What If?

Chapter 5: Reassemble

Five years ago...

It was a lovely evening at the Barton farm. The family was having a nice picnic set up outside while the man of the house was teaching his daughter how to shoot with a bow.

Clint: (Looks at Lila as he stood next to her) Okay, hold on. Don't shoot. You see where you're going?

Lila: (Has the bow and arrow ready to fire at a tree with a target on it) Hmm-mm.

Clint: Okay. (Walks behind her) Now, let's worry about how you get there. (Puts a helping hand on her back while wearing an ankle bracelet) Put your foot right here, point it this way. (Starts adjusting his daughter's stance) Hips, here... Okay. (Starts rubbing her head) Can you see?

Lila: (Nods) Yeah.

Clint: Are you sure?

Lila: Hm-mm.

Clint: (Starts putting a part of Lila's hair in front of her face) How about now? Can you see now?

Lila: (Smiles while laughing a little) No.

Clint: (Puts his finger gently on her left eye) How about now?

Both of them chuckled at this as they both started to get ready for training while the rest of the family, with Laura cooking a BBQ, were playing catch with baseball gloves.

Clint: (Walks to where he stood before) Alright, ready? Three fingers.

Cooper: (Is seen admiring his little brother's talent) Nice! (Moves to catch the ball tossed by Nathaniel)

Laura: (Sees Nathaniel throw the ball at Cooper) Nice throw, kiddo!

Cooper: (Throws the ball back to Nathaniel) Here you go.

Laura: (Turns to Clint and Lila) Hey, you guys want mayo or mustard? Or both?

Lila: (Turns to her dad) Who wants mayo in a hot dog?

Clint: Probably your brothers. (Turns to Laura, raising his two fingers up high) Eh, two mustard please! (Waves) Thanks, Lila!

Laura: Got it! (Turns to Nathaniel) Nate, mayo or mustard?

Nathaniel: I'll have ketchup.

Laura: (Shrugs) Or ketchup. I've got ketchup too.

Clint: (Observes Lila's aim) Mind your elbow.

Lila looks at her target, and lets go of the wire to unleash the arrow straight into the bullseye, making an impressive hit.

Clint: (Smiles at his daughter) Hahaha! Good job, Hawkeye! (Gives his daughter a high five) Go get your arrow. (Looks at his arrow while Lila walked over to the tree)

Laura: (Turns to Clint and Lila) Hey guys! Enough practice, soup's on!

Clint: (Turns to the family) Alright! We're comin', we're hungry! Lila, let's go!

Clint turned to look at his daughter, only to find a floating pile of dust where Lila once stood, seeing no trace of her as Clint noticed her disappearance.

Clint: (Looks around for his daughter) Lila? (Takes a few steps to the tree) Honey? (Noticed the arrow on the grass) Hey babe?

Clint moved to pick up the arrow to turn to his family to ask where Lila was, only to find them gone too. The only thing that was left as a clue was the same flying pieces of ash that took the places of each member of his family, leaving the family man all alone on the farm in the clear skies with yet thundering roars heard in the background.

Clint: (Looks around to see where his family went) Babe? (Starts walking to the table) Babe? (Starts running over to the table) Hey boys! (Whistles a little, getting no response as his family was gone) Boys?! (Looks around as everyone around him was gone) LAURA?!