Keep on Loving You by REO Speedwagon
Emerson woke up the following day not seeing Strange laying in the bed next to her. Her mind was groggy and her eyes were hardly open but she instantly knew he wasn't lying next to her. There wasn't a dip in the mattress like there should be if he were laying there. The lack of heat coming from his side of the bed was also noticeable. He wasn't here. Anxiety wracked through the sergeant and her mind began thinking awful things. Things she didn't want to even consider. She was convinced his return was just a dream. A teasing, taunting dream. A dream that left her unfulfilled and wanting more. The sergeant's mind nearly convinced her that he was still dust floating throughout space. She rushed out of bed, hoping to spot him or any sign that Stephen was really here; that he wasn't a figment of her imagination. When he wasn't in the bathroom or his office, she began to sweat. Her palms were moist and her head was hot. Fuck, her mind wouldn't stop racing with these terrible thoughts and she was nearly convinced he was never here last night.
"Please, please be here," she mutters to herself, frantically looking around the New York Sanctum. Last night couldn't have been a dream... It was too real, too vivid. Her hands tremble as she fumbles up the stairs to see if he is near the relics. It's plausible that he could be checking up on a few things he wasn't able to look over. He could be catching up with all of the work he had missed these past years. Stephen is a busy man, maybe he's just doing his duties. When she doesn't spot him upstairs either, she drops her head in defeat. Of course it was too good to be true. There isn't a single reason he would just appear after five years. She must have been delusional. If anyone saw her right now, they could only assume she was crazy. Emerson was running around looking for a man who has been dead for years. She thought the dreams and nightmares were over. All of those taunting memories had stopped over a year ago but of course, they managed to make their way back.
"I got us some breakfast. Figured it would be a nice gesture to support the small businesses that are trying to come back from the snap," Stephen says aloud as he walks through a portal. The sergeant's mouth drops open as if she were about to speak. Taken back, her eyes widen in both surprise and relief. "Bagel?"
"Jesus Christ, Stephen, are you kidding me?" The sergeant shakes her head, taking the bag from his hand, accepting the bagel but still shocked. God, for a minute there the sergeant thought she was going insane.
"What, I thought you liked bagels. I can go pick up something else," he suggests, taking a sip from his hot coffee. He stands in front of the sergeant in a dress shirt and khakis with his hair done just as it normally is. The sorcerer looks stunning and Emerson couldn't be happier to see him. If yesterday was just another nightmare... She would've-- Well, she's not completely sure what she would have done. Havoc would have been wreaked and shit would have hit the fan.
"No, no, the bagels sound good. I was just-- Well, you had me freaking out like I was off my rocker for a minute there. You weren't there when I woke up and I couldn't find you... I thought I was going crazy. At least leave a note or message me next time. I was actually really fucking scared," she sighs in relief as she peeks in the bag. "But I'm glad you're here and you were just gone getting breakfast. Thank you by the way. I am starving."
"Aw, you were worried that I was still dust particles? How kind of you to care," he mutters with a sick grin, his mouth now full of cream cheese and bagel.
"It's not funny, Stephen, at least right now it's not. God, you damn near gave me a heart attack, you asshole. Sometimes I can't stand you," the sergeant starts off serious but ends her sentence with a soft smile. She takes a bite of her food while they make their way to the nearest set of chairs that face the displayed relics. She hasn't sat up here in a while. During the years he was gone, it was difficult for her to walk up these steps and not think of Stephen. If she avoided coming up here, then she could hopefully avoid thinking of her sorcerer.

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The Sorcerer's Apprentice {Stephen Strange}
FanfictionAfter serving in the military for 10 years after high school, First Sergeant Emerson Moore was honorably discharged home in order to take care of her dad. While her father battles stage three colon cancer, Emerson works all day and night to provide...