2020!

"Phantom of the Opera? Yesterday it was Les Miserables and today it's phantom of the opera. How many musical themed sweatshirts do you have?" Natasha arched an eyebrow as Elena entered the kitchen.

"Good morning to you too." She quipped, and Natasha rolled her eyes, "It's two-thirty...am. Can't sleep?" The red head asked.

"Nightmare." Elena smacked her lips together, "and the sweatshirts? A lot. Musicals were my coping mechanism in high school."

"I thought that was baking in the middle of the night?" Natasha asked, "Oh it was, some foster homes made that difficult though."

"Tonight, on December 23, you my dear sister, are becoming cultured." Elena stated grabbing the eggs out of the fridge, "We are baking, and listening to musicals."

"Are we?" Natasha asked, "Yup."

Cupcakes sat on a cooling rack and the music had been turned down, "I need you to make me a promise, Natasha."

"Ok?"

"In my nightmare....you died. And I can not for the love of god lose you." Elena spoke, "If it ever comes down to it, please don't put your life on the line. Like I get it, it's your job to like protect people. And I might sound selfish when I say this but I need you breathing."

"You know I can't promise that, Ellie," Natasha whispered, "I know. Sorry I brought it up."

"Elena."

"What?" Elena glanced over at Natasha, "I can't make that promise because quite frankly shit happens. And if I die anytime soon, you're not giving up. If you show up in the after life or whatever the fuck happens, I will kick your ass."

"Ok well same for me." Elena stated, "If I die before you, promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"Okay."

The sound of American Pie flowed through the speaker, they must've been deep into Elena's playlist. "I miss her, god I miss her."

"'Me too." Natasha whispered, "me too."

"I feel like we never talk about her anymore." Elena said, "I feel like she's just fading away. Which is ridiculous because I held on to the memories of the two of you for twenty years but suddenly it's like she's disappearing."

Natasha let out a quiet whistle, "When I miss her, I do our whistle, and I always expect to hear a response, but it never comes."

"I'm calling, Mama." Elena said softly, "Elena- it's not even four."

"She'll answer." Elena stated, "And I need to hear her voice because I need to prove to my stupid little brain that she's still alive. That she didn't turn into dust and blow away in the damn wind."

"Okay."

Elena called Melina, and only ran a couple of time before the other woman picked up, "Elena? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, Mama, I'm okay. I just needed to hear your voice." Elena whispered, "Okay."

Elena nodded thoughts whirl-winding through her head, "Are you sure you're ok?" Melina asked.

"Yeah, just overthinking."

"Okay." Melina said, "Sorry, you can go back to sleep now." Elena apologized.

"Don't apologize Darling, it's okay." Melina said.

"Okay, I love you. Bye."