(Betty Ross's Pov): Short!...

After show-casing Sasha in my lab inside Stark Industries, Dad called and offered to meet Sasha through me, which caught us both off guard. Suddenly, he offered to meet me since I'm known to be the 'peacemaker' between the two. It was unexpected. After all, my younger sister's relationship with our father, General Ross, had always been complicated and strained, especially concerning matters involving the Hulk.

I had been working tirelessly in my lab at Stark Industries, studying and experimenting with gamma radiation to help Bruce. And since Sasha wanted to help a bit after I showed her the 'secret request,' I had made significant progress. She was excited about the potential upgrades that had been put in place. 

But now, it seemed that our father wanted to be a part of the family connection or at least give Sasha a chance. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Sasha looked at me with curiosity and concern; we both knew involving my father in our work could have consequences. The history between him and the Hulk was filled with conflict, but what they had in common was the protection of me and my younger sister.

But curiosity got the better of me, and I agreed to set up a meeting between them. Perhaps it was time for Sasha to face her past anger and find a way to reconcile the differences that had driven them apart for so long. 

As I made the arrangements, doubts began to linger in the back of my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter could either lead to a breakthrough in understanding or reopen old wounds. Only time would tell what lay ahead for Sasha, my father, and me; I ended the call with a smile and immediately told her: 

"Dad wants to see us tonight! Isn't it wonderful?" 

To which she replies, "No." 

"Sasha-" 

"I heard it from a mile away with my hearing abilities, Betty." 'Darn it, I keep forgetting that she could do that.' I facepalm before I tried to convince Sasha to come with me and meet our father until I gave her a reason: "Then I'll ask my colleagues to go on blind dates with you." 

This shot her off the chair and motioned me to explain that Sasha's stare ever since we were little, she can get pissed off with blind dates; in the end, she agreed as we headed to get dressed for the night.

(No pov): Time skip~ Dinner night...

"On how much is our dad 'willing' to see me, Betty?" Sasha asked suddenly, as she wore a few dark eyeshadows with no foundation nor lipstick, just lip balm. With long silver round earrings, Sasha came out wearing a tuxedo dress that Betty had picked out for her:

"Stop asking that again, Sasha." Betty starts by putting on her pearl earrings while she sighs in defeat but continues saying: "Dad isn't like that. He's-" "What? Changed? Yeah, he didn't care about me..." Sasha grumbled under her breath as she began brushing her black hair; Betty paused for a moment, her expression filled with sympathy as she watched Sasha brush her black hair. 

She understood the pain and resentment that Sasha harbored towards their father. It was a deep wound that had yet to heal because she (Sasha) never got the love "daughter/father" moment Betty had in their childhood. The only thing that made her that way was her dad's coldness.

"Dad may have made mistakes in the past, Sasha," Betty said softly, trying to find the right words.: "But people can change. Sometimes, it takes time for them to realize their faults and impact on others." Sasha looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and frustration. "I just find it hard to believe, Betty. He was never there when I needed him. How can I trust that he genuinely wants to see me now?"

Betty walked over to Sasha and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I understand your doubts, Sasha. It's natural to feel that way. But you won't know for sure unless you give him a chance. Maybe this dinner is an opportunity for him to make amends, to bridge the gap that has divided you and him for so long."

"But...Sasha, I know his voice; Dad did sound like he cares about you." Betty continues explaining, coming out of their old home's closet, wearing a light cream-pink short dress. During their conversation, she had heard their father's voice and sensed a genuine concern for Sasha's well-being. "I know it's hard to trust, Sasha, especially after everything we've been through," Betty said, her voice gentle. "But I could hear it in his voice. There was a certain warmth, a sincerity that I hadn't heard before. Maybe... maybe he does care about you."

Sasha looked at her, searching for any signs of a lie, "Hmph. Probably. But why? He tried to capture your boyfriend and have him killed, and you forgive for all of that? Unbelievable." She scoffed before texting her bar co-workers about her excuse for going over personal meetings with her family. 

Making Betty froze before she nodded in guilt, but she shook it off to show a small smile playing on her lips. "I do know that. And yes, I forgive for it all, but I think this dinner could be an opportunity for both of you to finally have a chance to talk to address the pain and the unanswered questions. It may not solve everything, but it could be the first step towards healing. But also tell him about your powers."

Sasha took a deep breath, contemplating Betty's words. After silence, she finally spoke, "Okay, Betty. Let's give him a chance. I don't want to hold onto this anger forever. Maybe... just maybe, we can find a way to move forward." 

Betty smiled, a mix of uneasy and little hope filling her eyes. "That's the spirit, Sasha. Together, we'll face whatever comes our way. And no matter what happens, know I'm here for you." They exchanged a supportive glance, their bond as sisters growing more vital in the face of uncertainty.

Sure enough, right into the correct location of "DoorDash restaurant," the Ross daughters exited the U-Ber and were welcomed by a man in his late 50s, wearing his general uniform with a black tie. Upon seeing the gold medal in the man's right pocket, Sasha recognized him as her and Betty's father, who had been promoted again: 

"Hello, father!" Betty runs up to hug him, to which he smiles softly before lifting his head to see his youngest daughter staring at her older sister and back at her dad's hug exchange, who shows his eyes with relief and worry.

After the hug, Betty motioned her to come and hug  him, which was not something Sasha dared do, but walked past him with a greeting: "Hello, father, shall we sit down?" Spoke coldly towards the old man, making him sigh, "I see nothing has changed." 

"I'm afraid so," Betty concluded before the family sat down together while opening the menu to find something to order; Sasha had picked the same thing as her dad liked. Which, of course, made her dad and her sister amazed that she still ate it but shook it off to say the same thing:

"I'll have Ribeye steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and salad too." General Ross spoke. I let the waiter write it down before asking Betty, who responded, "I'll have Scallops in Garlic Cream Sauce, salad, and pan-eared fish with citrus pesto." 

"And for the drinks?" The waiter asked. 

"Water." Ross looks at one another weirdly before Betty cuts it off, feeling awkward and worried that it doesn't end well; she orders mint tea instead since Sasha and their dad are acting decently on drinking choices. Once the poor waiter left, the Ross family began to talk.

Sasha still held onto her anger and skepticism towards her father, which led her to maintain a distant and cold demeanor. On the other hand, General Ross appeared genuinely interested in reconnecting with his youngest daughter, but he could sense the emotional barriers Sasha had built up over the years. Betty, the peacemaker in the family, tried to lighten the conversation by asking about their father's work. 

General Ross, a high-ranking military officer, mentioned that things were going well but expressed frustration with the Avengers being occupied with their superhero duties. As the meal progressed, the situation's awkwardness hung in the air. Betty hoped that the dinner would be an opportunity for healing and reconciliation, but it was clear that the wounds from their tumultuous past had not yet fully healed. 

There was still much left unsaid, and the road to rebuilding their family would be a long and challenging: "I see you making amends with the world's mightiest heroes in doing your work. I glad about it for once." 

General Ross nodded in response to Sasha's comment. "Yes, it's important for us to work together and ensure the world's safety. The Avengers play a crucial role in that, and it's good to see them back on the right path. For once." Betty continued observing the interaction between her sister and father, hoping their dinner conversation would lead to a more meaningful reconciliation. 

It was clear that Sasha was still guarded, but her willingness to exchange was a small step forward. 

"Anyways, let's talk about you, Sasha." 

"Why? Still want to keep an eye on me?" 

"I merely want to know where you were for the last couple of years." He calmly spoke, making Sasha smirk before simply saying: "Oh really, shocker." She chuckles coldly before eating more food when Betty excuses herself to go to the powder room, hoping it works better without her. 

Sasha leaned back in her chair, her smirk not wavering as she looked at her dad, who had just asked about her whereabouts. She had always been mysterious, and this question didn't faze her: "I've been around, you know." She replied casually, taking another bite of her food, "Traveling, exploring, and enjoying life. I find that it's more fun to keep people guessing."

As Betty excused herself to go to the powder room, Sasha's smirk widened a little. She had never been too fond of her father's constant prying into her life. With Betty gone, Sasha turned her attention back to her decisive father, her eyes glinting with amusement: "Care to share what's been keeping you busy while I've been away?" 

Sasha asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice. She was always interested in hearing about the lives and adventures of others, even if she didn't readily offer information about her own, "Okay, you know what?" General Ross gets annoyed by his youngest daughter's attitude: "Just because you are being rude to me doesn't mean you can do as you please." 

"I can and will do it even if you admit your mistakes on my Ace card," Sasha spoke more: "so, for god sake, can't you just say it." At this point, the argument continued louder until the waiter told them to stop shouting, leading them to continue the debate. General Ross and Sasha exchanged frustrated glances but reluctantly complied with the request, lowering their voices to a more civilized level.

Not knowing that they both have the same attitude. Like father, like daughter.

Still visibly irritated, Sasha leaned closer to her father and said hushedly, "You see, this is why we can never have a normal conversation, Dad. She grunts: "You're always trying to control everything, just like you tried to control me when I was growing up. And you know what, I'm happy the way I am, even if it means not letting you know about my personal life."

Equally frustrated but trying to maintain his composure, General Ross responded, "Sasha, I just want to understand where you've been and what you've been up to. I worry about you and want to make things right between us." 

Sasha sighed and leaned back in her chair, realizing that perhaps arguing in a public place wasn't the best way to address their issues. "Look, Dad, I appreciate your concern, but you must give me space. I've had my reasons for being distant, and I'm not ready to share everything yet. Let's try to enjoy this dinner, at least for Betty's sake."

General Ross nodded, his frustration giving way to a sense of resignation. He knew that mending their strained relationship would take time and patience. "You're right, Sasha. I'll try to be more patient. Let's enjoy dinner and focus on finding common ground." The remainder of their dinner conversation remained relatively civil, with Sasha and General Ross discussing less sensitive topics and attempting to bridge the gap that had grown between them over the years. 

"Also... you're right about the mistakes of not caring for you like an equal. General Ross began, "And yes, you reminded me too much of me when I was younger, but you still act like your mother. So please, for heaven's sake, give me a chance. To be a father you want me to be?" Somehow, after General Ross admits his mistakes to Sasha about how horrible he was as a father to her by not letting her have any quality time with him in the past.

He keeps his focus on his oldest daughter instead of his youngest. Entirely realizing how much Sasha had done all the reckless things just enough to get his attention to come home and scold her, General Ross sighed before saying: "I'm sorry." 

"...." 

"I know-" He was cut off when a hug welcomed him; his youngest daughter was hugging him, and it was enough for Sasha's dad to understand that she respects him and forgives his mistakes, "You're forgiven. Just don't do it again." He chuckled before they let go of the hug with slight smiles: "I promise. Uh, we should-" 

"Eat? Yup." Sasha sits down before they glance at each other as a father and daughter moment acquires them to mend it slowly; it is only interrupted when Betty smiles, "About time." She sits down, giving them big smiles: "How long were you standing there?" "Long enough to see you admit your own mistakes, Dad." As the family dinner continues, they realize the time and must go. Sasha and Betty's father paid the bill, and they all went outside to get a taxi.

"I think I need to go by myself." Betty says abruptly, "You're not coming with us, Betty?" Sasha was stunned. "Nop, plus you both deserve to have a one-on-one talk again." Betty continues, "I have to go back and rest for my project, night you too." 

Watching Betty haul a taxi to take her home, she was only left with the last Ross family in silence...more silence before Sasha glares at her dad, who puts his hands in surrender as it makes her call a cab while waiting for a cab. General Ross, on the other hand, coughs a bit before saying: "So uh... wanna go somewhere?" 

"Isn't that why I called a taxi?" 

"Touche." After that, the taxi driver parks and asks where to go; Mr. Ross and Sasha Ross enter as he (her dad) writes down the address and hands it to him. Along the road, his daughter spoke, "Where are we going?" 

"Somewhere we can be comfortable to talk." His answer was enough for Sasha to nod. She does not know that she and her dad have the same traits and personalities except for one thing: they cannot handle each other's hypocritical tempers.

Time skip~ At the bar...

The taxi driver gets a 100-dollar tip from Sasha's dad, to which he thanks him and her for having a fantastic night; the place is filled with noises that can be heard inside and outside as Sasha raises an eyebrow at her dad on why she was brought to this place. At the same time, General Ross asks her to follow him inside. 

Hesitant of it, Sasha sighs and enters: "Welcome to 'The Jeffrey Craft Beer & Bites.' " General Ross welcomes his youngest daughter to a bar, making Sasha blink a couple of times before seeing cops, teenagers, adults, and old people. 

She thought he would take her to their home but was not expecting to see her dad show her where he goes after hard work at S.H.I.E.L.D. and the government. "Wow." Sasha looked around the place in shock. It reminded her of the famous "The MoonLight bar" in ElkFord town. 

There was also a dart room, a pool table, a bar half-filled with all kinds of alcoholic drinks, and a half working half broken T.V. 

"I thought you might like it." Her dad chuckled before greeting everyone with a salute. Everyone cheers and returns to their fun as Sasha begins looking at her dad, who's talking to a bartender around 67 with a glass being cleaned by her handkerchief: 

"Ey, old man?" The old lady cleaning cups for the next refill of beers for the other customers, "Whatcha having?" 

"Just the usual New York whisky," General Ross responded before turning to her and wondering if she would drink. To his surprise, Sasha preferred "Whisky on the rocks." Before "tucking" her secret mutant device inside her pocket dress, Sasha used her immortality to prevent herself from getting drunk. 

After having a couple of drinks, the half-drunken General Ross (Sasha's dad) took her to Dry Harbor, where he would usually go and do his shooting range practices, which, of course, made Sasha widen her eyes as she instantly smiled and ran up to the place to take a big gun before shooting at her fake targets. 

Later on, it was 2 a.m. when they went to the Statue of Liberty, the last place they drove to. Sasha noticed the view of the city in front of her while her father was drunk: "Hey, I'm happy to have you as my daughter, Sasha." Suddenly, his drunken words made Sasha frown in guilt but realize it was the right time to tell him about her powers: 

"Hey, Dad..." 

"Yes?" her dad slurrily asked, making Sasha lean onto the porched fence. The wind was blowing her hair away from her face. There was complete silence while the sound of ocean waves moved towards shore and back to normal. The cycle repeated itself. 

"I have something to tell you, but promise me...that this won't make you hate me." She told him, "Hey..." Her dad places a hand on her shoulder before saying, "Whatever it is you want to tell me, I promise never to change." His words were so sincere that they almost made Sasha tear up. 

Still, she was afraid that he wouldn't be the same, so she took a deep breath and told him about her powers, how Betty was teaching her how to control them, living in Canada, ElkFord town for nine years without contact to protect herself from HYDRA, meeting the Hulk, saving Bruce (Hulk) and Wolverine from Weapon X, The M.R.D. trying to torture Sasha (making her dad pissed off that she got hurt yet, he lets her continue) and everything. 

Including the device behind her ear that lets her run free from being detected as a mutant, her friend Warren being a mutant, involving herself with the X-Men reunion, and Betty making a secret project for her to use. All of it came crashing onto General Ross; he was mixed with shock, anger, guilt, and worry all at once before Sasha saw him massaging his eyebrows in tiredness, and he lifted his face to show that he was sober. Panic rushes through her spine as her dad grabs her shoulders: 

"Are you serious, Sasha?" He carefully but deadly says, "You...You are one of THEM!" His anger was no mistake as Sasha stayed silent. Only confirming his answer, General Ross let go of her shoulders and fell in disbelief on the wooden bench near the white fence. 

His mind swirled with questions about how it happened, to which his youngest daughter silently told him: "It was on accident. I was the one that got hurt from Betty's explosion, which, of course, was... the best day of my life."

She paused as she continued: "But dad... I want to stop Senator Kelly from harming the mutants and look, I'm your disowned daughter who left because I'm a mutant. My sister loves me for who I am, and I am done running! I want to be free, and I hope you'll understand how much I want to tell you this! Please, you got to believe me!... Say something..." 

When her dad hugged her, Sasha whispered at the last part: "You're safe... I promise, daughter..." Widening her brown eyes, Sasha started to hug him back, already sensing that he was okay with it.