Who: Lilly Margaret Rogers & Steve Rogers (with an appearance by Veronica Mars) What: It's a girl Where: Super House When: morning Warnings: nah Status: started in docs, will continue in comments
Lilly Margaret Rogers was a very clever girl at the ripe old age of seven and she immediately knew that something wasn’t quite right when she woke up in the living room of her family home. For one thing, she clearly remembered going to bed in her own room the night before and couldn’t imagine why she was in the living room. For another, a quick glance around showed that there was a serious lack of family photos decorating the walls.
After poking around for a few minutes, she determined that she had time traveled. If she hadn’t been born and raised in Madison Valley, that would be a lot more frightening to realize. As it was, she knew that her parents were here and though they may not know her yet, they would take care of her until the dome saw fit to return her to the time when she belonged.
When she heard the footsteps coming down the steps, she was wrapped up on the sofa in a blanket and her eyes lit up when she spotted her father. “Good morning, Daddy,” she said. “I’ve time traveled.”
***
Steve was routinely the first one awake in the house. He was used to getting up and living a few minutes in the quiet appreciation of the life that he had now. It was better than anything he’d have ever imagined, anything he’d have dared to dream of. A gorgeous woman who he loved and a baby on the way, a home full of an ever growing family.
Which was apparently going to be growing pretty quick for a little while. He’d been around town long enough, seen this happen enough times, that when he came downstairs to a bright eyed little girl on the sofa he barely blinked, just smiled a little and went to lean over the back of it, looking down at her.
“Looks like you did, yep,” he agreed. “Sounds to me like you know the drill. Want to tell me who you are?”
***
There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye that should be a big clue as to her mother’s identity. “I’m Lilly,” she said. “Lilly Margaret Rogers. I’m seven.” Old enough that she understood what was going on and clever enough to decide immediately that she shouldn’t share too much information about the future with her parents.
“Do Molly and Summer still live here?” she asked. That would at least give her some clue as to when she was without giving anything away.
***
Her name didn’t do as much to tell him where she might belong as her question did, and that had Steve blinking in surprise. He was convinced that the kid they’d had around last time was the one they were expecting. Keith had been a sign that things were supposed to work out between him and Veronica and thankfully that part had been right.
Face to face with a little girl asking questions that made it sound like she belonged in that house led to different questions.
“They do,” he confirmed with a nod. “Should be sleeping upstairs. I take it you’re used to having them around?” If so, that’d make one or two things easier.
***
“Duh, they’re my sisters,” she said. “I see them all the time. Sunday dinners and holidays and whenever else I want.”
Lilly loved hanging out with her big sisters. They were so much more fun than her parents and her aunt and uncle. Most of the time, at least. “Can I go wake them up?” she asked, that glint in her eyes back. She was most definitely her mother’s daughter though there was a healthy playful streak that she got from Uncle Bucky.
***
That was less helpful than he’d have liked. But Steve was just going to keep rolling with whatever information he got, piecing things together while not making the girl feel like she wasn’t at home. She might understand the ways of the dome and that she wasn’t in her own home, but she was still just a kid and she was still his. Steve was going to do everything he could to make her feel like nothing was wrong.
“Better not,” he advised. “Why don’t you come on and I’ll get you some juice or something instead?”
He could use a cup of coffee, even if it didn’t really do anything for him there was something about the habit, and hopefully he could get things sorted out a little before anyone else was awake.
Steve knew better than to think he’d be that lucky.
***
Lilly wrinkled her nose in displeasure that she couldn’t go and wake up her sisters, but she wasn’t going to disobey a direct order. As much of a troublemaker as she could be, she knew better than that and she tried to be good. Usually.
“Apple please!” she said. That was her favorite kind of juice. “Will Uncle Bucky be making breakfast soon?” Some things hadn’t changed in her time and it didn’t seem remotely odd to her that her aunt, uncle, and cousin shared a house with her family. It was just how things were. She probably shouldn’t mention her cousin though since she wasn’t entirely sure if said cousin existed yet.
***
Leading her into the kitchen and getting her set up at the table before getting her a glass of juice, Steve glanced at the clock. “He should be up before too long, yeah.”
Bucky tended toward being the last in bed just as Steve wound up being the first one up again, but he was always up in time to get breakfast ready for everyone before the day started. It was just their routine, and clearly this girl knew that.
“Why?” There was teasing in his voice; Steve enjoyed spending time with the little kids when they showed up. “You planning on you requests already?”
***
The idea that Uncle Bucky might take requests made Lilly laugh. “What day is it?” she asked. “Cause unless it’s someone’s birthday or a holiday, we’ll have the same thing we always have on that day.”
It was chilly outside, so she knew it was winter, but that didn’t tell her much else, though she was guessing it was a weekend since everyone was apparently home. “Are you gonna tell Mommy that I’m here?” she added.
***
“Saturday,” Steve told her, joined her at the table and sipped his coffee. “And I think we should surprise her, don’t you?” He couldn’t guarantee the girl’s mother was his wife, but regardless, Veronica was pregnant and still needed her rest. He tried to give it to her where he could.
“Everyone’ll be up soon enough,” except for the girls he’d guess, but teenagers were teenagers. “I don’t see any harm in the two of us spending some time together until then, since you know what’s going on.” No difficult conversations to be had, at least not right away, hopefully not at all.
***
"Ooh! Saturday is pancakes day!" Lilly said, her eyes bright with excitement. "That's my favorite day." In all honesty, they were all her favorite, but she really did like pancakes.
She rolled her eyes when he suggested surprising her mom. "Mommy doesn't like surprises."
At that very moment, Mommy was making her way downstairs though. Slowly, since she still felt ungainly and unsteady from all the baby weight she was carrying. She blinked in surprise when she saw Steve and a little girl sitting together in the living room. "Uh... good morning?"