𝐵𝐿𝐴𝐶𝐾 𝑊𝐼𝐷𝑂𝑊

𝐺𝑂𝐷𝐿𝑌 𝐻𝐸𝐿𝑃

MANY WOULD SAY THAT FAMILY IS SACRED — THAT IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD. However, as Natasha stared down her parents' portraits, she felt... nothing.

Sure, it was like a weight was lifted off her chest; finally able to take in a deep breath for once, but... Lily and James, while her biological parents... weren't her parents.

The portraits in front of her gaped, eyes wide with shock. "Rosie?" Her father was the first to speak, voice cracking slightly. It was then that Natasha realized how young they were — how some of their baby fat still clung to their cheeks, and voices still ringing with the song of youth. "Merlin's beard, Lily; it's Rosie!!!" Her father yelled, happiness on his face.

Lily, on the other hand, was silent. She continued to stare at Natasha, a silent fury in her eyes. Natasha's hairs on her arms stood up — like a cat puffing its fur up in defense. James continued to blather, arms swinging around with excitement.

"Oh, you look beautiful! I bet all the boys are falling down to your knees! Lily, doesn't she look like you-?"

"—Why now?" Her mother questioned, voice quiet. If Natasha wasn't listening intently, she wouldn't have known the woman had spoken. "It's been over 16 years... why are you now visiting?"

James froze, glancing over to Lily with an uncomfortable look on his face. Natasha pursed her lips — subconsciously copying Lily's stance. "I didn't know." She admitted, keeping her eyes locked with Lily's. "I didn't have the childhood you wanted me to."

Lily was quiet, her brows furrowed in confusion. James, on the other hand, glanced between his wife and daughter openly with confusion. "Uh, what?" James asked, mouth reacting faster than his brain. "Didn't you grow up with Sirius or Snape? Or at the very least, Alice and Frank?"

Natasha shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. "No, I..." she stopped, words getting caught in her mouth. Taking a deep breath, she tried to give them a smile, "Let's, uh, put a pause on that question, yeah?"

James, once again, looked slightly confused but eventually nodded. Lily took a bit longer, glancing over at Natasha. Taking in a deep, unneeded breath, the redhead nodded.

Feeling the tension in the air, James gasped, an idea in his eyes. "Hey, Ros— I mean, Natasha!" He corrected himself, shaking himself off at his mistake, "Do you like jokes?"

Narrowing her eyes, Natasha stared the portrait down. She knew how this was going to go — Clint Barton was her best friend, for Christ's sake! However, she was curious; she wanted to know just how cheesy (and bad) his jokes were. "Sure. You got one?" She finally replied, ignoring the pleading look Lily gave her.

"When does a joke become a dad joke?"

Raising a brow, Natasha couldn't help but chuckle at the direction he was going, "I don't know. What?"