CHAPTER THIRTEEN:

SAYING GOODBYE

ABOUT A DAY had gone by since the big fight against Yon-Rogg and the rest of the Kree. It was nighttime out on planet Earth, the crickets chirping as they hid in the tall grass. A light could be seen on inside the Rambeau household, showing that the people inside were still awake for the time being.

The adults could be seen sitting at the dining table, some of them having a bottle of alcohol to drink after the big fight they had. Y/n found herself sitting in between Fury and Connor, right across from Talos and Soren while Maria sat at the end. Fury had a scratch over his eye from Goose, who had scratched him when they escaped.

Monica's quiet voice could be heard as she helped Talos and Soren's daughter, G'iah, who was around the young human girl's age. Monica was currently teaching her how to play a card game called Uno, instructing her to put a certain card down as G'iah slowly began to understand what the game was.

"Some nifty flying you did out there." Fury comments, giving an impressed look to the older Rambeau sister. "S.H.I.E.L.D. could always use a good pilot like you."

Maria nods. "I'll consider it, as long as you never call my flying 'nifty' again. How's your eye?"

Fury hums, letting his fingers brush against his injured eye. "Getting better every second."

"Just so I'm clear," Y/n begins as she turns to Talos, "you were Soh-Larr and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?"

"Keller." Fury corrects. "He tied my boss up, stole his identity."

"I borrowed his likeness. I'm no thief." Talos argues.

Soren shrugs. "It's a little like stealing."

"Whose side are you on here?" Talos asks in disbelief.

Y/n felt herself smile as she watched the couple. Only Connor and Maria seemed to notice the expression on her face. Her older sister glanced between her and the blonde, remembering the relationship the two of them had.

"You're good to go here until you recover, but you and your family are gonna need a new look." Fury points out.

Talos leans forward. "I could go back to being your boss."

"Oh, please don't." Fury objects.

"Come on. I loved sporting his beautiful blue eyes." Talos admits, causing Fury to chuckle.

"No way. You guys have the best eyes." Monica intervenes from the stairs, resting her hand on G'iah's. "Don't ever change your eyes."

They all were speaking about different things. Y/n slouched back in her seat, smiling at her niece's words when she noticed how quiet Connor was at the moment. When she glanced over at him, she noticed he seemed to be in deep thought.

"I'll help you find a home." Connor blurts out, making it go silent. "Finish what Mar-Vell started."

Monica stands up. "They can stay here with us. Can't they, Mom?"

"They won't be safe here, baby." Maria replies, letting her daughter sit on her lap. "Uncle Connor's right. They need their own home."

"I'll be back before you know it." Connor tells her.

"Or maybe I could fly up and meet you halfway?" Monica questions, voice full of hope.

Fury leans back in his seat with a hum. "Only if you learn to glow like your aunt and uncle."

"Or maybe I'll build a spaceship. You don't know." Monica retorts.

Connor smiles. "He doesn't."

This makes Fury look towards the young man, making the blonde wheeze out a chuckle. Y/n let out a quiet laugh herself as she stared down at her lap, thinking over what she had just heard.

"What about you, Auntie Y/n?" Monica looks to her aunt in hope. "Are you gonna go with him?"

"Um..." Y/n stutters.

All eyes were on her, making her feel nervous as she glanced between all of them. Connor reaches over and places his hand on her knee when she shifted in her seat, obviously nervous about her answer with all the eyes watching her.

Y/n forces a smile, making eye contact with the little girl. "I don't know yet, sweetie."

Maria felt her gaze soften as she stared at her little sister, knowing what she was thinking. She always knew what she was thinking. And Y/n knew it, which is why she avoided eye contact with her.

With some time that passed, Connor and Y/n could be seen standing in the kitchen, the woman sitting on the counter as she watched the blonde and Fury wash up and dry the dishes. She had said she'd help them, yet she had just been sitting on the counter most of the time. One thing she remembered from her past was that she hated doing the dishes.

"Keep the Tesseract on Earth. Hidden." Connor instructs to their human friend.

Fury raises a brow. "You sure that's what Marvel would want?"

"Mar-Vell." Y/n corrects, nudging him with her foot.

"That's what I said." Fury replies.

Y/n shakes her head. "It's two words. Mar. Vell."

"Mar-Vell." Fury repeats. "'Marvel' sounds a lot better. You know, like the Marvelettes."

When they both give him confused glances, he drops the dish he had been holding and brings the brush close up to his mouth. The two watch in amusement as he steps back and begins singing the song called Please Mr. Postman, using the brush as a microphone.

"Not ringing any bells?" Fury asks after a moment.

Connor fights the laugh that wanted to escape. "Keep singing. Maybe it'll come back to us."

"Oh, yes, please do." Y/n agrees with a chuckle. "It was beautiful."

With a sigh, the man only turns back to the dishes as they both stare at him with amused smiles. Connor's smile fades as he reaches into his pocket, grabbing Fury's old phone and holding it out to him.

"I upgraded it. Range should be a couple galaxies, at least." Connor tells him.

Fury goes to grab it, only for the blonde to pull it away. "What? You think I'm gonna crank call you?"

"For emergencies only, okay?" Connor insists, handing it to him.

"Well..." Fury tosses the towel onto the counter with a chuckle. "...if you're ever passing back through this galaxy, be sure to give a brother a shout."

He holds up his fist, to which Connor bumps his own against it, creating a light spark when he did that. Y/n watched with a smile, though it faded at the reminder that Connor would be leaving. And she wasn't sure if she was going to go with him or not.

With more time that passed, Monica could be seen walking out of the house, holding Connor's leather jacket in her arms as she moved off the porch and towards her mother and uncle. The blonde was now wearing his uniform once again. He smiled when the girl gave him his jacket.

"We got the ketchup stain off." Monica informs.

The blonde smiles happily as he shrugs it on, giving his niece a hug right after. Meanwhile, still wearing her own clothes, Y/n stopped at the doorway, leaning against it as she watched them. She felt herself smile at the sight of them hugging. Connor looks up at one of his best friend's, seeing the tears in her eyes.

"It's hard for me to say goodbye, too." Connor admits.

This makes Maria chuckle a bit before they all hugged one another. When they pulled away, Connor finally noticed Y/n standing at the doorway. Maria was the second to notice and insisting on giving the two of them a bit of privacy, she moved her daughter towards the porch as Y/n slowly walked down the steps, passing them.

Connor smiles sadly and knowingly. "No uniform?"

Y/n shakes her head, stepping closer as she shoves her hands into her pockets. "No. I don't think so."

"It's alright. I get it." Connor whispers in reassurance.

Neither of them say a thing, only just staring at one another. Sadness laid in their gazes, though they held small and sad smiles to show that neither of them wanted this, yet they also did. Y/n wanted to spend the time she had lost with her family, and Connor knew that.

"You know," Connor steps closer as his hand came up to tuck her hair behind her ear, "I'm still remembering things. But one thing I never forgot was my love for you. I always have and always will love you. Even if I'm galaxies away, I'll always think of you."

Y/n felt a tear fall down her cheek. "I love you."

They don't hesitate to both lean forward, their lips crashing midway in a passionate kiss. Y/n gripped the collars of his jacket, one of his hands holding the side of her face as the other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her body closer against his own.

From the porch, Maria moved her hand over her daughter's eyes, though both of them were smiling happily. The couple tilted their heads to the side, deepening the kiss as they savored their last moment with each other for who knows how long. When they pulled away, they rested their forehead's against each other's.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." Connor whispers against her lips. "I promise. And then I won't ever let you go."

"I'll be waiting." Y/n replies, voice just as quiet.

With one last kiss, they hesitantly pulled away from one another. Monica moved back down the steps once Maria removed her hand from her eyes, reaching her aunt's side. She wrapped her arms around Y/n's waist, hugging her tight as Maria reached them. Connor stared at the three of them, the three people he had only ever considered to be family.

With one last nod, he spun around and ran off before pushing his feet off the ground and flying straight up and into the sky. Monica ran forward a bit to get a closer look, all of them keeping their eyes on his retreating figure until he was finally in the galaxy. Maria wrapped her arm around her sister, holding her close as a tear fell down Y/n's cheek.

She'll be waiting.

No matter how long it takes.