A Soldier's Life

Chapter 8 - Visit to Set

Y/n's POV:

It's Thursday morning, the day we're visiting the Avengers set. Whilst I'm bricking it, Ava is bouncing of the walls with complete excitement. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to get a behind the scenes look at my favourite movie franchise. I love Marvel. But my brain is overwhelmed with the thoughts of seeing Scarlett again and it's making me nervous. I'm in the Military for Christ's sake, how can I work a problem which includes guns and bombs, yet a woman is reducing me to a complete mental mess?

I'm brought out of my thoughts by my daughter. "Will you braid my hair Mummy?" I nod knowing she wants to look like Natasha Romanoff. I sit on the floor pulling Ava into my lap and carefully start braiding her hair. I've always been terrible at doing my own hair. Growing up in foster care, I was never taught how to do it. When I was pregnant with Ava, I promised myself I would learn so I could do her hair how she likes it and then when she was old enough, I could teach her.

Once I've braided her hair, I pull her into a hug and plant lots of kisses making her giggle. That is my favourite sound. After my kiss attack is over, she stands up and straightens her own clothes then looks at me and gasps. "Mummy, you're not dwessed yet". Turning around I see Ava looking at me, arms crossed and a frown on her face. She's dressed in her Natasha Romanoff shirt, which she insisted on wearing, and a pair of cute shorts.

"Yes, right, clothes. I'm on it." I respond rushing into my bedroom. As a Brit who's used to grey skies and colder weather, I am struggling with the heat of LA. Rummaging through my closest I'm trying to find something that can keep me cool but also look nice. I decide to keep it causal and wear a pair of jean shorts, a white t-shirt, and a pair of Vans. I quickly throw my hair up into a ponytail before I face the wrath of my impatient daughter.

"Ok bug, I'm ready. I just need to grab the bag and we'll hit the road." I have everything we need out on the kitchen counter and finish filling my backpack with the necessities for the day. I grab my sunglasses and keys from the table by the door before taking Ava's hand to lead her out to the car. As we're walking down to the car, I text Chris to let him know we're leaving so he knows when we'll be arriving.

It's a struggle to get Ava plugged in her car seat with all the excited wiggling going on. "Is someone a little excited this morning?" I ask giving her a little tickle once she's buckled in. "I can't wait! I'm going to get to meet Black Widow again." She has the biggest smile on her face, and it warms my heart to see her so happy. I jump in the driver's side and tap in the location on the satnav. "Ok bug, lets go!" I exclaim, getting a little bit excited myself.

It's about a 30-minute drive to set and every time I glance in the rear-view mirror, I'm sure Ava's smile grows. But then I notice her start to suddenly frown. "What's up bug?" I ask concerned something's wrong. "Why do we call Black Widow Scarlett and Wanda Lizzie?" She asked. That makes sense. I hadn't really explained the whole the superheroes aren't real thing yet. I didn't want to upset her. I thought for a minute about how best to explain it.

"Well, you see, they are only superheroes in the movies. When they're not in the movies, they're normal people who go by different names." I try to explain without outwardly saying that all the superheroes she adores don't exactly exist! Her face scrunches up in thought for a moment, worrying me that I've said the wrong thing. "So, they are kind of like secret identities?" I let out a small sigh in relief, yeah let's go with that, I think. "That's right bug." She seems content and resumes her grinning and wiggling in the seat.

We arrive at the main gate of the studio and are shown in by the guard and directed to the appropriate car park. As I'm pulling in, I can see the big frame of Chris Evans waiting for us. As he notices our car he starts waving. "Mummy, look it's Chris!" She says full of excitement. I park up and go around to Ava's door to let her out and as soon as the belt is undone, she shoots out the car and runs around to the other side.