Hailey's rational brain just caught up to what she said and Natasha's stunned expression. She looked around, they were all stunned. She wished right this instant she could take back what she said but she couldn't so she upstairs to her room.

She could not stay here anymore, even if they let her, in good conscience, she couldn't.

She began packing, aggressively stuffing her trunk with everything she had at the compound. She then remembered her little can of floor powder was buried amongst the mess her trunk had become so she pulled everything out, throwing her clothes everywhere.

Plonk.

She looked back to see that all of the powder had spilled over her robes and the can was rolling away toward the door spilling away any last bit.

It stopped when it hit someone's shoe.

Hailey looked up to Steve, he looked sad. His features ever so slightly changed but she knew he looked sad.

Hailey sat down on the floor in between the mess she had created, ready to give up on all of this. Steve picked up the can and came to take a seat right beside her.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked with genuine concern. Hailey had not expected that question. After the stunt she had pulled, everyone should go comfort Natasha.

Hailey said nothing in response.

"Were you packing?" he asked looking around, his tone gentle and kind.

Once again, she didn't say anything.

"I just came up here to tell you that, you said nothing wrong," he said once again. Hailey searched his face for any sarcasm but it wasn't there.

"You're 100% right. Natasha is a Red Room affiliate. In fact, she is the exact one you found out about with Agent 19's watch," Steve said. "But don't you want to know in what circumstances?"

Hailey didn't reply but listened intently.

"She was about 4 when she joined the Red Room for the first time. They didn't have pheromonal locks like they do now, it was all plain brainwashing and beating them into submission. Then, she was sent on an undercover mission, where she had to play the part of the oldest child in a family. Yelena didn't know what was actually going on but she did. Then, once the mission was over, she was sent right back to the Red Room to continue training. She tried running away four times but failed and eventually just gave up and accepted her fate," he explained.

Hailey should have thought about limiting factors that aren't plainly physical. Sometimes, some situations can not be left behind.

"Natasha wants you to never find out about this but I think you should know. You're old enough to understand. After her training, they have a graduation ceremony where they remove her reproductive organs so she can never have a child," Steve said and then offered her a small smile.

"That is why she is so fiercely overprotective of you. We both are because you are our only child," Steve said.

Hailey was still processing everything and said nothing in response.

"I know this doesn't mean that she is right and you are wrong in what you want but do you think that it is fair to judge someone based on their worst mistake? We all make mistakes all the time whether that is Clint or Natasha or you and me, a good person is one who learns from those mistakes and works hard to correct them. I'll leave this with you," Steve said and gave her hand a tight squeeze before getting up to leave.

"We never want you to leave no matter what. We love you too much for that," he said. "The choice is always in your hands though" and left.

She sat there with all of what Steve said. What she had said downstairs was just in the heat of the moment, she knew Natasha wasn't the same person anymore. She had only been mad because of the lying when Hailey was trying so hard to be truthful.

Everyone deserves a second chance and what one chooses to do with that is the true testament of character. Mr. Barton and Natasha wake up every day and put their lives at stake to save countless others without thinking about it. She remembered Mr. Barton preparing to take the bullets raining down upon them to save an injured child he didn't even know. 

And even while he was underground, he still attempted to correct his mistakes by taking on the name: Ronin.

Hailey thought more about how she had been fortunate to escape the Red Room but had she been there longer, unable to escape, she would have likely met the same fate.

She grew so tired of the rules and restrictions that it did not occur to her that Natasha did not want to see her miserable. Natasha just wanted to keep her safe and she had said all of that. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had been correct about her after all. She was an ungrateful brat. It didn't matter what Steve said, she had messed up too big to be able to stay.

With a heavy heart and tears streaming down her face, she began packing again. She'd just have to ask for a ride or something since her floo powder was gone.

"Don't go, please," she heard from the door. Natasha was standing in the doorway, looking like she cried all night.

"I can't stay," Hailey whispered back wiping away her own tears. 

"I know I was wrong, I knew all along it was unreasonable, the expectations I was setting for you," Natasha said, her voice shaky. "But I just wanted to keep you safe. I just needed you safe because I- I can't lose you,"

"I really tried, I swear I did but-"

"I know, I know," She replied. "Can we talk?"

Hailey put down her books which she was packing and sat down on the ottoman near the foot of her bed. Natasha came and sat down beside her.

"I should've told you about the Red Room-"

"You don't have to tell me everything-"

"No, I do. I should have, it wasn't right for me to expect utmost honesty when I wasn't reciprocating. I was maybe waiting for the right time but if I'm being completely honest, I didn't want to tell you at all. I didn't want you to judge me for who I was- I didn't want to lose you," Natasha said. Hailey knew she wasn't lying and she also knew how hard it was for Natasha to be vulnerable in any form. Likely, due to her experiences in the Red Room. It all made so much sense now.

"I'll tell you about it now," Natasha said. Her face morphed into a painful expression. Steve had told her all she needed to know, she didn't need to hear it from Natasha and made her relive the cruelest moments of her life.

 "I first joined-"

"Steve already told me everything. You don't have to, really," Hailey said. She visibly relaxed and so did Hailey.

"I really am sorry about not being honest though, Steve couldn't have told you that, and even if he did, I still need to tell you and I'm sorry about everything else too. I'm just making it along as I go but-"

"You really don't need to be. You've been brilliant, better than anything I've ever had. Even this summer, it was nothing short of amazing," Hailey said honestly. Even though she had been on restriction the whole summer, she had rarely been miserable. They'd played and went out and watched movies, it was 10 times better than the best day at the Dursleys.

"Still I should have done better and it's not as if those bloody buffoons are a standard," Natasha said. Hailey and Natasha both giggled.

"Do you still want to go?" Natasha asked after a second. "It was starting to feel like...like a family. I know it's selfish-"

"This is the best family I have ever had and even though, I don't want to, I have to," Hailey said. "I overstepped the line, after everything you have done for me, all I did was be a brat. I can't continue to burden you,"

"Don't start this nonsense, Hailey. There is no line you could ever cross to become a burden. You are not bratty in any way. You're one of the smartest, kindest, and most caring people I know and I'm not just saying that, I mean it. My biggest problem is how much you care about other people and are willing to put yourself on the line for them," Natasha said in the most genuine tone.

"You probably get it from Lily. I've heard that from Dumbledore," Natasha said.

"Maybe," Hailey whispered. "Or maybe I get it from you,"

"You're already better than I ever was, moye ditya," Natasha whispered back and then they both heard a click and looked down at Natasha's bracelet.

It had finally opened. Hailey looked up at the identical green eyes and the words remained unspoken. Natasha thought of her as her child. That was the only way for the bracelet that had been a Christmas gift from Hailey to open.

And Natasha had no words, it was like her greatest wish had been granted. The child she had grown to love more than anything else in this entire universe, thought of her as her mother, мама.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier, I didn't know it was a locket," Natasha said.

"Cause it's a charmed locket, it's only supposed to open if you feel...well the same way," She mumbled.

"Of course I do! I always have...I didn't want to accept it because I didn't know if I would even be a good mother," Natasha confessed.

"Well you should know then, you are the best Ma ever!" Hailey exclaimed jumping onto Natasha in a hug causing both of them to fall back on the bed and Hailey's glasses to become crooked. Natasha fixed them for her and smiled widely.

"I love you so so much," Natasha told her placing a forehead kiss ", and you are the best child I could ever dream of,"

"I love you too," Hailey replied.

"Natasha," Hailey said after a second.

"Hmmph," Natasha replied.

"I really am sorry about what I said. I swear I didn't mean it-"

"shh," Natasha gently hushed. "None of that. It's a clean slate, a fresh start for both of us. Let's put all of this behind us now, shall we?"

Hailey nodded happily and snuggled just a little bit closer. They both closed their tired eyes as the exhaustion from the day's events finally caught up to them. 

Hailey's last thought was how absolutely brilliant the day and been and she just hoped that when she woke up, it hadn't been a dream.

A/N: So?! How was it? I must admit that I have fallen out with reading and writing and I struggled to write all the emotional angsty stuff. Please let me know how it was. Also, for those of you who leave comments, I am eternally grateful to hear what you are thinking. 

And as always, VOTE!

<3 MoonstruckSnuffles