Family | Steve Rogers

1

Natasha rides her bike down the quiet street with her younger sister clinging onto her from the back.

Giggles fill the air as they go up the driveway and into the backyard where the youngest sister is playing on the swingset.

Lauren and Natasha whistle, first note low then holding the higher one. Yelena whistles back as she goes into a backbend. The other two sisters get down on the ground into a backbend as well.

" We're all upside down," Yelena says.

" And I bet you're gonna fall down first," Natasha says.

" No, Lolo will," Yelena says.

" Hey!" Lauren giggles.

Natasha falls first, and then the girls chase each other around the backyard. Yelena trips and hurts her knee. Natasha comforts her injured sister as Lauren runs to get her mother. Melina picks up Lauren and walks over to Yelena.

" What happened?" She asks.

" She fell on her knee," Natasha says.

" Oh, you bumped your knee?" Melina asks.

Yelena nods. Natasha climbs up the playhouse. Lauren sees as mimics her actions as Melina kisses the bruised knee.

" Kiss it better. It's okay. Get up. You're okay," Melina says as she holds Yelena's hand, " You're a brave girl. The pain only makes you stronger."

Natasha and Lauren swing on the swingset in sync. Yelena notices the fireflies and calls them forest stars.

" Yeah, you know what? Those are actually part of the Lampyridae family. And the glow that you see, that comes from a chemical reaction called bio luminescence," Melina says as the girls stare up at the bugs, " Come on, time for dinner." 

Natasha and Yelena go inside, but Lauren doesn't. She keeps watching the fireflies. She loves the way they glow and how gracefully they fly. She tilts her head as she sees one of the fireflies struggling to fly and it's glow flickering. She gently cups the bug in her hands and closes her eyes. Her hands glow the same golden color as the fireflies, and then the bug flies out of her hands glowing an incredibly bright gold. She smiles as she watches it dance with the others.

"Lauryna."

Her mother's voice makes her gasp and turn around.

" Did you take your pill this morning?"

She shakes her head no. Melina sighs and takes out an orange pill bottle from her pocket. She opens it and hands Lauren a single red pill. She takes it, and swallows it.

Her head gets heavy and clouded. Melina takes her inside to get ready for dinner. Melina and the girls set the table, waiting for their father to come home.

Alexi walks in the door, and Lauren is the first one to notice. She runs into his arms and holds onto his tightly. She rests her head on his shoulder and finds herself unable to lift it.

" Did you take your pill?" He asks.

She nods. He sighs and gently sets her down on the couch.

He draws a blanket over her and then walks over to say hi to the rest of his girls.

Melina, Yelena and Natasha all sit at the table and eat their dinner. Yelena grabs her plate, stands up and then walks over to the couch. She picks up a piece of broccoli with her fork and feeds it to her older sister. Neither of them hear the conversation between their parents.

" Girls... you remember when I told you that one day we would have that big adventure? Well, today's the day."

With that, Lauren opens her eyes.