"Lucy!"

Her head snapped away from the doorbell, glancing to their ajar gate. One little pink person grinned at her presence, waving her arms like a flag searching for attention. What a delightful welcoming. Mirroring her cheeky beam, Lucy bounded after the pink figure as she gestured into the yard. Edith bounced in her spot, not allowing her eyes to move from the redhead for a single second.

"Hey, kiddo!" Lucy approached the bubbly girl, kneeling to her height for an earnest hug. Relief poured her soul when she understood those three girls adored her. Like a role model. Mother. Easy, you're looking beyond.

Meanwhile, she peered around the garden, cocking her brow. "Where's Margo and Agnes?"

Concern breezed past once Edith shrugged. "They're playing princesses, and wearing frilly dresses is gross," she shuddered. Lucy chuckled, seeing herself in Edith like an identical mirror. That smile carried similar adventures. Throughout her childhood, she avoided girly activities and thrilled herself with boisterous games such as Cops and Criminals.

Lucy drowned in her own childhood. Too much in fact, that she almost missed Edith skipping over to the other side of the yard. She couldn't contain her glee whilst she pointed to a colorful invention besides her, almost like an eager cannon waiting to shoot confetti at a special occasion. "So I've been making my own car!"

The statement indeed bewildered the redhead, as the car beamed from the sunlight's reflection. Its shaping replicated a tank, with a menacing cannon searching for targets. Wow! Colors crowded each side, tempted for individual attention. There were no roof or windows - easy for the girl to travel different directions. With attracted eyes, Lucy peered inside the vehicle. Multiple buttons and water pistols lay everywhere, coded with their own section and ready for attack. Lucy gaped at every delicate detail perched upon the car, from the blinking lights creating her number plate to an appealing sign representing the AVL. Lucy smirked. One day, she'd definitely earn Edith a place. The world desired her strength and courage to protect them.

"Edith, this is awesome!" Lucy cheered, not bothering to contain her mature point of view. Even in her thirties, she lived like a little kid stuck inside an adult. "I wish I could've created something like this my age."

"Really?" Her eyes brightened, like two beacons full of life. The only compliments she received came from her father, seeing that any girl would cringe or roll their eyes at the sight of a tomboy. "That's great because I was just about to take it for a test run."

Hopping inside the tank, Edith grinned at the overwhelming rush that travelled through her head. Ready to defeat the villains? Absolutely! She attempted to mock her favourite super-heroes. Hands grasping the steering wheel, she could feel a beam of a spotlight paying attention to her. Lucy's eyes were the spotlight. For once, Edith felt pride in her first invention especially if that particular spotlight happened to be an awesome spy who was deeply admired.

"Wait..." Edith's face darkened, peering at her endless supply of weapons. It seemed pointless alone. "I need a passenger to help me use these to fight off the bad guys."

Lucy glanced behind her shoulder. A tiny spark exploded in her heart - maybe Edith brushed the surface of wanting her to play. No. Maybe she wished for a friend. Meanwhile, a violent buzz vibrated against her side, yelling from inside her purse. No, Silas...why now?! She could phrase the exact 'important' information Silas would share, moaning about her uncompleted paperwork about the recent villain Gru and herself captured. Duty calls, like always.

Yet the sparkle in Edith's eyes distracted her from work. Like a two shooting stars, providing hope that maybe Silas would allow her excuse just once. "Will you help me, Lucy?"

Breaking a little girl's heart wasn't fair. Lucy realised, from glancing at Edith's concerned expression to tempting weapons, she already concluded her decision.

Work could wait once.

"Get ready, we've got one imitating Sherlock!"

Hoisting the water gun into its bracket, Lucy traced the trigger whilst she aimed at the most appropriate spot. This guy sported a large nose. Perfect! One eye closed, the other focused on her target. Edith's mighty legs finally drove the tank closest; giving Lucy an easy shot.

"What the-hey!" The man imitating Sherlock growled. His fists raised as he chased after the speeding tank, however nobody could mirror the pace that the duo travelled at.

Glancing behind her shoulder, Lucy observed the furious man with droplets running down his nose. She couldn't help laughing at his misfortune. At nine years old, with a slightly shorter appearance to hide from town folk, she loved pretend missions and awesome weapons. Nostalgic. That's what she felt. The breeze flew past her cheeks; her heart created an addictive rhythm in her chest. Lucy couldn't help but imagine herself as a little kid once again.

Whilst laughing in unison, Edith spotted another intruder from the corner of her eye. One woman strolling along the path. Her identity covered with a large hat. Suspicious. Cocking her brow, the girl tapped on Lucy's shoulder and pointed towards the upcoming target. Of course, they recognised their neighbours. The two glanced at each other with sneaky smirks. This lady, however, complained almost once every week about the noise erupting from the Gru house. Who could dare ruin the fun?

"I guess it's time to show her how to have fun," Lucy chuckled. Scrambling for the closest weapon, she handed the girl a foam-dart gun. Edith, struggling to contain her giggles, decelerated the tank for a better view.

The screech of the brakes pierced their ears, and the woman turned to face them at last minute. What a perfect shot! Edith flicked her finger; click! single dart flew from the weapon, tripping over her nose and landing into a nearby bush. She yelped from the sudden contact.

Like a rising chorus, Lucy and Edith giggled louder than expected. The redhead clutched her rib with her free hand. Oh, how she wished to shrink and live as a carefree child again. Well...maybe all worries escaped her mind with Edith, who seemed the identical version of herself at nine. She watched the girl wave at the woman who yelled useless get back here comments. After nearly a whole year, Lucy definitely couldn't imagine a life without those adorable girls.

Minutes danced like hours. Lucy, whose ribs began to ache, wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulder. Drawing her into a hug, she suggested, "It'd be awesome to have you on the AVL team, someday when you're older."

Eyes expanded to saucers, also an unexpected gasp released from her lungs. Lucy thought she had the potential to become an agent?! Her father's evil intentions and awesome weapons made her yearn to become a spy or cool sidekick. Working alongside Lucy would totally be incredible!

Before Edith could respond, her ears detected the familiar growl from Kyle. Steering into the driveway of her house, Edith gasped as she recognised who stood on the doorstep - a target Lucy spritzed water all over, with crossed arms, droplets running down her clothes, and a glare that could potentially slice Gru in half. Speaking of Gru, he perched with his hands in front of his form. Eyebrow raised at the two girls. Lucy also understood the unlucky situation.

The woman growled, "Is that your wife with your daughter?"

Gru's mouth opened and closed, resembling a goldfish. He figured whether it'd be appropriate to avoid correcting the woman, even though he enjoyed the potential image. "Yes, I mean no...she's not my-"

"Well, tell her to stop acting like a fourth grader!" she snapped, glaring at the redhead who froze beside Edith. "Harassing the whole neighbourhood is not what a responsible parent does."

Wife. Responsible parent. Those words lit a tiny candle inside her heart. Only if that stage seemed achievable. In Lucy's mind, which burst with enlightened hopes, a sign dazzled to inform her that she could. Yes, maybe Gru might've wanted the extra family member to assist him. Or mainly the fact that they're foolishly lovestruck by each other, only after eleven months of dating.

Nose stuck into the air, the woman marched back to her porch. Not feeling the slightest intimidated, Gru scoffed. At least Lucy never owned the intention to dress like a Barbie doll - this woman's life source was make-up!

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Lucy sending him an apologetic look. She dipped her head as she lowered the water pistol previously used. Travelling to the impressive tank - even Gru had to double-take at its stupendous features - he knelt down beside the lady he adored. A ball formed in his throat whenever Lucy wouldn't reveal a smile. Bliss happened to become her main feature; without it, Gru felt empty.

"Hey," Edith called, standing in the tank so her tiny form could be recognised, "She's the coolest mom in the world!"

Lucy released a tiny gasp. Not only from Edith's surprise hug at that very second, but the encouraging words. Mom. Never, in her entire life, had she become mesmerised by a single word.

However, if this title became a reoccurring role, Lucy wouldn't hesitate to accept it. To three adorable and unique girls, she accepted it with triumph.