The Girl Next Door

Chapter 19

July 4th, 2015

Y/N's POV

BIIIIIG party for Independence Day. The lovely American holiday where they celebrate freedom.

I don't understand why it's such a huge deal still. Tony has educated me on this last year, yet I still don't see the hype.

We were all going down by the lake for a barbecue and then fireworks tonight. I grabbed my bag and looked in the mirror admiring myself. Despite still being insecure of my scars, don't all hero's have battle scars?

Nat on the other hand....

"Why doesn't it go up any higher...." She mumbled to herself in the bathroom mirror, trying to pull her bikini bottoms up further so it covered her bullet scar on her abdomen. She sighs giving up. "I'll just wear shorts or something with it, Sweetheart do you have any high waisted shorts I can borrow?"

"Nnnnope, not any that you can fit. Your ass is bigger than mine." I say putting my sunglasses on top of my head.

Natasha just looks in the mirror for a brief moment before just giving up. "Whatever, I just won't go swimming."

"What?! No!! Not go swimming just because of a stupid scar?!" I say. I walk over and wrap my arms around her. "We both have so many scars, everywhere. But you know why? Because we've been through hell and back and we survived. Can't you understand how beautiful you are?" I frown.

"I know but-"

I immediately cut her off. "No buts. Okay? Your scars shouldn't define you. Our scars...shouldn't define us."

I give her a peck on the cheek. "Now cheer up, everyone's already waiting for us they're already there." I say.

She gives me a small smile but nods. "Thanks sweetheart."

After finally settling that we grab out bags and walk down to the lake, which wasn't very far, it was right behind the compound.

Wanda was there, Steve, Maria, Tony, Pepper, Clint and his family, and a few others. I made my way to where the picnic tables were set up, along with some blankets on the ground. I set my stuff down on a blanket.

A little girl came running out of the water in her swimming floaties. "Aunty Y/N!!" Lila hugs my legs.

"Lila!! Oh I missed you my little munchkin!" I pick her up supporting her weight on my hip.

Her little pink swimsuit with ruffles and flowers soaked me as I hugged her close. "Hey Clint, can I just like...steal your daughter for a few years?" I tease.

"Yay!!!" Lila says.

Clint, who was in the water with Wanda, Steve and Tony looked away shaking his head at my remark, causing him to be smacked in the face with the football.

"Pay more attention Hawkeye." Tony teases emphasizing 'Hawkeye'.

Clint scoffs and throws the football back at Tony harder as he stumbles to catch it.

"Come on let's go get in the water!" I say pulling Nat's arm.

"Fineee." She laughs taking her shorts off as we both run into the water.

"Hey!! Using your powers is cheating!" Tony says to Wanda as she had used her powers to knock the ball off course so Tony wasn't able to catch it.

Wanda just shrugs with a giggle.

We had fun for hours in the water, Laura was grilling Hot Dogs and hamburgers along with steak, per request of Tony. Little Nathaniel was being babysat by Pepper, she finally decided to take a day off of being CEO.