Afternoon time.
Hawk drove, bringing Gwen, to Stacy's Apartment, ready to pick up some things Helen had prepared for them to take to Georgia to visit their grandfather tomorrow.
Originally, Helen had planned for George to stay home and watch the kids, then follow Hawk and Gwen back to Waterfall Town.
But then...
There's a case.
And it should be a big case.
The reason for saying "should be" is because George didn't say, it's Helen's speculation based on George being so busy these days he can hardly come home.
Even if George is busy with a case, she could still take the kids to Waterfall Town.
But Helen wasn't comfortable with that.
Although if something did happen to George, she would only know when she opens the door to see people in police uniforms with white gloves at the door.
But if something did happen, being in New York City is better than being in Waterfall Town, and she could get to her husband as quickly as possible.
So.
Helen decided not to go back, and wait for George to finish this case, and when he is on vacation, they would take the kids with Hawk and Gwen for an off-peak trip.
So tonight they're here, besides for dinner, to take the things Helen prepared to bring to their grandfather.
Shortly.
Hawk, with his left arm fully recovered instantly after one hundred days, performed a suave parallel parking, smoothly parking the car behind Helen's family babysitter car.
Gwen got out from the passenger seat, looked at Hawk who had changed out of that outdated and very targeted cowboy outfit, into the black casual suit she bought for him not long ago, and said in a lighthearted tone, "Hawk, really, I'm not lying, if my mom sees you in that cowboy outfit, she'd definitely praise you for it happily."
Hawk glanced at Gwen who said this while quickly stepping up beside him, holding his arm with a mysterious smile on her face: "Can you take that schadenfreude look off your face when you say this?"
Gwen realized and straightened her face, looking at Hawk.
"Sorry."
"Too late, I already saw it."
Hawk's lips curled up.
He's not stupid, that outfit was something he bought impulsively when he and Peter passed by a bargain store a while ago.
Hawk originally bought it just to tease Gwen, he never intended to wear that outfit to meet Gwen's grandfather.
Kidding.
Knowing Gwen's grandfather used to be a farmer, and now that there's no farm, wearing cowboy clothes to meet him would be akin to stabbing a knife into his windpipe.
He's no fool.
After a while.
Helen opened the door, seeing her daughter and her future son-in-law standing there, warmly inviting them inside, noticing that Hawk was finally no longer with a single arm status today, her smile grew more beautiful.
"Left arm's better?"
"Yeah."
Hawk smiled, glancing at Gwen beside him, and said to Helen, "Thanks to Gwen's care, to be honest, I really want to be injured for a few more days."
Upon hearing this, Helen broke into laughter and rolled her eyes at Hawk.
"Nonsense, who would curse themselves to be injured?"
"Mom, that's just the kind of person he is."
Beside them, Gwen wrapped her arm around Helen's, looking at Hawk, saying seriously, "He just wants to be sick a few more days so I can keep taking care of him."
Helen, hearing this, patted Gwen's shoulder.
"Hawk is your fiancé, if he's sick, shouldn't you take care of him?"
"Thanks, Mom."
Helen's words were barely out before Hawk intercepted.
He and Gwen were already engaged, although not yet registered, that's because of their age, and due to taking care of George so they hadn't gone to Alaska, but changing to call Helen "Mom" had long been decided.
So when Hawk said thank you, it was without any psychological burden.
Of course.
He wouldn't say that when George was around, since George hadn't changed what he called her yet.
But it's not that Hawk couldn't call her that.
It's because after discussing with Gwen and Helen, to prevent George's blood pressure from getting too high, they agreed not to change what they called George temporarily.
Gwen looked at her mother, who seemed to have become Hawk's mom, opened her mouth, then glared at Hawk.
Hawk returned with a brilliant smile.
He originally thought George would come back for dinner tonight, but he ended up not coming.
Indeed.
The case must be big.
Hawk, while dining, thought about George's absence but wasn't too concerned.
After all, he had the Netherworld on his side.
Frankly speaking, even if George was gone, the soul would go to his Netherworld, not Mephisto's Hell.
Furthermore.
If something really happened to George and he passed away, going to the Netherworld wouldn't be suffering, he certainly wouldn't dare to send George to experience the Eight Great Nether Prisons he invented.
Because if he sent George to the Nether Prison the next second, knowing Gwen she'd probably explode and send him to sleep in the living room.
Therefore!
If George did go to the Netherworld, it wouldn't be suffering, it'd be enjoyment, going a day sooner would mean starting the retirement life a day sooner.
So Hawk didn't inquire about George's case, but joined Gwen in consoling a seemingly worried Helen.
But Helen's worry was quite common, whenever George had a case requiring overtime, Helen would always worry.
It's not some mysterious Sixth Sense, it's simply that Helen loves George very much.
But if it wasn't for love, Helen, a young lady from a farming family in Georgia, wouldn't have followed George to New York City.
After dinner, Helen took out the things she originally planned to take back to Waterfall Town.
There weren't many things, just three in total.
A delicately packaged genuine leather belt, this is for her father, who is also Gwen's grandfather, William Fox.
A similarly elegantly packaged scarf, this is for her sister, who is also Gwen's aunt, Liz Fox.
As for the remaining gift, it's for Caroline Fox.
Which is the daughter of her aunt, Liz Fox.
As for why her aunt Liz Fox's daughter Caroline also has the last name Fox, standing quietly listening, Hawk wasn't curious.
Because Gwen had explained it to him.
Let's put it this way.
If Helen was lucky enough to have found true love in George Stacy, then Helen's sister, Gwen's aunt Liz Fox, was unlucky enough to find a jerk.
Of course, not really a jerk, just someone who is mostly away from Waterfall Town, and thus the relationship naturally encountered problems.
However, Helen heard that her sister found a new partner, which is the fundamental reason why she originally planned to return to Waterfall Town together with Hawk and Gwen.
On the way back, after taking the gifts, Hawk and Gwen drove.
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Gwen looked at Hawk: "What's wrong?"
Hawk, upon hearing, looked at Gwen.
"What?"
"You have something on your mind."
"You can tell that?"
"I'm the police..."
"Sheriff's daughter."
Hawk adeptly picked up Gwen's words, then looked at the smiling Gwen and didn't hide anything: "I'm thinking, maybe we should refund the plane tickets, after all, Helen isn't coming back with us."
Gwen, hearing this, thought Hawk got scared.
"Scared? Backing out?"
"You forgot, I have an out-of-New-York-City disaster constitution."
"Uh..."
Gwen listened to Hawk's words, recalling how Hawk had previously analyzed for her his four times of leaving New York City and encountering unexpected incidents each time.
The first time going to Quantico, he was robbed after leaving the airport.
The second time going to Africa's Quantico, an incident occurred before takeoff.
The third time going to London, there was an air robbery, but luckily Peter was there.
The fourth time was going to Texas; during the flight, he encountered the Wind Demon of the Four Elements of Creation.
Gwen reflected on the experiences Hawk had shared, blinked, and looked at Hawk.
"Then how do you plan to get there."
"Fly there."
Hawk looked at Gwen: "And faster than flying by plane. Georgia isn't far, with you, it's just a slow ten-minute flight."
Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, but I'm curious, if mom followed us back, and if your disaster constitution really kicked in and you encountered an accident, what would you do?"
"What else can be done."
Hawk smiled at Gwen: "You know, I never planned on hiding my identity, it's you and S.H.I.E.L.D. who think it's better that my identity remains a secret."
Gwen seriously said: "Isn't that right? Look, after one Hydra found out, they even secretly cloned you, and we haven't found them yet. If you're exposed, who knows how many evil organizations would target your blood."
Hawk, hearing this, quickly changed the topic.
"By the way, what's S.H.I.E.L.D. said, still haven't found Dr. Merick's hideout?"
"No."
Gwen shook her head, recalling the call from Sharon this morning, explained it to Hawk, then on a serious note once again said: "Hawk, don't sell your blood next time."
Hawk nodded repeatedly, looked at Gwen, giving a firm answer: "I'll listen to you, won't sell if you say no."
It was crucial to agree quickly now, or else, only God knows how long Gwen would nag about this matter.
Indeed.
Gwen, hearing Hawk's unwavering promise, her stern face eased slightly.
Just then.
The phone rang.
"It's Sharon's."
Gwen looked at the call, instinctively glanced at Hawk, and seemed to think of something.
Sharon calling at this time, could it be that Dr. Merick has been found?
Hawk also raised an eyebrow.
The next second.
Gwen, realizing, quickly answered Sharon's call.
"Hello, Sharon!"
"Gwen, is Hawk with you?"
"Yes, have you found..."
"Yes, Australia, Alice Springs!"
"..."