The Bartons (C. Barton & L. Barton)

Chapter Sixteen

× Time Skip ×

        Althea had slowly been gaining her strength of magic back. It wasn't easy, but she was getting back to almost the level she had been at on Asgard. When she was banished, her magic had practically hidden itself to an extent. She was able to still use her magic, but it wasn't without consequence. She would become tired the more she used her magic, but she was finally starting to get completely through that.

         The kids often seen Althea outside practicing her magic, and they would go out and watch her. Most times she would make flowers appear for them, or sometimes she would use her magic to change in and out of her armor, which was something the kids thought was so cool. They loved watching her practice her magic, and Lila admitted to wishing that she had magic like Althea. Althea wished she could give the girl some of her magic, but that just wasn't possible. Althea had managed to send a letter to Loki like he had for her, and with much effort, she was sure he had recieved the letter.

   'Loki,

      I miss you and Thor. I hope you can let him know that I miss him, and that you two aren't at each other's throats again. I do hope this letter finds you well. It's been a long time since I've seen you or Thor. He hasn't visited me once, and I am almost sure he's been on Midgard, simply because of his obsession with that human girl he told me about before.

      I have a major secret that I need to tell you. Nobody else can know about this, but I hope you take the secret well. Loki, I'm in a relationship — not much of a shocker. The secret is that I'm in a relationship with two people; Clint and Laura Barton.

      I know of your displeasure with Clint, but please try and forgive and forget. Clint is slowly forgiving you, and I want you to do the same. I truly love him and Laura, and I need you to be civil with them. Also, I know I should tell Thor, but he's not good with secrets that big. I will tell him when I'm ready, which will hopefully be when, and if, he visits me.

       I love you and Thor, and I hope to see you both again one day.

        ~ Althea'

      Anyhow, for a while, Clint had been planning something small for family time. It wasn't nothing huge, but he knew the kids and his girls would enjoy it. While they were all busy during the day, Clint went and collected firewood. He then began building a place for a bonfire to fit and not start a forest fire.

       By the time dinner had rolled around, Clint had finished setting up the bonfire. Althea and Laura had worked together making stuffed shells for dinner, which was one of Clint's favorite foods that the girls would make together. He liked all the foods, but he seemed to like the foods just that much more when the girls made it together.

"After dinner, you guys need to grab shoes and jackets." Clint said, causing everyone to turn to him.

"Why?" Lila asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've got a surprise set up outside." He replied, and everyone agreed after that.

       Once everyone was finished eating, they went to their rooms and grabbed their jackets. Laura grabbed Nathaniel's, since he was trying to put on his shoes, and he still wasn't the best at it. Everyone else was able to get their shoes and jackets on by the time he was ready. Clint lead everyone outside, and the kids were overly excited once they seen what Clint had set up.

         Clint quickly started the fire, as Laura opened the bag of marshmallows. Clint had grabbed the skewers that he had bought a couple years ago just for bonfire nights. They didn't often have bonfires, since he held his firewood for winter and building on their home, but he spoiled his family when he could.

          He loved seeing the happy smiles on their faces, especially the children's faces. The excited look on Althea's face made everything just a little more magical. She hadn't really gotten to do anything like this on Asgard, so getting more and more new, fun experiences on Midgard made the girl feel less and less homesick. She loved her life with the Bartons, and honestly, at this point, if she was given the chance to go back to Asgard, she would chose to stay here. She loved the Bartons, and she couldn't even fathom the idea of ever leaving them.

       She hoped to one day see her brothers again, but if she didn't, at least she'd be happy with Clint, Laura, and their kids. She had never felt so happy and complete in her life. She hadn't even felt this way on Asgard, and she was happy with her brothers and mother, so this was definitely a new and exciting feeling for her that she quickly became addicted to.

        Clint had to show her how to roast a marshmallow over the fire. She had a bit of trouble, and she actually managed to almost drop hot marshmallow on her abdomen, so Clint decided to make the marshmallows for her when she wanted them. She felt like a true princess with them, unlike when she was a real princess on Asgard.

         Cooper and Lila had made her a marshmallow each, trying to see who made the best roasted marshmallow. Laura had to roast them for Nathaniel, since he wasn't old enough to do it himself. He was still too small, so he'd have to wait a couple more years before he'd be able to make his own. Hopefully by then, Althea would figure out how to make her own without almost burning herself. Secretly she wondered if she'd ever learn to make them herself, or if she'd let Clint always make them for her. She knew he liked being needed, even for the littlest of things...