The Fall of Sokovia

The Last Happy Day

It's quiet. Very quiet. No people around. Of course not. Many avoided the memorial as it is a reminder of what happened years ago. Like a giant thing that will always bring back your memories and traumas. Some birds are chirping in the nearby trees and the ripple of the waves caused by the mild wind makes a distant sound. He comes closer to the beautiful monument with the Sokovian emblem on it. The wind blows through his dark blonde hair and moves his coat. As he stops he has to take a deep breath. It was hard for him to come back. There are flowers and notes, a few letters and pictures of the people who died that day.
The Baron crunches down and looks at a few of them. An old man. A soldier with his troop. A group of teenagers and a boy smiling brightly with braces in his mouth.
Zemo takes out an old photograph out of the pocket of his coat and unfolds it looking down. An elder man and a young woman are smiling brightly while a young boy cuddles his teddy bear. A little smile appears on Zemo's face and a tear runs down his cheek, falling down on the picture. The memories come up in his mind, all the memories he has of them. Everything he ever had was gone…he remembers it so, so well…all of it. His life. His family. And the day he lost them.

It was a sunny Saturday morning and the sound of the chirping birds woke him up. A smile appeared on his face hearing a quiet rhythmic and slow breathing right next to him and he turned around to lie on his side. Right next to him a beautiful young woman slept peacefully. Zemo stroked a strand of her hair out of her beautiful face. She was young, two years younger than him. For a few moments he just lied there, adoring her, before she woke up. With a little smile she tilted her head to look at him.
“Morning, love” he smiled and kissed her forehead softly, leaning closer. She cupped his face “Morning, Helmut.”
“slept well?”
“I always do when I'm with you”
A soft smile appeared on his face and he rolled over to kiss her softly. She kisses him softly back, and puts her arms around him.
“You know what day it is, Helmut?”
“of course I do” he whispered between his kisses. “We should get up shouldn't we?”
She nodded but kept lying there for a moment looking up at him.
“What is it?”
“Nothing…I just missed you”
“I missed you too. But I got three whole days off, I couldn't miss our son's birthday, could I?” he smiled.
“Of course not…you always remember everything. You always do. We should get up before Adrijan wakes up”
“yeah you're right”

A bit later the table was served and a beautiful cake was right in the middle next to some presents. Zemo went to his son’s room. It was still dark as he was asleep. He smiled softly and sat down at the edge of his bed stroking through his hair to wake him up.
“Adrijan? Wake up, today is your special day”
His son grumbled a bit and pulled the blanket over himself.
“Oh come on” Zemo laughed a bit “your mother made a beautiful cake. And…I've got a special present for you”
Suddenly he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He smiled up at him and his father smiled back. He gave him a kiss on the forehead before he got up and went back to the living room. Adrijan followed him and his eyes shined brightly as he saw the candles on his cake and the presents on the table. He sat up on a chair and smiled up at his parents “wow…”
“Happy birthday” both of them said and Zemo put his arm around his wife.
“and don't forget to make a wish before you blow out the candles” the mother smiled
“Oh wait” Zemo said and went shortly off to grab a camera. He grinned and took several photos of his son and his wife. And one of all of them. “for the memories”
His son got impatient and looked down at his birthday cake with the number seven on it and the seven candles. For a moment he thought and then blew out the candles.
“And? Made a wish?”
Adrijan nodded with a bright smile.
“I wish I wanted to see Iron Man!”
“No no.. Don't tell us your wishes, son. You know it will bring bad luck.”
“Oh...right.. Sorry”
Zemo laughed a bit and petted his head “Neboj, Neboj, Don't worry, Adrijan, it's just a stupid saying. Nothing bad will happen to you. I promise.”

A tear runs down his cheek and he tries not to cry. How sure he was that day that they would all live happily their lives. He wanted to see his son grow up and wake up next to his wife every morning. Just a sort of peaceful life even though he used to be at the military. He stares at the ground lost in his thoughts.

His son opened his present and his jaw dropped as he saw what it was “Wow! An Iron Man action figure!” he looked at it adoringly “thank you, it's amazing!” he cried out and ran up at Zemo to hug him. He picked his son up and smiled “you like it?”
Adrijan nodded “I need to tell all my friends. It is amazing!”
Zemo put him down and he went to hug his mother, before he ran off to his room.
“Adrijan wait! The cake!” his mother laughed.
It was a happy day. A day he spent with his family. Later on his father joined them soonly 
“I'm so proud of you, my son” he said and put his hand on Zemo's shoulder “you've got everything you told me you ever wanted.” his voice was rough as he was a chain smoker.
A bit surprised the younger Baron smiled “thank you, Tata. I never thought I'd get this far”
“Neither did I” his father laughed, teasing him.
“hey!” Zemo laughed
“I'm just kidding, Helmut”
“I know I know.” he said and watched his family. It all was like a perfect dream. He was happy. All he ever wanted. He had them all in his life…and hopefully it would stay like this…