Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

February in Canada. When the weather turned from unbearably cold to slightly less unbearable.

Man Media, which is actually in New York but close enough, shone like a red beacon in a city of grey and yellow. Echoing in the dim grey light of an overcast afternoon.

Across the street, hidden from sight behind a plywood-clad construction station. A machine peered out from behind the slats. Covered in stickers and beat up, but functioning regardless. 01 took a snapshot of the landscape. Turning around to the human who had brought him here. They gave the robot a pat on the head and looked out onto the busy city streets.

“Plan is simple”

Robot 01 responded with a “Beep-bop”

“Enter through the front. Walk with confidence, swagger, act like we own the place. I’ll draw my weapon and get the attention of the people. People call security, security calls the armed guards. You got a ballpark estimate for how many?”

“Beep”

“-10, that’s doable. Tricky though..”

“Beep-bop-?”

“That’s the point. The flashier the fight, the greater chance of getting the goose to leave his nest”

“Beep beep”

……

Gideon had his gaze fixed on the cameras. Every screen another angle. Capturing a snapshot of the silver-coin carnage.

A stranger had entered the building. Uninvited of course. With nothing but a rusty metal bat and some sort of futuristic robot backpack-thing. Everything about her dripped with edge. Black clothes. Bandaged hands and forearms. A dark red cloak which hid her hair (all but a bright red lock) and flowed with nonexistent wind. Her face, hidden by a pair of opaque square frames and an iron mask, only showed cold calculated violence.

Each swipe, each strike, another guard reduced to coinage on the street. A handful of change and a rude awakening back at home. Again, again, and again.

“This stranger…” Gideon intertwined his hands. Focused on the screens “has a power level unlike anything I’ve ever seen…being able to take out so many people single-handedly.”

“You know power levels are bullshit right?”

Gideons head snapped around. Seeing Julie standing beside him.

“Wha-“

“I’ve seen the shitty anime, power levels are just some dumb plot point so villains underestimate the heroes power”

He groaned “ugh! It was a turn of phrase! Why the hell are you here anyways.”

Powers seemed uninterested. Turning her back to his villain plotting chair.

“I still work here, remember? You need me to exposition-dump everything to your stupid little pissbrain.”

“Nevermind..” a snap of his fingers brought up a microphone “I need all guards on the ground floor intruder, I repeat, all guards locked on that target”.

Interference, but no reply.

“Guards! I said target them! Why won’t you listen! Do I not pay you to loiter around!”.

Julie scowled. Her eyes hidden by the glare of the screens “you really think your guards could take someone like that on? Someone so high leveled?”

Graves furrowed his gaze and tossed the microphone aside “it’s like, 20 on 1, they should be able to take on one stranger with a baseball bat-!”

Getting up from his throne, he felt a chill run down his back. Seeing something, no, someone, reflected in the dark edges of the innumerable screens. A dark form kaleidoscoped across his monitors. The intruder. Standing there as if nothing happened. Robot 0-1 stood nearby, eyes locked onto Gideon.

“Cameras are on a delay, minute or two, I’d get it checked out by IT”.

Gideon fumbled his words. Gripping the edge of his chair in tight-fisted anger.

“Why you-you little emo bitch!”

Raising his hand to summon a weapon, Gideons body twitched with a white-hot fury. Though the stranger didn't reciprocate his approach. Simply tossing her bat aside and raising one hand. The robot, uninterested in human activity, parked itself nearby.

“I’m not here to fight you Graves.”

Gideons eyes widened “not here to fight? Why’d you have to go and beat up every one of my guards then! I have an email you know, [email protected]!.”

“You never reply Gideon, let’s be honest” Powers interjected.

“Yea, I sent you one like, what, two months ago. Still nothing. Guess this was the second best idea.”

Approaching the man with stern composure, Gideon was almost impressed at their gusto. Able to storm his tower without second thought just for a conversation? Not what you see every day. Especially not from a Eboney Dark’ness knockoff like her.

“Listen Gideon, you and I have one thing in common” she gestured between them “we both want to kill Scott Pilgrim. Beat his stupid little smile into the dirt.”

“Oh?” The goose was intrigued. A twinkle in his glasses and a smirk lit up his face.

“I have the guts, the training, the experience. That's all I’ve been focused on for an entire year. Training for this moment, But what I don’t have, is the gear.” She kicked the metal baseball bat away, shaking her head “I can get the job done, I just need some extra power. You loan me some gear, a weapon and some armor, and I’ll take out Scott Pilgrim free of charge.”

Powers scoffed “what’s your motivation, we don’t even know your name and you’re asking us for an expensive-ass loan. We’re not a murder-for-hire charity like you think god dammit.”

“I’ve got my own reasons. But trust me, I hate him far more than you ever will” Taking off her goggles the stranger finally looked them in the eyes. Dark brown eyes, the type to appear nearly black, riddled with a fiery determination “…and the name? I’m Sam.”

“Sam, I don’t care how much edgy swagger you walk in here with, you are not-.”

“-You’re hired!” Gideon reached out to shake her hand, beaming with pride “on behalf of man media, you are officially a member of the hating Scott club. I’ll get you set up with anything you need Sammy-.”

“-just Sam.”

“Right right..”

Returning to his throne Gideon pressed a series of
hidden buttons, bringing the three of them down into an even more secretive bunker of weapons. Swords, armor, old and new, decorated the walls with all the class of a medieval castle. Giddy with a chance to show off his collection, Graves leapt from his chair and gestured to a wall of varying swords. Great broadswords which towered over Sam. Razor-thin knives held in leather scabbards. Katanas with intricate handles. All mounted alongside armor from nearly every point in history. Goose surely had a passion.

“All of these are modern recreations, so don’t be shy” Graves gestured to a gilded set of double-edged blades “here are some of my favorites, traditional tsurugi swords made from a highly flexible carbon steel. Able to be wielded alone or as a pair, they’ve actually been around far longer than-.”

Sam walked away. Shrugging his words off with little fanfare.

Gideon was quick to “O-Or if you prefer something heavier I have this 17th century model of a horseman’s pick. It’s like a hammer made from solid steel, designed to strike like an axe while riding on horseback. Really an underrated weapon-”

“I’m not here for a history lesson. Anyway these are all shit. Thought you’d have something more modern, more high-tech.”

Without missing a beat g-man ran to a tall metal storage box on the opposite wall and retrieved a narrow container within. Solid aluminum and engraved with some code. Opening up the metal lockbox revealed a sword of considerable length. Pitch black metal, besides a touch of gold on the hilt and a thin line of glimmering red. Sam grasped its handle and held it up to the fluorescent lights. Admiring its build as Gideon went on another lengthy explanation

“The XJ-10 titanium sapphire Laser blade. My science guys have been working on it for a while, it was originally made for Roxie but she ditched the league before we could give it to her” Goose spoke her name with a twinge of resentment “A carbon fiber enhanced Damascus katana blade with a high energy laser edge, able to cut and burn with a single slice. If there is ever a weapon to kill Pilgrim, this is it.”

With a touch of the hilt the blades edge ignited with sizzling red energy. A razor-sharp edge only further accented by the glowing lazer. It was edgy overkill, sure, but it suited her.

“I’ll take it.”

“Great choice Sam” Graves glasses flashed, reflecting light hiding his eyes “poor pilgrim has no clue what is about to unfold. Are you ready?”

“His memory will be reduced to little more than spare change jingling in my pocket.” She said “That man’s days are numbered.”

Chapter Text

“So it’s not gay?”

Wallace took a long drink “I mean, it’s a girl doing it, and it’s a dildo instead of a real dick…”

“How does it work?” 

“She straps it to her waist, like right over her crotch, and puts it up your butt. Pretty intense stuff.”

Scott shrugged “she’s pretty rough with me, I don’t mind though.”

“You like it rough? Shocker.”

“Envy was way worse. One of the reasons we split, I just didn't like all of the blindfolds and stuff-“

Sudden footsteps down the stairs cut the conversation. Ramona, seemingly none the wiser to the pegging-centered conversation, walked up to Scott and leaned her body against him. All dolled up for the night. Hair neatly tied back, dressed in slimming dark pants with a leather jacket and shirt. 

“Sorry if it took forever, I couldn't find the jacket.” 

“You look nice~” Scott blushed stoplight red. No matter how Ramona looked, his cheeks looked a bit redder when he was around her.

“You do too, didn't think you’d go all out with the suit and tie”

Wallace went to refill his drink, topping it off with an extra olive “What’s the occasion?”

Scott beamed “it’s our third anniversary! We’re going to a nice steakhouse”

“-Outback Steakhouse”

“Still a steakhouse” 

Wallace took a long sip “ah lovely, I’d love to third wheel you guys, but I’ve got plans”. 

Ramona took his hand and lifted Scott out of his chair. Giving him a peck on the cheek and a gentle touch on the back. The suit was cheap, to say the least, but Scott still looked handsome as ever. 

“The suit makes you look nice. Fills you out~”

“You look great too, can’t wait to eat. I’m starving”

Taking him by the hand, Ramona led him out the door. Wallace finished his drink in a swift gulp before following them out. 

“Good luck Scott, hope you get pegged!” 

———

Toronto was a city of many restaurants, big and small. And for some reason they let a subpar steakhouse into the mythic boundaries of Toronto, Canada. Which infamously was immune to any and all people or things from Australia. 

Unsurprisingly most people didn't want to go to an Australian-themed fast casual restaurant on a frigid Saturday. So Scott and Ramona practically had the place to themselves besides a few strangers getting plastered. Sitting at a cute little booth with very Aussie decor. Scott realized just how overdressed he was. 

“One lemon drop martini and one Pina Koala please”

Ramona scoffed “You mean pina colada?”

Scott seemed shocked. “No it’s on the menu, look, Pina Koala, because it’s Australian.”

“Ah I see” she smiled “God you’re so cute.”

He felt his ears go bright red. “Oh Rammy, you always say that.”

A waiter came by with the drinks. Cringing a bit at the couple's sugar-sweet remarks. 

“So any update on that raise?” Ramona took a sip. Cheap vodka covered up by juice almost as sweet as Scott’s words.

“I don’t think I’ll get it. The stores been kinda bad with pay raises. I’ve worked there for like what, two years, longer than most people there. Besides the manager of course.”

“Maybe it’s because you hold up the line with all your fun facts.”

“Hey it’s fun! They want me to engage with the customers right?”

“Not when there’s a 10 deep line”

Scott rolled his eyes. Taking a sip, as if sugar with a splash of rum would do much to calm his slight frustration. 

Ramona smiled, “I’m just happy you have a job at least. Not some unemployed nobody in a band.”

“It’s no stunt person, but I love what I do”.

“Good thing Gideons not really that into movies anymore. He’s just been funding all of Matthew’s plays.”

Ramona sighed “there’s something weird going on between those two. A lot of homoerotic tension. Like Gideons kinda with Julie, they keep breaking up and getting together every other month. But also Matthew’s dating Lucas...”

“Wack”

“I mean we could have been like them, at least from what our future selves said, but I think we’re both a lot more mature.”

“Yea, plus I hate the idea of me with a beard” he touched the few stray hairs on his chin. Little more than peach fuzz “It’s so weird and scratchy..”

Ramona absentmindedly stirred her drink and took a sip “So what were you and Wallace talking about before we left? Heard a bit of it.”

Scott’s face turned from soft pink to bright red “Uh-well, nothing much-just like guy stuff.”

“You want me to peg you?”

He nodded. 

“Alright, I’d be down.” She ran her nails across his hand “a little treat~”

A rumble outside. Like a low growl seemingly only audible to Scott and Ramona. Stirring them from their peaceful dinner and Conveniently ending the conversation about pegging before shit got too weird. Then, in a flash of glass and red light, Sam appeared. Smashing through a row of windows with a thundering clash. Slashing through anything and everything. Toppling chairs and tables, breaking through the decorated glass barriers with little care, the stranger had her eyes locked onto Scott Pilgrim. Leaving a wake of burnt plywood and pleather as she approached him. Her red lenses glowing in the incandescent light of the Outback Steakhouse. 

“Scott pilgrim, you motherfucker.”

The Scott in question looked around. Trepidation in his voice.

“Do…do I know you?”

Hesitating slightly, it took a moment for Sam to snap out of whatever.

“No, no you don’t.” She pointed her blade at him “but I’m here for one reason, one reason only.”

“…Tooo kill me?”

“I mean, obviously, yea.”

“Why?”

Sam stomped her feet “Do I need a reason? Can't I just kick your ass!”

Scott looked at Ramona, then at Sam, then back again “Uh, it’s my anniversary, if you wanna fight can we reschedule it?”

“Reschedule…?” A lull. Sam just…staring into space. Even through her mask and goggles she couldn't bring herself to say anything. 

“Ugh, fuck it.”

A blur of red. The glimmering edge of a blade sent crashing down towards Scott’s head. 

“-Shit!”

Sliding back, the sword just narrowly missed his scalp, burning a lock of his hair to a crisp. Taking the defensive stance he slid behind a toppled table. Able to shield himself from another burning slash of the sword. From her corner of his eye he saw Ramona, with her hand ready to withdraw a weapon. 

“Ramona don’t worry! I got this!” 

“Scott are you-“

From behind another soon-to-be shattered table he yelled “I owe you for the drunken piss thing, just chill out while I-”

Another near-miss from the sword. Scott trying to limbo under it but just ending up on his ass. Breaking off a chair leg he swung it haphazardly at her legs. She stumbled. Scott took a swing at her side. She buckled. The sword slipping from her grasp long enough for Scott to strike her on the head. Enough to send her startling back into the swinging radius of Ramona’s hammer. 

“Agh-!“

The swing sent her flying across the room, hitting a passing cart of dishes and knocking her to the floor with a tremendous clash. Her sword slipped from her grasp and wedged itself firmly into the linoleum. 

“Ramona I told you, I got this!”

She rolled her eyes “you’re getting your ass kicked.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yea, yea you are.”

“Ok maybe I am…” Scott shook off the dust “…who is this person anyways? You know them?”

“Nope, never seen them,” Ramona tightened her grip on the hammer “but that sword has Gideon written all over it.”

“Wasn't he like, done chasing you?”

“Thought he was, probably hired some sort of assassin.”

“He’s really that desperate? Thought he was with Julie for a while.”

“Broke up, didn't you hear?”

“Oh right, forgot-“

Another attempted strike by Sam. This time aiming for Ramona. A swift reversal which pinned her beneath the weight of the hammer. She groaned, pressing against the hammer's iron form with little success.

“For the-ugh-record, I’m not an assassin-“ She tried again to lift the hammer off her body “but graves did give me the sword.”

“It’s a cool sword, I don’t blame you. A bit edgy though”

“Why does everyone think I’m edgy?!” 

Using her legs she managed to free herself from beneath the hammer's mass. Sending it falling back towards Ramona. Plucking her sword from the floor she readied herself. Scott took another swing while she was open, sending a chair crashing over her head. The burning blade cut it neatly In half. Leaving Scott open for another swing, missing this time. Before she could reel back off another strike the business-end of a hammer struck her flat in the back. Careening into a divider with a burst of sawdust and broken glass.

For once there was a lull. A moment of silence. Scott and Ramona dust themselves off as they look down at the bruised and beaten stranger. They checked each other quickly for any signs of injury. Small cuts, but nothing more. The worst was a bit of Scott’s hair that had gotten singed in a stray katana swing. Sam looked the worse off. Her goggles cracked, mask hanging on by a thread. Blood dripping from her nose and cheek. Her body struggled to pull herself forward, to make another strike, but her muscles couldn't. She had been defeated. Propping herself up with her sword, she managed to stand up from the wreckage.

“This isn't over…” she paused, hacking up a bit of sawdust and blood “I’ll get you pilgrim, I’ll fucking get you-“

Though her entrance was grand, her exit was almost pitiful. Limping along with her sword as a cane, shattered glass crinkling under each heavy footstep. A cold Canadian breeze rippled through her battered body. As if the world mocked her. 

She turned back briefly. A gap in her shattered goggles just large enough to show her real eye. A clear glimmer amidst the red glass. 

Sam was crying. 

Chapter Text

They didn't finish their meal after the fight. 

Not wanting to owe the restaurant thousands in collateral damage they dipped, taking a quick bus ride back home and eating leftovers in their fancy clothes. Microwaved rice and toast in the kitchen. All while Kitty gideon warmed himself on Scott’s lap. Neither of them could say much besides small talk. Not wanting to acknowledge what had happened. 

Their nice clothes did not stay on for long. Each and every date, regardless of how shitty, ended with them on the bed. Remarks turning to kissing turning to sex. Grinding on each other beneath the covers. Ramona moaning as Scott pressed against her. Messy, passionate, rough. Ramona seemed to be the eager one tonight. Biting his neck as she ran her palms across his body. Moving her hips as she lifted herself on top. 

 “you down for your little treat~”

“I think I’ve had enough excitement for today…we’ll try it another day…”

Scott paused, biting his lip. 

“…I’m not saying no to sex though.” 

———

Scott hoped to forget about the battle. The stranger, all of it. As good as last night was he just couldn't shake it from his mind. Not so much the battle, just the ongoing question of who the hell that person was. 

He’d gotten his ass kicked. Fair and square. In front of Ramona for fucks sake. 

But that didn't mean the stranger had any excuse to follow him around. No matter how much he tried to ignore it she just kept, following, him. 

He had the day off from work while Ramona was still on set, so he used his time to get some errands done. Adult things. Things he used to toss aside back in his manchild days. But even as he left the house Scott couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched. Catching a glimpse of red a was nd black as he walked from stop to stop. He knew it was her, the sword-wielding stranger. It couldn't have been anybody else. During his afternoon trip to the grocery store, waiting in line while tempted by the candy. He saw the unmistakable red glare of her goggles from two isles down. Fixed on him. Ready to strike 

Again when he went to pick up his Super Mario Galaxy copy from the local EB games, she was there too. Watching him at the check-out counter while playing a demo. Still locked onto him, somehow still playing the game. 

She wasn't a hallucination, since the cashier checking him out noticed her. 

“You know her?”

“Uh, she beat my ass…”

“Neat.” 

He thought going out at night to pick up Rammys meds would give him a break. But no. She was always a stones throw away from him. Hiding behind a magazine or perusing the vitamins. But always locked on him. Never striking, always waiting. Like some emo little tiger standing in the brush, targeting the nervous deer which was him. 

Picking up the little brown baggie of Zoloft, Scott made a beeline towards the exit. Trying to just shrug off the eyes of the stalker. Why had she waited all this time, why had she tracked him all goddamn day just to stand there? He wanted to ask but his gut told him to just stay in his lane and go home like nothing happened. 

In the corner of his eye he saw her draw closer. Hand on her hilt, focused on him. Primed to snap. A clear isle between her and a very nervous Pilgrim. 

The pharmacy was empty (besides the employees). It was just him and the stalker. 

She wanted him alone, defenseless, without backup from his beloved Ramona. 

“Now, I finally have you in my sights-“. 

“Oh no…”

She charged. Scott caught like a deer in the headlights. At the mercy of her blade as it cut through his jacket and shirt. Slicing the bag of pills clean In two. Just grazing his chest enough to leave a scorch mark. Pilgrim managed to duck behind the next isle over, searching for items which could aid him. He was just met with row after row of overpriced printed paper. 

“God dammit, greeting cards-“

Sam leapt over the barrier, facing Scott with his back against the wall. He reached for a fist full of cards but they just haphazardly scattered on the ground. Another fist full turned to ash against the blazing edge of her sword. A snap, her sword striking the shelves of cards, burning up in a burst of heat. 

Scott dodged out of the way before he could be fried. Kicking against the stranger's leg in a failed attempt to knock her over. She faltered. A slim window of time for Scott to escape the isle. Slipping just out of reach before-

“Not so fast!”

A chunk of the display flew over his head and into an isle of candy, sending their sweet sweet glory raining down on Scott. He didn't fight back. Pilgrim stood his ground, hands up as a show of truce. 

“Why are you fighting me! Can we just, talk it out?” 

“I tried talking, I tried it so many times, so many years ago. But you never listened. Not once!” She pointed the edge of her sword at him “you think I’ll forgive you so easy?”

Scott looked on with confusion “I uh…never really talked to you? Or met you, at least before the whole Outback thing…”

“Nevermind-“

She swung at him, Scott managing to catch the blade against a chunk of metal from the display. With Sam off-guard he used the piece to push back against the sword. Circling back around and striking her in the eyebrow. Sam fell back, the swords edge cutting through the leather strap that held the goggles together. Scott was finally able to see her full gaze. Though the other half was still hidden by a mask. Pale skin with dark eyes, thick brows that tensed with rage. Blood poured from the shallow slash down her cheek and onto the floor. 

“Do you need a bandage? I mean we are in a pharmacy-“

“I don’t give a shit Pilgrim..” She spat out some blood, wiping her face “it’ll look way cooler as a scar anyways…”

He went in for another strike, Sam ditching the sword for a moment in favor of a good old fashion beat down. She swung her fist against his side, opening him up for an upwards kick straight to the balls. 

“Fuck-!”

Scott blacked out momentarily after his little Scott’s got obliterated. Waking up just as he was about to fall. He managed to gain his composure after the low blow. But not for long. A roundhouse kick sent Pilgrim flying towards a cinderblock wall. Reorientating himself mid-air he used the wall like a platform, jumping off of it with a burst of energy. He struck her on the face with a tremendous thud. Bruising the already bleeding cut he had given her. He stood for a moment, bloodied hands raised in a defensive maneuver. Anticipating an attack. 

“Wait are those shadow the hedgehog shoes?”

Sam was caught off guard. A long hum filling the vacant air. 

“They’re soap shoes, not shadow the hedgehog shoes.”

“Soap shoes? Those don’t have anything to do with soap?” Scott raised a brow “those are like, the same shape as the ones-“

Battered and bruised. Trying to bring herself to strike just one more time. Sam couldn't even think about attempting another attack. “God for someone who loves games so much you sure know jack shit about the real world.”

“How do you know me!” His patience had wore thin, no longer content with brawling this complete stranger “like you stalk me all day, hit me in the balls, you ruin my anniversary, and you insult me! I just want an explanation…please..”

“I owe you nothing.”

“Not even an answer..”

Her silence answered his question. Once again she limped away from the destruction. Not even giving Scott the privilege of seeing her defeated. He looked down at his fists. Streaks of her blood reddening his knuckles. He won, he won fair and square without Ramona’s help. But he couldn't help but feel some sort of guilt for the stranger. Not because she was a girl or anything, though that was apart of it. There was something in her voice, her mannerisms, something he couldn't place. Deja-vu he couldn't describe. 

Unceremoniously he knelt down. Plucking the fallen pills off the ground. 

Her gaze still lingered in his mind. Those eyes. Those sad sad eyes. 

——-

“So, two whole battles and an entire day of stalking, no success?”

Each word Gideon spoke echoed through the vast walls of the lairs meeting room. A chasm scantly decorated, yet so broad it seemed to stretch upwards for ages. In the center, a table, grand enough for a feast yet only serving Gideon and Sam. The distance only made his gaze cut deeper, a white glare which drew her attention like a lighthouse.

Sam, for once, took off her broken goggles. A scar had etched itself into her right brow and cheek. As cool as it looked the painful scabbing and healing made her wince as she spoke. 

“He’s a difficult opponent” she said “in my future you lost to him, it’s no surprise really.”

He scoffed “why did you think you could defeat him then? If you know what happens in your future, what makes this any different?”

“Look, it’s hard to explain, but I thought this Scott would be easier. In my future he fought far more, won so many battles. I thought I’d get a chance.”

“Well you didn't. Now, what’s your next plan? I want him as dead as you do.”

Sam paused “I-i don’t know. I thought my last plan would work.”

“Get him while he’s pissing, or sleeping, or whatever. I don’t care” he slammed his fist against the table “I just want him dead.”

Sam excused herself. Steps echoing in the hollow halls of the lair. Her head hung low. Eyes worn and tired, hidden behind strands of red dyed hair. 

“Beep?”

Robot 01 was waiting for her at the end of the hall. Showing about as much curiosity as a faceless emotionless robot could. Tapping his feet impatiently fo get her attention. 

“Not now…I just need a break” she ran her finger along the scar, tiny droplets of blood sticking to her skin despite the healing “that’ll look cool as hell…still hurts-“

“Beep!”

She turned back. Rolling her eyes at the little robots urgency.

“I know I fucked up, just let me rest alright-“

Like an impatient toddler 01 grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down. Standing on his tippy-toes to whisper into her ear.. Strings of noises and sounds only comprehensible to her. Frustration faded like snow in the sun. Shock gave way to confusion, to a feeling altogether different. A feeling that could not be described by words. 

The feeling that time shifted. That the path she had fought so hard to tear them out of was already splitting. 

Chapter Text

“Hey..you ok?”

Ramona felt the dry sandy ground beneath her. She was dreaming. She was in that nebulous other-world she was so accustomed to. Ears filled with the hum of distant planets and the whisper of sand.

“Ramona?”

Why was she not alone. Why was that voice calling out for her.

Lifting herself up she gazed off into the cratered landscape. Across the dunes she saw a stranger approaching. The same blade-wielding, masked stranger who had kicked both of them to kingdom come. Though she didn't have her blade, or glasses, or anything intimidating. For once she could see her face to face.

The stranger was young. Couldn't have been older than 16. Round features with a small nose and a slight scowl. Her right brow bore a fresh scar from what must have been a recent brawl. Neatly slicing through the hair on her dark brows. Though her brows were dark, her hair was a light ginger with a single dark red streak hanging over her left eye. A shade of ginger red so..familiar.

Now only a few feet away, Ramona instinctively reached for her purse to retrieve a weapon. The stranger raised her hand.

“No, I’m not here to fight” she spoke “I’m just here to talk”.

“About what?”

“About you Ramona” they said “I’m here to talk about you”.

“Who are you anyways? Are you somebody Scott used to know?” Ramona couldn't remember Scott mentioning her, or anybody like her in the past. But god knows how many people he made enemies with.

The stranger looked off for a moment. Her anger turning into something more akin to crying.

“I’m your daughter Ramona” she said “my name is Samus pilgrim, I’m your daughter”.

“You’re..” Ramona’s brain scrambled for explanations, trying to come to grips with what the stranger, Samus, had just said.

“I’ve come from the future to try and kill Scott, to split you two up and prevent my future from happening.”

“Wait, like I know older Scott tried to split us up, but I thought that was over-“

“Well, I’m trying to do the same” Samus growled “that was one future, in my world I was the last ditch attempt to save your marriage. The baby born to keep you guys from falling apart.”

Ramona bit her tongue “let me guess…it didn't help?”

“Not at all” Samus spoke with venom In her voice “if anything I made it worse, made it even more dysfunctional than it was before, if that’s even possible.”

“So what stopped you from fighting Scott, what stopped you from trying to kill him again?”

For a moment the grittiness in her voice, the anger, faded away. Samus seemed oddly tender.

“Well, I have this robot buddy. 0-1, he lets me travel through time. Vegan magic and shit. Don’t fully know how, but he can. Anyways, after my last fight with Scott he told me that the future had already changed” she sighed “the future you’re apart of won’t lead to my future, the path split in a way”.

“So Scott and I, we’re gonna end up differently?”.

Samus was clearly searching for the words. Biting her cheek in silence while Ramona waited for answers.

“Listen Ramona, I’m not your future. I’m not what’s going to end up happening. It’s up to you now. It’s your life, you have total control over what you do. It’ll be different, I promise.” Samus, for the first time, smiled.

“good luck mom”.

Like a lightbulb burning out, the dream ended. And the day begun. Waking up with her back against a still-sleeping Scott. Samus still lingering in her consciousness like a hangover. Whatever the fuck that was, Samus clearly knew something she didint. The whole daughter thing didn't feel real. She was a mother in another future, though from the looks of it, kind of a shitty one. Though from the weird wording she couldint help but ponder, maybe she was going to be one in this future. Something she’d never once thought of during her life.

“Mmmmnnh Rammmy~” Scott began to stir “..i got hit again….in the balls”

“In your dreams?”

“Mhmmm.”

Scott buried his face into the pillow. Wrapping himself in the blankets before returning to the sweet comforts of sleep. Now it was just her, staring up at the popcorn ceiling with her thoughts for company. Her thoughts and Scott’s tired mumbling.

“Mmm, she’s in the walls….persons in the walls rammyy~.”

———

It was on set a week and a half later when her thoughts began spiraling again. When the words of Samus snuck back into her brain.

The scene had to be shot early morning. Sunrise and everything. Meaning she got to the set at 5 am sharp. She could handle early morning gigs, this filming had been full of them, but she could barely pull herself out of bed. An overwhelming sense of just…feeling awful.

Once on set she didn't feel any better. Constantly on the verge of throwing up, trying to get through each shoot so she could lay down and relax. Keeping what little food she could stomach down.

The shoot ended around noon, and god Ramona couldn't be happier to go home. Coworkers constantly nagging her to go see a doctor or take a break. Each one met with a groan or dismissive wave. The words Samus spoke became all the more threatening. How she had total control over what to do next.

The realization only hit her on the bus ride to Stephen’s. How their “paths” split, why she no longer had it out against Scott. A realization she could hardly swallow.

——-

Scott had invited her to their practice after work. Though it was more like a lame hangout with some free drinks and food. Not like she could stomach alcohol anyways. She was honestly just trying to get through the practice without making Scott sad, hoping to go back home and sleep away the nausea.

Stephen took the mic, standing tall as he stared into some invisible audience. “Alright, this songs called ‘Ketamine ain’t for horses.” He nodded at Scott “it’s a work in progress so let us know what we can fix-“

Kim interjected “-shut the fuck up they don’t care. You wrote it drunk it like an hour.”

“Well my best song ideas come to me drunk-“

“-ONE TWO THREE FOUR”

A burst of sound. The clash of brass and the roar of guitar jolted Ramona from her near-slumber. Pounding into her skull like a hammer. Her stomach churned, body going cold as she tried to keep her composure.

“Shit I don’t feel good I’m so-“

Completely out of nowhere Ramona doubled over, coughing once or twice before reaching for an empty takeout bag and throwing up. Why now. Why in front of everyone.

“Dammit Stephen the song just started and you already made Ramona puke.”

“-babe!” Scott dropped his guitar and rushed to her side. Placing a hand on her back as she pulled herself up.

“-I’m fine Scott, I’m fine-“

“You are not fine, did you eat something weird at work? I never trusted those catering companies-“ he said “Stephen do you have anything that could help?”

He shook his head “sorry man, I got an iron stomach, I know there’s a pharmacy nearby though”.

“Alright, I’ll get some meds, any preference Rammy?”.

Ramona held back the bile in her mouth “-just, get me whatever the fuck is there”.

“Ok baby, see you in a bit love bug!”.

Stephen and Scott left. Leaving Ramona awkwardly hunched over on the couch with all eyes on her. Knowing they all were thinking the same thing she was.

“Ramona can you at least pick up the puke-bag, it’s starting to look even grosser.”

Snapping out of her daze, Ramona wordlessly picked up the damp bag and chucked it in the nearby trash can. She just wanted to go back with Scott and pretend this never happened. Lay down and let the inevitability of it sink in. The inevitability of what Scott did to her, what would unfold soon.

She could hear Knives and Kim talking as she went to the garage to grab a soda. Not very clearly, but clear enough to hear Knives obvious worry and Kim’s carelessness.

“What if it’s an infection? Should we stop practicing?”

Kim groaned “she’s always been a bitch with sickness. If you acknowledge it, she beats the shit out of you.”

Good. Neither of them guessed the obvious. The possibility which crept up her mind and clawed at her. They seemed to assume it was another random illness. Kim didn't seem to fear an infection too much, Ramona could hear her walking up behind her in search of beer.

“Hey Kim?”

“Yea?”

“Remember when you pranked your cousin with that pregnancy test?”

“Mhm, what about it?”

“Do you have one still?”.

Without any more than a word she retrieved one from her purse, still In its scratched-up plastic wrapper. Kim didn't seem to judge her much. She just chugged her beer and left to go back.

“Good luck bud, hope it’s not Scott’s.”

Wordlessly she slipped into the bathroom, emptied her piss meter, and sat down on the cold tile floor for the inevitable to happen. God asking for the test was bad enough. Suddenly deciding to do it in Stephen’s shitty house was even worse. They’d know, they’d all know before she even got the chance to let Scott know. How the hell would he even react? He wouldn't be mad, he hardly got upset at her for anything. Knowing Scott he’d feel so guilty, but Ramona didn't even know if she was going to keep them-

“Fuck, enough stalling”.

She reached up, holding it with her thumb covering the all-important reveal. Ramona could hear the others through the thin plywood door. Only giving her temporary distraction from the inevitability of it all. A moment ingrained in her brain forever.

Closing her eyes, she released her grip on the test.

Two lines.

Fucking positive.

“Dammit!”

Her body reacted before her brain could. Without knowing it, she’d rammed her fist into the bathroom wall. Drywall and probably asbestos littering the ground around her. Covering that fucking test in a layer of white crumble. She stared up at the ceiling. Up at the sky she couldint see.

God dammit Samus was right. She fucked up. She fucked up so much.

“Oh my god Ramona are you ok?”

It was Knives, kneeling down next to her, almost on the verge of tears. She placed the back of her hand against her face. Searching for a fever that wasn't there. Kim and Neil stood over her with a mix of confusion and curiosity. That wide-eyed stare with no thoughts behind them.

“Was that hole always there? Swore it was” Young Neil said. More concerned about the hole in the wall than Ramona.

Kim emptied her can “Nah that’s new, I think Ramona got her answer though.”

Knives stalled “answer to what?”

All eyes were on her. The test had been buried beneath the crushed drywall, but the two damn lines still peeked through the rubble. Mocking her. Mocking her and the goddamn emotions which drove her mind wild.

“I’m pregnant.”

Ramona’s words left her mouth before she even processed it.

Silence. Silence that burned a hole through her heart. Silence only broken by Knives.

“Oh. My. God” She grabbed Ramona by the shoulders and feverishly shook her “You’re gonna be a mom!!”

“I mean, if she wants to. Thank god for Canadian healthcare.” Kim honestly couldn't care less. Shrugging it off and walking back into the living room.

Knives was practically shaking with excitement, dragging Ramona up from the pile of drywall “Oh my god are you gonna tell Scott, does he know?”

“Uh-“

“I’m so happy for you!! Mama Ramona!!”

“Knives I-“

“Congrats!”

She strangled Ramona with a hug. Neil too empty-brained to do much besides just…stare. Scott and Stephen would be back any moment. The thought of explaining this mess to Scott, now with an audience, brought tears to her eyes. Everything crashing down on her, bringing her fragile mind to tears. She didn't hate Kim or Knives or even Young Neil. They were just as much her friends as they were Scott’s. But damn adrenaline and emotions and feelings made her want to hammer them into the ground. Beat them until they were a bloody pulp so nobody but her knew the-

“Hey Rammy! I got your meds”

Scott was back, proudly holding the nausea meds with that big goofball smile on his face. Though he was lazer focused on his dear Ramona, Stephen clearly could tell something was wrong. Neil’s confusion. Knives bouncing off the walls with joy. Kim caring slightly more than usual.

“What the hell happened while we-“

“Ramona’s pregnant Scott!!”

Her heart sank through the floor. Ramona was inches away from punting that bitch through the walls. It was already shitty, it was already a big awful mess, but Knives just had to come in and ruin it just like she did.

“Ramona’s…what…” Scott dropped the meds on the floor. Mouth stalling as his mind buzzed with a static mess of emotions. His expression said it all. Eyes wide, mouth open, hands twitching. Ramona’s heart ached. He was lucky enough to not have her emotional issues, but those same feelings were wreaking havoc on his brain.

Kim spoke up “Woah woah Knives you can’t just say that shit, look, you broke Scott.”

“Mmm I know, I’m just so happy for you two!” Knives gave Scott a tight hug, the man still stuck in an emotional limbo.

“I-I-I’m gonna be a dad-“ Scott choked out a few words. Eyes still focused on his Ramona, his everything “oh my god…”

“Don’t get your dick in a twist you don’t even know if she’s gonna keep the damn thing,” Kim scoffed “plus you’re the one who got her into this mess.”

Stephen, already on the verge of yelling, spoke up “Ok ok I know this is a big emotional moment you all, Ramona’s got a baby and whatnot, but for fucks sake this is a rental! No more punching holes in walls, you know how much I owe my landlord? I already owe the fuck like 300 bucks after Neil put a fork in the microwave, now this shit!”

Neil spoke up “It was only once-“

“MOTHERFUCKER IT WAS THREE TIMES-.”

——

“I’m sorry that’s how you had to find out Scott.”

Scott and Ramona sat on the doorsteps of Stephen’s house. Both staring at the frostbitten grass. Both grasping at words they couldn't find. Though Ramona had managed to clear the tears from her eyes, Scotts only just began to spill. Cold drops trickling down his reddened cheeks and falling onto his shaking hands.

“I had a suspicion. I don’t get sick easily, I asked Kim for a test because of that prank, and the rest just kinda…happened.”

Scott didn't speak up.

“Look I’m sorry, I know you’re probably feeling guilty and I don’t even know how I’m going to handle all of this. It’s still early on so I have options, we don’t need to figure it all out right now. No matter what option I choose, I’m going to stay with you, I’m done running, I’m- “

“Why aren’t you mad at me?”

Ramona was taken aback “W-what do you..oh…oh I’m not mad-” she took a deep breath “…well I’m not like, furious. A bit angry of course, but I know you didn't mean it.”

“I knocked you up, I caused this, why aren’t you mad?”

“Are you saying I should be more mad?”

“No i'm not saying that, i'm not saying you should be angry, i'm just-“ He buried his head in his face “-im just sorry for you. I’m sorry you have to make all these decisions all because of me just picking the wrong condom or some shit like that.”

“Look I’m not gonna make the decision for a few more days, ok?” She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder “we’ll talk once I figure out what to do. And I guess we just kinda…roll with it from there. From what that person with the sword said, it seems that we’ll end up alright regardless.”

A lull in the conversation. Scott’s eyes widening with some unseen realization.

“Wait…that stranger-“ Scott stuttered “that’s-“

“Our daughter. She told me she came from the future to prevent herself from being born. Did she not tell you any of that?”

“No…she just hit me in the balls again.”

“Bummer” Ramona paused, tempted to reach for a cigarette only to remember and pull her hand away. “But you know, she told me things were a lot worse in her past. She didn't seem to be born of love, just our shitty future selves trying to stay together. So in a way, I guess we’re doing something better. Or worse…”

Scott sighed “damn…”

Sitting back, leaning against her boyfriend for support. They looked out onto the sleet-covered streets. Snow just starting to fall and dissolve against the wetness. Air clouded by their breath. Scott’s tears felt like tiny icicles. Tracing his cold cheeks as they fell.

“I love you Ramona.”

“I love you too Scott.”

———-

Waking up that morning felt like waking up from a long dream. Again and again, despite that day being nearly a week past, it still seemed like a fantasy. The sun seeming almost too bright for the early hours. Ramona’s body rendered stiff and aching. The events of that day strikingly vivid yet altogether distant. A memory she couldn't quite place. A memory she choked up to her brains imagination before remembering it all. Remembering it was all real.

Scott was absent from bed. She could hear him through the floorboards playing music, followed by the faint scent of probably burning food.

“Agh! The omelet!”

She laughed. God Scott was such a dumbass.

Sickness still plagued her, but she was lucky it wasn't nearly as bad as days before. Though her appetite was still in the gutter. Walking downstairs with Kitty Gideon trailing behind, she could still smell the lingering scent of burnt eggs. He had set out a quaint little breakfast. Juice, fresh fruit, and the failed omelet. Scott’s face lit up like a star when he saw his precious Ramona walk down the stairs. His Shirt covered in food stains but happy nonetheless.

“Good morning Rammy, did I wake you up?”

Ramona smiled “No, but I was scared you were gonna burn the house down.”

“Sorry, I kinda burned the omelet. Saved the good part for you. ”

She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Scott returning the favor with a peck on the neck.

Sitting down without much fanfare. Ramona eating whatever she could stomach while Scott drank some juice. They were calm. Quiet. Though Ramona’s words, trapped behind her lips, were on the verge of escaping. She held it back for the sake of a quiet moment. A breakfast where it could all just, fade away.

“Scott I’m going to go through with it.”

Damn impulsivity. Saying shit at the worst time.

It took him a moment to register what she said. Gulping down some fruit before looking over in wide-eyed awe.

“Through with it..?”

She nodded “I’m, I’m going to go forward with this. It’s all I’ve been thinking about the past week but I just..I don’t know. I’ve made my decision. I’m ready, I’m ready to go forward with this.”

Flowers paused, running her fingers over the worn wood of the table. She’d thought about how to say it again and again, wanting to give Scott some sort of explanation for why she made the decision. Something to justify herself. Make Scott more likely to go along with it. Though his sudden change in expression made that all unnecessary.

“You’re going to be a mom..” he gasped “…I’m going to be a dad.”

“You are, Scott…I know it’s sudden-“

“No it’s not, I mean you had to make a decision soon enough.”

“I’m going to be a dad…”

Excitement turned to fear. Some awful..existential dread which pulled him down towards the blackened eggs. Something clicking in his mind. The permanence of it all. What his girlfriend meant, what it all meant. It meant he, no, they had created something.

He took another drink. Distracting himself with the sour sweetness.

“Do you not feel ready? I completely get it. Honestly i'm not sure if it’s fully set in for me yet.”

“No no no, i feel ready, I feel okay,” he sighed “ i'm more concerned about you.”

“I made the decision, it’s my choice. I’m more than ready to deal with it.”

Another pause. Scott’s mouth half open, Ramona just…processing it all.

“There’s a tiny human in you.”

“Yes there is.”

“How big is it.”

“I dunno, like, a grain of rice.”

“Woah.”

———-

“So you’re staying in Toronto?”

“Yea, kinda got a new thing with Kim.”

“Really? Thought you said there were no sparks”

“Eh, not at first,” Roxie winked “but after a night at her place, god that girl can get it”.

With the weekend off Ramona had a chance to catch her breath. Rest her mind and body and try to shrug off the pervasive nausea. She honestly would be better off just rotting in bed watching crappy television, but Roxie’s invite to coffee was something she didn't want to turn down. They’d met up briefly a few times after they made amends, though nothing more than a few quick exchanges. Being with Roxie felt nice for once. Like she was back in college. Like she wasn't going through such a monumental event. Like there wasn't a tiny grain of rice slowly growing inside her.

“Have you guys gone out on a date?”

“Nah, mostly just chill at her place. Kinda got a thing going. We drink, watch a movie, and she plows me into the ground-“

“Dude, you don’t have to get into detail.”

“C’mon I’m just messing with ya.”

The small talk ceased when they saw Stacey walk by. Seeming oddly giddy for such a slow work day. Or maybe she was just like that. Ramona never knew much about her.

“Alright iced hibiscus tea for Ramona, americano and cake pop for the chick with ponytails..”

Roxie seemed a bit confused “Surprised you didn't order your regular English breakfast, that was your go-to right?”

Ramona was about to speak up. Brush off the sudden absence of caffeine with something like sleep issues or just not feeling like it. But Stacey took care of that.

“Yea scott got her knocked up, no caffeine, sucks man.”

Roxie looked shocked. Smiling from ear to ear as she lifted her drink up.

“Congrats man, let’s get drinks on me!”

“I can’t have alcohol.”

“Hey I didn't say you had to drink.”

Stacey laughed “Out of all the people I know, I never expected you to be the first one with a kid. It’s wild man. My brother knocked up his dream girl.”

Roxy butted into the conversation “I know right! Scott’s like, the least likely man to be a dad.”

“Tell me about it, he’s such a man baby.”

“He’s got a job but it’s just some game store. I know Julie roasts him for it on the regular.”

Ramona sat by, listening to the conversation unfold. Biting her tongue as they insulted Scott. It wasn't like anything was incorrect, it just stung. Honestly she just wanted to chug her drink and excuse herself from it all. But a familiar face, a glint of red and amber, distracted her.

Samus, Sam, her future almost-daughter. Sat a few tables down. Clearly not wanting to fight. Just watching it all unfold.

———

It didn't really sink in, as much as she thought about it, until she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Her and Scott had showered together. Not really in a sexual way, just kinda being together. Talking back and forth and being intimate in such a subtle way. Scott would massage her hair, Ramona would jokingly mess with his crotch. Little moments.

Scott started getting dressed in the bedroom while Ramona did her hair, a towel still wrapped around her waist. She stood back briefly to check her shoulders for any stubborn marks before noticing something. A change. Small, almost imperceptibly so.

Her abdomen stuck out just a bit. Running her hand over its surface it felt hard, like a baseball, not like fat or water weight.

“Finally making yourself known, huh.”

Looking at it from profile made it more obvious. That they were growing, that they were real. That it was all so so real.

The sensation of droplets falling down her face. Tears of joy, or maybe just the wetness of her hair. She didn't really mind either way.

“Hello there…”

Chapter Text

Every passing day, Ramona felt control slipping from her grasp. 

Her hair color of the week. Her home. Her job and career. Hell, even her breakup-riddled dating life. It was all on her terms. It was her life, she took that bull by the horns and swung it into outer space. 

Now, she’d be lucky to get out of bed without feeling like absolute shit. Knowing her body was beyond her control, knowing it was only going to get worse until the day she pops. Her own body growing and rebelling against her. Gaining weight that hung around her hips and made her feel even worse. The bump that became too large to hide. Her tits aching. Feeling bloated, ugly, like some fat bitch she’d mock back in high school. Her hair looked the worse it ever had. Now it was a few inches below her neck. Faded pink dye on most of it, the roots showing her natural dark brown. 

“They’ve been growing a lot huh?” 

Scott had treated the two of them to a nice brunch. Well, he’d planned to make it for breakfast. But Rammy couldn't even think about eating until noon, when her nausea finally wore off enough to let her. Lukewarm pancakes and iced tea (decaf for her of course) Scott, the teddy bear he was, always kept a close eye on Ramona and their little one. Probably more than she did, 

“It’s the 5 month mark right? That’s like, pomegranate size, or apple size…I’ve never had a pomegranate.” every time they brought it up he got giddy. The sort of infectious, saccharine sweet joy, the kind that would make Kim break his neck. 

Ramona took small bites, trying to keep food down as much as possible. “I think so, god it's been going so quickly”.

“But it's cool, right? You're making something that’s as big as a pomegranate-apple-thing.”

“They’ll be watermelon sized soon enough…”

Scott seemed shocked “Still kinda blows my mind, we’ll have a watermelon in 4 months!”

“Don’t remind me…”

In the blink of an eye Scott snuck up from behind her, nuzzling his cheek against her messy hair. She couldn't be mad. She never had the heart too. 

“Scotty…I know you’re so excited, but I’m just so scared about what comes next. I like the present, I feel comfy here” She took a sip “I know the future is inevitable, I know I have to face it. But god it hurts”. 

“Hey, Rammy” Scott ran his hand against the edge of her cheek, leaning in for a soft kiss “you’ve gotten this far, you’ve handled it like a champ. Just take it easy alright?”. 

“How so? I’m already stuck doing like, nothing for the production company. You’re the one making money between the two of us”. 

“I’m just happy to still have a job at the game store” he said “You’re busy growing a baby anyways, keeping them all safe and warm. It’s a full time job.” 

Ramona looked down “Well they've been kicking my guts all night long, might as well be a full time job.”

“Wait, they’ve been kicking?!” 

“I mean-not much, just thought it was my stomach and stuff.” 

Scott placed a hand against her, eagerly waiting to feel his baby. Not moving even as the seconds turned to minutes. All with that wide-eyed smile. 

“Are you just gonna sit here until it happens..?”

“Yes.”

———-

Taking a leave from her job meant vast swaths of time without much to do. She did the housewife thing and keep the place clean, though that only took an hour at max. Her rapidly deteriorating physicality made it harder and harder to keep in shape. Making even short walks tricky. Roller skating was off the table too. One wrong fall could hurt her little one beyond repair. She felt bogged down. Slow. Useless. 

The sliver lining was that Roxy was equally open, having been jobless for a few months and having no luck finding anything In Toronto. She felt awful subjecting her ex to her bitchiness, especially with how slow she felt, but Roxy didn't mind. 

Today they met up in a small social area not far from the coffee shop Julie and Stacey worked at. A kitschy little row of shops and expensive restaurants that seemed custom-built as photo ops. Luckily a nearby pizza store was affordable enough for them to get more than an appetizer. The July heat (Canada is surprisingly hot) meant Ramona couldn't hide her body beneath a nice thick coat. A thin denim jacket hid it somewhat, but regardless it all stuck out like a sore thumb. Her bump visible to any who passed by. 

They found shade beneath a sidewalk tree. Eating floppy New York style pizza while the world buzzed around them.

“…so we go to pick up the end table and they said it’s already sold, as if I didn't just have a conversation with the bitch about how I was on my way to pick it up.” Roxy finished off a chunk of the crust, leaning back in the rough metal chair.

Ramona prodded at her food. Only drinking some water to deal with the heat of the day “they didn't charge you for it right?”

“Nah I was gonna give them the money in cash, thank god I didn't get robbed” Roxy finished off the last bit of the crust, pausing a moment as a car drove by. “so Scott’s the breadwinner now huh?”

“Can’t do stunt work with this” she gestured to her body “don’t want to hurt her, same reason I’ve stopped dying my hair. I heard bleach can hurt the baby-.”

“It’s a girl?”

“Yea. I guess I’m far enough along that the doctor could tell. Kinda found out by accident so I’m keeping it a secret from Scott.” she rummaged around in her purse for a moment, taking out a small card “Went in for an appointment last week and they took this, not the cleanest photo but it makes me happy looking at it.”

Roxy squinted at the image. Black and white shapes roughly formed into a little jelly-bean looking shape. The limbs were kinda visible, but the rest looked like mush.  

“Looks like a shitty painting.”

“That’s my baby Roxy.”

“Your baby looks like a shitty painting.”

Ramona opened her mouth to respond, but the sound of distant shouting drew her attention. Assuming it to be a stranger she turned away. Only turning back when she heard a familiar voice. 

“Ramona, fancy seeing you here”

Matthew Patel, of all people, standing a few stores down. Hair still greasy. Face still smug with anger from nearly a decade ago. Though his usual emo attire was substituted with a thin pink shirt and shorts.

Ramona didn't budge. Ignoring his obvious anger and turning away. “Finally changing your wardrobe, you look nice in pink.”

“Thanks Ramona, I borrowed it from my boyfriend. Might have heard of him, Lucas Lee.”

“I dated him.” 

“Jealous much?”

A stall in the conversation. Ramona staring at Matthew with vacant eyes, her baby’s kicking being the only thing to stop her from zoning out.

“Anyways…” He pointed a finger at her “I’m here to reclaim what is rightly mine, your bag!”

“My bag? What, why the hell do you want it?”

He growled “Remember, middle school, I gave it to you as a gift. Enchanted items and whatever?”

“Uh…” Ramona flipped through her memory like a Rolodex. Coming up blank with only the blurriest of old middle school memories. 

“I don’t care if you don’t remember, that bag was a gift from me to you, and since I no longer date you, I have the right to take it back!”

“Bro that’s now how a gift works,” Roxy spoke up “why didn't you just get it when you guys originally broke up?”

Ramona looked at Patel “yea, why didn’t you get it then, it’s been fucking forever.”

“I uh…forgot about it. You know, I’ve been busy lately with my big buff celebrity boyfriend.” Matthew’s gaze drifted to the sky, no doubt dreaming about Lucas Lee, “but anyways-If you won’t give it back to me, I’ll just have to fight you for it!”

Matthew was hungry for combat. Approaching her with fury in his eyes and a gleeful smile. Arms spread wide as if he was expecting her to strike first. 

Ramona stood her ground. God any other day she’d wreck his shit. Knock him across the street with a single strike. She couldn't tho. She couldn't selfishly throw herself into a battle like she used to. Ramona had someone else to watch over. The precious cargo she carried. 

She couldn't make that decision herself though. Clearly impatient, Matthew leapt towards her. Ramona unable to dodge out of the way before he struck her on the face with his fist. Blackout, if only for a second, meant she couldn't fight back. The impact sent her down onto the pavement with a resounding clatter, knocking over vacant tables as she fell. 

Ramona’s blood ran cold. Running her hands across her body, breathless as she searched for any sign he had harmed her baby. The swollen eye and bruised shoulders she could shrug off. But the very real possibility of losing her, losing her little star, paralyzed her. 

Roxy rushed to her aid. One hand checking for damage, the other raised in case of a surprise attack. She could see no blood or bruising around her abdomen. Ramona was able to escape with little damage, thank god. 

“Rammy is everything ok? Did he hit you in-“

“I’m good, I’m good” she uttered to herself “it was on my face, baby’s still kicking, thank god..”

“No bleeding or anything?”

“No, no its ok..” Ramona managed to stand up, one hand on a chair while the other held her bump. Now eye to eye with Patel. Eyes almost glowing with sheer rage. Her near-tragedy being the only thing holding her back from obliterating the man where he stood. 

Roxy took the initiative. Stepping between them with red-hot blood boiling in her body. “Matthew, what the fuck man! Why the hell would you do something like that?!?”

He seemed completely clueless to the situation. Managing to snatch her purse during the attack and holding it above his head like a trophy of war. 

“Haha! Not even afraid to fight back Flowers!” He cackled. Staring down at Ramona and Roxy with a smug smug grin.

“Bro, why the hell would you punch her?”

“I’m not afraid to punch a girl, unlike your precious-“

“Matthew, she’s fucking pregnant, you punched a fucking pregnant woman.”

His face went pale. Completely freezing up for a moment.

“I-I-she’s what?”

“Couldn't you tell fuckhead?? God it’s obvious!” Roxy flipped him the bird. Keeping an arm around Ramona in case Patel tried to pull a fast one. “You could have given her a fucking miscarriage dickwad.”

“I’m a monster….” Mattew uttered, covering his face in shame as he screamed into the sky with the level of overdramatic flair only a theater kid could muster “What have I done?!?”.

Ramona felt even worse than she did before. She couldn't beat the shit out of him, but god dammit she wanted to. As much as he had remorse, she still wanted to crush his head in. 

Seemingly out of nowhere Lucas Lee, standing tall in his coffee shop uniform, barged into the altercation. 

“Hey babe, heard you screaming across the street, what went down?” He put a hand on Matthew’s shoulder, the man crumpling up into a ball on the hot pavement. 

Roxy groaned “he punched Ramona in the face because he wanted to steal back her bag.”

“Bro, that’s like, messed up bro.” 

He looked down at Patel, the man still in the throws of self-hate. Unable to get him off the ground he hoisted Matthew over his shoulder like a bag of flour. Carrying him away from the scene. 

Lee turned around briefly, pointing at Ramona and smiling “Oh, congrats on the baby by the way. Stacy told me the news, happy for you and Scott.” 

“Thanks Lee..”

———-

Scott honestly worried for Ramona and the baby more than she did. 

He dropped everything when he heard the news about Mathew’s attack. Going straight home and showering his beloved Ramona with all the care he could. She knew he cared, and she always appreciated his love. But god it made her feel like such a fool. A useless baby-oven who just sat around all day eating chips, not able to fight her own battles or dye her damn hair. It was for the sake of their kid, yes, but she hated being like this. 

It was nearly 9pm, the summer sun still glimmering through the window blinds. Stuck in bed while her annoying (but very well meaning) boyfriend doted on her. Staring up at the crackled ceiling, running her hands across the tight skin of her abdomen, mind running laps around itself. Their little star was still alive and well. Kicking against her palms. Again and again she was reminded of what exactly was going on. That she was growing someone. That there was something, a little spark of life, moving within her. 

“You scared me back there..” she never liked talking to the baby when others were around, even Scott. But it gave her a peace of mind she couldn't really explain. “I’m sorry about that, I’ll be more careful. Just keep doing what you’re doing. I’ll keep looking out for you, alright?”

She heard a clatter from downstairs. Followed by Scott cursing. He insisted on making Ramona something nice for dinner, and clearly it wasn't going well. 

“Your dads kind of a dumbass, I won’t lie” She felt the sensation of movement under her hands. The weight shifting around as she rambled. “But he means well, he’s a good person. I just hope he’s a good dad. I know he’ll show you all his favorite games and take you to the park, play you music with his friends. I know you already love it when we go to practice.”

The whole room felt liminal. Like a dream she couldn't quite get up from. Turning from amber to a shadowy blue as the sun finally gave out and the room became swallowed in darkness. Only to be lit up once again by the door opening. 

“Sorry if it took so long, made you and the baby some pasta.” He handed her a bowl of plain spaghetti with sauce. Something that, at max, should have taken like ten minutes. 

“How did it take so long?”

“I spilled the pasta on the ground…had to make another batch…”

He paused

“Then I spilled that batch…”

——-

They’d fallen asleep entwined together. Ramona laying on her back (as much as she hated it) while Scott curled up by her side with an arm wrapped around her chest. 

Around midnight, when the baby began to wake her up out of nowhere, she felt a void by her side. A Scott-shaped gap in the sheets right next to her. Gideon was still curled up on the sheets, none the wiser to what was happening. 

“Babe..”

Pulling herself out of bed and trudging through the hallway, she heard a few faint notes coming from outside. The sound of Scott’s barely-tuned guitar echoing from the back porch. Not his bass, but the old secondhand one he used now and then. Scott never played by himself. Always asking for some sort of audience, be it her or the rest of the band. Ramona made her way down the stairs to the kitchen. Pausing just a few steps away from the back door. Scott was sitting out there all alone in the chill of the summer night. Illuminated by a moth-filled incandescent bulb. Coming closer she heard him sing. Not very well, but with a heart she couldn't ignore. 

“They need me

They need me

Yea I think they need me

They need me 

They need me…

These are the things you never know

‘Till you hold them close 

‘Till you hold them close~

These are the things you never feel

‘Till the blood runs still

‘Till the blood runs still

In my life, dragging along 

A weight I never felt 

Until the news rang out 

Now we carry

This weight together 

In my life, crying alone

Inside a cave of my creation

Until the news rang out

Now we cry

Our bodies together 

They need me,

Yea I think they need me

They need me..”

His song drew her closer and closer. Opening the back door ever so slightly as to not interrupt his singing. His words, seeming like a silent prayer into the wind of the night. A wish only heard by the fireflies and birds. 

“Scott, why are you out here?”

He jumped. The guitar slipping from his hands and falling onto the porch floor.

“Shit, did I wake you up?”

“No, the baby did.”

Silence. Scott and Ramona waiting for the other to speak. The void filled only by the distant hum of cars. 

“Ramona, can I ask you a question?” He bit his tongue “it’s-its kind of a-“

“What is it babe?”

Hands wringing themselves out. Scott’s mind going back and forth as he tried to come up with the words.

“Ramona, why did you decide to have the baby?” He paused briefly “I mean, I don’t want to assume anything. You just never struck me as the type to want to have a kid. I’m just curious if anything.”

Flowers stared off into the darkness. Hands running down her abdomen as she tried to find the best way to explain the mess in her brain. 

“You know when you feel something. Like something so ingrained in your mind that even though you don’t agree with it logically, you still can’t help but believe it.”

“Like religion?”

“I guess, yea…” She toyed with the shoelaces around her neck “well, I was raised in the sort of family that believed really strongly in the whole ‘family is blood’ thing. Like, they were big sticklers for it. Don’t know why, but I guess that’s what they believed in. Even when people in our family were jerks, they considered them more family than people we had known for decades..”

Leaning back she wrapped her arms around her waist. Feeling the shifting twitching movement of her little star. 

“When I realized it, I don’t know, I just felt like for once I had a family again. I know that view of it is so..so wrong. But something in my gut just felt that way..” She didn't realize it until now, but a slight touch to her cheek revealed streams of tears flowing down. “I’m happy with my decision. I’m scared of course, so damn scared. But I find comfort in the fact that I can start over. Even if we break up, even if we end up crashing and burning. I can at least rest easy knowing I’ll be able to care for my baby.”

She sighed.

“I can’t run away now. I’ve trapped myself. But maybe that’s for the better.”

Instinctively Scott wrapped his arms around her. Leaning against her body as the hum of insects filled the night. His eyelids grew heavy. A wave of calm rippling through the torrents of his mind. Worries, though still lurking beneath the surface, calmed for now. He felt Flowers hand entwine with his, moving his palm down until it was pressed against her. Scott didn't really process what was happening until he felt something move. So imperceptible and slight, yet enough to move Scott to tears. 

“Do you feel her?”

Scott nodded. Unable to speak besides the tiniest squeak. 

“It’s a girl..?”

“Yea, I know we wanted to keep it a surprise but I found out by accident…sorry it just slipped.”

“No no it’s ok” He fought back a sob. Already an emotional mess “I’m gonna be a girl dad, I’m gonna be a dad, oh my god I made this thing…”

His words trailed off. Sleepiness creeped back into his brain as the tears dried up into salty patches on his cheeks. Without a word Ramona lifted him up by his shirt, walking him back inside. The Scott-shaped gap in the bed was filled again. Sleep quickly overtaking them once more. 

His hand didn't leave her side the entire night.  

Chapter Text

The later months had not been kind to either Scott or Ramona.

It was now late September. The 9 month mark was only days away. Her exact due date was set to be September 29th, but those numbers rarely were accurate.

Ramona, of course, bore the physical brunt of it. She’d lost every last bit of control over her body she thought she had. Within four months the baby had taken up significant real estate in her body. Stretch marks etching across her waist and thighs. Her hair now reached down to her mid-back. Ripples of dark brown with faded lilac at the ends. She usually kept it in a ponytail for the sake of her sanity, as if she had any left. A lack of sleep from the baby’s constant movements left her perpetually grumpy. Exhausted without the high of caffeine to keep her awake. She’d never felt worse. It wasn't a sudden stab to the chest or a gut-wrenching loss. Just a slow burn of body hatred and aching.

Scott, interestingly enough, had taken on other symptoms. He’d become obsessed with making sure their child’s little corner was ready. The house didn't have a spare bedroom to use for the baby, so they moved some things around and set aside a part of their bedroom for her. A little cradle they had found secondhand. Some shelves with a changing station. Plus a small rug he bought for cheap. It was all immaculately clean, a far cry from his usual habits. He felt immense pride in the little nursery. Collecting any cute stuffed animals or baby toys he could find (at the detriment of their budget) and arranging them around the corner.

The impending fear of it all. The fact it could happen suddenly and without warning. It felt like their brains were on a hairpin trigger. Scott had already packed the hospital bag weeks in advance, made arrangements for Kim to drive them to the hospital, and started his paternal leave. All so they could devote 100% of everything to their baby.

All that was left to do was wait for the inevitable. The 29th.

It was raining that day. A slow steady drizzle across the overcast sky. Honestly a pretty shitty day to be born. With little else to do but wait Scott and Ramona just spent the day inside. Flowers laying on the couch eating chips, trying to pass the time watching Scott play some clunky 3d platformer.

“You forgot another collectible.”

Scott maneuvered his little purple lizard character around the platform, jumping around a bit before landing on a higher ledge.

“Nothing up here, I already got all of those.”

Ramona groaned. Shoving a handful of chips into her mouth “No you didn't, you still need that little gem thingy.”

“That’s not until the end of the level. Once you reach the final part you can’t go back and collect the ones you missed without restarting the level.”

“Why did they even add that in?” She said “what’s the point of these games after all?”

“It’s a collect-a-thon platformer. Collecting is in the name.”

“That’s a dumb name for a game.”

“I mean, more descriptive than-“

Without warning the front door slammed open. A chilly Canadian wind sweeping through the house. Stephen, Kim, Knives, and hell even Roxy for good measure. All standing in the doorway with bags of goodies and big ol smiles on their faces.

“Happy birthday!!”

Scott flipped around “how the hell did you get in? I locked the door!”

Roxy smiled, holding a Bobby pin in her hand. “I know how to lockpick, I learned it from ninja night classes.”

“We wanted to throw a little party for you guys” Knives said, smiling from ear to ear.

“We thought you would have had the baby by now, but I guess shit went wack” Kim said with the bare minimum excitement “we pre-ordered a cake and everything. Didn't want it to go bad, so we broke into your house instead.”

Kim opened up the box. A rather plain sheet cake with pink and blue frosting. Piped in thin fanciful letters were the words “sorry Scott knocked you up.”

Scott looked at the cake, then back at Kim “why did you put that on it? Cakes are expensive, you know.”

Stephen spoke up, handing Scott a small gift bag “We were all hoping for you to be the end of your idiot bloodline. But I guess fate had other plans.”

Ramona perked up at the sight of everyone there. Ignoring the break-in for a moment, the fact they all came together for her, for their little family, it meant the world to her. Flowers felt the warmth of tears pooling in her eyes. Damn hormones. Making her cry before she could even say hello.

“Thank you guys, it really means the world to me” slowly getting up from her couch, she only managed to wobble a few steps before Scott ushered her to sit back down. Giving her that goofball smile of his.

“Just rest babe, I’ll get you some cake.”

Ramona honestly didn't have much of an appetite for sweets. Those damn Canadian ketchup chips had been all she could think about eating. But she accepted a slice regardless. All she cared about was the warmth that filled their home. The gang had gathered in the living room, leaning against the walls or sitting on the floor as they made small talk. People who had started off as strangers, but grew to so much more. Friends. Almost family.

“So you guys got any names yet?” Kim asked in between bites of cake “hopefully it’s nothing dumb.”

Roxy nudged her “Come on babe don’t be rude. They’re going through a lot, have some respect.”

Scott laughed it off. Sitting next to Ramona with an arm around her shoulder. “We don’t have a name yet, we’re waiting until they’re born. We’ll find the perfect name for them, one that fits.”

“What if they’re ginger?” Stephen interjected “Ramona’s a brunette, you’re a ginger, god knows how your genetics will work.”

Knives looked on with confusion “I thought being ginger was recessive? Like blue eyes and stuff.”

“Yea it is, but if Ramona’s got the gene there’s a chance. Punnet squares and whatnot..” Kim looked over at Flowers “you got any redheads in the family?”

No response from Ramona. Just a long, agonizing pause that silenced everyone else.

Pain. The feeling of tension in her hips. The sign she had been waiting for all this time. All eyes were on her. Bearing down on her as the pain continued to work its way through her body. Silent realizations flickering on like street lamps at dark. Scott was the last to realize, only understanding what was happening when he felt Ramona’s hand grip his tightly.

“Rammy, is it really time?”

Ramona didn't answer. The pain was bearable but the fear, that burned her the worst. She didn't even know what to say.

Stephen was the first to react. Panicking with all the subtlety of a firecracker “Oh god is it time, please don’t tell me it’s time, I don’t want to deal with that shit-”

Knives had the same level of subtlety, her characteristic excitement bubbling over as she squealed “It’s happening!!”

Scott tried to help her up from the couch. Holding one hand under her abdomen and the other around her shoulder. Slowly, though noticeably, the pain dissipated. The sharp pain turning back into the aching she dealt with most the day. Just as soon as it happened it disappeared. She sighed.

“Hicks..god dammit.” She said, slowly lowering herself back down to her couch “false alarm…”

All that shit for nothing. Everyone staring at her so intensely, so focused in on what almost happened. Looking at her like a freak. A fucking freak with ugly hair and an ugly body and-

She was sobbing. Sobbing without fully noticing.

“I-I need a break..”

———

Fuck she wanted to be done with this.

Done with carrying around this living watermelon. Done with the pain and brown hair and everything. Done with having everybody treat her like a wet napkin.

She prayed that those real contractions would hit soon. That the false alarm from earlier would become real. That she could regain control of everything soon, so soon. But shit couldn't be that easy. She was stuck in bed, raging hormones and the aftershocks of embarrassment making her cry on and off again. All while Scott talked to the doctor on the phone in the hallway. Everything sounding so medical and confusing to her. Words foreign despite the research she had done.

“Ok, I’ll keep you updated, bye-“ Scott hung up finally. Walking back into the bedroom and rejoining his lover on the bed “sorry if that took forever, doc had to put me on hold.”

“What did they say?” Ramona didn't look outwardly angry. But there was a deep anger in her eyes, tears nearly bubbling over, that showed so much more. Scott’s heart broke seeing her like this. Angry, dark brown overtaking her usual neon hue. Dark bags and eyes that seemed to constantly be in the verge of crying.

“He said if it doesn't start in four days we’ll have to go to the hospital and get you induced. Or they may just cut the baby out” he sighed “I hope it’s not the second one, I’d hate to put them through all of that.”

“I just want them out honestly” She snapped “god I was hoping she would be here by now. But no, she had to wait. She had to be fucking late-“

“Well we don’t know if she’s late, still got like, 8 hours left in the day.”

Ramona didn't answer.

“Regardless, I’m very upset that our little girl is treating you so meanly,” Scott’s voice shifted. Though he was always kind of aloof, he seemed more intentionally silly. Curling up next to flowers with his head close to her waist. “Listen here young lady, you’re grounded for being so mean to your mama Rammy, scaring her like that and making her so grumpy.”

Ramona couldn’t help but smile.

He shook his head. Playful spite in his voice “for shame…for shame…”

She felt his body press against hers. Burying his face In the ripples of her hair as his arms wrapped around her. Fingers grazing the softness of her skin. Breath slowing down. Waves of calm washed over both of them.

“Rammy, can we try something?”

“I’m really not in the mood Scott-“

“No no no not like that,” he said “to help move everything along. I heard a bit of exercise can help it start, so maybe it’s worth a shot.”

“You know damn well I’m not going to run around the block like this.”

He sighed “not like running, I meant dancing. Something to get you moving without really thinking about it.”

“Worth a shot..”

Intrigued, Ramona lifted herself out of bed and got out her MP3. At this point she’d be willing to do anything to get this thing out of her. Even something as trivial as dancing. She turned on the first not-depressing song she could find. A soft guitar lead song with distant trumpets, a song about living in the moment, a song which seemed all too personal.

Taking each other's hands they began to sway back and forth, their arms moving in tandem with one another as the lyrics went on. Slow, steady, just enough to keep Ramona on her feet. When the song's tempo began to pick up a bit, Scott raised her hand to the sky and spun her around. Pulling her back into his arms as the song neared its end. Looking at her with those big doe-eyes of his. That cheerful smile. The thing that made her fall in love with him in the first place. He wasn't some ideal gentleman. She knew in some reality, one not so far from this he was far worse. But that was the same reality where they had a child so spiteful of them they wanted to prevent their own existence.

It was too much for now. The song petering out into the background hum of the room as they came to a standstill. It didn't seem to start the process, but she didn't care. Ramona had never felt so loved. Cared for and tended. Scott moved back ever so slightly. Looking at his girlfriend with such pure love.

“You look beautiful.”

“You're just saying that Scott..”

“No, I mean it” he held her, pulling her as close as the bump would allow “you’re beautiful because you're fighting.”

———

It wasn't until 3 days later. Two restless nights of sleep and three exhaustive days, when that feeling snuck back again. When Ramona realized it wasn't another false alarm.

It was early morning. Around 5 or 6. Still deep in slumber despite the sunlight poking through her window blinds. Gideon curled up next to her chest while Scott had his back pressed against hers.

The feeling was slight at first. An ache starting in her lower back, slowly growing more and more intense as she began to stir. Ramona sat up. Leaning against the pillows with her brain still halfway between dreaming and waking. It didn't click right away. Her aching seemed to be worse in the morning after all. But the sharpness of it. The way it pierced through her waist like a dull knife. She didn't want to jump to conclusions but it seemed all too real.

She lapsed back into sleeping not long after. Enjoying an hour or so of slumber until it struck again. More intense, more vicious than before.

It was finally happening.

“Scott…Scott?” She shook him on the shoulder. Gently at first, then more aggressively when he still hadn't woken up.

“Rmmm…Rammy?” He flipped around, rubbing his eyes for a moment before the realization hit him. Adrenaline rushing to him all at once “is it time?”

“I’m pretty sure. Felt one an hour ago, and I just felt one again” she teared up “it’s happening Scott, it’s actually happening.”

It didn't take long for him leap into full on panic mode. Throwing on a dirty t-shirt and reaching for his phone to dial Kim. A shout from Ramona stopped him briefly.

“Scott! we don’t have to go into full panic now, remember?” She said “we’ll stay here until it gets closer. The hospitals like, what, five minutes away. I’d much rather go through labor here than in some clinic.”

“Right right.” He still was vibrating with nerves. The reality of it all settling in “ill call Kim once it’s like, 5 minutes in between? Would that be cutting it too close.”

“I just want this baby out. I don’t care if the baby is born in the back of her car, I want to be done with this shit.”

“Please don’t wait until the last moment ok?”

“Ugh-I won’t I won’t” she growled “you mean well but I can handle this shit, I’m not some-“

“-limp napkin. You’ve said that plenty of times”

The air was thick with a sort of tension they’d never felt. Not anger, not quite stress, but the mutual understanding that they both weren’t in the best state of mind. That whatever the hell was about to unfold wouldn't be pretty.

———

45 minutes apart.

Ramona was on the back porch. Leaning in a stiff chair with only a t shirt and shorts. Scott standing besides her with a jacket hastily thrown on. She hoped the cold breeze could numb the pain, the aching between contractions, but it only made it worse. The frosty chill had struck suddenly. Faint frost flurries starting to dust the ground around her.

“Of course you decided to be born in September” Scott said, looking down at her abdomen “I mean, at least it’s early september, you won’t have your birthday lumped in with mine, I promise”.

Wind blew in from the side. Ramona wincing at the chill.

“I mean hey, we can celebrate ours together. I’d still make sure you get your own party, all for yourself. Your own special day all about you.”

Ramona didint respond. Letting the cold breeze wrap around her.

——

25 minutes apart

The pain level had gone up sharply. So gut-wrenchingly awful she couldn't even speak as it happened. She had taken some over the counter pain meds but it did next to nothing. Like a spray bottle trying to extinguish a house fire.

The only other idea she had was taking a bath. Unlike the cold this seemed to at least help a bit. The warm water soothed the strain of it all. Surrounding her entire body besides her face and a bit of her abdomen. Just enough for Ramona to breathe easy, if only for a moment.

“You’re a human submarine right now” Scott leaned on the edge of the tub. Running his hands through her hair “keeping our little baby from drowning.”

She stayed quiet. Eyes closed. Letting her body dissolve away into the warmth of the water. The sort of calm she hadn't felt since the early weeks. For a moment she could ignore the strain of her body, how much she had grown to hate herself, and just feel her heart beat. Opening her eyes again, looking at the ripples on the waters surface, she caught a glimpse of red. Thin swirls of blood just beneath the waters surface.

Scott panicked at the sight of the blood. Jumping to his feet “babe, babe you’re-“

“It’s normal, if anything it means they’ll be here soon”

“But-“

“Scott, you mean well, but for once, please just tone it back a bit” Despite her best attempts to sound nice her voice still dripped with anger “I’m worried enough, I don’t need you to be all scared.”

“Well what do you want me to do? Just go downstairs and act like our damn baby isn't about to be born?”

“Can you just…give me some space?” She pushed him away. Sinking back down into the warmth of the water “-I’m sorry Scott I just..”

“No no I get it. I’ll call Kim if that’s ok with you”

No response from Flowers. Just her head sticking up from the tub. Teetering close to the waterline.

———-

15 minutes apart

Kim was there now. Not really doing much besides sitting in the living room, blankly staring at informercials. Ramona was nearby. Laying on the cold floor with her limbs splayed out like a starfish. Groaning into the silence.

Kim looked over at her. Seemingly uncaring about her plight “So, you wanna play uno or something?”

“No….”

“You want something to eat? I know there’s that New Mexican place that opened up-“

“Mnghhhh.”

Kim took a swig from a soda can “Making a baby really makes you a bitch huh?”

“Fuck off” She hissed , slamming her fist against the floor “I know you’d be bitching all over the place if you were in my position.”

“Perks of dating a woman Flowers, big big perks.”

Kim walked over to Ramona and knelt by her side. Handing her half-full soda can to her with the slightest smile on her face.

“Take a swig, you need the energy” Kim said, placing a hand under Ramona’s back and helping to lift her up “you look awful.”

“I fuckin know” She cursed under her breath. But took the can anyways and finished it in one big gulp.

“Look at it this way. You’ve got one thing to focus on. Making sure this baby gets here. It’s a lot, but it’s one thing, ok?”

“I’ve got a high pain tolerance. I’ll get through it with pain meds” she sighed “I’m more worried about Scott.”

Kim rolled her eyes “he’ll be fine. It’s just some blood, he’s seen worse.”

“-about him being a father Kim” Flowers fell back to the floor. Crushing the empty can with a satisfying crunch. Trepidation hung in her voice, knowing Scott was upstairs. “He’s happy with all of this, he’s been the one buying all the stuff and organizing everything. He talks about it constantly. But I know him. I know he’s not the most responsible-“

“I'm not scared about him.”

“What-?”

“-I’m honestly more scared about you. I hate to say it, but you just never seemed like the type who’d be a mother.” Kim said “I honestly thought you’d get rid of them early on, but I guess you had other plans.”

Ramona’s eyes went wide. Staring at Pines with such slack-jawed shock. Short gasps escaped her mouth. Tears cascading down her dark eyes and onto the floor below.

“I know-i-I KNOW” She screeched “IM FUCKING TERRIFIED!! I’m terrified I’ll be a shitty mother, I know I’ll be, I know I’ll be a fucking awful mother, I’ve been a fucking awful person-“

“Why did you not go-“

“Look motherfucker-“ She stood up, standing eye to eye with Kim. Eyes reddened, fists ready to strike “I made my decision, I knew how hard this shit was going to be. I just, I just wanted it so badly. Im sick of running from everything. I know and-god dammit!”

Kim stepped back. Watching as Ramona walked (well, waddled) to the kitchen. Kim kept her distance, just close enough to avoid Flowers fury. Looking around for a moment she pulled open one of the drawers. Rummaging through a few drawers. Cursing just loud enough for Kim to hear.

“Can’t find my fucking scissors, always here but-ugh god dammit-“

There in Ramona’s hand was a knife. A long paring knife, slightly rusted from misuse.

“Hey uh-I know you’re upset but you can’t just like, cut them out-“ Kim approached slowly, but Ramona quickly snapping back made her jump.

“I’m not going to cut my damn baby out! I’m just-“ she gripped a fistful of hair “-I’m done with this goddamn hair!”

Piece by piece, strand by strand, Ramona chopped away at the chunks of hair with the knives edge. Cursing and groaning with each swing of the knife. Large clumps fell to the floor in a mess of brown and bleach. Piling on the kitchen counters and covering her shirt. She looked at the foggy reflection in her kitchen sink. Just visible enough to see the short, choppy mess that had become her hair.

“God fucking dammit-!”

The ending scream made Kim wince, preparing for a sudden attack and covering her face. But moving her hands aside she saw Ramona wincing in pain, slowly moving backwards to lean her body against the wall. She slid down towards the ground. Sweating. Reddened. Contractions, a bad one. She grit her teeth, her slow breathing interrupted by shouts of pain.

“Fuck-god dammit!” Her words morphed into full on yelling.

“Baby!”

Scott, holding a random stuffed animal in one hand, ran down the stairs. Clearly sensing something was bad (at least compared to the rest of this day). He knelt by her side with his hand wrapped around hers. Cooing and comforting his love as the pain wracked her body.

“Scott why the fuck didint you come down here earlier?” Kim asked. Patience wearing thin moment by moment.

“I uh- I was on the top of the stairs. I heard it all, I just knew Ramona would kick my ass if I got close.”

“-I would have-ugh” Ramona spoke through gritted teeth. Pain stabbing through her. Tears pooling beneath her eyes as she cried. It was only paused by the sensation of wetness.

Kim was the first to notice. Wincing slightly at the sight of her wet pants. “Ew Ramona did you fucking piss yourself?”

Scott’s face went pale. His hands trembling as he held Ramona close. “Her water broke, we need to go now.”

With the pain slowly beginning to fade, Ramona managed to get back on her feet. Though not for long, Scott managed to lift her up in a bridal carry. The kind of sudden power boost only possible with parental adrenaline. Or just regular muscles.

“Kim, you mind getting the bags? I’ll carry Rammy to the car.”

She shrugged it off “no problem. You better not give birth in my car Flowers-“

“-fuck off!”

————

5 minutes apart.

After being inside for so long Ramona hoped a change of scenery would help.

It only seemed to make it all worse.

Beige walls and the smell of disinfectant. Bright white lights positioned over her like an operating table. The bed was comfortable, which was a plus, but everything else felt…alienating. The drive there was short and sweet. Pretty much just Kim begging Ramona not to pop out the baby in the backseat. It was all a blur. Pain taking hold halfway through the trip up to the clinic. A mess of medical sounding noises and bright lights. Blue scrubs and the feeling of Scott’s arms supporting her.

When she finally snapped back, she was laying in the bed. Scott by her side in some beat-up chair, looking on with concern in his weary eyes. Her loose fitting shirt and pants replaced by a scratchy hospital gown. The doctor, a greying woman in her 60s at least, was putting an iv into her arm. She barely even noticed the sensation of the needle going in. Only the touch of Scott’s hand against her face.

“You there babe? Scared me for a moment, you weren’t talking..”

“I’m fine, I’m fine”

“Doctors going to check you ok. See how far along you are. Then she’ll put you on some painkillers-“

“-ugh thank god..” She sighed. Relief, as small as it may be, at least seemed within reach.

The doctor did not interfere much. Speaking softly and sparsely, keenly aware of Ramona’s emotional instability and the tensions as a whole. She nudged Ramona’s legs apart and quickly checked. The cold touch barely noticeable amidst the pain.

“8 ½, you’re moving along quickly” she said “you’ll be ready to push soon mama.”

Mama. That word feeling alien to her. The doctor clearly was just trying to be lighthearted. Soothing her mind with what was at the end of all this. But it stung her. A feeling she kept trying to grasp. What wasn't hard to grasp, however, was the relief she felt when the doctor injected the painkiller into her arm. Cooling the stabbing sensation in her body, if only a little bit. She could breathe easy.

The doctor left with only a wave. Handing off a few quick instructions before leaving the two alone.

Silence

“Rammy…” Scott took her hand into his. Warming her hands between his palms “…about earlier-“

“-im fine”

“You can be honest with me-“

“- I’ve been honest with you, I’ve told you I’m scared-“

“You said you were going to be a shitty mother...”Scott paused. He couldn't get those words out of his mind. Hearing Ramona say them, hearing her scream at Kim with such authentic hate.

“…did I lie? You know full well I’m not fit for this, neither of us are.” She felt another rush of pain on the horizon, though the meds at least dampened it enough for her to speak “but…I’ll say this. Out of all the people I’ve known, you’re the one who’d make the best father.”

“I hope so” he smiled “I’m about to become one real soon.”

Tears filled his eyes. Leaning over and placing a kiss on her head. Pulling her against his chest as the pain swelled. Scott wished, more than anything in the world, that he could take away even a fraction of her pain. His words could at least give her a bit of comfort.

“You’ve got this Rammy, it’ll be over soon and we’ll finally get to see her. I don’t care what you say, I know you’re scared, but you’re okay. You’re ok love.” He gripped her hand. Feeling her muscles strain against his palm “we’re both scared, we’re both not ready, but we’ll figure it out.”

“Are you sure?” She managed to choke out.

“We’ve done it before. I know we’ll do it again.”

Time seemed to stall. Just them and their baby-to-be, alone in the little room, warm. The lovers entwined in each other as the pain ticked on. It morphed from bursts of sharp aching to a constant gut-wrenching pain. Burning her up from the inside out. Ramona now unable to say more than a few words without groaning or screaming. Though they didn't feel the need for words. Her mind was far too clouded by pain to make out much. A hazy blur only broken by the sensation of Scott’s movement. His touch against her face, his hand wrapped around hers, gave her all the reassurance she needed.

Ramona only came back to lucidity when she saw the doctor walk in. Pushing an empty hospital bassinet with a stack of clothing inside. Clothes for their baby. Their baby who would be here so, so soon. Confirmed further by the doctor checking Ramona once again. Unlike before, she could feel every bit of her hand this time. A bizarre sensation that made her stomach churn.

“You’re ready Flowers, you can start pushing.” The doctor spoke so matter-of-fact, only smiling a bit “just follow your body.”

Behind sobs Scott managed to speak “she’s almost here, she’s almost here baby..”

All she could feel from her body was pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Instincts only went so far. Her body was practically begging her to push. But even after a few seconds she was nearly blinded by the pain. Feeling as if her hips were splitting apart. Weight pulling her down. Tension folding her in half. She begged for some sort of pause, some sort of relief, but her body screamed at her to keep going. Scott wrapped his arms around her shoulders, hugging her tightly as the pain shot through her.

“Almost there Ramona, you’re doing great..”

His words went unheard. Her mind unable to process speech or sounds or even her own thoughts for that matter. It felt like death. She screamed. Louder than she had ever known. Years and years of bottled-up emotions. Pain and rage.

Relief.

She collapsed. Feeling the world go dark for just a moment.

Then crying.

She felt weight on her breast. Warmth. Another heartbeat next to hers. Opening her eyes after an eternity she looked down at her chest. Her baby. Her little star laying against her body. Bloodied and wrinkly and gray but very much alive. Instinctively Ramona curled around her. Pulling her arms and legs close to her chest, shielding her baby from the world. The chaos of it all. A blanket was draped over them, Scott’s hands quickly moving to help his daughter. Almost unable to speak from the shock of it all.

“Oh my god she’s here…she’s here..”

Ramona looked up at him for a moment. A wide smile breaking up his tear-stained cheeks. Beaming with the sort of pride he’d never felt. Feeling his daughters steady breathing against his hand. Knowing he, somehow, had a part in making this little human.

“It’s ok baby, it’s ok, don’t cry…” He spoke, trying to fight back tears “…we’re here baby…we’re here.”

Ramona couldn't get out a single word. Holding her baby tight. Feeling them grab onto her, curl around her, soothed by her touch. It didn't feel real. There was no way she was in so much pain one moment. Only to hold something, someone, so precious. Her baby.

Her gaze wouldn't move away from that little human, even as the doctor finished cleaning up the whole mess and clipping the cord, she held onto her baby with all her strength. Watching as she opened her eyes ever so slightly. Grabbing the dampened blanket with her tiny hands. Squirming around in this big new world. She had taken up so much space in her body just moments before it was a shock that she was just so small. Little bones and muscles and everything.

“She’s got my hair…” Scott said “I-i didn't notice it before but now that it’s dry, shes like a little me.”

He was right. The mess of birth darkened her hair at first. But now, drying in the warmth of the room, it turned a soft ginger color. A full head of red hair, just like her father.

Finally being able to breathe easy, Ramona spoke to her little one. “Hello there, you’re ok now, alright? Must have been real scary for you..”

No real response besides a little squeak. Samus scrunching her face up.

“I’m your mom, it’s so nice to finally see you..” her voice wavered, looking up at Scott “I-i don’t really know what to call her yet.”

“I mean, in one future we named her Samus” Scott said. Gently touching her little strands of hair “and she grew up do be a time-traveling badass…I think that would work.”

“Samus…Samus Flowers. I like it.”

Leaning against each other, gazing down at their beautiful little girl with the sort of pride neither of them could have imagined. Samus Flowers. Small but mighty.

She was briefly taken away by the doctor to be weighed and measured, all under Scott’s careful watch. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes but for Ramona it was a century. Hearing her baby crying out for their mother. Separated for the first time. Fighting against the unfamiliar world. Scott kept his hand nearby, her tiny fingers firmly gripping onto his thumb. Surprisingly strong for a human that was barely 10 minutes old.

“7 pounds 5 ounces” she heard the doctor say “she’s a bit on the smaller side, but nothing to be afraid of. She’s got some extra weight to make up for it.”

With the weigh-in complete she put on Sam’s little diaper and swaddled her in a soft cloth. Lifting her up from the cold table with the ease only decades of experience could bring. Samus fought against the restrictive wrap of the swaddle cloth, but didn't really have the energy to fight back.

“You want to hold her?” The doctor asked, “She's your daughter too.”

“Oh uh-she’s supposed to be back with her mom right?”

He looked back at Ramona. Expecting some angry scowl or comment but instead getting a supportive thumbs-up. Looking exhausted, barely able to keep her eyes open as she watched on. Without much more than a word the doctor placed little Sammy into his arms, instructing him step by step. Though she was easy to hold, he felt a certain weight he’d never known. Knowing he was holding a life. A person.

“Make sure to have one hand under the head ok?”

“Alright..”

“Keep her nice and supported, just like that..”

Feeling Sammy against him. One hand cupping the base of her head with the other beneath her. Leaning against his body as her cries faded. It brought him to tears, as if he hadn't cried enough today. This little baby hardly knew him but somehow, someway, she knew to trust him.

“Samus…” was all he could say “my baby…”

———

They didn't stay in that sterile little room for long.

Once Ramona was all cleaned up and everything was looking good, they were moved to something a bit cozier. Small, but with a larger bed and an actual bathroom, complete with a small pink banner celebrating the birth of Sammy. Her name scrawled on a piece of paper flanked by storks.

Night had fallen outside. Cold darkness broken up by snowflakes blowing past the yellowed streetlights, mimicking the warm glow of the table lamp within. Casting the whole place in hues of yellow-orange without the harshness of the hospital lighting. Bags sat half-unpacked near the radiator. Medication and booklets strewn on the side tables. The little bassinet cart, once with a blank label, now proudly read.

“Samus Star Flowers”

Beneath the soft blankets Ramona and Scott lay next to each other. Resting against one another with little Sam nestled in her mothers arms as she nursed from her chest. As comforting as it was for Samus, Scott couldn't help but look on with confusion. Watching her just…drinking milk from his girlfriend.

“Can't believe that's what boobs are for.” he said.

“What did you think they were for?”

“I dunno? For show.”

For once Ramona felt comfortable. Not great, her body still ached and bled, she was hardly able to walk without help, but it was better than labor. She’d take a baby constantly pinching her tits over that nightmare any day. Samus made it all worth it though. Getting to hold her precious little Sammy after the waiting, seeing her exist and just…live. Just living and breathing. She hadn't done much besides just eating and sleeping. Often falling asleep while still latched, giving poor Ramona a heart attack. Samus already began to show her personality. Whining whenever she couldn't sleep, pulling on her fathers hair, and making adorable little squeaking sounds whenever she was bored.

“She’s a tough little thing” Scott remarked “headstrong, just like her mother.”

Pulling away for a moment Scott reached for his fliphone, remembering how long it had been since Sammy arrived, thinking of how worried everyone must be. Immediately he was bombarded with messages.

Knives- any update???
Kim- don’t spam him, he’s busy
Rox- scottttttt
Knives- omgomg what if smthns wrong
Scott- hey hey, it’s all cool, she’s here :)
knives- OMFGSHDH PICS!!
Rox- she was just born bro
Knives- doesn't mean he can’t send a pic
Scott- lol it’s ok

He sent a photo from a few minutes earlier. Sammy in her little hospital bassinet with her momma Rammy nearby. She was wrapped up like a takeout burrito and looked absolutely furious.

Kim: ok
Scott- she and rammy are perfectly healthy
Scott- Ramona handled it like a champ
Rox- GINGER!!! GINGER!!!!
Knives- omg omg do you guys have a name??
Kim- its something dumb prolly
Scott- her name is Samus Star Flowers!
Rox- holy shit like Metroid
Scott- yes…like Metroid
YoungNeil- he looks just like you dude
Kim- who the fuck added Neil

He had told his parents earlier, but seeing how happy all of his friends were brought a smile to his face. How proud they were. He knew Ramona would love to see it. Scott flipped his phone around to show her, but was met with silence. Ramona had fallen asleep. Sammy still tucked away in her arms. Making the cutest little squeaks as she nuzzled against her mothers breast. As much as Scott wanted to join them he couldn't bring himself to even close his eyes. Fearing for his baby, fearing some sudden event would take her from their arms. Paranoia at its finest. All he could do was watch them as they slept. Keeping watch over his beloved Rammy.

“Scott…?” Ramona caught him off guard. Whispering to him from the edge of slumber “..did we make the right decision?”

“I think so…I never really saw myself in this position.”

“I don’t think most people do” she said “but here we are…I’ve never felt happier Scott…I-i never knew I could feel like this.”

Scott leaned in and placed a kiss on her head “I feel the same way. It’s, it’s unreal.”

Ramona closed her eyes again. Letting herself curl up around Samus, keeping her safe and warm within her grasp. He could hear her muttering just under her breath.

“It’s ok baby…mamas here…I’m here Sammy.”

Chapter Text

“Sam where the fuck are you…”

Gideon rarely got angry. Even keeled, level headed, he may have sunk into a depressive state after a particularly rough break-up. But he never let anger get the best of him. It was one emotion he kept chained up. Controlled.

He gave Sam, that time traveling stranger, a weapon to complete a single objective. Kill Scott Pilgrim. Defeat him in combat to satisfy Graves own desires. He gave her quite possibly the most advanced bit of technology his (probably underpaid) scientists had created and for what? All these months with no contact from her. Not even a word.

He didn't mind it, Scott was a difficult foe, but from what Gideon knew that man was out happy as can be. Walking the streets without a care in the world while Sam and her little robot buddy did fuck all. Gideon had sent her message after message looking for any sign of her. Nothing, nada, nope.

“That damn edgy teen ran off with my most valuable weapon…” Gideon paced back and forth in front of his desk “..and Scott is still out there a free man.”

“Im not surprised she stopped attacking him” Julie said, sitting in his seat absentmindedly checking her phone “he just had a baby, you’d have to be a real jerk to try and kill a new parent.”

“Wait-“ he turned around. Looking at Julie with shock “-Scott Pilgrim had a baby?”

“Yep, Stacey texted me. She went to visit them at the hospital last week” Julie turned her phone around. Showing a selfie Stacy took with her niece. Smiling from ear to ear, cradling a very upset looking baby.

Gideon scowled. Tearing the phone out of her hand and tossing it aside “whatever. Fighting Scott wasn't really at the top of my list anyways. Just a little side-quest to satisfy my own rage. Honestly I’m just angry that she took my damn weapon. That was my shit.”

“So what are you gonna do about it?”

Gordon almost responded, assuming it was Julie. But the almost squeaky tone made it clear who it was.

“Sam?”

He turned around. Seeing Samus perched high above him in the rafters of his lair. Her silhouette almost invisible amidst the darkness, only illuminated by the red glow of it all. She leapt down from the ceiling with a resounding clang. Her face bore no anger. No frustration. Just…contentment. Mild annoyance. Not a hint of fury.

“Listen Gordon. I know what I did. I know I took the weapon and whatnot. But I just…can’t bring myself to attack him anymore.”

Gideon and Julie looked at her. Both silent.

Samus tossed down her sword. Throwing it against the ground with an echoing clatter. Like a cat giving someone a dead rat.

“Look. I never explained the reason why I’m here, why I wanted to kill Scott in the first place. But i guess now is a better time than any…” She said “I came here from the future. It’s a different one that whatever you guys will end up as. It’s a future where Scott fought you and all of Ramona’s exes for some reason. They got married and whatnot, but Scott and Ramona just ended up as a dysfunctional couple”

“So what made you want to kill him?”

“I’m their daughter, I wanted to end his relationship before they could get married and have me. I wanted to effectively get rid of myself, end all the heartbreak” she wiped a tear from her face “but I guess this is a different timeline. A different future where I was born earlier, born of love instead of desperation. I may be the way I am, but the Samus that was born a few days ago is going to have a better life. One with parents who actually love me.”

Gideons expression softened. Ignoring the katana on the ground. Just looking at Samus with pity.

“So…why did you wait all this time? Why did you keep the sword” Gideon asked.

“I wanted to protect them. Keep them safe from harm. I didn't know if anybody else was going to try and fight them, so I wanted to keep them safe” Samus said “they may not have seen me, but I kept them safe. Now that the other Samus is here, my work is done.”

“So you just spent the last few months protecting your alternate universe parents?”

“Just because i had a fucked up life, doesent mean this kid has to.”

Gideon noddd “Honestly, I can respect that” he said “I’m just happy to have my sword back”

———-

Grey rain, covering the flimsy brownstones and townhouses in an overlay of fog and dampness. Casting Toronto into a blurr of desaturated grey only picked out by flashes of incandescent light. Umbrellas piled onto the forms of passerby. Puddles forming in the old sidewalks dents and grooves. It was wet, it was ugly, yet it was beautiful. Maybe that was just Scott’s perspective.

Sammy had brought a rare light into his life. His little girl, wrapped snugly beneath his rain jacket. A spark of joy he couldn't fully describe but never wanted to. He’d lost count of how many months it had been since they welcomed her into the world. But it felt like he could never imagine life without this little baby. This little red-haired chubby baby who he loved more than life itself.

Hopping from overhang to overhang, Scott trudged through the water and sleet. One hand under his coat to hold Sammy, the other shielding her little head from the rain. Keeping her safe from the storm. Each time she whined or squeaked Scott responded with a million apologies.

“It’s ok Sammy, we’ll be home soon, I’m so so sorry baby I know it’s cold…”

He turned the corner of his block. Spying his home amidst the fog.

“See! We’re almost home Sammy”

It only took a quick wait at a crosswalk, a jump over a puddle, and a walk past a bus station with a single redhead-

Scott paused.

He looked back at the bus station. It had been over a year since that whole mess with Samus. Not his baby Samus, snuggled up in his arms, but a future pissed off ninja Samus who wanted his guts. It seemed like a dream. A nightmare leaking into his reality, now standing at the bus station like nothing happened.

“Hey…you..” Scott’s voice shook nearly as much as his body. Bringing the strangers red goggles up towards him. It was strange. She looked calm. Sitting on the far side of the bench alone, looking at Scott without a twinge of anger.

Nervously, he sat down. Sitting on the other side of the bench. Keeping a tight hold on Sammy, his baby Sammy, not the other, it got confusing quick.

“So, are you here for something? Is this like some sorta time travel nonsense?”

“No, I just wanted to say thanks”

“Thanks?”

The older Samus removed her glasses. Looking at Scott with a smile. Nothing but the pitter of rain on the bus stop overhang.

“Look dad, I was going to hurt you. You probably already know that by now. Went in your dreams, kicked you in the balls-“

“Why don’t you wanna hurt me anymore?”

“Because I know you’ll be a good dad.”

“Are you sure?”

Samus nodded “look, I know you're probably nervous. But I know that you and mom could be a lot worse. I know now that you two aren’t gonna be that way. Just know that.”

“But what if we are bad? What if we end up messing up and create you all over again?”

“Well, you haven’t. Time travel is funny like that” she placed a damp glove on his shoulder “just, keep doing good dad. And Sammy will end up alright.”

Scott didn't answer, keeping his gaze fixed on the older Samus.

“Your parents must be worried sick…I mean, Ramona and I must be-you know…”

He could sense her unease. The way she bit her tongue and looked away “I know they’re worried….i just-“

Samus got up. Throwing her hood over her head and walking back into the pouring rain. Scott watched as she stepped further and further away. He wanted to reach out his hand, give her some sort of affection. But she disappeared into the downpour. A dark gray form engulfed by a cloud of rain. Just as abruptly as she appeared, she was gone.

Scott and his baby were left under the bus shelter. Left alone with the chill of the air and the sight of rain turning to snow. Soft fluffs of ice falling amidst the rain. Covering the concrete in a temporary haze of snow. It felt like a dream. The kind of dream you have where nothing feels real and logic is intangible. Everything felt fuzzy for a bit. Unreal. He felt movement beneath his coat, the feeling of Sammy growing restless. Tiny angry grunts and whines to show her anger.

“Shh it’s alright, don’t worry, look it’s snowing!”

Moving the jacket aside so she could see, Sammy’s little grey eyes looked up at the falling snow. The icy wetness turning into frozen glitter in the air. She didn't understand it all that well. But the sight of it made Scott tear up.

“It’s so pretty isn't it? Your first snow” he wiped a tear from his eye “there’s plenty more to come, Canadas kinda known for that.”

The snow didn't last long. By that evening rain had made its return. Pitter-pattering on the bedroom window of the young family’s shared room. Scott and Ramona laying on the bed. Sammy tenderly nursing from her mother. It was the routine they had gotten used to. Feed, sleep, wake up, feed again, clean, average baby stuff.

Ramona was focused entirely on her baby. Laying against the pillow, tired but all the more loving. Scott wished he could be apart of the soft moment but his brain just couldn't process what had happened. The dreamy moment, older Samus and the snow, something that didn't feel real.

“Did Sammy enjoy her little trip today? Thank you again for dropping off that package at the post office, means a lot.”

“Oh uh-yea. She liked it. Snowed for a bit.”

“I’m surprised, doesn't it come later in the season?”

“Canadas weird like that.”

“You're weird dude”

“You still call me dude? We have a whole baby and you’re still calling me dude.”

Ramona smiled “you want me to stop?”

“Oh no no no, it’s cute. You know, cute couple nicknames.”

The conversation lulled a bit as Ramona lifted Sammy onto her shoulder.

“I uh..also saw Samus today-“ Scott quickly clarified “-future Samus, like, the mean one.”

“Really? Anything happen?”

He paused, messing with his hair a bit “she just said we’re doing a good job. I guess she knew things would turn out ok, better than her version of us. We’re on a good path to doing something right, and hopefully that means our Sammy won’t be a sword-wielding maniac.”

“Time travel is confusing.”

“Tell me about it.”

Scott nestled into the bed. Pressing his face against Ramona for warmth, wrapping his arm around her and little Sammy.

“Hey Rammy?”

“Yea?”

“Do you think we’ll be ok?”

She paused for a bit. Looking down at Scott’s teary doe-eyes, the scrunched up face of her baby, and the slight reflection of her face on the wall.

“I think so.”