" You're beautiful, but you're empty...One couldn't die for you. Of course, an ordinary passerby would think my rose looked just like you. But my rose, all on her own, is more important than all of you together, since she's the one I've watered. Since she's the one I put under glass, since she's the one I sheltered behind the screen. Since she's the one for whom I killed the caterpillars (except the two or three butterflies). Since she's the one I listened to when she complained, or when she boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing at all. Since she's my rose. "

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

(DREAM SEQUENCE)

Destruction and despair wandered around the streets of New York City. The blue and pink-skinned troopers along with their reptilian allies had ruthlessly murdered some heroes who fought and caught some civilians to be enslaved. A young blonde half-Kree woman witnessed the brutality while defending the city and fighting against the invaders along with her cohorts.

Flying and blasting around, she noticed an armored man being attacked by a nine feet lizard. Colonel James Rhodes or War Machine was struggling to fight back when he got impaled by its claws. His blood splattered on the ground.

" CAROL!! " he cried in excruciating pain.

She saw the horror of approaching death when the lizard had ended his life. Carol Danvers or Captain Marvel rushed herself for revenge. The yellow photon energy emitted from her hands and blasted the reptilian. It stood up and angrily roared when it was about to kill the half-Kree woman. Carol punched the lizard's gut as the blood dripped from its mouth and sent it flying. She went over to her dying boyfriend and knelt beside him.

" Rhodey, we have to get you some help, " she said and held his right hand. " Please hang-in there..."

" Carol....I can't...be with....you..." he weakingly replied and touched her face for the last time. " You...need...to fight back..."

" Rhodey! Please, don't leave me! " she bitterly wept. " I can't do this without you! "

" You have to fight for us...I know you can..."

His breath had expired as he closed his eyes. Carol saw death from her loved one and wailed while hugging his lifeless body. It was the most fateful day which it had changed her entire life.

(Rouen, France: 6:00 AM)

The elderly half-Kree woman awakened from a lingering memory from the past which it turned to a nightmare. She instantly sat up and turned her head around. Carol saw her son sleeping peacefully as she sighed in relief.

" Thank goodness. He hasn't got any nightmares from 682, since I'm sleeping beside him, " she sadly thought and gently patted his head. " Now, I'm still having that tragic memory turned into a nightmare, too. I hope I won't lose this kid from those invaders. I'll do my best to protect him. "

The Kree-Lizard hybrid slowly opened his eyes and saw his mother-figure had got up earlier than him. He loudly yawned and stretched his arms as Carol laughed at him.

" Good morning, Kid! Rise and Shine! " she smiled.

" Good morning, what day is it? " he asked.

" It's Saturday. You don't have learning sessions every weekend. "

" Well, what should I do now? "

The elder and the hybrid both smelled the food from downstairs and exchanged glances. Breakfast was being served for the residents in the mansion.

" Time to get some chow down, before working for the chores inside and around the mansion, " she smiled in reply.

" Oh, good! " the boy happily beamed and heard his stomach loudly grumbling when he felt awkward. " Oops, I didn't mean to... "

" You're just hungry. Let's get off to bed and begin the day. "

" Right. "

The two headed their way to the stairs and went down. The crowded residents flocked to the dining room where everyone took their seats. The Kree-Lizard boy sighed when a teleporting mutant instantly sat on the vacant seat. Carol gently patted his shoulders and went to the other side of the room. They watched and waited for them which the people finished eating. Finally, they got their turn for eating breakfast, however they just received few pieces of bread loaves and two glasses of milk. The elderly half-Kree and the hybrid ate before they started their household chores.

Few hours later, the Kree-Lizard hybrid began to get some pails and buckets of water from the well. He was busily getting more water as his half-Lizard friend approached him and smiled.

" It seems you're too busy to get some water, " he called him.

" Everyone needs it, Jared, " the boy replied. " But there's too many buckets to be filled and transferred. Like twenty in total. "

" I'll help you on this one, " Jared smiled. " Don't worry. "

" Thanks. "

The two men pulled-up the rope and got much water. Then, they filled in the buckets one by one as everyone took their buckets. Jared and his friend sighed in relief and wiped their faces. They both looked at the half-Kree woman doing her gardening work.

" By the way, it's Madame Danvers' birthday, " Jared reminded. " Got something for her? "

" Oh, I don't have a gift for her, " the hybrid answered. " Can you tell me what kind of gift to give her? "

" Well, I have just noticed a rose garden when Allen, Karena, and I landed. Possibly, Madame Aqune had planted those since Madame Danvers has been working on the vegetable garden. But here's the thing, bud, don't show yourself giving a surprise gift to her. Got it? "

" How? "

" Do it, secretly. Find a hiding place where no one can find your gift. Don't let her know you're giving a bouquet of roses. "

" Right, " he nodded.

" Go for it. "

The boy walked around the garden avoiding being noticed by his mother-figure. On the farther side of the mansion, he saw Aqune watering the plants and the red flowers. The elderly woman noticed him coming and approached.

" Is there anything else I can help? " the other elderly woman asked.

" Is it okay if I get a bunch of roses? I'm going to..." the Kree-Lizard hybrid paused as he thought of not disclosing his plans.

"...Pick some roses and put it on a vase? "

" Yes, yes, " he nodded and wryly smiled. " I do like to have roses in the vase. "

" You may go ahead, " Aqune replied.

The Kree-Lizard boy picked the roses from the bushes, but he got wounded from his hands. He saw some thorns stuck on his hands and moaned in pain when a blue plasma flowed. Aqune noticed him and took her first aid kit. She took his right hand which it got affected and punctured by small rose thorns.

" Dear, this boy has blue blood, " she thought and mended his wounds. " No wonder how come he has this. He's not an ordinary lizard, but he is something else. "

" I'm sorry, I tried to pick the flowers. Those thorns have pricked me, " he replied and sadly sighed.

" It's all right, " Aqune slightly smiled and recalled someone from the past. " You did remind me of my son Tizona. He tried to pick some flowers, but he got wounded. "

" I see, " the boy nodded. " Why did he get wounded? "

" He thought of giving some flowers to me and his future wife. Now, I'm thinking that you're not just getting the roses into the vase. "

The Kree-Lizard boy nervously gulped when the elderly purpled haired woman had suspected her. This time, he got caught her attention and thought of moving away. Aqune softly chuckled and covered her mouth.

" I knew you have good intentions. You're giving it to someone else, " she said and took her garden scissors. " Don't worry, I won't tell. "

" Thank you, " he sighed and slightly smiled. " Are you helping to get one? "

" Of course, " she nodded and took some beautiful bunch of red roses. Aqune gave it to him. " You need a large sheet of paper and red ribbons. "

" I will find one. "

" Then, keep these roses. Don't let Carol know. "

" I will. "

After lunch, the Kree-Lizard hybrid boy saw Carol had her afternoon sleep in the room. He carefully tiptoed, avoiding not to make noises and going to the attic. Looking around and searching for those things, he accidentally tripped on pile of boxes when the dusts scattered all over. The boy coughed and slowly stood up from his position.

" Great! My clumsiness might caught attention to this mess I made, " he thought and sighed. " Now, Carol will find out what I'm going to do..."

He picked up the scattered toys, clothes, and other things into the boxes. Then, he started organizing the boxes and found a large sheet of paper fitting enough for the bouquet of roses. From the table, he saw a red ribbon and took it.

" Well, this accident helped me to see the things I need, " he smiled and saw a long playing disc album which it covered a dark haired Caucasian man dressed in a white suit, standing between a vase of roses and a candle. He read, " Elvis sings The Wonder of You. Mama Liked the Roses. "

He smiled and took the long playing disc, a piece of paper, and a red ribbon. He was satisfied in going to the attic when an elderly long haired mutant noticed him coming down from the attic. The boy again felt nervous in seeing him and instantly hid those things on his back.

" Gladius, I accidentally tripped something in the attic and...."

" I know, I know. I heard that large thud coming from upstairs, " Gladius replied and curiously asked. " Can you tell me what have you done there? "

" Well, I...." the boy paused, composing his thoughts to respond as the elderly mutant waited for him.

" What? "

" I found some interesting things upstairs, " he replied. " I hope you will be happy to find clothes or anything in there. You will surely like discovering things. "

" Oh, yes. Carol just told me some stuffs in the attic. I am looking for some extra shoes to fit in my size. "

" Well, there are some shoes, there. You can check them up. "

" Thanks! I'm going to get an unused pair of shoes. "

" Sure. "

The boy sighed in relief for it was a close call not to let Gladius figure out what he did. Looking at the room, Carol was still sleeping peacefully on the couch. He hurriedly went away and returned to his room where the bunch of roses was placed on the table.

" Now, to work on this one, " he thought and carefully placed the roses on the paper. The boy remembered how to wrap a bouquet of flowers which Karena taught him to do. He carefully rolled the paper and the bunch. Then, he took the red ribbon and tied it. Finally, he was finished preparing his gift to his mother-figure. Then, he looked and held the album. " I have to test that large disc on the phonograph to play some music later on. Let's see if this would work. "

He placed the disc on his 20th century music player and started to wind up and play the song in E-flat and C-minor. The bells and choir humming were the introduction followed by Elvis Presley's deep thick singing voice. The boy was satisfied and pleased that whole song was playing smoothly. Finally, he thought of how he could make his mother-figure special on her birthday.

" Perfect! This would be a great preparation for tonight, " he thought and kept the bunch of roses into the closet. Suddenly, the hybrid heard a door knocking and became more anxious of Carol would discover the surprise for her. " Shoot! She's gonna discover this! Now, what?! "

He stopped the playing music and instantly opened the door. It was his mother figure, crossing her arms and staring at him. The hybrid was nervously sweating upon looking at her. He never wanted to blurt out or screw up which his best friend had told him of her birthday.

" Carol, it's great to see you! " he greeted. " What seems to bring you here? "

" Look, Kid, " she answered. " I heard noises on the attic and some Elvis Presley music in your room. What's going on with you? "

" It's just...." he paused and started composing his excuses. " I want to find some long playing music discs in the attic. "

" Kid, we did that before few weeks ago. So what about it? " Carol raised her eyebrows and shrugged.

" I'm looking for some English songs! That's all..."

" Looking for some English songs, huh? I don't think I can believe you. "

" No, no, no! Please don't go inside my room! " the Kree-Lizard boy exclaimed, stretched his arms sideways, and blocked her from entering.

" Kid, what on Hala are you hiding from me?! " she asked and raised her voice. " I need to know what's going on?! "

" No, it's just I have been playing music! I'm so sorry for disturbing your sleep! It's just I found a long playing disc on my end which I wanted to listen. "

" Fine, " she heavily sighed and sternly stared at him. " I need to know whatever you're doing later on after dinner or else...."

" What is it? "

" You'll get grounded by washing all the dishes, tomorrow. Understand? "

" Yes, ma'am, " the Kree-Lizard boy wryly smiled and chuckled as if he had no choice but to follow his mother's orders.

" Good, " she nodded and reminded him. " By the way, it's our turn to do some cooking. So, you'll come with me in the kitchen to prepare dinner. "

" Yes, ma'am. "

(Few Hours Later)

After taking dinner and helping out cleaning the dinner table, the Kree-Lizard hybrid waited for Carol as she had an important talk with Gladius and the others for any precaution which the enemies might intrude and escalate the mansion. The boy turned to the clock which it was thirty minutes past after nine in the evening.

" Is she aware that today is her birthday? " he wondered while looking at Carol from a distance. " How come she's treating it like an ordinary day? Doesn't she give herself a break for everything? "

The boy waited for several minutes and yawned while sitting on the floor. Boredom visited him at this moment which he stared on the wall and ceiling. Then, he turned around and curiously looked at the 19th century painting of a mother and child.

" I haven't noticed this one, before, " he thought and closely put his attention to the artwork. " Yet, I wonder this interests me. The woman looks caring at her child in this picture. Whoever made this, he has seen such beauty and mutuality of the two. "

Finally, the people left the room as he saw them. Carol turned to the hybrid, approached him, and gently patted his head. He blushed harder and chuckled in seeing her. The elderly half-Kree woman offered her right hand and helped him standing up.

" Are you supposed to get some sleep, young man? " she asked.

" I owe you something, Carol, " he answered. " I'm sorry for what I was doing this afternoon. "

" Finally, you have realized. Come on, let's go to your room. "

The two headed their way to the room, but the boy stood behind the door and held the doorknob. Carol raised her eyebrows in doubt and crossed her arms. He became uneasy to look at his mother-figure's facial expression.

" Again, why are you doing that? " she asked.

" Just close your eyes. " he replied.

" Close my what? "

" Please!! "

" Fine, " she sighed and covered her eyes.

The boy opened the door and the lights as Carol entered the room, still closing and covering her eyes. She waited for some time and became more impatient.

" Is this really taking me more than a hour for this? " 

" No, you may open your eyes, now! "

The elderly half-Kree woman removed her hands and opened her eyes. She was surprised to a bouquet of red roses and a letter for her, placed on the table.Then, she took and opened it to read. The boy waited and sat down on his chair. 

Dear Carol,

It's been almost two years that you spent with me. I apologize that I have been too annoying or giving you so much problems. I appreciate your efforts in helping me out even I'm not that fully freed from the bondage of 682. 

You have taught me how to be a human. I really want to live that way. Before I met you, I have been seeing some young people clinging to their mothers. For that matter, I wished to have a real mother in my lifetime. I never experienced that kind of love and peace before. Now, that I have met you, you are more than a hero, teacher, mentor, and a best friend. You are truly a mother to me even though, I am adopted by your action and decision. 

 I know you want something better for me, but I don't know what it is. The most important thing is I have met my mother which I really cherish it.

Thank you for everything and Happy Birthday!

Love,

Your nameless son 

Carol wept for joy and wiped her tears using her red sash which she heard the hybrid's letter and hugged him. The boy hugged her back. It was the first time for the elderly half-Kree woman who got appreciated by a tall monstrous being. At first, she fought those kinds of beings after the Invasion in New York. Now, she encountered another being whom she learned to love as a mother to her son.

 " Kid, thank you for that letter and these roses! They're my favorite flowers. I really liked them so much! " she happily spoke and took the bouquet of roses. " This is the most memorable and wonderful birthday gift ever which I never expect from you! " 

" It was nothing, " he smiled. " This is just a gift for you. "

" Even this is simple, it means everything to me. Thank you very much! For me, you are a wonderful gift that I have received. "

" Can I call you mom, instead of your name? "

" That would be better, Kid! " she happily beamed.

" Mom, there is something I want to do, " the boy said, played the music from Elvis Presley, and offered his left hand. " Can I have this dance? "

" Sure, " she nodded and placed her roses on the table.

The slow sweet music in E-flat major and C-minor had echoed in the room. They both stood up and placed their arms together. Carol smiled at her adopted son as he also smiled back to his mother. She recalled something which she wanted to open-up while they were dancing. It was from her nightmare earlier.

" There is something I wanted to tell you, Kid. "

" What is it, mom? "

" You're not the only one who have nightmares, " she replied. " I have one, too. It's a dark memory. "

" Can you tell me? "

" Fifty years ago, I was in the middle of the Kree-Lizard war and fighting. I saw a vicious reptilian who killed my late boyfriend. I defeated that murderer, but I was too late in saving him, " she answered. " I could relate to you when you lost Nancy in your case. When you lost someone you love, it left a big scar within us. "

" Mother, I'm so sorry for what happened to your boyfriend. "

" The past is passed. Let's enjoy this moment and move forward for the future. "