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Soft footsteps echoed down the hallway, boots unmistakable even without looking. Carol Danvers rounded the corner into the common room, hair still damp from a shower, wearing one of Tony's old band tees and gym shorts. Her eyes immediately found Athena. Alive. Breathing. On the couch. Carol stopped walking. For just a second, the bravado, the cosmic confidence, the invincibility—none of it mattered. Her shoulders loosened as relief hit her full force. "Oh," she whispered. "There you are."

Athena glanced up, eyes tired but warm. "Hey, Captain Marvel." Carol crossed the room in three long strides, stopping short when she saw Morgan asleep on Athena's chest. Her voice dropped instinctively. "Am I interrupting something very important?" Athena smiled. "Extremely classified cuddles." Carol snorted softly and crouched beside the couch, resting her elbows on her knees. She looked Athena over carefully—checking for injuries, bruises, anything she might've missed. "You okay?" Carol asked quietly. Athena nodded. "Scraped. Tired. Still me."

Carol let out a slow breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Good. Because Fury said 'off-the-books mission' and then you stopped answering your comms and—yeah. Not a fan."Athena's gaze softened. "I know. I'm sorry." Morgan shifted, making a tiny protesting sound. Athena instinctively tightened her hold, one hand gently cupping the baby's back. Carol watched the movement, her expression melting into something dangerously fond. "She likes you," Carol murmured.

"Everyone likes me," Athena teased softly. Carol raised an eyebrow. "She drooled on you. That's trust." Athena laughed quietly. "I've been chosen." Carol reached out, carefully brushing her knuckle against Morgan's tiny hand. The baby's fingers twitched, then curled around Carol's finger in her sleep. Carol froze. "Oh."

Athena's smile widened. "Yeah. That's how it starts." Carol swallowed, eyes shining just a little. "She's perfect." Tony called from the kitchen, "Careful, Danvers, she grabs like a vice." Carol smiled without looking away. "I can handle it." She shifted closer, resting her head lightly against Athena's shoulder, careful not to jostle Morgan. Athena leaned into her without thinking, their foreheads touching.

"I'm really glad you're home," Carol whispered. Athena closed her eyes. "Me too." Across the room, Natasha watched them quietly, arms crossed but expression soft. Pepper joined her, leaning against the counter. "They good?" Pepper asked. Natasha nodded. "Yeah." Morgan let out a tiny sigh, completely content, still asleep between them.

Carol kissed Athena's temple, gentle and reverent. "Next time you go ghost on a mission," she murmured, "I'm coming with you." Athena smiled against her. "Pretty sure Fury's already afraid of you." "Good." The compound settled around them—safe, warm, whole. For now.