Warnings: Some angst, fluff, adoption, violence and alcoholism.
Author note: I am so so so so so sorry for the delay, I had been working on my thesis and my graduation and everything has been a mess, buuut here it is, I hope you like it.
Nat’s and Y/N’s foster parents are based in Elizabeth and Peter Burke from White Collar.
Masterlist
Chapter 1
September, 1990; Brooklyn, NY.
“Why can’t I go with you?” You pout jumping into your sister’s bed, holding onto the white stuffed bunny your foster parents gave you the day they officially adopted you when you were three; tomorrow will be your first day in an actual school, and to be honest your nerves are getting the best of you, this will be a completely new experience and without your sister by your side, you are not sure you will make it.
“Because I am older than you, I’m going to third grade and you are going to first.” She replies simply.
“But I wanna go with you Nat, I don't know anyone in this school.”
“I know you are worried solnyshko but you will make friends, and we will still be together during recess and when we come back we’ll go together to the swings.” Nat sits by your side and holds your hand. “School is fun, I promise.”
“Pinky promise?” You ask, holding out your pinky finger, Nat mirrors your action and locks her finger with yours.
“Pinky promise.”
Out of the sudden Nat’s bedroom door opens making both of you jump in the bed.
“I thought I told you two to go to sleep one hour ago.” Your foster mother is standing on the threshold looking at you with one eyebrow raised, Nat and you share a look and start giggling nervously. “Come on Y/N, is time to go to bed, you have a big day tomorrow and you have to be well rested.”
Your mother extends an arm indicating you to join her, you jump down from Nat’s bed, put in you blue bunny slippers and drag your feet towards your mother, when you get to her she kisses your forehead and hugs you.
“Can we have five more minutes?”
“No bunny, it’s already past your bedtime and you both have to wake up early tomorrow.” She holds your hand and smiles at both you and your sister.“I’ll be back to tuck you in, I want pjs on and teeth brushed, deal?”
“Yes El- mom.” Natasha gives you a small smile and sighs. “Good night Y/N.”
“Night Nat.” You return her smile and follow your mom down the hall, when you reach your bedroom the door is open, the walls are painted on a soft pink and the bed is abandoned, all the blankets and stuffed animals are crumbled on a corner.
Elizabeth smiles at you, and strokes your hair with love.
This is the best foster home you have been in, Elizabeth and Peter are warm and caring, and they sincerely care about you and Nat; who came in only a few months before you.
She tucks you in the bed and places your bunny on your hands.
“Are you nervous?” She asks, sitting by your side in the bed, you just answer with a simple nod. “Because I was.”
“You where?” It’s a little surprising, you’ve always thought of her like the kind of person that never gets affected by anything, she is always happy.
“Oh yes.” She answers and tucks is a loose strand of hair behind your ear and gives you a reassuring smile. “I was terrified, but you know what?”
You nod with your head and she keeps talking.
“I had no reason to be, you see, it sounds a bit scary but it’s actually really nice; besides you have an advantage that I didn’t have.”
“What?”
“You have your sister, and she is going to be with you, you will never be alone, and I assure you that all the kids in your classroom will be nervous, it’s a new experience but I am sure you will be alright.”
“Okay.”
She gives you the last goodnight and leaves, leaving the door closed and the lights turned off behind her.
You wait until the hall lights are off and there is no more noise or movement that could indicate that your parents are still awake and you bolt out of your room; bunny in one hand, blanket in the other; praying to not be eaten by anything that could be lurking in the darkness, when you open Nat’s door she is covered with her blankets up to the ears, you can barely see her fiery red hair, and her steady breath makes you think that she may already be asleep.
After closing the door, you tiptoe to her bed and crawl into it.
“Nat, Nat.” You whisper, shaking your sister’s shoulder softly trying to wake her up.
She stirs slowly and with a smile she lifts the blankets, making space for you next to her.
“Sweet dreams solnyshko.”
You fall asleep right after.
***
“I am going to be here to pick you right after school, okay?” You nod as you fiddle with the hem of your skirt, Nat takes your hand and gives you a reassuring smile. “You are going to have a great time I promise.”
She kisses your cheek and then Nat’s.
“Bye girls, I love you.”
You both wave goodbyes, and then your sister leads you into the school.
“Come on, y/n, lets go.”
She leaves you in your classroom with the promise that she will see you at recess.
The classroom is colorful and every single inch is decorated, there are only a couple kids on their desk, the one that wins your attention is the skinny blonde one that shifts nervously on his place.
“Hi, I’m y/n.” You say shyly.
“Steve.” He answers with a soft smile on his lips.
That simple interaction marks the beginning of a friendship that would last for a lifetime.
School proves to be better than expected, your teacher is a nice woman that sings and plays, and makes everyone feel confident.
At recess, as promised, Nat picks you up at your classroom and it turns out that Steve was the best friend of one of hers, a nice boy with soft blue eyes and a warm smile.
After the day finishes Elle picks you up, and Nat takes you to the swings.
“I bet I can get higher than you.” You challenge her.
“No way.”
After an afternoon of laughs you both end laughing on the grass.
“Nat?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you promise we will always be together?”
“I promise.”
***
June 2019; Manhattan, NY.
There’s a closed bottle of vodka in front of her and she fiddles with her AA chip.
It’s been an hour since she hung up the phone.
There’s a body.
With your clothes.
And your hair.
And the missing poster she made.
The missing poster where she used a picture of the last birthday she spent with you.
The picture where you used your favorite yellow dress, and you had that bright smile so characteristic of yours.
The picture she keeps on her nightstand, and lights up a candle to every night.
She should open the bottle.
One sip won’t hurt.
It would numb the pain.
One sip.
Just one sip and everything would go away.
It’s the chip, the stupid chip and your stupid smile she will never fucking see again.
Someone took you, and destroyed you.
Someone killed his baby sister.
Someone let her have hope for years.
Someone left her alone.
She should get to drink every single bottle in a liquor store.
The knock on the door stops her, she doesn’t want to open, she’s not in the mood to see anyone, they can go to hell.
The knock doesn’t stop and a thought hits her.
Bucky.
She runs to the door and he is there, eyes bloodshot red and every single part of him is shaking.
His legs give in and she catches him before he hit the floor.
They took you from them, and the pain will last forever.
A/N: I hope you guys liked it, if you want to be tagged dm me or leave a comment, have a lovely day 💕
