An: Spoilers for the main story up to chapter 59
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I finished strumming my song and looked up at Mommy. "So, what do you think?"
Mommy had a blank expression. "I think that I spent my entire pregnancy listening to nothing but Kiss, ACDC, Scorpions, and Twisted Sister. How the Hell did you end up a folk and country fan?"
"Becuase you let grandpa Patrick babysit me?" I half-asked, half deadpanned.
"I knew that was a mistake."
We were silent for a moment and then both burst out laughing. After another minute or so when we'd both calmed down she continued. "Joking aside, that was very good." She ruffled my hair and gave me a hug.
I hugged back and we just sat like that for a second. "So," Mommy asked, "tell me more about what happened while I was gone?"
"On my first day as a superhero, I punched a dragon in the groin," I said as evenly as I could because delivery is everything. Mommy had a tear in her eye. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she insisted. "I'm just... Overwhelmed with pride."
More quiet, more hugs.
"Now, about the people that took you?"
"It doesn't matter, they're dead." Except for Sinister.
"Ashley?"
"I really don't want to talk about it."
"Ashley?"
"Please don't make me talk about it."
Mommy held me tighter. "Ashley, I know that it hurts, but this is something I need to know. You don't have to tell me right now, but..."
"They... It was kind of like being at a doctor who didn't care about you. They didn't hit me or anything like that, but they had me hooked up to machines that checked my vitals, monitored my blood, feed me through my veins, and filtered mutation factor out of my system. Being harvested for MGH hurts. And even though I was being fed it was through my veins so it felt like I was starving for a whole year, and... The needles, so many needles, and.."
"Stop," Mommy interrupted. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, I... I'll talk about it with my psychiatrist."
"You know, I should probably meet this guy, make sure he knows what he's talking about."
"It's Doc Samson, mom. The Hulk's therapist. Doctor Strange referred me to him."
Mommy got quiet for a bit.
"Mom?"
"I'm sorry, I'm trying to decide if that's a good thing or not."
"It's working out so far."
"You know," Mommy started, "when I was about your age, before we realized what a psycho my mother was, my father took us to Kyushu to visit some distant relatives. While we were there we stayed at a resort with a hot spring and it was just very nice. When you were little I would think about taking you there when you were old enough for international travel, but with how sick you were... Maybe I could see if there's a way to get you there for a little bit, have a relaxing vacation where you can put all the bad things out of your mind."
"Might be nice.
"Maybe see if we can bring some of your new friends along."
"I'd like that."
"And speaking of Kyushu... I understand that the one in this universe isn't there anymore? How the hell did that happen?"
"That dragon I punched in the groin? Apparently, he fought a giant water monster to a standstill and the collateral damage permanently flooded the island. Or something like that."
"Well, I hope it hurt when you punched him."
"Don't worry, it did."
More hugs, more quiet. Then I spoke up. "Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"I love you."
"And I love you, too."