Maya Stark

Chapter 126: I have you

I was carrying Morgan on my back to my bed, her giggling slightly as I bounce her up and down. There was a smile on my face as I dropped her onto her bed and kneel down next to it. I help her get under the covers and brush a stand of her hair out of her face.

'When will I get to see Peter again?' Morgan asks.

My smile drops slightly. Morgan adored Peter, always had. It was the cutest thing to see the two interact with one another but... Peter hasn't left the house much and I would always go to him, so that people didn't find out where we live.

'I don't know, kid,' I say, softly. 'It might be a while.'

'Do you love Peter?' Morgan asks.

I breathe out a laugh. 'Love is a very strong word. But I do have very strong feelings for Peter. I just don't know what they are yet.'

'Is it like mommy and daddy?' she asks.

My smile turns a bit nostalgic. She's been asking about all of them a lot more recently. With everything else that's happening I think she just wants to keep me talking for as long as possible. I let her ask, and I answered any of her questions from my past. I wanted her to remember them. To know them.

I nod. 'A little, yeah.'

She was quiet for a second. 'Can you tell me about daddy again?'

I sigh and smile at her. 'Our dad was... the best person you would ever have the privilege of meeting. He wasn't perfect, nobody is, but did everything in his will to do the right thing, always. He protected the people he loved no matter what the consequences were. You have his smile.'

I tickle her for a second and she laughs.

'What about Auntie Nat?'

My entire mood shifts. Nat was still a touchy subject; one she rarely asks about. I decided to indulge her tonight.

'Auntie Nat was... my best friend,' my voice cracks and I take a deep breath. 'She trained me. I looked up to her. She always made sure I was okay. Took every chance to tease me. She would protect anyone with her life, no matter what. She did protect everyone. She was... she was a fun person to be around, to say the least.'

'Do you miss them?' Morgan asks quietly.

I nod. 'Every second of every day.'

'I miss dad,' she says.

I give her a smile. 'You probably always will. But just remember you have a mom who loves you very much and an older sister that'll do anything to protect you. You can come to me with anything.'

She smiles. 'I know.'

I stand. 'Now, go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning, kid.'

'I love you,' she says.

'I love you more,' came my immediate response.

I walk to the door and just as I was about to close it, I hear a quiet, "I love you most." I give a quick smile to myself before finally closing the door to a crack.

'She's asleep?' Pepper asks, coming up the steps.

'She's getting there,' I say, taking a shaky breath. 'She wanted to hear about dad and Nat tonight.'

Pepper smiles sadly. 'It's good for you to talk about them. Nervous about tomorrow?'

'Why would I be?' I say sarcastically. 'Just two suspected murderers walking into a high school. Nothing bad could possibly happen.'