Hello everybody and welcome back to "To Eternity, My Witch". Hope y'all are doing good in this new of 2022. I am not going to jinx it and say that we are going to have a better year. Who knows what 2022 will bring us.

I DO NOT Own any of these as they are and were created by their respective creators. Marvel is owned by the late Stan Lee via Disney. Phantom of the Opera (PotO) is owned by Andrew Llyod Weber. LofZ : TP and OofT by Shigeru Miyamoto. Fire Emblem by Shouzou Kaga. Black Butler by Yana Toboso. And finally, Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 18 Spiders and Valkyries

Third Person's POV.

Jumping through the gate to Alfheim, James and Wanda found themselves on the Trans-Gate and they regarded the mountainous region in front of them. James trotted, with Wanda on his back, through the mountains to the guardian's spring which lay near the temple containing the fused shadow. They met up with the guardian whose name was Libra. He took on the form of a larger than life long-tailed monkey when not in his human from. He clung to the ball of light all light spirits had. Like before James and Wanda received the Vine of Light and James gathered the pieces.

Though before James found the last drop of light, a nearby stone that was carved in the shape of a wolf howling sounded as if it were whistling. James huffed, Perhaps, these are the stones the Hero's Shade mentioned… Wanda didn't say anything as he trotted over and listened to the song for a few minutes before howling its haunting melody. A flash of light… Suddenly he was standing on a floating ledge in the middle of the air over Asgard. Looking over his shoulder to look at his wife, he growled in anger for a moment before quieting. Wanda was not on his back, though he supposed she couldn't follow him to this Aether world where the Hero's Shade resided.

Speaking of, James noticed the Hero's Shade was in his wolf form on another floating ledge that hovered over Asgard's town of Trondheim. He sat there, panting as a wolf does as he waited there patiently. Bucky sat, Hmmm… howling the song got me here. Howling it now will get me another skill. Without hesitation, Buck howled the song, the Hero's Shade howling it back, with some haunting background music playing.

When the music faded the Hero's Shade spoke to him, "Let teachings of old pass to you… Take sword in hand and find me." The Hero's Shade then jumped off the ledge and disappeared into the fog below. A flash of light, Buck was again standing with Wanda on his back.

"What was that all about Buck? You spaced out for a moment." Wanda pulled slightly on his ear which in turned made him growl.

These stones must be the gossip stones the Hero's Shade mentioned Wanda. Like the one we found in the grotto where we battled the Skull Kid. I believe he quietly mentioned they were called howling stones or gossip stones… James thought to her, sniffing around the stone in curiosity, its song now silent.

"Well, we'll have to keep an eye for the Hero's Shade then. Onward my soldier. I do believe the last drop is quite near." Wanda patted his shoulders, fireworks going off in earnest around him. Buck sneezed, agreeing. He trotted around and used his senses and his nose to find the tricky twilight bug that held the last drop of light.

Finding it under a rock, James growled and maneuvered it so he could jump on it and kill it with his deadly jaws. Fangs bared, he let go of the dead twilight bug and the drop of light appeared. When Wanda grabbed it and put it with the rest, the vine of light shone out and Buck brought them back to Libra's spring. When James transformed back into human, Libra charged them to the temple.

James noted to Wanda as they left Libra's spring, pausing outside the spring to regard the citadel in the distance, "I remember Thor mentioning that the Valkyries here are friendly. Perhaps they would give us some time to rest and recover once we're done with the temple."

Wanda nodded, "Perhaps… How you holding up James?"

James frowned, "I just want the fighting to be done Wanda. I just want to settle down with you and raise our daughters. Plus, I am tired from all the bloodshed and evil being aimed at you and I and all those we love. Since I was drafted to the military in the 1930's, all I have done since then is fight. I just was to rest. Perhaps have some goats." His pain of fighting too long showing as he sat down on the path to the temple, hidden under the brambling limbs of the trees above. He closed his eyes, tired, his body weary, mentally tired. Wanda could see into his thoughts, he just wanted peace. He wanted rest. For the fighting to stop.

"I understand completely James. I do too. I want to live my whole life with you. You're my husband, my comrade, my mate. I want to watch our daughters grow up and to grow old with you, my love." Wanda said, love pouring from her Sokovian voice.

James smiled, "My doll, you are so beautiful. I wish I could kiss you right now. But being that we're now different races it'll have to wait a while longer." He reached out and touched Wanda's check. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch despite his hand going through her check.

Bucky and Wanda rested there for the night before they headed to the temple. Their time in the Twilight and dealing with the guardian's light took over a day each. It had become way of life very quickly and they were used to it now, after three weeks of it. In the morning, they arrived at the temple. Like before the temple was vast. But unlike before, it was annoyingly spread out over eight floors. James gained a rod which granted him the ability to control statues, to which both he and Wanda discussed whether it would even be useful outside the temple once they gained the fused shadow guarded there.

Soon he had all that was needed, and he made his way to the guardian's lair. Inside the guardian's chamber, Bucky wrinkled his nose in disgust, "Hmmm… it's dark, dank, and smells horrible down here. What do you think Wanda?" Bucky looked over to her barely visible shadowy form.

"Ugh… If I had so much a bottle of bleach, even that wouldn't take care of the smell and dirt in here!" She complained as she looked around.

"Don't get too disgusted, there are things much worse than this," Bucky looked around, noticing that there were four giant statues at the corners of rooms. The statues' arms where shaped in the form of a fist, allowing control to smash something beneath them. Suddenly, a rustling noise sounded, the ground vibrated. Buck looked around frantically, looking for the source of the sounds.

Wanda hissed out loudly, sneering, "James! Look out! On the ceiling!" She pointed, red fireworks going everywhere, her powers were starting to go haywire.

Buck looked in the direction she pointed, spotting the unnaturally large spider skitter across the ceiling in an erratic pattern. Its unnaturally large eye watching him. He avoided the fiery laser the eye sent out towards him. He hissed in pain as his arm got burned, unable to completely avoid the laser, watching from the floor as the spider crawled down the wall opposite of him and to the floor. He saw his opportunity, using the rod he gained.

He ran over to the nearest statue by the spider and controlled it, swinging the rod to slam the enlarged fist onto the spider's back. The guardian flinched and froze long enough for him to hack at its legs nearest him, destroying one and damaging another before the spider regained its senses and skittered away to the nearest wall and to the ceiling.

Wanda shouted, "Be careful of the spider's beam, Bucky! I got burned when I accidently moved the wrong way!" She appeared, trying shove him away.

James yelled at her as he pushed her hand away, "I know that!" He dodged the spider's beam yet again. He took out his bow and aimed towards the eye. Without missing, his aim proved true and the eye closed shut, causing the spider to skitter haphazardly before coming down from the ceiling. James and Wanda did this deadly dance with the spider several hours with several verbal fights between them before it finally burst into bits.

However, unlike before, a spider the size of a small dog with a plethora of tinier spiders surrounded it and it skittered away from him as he approached it. Wanda growled, apparent disgust in her voice and on her face, "Just my luck. I hate spiders… A ginormous one and now a plethora of tiny ones. I'll help herd them to you James." She used her hand to help herd them to James.

James, in turn, used his sword and arm to defeat the tiny spiders until only the larger spider remained. It skittered haphazardly around, avoiding him quite readily, causing Buck to become furious, letting out multiple strings of curses in Russian, Wakandan, and English. He raged, "Blasted spider!" He took out his bow and aimed. His arrow missed this time, as did the second.

Wanda shouted several colorful curses of her own in both Sokovian and Russian and used her hair to smash the spider into a smelly, nasty mess. "Disgusting creature!" Wanda cursed, uttering several more strings of curses after that. The remains shattered and coalesced into another piece of fused shadow.

James breathed deep several times, trying to calm himself down from the infuriating battle. Cursing under his breath, Buck walked over to Wanda who now had the fused shadow in her pseudo-hand made from her hair. "Cursed spider… burned my arm and hand and the hairs from it are irritating. So many scrapes and what not," Wanda mumbled herself as he approached.

James frowned as well, "My arm and shoulder are sore and burned, and I have a rather large wound on my right leg, Wanda." He took off his useless bracer, said wound bleeding and angry red.

Wanda floated forward, touching it gently, "Perhaps the Valkyries will have some medical supplies here in Alfheim above. And perhaps they would be willing to repair that bracer for you. Come." She pulled the piece of fused shadow into her infinite hollow and pointed at the floor. A portal appeared and she went to float over it. She turned to Buck, "Come James, I will transport us to Libra's Spring and then we can try to contact the Valkyries." She was still annoyed. Irritated.

"I'm sorry Wanda. For yelling at you earlier." He mentioned quietly, remorseful, contrite, hesitating to come forward for getting angry with her.

Wanda shrugged, brushing it off, "James… It's alright… We were in the middle of a fight with a guardian. Besides as married couples sometimes do, we are bound to argue about something. There will be times we are going to argue about things both insignificant and major, James." She made her way over to him floating in front of him, close to him.

He looked up, an uncertain look in his eyes, "Are you sure you forgive me? What if I hurt you in the future?" He took an unsteady step back.

Wanda smiled, going to James and hugging him as best she could. His tense muscles relaxed as her embrace. "You could never hurt me enough to hate you, James. No matter what. Come! We need to get that wound looked at." She tapped his arm before she floated over to the portal.

James went forward slowly, standing in the portal. Wanda transported him to the edge of Libra's Spring where they were greeted by a surprised Valkyrie. She was short and had black hair and was of brown skin and brown eyes. Her tattoos were quite minimal. The Valkyries were known for getting tattoos as they aged, were in battles, or faced with tough decisions.

"Welcome to Alfheim, stranger. What has you here for business?" She asked as she petted her Pegasus steed, fingering the pommel of her sword.

James regarded her for a moment, before answering, "Well, I was here to restore your realm from the invaded Twilight. Though, how much do you know of the situation, madam?" He watched her with guarded eyes.

The Valkyrie frowned, "My people and I heard the invaders come and we all are in defensive mode in our citadel. Even though we did our best, we failed to keep him from getting to the spring and we were forced to retreat to our citadel. Our fears were confirmed when we watched in sorrow from our citadel as they went to this here spring and they suddenly disappeared. There was little we could do to prevent their invasion as there are very few of us Valkyries left here in Alfheim because of Hela, Odin's dead daughter. Of our 14 million people we only have roughly estimated 779,987 give or take two or three thousand, left. My name is Brunhilda. What do you go by, stranger?" She came forward the few feet to James, apparent trusting him at his explanation.

James held out his right hand, his Brooklyn charm coming out, "My name's James Barnes. Buck for short. Nice to meet you Brunhilda."

Brunhilda took his hand and shook it, smiling, "Indeed James. I heard from one of Thor's guards who came through the Bifrost four weeks ago that there was trouble brewing. When my fellow Valkyries and I heard strange booming noises coming from the temple ground, my fellows had me come here to scout. Was it you making those booming noises?"

Nodding, James looked towards the temple before turning back to her, "Yes, the treasure, a fused shadow, therein that the temple guardian held is needed to defeat the usurper, Ragnar. Nothing to worry about."

Brunhilda nodded solemnly, "Very well… Though I implore you, be careful with that treasure, the fused shadow, it's dangerous. Our legends say that touching it but once, it will corrupt your mind and make you mad with lust for battle and rage." She turned and walked to her Pegasus. She opened a saddle pack and grabbed something from it. She closed the pack again and came to James.

"Here, let me clean and bandage your arm up temporarily until we get to the citadel. The irritants from the guardian spider's beam and hairs can potentially cause infection." Brunhilda waved him to sit down at the spring's edge.

"Thanks." James sat and let her clean and dress his wounded arm. Twenty minutes later, he was hiking with Brunhilda and her Pegasus towards the village her people had set up.

Clint's POV.

I stood outside at the edge of Lanayru's second spring right above the inn, being it was built into the cliff and a spring made its way up there randomly. Sighing heavily, I sat down and let my feet soak in the spring's warm, soothing waters. Stefan had just delivered the news minutes ago that Lila, Cooper, and Nathaniel were safe under the care of Natasha, Peter, and MJ in Vanaheim, in the village of Tofte. They were rescued and under the protection of the town's leader, Charles and his daughter Meg. A few tears of relief escaped my eyes as I stared into the spring's water, not caring if there was a risk of twilight beasts and monsters nearby.

I jerked to my right when I felt the hand of someone touch my left shoulder. I flinched and twisted away, only to see my lovely wife Laura standing there near my shoulder. She had tears of relief in her eyes. "They're safe Clint. Truly they are."

I smiled weakly, combing my fingers through my short hair, "I just can't believe it. After all the tragedies and good times… After the loss of them being kidnapped, they're safe. Laura, I…" Tears spilt down my checks as my words faded into silence as I was too choked up to continue.

Laura knelt next to me and pulled me into her arms. "Shhh… It's alright, Clint. They're safe. All is right now again as best as it can be. Our children are safe, and Natasha, Peter, and MJ are safe as well." She whispered as I clung to her sobbing, just as she wept.

Steve's POV.

I laid on my bed as I stared up at the ceiling of the blacksmith's hidden room. Tears were running down my checks. Tears of joy. Natasha had been saved and was residing in Tofte of Vanaheim with the Barton children, Peter, and MJ. Stefan had just relayed the news less than an hour ago. Tony and Pepper were beyond joyed, and Clint and Laura were a sobbing mess back in Trondheim.

Please stay save my Natasha. You and our son. I thought as I fell asleep in exhaustion.

Pietro's POV.

I stared out over the countryside of Asgard from the lofty heights where the hot springs were in Trondheim. The twilight covered Asgard was a weird place to be for so long. I nibbled on a piece of bread absentmindedly as I watched with curious eyes as a twilight beast bird fly over me without bothering to swoop down and mess with me. I wondered to my sister and brother-in-law. Sister be safe with your husband. You need it. Especially with the events of the last three weeks.

My thoughts were interrupted when Clint nudged my shoulder, causing me to flinch in surprise, "Thinking?" He sat by me, feet dipping into the springs above the town's inn. He appeared to be much more carefree again now that he knew his children were safe within Vanaheim.

"Yes, about Wanda and James." I sighed, a sad smile on my face.

Clint patted my shoulder, "I understand. I think about her and James all the time. Now that you and Wanda are my children, I worry great for yours and her safety now. Especially with her being pregnant."

"Yeah… It's so weird to think I'll be an uncle in the next seven months. To twin girls no less. Ironic, isn't it? That being twins, Wanda is now expecting twins?" I asked, glancing over the waters of the spring.

Clint chuckled, "Yes. Also, glad to know James has the virility." I looked at him in shocked embarrassment at his innuendo. "Settle down Pietro. You'll have to get use to me saying stuff like so. I'm Hawkeye. Many know me for saying such things. Come let's go to bed." He stood and gave me a hand up.

"Thanks dad. For everything." I spoke with conviction, Clint smiled sadly, patting my shoulder before he went inside. I followed soon after.

Third Person POV.

Three days after the temple, James and Brunhilda approached the Realm Platform. James dismounted the Pegasus stead he had been given to ride and approached the gateway with Brunhilda. Hesitating on touching the Trans-gate Orb, he turned to Brunhilda who stood at the platform's edge, head down. "Brunhilda… I'm sorry… truly I am. I…"

She shook her head, hands folded, eyes downcast, "It's… it's alright James. I didn't mean to try to… to seduce you from Wanda. It is my fault for assuming you were single and not asking if you were already taken. And I didn't know the ring on your finger, nor the tattoo were an indication you were married… Married couples here don't wear rings, instead they wear bracers inlaid with gold indicating such…" She looked up at James without meeting his gaze, a tear in her eye. "Not many men have looked me over. There was several, but all just wanted me for… other things… Only one did ever come after me… and his looks and his character were much like you. I truly am sorry."

James came off the platform again and placed his hand on her left shoulder, "You'll find the perfect man Brunhilda. Just not with me. You have a heart of gold. Those men who passed you over don't know what their missing. They'll regret not getting to know you for the strong, independent warrior you are."

Brunhilda looked up, a weak smile gracing her lips, "Thank you James. Tell Wanda she's lucky to have you. You're as handsome as Erik was and you have the scar to prove it." She poked his left arm.

James furrowed his brow, "Why would my arm prove it? You don't even know my history or why I have a vibranium arm."

Brunhilda shook her head, "We Valkyries see scars and prosthetics as a complement James. When the others and I spoke, we went quite in depth on your arm. Whatever happened regarding the loss of your real arm and gaining such a technologically advanced prosthetic arm, you were a hero, a true warrior. It shows you've been through much, and have come out on top as a hero. You have triumphed over your past. To have a prosthetic with that type of technology also gives you much respect and credit to your name's sake among us Valkyries. It doesn't matter what you went through, you have overcome it all. Another reason why I was attracted to you…"

James stared at her in shock. To hear that the Valkyries saw scars and prosthetics as a complement was a confidence boost. "Thank you, Brunhilda. You don't know what your words mean to me."

Brunhilda smiled, it was a genuine and grateful smile, "You're welcome, James. Now off with you. You have two more realms to clear of twilight." She shooed him to the platform, and she whistled. The pegasii came forward. "Be safe James. The Valkyries will come to your aid as soon as the Twilight is lifted in Asgard. Just send the word when you need us and we will come," she said confidently saluting him by crossing her left arm across her chest. He smiled and saluted her back before touching the transporting Orb.

In the Bifrost, before she pulled him into the Twilight covered Asgard, Wanda appeared, clearly flustered and angry.

James remained calm, knowing she was angered with him and jealous. He smiled at her, trying to work his Brooklyn charm, as she hmphed and ranted, "What was that all about James?! She basically took advantage of you!"

"She was lonely, Wanda. Yes, what she did was wrong, but I did the best thing in the moment. I let her hold me that second evening when she brought us to her city. She knows the truth now and is contrite and remorseful from what she did. She personally apologized and confessed to her superior and I. Besides, Brunhilda and I are just friends. You hold my heart with you always, doll." James came forward trying to get her eye, but even in the limited space she avoided him effectively.

"James, she practically threw herself at you and played you!" Wanda huffed, dramatically trying her best to get Bucky to see her side of the situation.

James stated gently, taking none of Wanda's bait, already knowing and seeing her side of the situation, "Now you're just being huffy, Wanda. Yes, she may have, but in the end, I refused her. I have remained faithful to you Wanda."

Wanda's shoulders slumped, having realized he was right and wasn't going to agree with her in any way, "I suppose you're right, James. I… I am sorry."

James went to her again, charming her with his typical Brooklyn ways, "Wanda, you are the woman I love. Yes, Brunhilda was pretty, but she is homely compared to you. You are my light and the mother of my children. You're stunning, my shining jewel, even in this impish form."

Wanda smirked, saying after several moments, "You're such a smooth talker, soldier." She disappeared beyond the wall and suddenly her giant pseudo-hand appeared and pulled him through the wall before he could say anything. Wanda stood near James as he fell to his knees and hands, groaning in pain.

James groaned as he felt the pain as his body changed in that of his wolf form. He had closed his eyes as he transformed. When he was finally in his wolf form, Buck opened his eyes and looked to Wanda. She was beautiful in human form and this impish form. He stood and walked forward to lick her on the check. She laughed and held his face in her hands. Neither of them noticing the retreating spirit on the Bifrost's bridge to Asgard.

"Hello my handsome wolf. Ready for the last realm before we do Asgard?" She asked.

James barked and bowed, ready to get going. Wanda climbed on and Bucky started to trot over to the last gateway to Muspelheim when Wanda tugged on his ear getting his attention and pointing towards the Bifrost sword pedestal, "James, there's a package by the sword. Let's see what it is."

James huffed but did as she asked. He watched as she unwrapped the package. Inside the package was a tunic and a pair of fitted trousers that were dyed blood red. James touched the note on the sword with his muzzle before Wanda read it out loud, "'Wanda, James, I see you have Vanaheim, Jotumhein, and Alfheim completed and freed from Twilight. You don't know how much this means to everyone. The bundle contains clothing with fire infinity barriers that are magically entwined in its threads.

"'The Gorons that came here to live with the Asgardians in the region of Mount Navessa developed it in my universe where they live near a volcano of the same name. The clothes were developed so as when people aside from dragons and Gorons who wanted to mine for metals in volcanoes, they could do so without issue of being burned alive. In simple terms, the magical threads prevent you from being burned and roasted alive.

"'It's as if you are walking though the Asgardian palace on a nice cool day. I have placed several bundles of supplies for you both in the guardian's spring. Eldin knows of your arrival. The temple is inside an active volcano in Muspelheim. Since Muspelheim is covered in Twilight, neither of you should suffer from the heat, but when you do remove it, be extremely wary. James, make sure you put on the fire tunic before you leave Eldin's Spring.

"'Wanda, you should be protected regardless as you're a Twili once you two remove the twilight. Please stay safe and avoid any and all denizens of Muspelheim you come across. All are dangerous and hostile. When you arrive back here and meet Lanayru in the spring, tread cautiously, there are many fell beasts and monsters still lurking. ~ Stefan.'"

Wanda fingered the fire tunic and its trousers, thinking out loud, "Handy indeed. Ready James?" James barked and nuzzled her face.

Let's move Wanda doll. James said in his mind to her. Wanda got on his back and grabbed the tunic and pants, both still completely unaware of the spirit hiding behind the one-way wall. Wanda leaned on James' furry back, holding onto the fur of his right shoulder and the uppermost plate of his left, as he trotted over to gateway to Muspelheim. James paused and looked back to Wanda. She nodded and he jumped into the open portal.

Stefan's POV.

I watched at the bundle containing the tunic and trousers floated in the air before they disappeared completely. Wanda had put them into her pocket dimension for later. I watched as the gateway to Muspelheim activate and deactivate as Wanda and James jumped into it. It was nearly impossible for me to get to Eldin's Spring and back here while I can't change forms. I thought as I watched as the last spark of the Bifrost disappeared.

I sighed, praying that they'd be safe in Muspelheim. It was dangerous there. I turned and put on my invisibility cloak before walking down the bridge back to the rocky support where Thor, Steve, and T'Challa waited for me to help with the explosives to kill the leviathan below.

Peter's POV.

I watched as MJ helped Meg and Charles with the chores in the sanctuary and the town. She was greatly maturing since we were forced to be on the run with Steve and the others. Now that the others and I were cleared of any wrong doings, MJ and I had time to dwell on the future. She had a maturity that most our age didn't have. Another villager had come over with a meal for them all an hour prior as I thought. The other villagers, all 238 of them, had finally accepted Natasha, MJ, and I into their ranks. The Barton children were immediately accepted in the beginning because of their tender age.

I watched, wishing I could help in some way further, though with a healing broken arm it wasn't really going to happen. As much as the spring's waters were helping it heal quicker than humanly possible, it wasn't healing quick enough. Sitting there are the edge of the spring, I unknowingly had Natasha came up to me from behind without my knowledge, my spider senses not alerting me to her presence. When she cleared her throat, I flailed a bit in surprise, scared, "Jesus Nat, don't go scaring me like that." Seems my spider senses saw Natasha as a trusted friend and fellow spider.

She smiled, "Oh come on Peter. It's just that you were so engrossed in observing MJ, that I couldn't resist making you jump. How are you doing young spider?"

I sighed, standing, "I am alright, Madame Romanoff. Just wish I could have done more to have prevented our kidnapping."

Natasha patted my shoulder, "It's alright Peter. Please call me Natasha or Nat, you deserve it. And another note, I am Steve's wife now. I am not a Romanoff anymore; I am a Rogers. Besides… There is nothing more you could have done. You were valiant battling those twilight beasts. Courageous. Tony and Pepper, I am sure, will be proud to hear that you killed two Twilight beasts and wounded many others. All by yourself with your spider senses and powers."

I huffed further, "They probably are disappointed with me. I failed to keep us all from getting kidnapped. I…" I was so far in my depressive rant, turning away from her as I ranted that I didn't see that Natasha had bent to pick a stick from the ground. I turned back to her only for her to hit me on the head with said stick, causing me to flail and growled out and sneer at her. "Ow! What the heck Natasha?! What did I do?!"

She stated simply, yet in a commanding tone, a tone that was both compassionate and loving, "What nonsense is coming from your mouth Peter? Why would they be disappointed? Like I said, I wouldn't doubt they are going to be proud of what you did when we arrive back! Just like I am. And I mean it! Understand young spider?!"

I understood perfect as I nodded, scared to argue with her, knowing any arguments meant her wrath, "Yes momma spider."

Natasha smiled, humor behind her reply, she liked the sound of momma spider, "Good, now get over to MJ and tell her you love her." She gave me a gentle push. However, I paused and turned to her.

"Hey Natasha? Permission to speak freely?" I probed.

"Sure, go ahead." She smiled. She was stunning when she smiled.

"As for Steve, I… I am sure Steve is elated to hear that you are well and good as well as the baby. Right before the wedding, I told him he's beyond lucky to have found you and married you." She blushed at my words as I paused. I looked over to the spring and thought of Aunt May. I looked back to Natasha; she was so much like Aunt May. I continued, taking her hand and kissing the back of them gently, "As I see you so much like my Aunt May. It… it would… would be a great honor if I could call you Aunt Natasha… Please… keep taking care of yourself and the baby, Aunt Nat. And soon we'll all be back with our loved ones." And with that I turned to join Meg, Charles, and MJ under the awning of the barn, leaving a stunned Natasha in the dust before she joined us.

Please leave a review or pm me if any of you have questions or concerns. I hope you all are enjoying this story. Until next time…

WS. Z.