1: The Mission

New Avengers fic after my long absence! This ignores Age of Ultron.

Chapter warnings: None

Nightingale had been with SHIELD for eight years – she trusted the organization, but not completely. She had several reasons to thank SHIELD (saving her life, getting her back up on her feet, and introducing her to her husband) but also a few to disbelieve in it. Although they had saved her life from one of the most dangerous societies to roam the earth – VIPER – they did not save her brother's. She was only twenty at the time and her brother had been twenty-four. Just like her younger sister, he too had superhuman abilities and was being hunted down by VIPER. Nightingale – her real name was Marie Kiehof, but she went by Parker (long story) – was being attacked by VIPER and SHIELD came to her aid. But before they did, her older brother Wesley was protecting her, and by doing so he got himself kidnapped by the organization. SHIELD merely told Parker that it was out of their hands.

And that's when she began working for SHIELD. She never truly forgave them for giving up on her brother, but there wasn't much she could do now – that was eight years ago, and things had changed. She had met the Avengers, or more specifically, she had met Steve Rogers.

Since Parker was an agent, she'd been on her fair share of missions; some missions she went on were undercover missions. So when Fury had told her that her newest mission would take about a month, she had a suspicion it would be undercover. Parker was aching to get back into the field. She hadn't been on a mission in two years – and for a good reason too. Twenty months ago, she and Steve had welcomed a new member into their family: Seth James Rogers. Parker knew she wouldn't be in the field for quite a while the moment she learned she was pregnant. Now, after two years, she was ready for action.

Nightingale and Captain America walked into Fury's office, waiting expectantly for orders to be given. Fury looked up at his desk and the two heroes nodded. "You've got a mission together," he said, "but you already knew that." He stood up and rested his hands on his desk. "We have an 084 in Berlin, but we aren't sure exactly where, and we need you to find it."

"You said this would take a month, sir," said Steve. "I take it that it is an undercover operation."

"You would be correct."

"With all due respect, I haven't been on an undercover mission before," Steve reminded. "I'm not sure if I'm the best man for the job."

Fury gestured to Parker. "That's why I'm sending you with Nightingale." He raised an eyebrow. "That and among other reasons."

Parker couldn't help but crack a smile. "When does the mission begin, sir?" Parker questioned.

"Thursday," he answered. That meant the couple had two days to get a babysitter settled for Seth. "I figured you could use a bit of time to get things figured out."

"Yes, sir," said Steve, "thank you."

Fury nodded. "I'll have your files prepped when you depart. You are dismissed." The superhero couple nodded in recognition and left the room.

As the two of them walked down the hall, they began discussing babysitters. "I think Elizabeth should watch Seth," Parker said. "She's my best friend and she's great with children." Steve nodded, listening. "I'd trust her with Seth for a month."

"Then I guess it's a plan," Cap said with a smile.

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"What do you mean you can't?" Parker asked over the phone, disappointed. She and Steve were back at their apartment that afternoon.

"I totally would," said Elizabeth over the phone, "honestly, I would, but I'm kind of in Kiev."

"Mission?"

"Yep."

"How long?"

"Another week at least," Liz said with an annoyed sigh. "These kinds of ops can be a bit unpredictable."

"I'm assuming Lily's with you."

"Then your assumption would be correct."

Parker sighed and rubbed her face with her free hand. "Well," she said, "there goes my backup plan…"

"Lily was your backup plan?" Elizabeth questioned. "Yeesh, you are desperate."

"Hey!" said a voice in the background. "I heard that!"

Parker quirked a smile. She had grown up with Lily and Elizabeth and the three of them were as close as siblings. Elizabeth could fly and shoot hand beams while Lily had super speed and could create and manipulate ice.

Steve was sitting on the couch flipping through a book when the patter of small footsteps could be heard. He looked up and saw Seth toddling towards him. "Hey, Seth," Cap said happily.

"Up!" Seth said, putting his arms out.

Parker looked over her shoulder. "What do you say?" she asked.

Seth looked around at his mother and paused before looking back to Steve. "Pwease?" Steve smiled and picked Seth up, setting him on his lap.

"Listen," said Elizabeth, "I gotta go. I promise I'll make it up to you another time."

"You don't owe me anything," Parker said through a sigh, "it's fine. Bye."

"Bye."

Parker hung up her phone and set it on the counter. She turned around and walked into the living room. Seth looked up and smiled happily at his mother. "Mama!" he said excitedly, reaching out towards her. Parker couldn't help but smile and succumb to her son's request. She scooped up the child and he held onto her.

Parker sat down on the couch next to Steve. "Well, both Elizabeth and Lily are on a mission and won't be back for another week." Steve hung his head with a sigh. "So who now?"

Steve leaned back into the sofa. "Maybe Mrs. Hupshower…" he said, not entirely sure himself about suggesting their elderly neighbor.

Parker shook her head, bouncing Seth on her knee. "No, I don't think so. Yes, she watches Seth when we go to SHIELD and yes, she's kind and trustworthy, but I think a month is a bit long. Also, I think it should be someone we know well, someone we really trust." The couple was silent for a moment as they thought. Eventually, Parker glanced over at Steve. Cap noticed and glanced over at her. "There really are only a few people we trust…"

Steve bit his lip. "I don't know. Yes, we can trust them, but they have things to do too, I'm sure."

Parker nodded. "Well, we should just check to make sure." She handed Seth off to her husband. "They're the only option we have left at this point."

She went to get her phone from the kitchen and Steve sighed. Seth looked up at his father, his fist in his mouth and his eyes wide in question. Steve put on a smile. "Mommy and I are going to be away for a while. Do you want to stay with the Avengers?"

Yeah, a little short, but this is more of an introduction. More is yet to come! And favorites, follows, and reviews fuel me ;) Please tell me what you think. Love it? Hate it? Leaves you begging for more? I'd love to know!