Chapter 2
Stephen placed his stack of books on the librarian’s desk. “Emma has returned.”
“It has been noted.” Wong answered as he examined the books without further comment.
“She asked for sanctuary.”
Wong pushed the books towards his friend with a nod, and crossed his arms.
“I was arrogant once -”
“You have never ceased in your arrogance.”
Stephen sighed and collected the volumes of spells he knew word for word. “Be that as it may, after Dormammu -”
“You are Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen, you owe me no explanations.”
“It matters very much what you think.”
“I am just the librarian, Stephen.”
“And my friend, I hope.”
“Yes, Stephen. She will be made welcome.”
“Thank you, Wong.”
Stephen spotted Emma sitting quietly in his favorite spot in all of Kamar-Taj, on a stone bench under an ancient cherry tree. Of course she had remembered.
“Stephen, you must close your eyes, you must try to rest.”
“I cannot.”
“Tell me.”
“No. I made the choice on my own, I must deal with the consequences on my own.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She snapped as she watched him try to hide his quivering hands from her. She sighed and waited until he placed them in her outstretched hands. “We don’t yet know of the consequences of your actions, we may not live long enough to see the repercussions of your choice. You must know you had no other choice but to do what you did, only you could have made the choice. Breathe, Stephen. Now, tell me, do you trust me?”
Stephen nodded and met her violet glare with a silver gaze of confusion and pain. “I do trust you, Emma, I do not trust myself, and I am not sure -” his words faded as she whispered, “Close your eyes, Stephen. Let me help you.”
“Sorcerer Supreme. I must apologize again -” Emma began as she got to her feet.
“No apologies necessary, this was your home once, perhaps it will feel like home once again, and one day, perhaps you will call me Stephen once more? Please sit, I did not mean to interrupt you.”
“Wong.” She spoke quietly as he settled next to her.
“Wong worries, it is what he does.”
“He wants to know why I have returned, I am sure you have your own questions.” She bit her lip and turned away from him. “Thank you. I do admit that your tea is much better, even better than my brew of old.”
He made no comment, and they settled into a gentle, comfortable silence as a light breeze shook the blossoms from the tree, and again, the past revisited.
“Stephen. Stephen, wake up. Stephen. Dr. Strange.”
His eyes popped open and he reached out to study her face with his hands. “Christine. No. Not Christine. Emma. Oh, Emma.”
“You are safe, Stephen, you are back in Kamar-Taj.”
“Em,” he whispered as he held her face carefully in his hands. “Stay?”
“Of course, I’ll stay.”
His breath caught and he sensed a new tension in the air. “I’m sorry, Steph - Sorcerer Supreme. Perhaps this was a mistake.” She rose from the bench, bowed in his direction before fleeing to the safety of the library. Mina draped herself a little tighter around his shoulders, and felt the sadness of old return.