A/N: Nope, folks, this collection ISN'T dead! I've just ran out of time to type more. BUT, here we are, AT LAST! This update is REALLY short, but at least it's here. So… Yay?

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for your reviews, love and support! They're what brought this one back to life. (HUGS)

Awkay, because it's getting late… Let's go! I REALLY hope that this'll turn out worth the wait.


Map of the World


Lila had been taught that a closed door meant that one should knock and wait for a permission before entering. But she was just a little girl. Sometimes she got too excited to remember what she'd been told. It was the most beautiful day of all summer and her daddy was home. How could she have been anything but excited?

Maybe he'd even take her and Cooper water-skiing, now that she was finally old enough!

"Daddy!" Lila was already yanking the bedroom door open. "Daddy, can we…?" Words froze into her throat and she stopped entirely at the doorway, her eyes widening.

Her daddy was changing his shirt with his back towards her. Giving her a clear view to the scars marring his pale skin. It reminded her, somehow, of the map of the world in Cooper's room. White and pink marks in varying shapes and sizes were all over his back. It was a small mercy that she was far too young to be able to tell where each came from.

She had a mark a bit like those on her knee, caused by a fall from a treehouse. Receiving it hurt a lot, enough to make her cry. She absolutely hated to imagine her daddy hurting that way so many times.

Sensing her stare, her daddy peered over his shoulder. For a couple of seconds she could've sworn that she saw fear in his eyes, until she told herself that she was being silly. Her daddy wasn't afraid of anything. "Hey." He finished putting on the shirt quickly, then turned fully towards her. "Now what are you doing there?"

Lila swallowed, wondering if she wanted to run away as quickly as she could or dash into his safe arms. "Are those… from the missions?" She knew that things got dangerous sometimes when he was away. That was why her mommy and Cooper were tense and worried until he returned. They tried to hide it, of course, but she wasn't a stupid kid anymore. And she was the daughter of Hawkeye, as much of a secret as it was.

Her daddy seemed hesitant for a moment. Then nodded slowly. "Yeah, sweetheart. Most of them are." He gave her a tiny, sad smile that succeeded in being comforting. "Some of them are older than you."

Lila shifted. Her young mind attempting to process the informational and emotional overload. "Do they hurt?" Her mark didn't, but his were a lot bigger. And there were so many of them…

He shook his head firmly. "Not anymore. They do itch sometimes, though."

Lila nodded seriously in understanding, appearing far older than her years. "Mine does, too." Her eyebrows furrowed and she shivered. The memory of the horrible map on his back making her feel cold although it was summer. "I wish you didn't have so many of them, daddy. Getting them hurts."

Her daddy smiled, something in his eyes she was too young to understand. He beckoned her to come closer. "Come here, sweetheart." She didn't have to be told twice. He held her tenderly and kissed hair as soon as she was near, and all was just a little bit more right in the world. "I don't like having them. But they're a part of me, now, and I can't erase them. Do you know what I can do, though?"

"Hmh?" Lila murmured, her face pressed against her daddy's chest.

He kissed her hair again and pulled her a little closer. It was a great comfort. "I can be grateful that I have the most perfect family in the whole wide world to come home to. And if it hurts, I only need to think about you and the ache goes away."

Lila smiled. The thought that she was able to help him even when she wasn't there… It was almost as much comfort as his solid, safe presence. "Like magic."

"Exactly, princess. Like magic." He shook his head and hummed, the sound rumbling in his chest. "When did you get so big and smart?"

Lila giggled, the weight that'd settled on her shoulders easing a great deal.

A comfortable silence lingered until her daddy spoke once more. "Mommy and Coop are grocery shopping. What do you say if we'd have an ice-cream party, just the two of us?"

How could Lila possibly have said no that? She was a big girl. But even big girls were allowed to love ice-cream, she decided.

They were on their way to the kitchen, her hand holding her daddy's firmly, when she was finally able to voice the thought circling around her head. "Daddy?" She bit her lip, feeling foolish. And worried again. "Promise that you won't get another…" 'Scar' was a word that somehow didn't fit into her mouth. "… mark. They hurt." She didn't want him to be in pain ever again.

Her daddy shivered. Maybe he was feeling the same strange cold she did before. "For you, sweetheart, I swear to do my best."

Lila was too young to feel like that promise wasn't enough.

Hours later Lila fell asleep with her head resting against her daddy's shoulder. There was a tiny smile on her lips as she slumbered. Her dreaming child's mind transformed his scars into a beautiful map of stars leading him home. All was right in the world once more.

It was a blessing that she didn't know how many more marks his skin would receive.


End of oneshot


A/N: That… was short. And sort of sweet. Couldn't resist. (chuckles)

BUT, folks… Was it any good, at all? Back to the drawing board? PLEASE, do let me know! Hearing from you seriously makes my day!

HOPEFULLY I'll get the next update for this collection out A LOT faster. Until then, folks! I REALLY hope that you'll all stay aboard.

Take care!


Anonymous: I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it! (BEAMS) Poor Clint indeed. But thankfully it seems that Laura forgot her threat. (snickers)

Colossal thank yous for the review! Until next time.