Disclaimer: Marvel owns the Avengers. This takes place post Captain America: Civil War
Safe Haven
Steve pulled up to the house and turned off the engine to his bike. He pulled off his helmet and ran a hand over his tired face and through his hair. Taking a deep breath he walked up to the door and using the key Clint had given him he made his way inside, dropping his duffel by the front door. Knowledge of the farmhouse had remained with the Avengers and it had become a safe haven for those on the run from the government following the Sokovia Accords.
The soldier frowned, the house was too dark and eerily quiet for the evening hour and the three children that held residence there. Tensing his aching muscles he stealthily made his way through the house, not wanting to call out and draw attention to himself. He was worried about what he would find and after the last few days he wasn't sure if he could handle losing anyone else. Barton had been able to make a life for himself outside of the super hero business and he had the life that Steve had once dreamed of. If he had brought any harm to them by pulling Clint out of retirement, he would never forgive himself.
Following the faint noises picked up by his enhanced hearing he crept out into the backyard.
Once there, he saw the Black Widow, though outnumbered, mercilessly gunning down the two elder Barton children who lovingly referred to her as "Auntie Nat".
With quick strides he came up behind her and disarmed her, wrapping her in his strong hold and using his height advantage to pull her off her feet.
"I got her," Cooper and Lila were quick to turn the table on Natasha who squealed but made no real effort to break the super soldier's grip, which also indicated that she had known he had been there all along and wasn't really taken by surprise. This was probably a good thing as he didn't think his body could handle any more damage.
"Steve!" she giggled and he couldn't help but smile as she acted like the child she never had the chance to be.
The kids didn't let up until they were out of ammo and their aunt was good and truly soaked. They quickly took off for fear of the Widow's retribution and left Steve to handle the fall out.
He set the petite redhead down and slightly loosened his grip so that she could turn around in his arms.
Resting her hands on his chest she searched his blue eyes and his face for any sign of exactly how he would react to her presence. After all, last they had seen each other they had been on opposing sides regarding the Accords.
"Hey," she whispered tentatively in that husky voice of hers.
He reached out and tucked a now curly, red tendril behind her ear, "Hey".
A smile broke out on her face and looping her arms around his neck she pulled him down for a tight hug, "I missed you."
He squeezed back just as tightly, not caring about the fact that she was now getting him wet.
"I missed you too," he whispered into her ear as he took in the familiar scent of her perfume mixed with gunpowder.
Steve closed his eyes in relief, glad that she was alright and just let himself sink into her embrace as the ground finally steadied beneath his feet and he felt that even without Bucky, without his shield, and without his team that everything was going to be ok.