Little defender

"Let me see." said Natasha as she bent down to Joy's level to see the picture.

As soon as she set her eyes on the photo she smiled. She could remember the day this photo was taken as if it was yesterday.

There she was brimming with a huge smile on her face, her head shaved. She was standing in between Charlie and Dom who were also smiling. Lia and Nine were smiling behind them and there was a picturesque lake behind them.

"She's right Natasha, you look so gorgeous." said Lulu as Natasha laughed.

"I remember this photo." Natasha replied laughing.

"Wasn't this the day we all went fishing and you capsized the boat?" asked Dom as he laughed.

"Yep, it's that day." Natasha laughed.

"Oh yeah, I remember that day. I couldn't go fishing with you guys since I had a cold, so I stayed on shore making burgers with mom." said Lulu as she laughed.

"This was definitely taken before we went fishing because everyone was pissed at me, especially Lia." Natasha laughed.

"Who wouldn't be? We literally got soaked from head to toe." said Dom as he laughed.

"You really do look bold and fearless, you always have been, I would never have wanted to take a picture when my head was shaved." he said as Natasha looked at him wordlessly.

"Well, we used to have fun back then, real fun, being an adult is annoying. When last have we gone to the lake and just spent an entire day there enjoying life?" asked Lulu.

"You're right about that." said Natasha as she smiled.

"I love this picture so much, you all look so young." said Joy as she giggled.

"I think I was about fifteen or sixteen then." said Natasha as she looked back at the picture.

"You were fifteen, I remember because that was the summer break that me and the guys came back from university for some well deserved rest and relaxation." said Dom.

"Oh you're right, is it me or does twenty years old Dom look really ugly?" asked Lulu as Dom narrowed his eyes at her.

"You're right, he does look a little bit ugly." Natasha replied pulling his leg.

"How do I look ugly? I basically look the same way I look right now, that was eleven years ago gosh." he said defensively. 

"No, I don't know, there's just something about your face, it looks longer than it is right now." Lulu continued as she looked at the picture and then back at him, then back at the picture again.

"Stop it Lulu, you're not being funny one bit." he said frowning as Joy, Natasha and Lulu giggled.

"I can't believe you're so sensitive about your looks." Natasha laughed.

"I'm not sensitive, you both are just deliberately finding things to annoy me." he replied.

"Don't mind them daddy, you look handsome, very handsome." said Joy as Dom looked at her and smiled.

"Thank you princess, at least someone cares about my feelings." said Dom as he gave her a hug.

"Oh just relax Dom, I've been your sister for twenty one years and you can't still take a simple joke." Lulu scoffed.

"A joke is different from you making fun of me." he frowned.

"You're just being a baby." he heard Natasha say.

"Hey, stop making fun of my daddy." said Joy as she protectively held his face as if shielding him from them.

"Oh, wow, seems like he has a little defender now." said Lulu as she laughed.

"Yes, I am going to defend my daddy from you two." said Joy as she giggled.

"How sweet princess, you can defend me any day." said Dom as he smiled and carried her.

"It feels nice to have someone on my side for a change." he said happily.

"Ahh, I see, so you have a favourite Joy." said Natasha jokingly.

"No I don't, I don't have a favourite, I love you two very much, it's just that I'll defend daddy when you and aunt Lulu are being mean to him, and I'll also defend you when someone is being mean to you, and I'll defend aunt Lulu as well." Joy softly explained, she didn't want anyone to be upset with her.

"Aww, that's so sweet Joy, so you're everyone's little defender." said Lulu as Joy nodded.

"You don't have to be worried my darling, no one is going to be angry with you when you do what feels right." she replied as Joy smiled and reached out to be carried by her.

"I don't want anyone to be angry, just don't be mean to each other." she said as she rested her head on Natasha's neck.

"We weren't being mean to each other my darling, we were just joking, we do it all the time. It's harmless... most times." Natasha laughed.

"Yes Joy, being siblings, we are mean to each other all the time, but it doesn't mean we hate each other, it's all in good fun, we love each other very much, right Dom?" asked Lulu as she smiled.

"Right." Dom replied smiling.

"Oh, I get it now." said Joy as she smiled.

"Lovely." said Natasha smiling.

"I love that you all grew up together." Joy said suddenly, shocking them all.

"What do you mean by that princess?" Dom asked.

"I mean, you all have the same memories, you spent time together and you know everything about each other, that's really nice." said Joy as she smiled.

"I guess you're right Joy, that is really nice, I've never thought about it that way before." said Lulu as she smiled. Truly they knew almost everything about each other, they had grown up together, shared so many memories, to be honest, Lulu would not be able to imagine her childhood any other way.

"I wish I had friends and siblings like that." she said, melting all their hearts.

"Oh my darling, I know how you feel, but you have us, and we'll always be here for you." Natasha smiled.

"Always." Dom replied smiling.

"I love you all so much." said Joy.

"And we love you too." they replied.

"That was such a wholesome moment, now would you all, except for my lovely niece, get out of my room, I want to show her the cool things I bought from the mall today, but oh, Natasha, you can stay if you want to." Lulu said.

"Thank you for the offer, but I have work to do." said Natasha as she put Joy down.

"I wasn't even planning on staying here, see you." Dom replied leaving instantly. Lulu knew he was annoyed and she liked it that way.

"See you two later." said Natasha as she smiled.

"Byee." said Joy as Lulu waved and instantly brought out her phone.

"Now, you need to see the lovely shirts I bought for Benjamin." she said carrying Joy on her lap as she sat on her bed and Joy giggled.

...

"Come on Pluto, come on girl, catch me if you can." Ethan said laughing as Pluto ran after him along the beach.

Pluto barked as she increased her pace and tackled him as he laughed. It was a warm, sunny afternoon, the waves of the water crashed together creating a relaxing sound.

"You know Neil, I kind of feel guilty for leaving Natasha all alone to handle everything, especially now with the store up and running." said Chloe turning to her husband as they sat on the beach.

"I thought you said she said it was perfectly fine?" he asked.

"Yes, she did say that, but I'm thinking about it now and it was really irresponsible for me to leave so quickly." said Chloe.

"At least we should have stayed for a week, I'm sure she feels like I literally ran out of there like my pants were on fire." she said as Neil laughed.

"I'm being serious Neil." she said as he laughed.

"I know hon, I know, sorry, sorry." he said trying to stop himself from laughing.

"We shouldn't have left so hastily, she must think I was so stressed I took the first chance I got to disappear." she said sighing.

"I don't think she thinks that Chloe." said Neil.

"Natasha is a very understanding person, and you have to admit you have been all hands on deck for a long while, I am sure she doesn't hold it on you for going on a well deserved vacation." said Neil.

"But, if you still feel worried you can call her tonight to apologize." said Neil after he saw that his initial reply did not please his wife at all.

"You're right, I should call her, right now." said Chloe urgently. She didn't want to keep on feeling this guilty throughout their entire vacation.

"No, not right now hon, it's supposed to be family time, if you call her right now Ethan is going to be upset and we don't want that." said Neil.

"You're right... tonight then." she replied.