🕸 mcu/nikke || ❝ i'm just a believer things will get better. ❞

[withresponsibility]

[ Ssshk.

Beep, beep, beep.

Peter Parker quietly slides the door closed behind him.

Click.

Beep, beep, beep.

He winces slightly before looking over at the occupants of the room.

Ariel is sitting next to the hospital bed that belongs to the man that saved the universe. At least as far as Peter's concerned it's the universe. Half the universe? Right, not the time to worry over the details. He came by for a reason and that's more important.

His classic awkward smile is given to Ariel when she looks up. A small smile is given to him with a nod, giving him permission that he hadn't really asked for just yet. He glances over at the bed again before sliding his backpack down onto the floor beside the door. Then, as quietly as he can, he moves to stand at the foot of the bed. Hands slide down into the pockets of his jeans.

A silence fills the air as the machines still beep at a steady heart beat. Which, really, is good news. That alone should be enough to ease the fears coursing through the teenager. Except the fact that Tony Stark is laying in the bed, not waking up, with right hand, arm, and side of his face bandaged. Peter let's out a sigh before rocking forward and back on his feet. He looks back at Ariel. ]

Any change?

[ She looks back up at the teenager. Instead of answering with words, she raises a hand and gestures to where he stands. Peter gives her a inquisitive look back before looking down at the digital clipboard. Medical terminology is pretty above him, but he can at least follow that things look good. It seems like they're giving him a lot of pain medication. It makes sense, but, he can't help but worry about it.

Hell, he can't help feeling guilty. That it's his fault.

Peter sighs and looks back up at Ariel. She's never one to really be a chatterbox (unlike him). She still usually says something, or makes her presence known somehow. Now, it's like she is trying to disappear from everyone who might walk into the room. He frowns and glances back at his unconscious mentor in the bed. ]

I'm pretty sure that Mr. Stark wouldn't mind it you talked. It's not like you're loud ... like me. [ He gives her an awkward smile and scratches the back of his head. ] They say that people can still hear even when they're unconscious. He'd probably prefer if you did over all the beeping.

[ Ariel gives him a smile that's not really a smile. Those are the kind of ones that people give when they try to convince everyone else that things are okay and they're not. He's seen it plenty of enough times and even been the one to give it to people. Of course, it never really worked on Tony and Ariel, and now he can see why.

He frowns. ]

No, I'm positive he'd want to hear you talk. [ Peter insists gently. ] If you've been with him for years, then--

[ He stops because Ariel pulls out a tablet. One of the fancy ones from Stark Industries that has the crazy holographic tech. No, on second thought, it's probably because of Tony that she has that and not the company. Her fingers gently move over the screen before she holds it up for him to take. Peter gives her a skeptical look before taking the tech from her and looking down at the typed text. ]

I TOLD him to come home. I promised I never would. I did.

[ Peter reads it over again. The initial response of "obviously you'd say that, you're pretty much married" is held back as he glances at her. Her gaze has fallen back to Tony. Peter once more looks her over. Her hands are centimeters away from touching Tony's non bandaged hand, but she's not touching him. Almost like she's afraid she'd hurt him more if she did. He looks back down at the screen in his hand. ]

Oh, [ he finally breathes out the realization.

He doesn't know much about what Ariel can do. He's seen the bubbles she makes, even tried studying it a few times along side Tony. He's seen her command them and change them into crazy shapes like she's making paintings or sculptures. But, he's heard where she has another power to command people. Not that he's ever seen it--he thinks. He can recall Dr. Strange and Tony arguing about it on the ship when they initially went to fight Thanos. Something about Dr. Strange thinking he could use it and Tony saying it "was off the table."

Peter frowns more as another realization sets in. He remembers seeing her bubbles seeps out of the suit Tony wore in the battle. Everyone but Dr. Strange was confused as to why it was there. Not that the Sorcerer Supreme gave any indication as to what was happening or why. Now, Peter thinks he gets the basics of it. Ariel must have given a command to her bubbles to ensure Tony would come home... and that's bad?

He looks up at Ariel and really looks at her. Then, he can see it. It's not just worry or fear that Tony Stark may not wake up. It's guilt--the same guilt he feels. The feeling that tells him it's his fault that his mentor is in the state he's in. If he hadn't have just died--disappeared--it wouldn't have happened. If he had been better, stronger, faster, more alert to stop Thanos it wouldn't have happened. Except, he gets the feeling Ariel blames herself for the medical state that her partner is currently in. ]

I still don't think he'd mind. [ Peter says after a long moment and hands her the screen back. ] I'm sure he doesn't mind whatever it was your bubbles did, because he's still home--

[ Ariel looks up at him immediately. It's not sharply or even in anger. More like she's horrified that someone else was aware of what she did.

Peter puts his hands up. ] No, not, it's okay. Don't freak out, okay? Your bubbles were in the suit and we saw them! That's all. We didn't even know why. I mean, now I do, because I read what you said. Still. I'm one hundred percent positive that Mr. Stark doesn't mind. He loves you, Ariel. It's kind of obvious.

[ Her fingers brisk across the screen and types once more. This time she doesn't hand it to Peter to read. He has to lean to the side on one leg to see what she's written. Her hands shake and then he notices the water specs on the screen. Peter looks up at her face to find it hidden with all the crazy amounts of hair she has, but he can tell she's started to cry. His heart sinks and he looks back to the screen. ]

I promised. He might not remember it. I promised.

[ Another sigh comes from the teenager. Another scratch on the back of his neck. He quickly grabs his backpack and sinks down in the chair next to Ariel. The bag opens and out comes the school laptop. He glances up at her to see she hasn't quite looked at him, but he can tell he's caught her attention. ]

Homework. [ Peter says flatly, but it's not a lie. ] Mind if I do it here?

[ Ariel shakes her head and he can tell she has something of a smile despite her face being hidden.

That's more or less how the next week goes. Peter stops by the hospital and does homework next to Ariel. There had been one day when he crawled in from the window and stayed on the ceiling until the nurse left, given he was still done up in his suit. He was pretty sure she almost laughed at the idea of Spider-Man entering a window holding his backpack. Eh, whatever works. He still has a grant and internship to live up to in his mind.

Harry and MJ ask him what's going on. He's more or less truthful about it. He's been stopping by to check on Ariel and Mr. Stark. After all, authority guardianship wise, they're who he has now. He promises to go out to the movies with them on the weekend and prays nothing is going to catch on fire, or explode, or some crazy maniac decide now to come out and destroy half of New York City. His friends need the time to feel normal and like the world is normal again... when it really, really isn't normal anymore.

Thankfully, he gets his wish.

Which makes him wonder what monkey's paw curled somewhere.

Harry is the one that had to break up the outing. Something going down at Oscorp, which he's been in charge of since everything happened between Spider-Man and Norman Osborn--the Green Goblin. Peter wishes him well and then offers to walk MJ home since well... it'd be awkward hanging out with his best friend's girlfriend alone. There is an awkward tension between the two that Peter tries to brush off as quick as he can.

Then, he's back to the hospital.

Ariel is standing out in the hallway this time with a woman he doesn't know. She has long silver-white hair, ruby eyes. She has Ariel pulled off practically to a corner and talking to her in whispers. Ariel is consistently shaking her head and at one point simply puts her hands to her face and curls up. The other woman pulls her into an embrace and Peter decides now is the best time to stop looking and slides into Tony's room quietly.

Ssshk.

Beep, beep, beep.

Click.

Beep, beep, beep. ]

Hi, Mr. Stark.

[ No response, not that Peter really expected it.

At some point he ends up in the corner of the room with his homework. Not on the floor, on the ceiling. He's sure one day someone is going to make man-spider jokes at him and he's just hoping that it's not that day. Sometimes just hanging upside down is weirdly comfortable to him. It also puts him out of the way of the doctors and nurses. They all know who he is anyways. It's the same hospital he dropped Norman Osborn off at years ago... and more or less the whole ER staff saw who Spider-Man was. Now, most those doctors and nurses are the ones that are attending to Tony.

He wonders who pulled that string. ]

"I was wondering if you'd show up today."

[ Peter tilts his head down and practically jumps out of his skin. The voice isn't unfamiliar but just... surprising he's there at all. ]

Holy shit. Oh my god! Dr. Strange, don't... [ Peter puts a hand to his forehead and immediately quiets his voice down. No extra stress needs to be in the room. ] Wait, how long have you been here?

"Long enough to see you perch yourself upside down." [ Strange raises his eyebrows and gives a smug smirk. ] "How can you focus with all the blood rushing to your head like that?"

Well, you know... uh, I was... spider bitten? [ Peter offers an odd grin before it fades away. He looks back at the sliding door that's fully covered, noticing that someone hasn't rejoined them. ] You wouldn't happen to know...?

"Ariel is currently visiting with an old friend. Her name is Cinderella. And yes, we all know the fairytale naming conventions. Don't bother pointing it out." [ The Sorcerer Supreme waves his hand before picking up the digital clipboard and looking over the information. ] "Well, thankfully, they've kept Stark in great condition. Good. I'd hate to see standards drop so far after I left."

Hold on--after you left? Wait, you're really a doctor?

[ Strange rolls his eyes before turning to look at Peter. That's when the teen realizes that Strange is dressed in normal clothes. That's somehow weirder than seeing the guy in a cape. Jeans, a nice shirt and semi-casual jacket. It makes Peter's head do a spin to actually see the Sorcerer Supreme as a normal human being. ]

"Yes. M.D., Ph.D. Neurosurgeon. Who do you think was there overseeing surgery when Stark went in?" [ Strange says it almost as if he's offended to trust some other neurosurgeon with an Avenger. ] "My old colleague and I made a technique that ... nevermind. It's not important. What are you doing here?"

[ Peter pauses almost as if he's offended that Strange would ask such a dumb question. A hand lowers then gestures outside to where the two women are at. ] You know! Just... visiting, and trying to keep Ariel company. I've been coming here for a week. Where have you been?

"Keeping the cosmos together so you can keep Ariel company for the last week." [ Strange smirks, amused at how annoyed the teenager gets. ] "Cinderella wanted to check on Ariel, and I wanted to make sure Stark was actually recovering. Which, by the way, he is.. just slowly. Not that it would be too surprising after having the entire energy of cosmos flood through your highly advanced technological suit. And, the bubbles your girlfriend makes."

Wife. Right? [ Peter tries to correct the former surgeon. ] I mean... they're, you know. Married. Right?

"Probably something to ask your benefactor once he wakes up. Wouldn't you know? I was under the impression he pretty much had you legally adopted."

[ Peter puffs his cheeks out and shrugs, crossing his arms across his chest. He never really thought about it or to ask. The two just seemed... married already. It reminds him of how his aunt and uncle were when he was growing up. Just with a lot more technology and snarkiness... and money. ]

"Well, anyways. I'd imagine Stark will wake up in the next few days if things keep going at the pace they're at. Which will be a relief to all of us, and you can stop hanging out in the corner of a hospital room like a spider." [ Strange makes his way to the sliding door. Then, he stops. He half turns back to Peter with something of an approving smile. ] "She'd want me to say it, so, I'll pass it along. Thanks for keeping Ariel company. She probably needs it more than the two of us would realize."

[ Peter looks out the hallway at the slightly opened door. He can partially see the two women. ] How do they know each other?

"Old friends. I'm not in the habit of repeating myself, Parker." [ Strange opens the door further and sighs. ] "Teammates. They were their own sort of Avengers."

[ Then, he slides the door shut.

Peter leans back against the walls again. A sigh leaves him as he looks at the floor. Well, his attention is gone entirely from homework. Not that it was really on it to start with. It was going in about seven different directions that had nothing to do with homework. MJ and Harry, Ariel and Tony. The fact Strange would even come by a hospital and was an actual real doctor. He turns his head to look at the television that's muted and has been the entire week he's visited. ]

Comments

[bubblesong]

[ She smiles against his mouth. The amused smile that Tony always manages to get her to make at his jokes. The ones that don't involve breaking himself down in a way to misdirect but also say everything he really thinks. ]

... There might be more recovery rooms. So, I'll have to make sure to remember next time. [ Her eyes drop to his right arm and right side briefly. She had over heard "skin graphs." She doesn't know the details yet, but, knows that the tone means surgeries. How many more? ] Umm, they said that there might be more surgeries depending on the burns...

[ She takes his hand and lifts it slowly and carefully, resting it on her leg. He has barely been able to move let alone do much else for over a week. He alwas comments on her hair and her legs, so she hopes it might make things feel more normal. Like he's truly home and not far away in space.

Then, her hand rests on top of his again with their rings touching. ]

I thought you didn't like fairy tales. [ Little Mermaid smiles more, knowing a super hero story isn't quite the same. She mouths the word "prince" against his lips, as she knows it's something no one else should even hear. Even if Peter is asleep soundly in the chair. ] Maybe a good morning kiss every time you wake up?

I... don't know much of what's been going on. [ A look of guilt takes her eyes. ] I've been focused on trying to keep my world together... and here... with me and Peter.

[ Little Mermaid smiles once more but her voice wavers. Tears come to her eyes. She's missed this. Talking with Tony, being close to him. Just being with him. She would apologize again for not keeping up with the team and the world, but, he wouldn't want to hear it. He wouldn't accept it.

Her head tilts to the side to press a kiss to the cheek that isn't hurt. A breath escapes her as she tries to contain emotions that always flow out like water. ] I'm sorry for breaking my promise... because I didn't break it to be a hero, or a Goddess of Victory. I didn't do it because it was good, or the right thing, or to help the world or the Avengers.

[ Something like a cry leaves her before she swallows it down. Just like she did her words for so many years. She's scared to admit the truth to him. Part of her fears she'll fall in eyes and no longer be his Goddess of Victory. The other part is afraid to reveal itself to the world. The lonely part that nearly consumed her time and time again when she was locked away from the world.

Still, Little Mermaid raises her eyes back to his with the tears obviously ready to fall. ]

I was so scared... scared that they would bring you home, but you'd be dead. This time you wouldn't come home with a funny comment and smiling. You'd be somewhere I couldn't... [ She frowns and closes her eyes, forehead gently pressed to his. ] I didn't want to lose my world to save everyone else's...

[ She was supposed to be a good person. Someone Abe could trust. Someone who would use the Kotodama for good otherwise it would isolate her. ]

[doesntpaint]

[ Tony stays quiet for a long moment, just looking at her. His hand is weak against hers, and honestly, he hates that. He wonders if he'll be able to even hold tools after this. Not that he's planning on working on building projects right away, or even at all, but... He's an inventor. He builds things. Maybe his time building things is over. He doesn't voice any of that, not yet. Instead, his thumb shifts just enough to brush against her ring, a tiny, almost imperceptible movement that says he's still here, still with her. ]

Hey, you didn't break anything, and I'll keep repeating that until the cows come home if I have to. You kept me alive. Not just now, but all the way through. You know what that means? That means you've got strength. Real strength.

[ His eyes close as her forehead rests against his, and for once, he lets the silence fill the room instead of interrupting it with quips. ]

You know what? This is gonna sound crazy, but you don't have to be anyone's goddess or soldier or symbol. You don't have to be victory all the time. You're allowed to just be scared. Hell, I've been scared more times than I'll ever admit in front of anyone but you. Case in point: I was scared I wasn't gonna make it back, that I'd never see you or Peter again.

[ This is one of those moments that's meant to be for them, for their ears only. And, well, for Peter's too, but he's asleep. Maybe he can hear some of it, like how Tony picked up bits and pieces of things while he was unconscious.

He doesn't mind if Peter hears. This is for both of them. ]

You're my world too. Always have been. And I didn't fight my way back just to let it end out there in the dark. Not when I've got you here.

[ He pauses, and then he adds: ] Thinking I still had you here helped, a lot. [ He pauses once more before continuing. ]

Yeah, I'll take that good morning kiss. Every time, as long as you're offering.

[bubblesong]

[ The ring shifts on her finger, and Little Mermaid simply smiles at him despite the few stray tears that slide down her cheeks. She knows he's there with her. He's just exhausted and in pain, one causing the other and vice versa. Even though he's conscious again? He'll need sleep just to heal. So much sleep that he'll be tired of it and want to do things again. Maybe she should have Peter bring his work pad over so he and JARVIS can do things together. It might help keep his mind off the fact he's hardly moving. ]

But... I am someone's Goddess of Victory. [ She raises her hand and brushes the tears off her cheeks. ] I have to keep going even if I'm scared.

[ I just needed to hear that it was okay... or be forgiven if I broke his trust.

She squeezes his good hand. "You're my world too. Always have been."

She looks down bashfully, but the smile is wide on her face. Words are powerful things. Sometimes they need to be spoken to reaffirm or reassure. If she didn't need to be forgiven... maybe she just needed to hear what she already knows again. Tony is never as open with emotions as she is, so moments like this are treasures in her memory.

She nods again to show she understands. Wrestling with breaking her promise to Abe will be something she has to come to terms within herself. Tony doesn't blame her or see that she has broken her promise to him. A weight seems to be lifted off her shoulders and she visibly relaxes without noticing it. ]

Then, I'll keep being here for you. That way it helps more.

[ She leans forward just as needed to kiss him again. This time she lingers, brushing her lips against his again. A teasing smile curls from the bashful one. ]

Now you have your good morning kiss. [ A pause before tilting her head so her lips brush against his ear. ] I love you, Tony.

[ He wanted to hear it every morning too.

Little Mermaid sits up then with a decision having been made. She turns entirely on the bed, angling so she can lay down beside him. The only way it works of course is the fact the rails have been lowered. Even then, some of her frame isn't fully on the bed. She can balance herself just fine. A small moment like this to make things normal again may help too.

She guides his good hand and arm to wrap around her. Then, her head gently lays on his shoulder. She hopes it helps as much as she thinks it will. Her head tilts back just enough to look at him. One hand hesitantly rests her finger tips on the arc reactor.

Now, she wants to talk about whatever he wants to say. She's okay now. ]

[doesntpaint]

[ Tony lets out a long, tired breath, one that carries both exhaustion and relief. His hand slides over hers, fingers entwining, letting her presence ground him. ]

You know, for someone who claims to be scared half the time, you're remarkably persistent. I mean it. That's a talent in itself. [ He gives a small, amused shake of his head. ] Not everyone could manage to make me forget everything else going on just by being here. Although, I gotta say, sometimes I miss all the aouu. Your voice is great, though. Really. Don't change a thing.

[ He shifts slightly so he can look down at her, the corner of his mouth quirking into a small, wry smile despite the fatigue. ] And this... [ He gestures vaguely to her head resting on his shoulder, her hand near his arc reactor. ] This is exactly what I needed without even knowing I needed it. You've got a way of turning a war zone into a home, making me feel like I'm not carrying the world alone. God, that sounds so corny, but you know I mean it.

[ His voice softens, steady, sincere, the humor retreating for just a moment to let his gratitude show. ] I love you too, you know. Every bit of it. And yeah, I'd like the morning kiss repeated, indefinitely. Consider it a mandatory part of your daily duties. No excuses.

[ Then, his eyes glint with a teasing spark as he leans just slightly closer. ] Don't think I won't hold you to that while you're also running this place like it's part of Avengers HQ, Mrs. Goddess of Victory. You get to be heroic in all the ways you choose, and yes, that includes making me feel like I've got a reason to fight every day.

[ He lets out a small, tired laugh, reaching to brush a strand of her hair back. ] Honestly, I don't deserve this, but I'll take it anyway. And maybe it's about time I stop trying to be Mr. Hero all the time and just be here with you. Safe, stupidly happy, and very, very aware that I've got the best partner in the universe. In all the universes.

[bubblesong]

[ Her fingers interlock with his once his arm settles around her. Whenever Tony is hurt or rattled? He looks for a connection. Not just physical, but emotional. She learned it a long time ago when he struggled the most with his anxiety attacks.

That's how she knows what he needs right now. It might not be the same as when Captain Rogers broke away from the Avengers... but he's still hurt. Maybe not his heart, but she can tell that he's in a lot of pain even if he doesn't realize it thanks to the medication. His right hand, arm, side and up the side of his head is burned and covered in bandages. The shrapnel pushed into his heart and she's sure it's bruised as a result. With all of that going on? He needs that connection to ground him and remind him he's still on Earth and breathing.

A soft giggle. ] Okay. It's mandatory. Every morning when you wake up!

I won't have time to run Avengers HQ anymore! Someone else will have to. I'll be busy helping Iron Man getting back on his feet! I have to help Peter finish school and graduate. [ A bright smile touches her face. ] The Avengers will have to save the world while the Starks are recovering... and taking time to be a family!

[ She leans forward so her can move a piece of her hair from her face.

"Safe, stupidly happy..."

Little Mermaid pauses and stills. ] Aoou...?

[ Safe...

Little Mermaid's expression softens into something almost vulnerable. She pushes herself on the arm she is laying on. In familiar fashion, she leans over him, letting her hair slide over he shoulders. Her eyes move over his bandages--truly taking in the sight of the state of his wounds. She nearly reaches up to touch them, but doesn't make the motion.

Her hand fully covers the older design of the reactor. Fingers trace along the edge of it's casing. The motion is supposed to answer the statement of how she can know what he needs. Saying that she is his partner and magnet over and over may no longer have the weight it once did. So, she instead settles for the gesture instead.

Does he really feel safe now?

He's spent so long feeling like he was unprepared. That nothing he made could fight against what he saw on the other side of the wormhole.

Little Mermaid nearly places her forehead to his again. She instead keeps enough distance for him to finish the motion if he feels the desire to do so. Will he understand what she is asking him? ]

[doesntpaint]

[ He studies her as best as he can, hating how his vision is still compromised and has a good chance of being compromised for good; he can see the way she leans in but leaves him the choice, the way her hand covers the arc reactor like it belongs there. And, of course, it does belong there. She belongs with him and he knows he belongs with her. No one ever got him the way she does. ]

You wanna know if I feel safe? I do. I 100% do. [ It's strange in an ironic sort of way, because he's lying here in a hospital, still very far off from being 100%, and he really doesn't want to think about things like wheelchairs and physical therapy.

But that stuff doesn't scare him. He knows the things that scare him, and while there is absolutely no guarantee that there won't be future threats that rise up to try and take them down... Something's changed in his thinking. Are they more prepared than they were? He's not certain. They relied on a whole lot of Hail Marys to get to where they are now, and none of them really came out unscathed. What if the next threat is even bigger than Thanos? Are they ready for that? His jaw tenses at the thought.

When thought of that way, they're absolutely not ready. They're absolutely not safe. But then again, maybe the next big threat will look at Earth and go "nope". Maybe it's wishful thinking, but just once, Tony would really love it if the threat of the day actually got the memo that Earth was closed.

But since that's not too terribly likely, he's just decided he needs to take what he can get. ]

It's probably ridiculous, because who the hell knows what else is lurking out there? I'm not idiotic enough to think that the buck stops with Thanos. But... Somehow, I just... [ He curls both hands slightly and winces, regretting the movement, but he just pushes past it. ] Somehow, I feel safer than I’ve felt since New York. That’s not nothing; and hell, I don't even know why I feel like this, but... You make it so I don’t feel like I’m drowning in that. In the stupid stuff my own dumb brain makes me think about. [ And have nightmares about, but he's not talking about that. He knows the nightmares will come back, and he's not sure he's ready for that. ]

I can close my eyes with you here. Not pretend-sleep. Not "recharge in the lab chair and call it good." I mean real sleep. That’s something I didn’t think I’d get again. [ He's very resolutely not mentioning the nightmares, as he figures both of them know they're inevitable. He also knows that Ariel probably has her share of them too, and he intends to be there when hers crop up. ]

Guess it's a little ironic, and I'm sure it'd tick someone somewhere off, but the world's just finally beginning to claw its way back from falling apart, and I finally get to rest because I’ve got a Mermaid pulling guard duty. [ There's a small part of him that wonders whether he's really earned that or not, but in his head, he can hear a certain person going aouuu and that's more or less his answer.

He lets his words hang there, watching her, the exhaustion in his eyes softening into something more open and not so prickly or snarky. Then, slow and deliberately, he leans the last inch she left for him, closing the space himself. ]

[bubblesong]

[ Little Mermaid's gaze never leave his. She hangs on every word he says, holding her breath. Her eyes widen as he begins to speak. She feels her fingers curl into the mattress and the sheets covering the arc reactor almost at the same time his do. Her heart would of even stopped if it was something other than a core--modified and upgraded by Tony himself to save her life during the past five years.

He stops talking and the look in his eyes softens. His forehead touches hers and she feels herself begin to shake ever so slightly. Her eyes close and warm tears slide down her cheeks once more. The hand at his arc reactor leaves in order to move to his burned one, covered in bandages. Her fingertips barely move over his fingers, easing them to uncurling the best he can.

A smile spreads on her face--a bright one at that. The breath she was holding finally escapes. It comes out shaking, but somehow carrying the emotional tone and weight of relief. Oh, she's thrilled. Happy. Beyond anything she can truly express in words alone.

She didn't know Tony before he was scared of being unprepared. Scared of what was beyond what he could see. Scared he couldn't protect the people he cared about the most. Maybe even frustrated that he had survived Afghanistan, turned his company around, became a hero, only to learn that everything he had just accomplished could mean nothing against a threat so massive. Now, he feels...

Anyone else would most likely feel frustrated that what they had done over the years may not have been enough. Little Mermaid doesn't see it that way. She was the person that he could vent it all out to feel safe for even a little bit of time. Everything that was in her power to do she did and it helped him get to this point. He may be describing what it is like when she is with him, but, the word rest is what truly sticks out to her in all of this.

He can finally sleep. Rest. Heal.

Finally.

Little Mermaid gently presses her forehead to his and keeps it there for a long moment. She doesn't bother to try and stifle the tears or sound they make so he can hear how much it means to her that he feels safe. The relief isn't necessarily for her--but for him. She is more than thrilled and relieved, but, she knows that it is a weight of his heart. He can sit at home and sleep without worrying about if Peter is alive or not. He can invent and design for fun again!

She knows they'll both continue to have their nightmares. The traumas and pain endured in their lives will always be there to some degree. Tony has the worst of it in her mind. New York may be the easiest thing to point to, but she knows that his parent's death was traumatizing. She knows that Afghanistan never leaves him, and sometimes she can see when his mind goes back to that cave. The Avengers breaking may have healed by now, but she knows he may never trust Captain Rogers like he did once. Those things add up over time and leave scars in the mind and heart.

Now, they may not haunt him as much.

After a long moment she finally moves. Her head returns to resting on his shoulder, nestled closer to his head now. The hand at his burned one gently and slowly moves to try and hold him, but stops just shy of the burns on his side. Her weight presses into his good side in an attempt to mimic how they would sleep together if they were at home. Tear still slip down her face, but her bright smile is enough to show they're tears of joy. ]

I told you once that I'd lead you out of the cave if you ever needed me to... that I'd catch you when you're falling. I'll still do that, even now that you feel safe. [ She presses her forehead gently into the crook of his neck. A teared filled laugh leaves her. ] I'll even make more bubble mattresses in the workshop if you need them. You can close your eyes and sleep whenever you need to... and rest as long as you need to.

[ Then, she unexpectedly squeezes him as lightly as she can. Her hands curl into the sheets of the hospital bed. He's opened up and so she should too. Her tone remains upbeat, but there is an undercurrent of her own vulnerability that shows through. A hint at her own nightmares he already knows about. ] But, you have to make sure you keep waking up. Okay?

[doesntpaint]

[ He lets her press her forehead to his like it's something that's meaningful only to them. For a long second he says nothing, just listens to the soft exhale that follows her tears, to the tiny noises she makes when she squeezes the sheets. It’s all ridiculous and perfect and somehow exactly what he needed without knowing he needed it. ]

You did. You led me out of a lot of caves, literal and metaphorical. I owe you more than bubble mattresses and bad jokes.

[ He shifts so she can lean into him more comfortably, careful of the bandages, careful of the way she flinches just at the notion of touching the burn. He closes his eyes briefly, letting the weight of it all settle into his bones. ]

And fair warning: if you make more bubble mattresses, I will absolutely turn them into a full-scale fortress. I will also, inevitably, turn them into a nap station that's somehow also an engineering lab.

[ He feels her vulnerability underneath the cheer and it makes him more careful with his words. ]

You don't have to lead me out of anything right now. You already did what you needed to do, didn't you? You saved me, and you saved a lot of people. That’s not small. That's huge. I know you don't see it as heroic, but that's because you’re modest and dramatic and annoyingly good, basically the opposite of me.

[ She tells him he has to keep waking up, and he takes that request like it's a mission he can actually deliver on. ]

Noted: keep waking up. JARVIS, set redundant wake-up protocols: five alarms, one gentle nudge, one existential crisis if ignored, and one that physically launches me out of bed if I don’t respond after thirty minutes. But also, make sure you don't wake up Ariel while you're busy doing all that.

[ And then he allows himself one more absurd statement, because he thinks promises are easier with a laugh attached: ] Also, I'll let you be the one to smack me awake if you think I need it. Preferably not with a wrench, though.

[bubblesong]

[ She wouldn't be embolden to say she always knows what Tony needs. It's more like how she is simply seems to fulfill a lot of that at the right time. Even when she feels it's her being selfish at the wrong time. He's laying in a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and IVs, with bandaged burns, and she is trying to hold onto him and find some sort of comfort. He is the one hurt and wounded, she should hardly be asking for him to hold onto her right now. It... just seems to be what he needs right now too. ]

Bubble mattresses and bad jokes are okay! [ She won't have him think otherwise. She knows what he is able to give and show, and hardly questions how much he loves her. The rest of the world might! The Avengers might. Even Cinderella may question it! Little Mermaid knows. ] You built us a home... and you made sure Peter came home. You've done enough, Tony.

[ "Annoying good" sounds rather close to "Stupidly good, to a fault." Which is enough to make her smile. She supposes that deep down she hasn't changed at all since she woke up as a NIKKE. Which means, in the end, that means it's who she has always been. Before she became Little Mermaid. ]

It just means we're both dramatic.

Of course, sir. What name should we designate this protocol? [ The AI rings from the small screen beside the bed. The volume is noticeably lower, most likely due to the sleeping young superhero in the room. ] Might I suggest a message also be sent to Mr. Parker in extreme situations to pull you out of bed?

[ Little Mermaid suppresses the smile on her face, instead tilting her head into Tony's shoulder more. She knows he handles things like this with jokes and quips. He said once that promises sound more like "them", so, if jokes are the best way for him to do that? She understands. ]

Hehe... maybe I'll just roll you around inside a bubble.

[ Although, deep down, she knows there will be a day that he stops opening his eyes. She just... wants more time with him before then. ]

[doesntpaint]

[ He hears the tiny catch in her voice even before she says the thing out loud: the thing that sounds like fear mixed up with love. Except, well, even just thinking that makes him cringe a little at himself. He doesn't do emotions, after all. Except, he's finding more and more often that sometimes he actually does do emotions. He'd just never admit it out loud. Tony exhales, because that sound has a way of unravelling him better than any villain ever did. ]

Protocol name? How about Operation Relentless Alarm Clock with the subtitle "Do not let Stark achieve Olympic-level nap status." Because if I actually do hit that level? You know there's a problem. And yeah, JARVIS, notify Peter. In extreme circumstances, text, nudge, and if necessary, deploy sticky-web wake-up. Priority: Unstick Tony. Assuming sticking is involved.

[ He shifts so she can feel the steadiness of him, which feels like a contradiction sometimes, given how unsteady and unpredictable he can be at times. But she's said both with words and without that she likes feeling that steadiness. In some ways, maybe that steadiness should have stopped by now, but for whatever reason, he's still kicking. She played a part in that, of course. ]

You think I built us a home? No, we built a home. You rebuilt me the way you rebuild everything, or most everything: stubbornly, with a lot of weird materials, and the kind of care that doesn't look like care until you realize that's what it is. As far as I'm concerned, you've done enough too.

Now, rolling me around in a bubble? Now that's an engineering challenge and an adorable threat. Teeth-rottingly adorable, if you know what I mean. If you make me a rolling bubble-bed of comfort, I will nap in it, and then I will make it an R&D project. We will put a little plaque on it: Tested by Stark, Approved by Ariel. How's that for a plan?

[ He can't stop himself from laughing a bit too energetically for someone held together with bandages and who knows what else, but he can't help it. The mental image is just too funny. ]

[bubblesong]

[ She has done her best to keep that fear to herself and under lock and key. The faith that he'd find a way to come back was never doubted, but shaken when people around them dissolved. Titan had been the first time she truly thought he had died. Ever since, she has been acutely aware of how easy it could be for Tony never to come home or never wake up again. She trusts him completely and believes he would do anything and everything to come home... but it ultimately is why she had placed her bubbles in his suit once more.

She presses her head to his jaw as an apology once he exhales. He noticed her reaction despite her best to keep it locked down. Yes, he said she could feel scared or any other emotion, but that doesn't mean she wants him to be burdened when he's in such a bad condition and needing to recover. ]

Very well, sir. I'll be certain to arm DUM-E with Mr. Parker's webbing.

[ Little Mermaid can't help the giggle that comes out at the idea. It's soft and goes quiet after a moment or two, knowing that he needs as much calm and quiet. Which, truthfully, are the two farthest things from Tony's nature.

Rebuilt him? Her head tilts into his jaw again as she mulls the idea over. Did she really? She never saw it like that. Tony already was who he was. All she did was reach out to help him underneath all the armor. She never expected him to act another way or even wanted him to be someone other than Tony Stark. ]

Then, we both deserve a vacation. One with Peter. [ Her tone is light but said in a matter-of-fact way that leaves no room for disagreements. ] Once you can move your left arm again? I'll make a bubble and you can test it. We can see if Clint will call you a hamster!

[ She beams at his laugh. It feels like it has been an eternity since she heard him laugh with humor and genuine happiness. The sort that doesn't have anything lurking behind it. Even their wedding had an undertone of somberness because their adopted son wasn't there when he should have been.

This was the sort of laughter and happiness she should have been able to give him the last five years. The fact that he can only be this way now with Peter home still feels as if she failed him. He's said otherwise, but, the feeling still clings to her. ]

Maybe we can even test it with Peter.

[doesntpaint]

[ Tony huffs out a small, amused breath that's half a laugh, half a wince, because his ribs still protest every time he tries to enjoy himself or do anything remotely normal. Still, he's not about to stop. ] DUM-E with webbing? Now that's something I never thought of, but you know what? Sounds great. What could possibly go wrong? I can already hear the fire alarms. [ He says it in a hammed up tone to make it clear that he's kidding. And, well, anyone who knows him knows he's done worse, potentially more questionable things to the robot. Not that he intends to explain what those "questionable" things might be. Best to leave that to the imagination or something.

His voice is dry but affectionate. Her laughter vibrates softly against his throat, and he feels something ease in him that the medication he's on never touches. It's the first time in a long time he's let himself just be: no fixing, no planning, no trying to make up for the millions of mistakes he's made over the years. It feels nice to just be.

He tilts his head slightly so his cheek brushes her hair, and he adds: ] You didn't just rebuild me, you know. You reminded me there was something left worth rebuilding for.

[ There's a pause, a long one, where the machines hum and beep and the world outside the hospital feels far away. But he lets himself imagine it: a vacation, Peter tagging along, no alien invasions, no armor, no feelings of terror. Just sunlight, salt water, and her. ]

A vacation sounds good, though if you trap me in one of those bubbles and Barton calls me a hamster, I'm... I'm building a portable electromagnetic cage and springing it on both of you when you aren't expecting it. [ He does eye her warily as if wondering if maybe such a thing is going too far, even if it's only in jest. He remembers how she was caged before, and he'd never cage her again on purpose. ] ... On second thought, forget the cage. Maybe a portable pillow fort instead.

[ The corner of his mouth twitches, and he glances at her. ] And yeah, we'll test it with the kid. He'd love that. We all deserve a little stupid fun after... After everything.

[ He shifts his hand, the one that still works, until his fingers find hers, lacing through them gently. ] So yeah. Vacation. You, me, the kid, and hell, maybe we'll even find a way to bring along one very confused robot with a web shooter. [ He's kidding, he wouldn't actually cart DUM-E along with them. ]

[bubblesong]

I'm certain that you would not wish me to list the ways it could go wrong, sir. Most due to the structure of Mr. Parker's webbing.

[ Her head tilts into his cheek. She feels that old girlish flutter in her heart. They don't often get to be like this--just the two of them laying in a bed with gentle touches. Usually he is awake making or fixing things and she tries to help. Most nights they simply fall asleep together if they're not being intimate. It's a rare time Tony allows himself to simply exist in the moment and enjoy the exact moment he is in. Not what had happened or what might happen. ]

Well, your cage would be better than any other. [ She tries to keep the tone light, but a lingering quietness is in the back of her throat. One she knows he'll understand. He already moved to change his mind. ] You and Peter deserve it most of all.

[ They were the ones that fought so far away. All she did was... stay home and pray they would come back. Together.

Her fingers curl around his hand with practiced ease. Sliding in-between his as if she was made for him. That's far from true, but the idea is nice. ] When we go? I'll grill dinner. I can even do it when they release you from the hospital! A better celebration for Peter's graduation and welcoming you home. We can have dinner at the Compound--just the three of us.

[ Little Mermaid's head tilts down everything so slightly. Cheek nudges into his good shoulder. She reminded him there was something worth rebuilding... ]

You reminded me too, you know. That I'm still me... underneath how everything changed me. [ Ariel Stark, not just Little Mermaid. ] If I really rebuilt you and reminded you? Then, you reminded me of who I am... and you gave me that place to be me. You're my hero. My Iron Man... and I'll always be your Little Mermaid.

[ Even when the time comes where he's laid to rest. Even when she has to wait to rejoin him in the place after their lives now. If that ends up being another hundred years? She'll still wear her wedding ring and call herself 'Ariel Stark.' She'll keep visiting him and making bubbles to decorate his resting place until she can be with her prince again.

The tears sliding down her face surprise her. He's awake and better. She shouldn't be thinking of that inevitable time that she hopes is something far away. But, she can't help it, when Thanos nearly took him away. Twice.

She closes her eyes and gently turns into him. Her chest presses into his side in hopes that her core can be close to the arc reactor in some way. ]

[doesntpaint]

No, not really, mainly because I can imagine that well enough, and it's not pretty. [ His overactive imagination has already filled in the gaps, and what he's envisioning makes him want to just stop imagining altogether.

He starts to make a quip about living in the cage of luxury, but at the last second, he decides maybe joking about cages really is too much. He cares about her too much to make her uncomfortable with his off-color jokes. ]

You deserve it too, you know. [ He's not going to say that he was more or less resigned to that being the ending, and he's definitely not going to say that he was reasonably confident the two of them would eventually carry on. It could take years, but eventually, they would find a way to adjust.

But the future he envisioned changed, and he can't say he's not happy about it. Ariel's actions gave them more time together, and he's not about to waste a second of it. ]

Grilling, huh? [ He smiles and he hopes, not for the first time, that it doesn't look terrible. Ghoulish. Scary. ] I hope that means fish is on the menu. [ He realizes then that there's a slight irony to it. The Little Mermaid, eating fish... But she's not literally a fish, so it shouldn't matter, right? ] Just the three of us. Sounds nice. Really. [ The idea of being around big crowds of people doesn't sound that appealing to him, not right now. Maybe not again. ]

Man, part of me just wants to zip the lip and just... take this. Once, I would have. Compliments like that? I ate them up. Sure, those compliments weren't always genuine, and damn, did they have strings attached. I might have bailed you out of that room you were locked in, but- Did I really do that much?

[ But he's still smiling, and he reaches for her hand to squeeze it. ] Honestly, if all I am is your hero and Peter's, that's good enough for me.

[ He doesn't need accolades from anyone else; he just wants to be good for both her and Peter, that's it. ]

[bubblesong]

Mr. Parker is often a dangerous factor to consider in most calculations. The ... lack of awareness from DUM-E simpy doubles the danger.

[ Little Mermaid presses her lips together to stop the laughter that could file out. She can tell JARVIS is attempting to be polite about the predecessor technology, but, they are all aware that the robotic arms are limited in function. She realizes that Tony has never upgraded them in that regard. He says he isn't nostalgic, but, maybe how they are is a small piece of that time of his life.

Instead, a slightly soft hum comes from her. He thinks he deserves the vacation. There is no point in arguing or trying to change his mind. What she did is monumental to him, even if she thinks it will always be morally complicated for her. She won't take the motion back. Not ever. She would do it again. Just... it feels like breaking her promise to Abe because it comes from such a selfish place. ]

Fish, steak, burgers. Whatever you want! [ A firm nod. Aouu! ] It's your triumphant return home dinner. Yours and Peter's.

Yes. You did do all of that and so much more.

[ Little Mermaid pushes herself up on her elbow. Her hair slides over her shoulder as she tilts her head down towards his once again. The space between left for him to decide if he wants their foreheads to touch. While she notes his new wounds? How she looks at him hasn't changed. No pity, no remorse, no disgust. She sees who she has always seen--Tony Stark. ]

When you came back to the Tower after JARVIS took you to Tennessee? [ She knows it was a long time ago now. Eleven years. ] I wasn't in a bad shape just because of the injuries I had.

[ Injuries, not damage.

Her gaze drops. ] Not everyone woman survived becoming a NIKKE. Sometimes... sometimes they couldn't fathom what they became. They knew they weren't really human anymore--not the way they had been. They wouldn't age, they wouldn't have children again, they could do more of what Captain America could than what a normal human woman could. They... couldn't comprehend and accept, so, they spiraled out. That's why they started to condition our minds the way they did by the time Cinderella and I chose to become NIKKEs.

[ She frowns slightly. ] I was struggling with that then. I knew I wasn't really human, but, the thought that nothing about me was still me; the girl I was before? I couldn't handle that. If I turned off the pain to my side, then I wasn't human, because humans can't turn off pain. And everyone kept insisting you were dead...

[ A low breath. ] My conditioning broke... that's why I was the way when you found me. But, you never stopped seeing me as me. The woman you named Ariel, maybe off handedly at first. I didn't have a human name anymore or memories of my human name. Then, JARVIS found out what he did, and... I was able to come to terms with it all.

So, yes! You did that much. You still do that much.

[doesntpaint]

[ Tony exhales slowly through his nose at JARVIS’s assessment, one corner of his mouth twitching despite himself. ] Yeah, "dangerous variable" should totally be on his resume. I think he'd love that. Or roll his eyes about it. [ There’s fondness under the sarcasm that he doesn't bother hiding.

At the mention of dinner, his shoulders loosen a fraction. ] Fish, steak, burgers... you realize you just listed every food group I recognize, right? But a triumphant return home dinner sounds pretty damn good, for all of us. He earned it. You too.

[ When she shifts closer, leaving the space open instead of closing it for him, Tony takes it. He leans forward just enough that their foreheads rest together. His eyes close for a second as she talks, not to shut her out, but to listen without interrupting, even inadvertently.

When she mentions Tennessee, the humor drains away; it's not replaced by panic this timee, just... a kind of weight. The passage of time doesn’t make it lighter; it just makes it familiar. ]

Hey, you don’t have to justify any of that to me.

[ He opens his eyes then, looking at her fully. ] You wanna know what I saw back then? I saw someone who'd been through hell and was still showing up, someone who was scared and still choosing to care. That’s not hardware. That’s not conditioning. That’s you.

And as far as I'm concerned, being human isn’t defined by aging or feeling or whether you check the right biological boxes. Depending on who you ask, I’ve been failing those tests for a long time. [ He grins for half a second before the grin disappears again. ] You were still you: before, during, after. Naming you didn’t create that. It just acknowledged it.

[ His hand tightens slightly, trying to be an anchor of sorts. ] So yeah, maybe I helped. Maybe JARVIS helped. But you’re the one who survived it, who decided you wanted to survive. That means way more than anything I did or didn't do.

[bubblesong]

[ Little Mermaid presses her lips together. She glances behind her at the sleeping Peter Parker, seeing he hasn't moved an inch. His head still rested against the bubble pillow she made, arms still tucked around it. Sleeping soundly. It's probably the first time he has slept well since he returned home with the rest of the Avengers with Tony in tow.

She gives a wide smile in place of the obvious laugh she is holding in. Peter needs all the sleep he can get! ]

You have to pick one food group for your big dinner. [ Her tone implies a matter of fact. ] Then, I'll make the follow up dinners with the others.

[ Foreheads touching, holding her hands and rubbing circles in them, her playing with his hair. Their hands on each other's cores. Small little gestures that mean the world to her. They're unspoken tokens of affection. Things that ground them to one another. Lifelines when the world goes out of shape and all they have is one another.

Tennessee is never a good topic--even years later. The now teenager, Harley, that Tony sponsors is the one good thing that happened from that trip. Information about the Mandarin and his bombs was needed. Tony having time off grid with his suit and with normal people was also needed. But, the only thing that makes Tony smile about the whole affair is Harley.

And the fact that she didn't die as well.

"You're the one thing I can't lose... won't lose."

Peter is another one of those people now.

Someone showing up is one of the things that matters the most to Tony.

Her eyes close as she holds his hand in return and closes her eyes. ]

Tony, [ a tone she uses very rarely. The soft one filled with all the emotions she feels towards him. Love, admiration, a tad of hero worship, and a desperation for him to notice what she is feeling.

Her eyes close. ]

There's no "maybe." You saved me. Me. Your Little Mermaid--Ariel. [ A sad tight smile shows on her face. ] If a NIKKE fell to a mind switch? She either shut down entirely... or her personality changed. Sometimes even memories went away. Almost like a dissociation from trauma.

Even if I'm strong? Even if I kept fighting, and chose to show up? It would have happened at any time. If you never saw me? Or... or if you thought I wasn't me after seeing what the bubbles had done to my hands, or the injuries on my side, or anything JARVIS saw on the screen... I would have stopped fighting.

[ A shake of her head. ] You were the first person outside my squad to ever see me. The only person who could look past everything I can make and what I was changed into. You saw me even when I wasn't looking for someone to notice.

I might be all those things you said, but, without you? I would have stopped being those a long time ago. [ Rotting away in Stark Industries. ] Tony... I love you. You're my world, my hero, my prince. Even if you don't really believe in fairytales, or mermaids, or the idea we were meant for each other? You're all those things and more to me. You'll always be those things to me. So... there is no "maybe". You did save me.

[doesntpaint]

Hey. [ His tone has a note in it that isn't always there; in fact, it's rarely there unless he's trying to make a point. ]

You don’t get to say things like that and then expect me to just let it sit. And I didn’t save you because I’m some knight, or prince, or whatever storybook title people like using. I saved you because I saw someone who was still there, still thinking, still choosing, still fighting, and like hell was I going to just let you get written off as collateral.

[ His thumb brushes along her cheekbone as he continues. ]

So if I hadn’t shown up, that would’ve been the end, huh? I don't buy that. You were yourself. Maybe you were heading for a mind switch or whatever the hell it is, but you were still you. I just happened to be the idiot stubborn enough to show up and refuse to let it get any worse than it already was.

[ He pins her with a look, sharp and pointed. ]

You didn’t survive because of me, you know that, right? I'm convinced that's not how it went. You survived because you chose to. Maybe it would've been easier to shut down and disappear, but you didn't.

[ He's not arguing for the sake of arguing. He actually has a point he's trying to make here. ]

And yeah, maybe things would have gone differently if I'd never seen you, but it started with you. The reason you’re here arguing with me about dinner food groups is you.

I didn't believe in fairytales before I met you, but then you walked in and... maybe fairytales are just a little more believable.

[ He pauses and it takes him a little bit longer than usual to find exactly what he wants to say, but once he does, it comes out easily enough. ]

And since we’re being very clear tonight... I love you too. Not “maybe.” Not “what if.” Not someday. Right now.

[ And then he shifts positions like he wants to kiss her. ]

[bubblesong]

[ The smile on her face is faint. It's okay if Tony doesn't really understand. Well, she wishes he did, but she knows not everyone will understand the unique perspective of a NIKKE. One she is sure that Cinderella also has. Their princes are men of science, not named after fairytales or instilled to embody hopes and dreams of mankind. There will always be a level of disconnect in understanding why feeling human again means so much to them.

After all, Tony and Dr. Strange are still human!

Tony isn't a real prince through titles or land. He may not even have the stereotypical attire, attitude, or presumed prestige. That isn't what makes him her prince. It's the fact that he saved her from not only containment, but, what was sure to be an inevitable break at some point. "Ariel"--as he named her--wouldn't really exist anymore. Some other identity or concept of "Little Mermaid" would. Not the original girl who gave her life away to save others.

He may not have even liked--let alone loved--another version of herself.

Even then? Little Mermaid knows when he is making a point. It's always a form of "Hey", said in a particular way to drive his point home. Or, if he wants her attention on nothing else other than what he is saying. ]

That's what makes you my prince and not someone else's. [ She tilts her head into his touch just enough to really feel the emotions he is trying to share. ] No one else saw any of that. No one cared. No one noticed. You did. The person just for me.

[ His sharp look earns another faint smile tinged in guilt. Yes, it was mostly because of him. She had no one else at the time. She kept fighting in the containment block to keep her promise to Cinderella... but, beyond that? It was because there was someone worth fighting for. Someone that thought she was worth fighting for.

Part of her--that lonely part she only lets show now and again--really did want to stop fighting. Trying. Surviving. ]

Maybe once you're ready for a big showy party again, I should dress up. Just like a fairytale you'd think of, not me. [ Her expression turns fond as she tries to match his humor. ] I keep fighting because there is someone who wants me to. Someone who sees me as his Goddess of Victory, even if he insists I don't need to define myself that way. I want to be that inspiration and hope for my prince. That way he can keep fighting too.

[ Fighting to stay together... it really fits them. Doesn't it?

She meets him in his attempt to move in order to kiss. A slow, gentle, but still filled with all the love she can muster to put into the motion. There has never been a doubt since their home in Malibu was destroyed that he loves her. She knows he does. Others might question it, but she knows it deep down in her heart. ]