𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐍𝐄-𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒 - 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴. ✔︎

"Are You My Mommy Replacement?"

Ivy Carter-Rogers was just three years old when her mother passed away from cancer. Ever since then, her ever so hardworking father had always been there to support, take care and guide her all through her life. Ever since then, he'd retired from the one job that kept him on his feet; being an Avenger.

Ivy's dad is Captain America, or so he was. But since then, he's taken a job as an Art Substitute in a local community college, where his salary income isn't that quite as much as he used to get back when he was a superhero but, it was enough to provide for the both of them.

He's laid low for quite sometime, until his fellow ex-avenger member and current wife convinced him to come back to the field. Of course he was hesitant, he was afraid of leaving his little girl, Ivy, all alone when they're gone on missions. It took a lot of convincing and pep-talks until the former Captain agreed to save the world once again with his fellow ex-Avengers.

Still, that didn't replace the pang of hurt that was glued inside his heart inside of him, whenever he pictured Ivy crying out for him and Sharon when he'll be gone out for missions.

It made him frown and want to cry himself.

So when he did muster up all his courage and confidence with his final decision, Steve was sure to face another world filled with danger, anxiety and adventure.

Steve went on a mission, prior three weeks after he started working again.

Though it wasn't a lengthy mission, it was enough days for Ivy to miss him badly.

Lucky for him, his wife, Natasha, wasn't out on the field at this time around. It was actually her days off.

But even though she'd married Steve for just a year and sure, she'd probably had plenty of time to interact with her stepdaughter, Natasha was still quite new at the whole, 'children' thing.

She's never had one before.

She'd never planned having them before.

She knew way before she'd say yes to the whole idea of being with Steve, she'd had to face Ivy eventually.

In her perspective, it was nerve-racking.

There was something in Ivy that made her feel some sort of anxiety.

The fact that she looked like an exact carbon copy of Sharon, whom, may I add, used to envy Natasha hard back then.

But, Ivy couldn't possibly be like her mother at all. After all, half of her genes were Steve's.

For the duration of three days, Natasha has to supervise Ivy all by herself, optional help from Laura or Pepper. Steve had given plenty of instructions as to which things Ivy likes, dislikes, does and don'ts. It was all overwhelming to take in but, her wedding vows and promises were to take care of one another and in a way, taking care of Ivy was like taking care of Steve.

Ivy was allergic to peanuts and she was lactose intolerant. Ivy liked the color yellow and the show Doc McStuffins. Ivy loves Strawberry Jam on toasted bread and pumpkin soup. But what does Ivy dislike? Being away from her Dad within a long period of time.

How did Natasha know this one?

Ivy locked herself in a closet, crying her eyes out, not letting her stepmother in.

Natasha was about to give up, when all hope came rushing back.

Ivy opened the door, with her thumb in her mouth, walking out as if nothing had happened.

What struck Natasha was one conversation they were having while having TV dinner in front of the TV, watching an re-run of Hannah Montana.

Ivy had those plastic tables, kinda like a high-chair sort of thing, with pumpkin soup and toasted bread on the side, on top of the table. She was happily crunching on the toast while her eyes were glued to the secret pop star on the TV.

Natasha was right beside her too. Sipping pumpkin soup that she, surprisingly, wonderfully made, watching Hannah Montana along too.

She was about to stand up to fetch water for the both of them when Ivy stopped Natasha with a question.

"Do you love my Daddy?" She asked, that cute little innocent five-year-old voice like said.

Natasha froze, as she didn't know what to say at all.

"Umm, yeah? Of course.."

Her bright green eyes flared at her, in a good kind of way,

"Are you my Mommy replacement?"

Natasha's face was stone cold. How was she supposed to answer that? It was a complicated, twisted question that she had all along, wanted to steer away from. But here was the smart, curious five year old asking away.

"Are you?" Ivy asked, impatient and Natasha knew exactly where she got that trait from.

She exhaled and rolled her eyes up, as if this was the hardest question on earth. At this state, it was.

"Well, sweetie, I'm not your mommy replacement, but it's not like I'm your real mommy either." Natasha what the hell? That didn't make sense?

Taking another breath in then exhaling out, Natasha began to explain who she really was to Ivy. Of course, no complicated vocab was used to confuse that curious mind.

"Think of me as Mommy Nat?"

Ivy smiled for the first time.

"Mommy Nat,"

Natasha smiled back

"I like that!"

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a/n : THIS IS A SEQUEL TO MY ONE SHOT CALLED FINALLY!! THIS IDEA POPPED IN MY BRAIN AND I WAS LIKE BOOOM WOOOO!! I HOPE TO UPDATE SOON, ESP FOR HALLOWEEN! LOVE U ALL AND KEEP VOTING, READING, COMMENTING! XO REE