SHIELD HEADQUARTERS, May 2007

An aggravated sigh escaped Adelaide's lips, as she leaned against the wall. Despite the amount of caffeine she had drank in the past hour, nothing was going to get her through this conversation easily.

"It's my sister's wedding, May," she crossed her arms, "I can't just skip out on it because you're worried about what being back in that house is going to do to me."

The older woman shook her head in disbelief, "Addy, you've made so much progress here. Have you even thought about what it might be like to return to that town? I don't want you to get hurt."

"Of course, I've thought about it May," she exclaimed, "But I'm not gonna ruin what's left of my relationship with Florence just because I'm scared."

May sighed, knowing that there was no chance of Adelaide backing down on this, "I would feel better if you at least had someone with you."

Even though Adelaide already wanted to smile, feeling a bit of victory over the small win, she didn't. Rather she began weighing her options, the obvious one being bringing Clint. After all, he was one of the few people who knew everything about what her family was like and how she might react to that.

"Okay, I'll bring Barton," Adelaide agreed, "Then everyone's happy."

May shook her head, "Barton's out on a family emergency."

The blonde's heart dropped slightly, "What? Is everything okay? What happened?"

"I don't know," the older woman admitted with a shrug, which of course didn't help the pit of worry already growing in Adelaide's stomach.

The woman made a mental note to check in on Clint as soon as she could. With a frown, Adelaide glanced around the room, her eyes briefly landing on a certain brunette.

"Hill will go with me," Adelaide rushed out, and she immediately picked up on the way May's eyes widened slightly.

Adelaide turned to Maria with a pleading smile, "Won't ya, Hill?"

Maria who hadn't been following any part of the conversation, upon hearing her name turned to Adelaide. She arched an eyebrow at her friend, a slightly awkward smile pulling at her lips.

She wasn't used to being put on the spot around her superiors.

"I uh- what?" she sputtered out, already internally freaking out. Maria Hill doesn't stutter, what the heck was this girl doing to her?

"Go with me to my sister's wedding?" Adelaide informed, catching her up to speed on the conversation.

"I don't know, Laurence-"

"Please?" Adelaide pouted, ever-so-slightly.

"I uh, Addy-" Maria began, trying to come up with any excuse as to why she couldn't go this weekend, "Fine, sure, okay. I'll go."

"Perfect," Adelaide beamed.

For a few seconds after that, her eyes didn't leave Maria. A quiet smile being share between the two.

Adelaide turned to May, "Are you happy now?"

A long drawn out sigh left May's lips, "Not entirely, but it's your decision. So I guess I feel slightly better."

"Good," Adelaide clapped before turning back to Maria, "I'll send you the details and we'll talk, just not now. I have to go check in on Barton."

Without waiting for an answer, Adelaide gave May a nod and excused herself from the room.

Adelaide listened to the dial tone, nervously drumming her fingers against her leg. After meeting the rest of the Barton family, she had grown quite close to them.

She and Laura got along well, the other woman was a very easy person to talk to, and Adelaide loved Cooper. He was the sweetest little boy, after all.

Although it was a bit difficult for her to be around their baby, Lila, at first, Addy still grew to love her too.

"Hey, Laurie," Clint answered the phone, and Adelaide could already hear the exhaustion is his voice.

"Is everything ok, Clint?" She rushed out, "May said you called out for a family emergency."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and all Adelaide could hear was the click of a door shutting.

"Sorry," Clint apologized, his voice returning to the line, "Cooper has appendicitis and had to have surgery. He's okay now though, just asleep."

"Oh my god," Adelaide breathed, "You're sure he's okay?"

"Yes," Clint smiled gently from the other side of the call, "Don't be too worried about him, Laurie. He's fine, you can come visit this weekend and see for yourself."

Adelaide sighed, "I really wish I could but I'm going to be at my sister's wedding."

"What? Is it back home?" Clint asked.

"Uh—yes," she confirmed.

Adelaide knew that her friend would probably have similar concerns to the ones that May had. To be fair, they were valid concerns giving Adelaide's past.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" He asked carefully.

"Barton," Adelaide sighed, "I'll be fine. Plus, I'm not going in alone, Hill's coming with me."

"Oh?"

Adelaide rolled her eyes, she could almost hear the smirk in his voice, "Not like that. Just as a friend."

Adelaide did not see whatever it was that her best friend saw. She and Maria were only friends. The two barely even knew anything about each other.

She didn't even know how she was going to begin to explain the complicated nature of her family to the other woman.

Adelaide only hoped that this whole thing wasn't going to scare Maria off.

"Whatever you say, Laurie," he noted, the skepticism evident in his voice.

"Seriously!" She exclaimed, "It's not like that."

"Okay!"

AUTHORS NOTE:

So it's a shorter chapter but it felt like a good spot to end it. I really hope you enjoyed and next chapter is Florence's wedding!!!

Have a good day/night!!

— Via <3