The next Friday.
Natasha was busy working in her office when she heard a knock on her door and she answered that the person come in.
"Good Morning Madam" said Alfred as he walked into Natasha's office with a smile.
"Good morning Alfred, how are you?" asked Natasha as she looked up and smiled at him.
"I am doing well Madam, and how are you doing?" asked Alfred as he smiled.
"I am fine as well" replied Natasha as she smiled and sighed, she was swamped with so much work, but she couldn't complain, she liked being busy, she would take being busy rather than idly thinking all day long.
"I brought you some tea since you are yet to have breakfast" said Alfred as he placed the tray of tea on her desk.
"Oh thank you Alfred, that's so sweet of you, to be honest, I forgot that I haven't eaten" said Natasha as she laughed and poured herself a cup of tea as Alfred smiled softly at her.
"I know that you did, which is why I brought you some tea" said Alfred.
"Madam, you need to take care of yourself more" said Alfred as Natasha took a sip of her tea.
"Oh Alfred, I know that, I really do, and I do try, I'm just so busy right now, but don't worry I won't skip breakfast again" said Natasha as she smiled and assured him.
"Alright Madam, I hope you don't forget" said Alfred.
"No Alfred, I won't, thank you for always taking care of me" said Natasha as she smiled and Alfred smiled at her.
"Oh Madam, before I forget, I am going to the store today to stock up the pantry, would you like me to get you anything in particular?" asked Alfred as Natasha shook her head as she drank her tea.
"Did you already make a list of everything we need?" asked Natasha as Alfred nodded.
"Then I am sure you got everything" said Natasha.
"Alright then, I will leave now and be possibly back before dinner time, the old master asked me to stop by his house first" said Alfred as Natasha laughed.
"Grandfather must miss you a lot, he asks you to come over every single chance he gets" said Natasha as she laughed and Alfred laughed.
"I cannot lie as well, I do miss him" said Alfred as he laughed and Natasha smiled.
"Will you be alright at home alone Madam?" asked Alfred.
"Of course I will be Alfred, I'm not a child, I can take care of myself" replied Natasha in amusement.
"I am just making sure, let me take my leave now so I can return early" said Alfred as Natasha smiled and nodded as he left her office.
Natasha sipped her tea as she chuckled and shook her head, Alfred worried about her too much, but she knew that he only worried because he cared.
...
Lia drew in a deep breath as she was parked in her car in Dom and Natasha's driveway, she wanted to step out of the car, she really wanted to, but she was hesitant.
She had been here for the past 10 minutes, contemplating on what exactly she was doing here.
Lia took another deep breath as she brought out her phone and dialed Pete's number, only to be sent to voicemail, making her sigh, he must have still been on the field, it was too bad, she really needed to talk to him right now.
Lia got a hold of herself as she opened the door and got out of her car while putting her phone in her handbag and she walked to the door of their house as she opened the door.
"Hello is anyone home?" called Lia as she walked into the house and closed the door behind her.
"Hello... anyone? Alfred?" asked Lia as Natasha happened to be coming down the stairs when she heard her voice.
"Lia?" asked Natasha in uncertainty.
"Natasha, just the person I wanted to see" said Lia as she smiled happily as Natasha who reached the end of the stairs.
"Lia, what are you doing here?" asked Natasha in surprise as Lia gave her a tight hug.
"To see you of course silly" said Lia happily as that made Natasha laugh as she hugged her back.
"It's so good to see you, we haven't seen each other in a while" said Natasha as she smiled and Lia broke their hug.
"I know right... that's why I decided to see you today" said Lia as she smiled.
"I'm glad you did" said Natasha as she smiled.
"Why is the house so quiet? Where is everyone?" asked Lia as she looked around.
"Most of the staff are off duty, and Alfred went to the store" said Natasha as she smiled.
"So you are home alone?" asked Lia.
"Yes, that's until Joy gets back home but that will be a while, come on let's go to the living room" said Natasha as she smiled and led the way as Lia followed after her.
"So what can I get you?" asked Natasha as she smiled and Lia sat down.
"Oh nothing Natasha, I'm fine" said Lia as she smiled.
"Are you sure?" asked Natasha.
"Yes, I'm very sure, I'm fine really Natasha, don't bother yourself, I'm actually here because I need to talk to you about something" said Lia as Natasha sat down.
"Oh I know what you want to talk about" said Natasha as Lia's heart almost burst out of her chest when she heard Natasha say that.
"You do?" asked Lia in a bit of fear as her pupils dilated.
"Yes of course I do, you're here to drag me to go shopping with you" said Natasha as she laughed and Lia felt sudden relief when she realized what Natasha was talking about.
"Really?" asked Lia.
"Of course I know you Lia, and I also know that I promised you that we would both go shopping soon but I've been putting it off" said Natasha.
"I'm really sorry about that Lia, really, it's just that I've been so busy with things at the farms and the final preparations for the store we are opening in Lexington, so it's been a lot, I've not had time to go shopping with you" said Natasha as she smiled, if there was one thing she knew about her friend, it was that she absolutely loved shopping.
"It's fine Natasha, I understand that you are busy" said Lia as she smiled.
"I know you do, but it's not nice for me to keep on breaking my promises, which is why tomorrow I'm going to be totally free so we can go shopping together" said Natasha happily.
"Really?" asked Lia in surprise.
"Yes, the thing is Lulu is busy planning the joint anniversary inauguration event and she already told me the theme and colours" said Natasha as she smiled.
"The theme is under the sea, and the colours are bright coral, so I need your help to help me choose a dress tomorrow, you know I'm not really good with shopping" said Natasha as she laughed and Lia laughed.
"You never were..." said Lia as she smiled.
"And that's why I need the help of my lovely friend, I didn't want to attend the event before, but I promised Grandfather that I would" said Natasha as she sighed and smiled.
"We'll find you a beautiful dress Natasha" said Lia as she smiled.
"I'm sure we will" said Natasha as she smiled and there was a quiet silence.
"Natasha...that's not what I came over to talk about" said Lia as she broke the silence.
"It isn't?" asked Natasha as Lia shook her head.
"No... it's... it's actually very serious Natasha..." said Lia.
"What is it Lia? You are scaring me, is something wrong? Are you alright?" asked Natasha her eyes filled with worry, Lia looked very serious right now, as if she was about to tell her something that would change everything and that worried Natasha a lot, she had never seen Lia this serious and yet so scared at the same time.
"Natasha I have to tell you something..." said Lia.
"Is it serious?" asked Natasha in worry as Lia nodded.
"Yes, very serious I... it's... I want to tell you but... I need to tell you" said Lia as she was finding it hard to make out the words.
"Lia calm down, breathe, what is it? You can tell me" said Natasha as she held Lia's hand, she could see that she was panicking right now, and that made Natasha panic a little bit, it was unlike her to look so distraught.
Lia looked into Natasha's worried eyes, and she felt even more guilt, Natasha cared for her so much and yet, she was a horrible friend.
"Natasha... I am going to tell you but... but please promise me that you won't hate me" said Lia.
"Now that's making me extremely worried Lia, just what is going on?" asked Natasha.
"Natasha, just please promise me that you will try to understand my actions..." said Lia as Natasha narrowed her eyes.
"Lia, I always understand you, and I can never hate you, it's alright you can tell me anything, you can trust me, I'm your friend, we are friends, always have been always will" said Natasha as she smiled and Lia smiled sadly at her knowing that her countenance would change in a little while.