Chapter 21

*After the Endgame Fight*

Athena stood on the battlefield in shock. She was towards the back of the clump that now surrounded Tony Stark's body. Tony Stark is dead and there is nothing she can do about it. Her own emotions have yet to catch up with her.

Athena snapped out of her shock when she saw Peter. She walked over to him and hugged him. "I'm so sorry," Athena said, trying her best to comfort him even though it wasn't something she was good at. Peter stayed silent as he cried into her shoulder. Hearing Peter cry started to make Athena cry as well. "You should probably go find your mom," Peter said as he pulled away. "Yeah," Athena said as she wiped a couple of stray tears from her face.

Athena started searching for her mom, but she couldn't see her anywhere. So she walked up to who she knew would know where her mother was. "Where's my mom?" Athena asked and Clint just stared at her, as if he was trying to figure out what to say. "What happened?" Athena asked as her heart dropped. She immediately assumed the worst. "I'm so sorry, Athena," He said as he tried to keep his composure, but Athena could tell it was killing him on the inside.

Athena tried to keep her composure. "How?" Athena asked, her voice breaking while saying the word. "Athena, I promise you, you don't want to know," Clint said.

"Clint, how did she die?" Athena asked as she finally let the tears leave her eyes. "She sacrifices herself to get the Soul Stone. I'm so sorry, kid. I tried to stop her, but I couldn't," Clint said and Athena nodded as her emotions finally started to take over. She was a mess. She couldn't even speak. All she could think about was how she just got her mother back, just to lose her again.

Clint hugged her, repeating 'I'm so sorry' over and over again.

Athena got out of the car and followed Clint up to his house. He walked inside first as his family tackled him with hugs. All Athena could do at that point was stand by the door.

After a bit of 'Hellos' and 'I missed you's' Clint brought his attention to Athena. "Laura, this is Athena. She's Natasha's daughter. She's going to be staying with us for a while," Clint said and Laura turned to Athena with a kind smile. "It's nice to finally meet you, Athena. I'm sorry it has to be under these circumstances. I'm so sorry about your mom," Laura said.

"Thank you," Athena said in a quieter voice than normal. "You can share a room with Lila," Laura said and Athena nodded as she looked at the eldest daughter. Surprisingly, Lila didn't seem annoyed by it. Athena looked at the other two kids, she had no idea what their names were. She would have to ask about that later.

"Follow me," Lila said with a smile as she led Athena up a staircase. She walked down the hall until she approached an open door. "Your room is beautiful," Athena said as she looked at the sage green paint that coated the walls. "Thank you," Lila said as Athena hesitantly followed Lila into her room. Athena set her bag down next to the bunk bed and started to look around. It was a beautifully organized room. Athena could only wish to be this organized at her age.

"Where do you normally sleep?" Athena asked.

"I bounce between them, but I usually sleep on the top, so you can have the bottom unless you want the top?" Lila asked and Athena shook her head. "No, you sleep where you usually sleep," Athena reassured, she felt like she was intruding on the family. She didn't want to cause any more annoyances to them. "You look a lot like her, you know," Lila said.

"What?" Athena asked, not fully processing what was being said. "You look a lot like your mom," Lila said with a smile. "Thank you," Athena said and Lila walked towards her door. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything," Lila said as she walked out of the room.

Athena sat down on the bed completely exhausted from the last couple of days. Even though there was a five-year gap between today and the last day she remembers. Soon enough, the exhaustion finally took over and she fell asleep.

Athena was awakened the next morning by Lila rushing around her room trying to get ready for school. "Sorry! I didn't mean to wake you," Lila said as she grabbed her bag. "It's okay," Athena said as sat up the best she could. Athena almost forgot about school. Clint had told her that she didn't need to go until she was ready, but the longer she waited, the more homework she'd have to catch up on. Especially, since it's her Junior year. 

Lila left the room and Athena checked her phone to see the time. Luckily for her, Midtown gave those who blipped a couple of days to recover before returning to school, so she still had two days. 

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