"More pancakes!" Rose and I chant together while Scarlett is baking us all some pancakes for lunch. Casey giggles before shoving another piece in her mouth, chewing with a big smile.

I watch her intently, wanting to take in this moment. I've been talking with Scarlett about Casey and she convinced me to fight for her. If I don't, I'll have to go back to LA after the internship and leave her behind.

I'm hoping I can arrange something with her grandmother to at least take care of Casey part-time. I'm pulled out of my thoughts when Scar walks over to us, the entire apron covered in flour.

"How did you manage to do that?" I chuckle making her roll her eyes. "Next time, you make the pancakes." She mutters as she places another plate of pancakes down. While doing so, a bit of apron flour landed on Rose her face.

Rose looks at her mother with wide eyes before clenching her jaw. "Rose Dorothy Dauriac don't you dare-" Scarlett starts, but is interrupted when a piece of pancake hits her face. She gasps loudly, looking at Rose in shock. "Come here!" She shouts playfully as she runs over, grabbing Rose and rubbing her apron all over her face.

Rose squeaks and screams but it is of no use. Eventually, Scar lets her go, putting down a shocked Rose. She's entirely covered in flour, pouting at me when she sees me laughing. "Sorry Honey, but you kinda deserved it." I smile.

But that smile doesn't last long. In the corner of my eye, I see a piece of pancake flying towards me at full speed. It collides with my jaw before I'm able to respond. I turn aside with my mouth open in shock, connecting eyes with an amused-looking Casey. She slowly lowers her hand in a weak attempt to hide the fact that she was the one who threw the pancake. "Oh no, you didn't." I mumble as I stand up, her smile showing a hint of regret.

She rapidly gets up, running away from the dinner table. I manage to catch up with her right before we reach the sofa. I pick her up and carefully throw her on it. I soon start to tickle her like there is no tomorrow. She tries to push my hands away between giggles but I don't give in so easily.

I plan on going on for at least another minute, but she looks at me as if she's about to pee herself from laughter. I decide to increase the intensity of my attack, which unexpectedly leads to a moment I will never forget.

"Mama p-please stop" An unfamiliar voice giggles, making me stop my movements instantly. I look at Casey who slowly closes her mouth as she starts to comprehend what just happened. I guess the same goes for Scarlett since I hear plates shatter in the distance.

I open my mouth to say something, but I'm not sure what to say. She talked.

Casey pushes past me and runs upstairs. I just sit there on my knees, replaying the scene over and over again in my mind. She talked.

A smile forms on my lips. She talked and she called me mama. I turn around with a goofy smile, looking at Scarlett who seems to have the same thought process as me, a soft smile occurring on her lips as well.

"Was that Casey?" Rose asks utterly confused. Scar and I respond by nodding in sync. "Why did she run away?" Rose asks in a whisper. I would like to answer that question, but I have no clue why she ran away. Finally able to semi-function again, I decide to slowly stand up, making my way upstairs.

I check all the rooms, ending up in front of the bathroom. The door is locked and I can hear muffled noises inside. "Casey? Could you open the door please?" I ask her hesitantly, but the door stays shut and I don't get a response.

"Casey?" I call out for her, resulting in nothing. "Is she okay?" I hear Scarlett question behind me. I turn around and shrug. "I don't know, she won't open the door." I mumble. "Casey, it's me." Scarlett says. We both look at each other. "Scarlett." She finishes as if Casey doesn't know it's Scar's voice.

"Okay Casey, stand back from the door." I shout, taking a step back. "What is the plan?" Scarlett asks confused. "I don't know, but you're black widow and I'm scarlet witch. A door shouldn't be a problem." I smile weakly.

"I'm dead remember?" She says with a raised eyebrow making me chuckle. "Yeah well so am I." I respond making us both laugh. "We both know that's a lie, but what are we gonna do with the door?"

It takes us a few minutes before we manage to open the door, forcing the lock. Scarlett stands back as I slowly step inside the bathroom, my heart breaking when I see Casey. She's balled up in a corner, tears streaming down her cheek.

I crouch in front of her, remaining my distance. I try to get closer to her, but she just rapidly shakes her head as she shields herself with her hands, repeating the same words over and over again. "I'm sorry."

I sit down, moving a bit further away from her. "You have nothing to be sorry about Casey, I promise." I state calmly, but she just shakes her head. I look at the doorpost, seeing Scarlett look at me with a frown.

I raise my shoulders, not knowing what to do. Scarlett's look of concern changes when an idea seems to pop into mind. She sits down next to me, clearing her throat before softly singing one of Casey's favourite songs.

I've followed my heart into the fire

Got burned, got broken down by desire

I've tried, I've tried but the smoke in my eyes

Left me blurry, blurry and blind

I feel a bit more relieved when Casey her sobbing becomes less. She still has her head buried in her lap, but her body isn't shaking like it was before. So I motion for Scarlett to continue.

I've picked all the pieces up off the ground

I've burned all my fingers, but that's gone now

Got the glue in my hands and sticking to the plan

Sticking to the plan that says

I look at Scarlett who is eyeing for me to continue so I take a deep breath, knowing the song by heart since it's from Casey's favourite movie.

I can

Do anything at all

I can do anything at all

Scarlett and I sing the rest together with smiles on our faces, realising Casey stopped crying after I sang the lines above.

This is my kiss goodbye

You can stand alone and watch me fly

'Cause nothing's keeping me down

Gonna let it all up

Come on and say right now, right now, right now

Scarlett points to Casey, looking up hopefully at her. Casey looks at me and I simply nod, so she sings the next line and my heart couldn't feel more content.

This is my big hello

'Cause I'm here and never letting go

I can finally see, it's not just a dream

When you set it all free, all free, all free

I carefully reach out for Casey, wanting to hold her. But her smile drops as she crawls further into the corner while holding her hands and shaking her head frantically, tears about to flow again.

"No please don't. I'm sorry mama." She says with a broken voice. It takes every bit of acting experience I have to hide my smile at the fact that she is actively calling me mama, but I don't think smiling will help the situation right now.

I notice how she watches my every move. "I won't." I tell her while slowly moving my hands back alongside my body. "But you don't have to apologize, sweetheart, you did nothing wrong?" I question her more than I state, I'm very confused as to what's going on in her head.

"I did. I broke a rule and I'm very sorry. Please don't hurt me." She pleads as she holds back her own tears. I feel Scarlett back away slowly as she runs her hand through her hair. I turn back to look at her, pacing around in the hallway while mumbling to herself.

Once our eyes connect I can see that she's thinking the exact same thing I am. I tried to convince myself that her scars were just from some weird accident, the same goes for her wounds, even after recognising the shapes of a belt. I just couldn't imagine someone hurting her so my heart did everything in my power to convince my mind that wasn't the case.

But my mind was right. I know it now and Scar knows it too. Someone has hurt her.

I slowly turn back to face Casey, not wanting to startle her. "You didn't break any rule.

And even if you did, I won't hurt you, Casey, ever. I promise." I say trying to hide the pain in my voice. I can see her shoulders lowering a bit, which is a good sign.

"I'm so proud of you. You talked!" I cheer lightly, not being able to avoid a voice crack. She lowers her guard down completely as she furrows her eyebrows.

"But I'm not allowed to talk?"