Author's Notes: Camsonius: Thank you for the kind review! As far as Steve goes in Endgame I understand why he wanted to go back to Peggy considering he had his life with her stolen from him from being under the ice for 70 years. And as far as the time heist goes I won't spoil anything. Just stay tuned!
2019 arrived and Lila resumed school.
She and Nat continued their routine.
Until one Thursday January afternoon.
After driving Lila back from school she kept her promise for self defense lessons.
She knew Laura and Clint would disagree.
They had raised them in secret to be normal kids.
Even she disagreed with it.
Especially considering how she grew up in the Red Room.
Never being given the choice.
But she was out in the open now and not a normal kid anymore.
Plus, she didn't want her to be hurt by others who thought less of her.
And Lila wasn't innocent anymore.
So after school, the two dressed into sweats and were in the gym.
The boxing ring taking up most of the room but they were on a training mat in the corner.
"Okay, before we begin if I'm too hard on you or if you wanna stop just say so okay?" Nat asked her seriously.
"Okay." she nodded while the two facing each other.
"So the first thing is your stance. You wanna make sure you're firmly on the ground so no one can knock you down…" Nat said while walking up behind her.
The teenager followed her with her eyes while she grabbed her.
"You have to have a low center of gravity so like this…" she repositioned her legs.
"And this…" she raised her arms to a fighting stance.
"Now can you make a fist?" she asked.
Walking back so she was right in front of her.
Lila raised an eyebrow at the simple task but clenched one and swung her arm as if she was going to punch Nat in the face.
"Not bad Lila. But if a bully is going to punch you back you gotta be ready on the defensive. I only want you to be offensive if you absolutely have too…" Nat said, correcting her stance and posture.
Planting her to the ground.
"So you won't be knocked down." she explained.
"Like this?" Lila asked and repeated the punch, planting her feet firmly to the ground.
"Good. So if someone decides to play dirty, it'll be harder to knock you down…"
Winter passed by normally for the two.
Lila sailed through eighth grade easily.
Each day almost seemed to be getting easier.
Nat ran The Avengers.
Or what was left of the organization.
Trying to bring some sense of order to the new world.
It was a cold winter, Nat noticed.
It took until the first week of April for the temperature to warm up and the snow to melt.
It was a Friday afternoon and she was currently wrapping up her work for the week.
She was in her chair in office after picking up Lila from school who she noticed had become more withdrawn the past week.
And sad.
She knew why though.
Her birthday was tomorrow.
Which meant it had been one year since… that day.
The day they lost.
Something that should be a joyous occasion for a child was one of pain and agony for Lila.
Nat noticed her locking herself in her room more.
Not swimming, watching movies in the theater, shooting her bow outside.
Even one day she asked to not have her defense lessons she originally begged for.
Saying she "wasn't in the mood for it"
She wanted to do something for her but what could she do?
Lila's life… and hers was suddenly changed for the worse.
She knew there was only one thing that would make her happy again and she couldn't give it to her..
Lila didn't even get to say goodbye to them.
And neither did she.
But that was that she thought of an idea.
As hard as it would be for Lila she knew it was what had to be done.
Nat got up from her desk and walked over to Lila's room and knocked on the door.
"Lila…" she said, not getting a response.
She sighed but pushed the door open.
Seeing her facing away from her on her bed.
Holding one of the pictures from her end table.
Noticing more pictures of her and Lila mixed with the family photos on the end table.
She slowly walked up behind her to see her staring at a photo of her with Cooper and Nathaniel in a large leaf pile.
Taken the fall before… they disappeared.
Only their heads showing and smiling.
She was holding Nate in her arms.
Nat sat on the bed and grabbed her shoulder comfortingly.
"I know it's been hard for you lately, Lila…" she began slowly.
Noticing her tense up.
"But I think I know what you need. What we both need." she continued.
Lila shifted onto her back, resting her head on the pillow while frowning and looked at her, still holding the picture frame but tilting her head towards her.
"How about we head to the farm for the weekend?" she asked gently.
Seeing the mixed emotions on her face.
"I don't know about you but I've been feeling claustrophobic in the compound lately. Does that sound like a good idea?" she asked with a smile.
Lila brought the picture to her chest and forced herself to nod.
"It does. I wanna go home." she choked out.
Nat reached down and pulled her into a hug.
Letting her sob into her shoulder.
After a few moments, of letting Lila cry, Nat calmed her down.
"How about we begin packing?"
The two packed their bags and food for the weekend and headed for the Quinjet.
Nat piloting it with Lila on the bench in the back.
Her constantly looking back at her, noticing her tapping her foot nervously.
One year.
It had been one year.
Lila felt Nat bank the jet downwards and they descended onto the farm.
It was dark out and Nat got out of her seat.
She got up but Nat put her hand on her shoulder.
"Let me check and make sure the property is secure. It's still off the books but It's been abandoned for a year." she asked.
Lila frowned but nodded.
She sat back down next to her bag and Nat lowered the ramp and brought out her gun.
Lila eyed it while Nat descended and stepped onto the grass.
She slowly walked back to check the barn first.
Pressing the light on the pistol, she slowly checked to see if anything was disturbed or stolen.
She saw no signs of human activity.
Even the tractor was still there.
She walked out and shined her light on the tree where the old target was setup.
Lila's arrow was still in the bullseye.
She frowned but walked up to the porch.
Shining her light back over to see Clint's old truck and Laura's old SUV still in the driveway.
Both cars were dirty with flat tires.
She knew the jet would have easily alerted anyone potentially inside miles away.
She brought out the key and pulled the screen door open.
She unlocked the door and turned on the lights.
She saw the house was exactly the way they left it.
Excluding the thick layer of dust on the furniture, wood floors and cobwebs in the corners and between the tables.
She inspected each room and once she was done with the upstairs, checking each bedroom to not see anything out of place she placed her gun back in the holster on her ankle.
She walked out and grabbed Lila and her bag.
"It's a little dusty but everything is the same." Nat told her.
Lila wasn't sure why but she was nervous.
Nat opened the door and Lila took a deep breath.
Heading inside she saw she was right.
It was almost exactly like she left it one year ago.
Nat silently followed her around the house.
Going through each room.
Seemingly lost in her memories.
"I don't know about you but I'm starving. How about some dinner?"
The next morning, the screen door slamming shut woke Lila up.
She was sleeping in her old bed and the light pouring from the windows shined on her face.
Last night was the best sleep she got in a year.
The two had cleaned up the house after dinner.
Dusting, wiping down every surface, vacuuming and changing the bed sheets.
She got up and looked out her window which showed a view of the side yard to see the sun shining over the farm and smiled.
After getting ready, changing into a pair of jeans and her hoodie walked downstairs.
The smell of bacon though brought her back to the kitchen and a plate of steaming bacon and pancakes greeted her on the table.
Nat pouring herself a cup of coffee and turning around to her..
"Good morning, Lila." she smiled.
"Morning Auntie Nat." she smiled back.
"Milk or OJ?" she asked her.
"OJ." Lila answered.
"OJ it is then for the birthday girl." she walked over to the fridge to grab the carton.
After pouring her glass, Lila sat down and began making her plate.
Nat placing her cup down while she poured syrup on the stack of pancake.
She grabbed her full steaming mug of coffee.
"Happy thirteenth birthday sweetheart." she said, kissing her on the head before sitting down across from her.
"Thank you." she smiled sadly.
Nat frowned but saw the clear as the sky outside through the window above the sink.
"So how about after breakfast we head outside. I think you've been getting sloppy on your target practice." she teased her, trying to cheer her up.
"I have not." Lila argued with her mouth full.
"Only one way to find out."
The two spent the weekend together at the farm and Lila proved to her Aunt that she wasn't "getting sloppy" with her bow.
Still hitting the bullseye every time.
They even set up targets for her trick arrows.
They grilled burgers for dinner and watched the Star Wars prequels at night in the living room.
Now it was Sunday afternoon and Nat was setting up something in the front garden.
It was the main reason why they came here.
To say goodbye.
Lila was packing upstairs and she took a deep breath.
"Lila, can you come out here for a minute?" she asked, speaking loudly.
A moment later she came walking through the screen door.
"Yeah, Auntie Nat?" she asked confused.
She was about to answer but Lila turned her head to see four sets of stone.
Each were identical and lined up horizontally.
She tensed while they approached the front and she saw initials chiseled on each façade of it.
They were initials of her parents and brothers.
These… were graves.
Surrounded by lily's in bloom.
Tears began streaming from her eyes and she choked out a sob.
"You never got to say goodbye, Lila. To our family. I know its hard. I know it's been hard because it's been hard for me too. The hardest its been in my life. So I know its even harder for you. But we need to try and move on." Nat said, trying her hardest to sound convincing.
Failing to hide the emotion in her voice.
Lila's lips were trembling with the tears going down her cheeks but managed to nod.
"I still don't want to reveal your dad's or brother's identities because the farm will be yours when you turn eighteen." Nat revealed.
Lila looked over at her with surprise.
"You're still to young now but for now the farm is under my care." Nat said but Lila hugged her tightly.
She wrapped her arms around her. to hold her.
"Thank you." she said into her shoulder.
"You're all I have left too Lila." she said with tears in her eyes.
Nat sniffed but stepped back as Lila stepped forwards and knelt before the graves.
The sun beginning to set behind her.
Right in front of Clint's and clenched it.
"Hi dad… mom…" she choked out.
"You're probably wondering what even happened to you. If you can. Well, you just vanished. You… Cooper… Nate. Something so random. But it wasn't. You wouldn't even believe it if I told you. It's been a year since then…" she said but had to wipe the tears blinding her and sniffed.
"I'm fourteen now but it's been okay. Auntie Nat has been watching me. I called her afterwards and she came as soon as she could…" she said while looking back at her who smiled at her faintly before she turned her head back.
"She adopted me, actually. So I can stay with her. We've been staying at the compound. It's been hard but Auntie Nat has been trying to make it better. You'd be proud her dad. Mom. I'm sorry Cooper, Nate…." she began but her throat became dry, unable to finish the sentence.
"Auntie Nat said I needed this and she is right. I'm going to be okay you guys. I'm going to be okay…" she forced herself to repeat multiple times.
"I'll never move on but I'll be okay…"
Nat heard her repeating "I'll be okay…" and walked up to her.
Kneeling down behind her, she grabbed her shoulders and slowly helped her up.
Lila got up without resistance and cried into Nat's shoulder while she was slowly rocked back and forth in her arms.
She eventually calmed down but walked back to the graves.
"I'll never stop loving you. I'll always be your daughter and sister. I love you." she said but turned and walked back to Nat
"Thank you." she said quietly and Nat smiled sadly.
"It's the least I can do."
"You've done more than that Auntie Nat." she reassured her.
Nat smiled but looked over to the graves.
"I suppose it's my turn to say goodbye…" Lila watched her walk up to them and clench her hand around Clint's.
She could tell she was whispering something.
Staying behind while she moved over to her mom's, then Cooper's and finally Nathaniel's.
She watched Nat force herself upwards and wipe away tears out of both of her eyes while walking back to her.
Lila embraced her tightly and the two held each other in their grief.
The only sound that could be heard was a few birds chirping in the distance but they pulled away from each other.
Nat looking back to the expansive property.
"Well, I guess we better head back."
