasn't even the same person.

"It was probably the best day of my life" She said in the form of a whisper. "Hm...I remember the wedding kiss we shared, the cutting of the cake, the petals being thrown at us..."

She chuckled and closed her eyes. As she remembered more, they hurt more. Again, good memories lead to bad ones...

"The photo is better in your hands than mine" Reaper told her. "I have no right to hold on to this...so take it"

Widow just stood there for a good while. Eyes closed and in contemplation. She taught herself to forget things like this, but it was hard to not think about. Yet, she found herself taking another look at the photo...and then caressed it with an affectionate stroke of a finger. Gerard was so handsome...

But she snapped herself out of it.

"No..." She finally said. "You keep it"

She offered him the picture, but he was hesitant.

"But...it's yours" He reminded her. "Your wedding, your life, your...memories"

"Only a bad one now, I'm afraid" She shook her head, and further insisted he take the photo. "Seeing Gerard only reminds me of the night I had to kill him. And that...is something I'd rather forget"

He finally did take the photo, reluctantly. He really felt Widowmaker should have it...but he understood her reasons. He kept hold of his old memories in order to not forget them...to learn from them. Widow, though? She just plain wanted to forget.

And when she turned to make her leave, he had to ask a question.

"Do you manage to forget?" He said to her back.

Widowmaker stopped. She seemed to think to herself for a moment, then looked over her shoulders to him.

"No" She replied simply, yet miserably. "I think about it every night"

That was when she started walking, out of his workroom and soon out of his house. Reaper was left with the photo, left to look at it and think of the lesson that it was meant to teach him.

"There is no hope" He thought. "Overwatch accomplished nothing"

Another Omnic Crisis was coming, after all.

Amélie Lacroix woke up in the middle of the night, lying in bed, wrapped in her sleeping husband's arms. Her face was heavy with content, and she simply...enjoyed the warmth of his hold. However, as if remembering something she forgot to do, her eyes widened and suddenly her face appeared empty inside. Her breathe turned from a relaxed pace to no pace at all, holding to keep her very lungs from shifting. She was like a statue, and was still for what seemed like forever.

Eventually however, she began to shift. She squirmed in Gerard's arms, loosening herself from him carefully, wary not to disturb him. When his warm hold was gone, she sat up and simply looked at him...she looked at the hopes and dreams that she wanted to have with this man...and knew that it would all be gone soon.

Amélie leant over, and kissed him on the head. Her hand stroked across his chest as she rose again, and then stood up. On the small table next to their bed, she looked at the pregnancy tests which read positive...it put a small smile on her face. But that smile faded, because now she knew what she had to do. She didn't know why she had to do it...but she just knew it had to be done. She had no choice. This is how it has to be.

So she quietly went on the floor, and reached under the bed. She felt a cold, metal object, and when she stood again, she was holding a knife in her hands. Her brown eyes studied Gerard for a while longer, and with no hesitance or any sign of confliction, she rose her weapon of choice over the man's heart.

"The enemies of Talon will be eliminated" She whispered.

And from that point on, her life was to never be the same again.