The Widows Daughter

Part eighty-one

(Chloe's POV)

I walked off the jet ramp and was immediately attacked by a bundle of hair and limbs trying to cling to me. "Your back!!" Lila screamed in my ear happily.

"I'm deaf too apparently," I said dramatically.

"Sorry. I'm just really glad your back." She smiled shyly before hugging me again.

"It's fine. I missed you. Alright, let's see." I pulled back and measured her against me. "Aw jeez. You gotta stop growing. Seriously, I give it like two years before you outgrow me."

She laughed at me before going to find Mom who was still in the jet. "So I'm assuming that you don't want to see me then?" I grinned seeing Cooper, who was now a good three inches taller than me.

Even though I've grown.

"Oh, yeah no. You need to stay far, far away from me Mr. Giant man." I joked before throwing my arms around his neck. "Missed you."

"Really?" He questioned pulling away.

"Yes. You and your freakishly tall body and ridiculous haircut. Honestly, who cut your hair?" I smiled smugly while running a hand through his hair.

It wasn't bad, just messy.

"Uh, my mom?"

"Well just don't let me do it," I told him and he laughed pulling me back into a hug.

Seriously, if I ever cut someone's hair, it'll be butchered.

"I missed you too." He said before letting go.

"Me next!" I smiled at Nate as he tugged at the bottom of my shirt.

"Of course Mr. Natester! How could I forget about you?!" I picked him up and he wrapped his arms around my neck. "Do I get a kiss?"

Nate placed a kiss on my cheek with a laugh, and I laughed along with him.

His laugh was just too cute.

"Now, can you get your brother to give me one of those?" I asked jokingly but Cooper grabbed the side of my face that Nate kissed, then kissed the other side.

I gawked at him and he smiled innocently. "Nate, I'm gonna have to kill your brother," I told the little boy and he giggled.

"No! Run Cooper!" Nate yelled as he squeezed my neck tightly. "Run! I'll stop her!"

"Alright, Mammas turn. Let go." Laura smiled as she walked over. Nate jumped out of my arms and ran off to 'protect' Cooper. "Hi, sweetie."

"Hi, Laura." I hugged her. "They are rambunctious as ever."

She chuckled slightly. "Well, I think one of them was more excited to see you than the others." I looked behind me at her three kids who were talking with Mom.

"I honestly, would not be able to tell who," I said under my breath and she laughed.

Stupid super mother-hearing.

"Hey, kiddo." I smiled up at Clint.

"Hello, old man. You seem to be going a little gray." I lied and he mocked offense.

"That's rude. Whatever happened to 'hello, how are you?'"

"It died out with your generation," I smirked. Laura did her best to hide her laughter but was failing.

Clint looked like he was hit with a frying pan. "Nat, I'm going to kill your daughter!" He yelled and I could hear Nate yell 'no daddy'.

"Go ahead! I'm sure she deserves it!" She called back with a smile on her face.

What?!

"Wha–Mom?!?!" I yelled at her but she kept smiling.

Clint pulled my head towards him then messed up my hair before going to see Mom. "So how long are you staying?" Laura asked once he was out of earshot.

"How long can I stay before I outstay my welcome? About that long." I told her. I tried the hide the sadness in my voice but I knew she could hear it.

"What's going on? Did something happen?" She looked at me cautiously.

"Nothing you probably won't hear about later," I told her but when she gave me a look that said to explain, I said, "It's just Avenger stuff. Nothing I can't deal with." Eventually, she nodded and we slowly walked back to the jet.

I seem to have moved rather far from it somehow. Strange...

"I heard you were in therapy. How's that going?" Laura asked softly.

"Good. It's good for me to talk about stuff with someone. It helps." I replied while a ghost of a smile crossed my lips. "It's just hard to talk about it all sometimes. Something's are just better kept secret and in the dark, I think."

"Sometimes. But not always." She hummed softly.

"Okay." Mom stopped in front of me. "You have everything?"

"Yep."

"Alright. Let me know if you need anything. Just call me." She smiled sadly and hugged me. "You sure you won't reconsider? You could come with me."

"I'm sure, Mom. I love being an Avenger, I really do, but I'm not going to sign away my freedom." I told her.

She was quiet for a moment but nodded. "I know. And I don't blame you." She cupped my cheeks and smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too. Be safe." I smiled back. Nodding, she said goodbye to everyone then climbed back onboard the jet. I waved one last time before the ramp closed and she left.

I stood there sadly for a minute but was shocked back to reality when Lila jumped on my back. "Onward my fair and noble steed." She commanded making me laugh.

"Where to, your majesty?" I asked grinning and she pointed towards the house. "Right away my liege."

With Nate following us, begging to have a turn, I walked inside the house with the Barton's.

Yeah, I was gonna miss the compound, but this was a home.

Did I wish I could sign? Yeah. I didn't want to stop being an Avenger, but I would if it meant I had to give up something valuable to be. My freedom meant more to me than anything. And I wasn't going to give it away because some book said I had to. No.

If they said that to be a hero I had to be a puppet, then screw them. If it's a pair of tights or a choice to choose, I pick choosing any day.

Now I just have to learn how to be a normal teenager. That's gonna go well.

Yay, I updated! Good for me! I literally had no inspiration for this chapter, so I was just kinda writing whatever. Sorry if I sucked.

Anywho...whos ready to see some domesticated Chloe? Also, stuff's bout to go down pretty soon. So.....yeah.

Let me know your thoughts. Bye!