CHAPTER 1 - Way Too Early

Erica Owens, it was her name and yet, it wasn't. She'd had so many, too many, but that's what happens when you turn out to be an immortal demi-god and have to change where you live and who you are every couple decades so people don't get suspicious about you never looking older. It sucked, but there was nothing she could do about it.

She remembered the day that she realized she wasn't aging anymore. It had been a shock and her mind immediately began reeling and coming up with ways to remain off of anyone's radar. Unfortunately, her desire to help people wound up putting her smack dab in someone's view with lights and sirens.

Erica, then Ava Hart, came across the Strategic Scientific Reserve and managed to work her way into it as it became the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. When she joined and explained what and who she was and why she wanted to help they welcomed her in with open arms.

They all worked together to make S.H.I.E.L.D. what it was. When the ranks and security clearances were introduced Erica had the highest security clearance they had. She went on missions and did everything she could to keep the integrity and mission of S.H.I.E.L.D. on track.

But she'd grown weary of always being on the move, never able to stay in one place and when they wanted her to become Director she decided that it was time she resigned and allow Fury to take up that responsibility. Of course, she was there if she was truly needed, but she turned down most missions that they wanted to send her on.

Instead, she opened a diner across the street from S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, offering a place for agents to take a little time to relax. The diner was only open to S.H.I.E.L.D. agents so they knew that they could talk freely within the walls, but none of them knew that one of the highest ranking agents was the one giving them food and alcohol if they needed. Well, no one except the Avengers.

Clint had been gone nearly a month on an undercover mission where he had to pose as a billionaire with a gorgeous wife. The only problem was that the agent he was assigned with was one of the most annoying people he'd met in his entire life and considering that he grew up in the circus that really was saying something.

He was exhausted both physically and emotionally. He hated the missions that ended by simply bringing someone in rather than him having to use his specific skillset. Hell, Fury should have probably sent Natasha, but she was off doing something else. At least if it had been the two of them it would have been more bearable.

All he wanted to do was go home and sleep for a week, but he had to do a debrief in the next hour or two. Why that mattered he had no idea, it wasn't as if he would sleep his memories of the mission away. But that was the order and he would follow it.

It was nearly three in the morning, but there was only one person he wanted to see and she made the best damn coffee he'd ever had. It wasn't new for him to call Erica and ask her to open up the cafe so that he could rejuvenate with both caffeine and conversation. She constantly griped about how he was the only one who she would open up for, but he knew it was all in good fun. Plus, she lived right above the cafe.

He couldn't help but chuckle when the first thing he heard when Erica answered the phone was, "No."

"Oh, come on, you wouldn't leave a friend out in the cold would you?"

"It's nearly seventy degrees."

"You wouldn't leave a friend out in the heat would you."

"You're not my friend," Erica grumbled, but she was already getting dressed to go down and let Clint in. Her response had been the truth though, he was so much more than a friend to her. She knew the feelings were reciprocated, but she would wait until Clint figured it out and was ready to express himself.

"Pleeeeeeeease," Clint begged.

"How long have you been standing out there trying to decide if you were going to wake me or not?" she asked as she left her apartment and walked down to turn on the lights and unlock the door for him. She immediately started making what he always wanted when he came this late.

Clint smiled and hung up as she opened the door, "Only a few minutes."

Erica raised her eyebrows, even if she wasn't innately able to tell when someone was lying, she knew Clint well enough to read it on his face.

Clint sighed, "I had the worst time ever on this mission. Lord knows I missed your food and your coffee, but I didn't know if you would want to talk me through this one," he admitted shyly.

Erica's face softened and she gave him a small smile, "Clint, you know that I'm always here for you, no matter what. I'm awake for you right in the middle of the four hours of sleep I get at night. Agent Fischer isn't exactly fun to work with or helpful in making a mission go faster. She really should be fired."

Clint looked up at her and smiled, "You know, I know someone that could easily make that happen just by pulling rank. Since she is the highest ranking member of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Erica sighed, "I don't interfere anymore, you know that. I had my time. And helping the agents after long, hard days, it fulfills me more than any position of power possibly could." She turned and finished making Clit's triple espresso and then went to work making the pattern of an arrow in his cappuccino.

"You are a goddess," he breathed and he downed the espresso.

"Demi-goddess," she corrected with a smile.

"So picky," Clint sighed, shaking his head.

Erica placed a strawberry danish on the counter in front of Clint, "So, planning on getting it all off your chest or are we going to banter until you have to go across the street and be somewhat nice about Fischer's abilities and contributions on this case?"