Chapter 77

AN: Second update, as over the next few days I go from working afternoons to working nights, so while the next chapter will be in 12 hours, the chapter after that will be over 24 hours later.


A week has passed since it was decided that Melinda and Natasha would move to Lebanon Pennsylvania with their girls and ever since, with the help of their family, they have been doing everything they can to get ready to move as it is important to them that they are well settled in before the girls have to start school, in fact it would be ideal for them to be settled in by Bobbi's fourteenth birthday which takes place in late August.

It is the night before the move is going to happen and Melinda, Natasha and Tony are, for the last time, sitting in the courtyard attached to the office sharing a bottle of scotch.

"So, are you thinking office, back porch or patio, for our new scotch spot?" Tony asks curious, feeling that is very important for them to have a dedicated space for the three of them to just sit together, enjoying each other's company, usually with scotch.

"I think it will depend on the weather and what's going on," Melinda admits, though she can admit that it is going to be nice to have multiple choices.

"Yeah, I don't fancy sitting out on the patio in the snow," Natasha comments.

"Aren't you meant to be Russian?" Tony asks, an amused look on his face, thinking it's pretty ironic that Natasha is bothered by the cold.

"Not anymore," Natasha says, smiling slightly.

"Touche," Tony says, raising his glass and toasting it to Natasha.

"So, how's Mary?" Natasha asks with a smirk, and Melinda has to take a drink to hide the laugh that is caused from the amusement she is feeling from Natasha.

"She's good," Tony answers, smirking as he realises exactly what Natahsa is doing, but he doesn't mind. "She's completely taken control of our project, I swear by the time I get back to LA she is probably going to be finished," Tony admits.

"If you need to go back to LA, it's okay, we understand," Melinda tells Tony, not wanting to prevent him from doing something he clearly wants to do.

"No way," Tony answers, as there is no way he is going to leave. "I want to be here, need to be here, Mary understands," Tony explains, feeling that it is important to mention the last part.

"Good," Melinda admits, and she can feel that Natahsa is glad he said that, and she knows she would be if she could, but she also knows that they both would have understood if Tony were to say he needed to go back to LA.

"So, you've obsessively been talking about this project for months, what exactly are you creating?" Natasha asks curious.

Hearing the question Tony grins and proceeds to explain. Even though Melinda and Natasha don't understand a lot of what he is saying they both listen intensely as they can tell how passionate Tony is, and they realise how important it is to him, and because of that they ask questions in hopes of understanding a little more something which is clearly so important to Tony.


Extremely early the next morning, even though they didn't get much sleep as they ended up talking until the early hours of the morning, Melinda, Natasha and Tony are in the living area of the safehouse; while Natasha and Tony are making breakfast Melinda is finishing packing. As Melinda packs and Natasha and Tony cook Gordon, Kora, Jiaying, Rhodey, Coulson, Clint, Laura, Peggy, Maria, Harrison, Angelica, Sharon and Antoine arrive to help while Hope, Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena arrive in the living area from upstairs.

"May, can I help?" Coulson asks, walking over to her.

"No, I'm almost done," Melinda answers.

"When are we leaving?" Yelena asks curious, looking between her mothers.

"As soon as we have breakfast," Natasha explains.

"Mom, Mama, we can help we don't have to go to the house with Uncle G early," Bobbi says as she, her sisters, Sharon and Antoine are going to be taken to the house with Gordon while the others move everything.

"Bobbi, I appreciate that you want to help, but going with Uncle G with your sisters and cousins is the best way for you to help," Melinda says to her daughter, not at all surprised that Bobbi wants to do more to help.

"Okay, but when everything and everyone gets to the house, I can carry a lot," Bobbi says with a grin.

"We know Sweetheart," Natasha says to her daughter and the group proceed to have an enjoyable breakfast together, it being perfectly clear that Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena are glad that they won't be living at the Safehouse any longer, something which considering everything isn't overly surprising.


A couple of hours after breakfast Bobbi, Daisy, Yelena, Sharon and Antoine have been teleported to the Lebanon house, and while Gordon is 'watching' them the six kids are playing in the pool together.

"It is so cool we have a pool," Yelena says as she jumps off the edge of the pool and into the water.

"It really is," Daisy says amazed. "I'm gonna become the best at swimming!" Daisy exclaims, as while she is already pretty good, she wants to get better.

"I'm sure you will," Antoine says, amused though he also doesn't doubt that once Daisy sets her mind to it there's nothing she can't do, and while Daisy swims over to him, so that he can pick her up and throw her into the pool, Sharon swims over to Gordon who is watching them carefully, prepared to intervene if one of the kids need him.

"Uncle Gordon, what are we doing for lunch?" Sharon asks curious, as she knows that as the rest of their family are still travelling there isn't much set up in the kitchen, so she isn't overly sure what they are going to be able to eat.

"I'm going to go get us take away, which means you, Antoine and Bobbi will need to look after Daisy and Yelena while I'm gone," Gordon says, only feeling okay with going, and leaving the kids alone, because he knows that he won't be gone long, and the house is secured, though he can't help but flash back to some of the things that happened to Melinda and Tony when they were left alone as children even though he is desperately trying not to think about it.

"We can do that," Sharon assures her uncle before swimming back over to her cousins and together they all have fun together, Gordon realises that the kids are more relaxed than he's 'seen' them in months.


A couple of hours after they were swimming in the pool together Antoine, Sharon, Bobbi, Yelena, Daisy and Gordon are standing out the front of the house waiting when several cars, and two large moving trucks, being driven by Clint and Harrison, pulls into the driveway and drive up to them, stopping when they are all on large paved area.

A couple of minutes after the vehicles arrived everyone has gotten out of the various vehicles and are looking at Melinda and Natasha for instructions.

"Everything is labelled, but if you're not sure where something goes as me, or Lin, or Tony, or Bobbi, Daisy, Yelena or Hope," Natasha says as the seven of them have done a lot of planning over the last week and have visited the house a couple of times to do more practical planning.

"Any weapons just put in the office. Natalia and I will be figuring out how to distribute them throughout the house later," Melinda says, knowing that while they house is as safe as they have been able to make it they can't risk not having weapons hidden throughout the house just in case.

"Got it," Coulson says, and once he does the group get started on unloading everything. Thanks to Bobbi's gift she insists on carrying a lot while Daisy and Yelena do what they can to help, which mainly involves showing the others where everything goes, something which turns out is extremely helpful as with the exceptions of Melinda, Natasha, Tony, Bobbi, Hope, and Peggy no one is overly familiar with the house so aren't overly sure where they are going which means Daisy and Yelena's help makes everything more efficient as it means no one needs to keep asking where to go.


For the rest of the day, and well into early evening, the group work together to get everything out of the vehicles and into the house and do some unpacking and setting up of things that they need to use in the next twelve to twenty-four hours. Having finished working for the night the entire family are in the kitchen/dinning are as everyone, being led by Tony and Natasha who were excited about using the kitchen for the first time, have made dinner of homemade pizza and a lot of sides together.

Even though the table is huge, big enough to fit thirty people, going from the front of the house to the back, something which is possible because Tony realised a wall was purposely not placed causing weight baring walls to be in places that they usually wouldn't, most of it is covered in the various food that has made as well as multiple different drink options.

"All this looks amazing," Maria comments, as she looks over the table, still being surprised, after years, about just how much food the family makes when they eat together.

"It should taste amazing too," Tony admits. "Like I've said, Aunt Lian definitely knew what she was doing when she designed the kitchen," Tony comments, as what became perfectly clear as they cooked dinner was that the kitchen is perfect for the unique requirements needed for cooking for their entire family.

"Really did," Natasha confirms, feeling extremely grateful for Lian's design choices, as she exchanges looks with Melinda who she is sitting across from.

"Thank you all for being here, helping us, and understanding why Natalia and I decided this move was necessary," Melinda say, looking around at the various members of her family as she speaks.

"You don't have to thank us, Mellie, we're always here to help," Jiaying says.

"And you made the choice you thought was best, that's all any of us can ever do," Peggy says.

"Thanks Aunt Peggy," Melinda says, and the family proceed to have an enjoyable dinner together for the first time in the house Lian built for them.


A couple of hours after the family sat down for dinner Peggy, Jiaying, Harrison, Angelica, Antoine and Sharon have left as both Harrison and Angelica had to get back to DC, Jiaying had to go back to Afterlife and Peggy went to keep her company, though the two of them will be back in the morning to help with unpacking and setting things up. Out of those who are still at the house Tony, Rhodey, Coulson, Clint, Laura, Hope, Maria, Gordon and Kora are sitting around Melinda and Natasha's office while Melinda and Natasha, who will re-join them soon, are walking upstairs to check on their girls, wanting to check on each of them together because it's their first night in their new home

Getting to the top of the stairs Melinda and Natasha head to the room directly across from the stairs, which is now Daisy's bedroom. Getting to the door Melinda reaches out and knocks.

"Come in," Daisy's voice responds, and Melinda and Natasha walk into the room, walking past the doors that lead into both the bathroom and walk in robe, and into the main room where Daisy is lying in her bed which is the only thing set up against the side wall across from the door.

"Hey Daisy, have you brushed your teeth?" Natasha asks her daughter as she and Melinda walk over to her.

"Yep," Daisy confirms, smiling at her mothers with her teeth perfectly clear.

"Good, how do you feel about your new room?" Melinda asks her daughter, wanting to make sure she is oaky.

"I love it," Daisy says amazed. "It's so big, and I was talking to Uncle Coulson about what I want in here, and he has some good ideas," Daisy explains, feeling excited about all the possibilities.

"Oh? Like what?" Natasha asks curious, and Daisy happily explains all the ideas she has, ideas that she has discussed with Coulson.


For about ten minutes Melinda and Natasha stay with Daisy and listen to her excitedly talk about her plans for her room, before tucking her in and assuring her they are downstairs if she needs. After leaving Daisy's room Melinda and Natasha head down the corridor to the corner room that is now Yelena's.

Just like they did with Daisy's room when Melinda and Natasha get to Yelena's room they knock and don't enter until they hear Yelena's okay. As they walk into Yelena's room, due to it being the corner, there is a small, almost corridor, where the bathroom, walk in robe, and a second built in cupboard are off and then to the right, through an arch, is the main area of the bedroom. Walking into the main area of the room, like in Daisy's, the only thing set up is the bed where Yelena is lying and reading.

"Hi Mom, Hi Mama," Yelena greats, and Melinda can feel how relaxed she is, how happy she is, looking up from her book.

"Hi Sweetheart, how are you doing? Do you like your new room?" Natasha asks as she and Melinda walk over to her, as Yelena puts her bookmark in her book and closes it.

"I love it!" Yelena exclaims, looking thrilled. "I have so much storage space for all my gymnastic supplies, and I have my own bathroom!" Yelena says, clearly excited about that, but also excited that due to the size of the whole house she has plenty of places where she can practice gymnastics.

"Well, you know that one thing about having your own bathroom is that you have the responsibility of keeping it tidy, and clean up after yourself," Melinda says to Yelena, knowing that she is too young to 'properly' clean the bathroom, but that she can at least tidy up after herself.

"I know," Yelena says. "I promise I will keep it clean," Yelena says, clearly determined to do that, and as she says that Melinda realises something she is curious about.

"Lena? Is there something you want to ask us?" Melinda asks her daughter.

"Can we get some monkey bars out the back so I can practice gymnastics?" Yelena asks curious, causing her mothers to exchange looks, and Natasha to feel a little conflicted due to her own history, so from the look Melinda is giving her Natasha knows that Melinda is letting it be her decision and that whatever she decides Melinda will support.

"I think we can do that; we can maybe talk to Uncle Tony and see what materials he would recommend as the best to use for your purpose," Natasha says, knowing that if they are going to do this then they are going to do it the right way, and while he can sometimes go overboard Tony is the best option to make sure they do it the right way.

"That would be great," Yelena says amazed.

"But Lena, once we get monkey bars you have to be responsible how you use them, that means no practicing unless Me, Mama, Uncle Tony or another adult member of the family are watching," Natasha tells Yelena, knowing how fearless she can be and because of that she wouldn't put it pass Yelena to try tricks that are incredibly dangerous because she believes she can do it.

"Okay," Yelena says with a nod. "Does Hope count as an adult?" Yelena asks curious, feeling that if Hope was supervising her then she could do some really cool things.

"She does, but Antoine doesn't," Melinda says, as while Antoine is incredibly responsible, he has the same fearless streak as Yelena and so would be more likely to join her in doing dangerous tricks with her rather than advise her not to do them.

"Okay, I understand," Yelena confirms.

"Good, we love that you are so passionate about your gymnastics, but we want you to be safe," Natasha tells her, wanting to make that clear as she wants Yelena to keep her passion, but she also doesn't want her to be hurt.

"I know, I understand Mama," Yelena says, and she leans forward. "I love you," Yelena says as she hugs her mother.

"I love you too," Natasha says and when they break apart Yelena hugs Melinda.


A few minutes after they talked to Yelena about getting monkey bars built for her Melinda and Natasha, having told Yelena she can read two more chapters before she has to head to bed, are leaving her room.

After leaving Yelena's room Melinda and Natasha head to Bobbi's room, and just like they did with Daisy and Yelena's rooms they knock and wait for permission before entering. Walking into Bobbi's room, unlike her sisters, they walk straight into the 'main' area of the room as the entrance to the ensuite bathroom and walk in closet are to the left of the door once inside the room. Just like her sisters the only thing Bobbi has set up in her room is her bed which she is lying in playing her Gameboy colour.

"Bobbi, you know the rules about video games at night," Melinda says to her daughter when she sees what she is doing.

"I know, I'm just getting to the point where I can save then I'll turn it off, promise," Bobbi assures her mother, not looking away from her game as she is so close to a save point.

"We'll hold you to that," Natasha tells her.

"I know," Bobbi responds, not doubting that for a moment.

"Bobbi, we know you understand more about the move, and everything that's going on than your sisters, so we wanted to check in with you about how you're feeling about everything," Melinda says to her oldest daughter, as she knows it's important to keep checking in with all their girls, but Bobbi especially as she understands more about what is going on.

"I'm okay," Bobbi admits. "I think I'm going to like it here," Bobbi admits, as honestly, she really likes not being cooped up in a small safehouse anymore. "I read the materials on the school we're going to be going to, it looks like they have some interesting science programs," Bobbi admits, feeling interested in seeing what that is going to be like. "And I know we're going to be busy with the move, but Lebanon has a really great library, and I was wondering if we could go have a look," Bobbi admits, feeling nervous as she asks as she knows they are going to be busy.

"Tomorrow we've got to do a lot of unpacking and arranging things, but we were already thinking that the day after tomorrow we'd go into town, we can add going to the library to the things we do," Natasha suggests.

"That would be great," Bobbi says, sounding glad, and despite the fact that she sounds glad Melinda realises she is feeling something very different.

"Bobbi?" Melinda asks her daughter, gently encouraging her to speak.

"I know it's always a possibility, but I hope we don't have to move from here," Bobbi admits, voicing what she is afraid off.

"We hope so too," Natasha assures her, and the three of them drift into silence, Melinda and Natasha waiting until Bobbi has finished her game so they can talk a little more.


About twenty minutes after Melinda and Natasha talked with Bobbi about going to the Lebanon Library in a couple of days the two of them walk into the office where they find Rhodey, Tony, Coulson, Clint, Larua, Hope, Maria, Gordon and Kora all sitting around, some of whom are sitting on the floor due to the lack of furniture.

"How are the girls?" Tony asks as Melinda and Natasha walk into the room.

"They're doing good, considering," Melinda answers.

"Good," Tony says, sounding glad about that.

"We may have volunteered you to make some monkey bars for Yelena," Natasha says as she and Melinda sit down on the floor, feeling it is important to mention that.

"Of course," Tony says amused. "I'm sure I can figure something out," Tony says, already getting some ideas.

"Thanks Tony, she's going to be thrilled," Melinda says, Tony looks glad, knowing he is always going to have to do whatever he can to help the girls, and the group drift into a comfortable silence as they pass around a bottle of scotch, a bottle that's origin is unknown to both Melinda and Natasha.