Summary: As the team try to come to terms with Michelle's death, a new terrifying threat is looming over them. Clint and Grace are forced to confront their darkest fears and enemies, as they prepare for their baby's arrival. Co – Written With snowqueen79. Clint/Grace, Bucky/Sophie and other pairings.

The Cradle Will Fall

Chapter 2


And that thought alone made her realize just how much light Clint had brought into her life, how much love. Where would she be right now if she'd never met him? What would have become of her?

She wouldn't trade the last several months of her life for anything.

She loved Clint, this brave, yet fierce man who had helped through the darkest time in her life. Who loved her, and she loved him dearly, as she took Clint up on his offer. She wanted her lover, the father of their baby. Feeling the mattress dip Clint lifted his head again to look down his body just as Grace started to crawl up over him, her head lowered to occasionally nip at his skin meant that her hair was also tickling along his leg.

Grace's mouth brushing over the scar left behind by Scarlotti had Clint's head dropping back to the mattress with a soft hiss, there were times he'd swear that scar was cold as ice but the moment Grace's tongue ran along it the sensation vanished and was replaced with warmth instead seeping into him.

When the teasing strokes of Grace's tongue ceased, Clint forced his eyes open, looking up at Grace as she straddled his waist Clint groaned as she reached down, her soft fingers curling around his achingly hard cock and stroking tentatively. Sucking in a sharp breath as Grace slowly sank down onto his cock, Clint reached up to close his hands about her hips as she gently rocked them until she sat flush against his pelvis with a soft sigh, looking like a beautiful fertility goddess.

Bringing his legs up to plant his feet on the mattress Clint grinned wolfishly as his thighs bumped against Grace's ass causing her to topple forward until her hands braced on his chest to help her keep her position. Looking up into her face as Grace quirked one delicate brow in silent question Clint gave a slight shrug at the same time he gently guided her hips to move as he thrust up a little.

They fell into a slow, tender rhythm, Grace rocking her hips into his thrusts and Clint helping her to slide up and down his thighs so she could ride him, he had a niggling feeling in the back of his mind that he wasn't going to last long given his exhaustion.

Though when he looked up to Grace's face and saw the way she was biting at her lower lip as her head tilted back he knew she was hovering right on the edge of her climax, when she started rocking harder into his languid thrusts Clint's hands tightened on her hips.

Taking advantage of Grace's next glide up his thighs Clint rolled them so that Grace wound up beneath him, her body settling against the mattress had him almost completely withdrawn from her hot, slick welcoming cunt. Gliding his hands from her hips up along her ribcage Clint rocked forward on his knees thrusting harder into Grace, her quiet moan had Clint moving his hands off her ribs and up to circle around her wrists.

With a gentle tug Clint pulled Grace's warm, soft hands from his chest and manoeuvred them up over her head, he released his grip on her wrists in order to slide his hands along her wrists to twine their fingers together. On his next thrust into her Clint dropped his head to capture Grace's mouth with his own, swallowing the moan that had just been about to slip free.

"You're the most beautiful woman, that I've ever seen, Grace." Clint growled hoarsely. Grace shivered at his words and her hands traced over the scars that marred his chest, stomach and back.

"Then if you're saying that, then you're the most beautiful man that I've ever met, Clint," Grace answered honestly. She cupped him, and he let out a mix between a growl and a groan. Clint pulled her into him and kissed her long, hard and passionately.

"I don't want to hurt you, Grace," Clint said quietly. He didn't want to hurt Grace, not after what Rumlow had done to her. Grace smiled at him.

"You won't, Clint, I trust you. Please, Clint...make love to me, make me forget," she said softly. Clint growled low in his throat, his chest rumbling at her words.

The room is covered in darkness, with the moon shining over Clint and Grace. Her skin's pale against his tanned body, and places kisses on her face, neck and neck.

He hooked her left leg over the crook of his left arm, keeping his pace slow until she was used to the feeling of him thrusting in and out of her. She wrapped one hand around the back of his neck and kissed him deeply, while her other hand dug into the flesh of his shoulder.

"Mine," he growled roughly into her mouth. He moved to his knees, deepening his thrusts all the while keeping his pace slow for her.

"Yours, Clint. All yours," she said breathlessly. Clint growled low in his throat as he moved faster. He could feel her coming closer to the edge, beads of sweat on her pale skin.

Clint closed his eyes and buried his face in the back of her neck, setting his teeth to her flesh like a dog in heat. Her quiet, breathless moans answered his growls, snarls and grunts with each thrust. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh echoed in the quiet room. She tipped her hips up to get a better angle to rub her clit and he pushed deeper, making her cry out.

His rough hand travelled down her side. "Cum, Grace." His breathless longing twisted in her. She felt his body tremble, his thrusts ease back. "I-I can't hold back."

"I don't care, Clint," she said breathlessly, before crying out softly as his calloused fingers pinched, and pulled her nipples erotically. She clutched at his biceps, her blonde curls catching in the moonlight. His hands slid over her swollen bump, heavy with his baby and if possible, he felt even more turned on by her.

"I need you to cum, baby," Clint leaned down to whisper in her ear, his heated breath making her shiver. "Please, for me…"

Holding his weight off her with one hand, the other smoothed down her to tummy, his fingers eased down into her folds to find her clit.

The first brush against her small bundle of nerves had her arching breathlessly under him. His thrusts came faster, and she knew he needed to feel her come apart around him. Now. A selfish lover Clint had never been. A series of teasing touches against the small nub with those strong calloused fingers and he pushed her over the edge. Grace's sharp cries filled the room, tears of pleasure sliding down her cheeks in the darkness.

When Grace tightened around him, Clint found his release with her, his body tightening around her and ecstasy written on his beautiful face as he slipped out of her and dropped to her side. Struggling to breathe, her arms around their baby, he eased her onto her side, pulling her in to be his little spoon.

"I love you so much," he whispered in the darkness. "You've given me life again, Grace. I… didn't know what I was going to do. When I lost my babies, I just… I'm so happy I found you."

"I'm glad I make someone happy," Grace recognized the sadness in her own tone.

"Please don't worry about it, baby," he whispered. "We'll get through this. We will. You have me and Sophie and the rest of the team. Always."

"I love you," she whispered. "Always."

Within minutes in the warmth and safety of his arms, Grace drifted off to sleep.


The pervasive tension that had slowly returned to the compound was wearing on all of them. Bucky's sleep had been broken by nightmares and she'd been awake off and, on all night, trying to comfort him and ease him back to sleep. By the time dawn rolled around, he was dead to the world and she was wide awake so she came down to get started on breakfast, not surprised to find Steve there sipping coffee and getting ready for his usual run.

"Where's Buck?" he asked, peering over the top of his coffee cup as she began planning what pans and utensils she'd need.

Truth was best. "Had a bad night, Steve. Nightmares."

"Are you okay?" Steve immediately wanted to know, setting the coffee down.

"I am and so is he. It's just…"

Folding his arms across the wide expanse of his chest, he waited for her to finish that sentence. It almost looked to her like he knew what she planned to say.

"It's just everything," Sophie said finally. "It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. We finally mostly got done dealing with HYDRA and that entire mess. We're having little ones and thinking about our future and then Michelle…"

Steve nodded, stepping up to her to give her a hug. "I know exactly what you mean."

When they broke apart, Sophie glanced up into his face. "How is Nat feeling?"

Blowing out an exhale, he leaned on the counter as she turned on stove eyes. "Physically, she's fine, Sophie. The baby is fine and she's happy about that. But I know she's worried. She's so afraid someone will try to take him away from us. It's almost as if…"

"She doesn't feel like she deserves that happiness."

Steve nodded, his blue eyes lit with understanding.

"I almost think my sister is suffering from the same, but she has the court date ahead of her and I know she's dreading that. I just really don't understand why we're having to do this all again, Steve. I really don't."

Steve understood Sophie's distress, all of them had gone through hell in the last six months. He just wanted his team to be happy, he wanted to be happy with Natasha, and spoil their baby boy who was due to enter the world.

He wanted Bucky, Sophie, Clint, Grace, Sam, Sharon, Tony and Lilia along with the others to be happy. He just wanted there to be peace, and he vowed that they would get peace for them.

Bucky arrived at the kitchen, his eyes looked haunted, but they brightened at seeing Sophie, she wordlessly hugged him tightly. He took in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her hair that smelt of honeysuckle, and roses.

"Are you alright?" Sophie asked gently, Bucky nodded and squeezed her hand reassuringly. He held her as he helped her cook breakfast for everyone, as Tony and Lilia sat at the table with Howard in his high chair.

Once everyone had arrived, Sophie with help from Bucky, Steve, Clint and Bruce placed the food on the table. Bucky's lips watered at the smell of fried bacon, eggs, beef sausages, Belgian waffles, omelettes and toast, not to mention pancakes.

"Has everyone got their stuff packed for the trial?" Tony asked finally, he wasn't looking toward to this trial any more than Grace was. They were only staying for a week, due to Grace testifying against Misha, Dmitri, and Pietro Maximoff.

"Yeah, we got all of our stuff packed for the trip. Hopefully, we're not there for two weeks. Natasha's due in two weeks, and we want the baby here," Steve explained quietly, wrapping an arm protectively around Natasha who looked worried but determined to support Grace.


Grace made sure she had packed everything for the trip to the Netherlands, to Holland. Her stomach was in knots, she was trying to keep calm as she cuddled the cats, Lucky and Banjo.

Helen, Thor and Erik were staying behind to look after Ragnar, and the other little ones. She took in a deep breath, as she saw Clint come in with his own suitcase.

He could see that she was scared, he wordlessly wrapped his arms around her, and she held onto him tightly. Ever since those months in Sokovia, Novi Grad, she'd been terrified to remember the faces of the men who had raped her.

"I'm scared Clint, I just don't want to have those nightmares again and I just want it done with," she admitted quietly, her voice shaking and Clint held her tightly.

"We're all here for you, Grace. I'm not leaving your side." Clint said firmly, Grace sniffled and held onto him tightly as he just held her to him and rocked her.

Haven't they been through enough?


Bucky would have enjoyed being in Holland on any other occasion, but right now he wanted to grab Sophie and run. This reminded him of how he'd been at the mercy of America, when they'd given him a choice under Ross.

Rot in the Raft or join the Avengers.

He looked at Sophie who was watching Grace along with Adrian, both of them looked exhausted and stressed. He ran his hands through Sophie's hair, as she leaned into him

"We'll be landing soon, doll." He said quietly, Sophie nodded, and she held onto him tightly. The quinjet landed in the airfield, and they disembarked, as she saw Grace looking pale but determined.

Her little sister was so brave.

Bucky remembered the testimony she'd been forced to give before, couldn't believe they were making her relive it again. Hearing what was said there was bad enough.

He knew from Sophie, it was so much worse. What truly happened to Grace, no one should ever have to experience. It amazed him how resilient she was, how resilient all of them were, in the face of what their family had to face.

His Sophie pressed a kiss into his cheek before walking around him to plant herself at Grace's side and God help anyone who even looked at them wrong. Clint was on Grace's right and Bucky wasn't far behind them, keeping an eye out with them.

Sophie loved her sister so much and Bucky knew she felt heavy guilt in not knowing what happened to Grace, not wondering what happened to her in that period of time. It would never occur to Grace to be angry at her family, but it had occurred to Sophie. Bucky would have thought knowing Steve for years that he could deal with guilt, Steve being the king of it, but Sophie was a close second when it came to hanging onto misplaced guilt.

They checked into the hotel, and it was decadent as only a hotel selected by Tony Stark could be.

Steve, Bucky and Clint got their group checked in, herded everyone to the elevators to get settled.

"You okay," Sophie whispered, taking Grace's hand in her own.

Grace nodded but the colour had drained from her face.

The two of them could see that Grace was anxious, and Clint walked next to her as they entered their large suite. All of them were on edge, and Bucky saw Adrian looked tired. None of them deserved this, and he had a sense of uneasiness, he would watch over his family while they were here. He wrapped an arm around Sophie, who looked dead on her feet.

"Let's all have something to eat, and then rest up for the night. It's going to be a long few days," Steve said finally, everyone nodded and ordered room service.


Grace had never been so nervous in her life, well aside from giving birth to Zach, and then talking at the UN hearing about the Sokovian Accords. Clint squeezed her hand reassuringly, and she squeezed back as the three judges entered the room, two of them were women while one was male and English.

Grace took the stand and swallowed as she saw Thaddeus Ross glaring at her, from the left side of the courtroom with his lawyer, who was Harold Eastman.

"Miss Melnychenko Drăgoi, how old were you when you travelled to Sokovia with the Red Cross?" Foggy Nelson asked seriously, he was acting as her lawyer and she took in a deep breath.

"I was twenty-one, I wanted to help people, so I helped in the clinics that the Red Cross had set up for the civilians." Grace explained quietly, soft murmurs broke out then.

"And this was when Pietro Maximoff and Helmut Zemo kidnapped you, and took you to Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's home?" Foggy asked gravely, Grace nodded.

"Yes, Pietro told me that his sister was in labour and when I went to help, he and Zemo knocked me out," Grace explained wearily, trying not to remember that day which had started the nightmare.

Foggy nodded, an expression of genuine sympathy on his face and Harold Eastman stood up to question her.

"Miss Melnychenko Drăgoi, when did Helmut Zemo, Brock Rumlow, Misha, and Dmitri and Pietro Maximoff start sexually assaulting you?" He asked coldly, Grace took in a deep breath.

"Rumlow was the first man...who raped me, then he and the others would take turns to see who could get me pregnant. Rumlow was the one who would ultimately get me pregnant with my son, Zach." Grace explained shakily, trying not to break down.

"Did you attempt to abort your child?" Harold questioned, Grace looked horrified at his question.

"No, I...I couldn't do that to an innocent baby. He didn't ask to be born that way, I couldn't do that." She said horrified, that he would even ask that question.

"Why didn't you attempt to escape sooner?"

"Objection!" Foggy rose. "What kind of insensitive questioning is this? Miss Melnychenko Drăgoi has already been through experiences no person should ever have to go through and has to re-experience to give testimony and this isn't the first time. We're brutalizing the victim, your honours."

"The line of questioning," Harold said smirking at Foggy, "is necessary to establish what alleged crimes were perpetrated against Miss Melnychenko Drăgoi."

"Asking if she considered aborting a foetus in such a state of duress is not only subject and irrelevant to this testimony," Foggy shot back, "it's completely heartless."

"It's –"

"Sustained," the older female judge said forcefully, glaring over her glasses at Harold. "You will keep your line of questioning to the events we're asking Miss Melnychenko Drăgoi to give sworn testimony on and nothing more."

Harold's nod was curt, colour seeped up from his collar as he seemed to contemplate what he wanted to ask next.

Grace glanced over her shoulder at her family. It appeared that Bucky was the only reason Sophie hadn't leaped from her seat to come and attack Harold. Bucky was trying to soothe her. Adrian watched but his expression was too calm. Something felt off about him. Her brother felt like more of a threat.

Nat's hands rested across her own baby bump, her expression unreadable as she listened to the proceedings. Steve sat stony-faced next to her, his neck and face colored as the man walking up to her again with his next question.

Grace took a deep breath and Connor kicked.

'I can do this. I can do this for you, Connor.'

"How was it determined that Rumlow was the father of your child?" Harold asked coolly though his eyes flashed with anger.

Grace fought to keep herself calm. "The way anyone would, I suppose. Using a DNA test."

"Did they tell you why knowing the child's heritage was important?"

Grace looked at him like her had two heads. Wasn't the answer to that obvious?

"The heritage was important because some of the… rapists were enhanced, and the point of my capture was to force me to breed and produce an enhanced offspring."

"Rapists?" Harold laughed. "The fathers you mean?"

Grace narrowed her eyes at him. "No, I meant what I said. There's an enormous difference between a father and a rapist."

Harold tipped his head to her stomach. "And you think you know that now?"

"Objection!" Foggy yelled outraged.

In her peripheral vision, Grace saw both Adrian and Steve stand up. Nat coaxed him into taking his seat. Adrian was slower to retake his seat, his gaze fixed on Ross.

"The victim's current pregnancy is irrelevant to this testimony," Foggy pointed out. "We're supposed to be collecting her testimony of these events, not badgering her with personal morality."

"Sustained," the male judge stated this time. "Proceed."

"Were the rapes continued during the pregnancy?" Harold continued coldly.

Grace focused on her breathing, feeling the panic rise as she started to remember.

"Yes."

"You'd testified before that there were experiments performed on the child while in utero," he went on. "Can you explain the nature of these experiments?"


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