The sound of the ringing phone interrupted Lani's thoughts, and as she answered it, a wave of joy washed over her. Her face lit up with a wide smile as she saw the familiar face appear on her screen.
"Hey Lei-Lei, I've been thinking about you. I miss you," feeling her heart skip a beat when she heard her little sister say.
"Hii Moe, hi mom. Oh, baby, I miss you too so much. How have you guys been?"
Lani's eyes welled up with tears as she longed for her mother and sister. Amid everything happening in her life, she yearned for her mother's comforting embrace and wisdom, especially the reassuring words that only a mother can provide.
"We are okay I drew you a picture today! Wait I'm gonna go get it." Morgan ran off to her room making both ladies laugh.
"Leilani, baby, what is bothering you? Yesterday you sounded really sad when we spoke." Lani let out a deep sigh, realizing that there was no way she could deceive her mom.
"Mom, it's just boy troubles. I don't even know why I'm making a big deal out of this," she mumbled, nervously biting her lip.
"Alright, darling, start from the beginning. Who is this boy and why is he making my little girl so upset?" Lani managed a weak smile and began recounting the story to her concerned mother.
"-and we kissed for the second time and then Friday interrupted calling him for a meeting. But then after the meeting his girlfriend called me and attacked me but I had no idea he had a girlfriend in the first place. So yeah, Lena told him to leave me alone and he sent me a voicemail saying he keeps thinking about the kiss and he wants to see me and asking if I can call him back. And I have been avoiding him for about a week now." Lani concluded the story with a sense of relief spreading through her chest.
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. You must have been quite fond of this boy, although you still haven't revealed his name. If he was in a meeting, he must be an Avenger, right?" Lani nodded slowly, avoiding eye contact with the screen.
"Does your dad approve of him? Oh gosh, is it Peter?" Pepper's exclamation caused Lani to burst into laughter.
"NO MOM! It's not Peter. He is like a brother to me." Pepper smiled and furrowed her brow as she contemplated the identity of the mysterious person. "Well, if it's not Peter, that must mean your dad either hates someone else or has a surprise in store for us," she mused. him or barely tolerates him. Is it Sam? He is nice and polite but I think he would annoy you too much with his childish personality. Hmm, is it Steve?! No, it can't be him, he wouldn't kiss you if he were in a relationship with someone else. Lani, I give up just tell me." Pepper let out a heavy sigh, marking the end of her frustrated and defeated rant.
"Oh my god mom. You just made me realize how much I had fucked up." Lani uttered the words in a quavering voice as she reached up and placed her trembling hand against her forehead.
"It can't be that bad Lani."
"It's Bucky, Mom. I kissed Bucky. Dad is going to kill me, he-he will hate me." Tears welled up in her eyes as she contemplated how disappointed her father would be if he found out about her involvement with this particular super soldier.
"Listen to me, Lani. If it felt right to you, then it was. It doesn't matter what others think. First, you need to address this situation, and then we can worry about your dad. Regarding Bucky, I believe you should have a conversation with him. From what I understand, he has morals similar to Steve, so I don't think he would deceive you. Especially considering your relationship with Tony and their history. Talk to him and inquire about Sharon. I'm sorry, but I need to go put Morgan to bed. Let's talk tomorrow, okay? I love you, baby," her mom said before leaving the room.
Lani let out a sigh and managed a smile as her mom said her goodbyes.
"Okay, I love you too Mom. Goodnight."
As she hung up the phone, tears streamed down her face. Despite loving spending time with her dad, the separation from her mother and Morgan was incredibly difficult for her. She longed for them all to be together, but she understood the demanding responsibilities that kept them apart. Feeling isolated and melancholic, she decided to seek out her father.
Walking through the corridor, she passed the kitchen where Thor, Bucky, and Steve were engaged in a discussion, while Clint nonchalantly snacked on some chips in a nearby corner.
Bucky noticed her approaching and appeared concerned, while Clint, upon seeing her tear-streaked face, stepped forward and halted her.
"Lani, what is wrong? Why are you crying?"
All eyes turned to her with a mixture of worry and sympathy, but she kept her gaze fixed on the floor. "Have any of you seen my dad?" she stammered. "I... I need my dad."
A comforting hand landed on her shoulder, drawing her into a warm embrace. She recognized the familiar scent of cologne, and it was all she needed to release the flood of tears and let out heart-wrenching sobs.
"Oh, sweetheart, what's the matter?" Tony asked as he held her tightly against his chest, offering reassurance and comfort.
"Daddy, I-I- can I sleep with you tonight, please? I don't wanna be alone."
Tony felt a mixture of emotions as he gazed at his daughter. His heart filled with both sadness and joy, seeing her so upset but knowing she still relied on him. Tenderly, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to his room.
Gently laying her down on the bed, he switched on the TV and handed her the remote, then planted a kiss on her cheek. "I'll be right back, baby. I'm getting us some snacks."
Through her tears, Lani looked at her father. "Hey, Dad? I love you 3000."
As Tony left the room, Lani felt a sense of peace wash over her. She smiled through her tears, finding comfort in the unwavering support of her family. At that moment, she realized that her parents were her beacons of light, always there to guide her through the darkness.
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Hey everyone! 🌟 I'm excited to share some of the writing I've done for my book so far! It's still a work in progress, and I've been facing a bit of a creativity block lately, which has slowed me down. The chapters I'm sharing are pretty raw and unedited, but I'm looking forward to polishing them up as I go. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my work! Don't forget to vote and drop your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear what you think! Your feedback means so much to me! 💖
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Behind Closed Doors (Bucky Barnes)
FantasíaTony Stark's daughter, Leilani, never expected to fall in love with Bucky Barnes, the infamous Winter Soldier. But when a drunken DM leads to unexpected flirtation, their once hostile relationship takes a turn. Despite their efforts to keep their ro...
