forever a family - part three

It's the end of September, nearing the beginning of October. The Lang household is located on the end of a street, and trees change colour, welcoming the new season. The weather cools, the leaves turn orange, and its time to wear sweaters to match the chilly San Francisco weather.


It's been 5 years since Scott became Ant-Man, 4 years since he stupidly joined the Avengers to fight in the civil war, 3 years since he got off house arrest; it's also been 1.5 years since he and Hope got married, and 1 year since they had their first children together. Janet and Hank became real grandparents, as well as Cassie, becoming an older sister.


Cassie is now 13, with 2 little half-sisters, twins who were born in September. It had been a shock for everyone, everyone (including Hope and Scott) had thought that the baby would be a boy, and when they went to the doctor to check on the baby they had found out the baby (babies, really) were twin girls.


Cassie also had another little half-brother, since Maggie and Paxton had a kid approximately the same time Scott and Hope got married. He was named Noah and he had the brown hair of his dad and the blue eyes of his mom.


Hope and Scott weren't sure what to name the two little girls ever since they found out. But after they were born, a name idea sparked into Scott's head.


Lilyanne and Autumn.


Lilies were Hope's favourite flower, and Autumn because well, she was born in autumn. Lily was born first, 2 minutes before Autumn. They both had darker shades of brown hair, that looked similar to Hope's. Lily had brown eyes, while Autumn had green eyes. That was really the only difference in appearance that Scott could find.


The Lang household - a beautiful two story house, white being the main colour for the entire house. The exterior walls were white, the door was white, and the stairs were white. There was a lush green yard in the front, with two trees on the sides that had red, orange and yellow leaves falling from the branches.


The bottom floor had an open kitchen, living room, as well as a nice open view to the backyard, which had an inflatable baby pool for the twins to swim in.


The living quarters were upstairs, and 5 framed photographs of the family were above each step that led to the 2nd floor.


The first one, on the first step, was a picture of the family sitting down on an open field, Cassie in the middle, Hope on her right, Scott on the opposite side, while the parents both held one of the twins.


The second frame was of Cassie and the twins, of them three wearing matching shirts. Cassie's shirt had the words: "Best Big Sister!" while Lily and Autumn had shirts that said "Best Little Sisters!". They were all smiling at the camera, dimples flashing towards the world.


The middle photo was a picture of Scott, Hope and Cassie, while they were at a park. It was while Scott and Hope were still dating,before he ran off to Germany. It was taken by Janet, who proudly showed it to them after. They had loved the photo so much they decided to frame it. Janet was so proud.


Above the fourth step was a picture of Hope and the twins, the day after they were born. They had been discharged from the hospital and making their way back to their new house. Hope's back was towards the camera, one twin in each crook of her arm.


Lastly, the last photo was a picture of Scott and Hope on their wedding day, which was in April 2019. It was a black and white photo. They were standing at the altar, Hope's white wedding dress swept to the left side of her, towards the camera. Scott wore a black suit, smiling as he gazed at Hope. Hope's hair was in a braid, but put up, so some pieces fell over her shoulder and down her back.


At the top of the landing, it was the twin's room, painted in a cute baby blue colour that matched the cribs that were for them. Above each crib had two more pictures of each twin, and their name is written above that.


To the left of the twin's room was Cassie's room. Lastly, past Cassie's room, it was Scott and Hope's bedroom.


Lilyanne and Autumn were still sleeping in their room, while Cassie is eating her breakfast at the table.


"Cass? Wanna rake the leaves?" asked Hope. She wore a black sweater with grey sweats, her hair rolling past her shoulders. She stood by the window, watching the red and orange leaves fall. She held a mug in her hands, drinking a warm cup of chocolate.


Cassie nodded her head. She turned her head towards the window. The leaves were spread out through the front and back yard She puts her plate in the sink and washed it, leaving it on the drying rack to allow it to dry. "I'm gonna go see if Lily and Autumn are awake, 'kay?"


Hope nodded her head.


She walked up the stairs, gently pushing the twin's baby blue door open to peek at them. She saw them awake, as they stood in their cribs, curious about the world around them. Their sensitive baby ears hear and notice Cassie, and they both turn to smile at her at the same time. She ran to her dad's and stepmom's room, noticing her dad still sleeping in bed. She took a pillow and hit him thrice, and he woke up the after the second time.


"Really? Cass? Peanut! Stop! I'm AWAKE!" He protested as he covered his face with his arms. "Cass, you're 13 now. Let your dad sleep!" He pulled the covers back up and hid underneath.


"Dad. I'm serious. Lily and Autumn are awake. Hope says we should rake the leaves. It's piling outside." She pulls back the covers. Scott's eyes were squinted, and his hair was a mess.


'Dad....." She starts to shake him, desperate to get him up. He's been sleeping in later and later ever since he got married again. Cassie didn't really blame him. Her little sisters barely fussed, but when they did, they both would meltdown, big tears rolling down their chubby cheeks.


"Okay, okay, I'm up."


Cassie playfully rolled her eyes and runs back to Lily and Autumn's room, carefully lifting Autumn in her arms. Lily preferred her dad over anyone (except her mom, of course) so Cassie left her in the crib, bouncing Autumn in her arm.


Scott came in not long after, picking up Lily. They went downstairs and saw Hope washing her mug in the sink.


"Morning guys," said Hope, placing her mug upside down on the drying rack.


"Morning honey," replies Scott.


She kisses all four of them on the cheek, lingering slightly longer for Scott. She can't believe that she actually married the Scott Lang. Scott, who had tore down her walls and who had broken her heart. Scott, who had blessed her with the happiest years of her life. Scott, who had brought 3 beautiful little girls in her life, Cassie, Lilyanne and Autumn.


Hope takes Autumn from Cassie, holding her in her arms. Scott puts one of his daughters down in her high chair, then fixes himself some breakfast, and also prepares the little snacks that the twins have as breakfast. Hope puts Autumn down right next to Lily. They sit in their twin high chairs and play with their food, and Scott couldn't help but amusingly laugh at his two little girls.


"Cass, wanna rake some leaves?" Hope points to the pile of leaves that gathered in their front yard.


Cassie enthusiastically nods her head.


"I got it here, just go." Scott encourages as he feeds Lily and Autumn, tying matching bibs around their necks, to catch the food that falls from their chubby mouths.


Hope brings out two rakes from the shed that is used for storage, which is adjacent to the house.


"I don't remember ever doing this with Mom, or Jim." says Cassie, as she starts pulling the leaves into a pile.


"Really?" asks Hope. "Not even with your dad?"


"No, I guess fall was never really that big of a deal." Cassie shrugs.


They keep raking in a comfortable silence, occasionally waving at Scott, Lily and Autumn, who sit inside, still eating their breakfast.


"Hope?"


"Yeah, honey?"


"Why'd you marry dad?" Hope can tell, it's a question of genuine interest.


However, it isn't a question that Hope expects Cassie to ask. It isn't like her, but she guesses that in a way, it was so unexpected that no one had any clue, not even herself. They just went from absolutely despising each other to falling head over heels, even if Hope wouldn't admit it. They finish raking the leaves, and as they sit down, on the pile of leaves that creates a soft bed, Hope has the answer.


"You know, Cassie, how your dad is so dumb and idiotic but sweet and charming?"


Cassie just nods. She can't remember the amount of times her dad has done dumb things throughout his life. It's his personality and his specialty. She leans against her step-mom, breathing in the crisp fall air.


"And how he makes me laugh and how he's so goddamn honest. He helped me a lot, you know. He's a special guy, and you're lucky that he's your dad." She adds on, glancing at Scott, the guy she learnt to love in the past few years. Their relationship had their ups and downs, there was no doubt about that, but it always ended up decent, seeing where they were now.


"Hope?"


Hope turned her attention back to her step-daughter. She brushed a hair out of her daughter's eyes.


"He's the best. And you are too. And Lily and Autumn." Her voice echoes around them, like they're in their own little bubble, their own world, where they can see nothing but the little family that grew in the past years.


Scott holds Lily and Autumn, one in each hand, and they join Hope and Cassie on the pile of leaves.


Lily crawls into Hope's lap, and Scott sits Autumn in his own lap. Hope leans against Scott, content with the life she has now. Cassie sits in-between them, with her two little sisters, watching as the cars drive by the neighbourhood.


There they are, the little family that they grew. One Ant, one Wasp, and three little daughters.

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