Breaking The Unbroken

Chapter 44

Lyric's POV

I sat in the nursery holding PJ and Iris after struggling to put them back to sleep. The house was unusually quiet as I rocked the children. Peter Jr stirred slightly before looking at me with those big brown eyes like his father's.

"Hey, handsome." I smiled. The child looked at me and his features began to seem...unreal. Deep brown eyes, the softest caramel skin, and the curliest curls. I felt tears coming to my eyes as I coddled PJ closer.

"What's going on?" I pondered to myself.

You won't wake up, why not?

I looked around the empty room frantically for the source of the voice but no one was there. Iris began to cry softly and I started to bounce her on my lap. The door opened slightly and Peter came in with a small smile on his face.

"Everything alright in here?" He asked.

"Iris is just being a little fussy." I smiled weakly.

"She just wants her daddy." Peter carefully took Iris out of my hands and cradled her to his chest.

"Imagine this, being blessed with two kids at once." He chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, we're very lucky." I sighed. Peter glanced at me and nudged my shoulder.

"Hey...I don't think you're alright." He frowned.

"Peter, none of this feels real. Why...why can I only remember parts of my life? It starts with our wedding, skips to when I told you I was pregnant and that's it! I'm so confused Peter." I whimpered, tears pooling in my eyes, as I put a sleeping PJ down. Peter placed Iris in her crib and pulled me into a hug.

"Hey, everything is fine. You're safe here with me, with us." He whispered into my ear, voice distorting once again. I began to sob louder, clinging to Peter's shoulder.

Steve's POV

*3 Days Until the Week Is Over*

"Hang in there darlin, Bruce and Tony are testing an antidote right now. You're gonna be fine." I said softly. Lyric was still surrounded by green energy, but it seemed to have gotten dimmer.

"You've been here for a while." A voice said. I turned to see Natasha walking towards me.

"She'd know what to do. She always did. I don't know what I'd do without her." I sighed. Nat sat next to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Is everything alright?" She asked.

"Definitely not, but what can you do." I chuckled pitifully.

"You can talk about it, Steve. Have you spoken with Bucky?"

"We don't talk much." Nat groaned and shoved me lightly.

"I don't understand you two sometimes." She mumbled. I thought back to the conversation Bucky and I had a few days earlier.

"I don't either," I replied. Lyric's body jerked and I sat up abruptly.

"What the hell?" I whispered.

"Should I get someone?" Nat frowned.

"Go get Bruce." Nat ran off and I looked over at Lyric again. The green force around her was flickering. I was afraid that meant the worst possible news.

Peter's POV

"So she's sick?" Ned asked.

"Yeah, and I just...I can't do anything about it." I sniffled angrily.

"Peter, this doesn't sound like something you can fix. Don't beat yourself up over it."

"I'm supposed to protect her. She's my girlfriend and I love her so much...I can't just sit here helplessly." Ned placed a hand on my back and suddenly I was tired of being pitied. I moved from his sympathetic gesture and stood up abruptly.

"I'm gonna do something about this." I decided.

"Peter, didn't Tony say to stay out of it?" Ned sighed.

"He doesn't love her like I do."

"Peter, I don't think this is a good idea." I bit my lip and turned away from Ned,

"Good thing I'm not thinking clearly then."

*Later That Night*

I stood in the dark lab, the only faint light coming from Lyric's glow. I looked over at her and placed a hand over the forcefield.

"You're gonna be fine, I promise. I told you I would take care of you, and I'd never break my promise to you." I whispered. I left down to the evidence room and grabbed Nina's phone. She had an address written in her notes and I just knew that was where I'd find what I need. I took the address and left. I was gonna save her.

She was gonna be okay.

Lyric's POV

I stood in the graveyard, PJ and Iris fast asleep in the stroller in front of me. The dark grey tombstone seemed unbelievably shiny.

James M Roy
1971-2007
He now flies high with the angels

I kneeled on the soft grass that had grown over the grave and put my hand on the tombstone.

"I...I'm so lost, so confused. I don't know where I am or why I'm here, but part of me doesn't want to leave. Please, what's going on? What do I do?" I pleaded eyes screwed shut in hopelessness.

I've been trying to send you back for days now, Lyric.

I gasped and opened my eyes. He sat next to me, a soft smile on his face.

"Daddy," I mumbled, tears pooling in my eyes.

Lyric, you're dying. You are aware of that, correct?

"I could guess. I mean, this is everything I've ever wanted, life is perfect here, but my real life isn't perfect. How do I get back?" I replied.

I can't help you there. It's up to you to go back, but it will be hard. You'll have to fight tooth and nail to get back to the land of the living. If you make it, everything will be different from here, or in a few years' time, it will be exactly the same. It depends on how you live your life.

I thought about what he said looked over at PJ and Iris. Their sleeping features were so peaceful and calm.

"They're so beautiful...how could I leave them, daddy?" I frowned.

They're not real Lyric, at least not now. As I said, this is a possible future you can have. You only have to live to find out.

I felt a stinging pain in my chest and I gasped.

"The poison...I don't think I have much time. Without that antidote, there's nothing I can do." I worried.

So this is it for you? You're going to give up?

Iris began to cry, waking her brother. I moved to the twins and cradled them both in my arms.

"I can't save myself...I have to have faith in my family, faith that they will save me. It's up to them now." I said, mostly to myself.

So you will die?

"If I must, I will. And you know what? I'm okay with that. I couldn't pick a more peaceful death. Getting to see the life I could've had." I resigned. Daddy frowned at me before disappearing. The brown eyes of my children placed me in a false sense of calm and I let it take me.

This is it for me...this is how I disappear.

And that's okay.