Every mother will do anything for her child's best interest.

You ask yourself this question every time you think about her - and you find your mother in your thoughts more often than you'd like. It is impossible to talk about you without talking about her.There is one quote that holds true for you especially back then, even now: "Like mother, like daughter." You, Fareeha Amari, are the daughter of the great Captain Ana Amari. And for the longest time, that was your identity. Even as you try to shed yourself of her influence, Ana shapes you in more ways than you are even aware of.

You admire your mother, not only for everything she has done for you but because she was your everything. She is your mother, protector, best friend, mentor. You promised yourself many times over that you would grow up to be just like her - a strong and noble woman who could take down anyone (kick ass) and protect everyone. And you always take your promises seriously.

You follow her everywhere you could and learned just as much as she could teach you. You show interest in martial arts simply because your mother could do it, and she was more than happy to oblige. She takes you to many places, as part of her job or as a vacation, and you love every single moment of it. You ask to wear her army beret simply because she allows it. You notice, though, that as you grew older, she was often away from you much more than you'd like. And when she did return home, she is often exhausted, though you knew she tries her best to keep you entertained.

You did not understand, at the time, why she spent less and less time with you. Your aunt tells you that she is off fighting, protecting the world, so that you could live in a peaceful time. But how could you, as a child, accept that sacrifice when all you wanted was for her to read you stories, to tuck you in bed at night? You think, perhaps, that the world was more important to her than you were. You feel abandonment, but not in the common sense - you simply felt lonely even when you are not alone. You do not realize this until much, much later, and it shatters you a little - you always try to ignore the feeling but such thoughts have a way of lingering.

It is not until many years later that you come to understand what her sacrifice meant - it came at a time when it was too little too late to be able to do anything about it.

===

It doesn't bother you that you never knew your father. After all, he passed away when you were but a babe - hardly enough time to love and grieve. The adults gave you sympathy and the other children teased you. But how could it bother you, when in your heart, you have not one but many fathers. Men in the constant company of your mother (they are a team, after all) have all become your adoptive fathers... of sorts. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but you say that having half a dozen lethal saps will do (heck, probably even works better, in your opinion). Gabriel Reyes, Jack Morrison, Torbjorn Lindholm, Reinhardt Wilhelm. Each a different individual, a different type of father to you.

Gabriel Reyes is your intimidating dad. You always imitated his serious looks, his stiff posture - something that you laughed at as a child but still took to heart. You are persistent, though, and refuse to let his off-putting behaviour stop you. You pester him whenever you see him and though he is annoyed (oh, you definitely knew but didn't care), he would always relent. You are sure you grew on him, as you are always able to get Gabe to sneak you some chocolate past your bed time. He's the one who taught you how to play poker with Jesse (and you always won against the cowboy, ha!). You learned how to negotiate to get things your way (you enjoyed the surprised look that Ana gave you when you tried to broker on chores designation). Past the gruff exterior, it always makes you feel warm when he pats you on the back of scruffles your tidy hair.

Jack Morrison is your superdad. You think he is more serious than Gabe, but at least he is much more pleasant. He is more of a teacher to you - shows you how to strategize through games, helps you understand some of the harder words in books he tells you to read, lets you watch him cook (you actually wish you could have his morning pancakes again), allows you to visit the gym with him, eventually shows you how to get better aim with firearms. But more importantly, he is there for you when things go awry and you cannot confide in your mother. You tell him that you will be a part of Overwatch, and he simply tells you that he will be waiting. It is one confidence that you intend to see through.

Torbjorn Lindholm is your handyman dad. Even if when he was only a feet taller than you, you look up to him and respect his art. He appreciates your interest in his work, always willing to oblige your whims (much to your mother's dismay). It is from him that you learn all about machines and gadgets (a skill that tremendously helps you now). Your tongue also sharpens whenever you are around him, much to your mother's disapproval. He has his own family, but you like that he always treats you as one of his own.

Reinhardt Wilhelm is your gentle giant - your hero - and you like him the best. You idolize a poster of him in your old bedroom - an embarrassing fact that he seems to be aware of (damn it mom!). He has always been larger than life, before and after you met him. His size intimidated you, but you've come to learn not to judge people by their appearances. He, too, indulges your whims but you always asked for stories of old because you knew that he loved to tell them (and tell them spectacularly he did). You recall a time you asked him to teach you some German words so you could secretly impress Angela, and he responded with a great bellow, proud that you wanted to learn more from him. He confides in you that you are like the daughter he never had, and you are proud of him just as he is of you. In fact, you spend much time with the giant - you're pretty sure that your moral compass is skewed to be very similar to his because of it. You learn that justice is a noble cause - one that your mother and your fathers have dedicated themselves to - and that justice is not always a pretty nor straightforward path. You make a promise to Reinhardt that you would dedicate yourself to the same cause that he and your mother and so many others have. And Fareeha Amari always takes her promises seriously.

===

It is on your seventeenth birthday that you realize what it meant to be a protector. It is a word heavily associated with your family - the Amari Clan, the Protectors, Overwatch. You grew up surrounded by heroes, so it only made sense that you would do heroic actions. You just didn't expect to get jailed for it.

Your mother, on leave from Overwatch duties, bails you and you expect the angry lecture. You let it wash over you as you gaze at her with your swollen eyes. Your left shoulder is dislocated and you're pretty sure that there is a rather large bruise on your right thigh by now judging from the way it is throbbing. But you endure it all, the pain and the shame. You lost the fight - clearly a seventeen year old girl can hold no candle against men slightly older than her. But it is your mother's disappointment that hurts the most and you simply cannot understand why. You acted with just intentions. Your friend was assaulted and you defended her successfully, though at your own cost. It is then that Reinhardt's words echo in your head, but still, you have no regrets. You get send to the hospital to get treated and sent home the same night. You lock yourself in your room, shutting the door on her face, not wanting to deal with her. You expect her to come barging in - she had a right to, after all. You are surprised to hear only a sigh and footsteps that sound farther away. But it is what she says before she walks away that strikes you.

"This is not the life I wanted for you, Fareeha."

You know that your mother disapproves of your aspirations of joining Overwatch. You thought it was simply because she didn't want you getting hurt. And you thought that opinion silly as your mother puts herself in danger all the time (and why couldn't you?). But now, you think that maybe it's because you aren't good enough. You may have defended your friend but you did not come out unscathed. You are angry, only slightly at your situation, slightly at your mother, but mostly at yourself. Why are you not strong enough? You ask yourself that question and find that the solution is to follow your mother's footsteps. She is strong, exactly what you want to be. You are determined to grow and prove to her that you are worthy of carrying the Amari name.

Your seventeenth birthday passes in your bedroom, wallowing in depressing thoughts while your mother leaves you a slice of cake in front of your door.

===

You join the military at nineteen. Your mother is angry, but she does not understand. You have to prove yourself. She tries to stop you, but she should know better than nothing can stop a determined Amari. And the Amari blood runs strong in your veins. You lose contact with your mother, and you are full of rage. Why doesn't she understand that you are doing what you've wanted to do your entire life? You want to join Overwatch, be among the heroes you grew up with, and joining the military is your first step - just as it was your mother's.

You endure a lot during training. Many of your peers believe that you were enlisted only because you carry the name Amari. You ignore the hurtful words, just as you did in the past. They do not matter - you are there to prove yourself to your mother, not them. You get through the grueling training with spite in your blood. You use everything you learned in your childhood - Jack's strategies, Gabe's forceful 'charisma', Torbjorn's logic, Reinhardt's wisdom. You refuse to engage in long ranged weaponry, refuse to be a sniper. You are not your mother, simply following her path - you are determined to find your own. Your skills improve, you are more mature, your rage lessens and turns into a strong drive - but you do not feel it is enough. You graduate top of your class and immediately promoted to a commanding position, but it is still not enough.

You fight a few battles. It is exhilarating, but you slowly come to understand that there is more to justice than fighting for good - because sometimes, you don't even know if you are fighting for good. But you persist. This is only a stepping stone. You promised the heroes that you would join them, and you always take promises seriously.

Just when you feel you are ready to prove yourself, the war against the Omnics end and Overwatch disbands. So close, yet so far. You try to deal with the frustration, but it consumes you at times. You remind yourself that you are strong - you will prove yourself one way or another. But before you could face your mother, tragedy strikes.

===

You keep your head high. Many people pass by and offer their condolences. Friends, family, people you've never seen before, people you will probably never see again... They speak to you of the fond memories and praise for your mother. You choke down the bitterness that rises. You barely knew that Ana Amari, you wish you did. They all tell you how proud she would have been of you - you aren't so sure she was but you bite your tongue. You blame her, even now, but it is a dulled pain compared to the one caused by the emptiness.

You still remain standing in front of the headstone after all have left, unphased by the rain that continues to fall. The words are blurry to you, but you recite them by heart in mind. A hand on your shoulder does not startle you - in fact, you wonder where it was the entire time. You turn to face him. It is only when your eyes meet his gentle ones that tears begin to fall.

You realize he is the one solid constant in your life now, after all the deaths. As he drew you to his arms, you gladly fall into it, tired of the weight on your shoulders and the regret that fights with your fury. Even if he doesn't understand, you will take whatever comfort you can find. You decide to offer him some as well. You mutter a name you've never called him before, and you feel his form stiffen. "Dad," you whisper as you attempt to wrap your arms around massive form. A short pause, and he tightens his arms around you. You both weep for what was lost, what could have been.

The day after the funeral, you immortalize everything that your mother was to you under your right eye.

===

You feel stunted. The military offers you no satisfaction, waging wars that you had no reason to fight. It is tiresome, and you understand now why your mother urged you to stay away. You regret not listening to her, but know in your heart that you would be on this path regardless of what could have happened. There are many things that you wish to say to your mother - to apologize, to express your anger, to show your love - but it is too late now. You slowly come to terms with it. You stay with the military only for a little while before you are offered a more lucrative position, one that promised to make a difference in the world. It helped that Helix Securities promised you an advanced combat suit for your purposes. You take leave of the military in good grace.

Like anything you put your mind to, you master the Raptora Mk 6 armor in almost no time. You take pride in this new partner of yours, one that allowed you the freedom of flight. You receive a new call sign and as Pharah, you dominated the skies in every mission you were given. When fighting against an advanced AI that threatened the peace you and many others fought so hard for, you are reminded of the morals you valued, ones you have neglected to practice. You remember that the mission is not merely a means to an end, that you are protector not only of the innocent but also those of your team, your new family. And that was what they have become to you, a family. You stay with the group for many years, momentarily satisfied but never fully. It is enough, you think. You keep the peace and protect your family. It will be enough, you promise.

===

You receive a call. Not one you ever expected - not in this lifetime. You don't know how much you want to thank that intelligent primate. Maybe enough to give him peanut butter to last a lifetime. You know he appreciates it. You never expected Overwatch to recall, never expected that you could ever take part in something so grand once again. Without hesitation, you accept the call. It was something you've always dreamed and you pinch yourself many times to find that it is reality. Your mind blanks in excitement, writing down enough (to meet Genji at a certain place and time) before your mind blanks for an entirely different reason.

You only saw red. Your fists crush the flimsy paper as your fury looms over you.

A letter. Signed Ana.

You thought you had closure. You know otherwise.

You are unsure of how to feel. The rage and fury mixed with relief and shame all swirl within you. You spend the day locked in your room. Again. Only this time, there was no cake to surprise you when you opened the door. You smile. You realize this is your opportunity. Overwatch is reforming and your mother is alive. Finally, it feels like the universe is going in your favour (for once). You are going to find you mother and then be a part of Overwatch and... Well, you'll cross that bridge when you get there. You exit your room, determined, to find your mother.

===

As you exit your room, you feel faint. The next thing you know, you wake up in a world not entirely your own. You're not sure what happened, how you got here, but one thing is for sure - you are determined to find out and nothing can stop a determined Amari.