chapter 19

A quiet knock sounded on her door, waking her up. She didn't even remember going to sleep. "Adds, are you awake?" Clint's voice called quietly as he opened the bedroom door.
"Yes," she answered, sitting up and rubbing her sore eyes.

"Hey there, Adds," he said, coming to sit with her. "The rest of us were going to watch a movie. Do you want to come join us?" She nodded, climbing out of bed and going to fix her sleep-tousled hair. "Did Cap pick that out for you?" Clint asked, watching her retie the ribbon.
"Yes."
"I can tell. It's very forties." She glared at him in the mirror. "But it's cute!" he backtracked. Clint led her back to the sitting room, where the others were sprawled out on the various couches and chairs. Clint collapsed into one of the armchairs, and Wanda patted the seat next to her for Adelaide to sit on. She curled into Wanda's side and giggled a bit when she poked under her ribs.

"Are you alright?" Wanda asked quietly. "I know what it's like." Adelaide nodded.
"I will be," she whispered back. "I have all of you." Wanda smiled and nodded.
"Of course you do." Adelaide sat and watched several movies with her little family, laughing and smiling with them as if everything was the same, though she was screaming in pain on the inside. She would push through the pain, though. She had to, for the others who loved her like their own, and for Bucky, the only true father she had ever known.

"Ladie, where are you?" Scott's voice called from the hallway."Here, Uncle Scott!" Adelaide answered, poking her head out from where she stood in the closet, trying to decide what to wear.

"Hey, there you are. Look, Steve's got something he wants to tell all of us. Be down in the kitchen at eleven, alright?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good girl. I'll see you later, alright?" he asked, kissing the top of her head.
"Yep."

"Okay!" Scott walked back out, leaving her to her own devices. Adelaide finally decided on a pair of denim shorts and a light green sleeveless shirt that had "Let Your Light Shine" on it in big gold letters. Walking down the hall in her bare feet, she went down a route she knew by heart. She smiled at familiar faces as she passed before ducking into a room that was empty, save for the one person in it.

"Hey, Daddy," she said, placing a hand on the glass and smiling. "It's been eight months now. I turned thirteen as of yesterday morning. Uncle Clint and Wanda wanted to go all-out with a party, but I asked if it would just be alright for our little group to celebrate here instead. I got some pretty neat things. Uncle Steve gave me your old dog tags. I didn't even know you were in the army." She fingered the chain around her neck, making the little plates jingle. "Uncle Clint gave me a new coloring book.

This one has scenes from Lord of the Rings in it. I already did one whole page. Wanda got me a ring like hers. It has my birthday engraved into the inside of it, where hers has Pietro's name on it. I wish I could have met him; he seems to have meant a lot to Wanda. Uncle Scott gave me a carving he did with the help of some ants. It looks just like a howling wolf. It's sitting on my dresser now. Uncle Sam gave me a bracelet.

It has two little stars on it, and room for more charms. The stars are red and white. I guess I don't have to tell you what they mean. T'Challa gave me a stuffed bear, and it's really soft. I slept with it last night instead of a pillow, and I don't think I'll switch back." She grew silent and leaned her forehead against the cool glass. "I miss you, Daddy. I thought it would be easier to be strong for you. It isn't. I didn't realize how much stronger you made me until I had to make it on my own. You've always been there, even when you didn't remember me, and now, I'm not quite sure how to move on. Uncle Steve and the others have been helpful and understanding, but I don't know how long I can hold up under all of this. I won't give up, though. That's not what you would want me to do.

I'll keep going; I'll make you proud of me. I love you, Daddy. Ya podozhdu tebya." With that, she placed a small kiss on the glass and left the room, heading down to the kitchen, where she found Wanda reading a book. (I will wait for you.)
"Good morning, Addie," she said with a smile.
"Morning, Wanda," she answered, snagging an apple from the bowl sitting on the counter and hopping up onto a stool next to her. "What are you reading?"

"Something that Clint suggested. The Secret Garden. It actually quite nice."
"May I read it after you?"
"Of course. Do you know what Steve wants to tell us?" Adelaide shook her head around a mouthful of apple.
"Uncle Scott said to be in the kitchen at eleven. I'm here early."
"I suppose we both are. If you'd like, I could read some of the book to you." Adelaide nodded and crawled over into Wanda's lap, who started to read aloud from where she was. By the time Steve entered the kitchen, they were almost a fourth through the book.

"Well, you two have been busy," he said with a smile.
"Wanda was reading to me," Adelaide answered.
"Was is interesting?" he asked.
"Yes. You should read it, Uncle Steve. You'd like it!"
"I might. Later." One by one, the others filed in until everyone was settled around the kitchen island. "Alright, I have something to tell all of you. The UN has decided that we are allowed safely back into the country. Someone went back over the Sokovia Accords, and they have been renegotiated. We aren't fugitives anymore. We can go home." Various cheers and exclamations were made, but Adelaide remained silent.
"What's wrong, Adds?" Clint asked, noticing her demeanor.

"What about me?" she asked quietly.
"What about you?" Steve asked.
"What will happen to me?"
"You'll come stay with us," Sam said.
"But, Daddy—"
"T'Challa has promised to let you come see him whenever you want, and he will do everything he can to get him back to normal as quickly as possible. They already have several things they think might work. Don't worry, Addie. We'll take care of him, and you," Steve reassured her. Adelaide nodded.
"When do we leave?" Scott asked.

"Two days. T'Challa will provide us with transport back to D.C., and we are guaranteed safe passage to the Avengers' bunker."
"Guess we better get to packing, then," Clint said, shoving off of the island and heading down the hallway.
"Come on, Addie," Wanda said. "I'll help you pack your things." Adelaide slipped off of Wanda's lap and hugged Steve's leg. She hadn't grown much yet, so that was still all she could reach.
"Thank you, Uncle Steve," she said.

"For what?"
"Letting me come with you."
"I wouldn't dream of leaving you behind," he assured her. "Now, go on. Wanda's waiting." Adelaide hurried out after Wanda to go get ready to leave.