The Flames of Amarra - DR STRANGE x OC - COMPLETE

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Nora parked her car in the driveway and stared at the door. The engine was still on. She could drive away. She’d pretend that she had something coming up. Something she couldn’t bail on. Work. 

She couldn’t win this. If she made it and the day went well, then it would mean that she forgot her father. That she wasn’t mourning anymore. If she didn’t and she drove away, it would mean that she didn’t love the rest of her family anymore. 

Needless to say, Nora was panicking. 

Her first Christmas since her father died. 

When he died, and her mother refused to talk to her, Nora wasn’t alone. Stephen stayed with her, day and night. He never left. But he hated her now, and she was alone when she needed someone to hold her hand more than ever. She really did her best to ruin everything. 

She grabbed the pack of cigarettes in the glove compartment and lit it up. She needed strength wherever she could find it. 

‘It will be fine, have a merry Christmas,’ Dr Martinez said on their last session. 
‘Call if you need anything,’ Julie said when she visited London. 
‘How can I not remember a child that Tony very clearly adopted,’ Pepper texted her a few hours back. 

At least it was weird for everyone. Nora reminded herself that she wasn’t alone anymore. Therapy was working. She wasn’t alone. She received a few texts in the morning. People cared about her. And just like a normal person, she’d spend Christmas with her family.

She could do it.

Nora left the car and made sure she looked decent. She hadn’t slept just because she was trying to find something to wear, and now she was afraid the lack of sleep was showing on her face despite the fact that she spent hours in the bathroom making sure she was pretty enough. Chances were no one would notice and they’d just tell her she looked tired. 

Her mother opened the door and smiled at her. She smiled. With only one smile, Nora’s fears evaporated. It didn’t matter what she was wearing, if she missed a few strands of hair when she straightened it, or if her eyeliner wasn’t perfectly the same on both eyes. 

Her mother smiled at her. 

“I brought gifts,” Nora said, handing her mother the huge bag she was carrying. 

“There are a few for you too. We were waiting for you to open everything,” her mother said.

They stayed in the doorway for a long time, none of them saying anything. Nora was staring at the door. She could do it. Her family was here to help her. 

She looked at her mother and frowned. “I’m sorry, I just-”

“Take all the time you need,” Ethan said, joining her outside. He took her hand and gently squeezed it. “You can go, Mom. Kelly needs help with Emi.”

Their mother left and Nora gave him a thankful smile. “I’m pathetic.”

“You’re still recovering.”

“I’m doing better, I should be able to come in.”

“I put all the food in boxes,” he softly said. “If you can’t make it, we’re going to your place. Or mine, you decide. Just know that we have options.”

They could leave. They’d all leave if she needed it. They made sure she could spend Christmas with them. She smiled at him and pressed her hand in his. “Let’s do this.”

Nora stepped inside. Just a foot, but she was inside. Ethan never left her hand, he didn’t say anything when she was probably burning it either. 

“Nora !” Emi screamed, running towards her. Nora smiled and had to let go of Ethan’s hand to hold the little girl jumping in her arms.