It had been a few hours since the pair had arrived in Atlas, and Periwinkle was currently undergoing debriefing. She was being caught up on what had happened in the last few months. Winnie hadn't seen her son yet but knew that James was bringing her to see him right after she finished questioning. Winnie had noticed that the commander questioning her had white hair.

"Do you recall what happened before you died?" the woman asked.

"No, I don't. I do not remember anything before my reincarnation," Winnie replied flatly

The commander wrote it down and nodded. That was the last of the questions.

"The General would like to meet you outside," She said with a hand wave.

Periwinkle stood and walked out of the questioning room and out into the snowy air. General Ironwood was waiting with a small baby in his arms. That must be Aster! Winnie's heart melted as she approached carefully. The little boy reached out for her without hesitation and that is when she realized. She did not have the slightest idea of what to do.

Winnie picked the baby up and held him, Aster wrapped his arms around her neck and cooed. She noticed that he looked so much like his father, perhaps for the best? Aster cooed again and grabbed his mother's hair. Winnie took his hand and removed it with a head shake. The little boy looked at her confused and his mother turned her head to Ironwood.

"Where do we go now? It's cold and I don't want him out for long," Winnie asked.

"We'll go to my apartment," Ironwood replied

The pair and baby walked to the Academy building where several guards were waiting. They eased to let them inside. Ironwood continued walking until he came to an elevator.

"Wait here, I have to stop by my office and we'll go home," Ironwood told her and headed inside.

Periwinkle nodded and took a seat at a nearby bench. She bounced the boy on her lap gently and smiled. The baby on her lap as he started to whine a bit. Was he hungry? She couldn't offer him milk as far as she knew. She stood up with him and looked around for a place to go. Luckily for her Ironwood came out of the elevator.

"He's hungry, what do I do?" She asked

"Wait until we get back to my apartment, it's better there," James replied and continued walking with her.

Thankfully, it wasn't a terribly far walk. James unlocked the door and the lights came on automatically.

"Security systems deactivate," He commanded and Winnie could hear the ambient hum turn off.

Ironwood went into his fridge and pulled a bottle out, removing the cap he placed it into a microwave. After a few seconds, it beeped and he checked it.

"Here, it's fine," James said as he handed the bottle over.

Winnie took a seat and put the bottle to the child's mouth, she smiled as Aster's eyes drooped. When he finished she set the bottle on a nearby table and placed him over her shoulder. Lightly patting his back the baby burped.

"Should we put him to bed?" Winnie asked.

Ironwood checked his scroll and nodded,
"Yes, I'll do it." He took the baby gently and took Aster to a nearby room.

Winnie waited and looked as Ironwood came out. He took a seat across from her and sighed.

"I wish I could remember what we had, I'm sure you loved the previous incarnation deeply," Winnie said softly, "and I'm sorry I can't replace what you lost."

Ironwood nodded in understanding as he picked up a scrapbook. On the cover, it held a photo of Ironwood and his bride on their wedding day. They were touching foreheads together, but Winnie could see the glint of sadness cross his face.

"Take a look through this, it's from when we got married. I set this up after she, or you died. I made it for Aster so he could have something," General Ironwood said and slid it across the table.