AN: First of all, thank you for reading, guys. I'd like to ask you to keep reviewing, please! Getting reviews is very inspiring :)

Anyway, this is something I've been thinking about since I started writing this fic… I really hope you like it. It's going to be divided in two parts, because it got bigger than I expected. I hope you like how it turns out (even though it is actually pretty predictable LOL).

Why Can't I? (Part I) –

It was seven pm and Annie was still at Langley. Auggie and Zarya were at home; while she read something in her bedroom, her father was listening to the news.

He heard her footsteps in his direction and turned his head towards her, turning down the volume.

"Dad? Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, Z. What's up?" He moved to the side of the couch so that she'd fit next to him.

"Well, since mom's not here, I figured I'd talk to you about something that's been eating me…"

"What's wrong?" He started to worry, but tried not to show, so that he wouldn't inhibit her.

"Well, I've been thinking about it for a while now… And since I'm finishing high school in two months, I think it's the right time to talk to you about it…" She took a deep breath and her father didn't say anything, he just raised his eyebrows and bit his lower lip. "I think I wanna join the CIA."

He exhaled, letting all the tension he was holding up go away. "That's it?! You almost gave me a heart attack! I thought you were going to tell me you were pregnant or something like that…"

"What? Jeez! No! Dad! Eww!"

"Ok, ok, ok! Let's stop with the monosyllables now!" He laughed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, it's just… You never know, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Anyway... About the CIA…"

"Oh, about that… Well, your mom is not here now, but we'll have to talk to her about it."

"Dad, you'll help on this one, right?" She held his arm, trying to intimidate him. "You know what mom thinks about that. She'll never let me if you don't help."

"Hey! What makes you think I agree with you?" He smirked.

"Dad. Please. I'm giving you an eye roll right now. You always brag about what a great agent I'd be."

"Alright. I do think you'd make a great operative. No doubt on that. It's just… It's dangerous, really dangerous. And I kind of agree with your mom that it's too risky to put you there."

"But?..."

"No 'but' yet. That's it. I'll talk to your mom and then we'll decide if we'll let you do it."

"Ugh! For someone who started the conversation with a 'that's it?' you seem to think it's a pretty big deal."

"Because it is, Z! You have no idea! Have we ever told you about Jai Wilcox?"

"No." She nodded. "I've heard you and mom saying something about him once or twice, though."

"Well, he worked with us. One day he and you mother were having some coffee in a diner and when he left, his car exploded. Just like that. Don't you think we'd worry about you?"

She didn't say anything. She was processing the information.

"Alright. How many times has something like that happened?" She finally reasoned it wasn't really common to have cars exploding or anything like that.

"Not many." He had to agree. "But you put your life at risk every time you're out in the field. It could happen."

"Ok, dad. I see your point. But still, you and mom do it, why can't I?"

"I know it's not logical, but you have to understand, Z. You are our daughter. The last thing we want is something bad happening to you because we didn't intervene."

"Well, you are my parents. Don't you think I worry too? Especially because I have no idea what you do there. But I haven't asked any of you to stop it, have I? Because I know you love it."

"Hm. I guess you're right. Also, if I had asked my parents, they wouldn't have let me either. And your aunt Danielle is certainly not a fan of our work." He laughed. "But we are still talking to your mother to see what she thinks."

"Ok…" She hugged him. "Thank you dad."

"Hey. We didn't say 'yes' yet."

She went back to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Even though she tried to control it, Auggie did hear a giggle from there. He smiled.

…

Annie got home to find her daughter asleep in her bedroom and her husband asleep on the couch. Television on. She turned it off and woke him up gently, so that she wouldn't startle him.

"Augs?" She whispered, touching him gently.

"What time is it?" He stretched his neck and his shoulders.

"Way past midnight. Come on." She kissed the tip of his nose as he stood up, following her to their bedroom.

He stood there while she took her clothes off and dropped them on the bathroom floor, ready to take a hot shower and relax from the exhausting hours at Langley. Auggie started to talk, heading to the bathroom.

"Hey, there's something Zarya and I wanted to talk to you about, but if you prefer, it can wait until morning." He said from the door.

"What is it?" Annie answered from the shower.

"Well, she wants to join the CIA." He bit his lip and closed his eyes tight, already expecting for Annie's protest.

"Hell no! We've discussed it before, Auggie. No way she's going to do it." Annie's tone was a little harsh.

"Annie, we have to agree she'd be better than both of us ever were. She has the skills."

"Jesus, August! Do you think I'll just let her there, exposed to all that chaos and all the possibilities of getting hurt? Or even worse?"

"Annie, you used to be exposed to that on a daily basis and I don't think if your mother asked you to stop you would."

"Well, I'm not my mother and Zarya is not me."

"I'm just saying she's already 18. She's smart. She knows the risks to this profession way better than any of us did when we joined. My point is: she is already able to decide it for herself, and I think she already did, actually."

"Ok. Think about how you feel every time I'm in the field. Remember that I'm your wife. Now imagine it's your daughter there. How would you feel?"

"I know that. I'm not saying it will be easy for us. But she's old and mature enough to make her own decisions. It's not fair that we stop her, we're not that kind of parents."

Annie turned off the shower and wrapped herself in a towel. She stood in front of Auggie.

"Alright. I won't be that dictatorial mother. But I'm not saying 'yes' either. I'll think it through and then we'll figure it out."

"Ok." He kissed her forehead. "But be open about it. She'd be great, Annie, and you know that."

To be continued…