Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own any of Marvel comics' characters from the Avengers. This is for pure enjoyment. No profit is being made.

"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
qtd. Franklin D. Roosevelt

The American Dream

White Picket Fence

She knocked at 5:18, an unsuspecting time. A woman opened the door, a two year old on her hip—just as her file indicated. Brown hair and eyes. Not pudgy, but obviously not athletic either. Five foot six. A scar twisted pink along her left elbow. This was the woman. This was her target.

"Hi," Agent Romanoff smiled with practiced ease. "Are you Claire Schwann?" The woman nodded, hesitant—confused. She held the child tighter and farther away from the stranger. A normal reaction, she noted. Agent Romanoff was not worried about it. She continued, "I'm sorry but I need to talk to you."

Claire instantly sharpened. "Is this about Jason?" A type of ferocity Romanoff wouldn't have associated with this slight, normal looking woman surfaced. Her eyes were hard, worried, determined.

"Your husband is not why I came here to talk," the agent assured, "This is about you, ma'am." Claire cocked her head. She eyed the stranger before inviting her inside.

Smiling again, the agent entered the small cabin. She had already been inside two hours before while her target wasn't home. She scoped out any possible exits, weapons, or useful information for her mission. The house wasn't messy. It was lived in. There were toys, a sippy cup, a mug of half drunken coffee, the newspaper, a tie, and a large throw blanket in the living room. The kitchen had some fresh bread on the counter and a dish in the sink. The beds were made in the rooms, but closets were open and cloths laid out from laundry. The front yard could have used some weeding, but then again the Schwann family owned more than 75 acres of land so upkeep for the neighbors was not really a concern. That piqued Agent Romanoff's curiosity. Where did a family with humble origins get all this money to buy this much land? Sure it might be in the middle of nowhere, but it was backed up to Rocky Mountain National Park and gave a beautiful view of Colorado. It would have at least cost more than a million dollars. She would do more research later.

Claire coaxed her child to play with some blocks in the living room and led Agent Romanoff to the kitchen. "Can I get you anything? Tea?"

"That sounds fine." Romanoff sat on the chair closest to the back door. The tea she got was cold. And sweet. It brought up unpleasant memories of a mission in Nebraska, but she sipped on it anyways. It would make the target feel more comfortable. Fury was very specific that Claire agreed to come with her. Agent Romanoff saw it as a challenge. After all, it took more effort to coerce someone into coming with you instead of knocking them out and dragging them to S.H.I.E.L.D's front door.

"So, what's this 'bout?" The woman spoke with an accent not belonging to Colorado. She sounded as if she was born in a place in the South East.

"You."

Claire steadied her eyes on the stranger. It was a look Agent Romanoff was typically giving. She appreciated those who withstood her own gaze. "I don't like it when people speak in riddles."

"Then let me speak plainly." Agent Romanoff's demeanor cooled. She continued, "Your presence has been requested by S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Is that like homeland security or something? Besides how do I know this is more than just some kidnapping? You sure don't look like a government agent," the woman parried, shifting herself to be in position between Agent Romanoff and her child.

"I didn't wear my uniform because I didn't want to make you panic."

"I rather you would have worn it."

"Anyone could dress up in a uniform."

Claire turned her back to the stranger and looked to her boy, a sign of her crumbling resolve. "Why?"

"I don't know." It was an honest answer. The woman could tell. It was the best answer.

"How long will I be gone?"

"That depends on what Fury wants. I would predict a week or so."

Claire drank some of her tea. "Give me some time to get things together."

Agent Romanoff agreed. "I'll be waiting outside."

Halfway out the door, Claire called, "What about my husband?"

"My assignment was to bring you in, ma'am, not him."

The drive to the airport was quiet. The child slept in the back of the black, nondescript sedan. "I've texted a few important people, just told them I was going away for a bit. Is that okay?" Claire interrupted the blissful silence.

"If anything inappropriate has been said, we will handle it." Agent Romanoff checked the rearview mirror.

"I didn't tell my husband, though," Claire shared. It was obvious she wanted to say something more so Romanoff said nothing. The woman charged on, "We got in an argument before he left for a hiking trip yesterday." She opened a bottle and took some aspirin. "He always insists on going alone and the stupid Park lets him because they're too thin on personal. He's typically out doing his woodsman stuff for five days or so. I hate those times. I figure if he gives me a scare like that every month I've got the right to do the same."

"I understand, ma'am," Agent Romanoff lied. She had no idea what it was like to sit at home and wait. She didn't wait to find out; she made sure to be in the middle of it all.

Claire smiled anyways. "Jason does that, too, the ma'am thing." They dropped into silence for the rest of the ride.

Once Agent Romanoff brought Claire in, she wanted another agent to take over her place—immediately. She handled an extraterrestrial attack, playing mind games with Loki, and resisting the desire to kill Tony Stark every time he spoke, but she could not deal with Claire's two year old screaming for his father. He was fine in the car to the air port and spoke in his weird mix of English and child-chatter on the plane, but once they reached S.H.I.E.L.D's headquarters the kid figured out they weren't going to meet daddy and it's been tears and screams since.

Claire tried everything from bribes to singing. Nothing was working. Disgusted Agent Romanoff pushed in front of the mother and took the child by his tiny shoulders, instantly stilling him. "Stop," she commanded, putting all her frustration and anger into her voice. Maxy hiccupped and sobbed a bit, but slowly he was getting himself under control.

"I'm sorry," sighed Claire, "he's really attached to Jason." She picked up her little boy and rubbed his back in assurance (who still had snot dribbling down from his nose). They were standing in S.H.I.E.L.D's lobby. No one stopped for the show. They're more concerned with upping defenses and piecing together intelligence that has been collected over the past three years since the Beginning (as Fury dubbed the incident with the Tesseract and Loki).

Agent Romanoff sighed, "The kid misses his father, that all." Not that she knows, anyways.

"Father?" Claire frowned, her eye brows drawing down. Something was there, her mouth was beginning to form the words—

"Mrs. Schwann!" interrupted a voice, "Happy to have you here."

"Mr. Fury, I assume?" Her guard was back up. She rocked Maxy and shimmied closer to the agent. Romanoff raised an eyebrow. People didn't typically seek her out for safety and protection.

"Just Fury, ma'am," he assured. He was strangely kind, welcoming, for Fury that is. She narrowed her eyes. Something wasn't right. It seems as if some information has been withheld. "Agent Romanoff, I believe Agent Barton needs your assistance with a mission." It was a clear dismissal. Clint wasn't looking for her. He is two continents away and on loan to the U.S Army. He wouldn't be back for another two weeks.

"Sir. Ma'am." She nodded to them and made her way deeper into headquarters with a vendetta to find the intel Fury so unwisely kept from her.

Author: I don't currently have a Beta, but would like to have one. Comment/PM if interested. Please let me know what you think! Reviews are very important and loved! I hope you enjoy this adventure.