Promises

Chapter 3

Ada stood in front of the mirror, rubbing her belly. She was fresh out the shower, only in her underwear, taking in the changes her body had gone through and how much they reflected the changes in her life.

She'd moved from the studio apartment she'd shared with Erik into a two bedroom apartment not far from where they'd lived. She decorated the second bedroom in soft grays and blush pinks, spending two days painting the wall opposite the door in a floral mural in black, purple and that same pink. It had given Ada a purpose being able to create a space for her baby girl to come home to once she was born, like she was presenting herself to be judged by her upon arrival and Ada didn't want to be found lacking.

She found a job in a daycare, helping to care for the smaller children, to try to supplement the measly income she was getting from selling her art. It was hard to sacrifice her painting time but it was the only way Ada would be able to pay for the apartment and get what she needed for her baby girl. It was easier in the studio apartment, even easier with Erik paying half of the—sometimes the whole—rent. But that was he past and Ada had to make sacrifices for her future. She would be able to bring the baby to the daycare after birth as well, which made things better.

There was still no word from Erik, no way of knowing whether he was alive or dead, no way to let him know he'd have a baby girl in less than a month. Ada packed the things they he'd left behind into the back of her closet. Every once in a while, she'd pull out his leather book and look through it, praying for the answers to waft up from the worn pages. She felt closer to him in those moments; she liked to think that he'd gone to Wakanda, had found the family that they'd both wanted. Ada had let go of her anger quickly after realizing he wouldn't come back; he'd given her the greatest gift possible, the ability to build her own family.

A nudge took her out of her thoughts and Ada smiled. Her baby girl was very active throughout her pregnancy. "You kicking your mama? Hmm? You want some attention?" Ada looked at her body in the mirror analyzing herself. She was still slim, with a large round belly poking out, but she didn't even look pregnant from the back. Eight months had flown by and she had everything ready for her baby's arrival except...

"We really need a name for you baby girl," she said absentmindedly. "I don't think Baby Girl is gonna work on your birth certificate." There was a knock on the door.

Ada froze. She didn't have any friends and the people she'd met at the daycare didn't know where she lived. Even if they did, Ada didn't think they would stop by unannounced. Running to her bedroom, she pulled on her silk robe and ran to the door. Peering through the peephole, she saw two women, shaved heads with tattoos on them, holding spears. Ada backed away from the door in shock; she didn't know who these women were or what they wanted. There was another knock.

Leaving the deadbolt in place, Ada opened the door. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"Are you Ada Moore?" the one on the left asked.

"Depends on who's asking." Ada wasn't about to trust just anyone. She knew Erik probably still had enemies out there; it wouldn't be hard to figure out who she was to him. Who she'd been to him.

The women looked at each other, exasperation clear on their faces. "I don't think you want to have this conversation in the hallway," the same woman spoke up again, an eyebrow raised. Ada noticed she had an accent, an indication that she wasn't from Boston, or even America, and irritation colored her every word. "This is about N'Jadaka."

Ada blinked in confusion. Was she supposed to know who the fuck that was? She was getting annoyed with these women; all she wanted to do was eat her food and sit on her couch, not play mind games with black Xena, Warrior Princess.

"You know him better as Erik Stevens."

Ada slammed the door quickly, wrenching the chain off the door and swinging it open. "You know about Erik? What happened to him? Did he make it to Wakanda?"

The women gave each other another look before walking in. After shutting the door behind them, they banged their spears on the ground. The lights flickered and a figure appeared clothed in a black and gold suit. Ada startled at the sudden appearance of a masked man. What in the absolute hell...

The face disappeared from the mask and a face recognizable to her appeared. Erik looked agonized at seeing her and Ada felt paralyzed. She figured he had to be dead, secretly hoped for it being the only reason she hadn't heard from him in eight months. Stepping closer to him, tears welled in her eyes and before she knew it she swung.

AN: And I...OOOP! Let me know what you think!