Reunion at the Avengers Compound

Scott Lang stood beneath an apartment building in San Francisco, clutching the note in his hand, but he could not make himself move.

He looked up at the third-floor window, where the lights were on. Through a gap in the curtains, he saw a girl moving around the room. She was about five foot five, with a ponytail and a school uniform jacket.

Cassie.

His daughter.

Five years ago, she had still been in elementary school. Now, she was already in high school.

Scott's throat tightened. He wanted to rush upstairs, knock on the door, hug her, and tell her that her dad was back. But he did not move, because he did not know how to explain it.

Hi, Cassie. Dad was trapped in the Quantum Realm for five years, but it only felt like five hours to me, so I still thought you were eleven.

It sounded like a joke.

He stood downstairs for ten minutes before finally pressing the doorbell.

Cassie's stepfather, Jim, answered the door. He was an honest-looking middle-aged man. The moment he saw Scott, Jim froze completely, one hand still resting on the doorknob.

"Scott?" Jim's voice was filled with disbelief. "You... how did you..."

"Dad?"

Cassie's voice came from the stairs. She rushed down, stopped behind Jim, and stared wide-eyed at Scott in the doorway.

Five years had passed. She had grown taller, and the baby fat on her face was gone, but her eyes were still the same as when she was little.

"Cassie." Scott's voice came out hoarse.

Cassie said nothing. She only threw herself at him and held him tightly. Her shoulders trembled, and her tears quickly soaked through Scott's clothes.

"I thought you disappeared too." Cassie's voice was muffled against his chest. "They all said you were dead, but