𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝔾𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣- completed but editing

Chapter 30

The darkness wasn't lonely. Or actually dark. Color was trying to get behind my eyelids and I could feel that there was someone in the room.

Sound had already penetrated my ears, a steady beeping and an occasional drip, drip, drip. The person was scuffling their shoes on the floor, making a squeaking sound.

"Tony?"

He stopped pacing. "Annie, you're awake!" Tony sat on the edge of my bed. I was in the hospital.

Tubes were attached to the inside of my left elbow and the blankets were scratchy.

"Man," Tony said smiling. "Our girl turns fifteen and the whole world decides to end."

"What happened?" I asked quickly. "How's Steve?"

Tony gave me a glass of water from the bedside table. "Steve's fine. He'll heal. We were mostly worried about you and your blood poisoning."

"We? Who all is here?"

"Me, Pepper, your dad, Natasha, Clint, and Georgia and that boyfriend of hers," Tony knocked on the door from the inside.

"Georgia's here?" I sat up. "Can I see her?"

The door opened and I heard a woman's voice screech, "Two visitors at a time!"

"Hey kiddo," Clint poked his head around the door.

I smiled. "Hey, Clint."

"You can talk to Georgia after Clint talks to you," Tony closed the door behind him as he left.

My heart pounded. "What's wrong?"

Clint sat down in the plastic hospital chair next to my bed. "You might want to lay back for this."

"The whole world knew when you were kidnapped by Hydra. It was all over the news and then you went off the grid and SHIELD went crazy trying to find you.

"Because of the world wide hysteria, Hydra used the panic to threaten you. When the Winter Soldier didn't know where you were, they assumed that you ran back to Avengers or SHIELD. So Hydra threatened Georgia. Apparently, your biological father told Hydra about her and since your dad is in jail, Hydra publicly threatened her and her adoptive parents.

"The deadline was last night."

Clint took my hand.

"They sent a hitman after GiGi's parents. By the time us SHIELD agents were there, nothing could be done.

"I'm so sorry, Annie."

Tears were streaming down my face in ocean like waves. "It's my fault."

Clint handed me a tissue. I could barely see his hand through my tears. "It's not your fault. Georgia doesn't blame you. No one blames you."

"Where is she? I want to see my sister."

Clint got up and opened the door. "G, you can go in now."

Georgia flew in, her brown hair a blur. She curled herself up on my bed. "Oh, Li Anne, I thought I'd lost you!"

We burst into fresh tears at the same time. I stroked Georgia's head as she gasped and sobbed on my lap. Tears fell silently from my face as we mourned together for the people who had given my sister a new life.

Natasha slipped in and wrapped her arms around us both. The rest of the Avengers followed, forming a protective cocoon around my sister.

Dad was closest to me and I rested my head on his shoulder, just like I had done to Bucky, not even twenty four hours earlier.

When the nurse shooed almost everyone out, Clint and my dad stayed behind.

"Li Anne, you are Georgia's only family now." Clint said. "You get to help decide what happens to her."

Dad held my hand tightly. "She can stay with us until she gets adjusted somewhere else."

Clint tilted his head, getting my attention. "I'm going to offer up my house, my family will take care of her."

"Family?"

"I've kept them a secret. They live off the grid. No one will find her."

I nodded. "I want what's best for her. She needs a family."

"You can visit as often as you want," Clint offered. "Can she stay with you for a week? We're going to have to clean out her room."

"Does she know?"

Dad spoke up. "She knows and she is willing to go. Tony is willing to fund her."

A tear ran down my cheek from my already red eyes. "I have such a great family."

Clint left the room to go tell GiGi and Dad stayed with me, laying next to me on top of my hospital sheets.

Don't break down in tears...