„Iiihhhh! Clint!" Avy exclaimed.

He turned around from the window, searching for the threat that scared his little sister. But there was nobody. Nothing. Only... only a little spider on her book. He chuckled.

„It's only a little spider, even poisonous. No need to panick!"

„Take it away, Clint, take it away!"

„How did it even get here? This plane doesn't look like the place I would expect spiders..."

„Clint! I don't care how it got here! Take it away!"

He laughed, but obeyed.

„How come you panick that much? You've never been afraid of spiders." He asked.

„I... well... Okay. This is embarrassing, and I only tell you if you promise me not to laugh." She looked at him sternly.

„Promise."

„Real promise?" He smiled. It was an old game between them. You only had to hold onto a promise if you said 'diamond promise'. It had been part of the 'secret language' they created in the lonely hours they spend in his first nest, the one in the woods, where only Avy, Will and he himself had been allowed.

„Diamond promise."

„I was twelve, and in a summer camp. There was this boy, Reddie Ron as he was called, he was making fun of everyone and well... one night I and a few friends were his targets. He sneaked into our cabin and well, I woke up later. With a big fat spider on my face. It was really scary..."

Clint bit his lip not to laugh. The story was really funny, but he diamond promised it to her, so he tried to keep a straight face.

„So this Reddie Ron..."

„Oh, we took care of him. He had also put spiders in the beds of the other girls and well, we made him pay." She smiled evilly.

„Now you've got me. What did you do?"

„Oh, well, we just made sure he lived up to his nickname..."

He tilted his head to the side, looking at her questioningly.

„We sneaked into his cabin and exchanged the shampoo with red colour. You should have seen him fuming."

Now Clint was laughing. But Avy laughed with him, so he figured it was safe.

„And you? No embarrassing childhood stories I should know?"

„No."

„No? Why don't I believe you?"

„At least not now." He tried to get out.

She chuckled. „The business trip is planned to be a week long. Bet I know all the dirty secrets by the end of the week?"

„I'm not betting with you. Remember the dress incident?"

„I liked you in my dress." She laughed.

He stuck out his tongue what only made her laugh harder.

„We're such children." She said.

„We're adults often enough. The last time I saw you we both were children. I think we're allowed to be childish."

Two hours later Clint saw his sister getting more and more tired. They had talked the whole time, joked around, and now she looked like she was falling asleep sitting.

„You should sleep." He said.

„Always the overprotective big brother, hm?" She smiled.

„Everything for my little sister."

She attempted to stand up, but following an impulse he was there faster, lifting her into his arms. She shrieked, but laughed.

„What are you doing, Clint?"

„You've got a bed in here?" He asked.

„Just over there, there's one for you, too."

He carried her into the direction she had pointed and layed her down on a suprisingly big bed. She shut her eyes and he smiled. She looked so relaxed, so young.

„You should sleep, too. Come here." She patted on the bed, next to herself.

He smiled and layed down. As childs they had often slept in the same bed, to know the other was there to protect them from Barney sr. and to chase away the nightmares had always been a good feeling. Before sleep claimed him, too, he whispered:

„Sweet dreams, little sister."

„Sweet dreams, big brother." Came her replie. Just like always.

AN: Sorry it's been so long, I've been kind of busy... anyway, tell me what you think!