The White Phoenix 12: A Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Fanfiction

Epilogue pt. 1

Brooklyn, New York.

I dragged myself up the steps of our Brooklyn home, slow and quiet, the neighbourhood filled with nothing but the chirping of nighttime birds and the occasional car passing by. It was 3 in the morning when I'd gotten back from Kamar-Taj courtesy of Stephen Strange's sling ring. Slowly, I pulled out my spare key from a hidden pocket in my suit and turned the lock, opening the door and stumbling in. It was dark in the house, save for the lights in the kitchen. I looked into the kitchen, leaning against the archway, watching my husband standing there, scrolling on his phone, shirtless, eating cookies. I let out a short laugh, and he looked up. His soft smile soon gave way to a look of shock when he saw my disaster of a look after the week I'd had.

'Oh, my God,' he said, coming over. 'Are you okay?' He looked me up and down. 'You look like a mess.' I gave him a soft kiss.

'I'm okay. James. I just need a bath and bed,' I said softly, almost leaning on him in my attempt to stay upright. Gently, he put my non-metal arm over his shoulder and helped me get up the stairs, one step at a time. It was a slow process, and when I reached the top, I would have collapsed, if it were not for his other hand on my stomach, keeping me upright. I limped into the bathroom and he seated me on the toilet lid, looking me over again, then tilting my chin up with his metal hand to look him in the eyes.

'I'll get a first aid kit for... everything,' he said, and walked off. He came back a few seconds later and put the kit down, then shrunk down the suit with the help of the bracelet, taking it off and putting it on the counter. Next to go were my combat boots, and he was tender, placing gentle kisses everywhere he moved his hands, trying to not aggravate any of my injuries. He started the bathtub and warmed it up, placing bath salts and two of the rose-scented bath bombs I liked. He helped me remove the rest of my clothing, then helped me get into the tub gingerly. I leaned back into the warm water, letting out a groan at the feeling. Softly, I felt warm water being poured over my head and I laid back, letting James tenderly put shampoo and conditioner in my hair, washing it through each time and unknotting my hair with a detangling brush each time until it was soft and silky. I laid there as he tended to some small cuts on my face, putting butterfly tape on a few. He kissed my temple, right where one of the cuts was. 'All better,' he said softly, running his metal knuckles on my cheek soothingly. 'How are you feeling?' I cracked one eye open to look at him.

'A little better,' I said, my voice raspy from exhaustion. He helped me out of the tub and I soon dressed, but was stopped by James to change the bandage on the graze I'd gotten earlier in the week on my side. After he was finished, I finished dressing and climbed into bed, and he pulled the covers over me as if I were a child again, then pressed a kiss to my forehead, then my brows, cheeks, nose, lips, jaw and then back up to my lips. I let out a happy hum of relaxation, reciprocating the kisses. He sat back and looked into my eyes.

'I'm so glad you're home,' he said, climbing into bed next to me, the two of us laying on the pillows facing each other. 'Did everything get straightened out? Did you save the day again?' I remembered feeling the hole in my heart upon Stephen slowly shaking his head when Christine had asked about Wanda. I shook my head slowly, my eyes welling with tears. He seemed to notice and took my hand, kissing my palm tenderly. 'She's gone, isn't she?' he asked. I could only nod as he pulled me in, letting out a strangled sob. He rubbed my back softly, tenderly, as I continued to cry. A few moments later, he looked down, noticing I'd cried myself to sleep. He kissed my forehead tenderly, cradling me to his chest like a child would a teddy bear.